KevB

If you do regular live work I'd go for a half decent DI box / preamp. Something like the Bass Attack pedal would use less than half of your £150, stick the rest away for something else. I've used my Bass Attack pedal with 3 or 4 different amps and it made every one of them better than it did without.

Bought one a couple of years ago, probably soon after they came out. Coudn't get on with it at all, remains the quickest turnround of bought to selling on I think I've ever done on a bass. The sound was OK but nothing spectacular. Found the shape really awkward and the way the neck is positioned to the body it seemed like a really long neck, always seemed to be stretching to the headstock end. I'm not tall and don't have long arms so this might not affect a lot of potential buyers. The finish seemed OK but somehow a bit cheap and tacky in the flesh. Mine was black but a sort of dull matt black, not shiny. I think it would show wear very quickly. Definitley try before you buy with these, but I couldn't find anywhere that stocked them locally and took a gamble. Got virtually what I paid for it as it was mint condition so no big loss.

[quote name='Tinman' post='42490' date='Aug 7 2007, 03:17 PM']Yeah, you're right, the case is very badly put together, I really have to fight with it to get it closed.[/quote] I picked up a secondhand 2004 US jazz a while back and it came with an SKB moulded case which seems to be very well made, had no problems. Maybe you got a 'Friday afternoon at the factory' job? the jazz has quickly established itself as my main gig bass now, even the ric doesn't get a lot of use. It's had a badass III installed since this was taken:

I remember this coming up back in the old bassworld forum. The guy's a bafoon.

OK, I'll just let you have a taster... It's not mine btw, not even in the UK!

There's a genuine USA 5 string on ebay at the moment. Tried to include a link but it kept screwing up, eBay seems rather flakey at the moment.

Speaking of TBird copies, anyone know what the guy in the Bleeding Hearts plays (if it is a copy)? Should be a video & images linked on this page: [url="http://www.thingymajig.freeserve.co.uk/bleedinghearts/index.html"]http://www.thingymajig.freeserve.co.uk/ble...arts/index.html[/url] I saw them at a festival last weekend. The bass has some tiny logo right at the end of the headstock which I couldn't make out. Nothing in the area you would expect to see Epi, Gibson or Orville names. Otherwise it looked like a regular TBird. Never saw the back so don't know if it was bolt on or neck through.

Yours Is No Disgrace by Yes. This really is a bass tuition course crammed into one 10 min song. But not so technical that you come away thinking 'I'll never be able to play that'.

[quote name='mikeh' post='21010' date='Jun 20 2007, 08:25 PM']Ah black and maple, a colour combination that cant be beaten!!![/quote] You might like my 'P of unknown origin' then...

The Oxfam Arbiter is now over £250 with 4 days still left on it...oh well.

Am I missing something here? That last link seems to be to an acoustic 6 string!

I'm being rather drawn in by this; [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/1980-Schecter-USA-Made-Bass-Guitar-Nice-RARE_W0QQitemZ250126457265QQihZ015QQcategoryZ4713QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/1980-Schecter-USA-Ma...1QQcmdZViewItem[/url] I used to have one of the modern Korean built Schecters and it was a decent enough low-mid range active. I assume this is a rather different beast. If there was no other interest, after tax/import duty I reckon I'd be looking at the £350 mark. Would it make more sense to just look out for an old power jazz or a modded P instead?

Devils Advocates appearing Thurs 14th June at The Chestnut Tree, Mansfield Road Nottingham. Will be starting somewhere between 9-9:30, 2 sets. www.devilsadvocatesband.co.uk

Or if you'd rather not mess about with copies: [url="http://cgi.ebay.com/2000-Limited-Edition-Gibson-Thunderbird-IV_W0QQitemZ180126641601QQihZ008QQcategoryZ64402QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem"]http://cgi.ebay.com/2000-Limited-Edition-G...1QQcmdZViewItem[/url]

Just been listening to the latest Spocks Beard album (though I think it came out last year). Bassist is Dave Meros. Still wears his Chris Squire influence on his sleeve a bit but a darn good player and finding something of a style of his own on more recent albums. Some nice fretless work on one of the tracks.

....And here's another Kev also with a US Jazz and badass III. Spooky eh?

Still using the Samson Airline, works fine for me and dead easy to switch basses mid-gig.

Devils Advocates appearing live for an hour or so, Salutation Inn Nottingham. Sat 19th May. No admission charge. www.devilsadvocatesband.co.uk