elom

Hi Paul, I understand your trepidation. I'm one of those non-practical blokes who can't fit a plug without a diagram and takes an hour to change a washer. I was too worried to start messing about with my own bass so I bought a [url="http://www.thomann.de/gb/harley_benton_mb222t.htm"]cheap HB[/url] (actually mine was a kit and putting it together was an education in itself) and a copy of [url="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Bass-Handbook-Complete-Mastering-Guitar/dp/0879308729/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1195164593&sr=8-1"]The Bass Handbook[/url] and just set about it safe in the knowledge that if it all went pear-shaped then there is no great loss. It took a few goes but now I feel reasonably confident to set up my own basses. It really isn't as hard as you'd think. So to sum up, practice on something cheap! elom

Thanks Aussie for this thread because I've been thinking along these lines myself. I've just commited every spare penny I have to buying a rather fine piece of wood from BassBod otherwise I would be looking very closely at the Markbass 121H. That looks the business if you ask me.

[quote name='Lorne' post='88736' date='Nov 15 2007, 12:05 AM']I've met both of them and they are assholes Only kidding,great guys,especially Telebass,Plymouth get together-too far away for me Oooops,I live in Plymouth [/quote] Shall we have a Westcountry mini-bash then?

[quote name='lwtait' post='86393' date='Nov 10 2007, 09:14 AM']I've not heard the dirnt plugged in but it feels really nice to play. i just don't like the star on it.[/quote] Interestingly the [url="http://www.fender.com/products//search.php?partno=0138400306"]Fender Mike Dirnt [/url]doesn't have the star, plus its also available in Vintage White & Sunburst.

could you play it as an upright? That would make an impression!

I really think that Squier have raised their game recently, as can be seen by the reaction to the VMJ on these boards. There will always be some that turn their noises up at the label but stuff 'em. Seems like you don't need a lot of money to have a lot of bass these days!

Get down wid der kids and avoid being attacked by purveyors of lard based confectionary 'PHAT RASCALS'

That's a nice looking bass. Someone on here used to have one of their butterfly basses didn't they?

I've found the [url="http://www.amazon.co.uk/White-Pages-Leonard-Publishing-Corporation/dp/0634033263/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/203-3244317-1610347?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1194302045&sr=8-1"]Bass Tab White Pages [/url]to be really good at covering loads of songs from a range of styles, (Rock, Metal, Motown, R&B, Pop...) most of which I've heard of too. And it includes lots of great basslines so whether it's 'Sir Duke' or 'My Generation' there is plenty to get a bit of inspiration from. It has both notation and tab for all 200 songs.

My 7 year old is heavily into McFly at the moment so I am not unfamiliar with their stuff. Am I the only one who thinks that sound more than a little like the Bay City Rollers? (who were popular with 7 year olds 30 years ago)

The skinniest of skinny necks is on a Fender Performer - it's like playing a chopstick, brilliant! [attachment=3197:full.jpg] Finding one is a different matter though. There was someone on here recently though who had a mint one that they were thinking about selling - worth a search. That's the only one I've ever seen (almost) for sale in the UK.

Obviously its highly subjective but the Bass Collections (original or reissue) are small, well balanced and incredibly light at just 3.1 kg (7lbs in old money). Could play it all night!

[quote name='andyonbass' post='81660' date='Oct 31 2007, 11:27 AM']Hmmm...... lets hope the new web site marks an improvement in customer service as well. I dont think so, somehow, seeing as I am still waiting for a response from them regarding an item I have had on order for 3 weeks My fault, really, 'cos I am aware of their reputation, fortunately its not an expensive item.[/quote] Yes but remember [i]"The Bass Centre's commitment to service applies equally to professionals and enthusiasts alike"[/i] - so that's okay then. Poor web site too with lots of deadends and 'awaiting further information' pages which seems to add to the overall impression of a company that's not really bothered. Such a shame.

