davidpike

I was just trying to change the stereo in my wife's car. I failed for reasons too boring to tell, but that's not the point. After re-installing the old radio (grrrrrr), I turned it on to make sure that it was connected properly, only to hear Ghost Town by The Specials, and I was reminded just how good it is. I sat there for the last 2 minutes of the song, in a darkened car on my driveway, so I could listen to the end. What's been your most recent rediscovered gem of a song?

Why not make them with a soft nylon insert, specifically designed to be smaller than the outside diameter of the shaft of the pot? The splines would the cut their own channels.

So, I went to the GAK Centre down in Brighton. You may remember I was thinking about a through-neck bass, either a Peavey Grind or a Washburn T24. From that you'd think I like modern design, subtle looks and natural wood finish. So I came back with this... My little boy likes it too! A huge thank you to the team (especially James) down at GAK in North Road Brighton who let me play damn-near everything in the shop, even with my little boy in tow (He was as good as gold. Well, nearly. He certainly didn't touch or break anything.).

Thanks for the advice, chaps. I'm afraid Warwicks don't do anything for me. Every time I've played one, they left me cold. I know they're popular, well built and have a very vocal following. It's just one of those "Chemistry" things!

Well I laughed. And I play a 5, a 6[b][i] and[/i][/b] a fretless. Not at the same time, you understand.

[quote name='jgmh315' timestamp='1391856897' post='2361992'] [url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/261390123533?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649"]http://www.ebay.co.u...984.m1423.l2649[/url] Don't know if this is of any interest to you? I hasten to add it's not mine or anybody's I know lol. [/quote] Thanks for the link. Luke, I've never really been taken by Yamahas or Warwicks whenever I've tried them, although I will have another look. I'd like a through-neck for several reasons. I like the idea of a nice warm sound with tons of sustain, and they often give easy access to the higher frets I must also say that I am a bit geeky (and probably a bit shallow) and so would also like one exactly because they are a bit different!

Hi all, I am looking to add to my collection. I have a 4-string, a 5, a 6, a fretless, an acoustic and a U-bass. My wonderful wife (who is actually responsible for me purchasing at least 3 of the above) has just one rule: [indent=1][b][i]"The next one has to be a through-neck."[/i][/b][/indent] There is a good chance that this next one is going to be my main bass for some time to come, so I want to spend a bit of time and get it right. I has to be a 4-string, and I would prefer passive (but I'm not going to be strict on this point). The short list is: [u][b]Peavey Grind[/b][/u] [u][b]Aria Pro II SB-404[/b][/u] [u][b]Washburn T24[/b][/u] I am a long-time Aria owner, my budget IGB 4 string has defied all (unintended) attempts to kill it over 20-something years. But I have no experience of Washburn or Peavey. The Ibanez BTB series only has 5- or 6-string versions, so Ibanez are off the list. The Peavey has a lot going for it, in that it is passive and has a 35" scale length. Also, it appears to be stupidly good value at just over 300 quid. Does anyone own any of the above? Are they well built, do they play nicely? Any comments welcome! Cheers

Don't know if it's a cool thing to admit, but I've always been a big fan of John McVie of Fleetwood Mac. Certainly had a big influence on me when I started out.

Very nice, I've only ever seen this in pictures. I'm guessing the chances of finding another are slim...

[quote name='BigBassBob' timestamp='1390581104' post='2347229'] Fender Mark Hoppus (2011) with US Standard Precision neck, HMV bridge, Nordstrand NP4, concentric vol/tone with orange drop cap, custom pickguard with the P route in the standard position (moved from the neck back towards the bridge with the second coil flipped the correct way around): [url="http://smg.photobucket.com/user/BigBassBob/media/2013-08-16183238.jpg.html"][/url] [/quote] That is lovely. Why, oh why, is Fender not doing this colour nowadays? Very jealous....

Here's my little collection. Basses by Stagg, Fender, Ibanez x 2 and Aria. Ukie-bass by Kala. Sofa by Harveys.

This is my Aria Pro II IGB-SPT. I bought it in '92, mainly because Billy Gould of Faith No More played one. It has been used and abused over the years. It has been thrown in and out of the back seat of the car, it's been dropped, bumped and knocked. The neck was replaced as the original was warped (thanks to the ever patient Nick at Kingfisher Music in Wycombe). I have replaced the electronics more than once - it currently boasts a Seymour Duncan Quarter Pounder (the bridge pickup is actually an empty cover). It sits around in the open, and I use it to casually plink when I have five minutes. The body has holes drilled in it from an ill-advised and poorly executed attempt to mount a scratchplate. By rights, it ought to go to the tip. But I decided to clean it up. I adjusted the nut to lower the action and gave it a new set of flatwounds (probably doubling its value, by the way). No one would ever want to buy it, but I wouldn't sell it anyway. All my other basses were several times the cost, and I don't enjoy them as much as this. It plays lovely and it sounds epic. Have you had a similar beast?

Thanks all for your suggestions. My ipod is now stacked with a real mix of stuff to listen to in the car (I spent nearly 5 hours in the car today!) and I'm getting a fairly broad (if shallow) country education. A special thanks to JapanAxe for his suggestion to listen to Bob Harris' radio 2 show. Iplayer, here we come.

Hi All, For years, I have avoided country music. Too many mental images of Dolly Parton, Billy Ray Cyrus and Line-dancing to get me interested. However, I bought my wife the latest Lady Antebellum CD for Christmas. We listened to it in the car and it's pretty good. So I started looking around (Spotify is wonderful!!) and I've come to the conclusion that I was wrong - there's a lot of very good music out there, particularly the modern country rock stuff. My problem is that I don't know where to start. Who's good? Who's influential? And from a bass player's point of view, who should be listening to? Please help... Cheers Dave

Hi All, Apologies if this type of post has been created before - please point me at the original if it has. I am looking to buy a new bass, and I have very specific requirements. The problem I have is that I have very few shops within easy reach and those that are never seem to have the instrument I want in stock. Searching on the web, the bass I want is in stock at GAK, Thomann and others. However, I am wary of ordering a bass online that I haven't actually played. I am a pretty experienced bass owner and feel confident that I can set up any well-built bass to my satisfaction, unless they ship a complete lemon. Does anyone have any comments, good or bad about ordering a bass online? Just as important, how do these companies react if the bass turns up and it [u][b]is[/b][/u] a lemon? Cheers Dave

My haul is fairly modest: Past Westone Thunder 1 Aria Pro II Magna 5-String Squier Jazz Fretless Fender Precision Lyte Fender Precision MIJ Fender Jazz MIM (The only one I really regret selling - it was wonderful) Now Aria Pro II Integra Spirit (and it's a right mess) Fender Jazz Fretless MIM (My joint favourite) Stagg AB703 Acoustic Ibanez SR-406 Ibanez SR-505 Kala U-Bass (My other favourite)

Hi all, My name is Dave, and I am a returning bass player after about 10 years of not playing. I bought a Kala U-bass last year, and I'm trying to get back to grips with my fretless Jazz. My fingers hurt. Looking forward to being part of Basschat. Seeya around Dave