datainadequate

Sold Greg another Wal (this has better not become a habit) and received a lovely Gibson in part-ex. As ever, he's a great guy to deal with. Cheers, John

Thanks for all the input folks, it's been really helpful.

Haven't decided on a budget, but the top end will be limited by how much I could get for a 2nd-hand Wal I don't think that's going to stretch to a new made-to-measure Wal Superlight, as much as that would suit me sir. Eventually I will be doing a trip to London to see family, so if I haven't been distracted by more local pretty instruments by then, off to Bass Gallery and Wunjo I shall go. Might even decide it's time to go and visit my old friends in Andertons-ville, er, Guildford.

We are a bit, but good to know about options over Devon way. And yes, looks like you've spotted the beast on MM.

The Spector Shorty or the new Spector Bantam are now firmly on my radar. I did try a Spector NS-1 some years ago, lovely bass but at the time it was way over my budget. Was seriously considering the, er, similarly contoured Warwick Streamer for a while too.

I'm near Falmouth, Cornwall. Suspect you'll be recommending I go at least as far as Exeter

What I really don't like is the weight. And the fear of it getting damaged. What I like most is the comfortable feel of the whole instrument. Lots of other things to like: great sounds, quiet electronics, beautiful woods, fantastic craftsmanship. But the "it just feels right" was what sold me.

After 18 years of happy Wal Custom (Mk I, 4-string, fretted) ownership, I'm seriously considering a change. I still love the Wal, but my bad back isn't getting any better and the Wal isn't getting any lighter. Also, the music I'm playing these days doesn't need that fabulous Wal sound. Mostly I end up with neck pickup only, all switches off, tone rolled off to 7. Maybe a nice, light, passive bass would suit me better right now. I might even contemplate something with a short-scale. But the Wal has always felt "just right". Dunno what combination of neck shape, fretboard radius, body shape, etc. it is, but the Wal feels "right" to me, and many other fine basses don't. So I call upon the wisdom and experience of BassChat. All you who have bonded with a Wal, what other basses also work for you? If I do go ahead and sell my Wal, what do you recommend I should consider? Thanks in advance, John

Bought an Ibanez Promethean P5110 combo from Dunc. Lovely little amp, in great condition. Great communication, combo was really nicely packed for transport, all in all a really smooth transaction.

Thanks all for the advice. Decided to go with an LR Baggs in the end, although I couldn't afford the M80. I've just fitted it to my guitar, and I'll play my first gig with it on Sunday, we'll see how it goes!

[quote name='Grangur' timestamp='1417615073' post='2622245'] If you can put up with not having a binding on the pages, as a start, feel free to download and practice on some of the pieces here: [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/215336-learning-to-read-the-dots-sheet-music-to-learn-with/page__fromsearch__1"]http://basschat.co.u...__fromsearch__1[/url] [/quote] Thanks, I'm sure they'll be useful.

[quote name='TKenrick' timestamp='1417614780' post='2622239'] If you can already read treble clef well then the main thing is learning where the notes of the bass clef are on the fretboard - I find that most people struggle with reading because they don't know where the notes are on their instrument. These are some of my favourites for teaching students to read: [url="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Simplified-Sight-Reading-Bass-Josquin-Pres/dp/0793565189/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1417614416&sr=8-1&keywords=simplified+sight-reading+for+bass"]Simplified Sight Reading For Bass[/url] [url="http://www.amazon.co.uk/New-Method-Double-Bass-Book/dp/0825801524/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1417614445&sr=8-1&keywords=simandl+bass"]Simandl's New Method For Double Bass, Volume 1[/url] (still works a treat on electric bass) [url="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Musicians-Institute-Music-Reading-Complete/dp/0793581974/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1417614474&sr=8-1&keywords=music+reading+for+bass"]MI Music Reading for Bass[/url] [url="http://www.anthonyvitti.com/fingerfunk1.html"]Anthony Vitti's Fingerfunk workbook [/url] [url="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Modern-Reading-Text-All-Instruments/dp/0769233775/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1417614524&sr=8-1&keywords=louis+bellson"]Modern Reading in 4/4 time [/url](rhythm reading only, but a bloody good workout!) If you want some nice melodic stuff then get hold of some cello music: [url="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Dotzauer-Studies-Cello-Nos-1-34/dp/B007HWJIIO/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1417614554&sr=8-2&keywords=dotzauer+cello"]Dotzauer[/url] [url="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Bach-Suites-Cello-Barenreiter-BA320/dp/B0076IUJ2I/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1417614582&sr=8-1&keywords=bach+cello+suites+sheet+music"]Bach Cello Suites[/url] I also run a site that has 100+ free bass clef transcriptions if you need more sight reading material (link is below). Tom [/quote] Thanks Tom, very helpful

[quote name='zero9' timestamp='1417614462' post='2622234'] Get an app for your phone. You can then use it anywhere, anytime, and will be able to monitor your progress. [/quote] Nice idea, but not sure which apps are worth trying. Any recommendations?

Hi all, Many years ago I was a reasonably competant brass player (grade 5), and learned to read music pretty well. Treble clef only. Well, I did learn enough theory to understand what bass clef is, and I still remember that Good Boys Deserve Fun Always on the bass clef, but that's about as far as it went (studied for grade 5 theory, but never took the exam). Now I've playing bass guitar for several years, and while I can sit down and slowly work out how to play the bass line from some printed music, I have never learned to sight read. Because rock music I decided this week that I want to branch out musically, and that would be easier if I learn to sight read. Can anyone recommend a book that would help me learn to read bass clef, and sight read for bass guitar, but not completely annoy me by spending forever teaching me stuff I already know (note lengths, rests, repeats, etc)? Cheers, John

[quote name='KK Jale' timestamp='1416934332' post='2615231'] [color=#00000F][font=Merriweather, serif][size=4] [size=4][font=tahoma,geneva,sans-serif]I've tried a few.[/font][/size][/size][/font][/color][color=#00000F][font=Merriweather, serif][size=4] [size=4][font=tahoma,geneva,sans-serif]Fishman Neo-D – got one for my godson, simple, actually pretty good, scores 7/10 cos it's cheap Fishman Rare Earth humbucker – currently have one, a bit expensive and slightly lower-middy but reliable and EQ-able, 8/10. Never tried the single coil LR Baggs M1 - available active or passive (latter needs external preamp), toppy, slightly Stratty-sounding to me, picks up soundboard vibration and can click when you hit it with a pick, needs to be hung carefully so pickup sides don't touch soundhole, loved mine at first, don't anymore 6/10 DiMarzio - mostly not much cop but discontinued DP-139 is ace, 8/10. Angel model maybe worth a look Dean Markley - pretty average, 5/10 Shadow, Seymour Duncan: haven't tried any Sunrise – heavy, expensive, needs own preamp, not very acoustic-y, I like 'em but hey... 7/10 Fishman Blackstack, copy of Sunrise, heavy and electric-sounding 5/10 [/font][/size][/size][/font][/color][color=#00000F][font=Merriweather, serif][size=4] [size=4][font=tahoma,geneva,sans-serif]Naturally all just my opinion... hope this helps.[/font][/size][/size][/font][/color] [/quote] Wow, that's a lot of pickups you've tried! Really helps, especially to hear that the LR Baggs might have some downsides.