neepheid

I've found that a 25W iron is a bit too weedy for doing big stuff like soldering to pot casings. You get ones with a "turbo boost" button so it's not too savage for little stuff normally but can give you extra oomph when you need it, that's quite handy. Also, soldering is a skill and an art. I've been soldering stuff on and off for years now, and I'm still crap at it. Crap in the sense that the end work will be functional and secure, but it won't be "pretty" (like neat and tidy pretty). Definitely have a few practice goes on some old stuff before you do it on something you care about. Other rookie mistakes I can think of - don't use the soldering iron as a prying tool while desoldering, that's not what it's for. Keep the tip clean otherwise it will gradually rot away.

[quote name='mr zed' timestamp='1360073367' post='1964358'] Pics please [/quote] +1, or none of this [i]ever[/i] happened

[quote name='hamfist' timestamp='1360050959' post='1963934'] It's definitely an option, but being an unusual bass it'll be a custom 'plate and therefor I expect not cheap. I'll get a quote at some point for sure. [/quote] Your prerogative of course, but I got the one off my Gibson Victory copied (can't get much more weird than that) and I don't remember it being too bad. Also, the very reason I got it copied was because some klutz had covered the original in something like silver hammerite and ruined it. Suffice to say, I'm not a fan of people painting pick guards You've got a lovely bass, if you're going to make changes, make them easily reversible. Once you factor in the evil paint you'll need to have any kind of durability, your time and the possibility for error and the potential damage to future real value, I'd say that painting your pick guard is a false economy at best. Rant over, ultimately it's your bass and your call.

Now that the Bass Doc seems to be back in business, would it not be better to get your existing one copied?

Yup, I seem to recall mine being 300 quid. I would guess that supply is now limited, considering the original Ibanez Promethean has been discontinued and the Harley Benton is nowhere to be seen. Also, the projected delivery date of 10th April would further suggest this. Having said that, it's still on the Beta Aivin website (the bods who make it for whoever) - [url="http://www.beta-aivin.com/English/Products/Bass/BT/English_205.html"]http://www.beta-aivin.com/English/Products/Bass/BT/English_205.html[/url]

It's not sold until the money's in my account/pocket.

No, my wife's tolerance of my hobby is that all of them get played. Any that aren't being played are to be sold.

Further justification for my comment - the neck on the Yamaha BB614/414 isn't super Jazz thin, it walks a pleasant middle road between Precision and Jazz and I found it very comfortable even though I like a chunky neck. I dislike Jazz necks. The other consideration is ergonomics. The Epi EB-3, bless it, is one of the most unbalanced basses there is. Even with a wide, grippy strap the neck will descend slowly towards the floor and you have to prop it up while you play. I had an Epi EB-3 as my first bass and it was basically an ornament.

Yamaha every day and twice on Sunday. I've owned both, so I feel qualified to make such a claim. FWIW I really liked the 614, I only got shot of it because it was supposed to be my throwabout bass and it being active only didn't sit well with that aim (for me anyway). To wit, my throwabout bass is now a BB450 (older, passive PJ, one of the 414's predecessors).

As said before, remember it's a two way thing, you're evaluating them as much as they're evaluating you. Relax, be yourself and simply enjoy it as an opportunity to play with different musicians.

See yous the morn... Even found my lanyard from 2 years ago, and already packed it. Unlike last year, when I found it and then forgot to pack it

It's probably made in the same factory as the Epi JC is or has been in the past. Anyone with a JC with a serial number beginning with P or R?

Only caveat to this is I find if the last practice before a gig goes too well then the gig isn't so good for some reason. Conversely, if I have a fractious, difficult practice before a gig, the gig goes well! I know what you mean though, last week I idly started playing "Unsquare Dance" (7/4 time), keyboard player picked up on it and after a couple of abortive attempts the drummer got into the 7/4 thing and it was great, really enjoyed it. Want to do it again tonight

Aren't you getting confused with Parcelforce?

[quote name='cocco' timestamp='1359532924' post='1956101'] Gibson in new bass pickup design shocker! [/quote] Don't be silly! That's the second most silly thing you could say about Gibson basses. The first most silly would be "Gibson in new bass bridge design shocker!"

[quote name='mckendrick' timestamp='1359503978' post='1956007'] Now why couldn't they have put that chrome on the non-reverse Firebird? The pricks have lost a sale, there. Do you think they care? Do you think [i]would[/i] care if they knew? [/quote] No, they don't care. Some people might argue that they never cared

I've owned an HA3500 head and used an HA5500 before. Nice amps, good tone shaping and a quite precise, focused, "modern" tone to them, but I suppose it depends what kind of cab it's used with. [quote name='BILL POSTERS' timestamp='1359484630' post='1955498'] But their Bass Strings, Oh dear oh dear. Horrible klanky tings. [/quote] They're my favourite strings! Just goes to show how different strings are, and how they feel to different people.

Link for you [url="http://www.premierguitar.com/Magazine/Issue/2013/Feb/GALLERY_NAMM_2013_Day_4.aspx?Page=27&#gallery"]http://www.premierguitar.com/Magazine/Issue/2013/Feb/GALLERY_NAMM_2013_Day_4.aspx?Page=27&#gallery[/url] Pic:

It doesn't sound good. A new person shouldn't come into a band and start dictating stuff. I'm all for fresh input, but this seems beyond that to me. I wouldn't do it to another band, and I certainly wouldn't tolerate it happening to any setup I'm involved in. One chance to compromise/wind his neck in, then bye bye. Majority rules.

'ere, who are you calling "wooly"? (Picture from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Wooly_Mammoth-RBC.jpg)

To fit in with the slanted neck heel, of course

[quote name='stingrayPete1977' timestamp='1359152772' post='1951011'] I would of preferred the normal Sabre bridge, you know the one all the G&L fans say is the best thing about G&L that was actually on the Sabre first but you have to let them have some enjoyment [/quote] I'm a G&L fan and I would say that MFD pickups are the best thing about G&Ls. Also the G&L Saddle Lock bridge is a refinement of the Sabre bridge, and it's all by the same guy, so can't we just get along?

Yamaha BB424, or 424X if you like a pickguard.