Lozz196

I moved recently to the Fender JMJ Mustangs, not because of arthritis but bad back, needed a smaller, lighter bass, and one where I could play more with my elbow by my side. I find it incredibly easy to play and it has a Precision type neck, for those who like Jazz necks I believe the Vintera range are thinner.

That’s pretty much how I have the controls on a Jazz, maybe a tad less at say 35%, I find it’s very similar sounding to a Precision but with a more defined sound.

I think Steve Severin of Siouxsie & The Banshees used to (maybe still does) use up strokes all the time.

Whoa, shocked to see this

Keep the good sound but when you get to wherever you’re playing add in more highs and some mids - high mids if possible. I’ve found that a slightly abrasive scratchy sound on stage translates really well into the audience.

Agree Chris, with the quality of smaller products now loud doesn`t have to be big & heavy, and similarly I prefer to have amps ticking over rather than on full-pelt.

Looks great, one of the few venues left that I`ve always wanted to play

Fortunately the JMJ Mustang has Precision sized neck - it’s quite a chunker.

That’s a good point @ezbass, and whilst I’d no way compare myself to Geddy Lee whatever bass I play I sound like “me” as I eq them to get that “me” sound. So from there it’s choosing the bass that fits best, be it playability, weight, neck dimensions etc.

As many will know I’m Precision nuts, but I do find a Jazz bass works really well in rock. To be honest my preferred sound is much like trying to get a Jazz type sound from a Precision anyway, boosted highs, cut in the low mids, slight boost in low lows. I just don’t get on with Jazz necks. But now I’m playing Mustangs I find they’re somewhere inbetween a Jazz & a Precision so a bit easier for me to tone sculpt to what I’m after.

I have to admit I was the same with my Precisions, although the Mex basses are fine instruments I just didn`t feel "right" unless I was playing a US one, however since going Mustang I`m more than happy with my Mex JMJs. But if they were to ever make a US version, well I`m sure we all know what I`d do.

I’ve had a couple of Player Precisions, am currently selling one (white/pau-ferro). I’ve also got - and am selling - a Professional 1 Precision (white/rosewood). The Professional is better (for me), feels nicer in my hands but I’d struggle to describe £1000 of better-ness.

Yes that’s right, when I spoke with Ashdown they confirmed that, the 1x15 version delivers the full 300 and doesn’t have an ext cab facility.

Of course, good point, I’d forgotten about that, makes the GR Bass a bigger contender now.

As per my avatar, not gibbon arm length but not a chest warmer either.

Thanks Phil, just one of those things, need to adapt to it, luckily it`s muscular rather than anything more serious. Whatever I end up with will be for on-stage sound at venues where there`s lack of on-stage monitoring - any places that have a monitor for each of us and it`s ampless/Sansamp from now on, so it`s just a contingency item. Budget wise it costs what it costs, I`ve lots of gear I need to offload which more than covers what I`ll need - in the interim my RM500 & Barefaced will cover me. As a few of the posts have suggested I think GR Bass Aero Cube or the new Markbass MB58 CMD121 are where I`ll likely end up, both are small/light and powerful enough, I had the regular Markbass CMD121P before and it was plenty good enough. Given that hopefully I won`t be needing to use it I`ll prob go for the Markbass as it`s the cheaper of the two.

I used to go there late 80s

How do you find it in a live situation, is it powerful enough?

Yep, intro to Love Song is just a classic

Another shocking loss to the world of the low-end

I detect a certain sense of irony in the title of this post.

Of course, I`d completely forgotten about GR Bass Aero - good call, thanks very much.

Thanks Phil, yes it`s a back problem and a lot of the problem is bending over amps/cabs to plug in this lead & that lead etc, as well as the actual lifting & carrying, that`s why I want to have as little to set up as possible. Most of my gigs I can do with my Sansamp into FOH but every now & then I may need an on-stage sound, was just hoping that I can reduce the amount of items to both carry and set up to a minimum. The ideal I think would be Sansamp into powered cab.

Thanks all who`ve contributed so far, am getting a clearer idea now, I suppose the next question is what`s out there. For most of my gigs I`ll be going ampless using my Sansamp/FOH, but for ones where a backline is needed I want to reduce the amount of gear I take due to continuing back issues. My set-up is Ashdown RM500 & Barefaced Big Baby 2 but if I can end up with a powered cab that weighs the same I`ll be cutting down the need for an amp. Not the biggest amount of gear to remove but anything I can do I think I now have to.

As above, I’m not too technical, I get that you don’t need an amp with a powered FRFR but what’s out there?