skej21

[quote name='Hobbayne' timestamp='1391076679' post='2352871'] [/quote] I would like to respond to the creator of this: 'How much easier can we make it for you guys?'... How about some frets, smart ass!

[quote name='KiOgon' timestamp='1390934981' post='2351522'] Lovin the new breed of semi's that are around, Fender Coronado - aged cherry burst or maybe the Starcaster in CAR, bit worried about the short scale, then along comes the Limited Edition Epiphone Jack Casaday looks gorgeous in white & it's proper long [/quote] Apologies for bringing up the white Jack Casady! That's top of my list now too, followed by a TH500 and a pair of the new Genelec 8010s!

[quote name='Funky Dunky' timestamp='1390853941' post='2350493'] Skej, did you have heavier strings and then change down? What differences have you noticed with lighter strings? [/quote] All my basses came with heavier strings and I changed down. I just like being able to move the strings (for vibrato etc) but I honestly don't notice much difference when I'm changing between basses with heavier strings and my basses. I suppose it's like being a mechanic... They don't notice different clutch heights and steering etc, they just adapt quickly to different cars and I seem to do the same thing with basses/strings. I just like light gauge because I prefer the feel. There's not a huge difference in tone between light and heavy strings IMO, just gives a different feel and opens up different styles of playing (digging in with heavier strings, using more vibrato with flats etc)

D'Addario nickel wound 35-95 on two of my jazz basses, 40-100 on my precision and 45-100 Chromes on my '62 RI Jazz which appears to be REALLY light compared to everyone else!

[quote name='JamesBass' timestamp='1390847616' post='2350323'] So, I've just applied to finish my degree at a few unis and am after a decent audition piece, I'm really unsure about what I should choose. I want to do something that will impress, but isn't too safe, so no boring basic grooves really. Any suggestions oh wise members of BassChat?! [/quote] Maybe a solo performance of Teen Town? I did this for my final recital with a loop pedal (similar to the Michael manring version) and it went down a storm with the examiners.

[quote name='AndyTravis' timestamp='1390847548' post='2350321'] Limited to 500 worldwide I'd read, they've done a Noel Gallagher Union Jack Sheraton in greater numbers, think 1000 of those are happening. Gold Hardware would've been a winner on this. [/quote] Funny that... Gold hardware would've made me NOT want to buy this lol!

PICS as requested! Link for extra info :-) http://www.guitarguitar.co.uk/bass_guitars_detail.asp?stock=14012215060758

As the title suggests, Epiphone/Gibson are now making the popular Jack Casady signature in alpine white! It looks lovelysmd I think it's next on my GAS list!

[quote name='Paul S' timestamp='1390728701' post='2348583'] Size of hands has very little to do with neck width preference, I would say. There are plenty of female bassists who play 5/6 string basses. I have fairly large hands and generally prefer narrow width necks - yet can find some wide necks reasonably comfy. Necks can vary a heck of a lot in depth which gives another variable in how they feel. It really comes down to whichever you find most comfortable which, unfortunately, means a lot of trial and error. Maybe, if you need a lightweight bass, that is the place to start from. As a rule most Jazz basses will have narrow necks but are heavier (ok, not all, but most). Ibanez SR-range basses are very lightweight and have exceptionally narrow and shallow necks. A lot of the P-Basses can be lighter in weight but have wider necks - although some models will have shallower necks. Also you might want to consider whether you want an active bass or passive one. Again, that narrows down your choices. So, for the sake of discussion, if you wanted a Fender shaped bass with two pickups that was light in weight, active and had a skinny, shallow neck you could probably head straight for a Squier Jazz Bass Deluxe. While I have been typing this you added you want a retro sound. For me a P bass gives a retro sound, but I guess it is what type of retro sound you mean - both Precisions and Jazzes have been around a few decade. But at least that kind of eliminates the Ibanez/more modern sounding basses from the equation. Edit - Jazz/vs Precision tone - might be an idea to identify a song on which you particularly like the sound of the bass and post the YouTube on here - between us we should be able to point you in the right direction as far as tone is concerned. [/quote] +1... One of my students is 5ft 1 and she plays a 5 string precision which I think has quite a big neck profile and it doesn't bother her at all. It's definitely more about comfort than hand size.

