skej21

[quote name='ratman' timestamp='1391728316' post='2360802'] I just watched it, well worth it. [/quote] +1 Truly engrossing. I ignored the postie and someone else at the door because I didn't want to pause it lol!

I really like the SR300 but as it's been mentioned quite a lot im going to throw the ATK 200 into the mix. Same quality but with a totally different pickup/tone! The new 2014 ATK200TP is coming in at £289! Bargain!! http://www.ibanez.co.jp/products/u_eb_page14.php?year=2014&cat_id=2&series_id=56&data_id=105&color=CL01

Fred 'Sonic' Smith of Television (and original bassist for Blondie before replacing Richard Hell when he left Television)... I also think that Este Haim is a great bassist. She really drives the band and adds an extra dimension to the band. A very similar mould to Tina Weymouth.

Just get one of these. It has all the right Allen key sizes for Fenders (including the elusive Bad Ass II adjustment Allen key size!). Perfect for the old gig bag too :-) http://www.gak.co.uk/en/cruztools-groovetech-multitool/54133?gclid=CLW1372xvLwCFSbnwgodgDMANw

[quote name='noelk27' timestamp='1391818890' post='2361789'] High street outlets stock what they know they can sell, and fretless - even in its heyday - was the minority choice. You can't criticise retailers for being conservative about their stocking decisions, as I'm guessing most can't afford to have money tied up in stock they know they'll struggle to shift. Could point at a few fretless basses currently in stock with retailers that, if the items had been fretted versions, would have flown out the door, but, fretless, have been hanging around for months on end (and, in one case, sitting in stock for around three years). Run a poll, and see how many of the members actually play fretless. I'd guess at fewer than one in twenty. [/quote] Exactly this. I tried to get some fretless basses in our store to try and accommodate more bass players and extend the range. The 3 or 4 players interested wanted a good quality fretless (which is understandable) but NO retailer is going to test the market with a £1200 US Fender Jazz fretless. So by introducing entry level fretless basses, those interested simply turned their noses up at them (as they were sub £400 fretless basses) and it took an age to sell them as it's a niche market to begin with. In fact, it's very similar to lefty instruments. Nice idea to accommodate them but often hard to have a good enough offering to get the sales to justify the retail estate. All that did was justify to management that fretless basses are not worth the space on the wall or having the money tied up in. We then introduced the Epiphone Jack casady which is proving hard work just to keep in stock. You have to stock what people buy (regularly!). It's that simple.

I read it as 'TR'... It's a 'T' written in the same font as 'Tanglewood'

[quote name='BetaFunk' timestamp='1391792869' post='2361414'] .....or not. [/quote] ... Or yes.

13. Don't expect musicians to agree with ANY of these... They have far too much ego to believe its relevant to them!

[quote name='Geek99' timestamp='1391788595' post='2361337'] It's the feel that works, doesn't matter if a sander did it rather than skin [/quote] Damn right! A sander just puts thousands of tiny scratches into the body VERY quickly, as opposed to my arm which does it slowly over thousands of hours. The outcome is the same.

If it's anything like other US manufacturers, it'll be warranty in US & Canada only but a minimal warranty (usually a year) through the store. Martin & Co are the main example I can think that do this - http://www.martinguitar.com/guitar-care/warranty-information.html I suppose you should check the warranty blurb on the brand website.

[quote name='Myke' timestamp='1391709095' post='2360507'] And how do you know to read it differently? [/quote] I wouldn't waste your time mate lol!

Nearly Dan for me. Got to see them at The Sage Gateshead and they were excellent :-)

[quote name='MiltyG565' timestamp='1391706706' post='2360469'] I never saw that happen. Maybe you follow a different Flea to me. [/quote] Maybe. 'No trickery. No choice, but no trickery'... 'No choice' implies they didn't want to but had 'no choice'.

[quote name='MiltyG565' timestamp='1391704100' post='2360433'] So the only thing that was alright for them to do was say "No thanks buddy"? Is that why you weren't playing the Superbowl half time show then? [/quote] I would have done it, without a doubt. I just wouldn't have taken to twitter afterwards to cry about how I really didn't want to...

[quote name='MiltyG565' timestamp='1391703271' post='2360423'] Because you can't understand something, and seem completely intent on being overly cynical on the whole thing without actually reading the links posted and the discussion on this thread, does not mean that it makes no sense. [/quote] True. I don't understand hypocrites but it must make sense because there are plenty of them floating about! Plus, playing (sorry, miming!) for free so you can line your pockets later thanks to the exposure is still money grabbing. Premeditated money grabbing.