We use the [url="http://www.lemonrock.com/"]lemonrock.com[/url] web site a lot and as I've never seen it mentioned here I thought I'd bring it to your attention. We've been using it for about 6 months and it seems that a lot of the bands on the westcountry circuit do too (though it is nationwide). It's been really useful for finding out about venues, checking out other local bands and some other quite cool stuff too. The gig listing gives us a direct feed for our own web site and will send out email or text alerts when you we add new gigs. We encourage people to leave reviews on there for us and that in turn has helped to generate quite a few private bookings. I think that it costs £20 for a year but it has been well worth it in my opinion. It's well run, easy to use and does exactly what it says on the tin. Just don't ask me why it's called lemonrock! elom (I'm not on commission, honest...)

Saw them last weekend at the Bristol Academy - just awesome. Been one of my favourite bands for a long time but the first time I've seen them live.

I had a long email conversation with John at Longbow about a year ago and came close but decided that I couldn't justify it. I still keep an eye on the web site but it has been 'closed to new orders' for a long time now so I'm guessing that they are no longer in business.

[quote name='bass_ferret' post='76384' date='Oct 19 2007, 10:37 AM']Have you got that Status high enough?[/quote] It has to be that high for those new-fangled nipple straplocks...

Your Bass Collection looks so small next to the others!

Hi Phaedrus, We cover quite a few of the same songs. We've wanted to do 'Killing in the Name' for a while but haven't because we've just thought it is a bit too much for a regular pub gig. I'd be interested to know what sort of reaction it gets. cheers elom

[quote name='Jean-Luc Pickguard' post='73964' date='Oct 13 2007, 10:16 PM']They seem to get priced up at about £700 these days in shops, but I got my one for a fair bit less than that. They seemed to be going for around £400 on ebay last time I investigated.[/quote] This one went for £256 which seems like not very much at all to me. Guess the custom paintjob put a lot of people off.

[quote name='Jamesemt' post='73756' date='Oct 13 2007, 01:25 PM']Can I take that? Can also add: Flea Spontaneous Jamming DVD and Green Day CD American Idiot[/quote] I'll have the Flea DVD please! PM sent

Checking through some stuff tonight I came across an old receipt from Mansons and realised that is exactly one year since I returned to the bass playing fold. This has made me think a little bit about what this has meant to me. So I hope you will forgive me if this post is slightly self-indulgent but at least I will keep it short! The potted history: I played bass from the age of 15 to 20 with no great talent but plenty of enthusiasm. I started again last year aged 37. I think now that I had been wanting to take it up again for years but was afraid that either I would be no good or would be too old to gig, which is what I really wanted to do. It took a little while for me to actually pluck up the courage to go into a music shop. I'm fortunate to have a good local shop, who treated me just right - when you pick up a bass for the first time in 17 years you want to be in a soundproof booth on your own, not in front of a bunch of competent musicians! This next bit sounds really corny but it's true so I'll say it anyway. It just felt so right to be holding a bass after such a long time. I sort of remembered a basic twelve bar progression and tentatively felt my way around. When I left I knew that I would be coming back. The next week I did and emerged with my new bass (a Bass Collection Speakeasy). No going back now! Since that time I've formed a rock/indie covers band with a great bunch of guys and have spent the last 6 months gigging regularly around the county. Much like my earlier incarnation as a bass player I still have no great talent but I still have that enthusiasm. If you want a free-form jazz jam then I'm gonna stand in the corner and look embarrassed but I know our set list backwards and perform with some small measure of gusto. In short, I bloody love it! The other side of this is that it has re-awakened my passion for music in general. I listen to more music and much more new stuff than I did previously. I go to gigs again, whereas before it had been years since I'd been to one. Playing bass again, being back in a band has reinvigorated me. I have no illusions about what it is that I do but I do know that I have a great time and that my life in general is much richer for being a gigging bass player again. It would not be possible to go back. What does all this mean? Not much really but I just felt the need to say it! elom

Thanks for the advice guys. We're a pub covers band basically, no plans of world domination. The bass drum idea is a good one but our drummer uses a digital kit! tombboy you will be getting a PM shortly.

Wow - fantastic condition. That is a beauty. I'm almost pleased that mine is a bit beat up. If I had one in as good condition as that I'd never gig it!