Bigwan

[quote name='Crazykiwi' post='797311' date='Apr 6 2010, 11:00 AM']FWIW isopropyl alcohol does a similar job. However no amount of meths is going to prevent the wearing of flatspots on roundwounds or the stretching of the core. All strings go flat eventually. [/quote] Totally, but they'll sound new right up to the end! I'm a bit of a hoarder so have lots of old string sets lying around to try this with. They'll keep me going for YEARS!

My new string brand of choice - every set of strings I've ever kept! Bar breakages I can't see me needing to buy new strings for a LONG time! I recently got a precision from stinson of this parish and it came with some pretty old/worn/well played Elite's on it (not a bad thing - well used strings on a precision is the way to go for most of the stuff I'd play!). I was heading to Sweden last weekend in March to record bass for my band's album (ex-band now, exited on a high!) and wanted to use the precision (my wedding present from her indoors!). Being a bit strapped after settling my CC bill, I could only afford one replacement set of strings... ended up I didn't need them at all! Having forked out some major cash for strings in the last few years I started to contemplate boiling them again - hasn't everyone tried it in the past? Well after a quick search on google, here and 'on the other side' I found a lot of references to using methelated spirits (or denatured alcohol if you like) and building a string cleaning tube. I'm just about the most lazy person when it comes to things like that so thought a 2 litre harribo box (other brands of tooth decay are available) with a lid would be perfect for the job. Add a litre of meths, coil up the strings, drop them in the meths, put the lid on, quick swirl about and leave them submerged for 12 hours. Quick pat dry with one of those disposable blue cloths and hang them up on a wire coat hanger to dry for an hour - hey presto - fresh strings! I couldn't believe how well they came out! They sounded like new, but with the advantage of being pre-stretched and with the feeling under your fingers of played strings - I find SS strings feel a bit weird straight out of the packet. I'm well chuffed!

I recorded a hard rock/metal album (mostly) with my precision last weekend and it sounded amazing! I hated these things for years but am totally sold on them now!

[quote name='dub_junkie' post='792570' date='Mar 31 2010, 10:15 PM']I'm pretty sure I have your Bongo 5 these days. It came to me in a trade deal with bigwan for a 4HH also sapphire black with moonstone PG.[/quote] It's the same bass. Still loving the 4 string mate!

There's nothing wrong with Ashdown's earlier amps - their pre-EVO series ABM amps are pretty bomb proof. I'm not a fan of Ashdown cabs though, and suspect that may be where a lot of people have a problem. As a result of people thinking Ashdown's aren't up to much you can pick up a 300 watt head for under £250 - the steal of the century if you ask me. Especially keep an eye out for people selling the early ABM200. It's a 300 watt head in disguise - they were never 200 watts, and that's straight from an Ashdown employee. It's a good time to be looking at second hand gear...

For £300 there's not a great deal to choose from new, but used you have greater scope. The Ashdown ABM 1x15 combo here [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=73168"]http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=73168[/url] would be my first choice @ £300. I love my ABMs, other people hate them. As pointed out already - The Nemisis combo here: [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=75123&st=20"]http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=75123&st=20[/url] is also a good bet for your money. Also consider the Trace Elliot combo here [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=81813"]http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=81813[/url] - I'm not a fan of Trace Elliot but many are.

[quote name='biskitbass' post='787474' date='Mar 26 2010, 11:00 PM']Here's my Warwick Streamer Jazzman 5 string. Bolt on neck, ash body, wenge fretboard, my main bass. These were taken from a recording sesh last year and it sound amazing on the record!![/quote] I have to hold my hands up. I'd never played a Warwick made after '95 that I liked, but I was in a studio in Stockholm over the weekend and spent some quality time with a Streamer Jazzman 5 and was TOTALLY blown away by it. It was the best setup bass I've ever had my hands on (PLEK'd) and sounded totally out of this world right down to the low B. It's on a couple of tracks on the CD I was playing on and sounds the mutts nutts! Might have to look at getting me one of those...

User error me thinks. As mentioned you haven't disabled the monitor mute. I'm using garageband 08 so it might be slightly different now, but on the track info pain in the monitor drop down box select On, or On with feedback protection. And invest in an audio interface - it WILL work... as Macs usually do.

[quote name='thisnameistaken' post='790784' date='Mar 30 2010, 04:40 PM']Lucky you, most of us have to look the part - to within certain tolerances - too. I think looks are an important aspect of something you intend to wear while a room full of people stare at you.[/quote] You've some neck going on about how the bongo's look when you're wearing that shirt in your avatar...

Don't be put off by the naysayers over the looks - they are awesome AWESOME basses. FACT. Mine won't be leaving the harem in a hurry!

You mean the Robert Palmer tune? I'll maybe get a listen tonight. Can't promise I'll be any help but a second pair of ears couldn't hurt - where are you stuck?

[quote name='lozbass' post='787183' date='Mar 26 2010, 05:49 PM']prices can appear attractive but you'll have to factor-in shipping, VAT, import duty etc.[/quote] Or a cheap flight and a quick sprint through the 'nothing to declare' aisle!

Definately try new, but buy second hand. One of the nicest basses I've played recently was the Squier Classic Vibe Jazz (while on honeymoon in New York just before Xmas). I was blown away. So much so that it has stuck in my head more than the $3000 Sadowsky's I played on the same trip. They're outstanding value and are starting to appear in the for sale forum here (the Sadowsky's were awesome too, but didn't quite have the same value to awesomeness ratio!). Also consider the Ibanez ATK - this may not suit everyone as it's physically quite a big bass for a 4 string, but sounds AWESOME. In my book it stamps all over the Ernie Ball/Musicman Stingray that it's modelled on (and which costs more than 3 times as much). There's one in the for sale section at the minute for £250. Bargain!

[quote name='molan' post='786333' date='Mar 25 2010, 09:06 PM']Lots of variables and they can make a huge difference to the price (both new & used). Nitro finish and upgraded fingerboards are both expensive & very desirable options.[/quote] Rough idea of prices with and without all the trimmings?

How much (ballpark) are you talking about for an LG5 second hand? (braces for impact and subsequent sharp intake of breath!)

[quote name='molan' post='785808' date='Mar 25 2010, 01:37 PM']Animated or static. . ?[/quote] I was wondering the same!

That's lovely Steve. I daren't play an LG5... I fear for what might happen!

Come on Steve - spill!

Status have been known to produce tight spaced fives in the past. 15mm spacing I believe. Don't know if they still do. As well as the Ibanez SR series the Yamaha John Myung 6 signature was tight spaced too.

Anyone looking at these needs to be careful (not in this case obviously since Bernie has OKed this one). I had a similar one for a while and it wasn't great - sloppy routing and finishing - things that wouldn't get past any decent QC. It would seem that some time after Bernie and Lowden 'parted ways' a job lot of remainder parts were sold uncompleted as kits and assembled outside the Goodfellow process. Be careful out there.

Try and play everything you can before you [b]make your own decision[/b]. Again, I think the atk is as good as most of the single H 'rays I've played/owned. Don't disregard G&L basses either.