lowregisterhead

B*njos. Always make me think of that film, Deliverance...

It has 5 strings, I'll give them that. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/5-string-bass/112771792204

That's really sad news. Many years ago I was trying out a JayDee Roadie fretless bass through a brand new Trace Elliot rig at the Bass Centre when it was still in Wapping High Street in London. I was enjoying myself, making an unholy row doing all my favourite Pino and Percy Jones licks. After about 5 minutes, I happened to turn around, and Jim Rodford was standing there with his bass on, patiently waiting to try the Trace. He smiled, I apologised for keeping him waiting, but he said there was no rush! A complete gentleman, a great bass player, and a huge supporter of local music in his home town of St Albans. RIP.

1. Status basses. Over the years I've owned three S2s (one made for me), a Series 5000, an Empathy and an Eclipse, and sold them all. There's something about them that really appeals to me, but time and again I realised (after purchasing them, of course) that I don't really like that signature high-mid bark. Apart from the 5000, which sounded lovely, but had a string spacing you could barely get a fag paper between. I now get my graphite-based jollies with an SKC Bogart. But if anyone knows of a Kingbass MkII 5-string up for sale, I could probably still be persuaded! 2. Big cabs. I joined the "two 210s stacked on their ends" club a couple of years ago, and haven't looked back. They sound great, move plenty of air, and fit in the boot of my car. Result. Now all I need to do is wean myself off the expensive hobby of trying every D-Class head in the world with them...

Thanks for taking the time to search for that. I did track Phil Winter's name down to Tunng a year or two ago - I wasn't sure if it was the same man, and I sent a message through their website, but never received a reply.

A pre-EB Stingray that I picked up for £250 in a shop called Back Street Music in Edinburgh in 1981. The pickup was way out of alignment (no idea how it got through quality control!) but I had it messed about with over the next few years - refinished in white, scratchplate replaced with a little chrome ring round the pickup, Schaller bridge, brass nut. It was far from 'original' but it sang and played like no other bass I'd owned! Foolishly, I sold it when I couldn't make the rent just before Christmas 1985. I still have a copy of the receipt I gave the buyer - Phil Winter of Holdenhurst Avenue, Finchley N12. God knows where he (or the bass) are now, but I'd love to get it back. If anyone sees it, do let me know....

Good point. I just thought at first glance it looked... well, a bit cheap and nasty!

You’re quite right - that’s the very bass.