Rayman

No such thing as a dumb question, I've asked many over the years. As a general rule for me personally: Active bass (bass with a battery in it somewhere) - keep the volume controls on the bass down a little bit, they're more powerful mostly than passive basses, and can drive the amp harder. Passive bass (no batteries anywhere) - Go for it and whack it up as loud as you like. If the amp starts to clip or distort slightly, you know it's time to turn something down, and usually that's the volume or gain on the amp in my case. I can play a Fender precision for example (no battery, passive) through my amp, and clunk the strings like a jackhammer and there's no problem, as long as the amp gain or volume isn't on full or it'll distort. If I welly the strings on my Spector (battery, active) with the volume controls on the bass up full, I'll blow a ruddy great big hole in the front of my amp. So I keep the volume controls rolled back a bit (quite a lot actually) and the amp volume turned down lower than with a passive bass. It's always good at the end of the day to set the volume and tone controls to a place where it all sounds great to you. Sometimes that means turn it all up full on the bass, if so, back the volume off a bit on the amp to avoid distortion.

Glad you saw the light. I spent a lot of time and money putting a Nordstrand 5.2 and a John East EQ into an OLP Tony Levin, but it just never was as good as my bog standard 2EQ Musicman Stingray, just not in the same league at all. Like you say, a great backup, but that really was all it could ever be, even with all the kit stuck in it. The quality of the timbers, screws, machining, everything just are not comparable. A musicman bass just feels like quality the minute you pick it up. Since getting my fingers burnt financially on that one, I've never thrown serious money at a budget bass since, although I have "tarted up" a couple, but not on the same scale as that OLP. My Fleabass had an EMG put in it, new pots, socket etc, but not at the kind of cost I incurred with that Tony Levin bass. Good basses OLPs, [i]if[/i] you find a nice one, but not in the same league as the real thing IMO.

I'd love a decent recording setup. I've had years of band politics and I'm fed up with it, I just want to do something creative for my own amusement at home. However I'm thick and skint. So even if I had the money to get some gear together, I'd never be able to work out how to use it.

Don't mean to be thick, but is that a [i]bass[/i] we're looking at there? I've lived a sheltered life obviously.

[i]That[/i]....is a sexy looking threesome. I do like a nice threesome.

Well the arrival of the Ibanez Gary Willis Fretless has set the cat amongst the pigeons. I'm enjoying it so much, [i]that[/i] could be the only bass I take to the next gig. I spent all Saturday on it, then went back to the Spector for a bit, and thought "oh......." Could I [i]really[/i] end up with [i]just[/i] a 5 string fretless for everything I do?

[quote name='MB1' post='947165' date='Sep 6 2010, 01:15 PM']MB1. ...Downer! ...Was Expecting a cover of Thomas Dolbys...Key to Your Ferrari........................Coat Collected![/quote] Thomas Dolby.... blimey there's a name I haven't heard for a while. The Flat Earth was one of my favourite albums many years ago, Screen Kiss, what a great track. [i]Anyway[/i].....back to Jamiroquai, I guess I'm just one of those people who just likes what JK does. I'm not a T Shirt, badge wearing Jamirouquai fanatic or anything, but, I just love the music. Maybe I'm having a mid life crisis.

[size=1]well[/size]........... [size=1]I still like it[/size].

I've got goosebumps, it's fabulous. The bass tone is just perfect. [i]Love[/i] it.

The bog standard Ibanez K5 is a fantastic bass, another one I should've kept. I really think out of all of the basses I've had, including the Overwater and Sadowsky etc, although it didn't have the tone of those basses it certainly was the most comfortable to play of them all. It's one of the things that turned me on to the GWB35.

I like 'Body And Soul., and the live album just after.

Yes I do, and I've not heard it for years.

[quote name='Chris2112' post='945605' date='Sep 4 2010, 06:58 PM']I remember when I first heard that they were going to be making the Gary Willis basses in Japan for a huge price. I was quite put off - I'd have considered the old 4 string one.[/quote] I know. I really don't have a problem with it being made in Japan, they know how to make top quality stuff there, but over [i]three thousand pounds[/i]? Strewth that's steep, for a bass that claims to be a "No Frills" instrument. It is really rather sexy though, and like the fact that it's simple. I'll make do with the GWB35 for now though. Edit: who the heck is that young lady in your avatar? I'm sure I used to go out with her.

It won't ever stop I'm afraid. Good score though.

I was going to say, I thought he was a Rik player.

Since picking up the cheaper version yesterday, which I've fallen head over heals in love with, I'd have one of these: But 3K!?!? Serious wonga

The drummer and myself sit at the bar moaning while the singer and the guitarist get all the glory.

[url="http://www.soundpad.co.uk/webshop/new/guitars/bass/hofner/ignition-violin-bass/"]http://www.soundpad.co.uk/webshop/new/guit...on-violin-bass/[/url] Google will generally find anything you want. I can't vouch for the stores though, don't know them.