alyctes

hi Matt I agree with Dad3353: learn to read as well. There's a thread here http://basschat.co.uk/topic/240960-researching-my-first-bass/ which you might find useful. Or not Welcome to the madhouse

a couple more points: - The strings make the noise; everything else fits around that. Spending lots of money on a bass, and then buying cheapo strings for it, can be a recipe for an expensive but bad noise. - Likewise, amplifiers put the noise out. They are not so glamorous as the basses, but without them, the basses are not really very useful. - Proper setup is nearly essential. Guitar shops will generally do this for maybe £20. New basses may well not be set up properly. Given your budget, you'll want to learn how to do this for yourself. But research it first!

Welcome aboard A P/J bass should sound exactly as P-ish as a P-bass of the same construction, if you set the J output to zero. It is worth looking at second-hand basses. See what's for sale here, and use the Feedback section to form an opinion of the seller. Most people here are honest and sane, and you'll generally get an honest opinion of what the thing is like from a player's viewpoint as well. In my opinion you can't really go wrong with an Ibanez SR300 as a starter. They are active, and you may think they look too metal-ish, but to my mind they have no other disadvantages. The neck is skinny, which may not be comfortable for you. (FWIW, I don't like metal...) Personally I want something which plays well and comfortably and sounds good, and I'm not too fussed what it looks like, but it depends what you want to do with it. Also worth looking at are the Peavey Milestones. Again, skinny neck. I'd try some basses out, to learn what you like as a player. Be aware that your taste may change as you learn. My experience suggests there is no bass which is "just right" forever; so it depends what you need. Good luck, and do ask questions

I don't like the colour, but I guess refins are possible

Well, damn.

Ended unsold...

Bought Paul's white P-pup. This is the second time I've bought from him, so it's no surprise that all went well. Thanks Paul

Peavey basses

And Bob Mould the following night

Bristol for me. And thanks

hm. I might take a punt on that, I'll probably be up there late next week. Hmm. Thanks for posting

[quote name='Happy Jack' timestamp='1404839711' post='2496290'] In all fairness, Jon, you're way closer to all those basses in Aberdeen and Perth ... [/quote] But still a long way away! From Aberdeen, anyhow.

I guess it depends what your bottom note needs to be. I like having a low D (low blue 7th if you're in E), so I experimented with DGCFBb for a while (i.e. tuned down a full tone from EADGC). Too much like hard work at the time, because I needed EADG tuning for something else, and trying to know both at once did my head in. If I was starting from scratch, or going purely to 5-string, I might try that route again. As it is, I have given up fives almost entirely. Either way, I'd be very reluctant to shift away from constant interval tuning.

Defretting it should reduce the weight...

Their volume is one of the reasons I've never seen them. I play bass, I need my eardrums.

Two or three years ago, I think. Definitely not last year.

welcome aboard

I'd be worried about the upper horn breaking along the grain, TBH.

Allegedly Japanese-made so I'm going to post it here http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Marlin-Idol-PB-26-vintage-bass-guitar-Teisco-Kawai-Japan-60s-short-scale-rare-/151341751929?pt=Bassi&hash=item233cabde79 It looks vaguely like one of those Russian 70s jobs, but prettier.