[quote name='gillento' timestamp='1390643764' post='2347795'] Sorry, I didn't take pics before the the refin. In fact it was some kind of vintage amber. a bit darker than this: http://www.basssandiego.com/images/600_Alleva_Coppolo_LM5_Vintage_Tint_Body.JPG [/quote] Wise choice! The black is much nicer.

[quote name='0175westwood29' timestamp='1390503350' post='2346185'] epic new art work on the pickle! and like the look of the mxr univibe! andy [/quote] And all the modification features are on the outside!

[quote name='gillento' timestamp='1390558218' post='2346713'] Well, in the meantime I got back my bass. Dave did a great job! Here it is: the black one: [/quote] Ooooooof that is lovely! Any chance of a 'before' photo too?

I've tried the Way Huge Pork Loin, Green Rhino and Swollen Pickle when looking for a decent fuzz but found that the mini fuzz faces were better. However, the new Havatina Germanium Fuzz that Way Huge are releasing at NAMM looks to be a real winner (and the Dirty Donny Swollen Pickle will be getting a run through too!) http://m.musicradar.com/news/guitars/namm-2014-way-huge-launch-two-new-pedals-591918 Another couple of cool pedals to add to the 'try/GAS' list from NAMM! Dammit!

Jazz III XL Red for me (on the rare occasion I use them!)

[quote name='BurritoBass' timestamp='1390424204' post='2345400'] Insurance companies insist on it. Photos too (which for most of us really won't be a problem!) [/quote] This. Plus, the first thing I do when buying a bass/cab/amp is to photo the serial number and any unique grains/wood/dings (identitfying features) and then email them to myself. I can't imagine NOT recording details of my instruments/amps.

[quote name='flyfisher' timestamp='1390220294' post='2342660'] I don't doubt that story and others like it are huge problems for music shops. But the internet is often described as a 'game changer' and this is exactly the sort of thing that happens when something better comes along. How many of us keep a horse and cart for our travel requirements - after all, they're still available aren't they? Once upon a time they were the pinnacle of transport aspiration but were eventually superseded by something so much better that the vast majority of people chose the alternative. Sure, change sometimes adversely affects some people, but if that change is not to the benefit of the vast majority of people then it won't happen because people will stick with what they know. I don't think people were forced to give up horses in favour of the internal combustion engine - they chose it because it was better. What other reason was there? It's the same thing with high street shops versus online shopping, or email versus handwritten letters delivered by the royal mail, or warm comfortable shopping malls compared with trudging all around town. Times change. If they didn't then we'd all be living far poorer and less comfortable lives. [/quote] True, although I'm not sure your argument is entirely sound. In your example, it may be true but high street music retail versus online music retail is that one is largely cheaper, not nessecarily better. I suppose the one big advantage of that is that most large online music retailers have a total lack of knowledge and interest in maintainence of instruments. We make a lot of money doing set-ups and restrings and other obvious bits (that all our instruments in store get upon arrival) because online retailers don't bother. They just send the guitar in the box that it arrived to them in, often without even bothering to open it. Swings and roundabouts I suppose :-)

[quote name='mentalextra' timestamp='1390160361' post='2342169'] A friend of mine had a punter crash a car on a test drive and run off! Try sorting that mess out! [/quote] Some people are just amazing!

[quote name='Wally' timestamp='1390157590' post='2342112'] Perhaps. As Skank alludes to. What about some sort of 'megastore' hosting gear for multiple manufacturers where a soundproofed booth was a tenner for an hour, or fifteen for two and all sorts of guitar, amp and effect combinations could be tried out in that time. You'd have to order whatever you might then want to purchase but leads and picks etc would be in stock as usual. [/quote] Personally I think that companies like Gibson, Fender etc should offer all offer a demo instrument of their choice to each retailer (cost to be split between retailer cost and manufacturers 'marketing'). If they insist on having stocking requirements and buy-ins and laying down rules to keep dealerships, they should also offer a demo instrument so that shops can have them hung up with a 'WANNA PLAY A *insert brand name* TODAY?! JUST ASK A MEMBER IF STAFF TO TRY ME!' sign. That means anyone fancying a quick ten mins jam on a guitar to fulfil their playing Tourette's/attention seeking tendency can do without damaging shop stock, the manufacturers get more people playing their instruments and it means the actual stock is less likely to be damaged prior to purchase by a genuine buyer.

