skej21

[quote name='molan' timestamp='1388611293' post='2324083'] To be fair I don't think anyone has said I shouldn't fit flats to an expensive bass. I think the core 'thrust' of this thread is the old favourite 'spending any more than £200 on a bass is a waste of money because my bass sounds perfect and that's all I spent'. It comes up again and again, often with a slightly different slant, but that's generally the gist of it. . . [/quote] Nobody has said it but the title hints that it's a negative thing to put flats on an expensive bass, presumably due to your 'great leveller' theory and how fitting them will somehow make the expensive bass sound like a £200 bass with the same strings.

[quote name='Beedster' timestamp='1388605926' post='2323993'] I think it's a logical assumption (flats being a WOT on a decent bass) until you try it. I was, to say the least, really surprised when I heard them on my Flea. Flats appear to sit in a rather retro/tame/vintage place on BC, I've heard that they're harder to play, that you can't play slap on them, that they don't work on active basses, and that they have no highs, all of which are wrong. The range of character, tone, frequency response, gauge, and tension of flats means that you probably can't generalise about them as a category anyway. In short, it was an understandable attitude [/quote] BIG plus 1! Also, does it really matter how great/sh!te flats sound on someone else's expensive bass? I like the sound of flats on my bass and that's all that matters. I'd never tell Molan/anyone that flats shouldn't be on his bass or suggest its a waste of his time, it's just pathetic (and mostly not based on any actual firsthand experience!)

I'm a big fan of the James Johnston Classic Vibe jazz bass. It looks great (lake placid blue is lovely IMO) and the quality is superb (the matching headstock is a nice touch too). I also really like the Classic Vibe '60s Precision too!

[quote name='hamfist' timestamp='1388601915' post='2323916'] There's no purple. It's a gloss black finish. What you think is purple is the reflection of a pink blanket in the finish. [/quote] Ah! That's what was putting me off. I imagine it looks nice on black :-) a greyscale Union Jack plate would look cool too!

[quote name='hamfist' timestamp='1388584828' post='2323645'] Am I the only bassist around with a love of flamboyant pickguards ? [/quote] I like the pickguard and I like the bass but together... Not for me I'm afraid. Purple (the finish) and blue (in the flag on the pick guard) just don't look right together for me!

I really enjoyed it (mostly)... I thought John Newman was unbelievably poor but enjoyed rudimentals without him. Lumineers were a bit pointless, they could have just put a YouTube clip on instead as it was pretty much an identical performance to the recording. Mel C has an alright voice and was ok but showed her popster approach to performance as she lacked any connection to the song and looking like her movements were a bit false, especially when compared to how amazing, soulful and natural Ruby and Charlie were. Dave swifts Fodera was HUGE and he's a big guy but it sounded great, his playing (as always) was brilliant and his Aguilar stack is just another source of GAS!! Everyone else was great. I particularly enjoyed Laura Mvula and pretty much watched it because of Haim! All in all, it was pretty good :-)

[quote name='Dom in Somerset' timestamp='1388579594' post='2323542'] I'm under the stage, I'm 6'2" , only 5' head room! [/quote] Ah. In which case, there's not much you can do. Most pits are uncomfortable, it's all part of the challenge/fun/experience lol!

I've had mine for a few weeks now. Totally stunning for the money! The nitro feels lovely, the quarter pounders are fantastic and have such a great range of tones (depending on where you attack the strings) and I'm actually really liking the black pickguard in the flesh! I am considering switching out the quarter pounder for something a bit less aggressive (I'm thinking maybe an aguilar ag4p-60) but that's a distant plan, I'm more than happy with the quarter pounder for the foreseeable future :-) If anyone is thinking about buying one of these, don't hesitate! Superb quality and a great price :-)

Jazz bass on a short strap for me. Sometimes precision depending on the sound needed (used it for hairspray as it was perfect!). Talk stalls (usually used by upright players) are good as you can sit in a half-standing position and it removes a number of issues. The bass sits well, you can see past people and you don't have to stand for the whole show. Worth a try?

