Looper

I'd say sell it and buy one you do like the sound of. You could easily shell out for more mods and still not like the way it sounds, where if you can try a new one out you'll know what you're getting before you spend anything. Lots of debates on here about what really makes a difference to the sound, strings, pick-ups, bridges, tone woods, paint finishes and so on. I'd say if you don't like it, you don't like it, so change it.

Saw this on Thomann a couple of weeks ago before it was available. Really like the look of it. If anyone buys one will you let us know what it's like. Looks too good to be true.

My first bass, bought for me at the age of 13, was a secondhand franconia jazz copy, sunburst. Soon joined by a 25w lead amp that somehow didn't tear it's self apart. Total cost, less than a hundred quid. Hours of fun, jamming, letting rip when no-one else was home. Was a really crap set-up though. No wonder I gave up for years. Anyone even heard of franconia?

Thanks for all the replies, I'm in the arse end of nowhere so unfortunately whatever i buy i wont be able to try before hand. Just want to get something better than what i have really. I'd lean towards japanese, never known them to build anything badly. Got to decide on whether to go for a p or a j as well. Must be great to be able to go into a shop that has more than two basses in it!

Just to throw in my inexperienced ha'penny's worth. I'm trying to decide between a p and a j for my next bass so I've been listening to some of my favorite bassist recordings. First, john paul jones on lemon song, he's playing a jazz and it sounds like what you'd expect from a jazz. Then billy cox on band of gypsies, low booming muddy sound, but he's also playing a jazz (as far as I can see). Lastly larry taylor on tracks like time was, sounds like a jazz put he mostly played a precision. Seems to me the sound you get to hear is a combination of the bass, the amp, the recording set up and possibly the most important is actually the technique and style of the player. Go on, shoot me down in flames.......I'm already bailing out!

Hi, I bought a gear4music acoustic (4 string), was ok but it buzzed on more frets than a bubble bee in a guitar shop. I made a new bridge to bring the action up and it was fine. Then one of the machine-heads broke (which they replaced with no questions asked). All in all I got what I payed for, a cheap guitar to take to the pub.

Thanks for the reply, I'm playing a mid-eighties Hohner p-copy. Not a bad guitar but in need of work and worth half nothing! I'd be looking at a second-hand mid range fender as a replacement, too many mixed reviews of the mexican ones for my liking. Thanks for the suggestion. I know it's daft but I couldn't get past having squier on the headstock.

Hi all. I'm looking to upgrade my bass and I'm trying to get one of the cheaper fenders. There two I'm considering at the moment, an eighties japanese model and a newish highway one. Anyone got any thoughts on which might be a better buy, or which of the other lower end fenders might be worth looking at. I'd be playing quite old school music so just looking for solid passive sound from a well playing guitar. Thanks for any ideas you might have.

Thanks, will have a look. How do you think a mex Fender would compare to my Hohner? Have read such mixed reviews and not had a chance to play one.

Hi BassBus, Thanks for the reply. I'm in the west of Ireland, middle of nowhere, so would be looking to buy online which isn't great as I wouldn't be able try before I buy. That also makes it hard to know what to spend, I'd be taking a chance whatever I pay. Like I said my Hohner is a bit knackered and would probably cost a couple of hundred euro to put right, and they sell for less than that. If I could get something that would be considerably better I'd maybe go to four or five hundred euro (£300 to £400). Just don't want to end up with something not much better than my trusty Hohner.

Hi, I'm thinking it might be time to upgrade my bass, I have a mid-eighties Hohner professional p-bass that is a bit knackered. Just wondering what might be a good step up from this, something that plays better without going crazy. I've not played many basses so I don't really have a bench mark, I like it more than the squire I played but was blown away when I played a 70's tele. I'm about 180 miles from the nearest shop with any real selection of basses so trying stuff out is tricky! Any opinions would be welcome. Thanks.

Thanks, that answers my question. I'll leave it be. Cheers.

Hi, just wondering if anyone has any opinions on when pickups should be replaced? I have a 25 year old bass which still has its original pickups. The poles have a bit rust on them but they work fine. Do pickups suffer with age? Would it be worth replacing them? Any thoughts? Thanks.

Hi, one more quick question. What would anyone think is a fair price to pay for one of these? I'm in ireland so things are a bit dearer here, but just looking for a ball park figure to work from. Thanks again for all the input.

Thanks guys, will check it out.

Hi, I've seen a secondhand peavey tnt 115 for sale, just wondering if it would be loud enough for small pub gigs? Anyone got any thoughts about these? Good, bad or just what it says on the tin? Thanks.

Any thoughts on the Laney rb8 combo? If not it looks like the ashdown will be the way to go. Thanks all.

I see. Very carefully, but very well put.

Thanks, I think both the roland and the fender would be out of my price range. Anyone got an opinion on the Ashdown MAG C115-300-EVO 2 Bass Combo? Or the Behringer BXL3000 Ultrabass Bass Amp? Any ideas why the behringer is £100 cheaper, are they £100 inferior?

Hi, wondering if anyone can recommend a reasonably priced amp for doing small pub gigs? I've been looking at 300w 1x15" amps, but don't know if thats too much or too little. I'm not looking for anything fancy, just something that can play clean and loud. Any suggestions or advice welcome. Thanks all. Thanks dannybuoy, I'm in the west of Ireland, no-where near anything. I'd probably have to buy on-line, so I'd be looking at new. I'm playing in a cover band, the guitarist is playing an electro-acoustic, and the percussion is a bodhran player. Doing a mix of stuff, beatles, kinks, stones, that kind of easy going stuff. My budget is whatever I have to spend to get something thats up to the job, if I can get something good for around £300 I'd be pleased. Thanks again.

Hi all, just joined the forum. I'm just starting out on the bass, I played a bit in my teens but haven't played for years. Just hoping to get some advice on hardware really. See you on the boards!