[quote name='Big_Stu' timestamp='1390156931' post='2342094'] That's disgusting. I read a long time ago that signs such as "All breakages must be paid for" haven't got a prayer in law, don't know if that's true or not? Couldn't you have done him for criminal damage for such an expensive item, if you'd called the police in? [/quote] Not really. If we let people play the instruments, I suppose we're responsible for them. It's losing money on items like this that cost the high street stores money that online businesses will never have an issue with. The ironic thing is, it's the people who feel it's their right to try everything in the shop without an intention of buying that are the first ones to pull lines like 'well it's the last/only one in stock, therefore it's ex demo so how much are you going to knock off' or 'what's your best price?'... I had a guy pull the first one on me about a Gibson custom VOS SG the other day. How likely is it that ANY shop is going to stock more than 1 of the same model of Gibson custom VOS SG?!

[quote name='LukeFRC' timestamp='1390153954' post='2342025'] Would I pay a small fee to try out a bass? no- put this way, it's my money in my pocket they want me to spend- and if they want me to spend it with them they'll let me try things. I do have a policy of not trying anything unless a) I'm actually looking to buy or the shop offer to let me have a go first. [/quote] It's a shame there aren't more customers like you. We had a gent today who came in, unlocked a guitar on the wall (ie helped himself despite 2 of us asking if he was ok or needed help etc, to which his response was a flat 'no'). He then dropped the guitar (acoustic) cracked the back, passed it to me and said 'here *passes instrument*... Sorry', walked out of the shop and so we now have to recoup the items cost despite the damage which he hasn't paid a penny for. Personally, I think it's this kind of issue that is killing the high street music shops. They can hold less stock so don't get bulk order discounts plus staffing costs and damage of stock pushes the price of instruments up and makes it so difficult to compete.

[quote name='benbastin' timestamp='1390045714' post='2340803'] A [url="http://www.dv247.com/microphones/se-electronics-z3300a-condenser-microphone--20585"][font="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"][color="#000000"][size=2][b]SE Electronics [/b][/size][/color][/font][color=#920001][font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][size=2][b]Z3300A[/b][/size][/font][/color][/url] should shoudl fairly nice, £185 on dv247 a used [url="http://www.dv247.com/microphones/akg-c-214-large-diaphragm-condenser-microphone--51651"][font="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"][color="#000000"][size=2][b]AKG [/b][/size][/color][/font][color=#920001][font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][size=2][b]C 214[/b][/size][/font][/color][/url] could be a good bet also. [/quote] +1 for the AKG C214. Lovely mic and about £299 new so you should get one second hand at a reasonable price :-) I use one for recording double bass, acoustic guitar, vocals, my bass cabs for electric bass and always get a great outcome.

[quote name='gjones' timestamp='1390073822' post='2341233'] Edit: How did the word 'bastards' get through the profanity filter? [/quote] If you type swearing in a Yorkshire accent like Sean Bean, it goes through... http://youtu.be/5C8IuThoWuU

I'm thinking about getting another looping pedal after falling out of love with my Digitech Jam Man a few years ago and selling it. I've heard great things about the Ditto and the Ditto X2 looks awesome too! http://www.tcelectronic.com/ditto-x2-looper/ If anyone has any experience with either (I know the X2 is pretty new!) it'd be cool to get some opinions before putting my hand in my pocket!

[quote name='yorks5stringer' timestamp='1389959809' post='2339940'] Speaking of celebrity Bass endorsements [url="http://www.premierguitar.com/blogs/5-daily-news/post/20168-cort-introduces-the-jeff-berlin-signature-bass"]http://www.premiergu...-signature-bass[/url] It will be nice when it's finished... [/quote] Does it have the same unique bitterness of tone as the man himself talking about Jaco? :-P