LukeFRC

Cheers for the replies guys - I was on holiday so not been super quick replying! (and it's something to think about) - I've gone through the whole basschat fueled GAS stage.. .and luckily tried pretty much everything I want to try - so that's good. That's not to say picking up a Fodera in bass direct wasn't a "ooh this is nice" experience - but I've gone through gear enough to know that an expensive bass won't make me a better player. [quote name='Fionn' timestamp='1467531917' post='3084249'] Aye, I did exactly that. I downsized from 4 basses to 2. Both of my "go to" basses were Warwick's too. A SS1, and a Thumb, I also had an old Aria SB900 fretless, and a bitsa P-Bass. I decided on keeping two basses that would give me as broad a pallet as was possible, considering the options. The Aria fretless was a no-brainer, and keeping one Warwick was a certainty. That was difficult, as I cherished them both, but seeing as I was consolidating, I went for the most versatile of the two (the Streamer). That was a good decision. Only after the Thumb Bass was gone, did I fully realise how totally perfect the Streamer is for purpose, and how much I'd always naturally favoured it in almost every way. But, you know how it goes, the Thumb had this going for it, and that, etc, etc, blah, blah. Truth is ... I didn't need the Thumb bass, and as great as it was, it was an expensive and unnecessary luxury. Like the bitsa P-Bass, just stuff that I didn't need (Fender-type sound included). So I now have only two basses. One lively, active, fretted, with round-wounds, and that whole vibe ... the other being mellow, passive, fretless, flatwounds. Very different instruments which offer a lot of vatiety and range (the SB900 is also very versatile in what it does too). I can find whatever sound and feel I want, between the two. Although they are very different, they're both bass guitars at the end of the day, so I've always got a back-up bass. Why not keep your favourite Warwick, and something else that will give you a totally different sound and feel? If you don't have such a bass, then I'd be thinking about what bass would best fill the space, and I'd sell the other three basses to fund it. Two works for me. Less clutter and distraction that way. [/quote] Useful to have direct experience of the same conundrum with a streamer and a thumb in the mix. Since I've got back from hols he Thumb has been getting the playing time - but that may be cos the strings are dying on the Streamer - so got a new set of DRs to treat her with [quote name='TimR' timestamp='1467564667' post='3084580'] I have three basses. One I play. One that is in a hard case and comes out if my main bass fails. It only failed once, when my backup bass was a home. One that is in the loft, I'll never sell it. Mainly because it should be thrown in the bin, but it was my first bass. When I bought my bass I spent a very long time looking for it, close on 7 years of searching. In the mean time I didn't buy something that was nearly right. I've had it for 15 years now. [/quote] what is it out of interest? (the one you spent 15 looking for)

[quote name='JTUK' timestamp='1469388990' post='3097949'] I use Barts elsewhere... and I just am looking for a pickup to complement a Glock pre amp. Something transparent---ish ( i dislike that term as it implies 'true' which not not be the case at all..) but I don't want a huge lot of influence on the sound. In that respect I have always thought some stock pickups rob you of nuance.. as they are too forced. But the real driver behind the propsed pickup swap is balance... I'll only really know how 'poor' they are with a brand new set of strings..I think. [/quote] I tried glock 2 band with a Bart Pj set in the streamer- wasn't a good mix. I had a treble control above anything that made a difference and a bass control that was either overpowering sub bass, flat or no borrow end. Possibly it was the sound of the bass rather than the pups that didn't fit - and maybe in a fender style bass they would work.

[quote name='JTUK' timestamp='1469387095' post='3097929'] I'm looking to replace some fenders.... was looking for some ideas/feedback. hmm [/quote] slightly different sound to your trad fender sound. Bubinga5 is right - take your fender pickups, replace them with the best fender-a-like pickups out there and then add very expensive cream... Barts and Nordstands are my fave pup makers i've tired - v. different from one another though.

I've a Bart PJ set in my streamer - its a fairly bright bass with a sharp attack - where the original MEC sounded like a machine gun the Barts just sound lush. My pink stingray-a-like bitsa has a bart MM going into my clone of a pre EB preamp - again sound amazing. Great pickups

Berg b-Amp is literally tailored to fit isn't it?

I just stopped practicing. 26 frets here. One thing - I don't really think it matters too much tbh - 24 is nice... but I prefer the sound of slapping on a 20-21 fret neck to a 24 fret....

Also use an iPhone iPad app for church band called onSong You have your music loaded up and can change key and or capo on the fly - what's really cool is that the set of music we are playing gets blue toothed over to me at the start and if the band leader decides to add a song mid set they can magically add it to my set list! While it's always better to just learn the song it's a useful bit of software

Sometimes chord sheets are a bit of a crutch - you've got the chords in front of you and get into the frantic read then move 4 frets game.... I've found if I look at the chords to work out the key and then don't look at the chords at all in the genres of music I'm familiar with I can just play by ear and memory. If I had the chords there I would keep going back to them and keep getting lost.

[quote name='jassbass' timestamp='1467198742' post='3081809'] I'm really unsure what bass to get,Ive got one cheapish jazz,I've had to cut right back to buy PA etc for new band. I'll have £400 maybe upto £500 at a struggle.I've lusted for a pbass but not sure. I play the usual pop rock,funk,blues I've been through alot of basses in last few years.what will I do lol [/quote] What's left on your "want to try" list?

[quote name='bassman7755' timestamp='1467534609' post='3084257'] Are your warwicks both humbucker loaded ?. [/quote] streamer has Bart PJ and thumb active SD jj

You need to tell us more about what you use each one for, how you find it etc

[quote name='spongebob' timestamp='1467369998' post='3083132'] I have a 2 bass max...works (quite) well! [/quote] what I used to have... Don't know how I ended up with 4! Oh and to clarify - if we had family it wouldn't be them taking my basses off me - more the lack of space - personally I find if its sat hidden in a case somewhere then it doesn't get played. Ild rather make a decision to have 2 great basses than have lots but they are hidden clutter that in reality I'm not so connected too

We've been decorating our house so all the basses have been stashed in cases for months now, still play - but not as much as ild like. So been thinking, I've finally found a "keeper" amp - walkabout is amazing and the scout cab is cool - if I need more cabs for something in the future I can buy more cabs. Currently I own 4 basses - 3 amazing ones and a homemade bitsa. While we've been decorating I've only been grabbing one of them. At some point we may want a family - and in which case space becomes a premium. It just struck me that I could quite happily downsize to two basses and be totally happy. Anyone done similar? And how do you choose? My Dilemma- My two "go to" basses are both different flavour of Warwick - but then loose that trad. Fender "type" sound...

Neither JV or SQ would have had a truss rod access slot. Need more photos to tell more

I did that whole uncoloured thing - hellborg pre into power amp into acme b2 All of the above are good... Glockenklang and barefaced big series also good. I've ended up with a Mesa walkabout - it's just more fun sounding

Phase issue? try switching the wires earth/live round on one of the pickups?

if you go the DIY route (and I recommend you do) I've got a spare PCB for the 2 band pre ernie ball MM preamp you could have. I built one up with tantalum caps and stuff for a MM clone I made - sounds great. (though the bass hardly gets played)

neck relief make it straighter and raise the strings- and or check for a hump in the neck or a shim in the neck raising the heel of the neck a wee bit. ... or if you have got a fair bit of relief and have lowered the bridge to compensate... straighten the neck and raise the bridge...

What Ped said - look after things but don't be precious about them.