Jamesemt

I don't fancy going on my own and don't have any bass playing mates...so does anyone want a lift?

Did you ever get one? I've just ordered one from the states...

Apologies for all the acoustic threads I've posted of late, but I seem to be going around in circles. There is absolutely nothing of interest locally so I can't make an informed decision by actually playing what I'm after!! I am looking for the nicest playing under £300 acoustic bass I can find. In order of preferance: 1. Ease of playing 2. Build quality 3. Nice electrified sound So what I'm getting at is I want a really well built easy playing bass for under £300. Not overly bothered about acoustic volume. The Michael Kelly Firefly and Crafter BA-400 can both be bought for £250 new. The Takamine EG-512 is slightly out of budget at about £330. Has anyone actually played all three and could recommend one or suggest something I haven't thought of? Am willing to go completely acoustic for now if it means I could get a better quality acoustic (just at home noodling currently, although may eventually do something with my current band and could get a pickup fitted...). Would I be better going second hand, if so what should I look for?

[quote name='Beedster' post='636015' date='Oct 25 2009, 11:43 AM']Hi James, hope all's well mate I owned a Brunswick acoustic bass a few years back. It was OK but nothing special and vey big. IIRC it cost me about £250 new. I bought an Ovation for about £150 more and the diifference was chalk and cheese in every respect. Chris[/quote] Cheers for that mate...looks like I'll give that one a miss

I've found this on ebay: [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/BRUNSWICK-ELECTRO-ACOUSTIC-BASS-GUITAR-STUNNING-VALUE_W0QQitemZ190343592370QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV?hash=item2c515cb9b2"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/BRUNSWICK-ELECTRO-AC...=item2c515cb9b2[/url] and wondered if anyone had come across them before. It looks the part but just wondered if it is likely to play as well as it looks!!

Cheers for that - will give one a try

I'm thinking of getting an acoustic bass in the not too distant future (might even be a xmas pressie!!) and was wondering what is regarded as the best of the cheapies - ie around £100. Kind of looking for the bass equivalent of the Vintage V300 acoustic guitar - one that seems to punch well above its cost price!! Any recommendations?

[quote name='Doddy' post='595887' date='Sep 11 2009, 05:44 PM']I'd seriously get a few lessons. Most guitar players who switch to bass play bass like a guitar player,with incorrect technique and most of all,with the wrong mind-set.They tend to not think as a support/groove instrument and more as a root/riff chugger. Don't look at it as a simpler version of the guitar, treat it as a unique instrument with it's own idiosyncracies. You will get more out of it that way. I know it's a generalisation,but I've seen it many times.[/quote] I don't agree. I played guitar for 15 years, before switching solely to bass about 3 years ago. The main thing is just to start playing some basslines and just seeing how you go. The main thing (as can be added to guitar playing) is to learn bass lines by ear - internet tab is killing musical ears!! I've never attempted to play guitar on the bass. Although to be fair I consider myself a bassist who picked up the wrong instrument 15 years ago!! Just be aware that you may not go back to the guitar!!!

I've been playing the bass for about 3 years now having played the guitar for about 15 years on and off. I've noticed that when I'm playing with my cover band I'm sliding into bass lines - a classic example which springs to mind is Never Tear Us Apart - as the bassline comes in I'll slide during the drum fill as a kind of lead-in. Is this a common practice or is it more of an amateur thing to do?

I'm having a custom build by Jon Shuker and am trying to work out what knobs to use. I saw some on a bass that were grey, looked like they were made of rubber with a White line on the top of them. They weren't smooth/round but were hexagonal, tall and thin. Any ideas?

Are you talking about a BL4? Regards the shape - want anything but a P shape pickup. Those Qtuners would be perfect if they have the necessary thump

Ok dumb question - is a precision pickup the same as a humbucking pickup?? Ie two jazz like single coils side by side?? On my custom bass a P pickup would look a bit odd

Bass Player seems to have become a bit pretentious in the last 6 months...or is that just me?

Hi guys, I am getting a custom bass made and want a definite sound from it. I realise woods play a part...but I'm a bit stuck how to get close. Whenever I play a Precision I love the low end thump but miss a bit of top end sparkle - if I switch to a jazz I love the top end but miss having the low down thump...so what's the answer? Tonights rehearsal really highlighted this as I was swapping between the two. I thought going active was the way forward - and does allow me to get nearer, but still not quite there. I have a pair of active Hohner jack basses with different pickups (one humbuckers, the other single coils). I seem to prefer the humbuckers to the single coils as the single coils seem too 'metalllicy' and harsh. I mentioned this to my guitar builder, who suggested that he can get some pickups custom wound to be mid scooped...but is this the answer? I like a lot of warmth which I think is part of the problem. Am I simply looking for the holy grail which doesn't exist??

Is it possible to get these tracks with everything but the bass to jam along to?