sixdegrees

John Entwistle would famously put a brand new set on to sound check with, then replace them for the gig.

The steels eat frets! I was having my frets dressed every 3 months because of the damage caused using Roto 66s. Duff McKagan, Geddy Lee, Chris Squire, John Entwhistle, Billy Sheehan all use(d) them because of the tone. I hate them.

I just want to add that I'm in love with my 50s MIM P. I have the black/gold/maple version and the neck is to die for! I went back to playing my Jazz at the weekend, just to give the old girl a night out, and found it 'stiff' to play in comparison. It's the best feeling and sounding P I've played. The vintage frets are a big plus. I've just fitted a Hipshot D tuner to it so I don't have to swap basses mid-gig any longer.

[quote name='JayPH' timestamp='1343079280' post='1745040'] I have to say my P-Bass is winning the battle against my jazz bass. It holds it's own better in a live mix and suits the way I play more [/quote] +1 to this. I now use my P exclusively for gigs. More punch and cut than my Jazz. And I now find Jazz necks too weedy for my liking (my P has a 44 mm nut).

I suffer the same problem and I put it down to technique. I find I have to brush the pick-up with my finger tips, and angle my right hand forward, to make sure I'm using the soft pad of my finger to get a consistently 'plummy' tone. But this, as you mentioned, compromises speed. You're not alone and I'd be glad to hear of any tips.

Wunjo's have great staff. And are always happy to let you try stuff out. Always happy to do a deal too (they offered me a bass that retails at over 600 quid for 400. But it was the wrong colour for me). They offer lifetime servicing and set-ups free of charge too. Glad to hear they've taken over the bass reigns from the miserable 'don't touch it unless you're gonna buy it', or just plain ignorant, attitude that came with entering the bass cellar.

John Deacon would be a good example too. You can really tell when he used a 'Ray on stuff like 'Another one bites the dust'. For me, the Stingray sound is like a Jazz bridge pup sound with guts. Almost like the solution to wanting a Jaco sound that will sit well in a band mix.

What ever suits the song. I use fingers as much as possible but if the song needs a pick, I grab a pick.

I'm a relatively recent convert to Precisions. I found the bridge pickup on Jazz's unusable in a band setting (unless soloing), and exclusively used the front pup. Even when I had a hybrid I found myself forgetting that the bridge pup was even there. P Bass, tone wide open - does everything I ask of it.

[url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/La-Bella-Deep-Talkin-Bass-Strings-Vintage-1980s-NOS-/261061541376?pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item3cc87afe00#ht_500wt_949"]http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/La-Bella-Deep-Talkin-Bass-Strings-Vintage-1980s-NOS-/261061541376?pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item3cc87afe00#ht_500wt_949[/url] Currently a third of the price of a brand new set.

Hi all - yes, another 'which string' thread. I've recently been using Fender 7250Ms on my basses (Jazz, and mostly Precision) but want to know what else is out there without the expense of trying new strings out blind. I used to use Roto 66s but the constant fret crowning with every new set of strings put me off. So I moved to the Roto 55s (pressure wound) but then the price put me off! Can anyone recommend good strings that are either nickel plated steels with a bright tone, or has anyone used GW Elites? I play rock/metal covers, so please don't suggest flats!

I can only comment on gear that I've used. So my tuppence-worth would be to have a look (and listen) to an Ampeg PF500. Currently priced at a shade over 300 quid and with a 3 year warranty. Check out Lozz's review in the review section. There is a plethora of small powerful heads available at the moment - the Line 6 750 watt head is on sale for 236 quid! But I don't have experience of this head to recommend it, just an example of what other options are out there. That leaves 400 quid for a decent 4x10 cab. Don't skimp on the quality of the cab, but I would suggest a new head and a second hand cab (less to go wrong with cabs and you'll get more bang for your buck that way).

You do get some pleasant results with different head/cab combos. I currently use an Ampeg SVT Pro 7 head into a Markbass 106 HF cab and I haven't suffered GAS since I married them together. I moved away from my previous Ashdown rig because I was constantly fighting with the eq and getting lost in the mix. Now I have a natural mid-biased sound before I've even touched the settings.

Have you tried a different head with the cab? All 'bottom and top' sounds like the Trace head could be the culprit.

And disengage the preshape on the head and eq from there. The preshape scoops the hell out of the mids on Trace gear. If you want a lightweight 'middy' cab I'd suggest something like a Markbass 104 HF. Or indeed any of the Markbass range. They seem to be going a little out of vogue at the mo so you could get a decent S/H deal.

Ah thank you. Never seen them before. I only knew of the 'foam under the bridge cover' trick and now feel suitably enlightened.

Please excuse my dumbness, but what are the screw holes in front of the bridge for?

I put one of the PW minis on the headstock of my P bass back in March. I haven't used a pedal tuner since, and that includes drop-tuning between songs. Once you find the sweet spot on the headstock there's no problem whatsoever. Best 15 quid I've spent for years!

I've owned and used most of the Ashdown range. The only amp I've kept is the 'Perfect Ten' practice amp as it's the only bit of their kit that I found to have a fairly transparent sound. If I was looking for a smallish practice amp I'd look in the classifieds on here, and Gumtree, and keep an open mind.

My rudimentary maths, and basic knowledge of speakers, tells me that you'd need a 100 x 8 cab to get the equivalent surface area of a 1 x 80 cab. But it's late so I could be way out. Edit - I've now realised I've made the calculation based on 8" speakers. Told you it was late.

I saw this bass and didn't even bother checking my bank account as I knew it would've gone (or so I thought). Would've looked lovely next to my black/maple 50s RI! I've experienced similar, where payment was expected first, when I saw a Yamaha JP 6 string signature for 95 quid! But generally I've had good experiences with Gumtree.

I had one of these for a while - great bass for the money (although I did hear of quite a few problems with the 5-string version. They were being fitted with 4-string pickups under the covers!). I just found it too different from my 'Ray, Precision, and Jazz in the balance, scale length, and output to be be switching back and forth. And I never did get to find a decent cheap case for it!

Fender 7250 Nickel plated steel rounds. 45 - 105. I like the bright rock tone but without suffering from steels eating my frets (like the Rotos do). I find the tension to be good, and balanced across the strings. 13 quid a set too. I used to like Rotosound RS55LD strings too - a bit of a halfway between rounds and flats. May go back to them one day. Flats would probably kill my 'live' tone, so never even tried them.

Now off to find some suitably sized drill bits for some afternoon squinting and screwing...