[quote name='dirtystatic' timestamp='1391517926' post='2357970'] I'm looking for a new bass for use in a Irish music band. I know bass isn't typically associated with traditional Irish music, but it works really well and it keeps me busy so I'm not complaining. I typically use a Fender P, I keep it low and thumpy and it does a decent job. But I think I make enough money from the band to warrant purchasing a dedicated instrument for the band (and also because I'll use any excuse to spend money on a bass). I want to go fretless and get something approaching the sound of an upright, it also has to be more "traditional" in appearance. So far I'm looking at various electro acoustics, the Kala U-bass and also the Epiphone Zenith. Any thoughts or suggestions for me? Also, I should mention that I'm not interested in graduating to full upright just yet. No room! [/quote] I played in an Irish folk band and used a precision with flats exclusively. I then decided to get a cheapish electric upright as I felt similar to you about wanting to keep in with the traditional element of the music. A few hundred quid, no difference in the mix, a handful of awful gigs and countless setting up/EQ/feedback issues later (the end pin loved picking up EVERY vibration going!) later, I went back to the precision. Save your time/money and keep the precision IMO.

[quote name='MiltyG565' timestamp='1391701576' post='2360395'] They don't pay the acts of the half-time show. It was never about money. http://business.time.com/2014/02/02/bruno-mars-red-hot-chili-peppers-super-bowl-halftime-show/ [/quote] So they threw their principles out of the window (sorry, were MADE to) just to play to a bunch of people who have spent the last two decades not listening to their music whilst contradicting themselves publicly to their existing fans? That makes no sense AT ALL.

Try an Ibanez SR300. It's a must-try if you're looking for something under £300. Really impressive build quality, active circuitry with 3-band EQ, 24 Fret slim (very slim!) profile neck, lightweight and comes in Iron Pewter (black subtle sparkle!), Candy Apple Red, Orange (subtle sparkle), White (subtle sparkle), Purple and new this year, Forest Green (although they aren't available for a little while yet!).

To be fair though, I could understand giving up on your principles if you're a new band just getting on the scene and get offered a HUGE gig... But the RHCP are hardly struggling to fill a gig. They do headline stadium tours around the world and have done for a LONG time. I doubt they really NEED the opportunity. IMO, they're worse than One Direction. One Direction are riding their wave of success and are miming regularly because they don't have enough talent not to. The RHCP are sacrificing their own, publicly expressed principles and belittling musicians who can play (including themselves) by miming. Desperately grabbing at some extra cash and trying to get a moment in a slightly larger limelight wouldn't be worth it in their situation IMO. Also, if you are happy to throw your principles out the window for the dollars, be honest and say 'screw it, they offered us too much to turn the chance down!'... Don't start tweeting pretending like you were somehow FORCED to mime. You could have just said no if you genuinely didn't agree with it.

[quote name='LukeFRC' timestamp='1391631668' post='2359574'] I prefer to be on the snare side of the kit. You can see the snare and both feet that way. For right handed drummers that is the left hand side of stage (looking at band). Visually my bass will move the eye inward and down too.... towards the centre of the stage [/quote] +1! I like having my bass cab playing in my left ear and the hi-hat/snare/bass drum in my right... If I was on the other side, id just get cymbals and floor tom! Plus, the drum kit creates just a nice amount of white noise to mask the guitar/keyboard enough to ignore them when I'm wanting to lock in with the drummer but to tune back in if cues are needed etc :-)

I used to think I was a jazz player through and through but after buying my Nate Mendel, Ive gone full circle. Precision bass with a (near) jazz bass profile is my PERFECT bass. I'm very, very close to slapping some flats on, selling my jazzes and ending the GAS hunt!

I finally got time to take the photos from my camera, so here it is, for anyone who is interested. Fender Nate Mendel signature precision bass (before Seymour Duncan Quarter Pounder was replaced by Aguilar AG4P-60).

What a waste of megabytes...

[quote name='Roland Rock' timestamp='1391336706' post='2355809'] I've actually thought of this with my Hercules grabby-neck-hanging stands. The neck grabber doesn't rotate to ensure a proper vertical hang, and with both my headstocks being offset, I didn't like this. I unscrewed the grabber and then drilled and screwed into place at the correct angle. I think most wall hangers are the rotating type though. [/quote] I have the Hercules ones and they swivel to fit off set headstocks. You just have to pull the clasp towards you and it clicks into a new position that allows the swivel motion. Never had any problems with any bass neck since hanging them. I think the OP must have just been unlucky...

Just sold a flightcase to simon. Quick payment and great communications. Nice chap and highly recommended :-)