[quote name='thisnameistaken' timestamp='1369167619' post='2085820'] I never go in Banks', although last time I did they had two of the Antigua reissues in which was surprising. I like the look of that bass, very surf-friendly. [/quote] Ah that's a shame! It'd be nice to have more bass players coming in for a chat, even if you don't fancy buying anything :-) (I do try and get as much stuff in that's interesting with my limited influence! Allen Woody rumblekat, Gibson EB13, Gibson SG Bass, Jack Casady, Nate Mendel precision, Antigua precision, Fender Lacquer classic 60s Jazz bass and Ibanez SR1200 have been a few of the cheeky highlights this year!) I am pushing VERY, VERY hard to get some Aguilar gear in but whether it materialises is out of my hands!

I know a little bit about amps, cabs, impedance etc but I've just got a question to all the guys/gals out there with really great knowledge about all things electrical! Having seen a conversion of a Fender pawn shop Excelsior from a guitar amp combo to a bass amp combo I'd like to try a similar project. Having seen the look of the new Fender pawn shop Vaporizer amps (info/pictures; http://www.musiciansfriend.com/amplifiers-effects/fender-vaporizer-12w-2x10-tube-guitar-combo-amplifier - to be released at Namm 2014!), I'd really like to have one converted to a small bass combo for my practice room and keep my aguilar/mark bass gear for gigging only. I know of a guy locally who offers to do this kind of thing but I'm thinking if it's pretty straight forward, I'd like to try it myself. If not, I'll admit defeat and give him a call! My question is, how difficult/how costly would it be? Thanks in advance and if answers could be as simple as possible, that'd be great lol :-)

[quote name='marcus bell' timestamp='1385856831' post='2293023'] What's your favourite bass you've ever played/owned and why.... Mine is my jaydee supernatural roadie 1981, reason being my dad gave it me a few years ago and I pretty much learnt everything I know now on it, and it plays itself, sounds awesome Aswell [/quote] Change *jaydee* for *Fender Geddy Lee jazz* and *dad* to *grandad* and this is pretty much the same thing for me!

[quote name='chriswareham' timestamp='1388257275' post='2320125'] The guitarist forgot her knickers? And her skirt? [/quote] Forgot her knickers AND her left-handed guitar. She's clearly talented if she can play a right handed guitar, left handed whilst wearing no knickers!

I'm just a person that happens to have become good enough at one of my interests that people will pay me to do it. It's a shame that my interest in football never went this way or I'd be rolling around like i had been shot on a beautifully cut pitch for £200k a week by now!

[quote name='gary mac' timestamp='1388140254' post='2318771'] That is some Christmas pressie and some better half. [/quote] It's a lovely instrument. Definitely a keeper. The better half is called so for a reason ;-)

Here's a picture of my new Fender Nate Mendel Signature Precision. I'd been admiring the one in my local music shop for months and the better half got it for me for Christmas. It's wonderful and the neck profile is great for a jazz bass fan like me! The Seymour Duncan quarter pounders are thunderous but im thinking of switching them out for some Aguilar AG4P-60 pickups, just to see if a more vintage vibe would be better. I'm absolutely in love with it though. Best. Present. Ever!

Precision for me. Never even had a tiny bit of interest in a stingray. Tried a bunch and they always disappoint my personal expectations of how a bass should sound.

Got a Fender Nate Mendel Signature Precision bass. Wasn't expecting it but apparently Father Christmas DOES listen during the year! Great surprise to wake up too :-)

[quote name='tauzero' timestamp='1387885471' post='2316781'] And then get a hard case... [/quote] +1... And maybe wait until it's a bit more dinged before fixing it!

If that's what I have to own to be 'not boring' I'll take the label and my jazz bass any day...

Took a lot of thinking but: Questlove Benny Greb Steve Jordan

These are one part of the new 'bass EXTREMEities' gift set. Doubled with the same gloves Scott Devine has, you'll be an unstoppable, stylish groove machine with unparalleled levels of circulation!

Here's mine :-)