peteb

1 minute ago, bagsieblue said:

One five string to rule them all??.....

 

Stingray 5 String would be my choice.

 

I wouldn't argue with that and believe that I actually bought one off you! A great bass, but just not for me.... 

51 minutes ago, bubinga5 said:

Me personally I couldn't give a monkeys. 17mm to 19/20mm. just adapt to it. Doesn't take long. Cant do it. bollocks your just lazy.

 

Too many bass players saying they cant do this they cant do that about the smallest differences on string spacing. Oh I need a high mass bridge blah blah. Grow a pair and just make music. I hate to say it but someone like Jaco Pastorius or James Jamerson would laugh at this

Not really sure WTF you're on about here. I regularly switch between a P bass & a jazz depending on what gig I'm playing and once borrowed a SR5 off a mate to record an album, because I didn't have a 5 string at the time.  It sounded fine and he loves that bass, but for me the string spacing and the fact that the G string feels (to me) like its clinging to the edge of the fretboard. It works for him but not for me, so I went and got a different 5 string - simples! 

I'm guessing that I make more music, more regularly and at a higher level than you ever have, so watch the attitude... 

24 minutes ago, bubinga5 said:

its millimeters. good lord anyone would think you were climbing Mount Everest. with respect.

Never the less, it does make a difference!

I've had two of them, love the sound, but moved them both on pretty quickly - plenty of other good basses out there if there if you don't get on with a particular model.. 

1 minute ago, bubinga5 said:

Adapt

I got an Xotic 5 string jazz instead...! 

22 minutes ago, bubinga5 said:

A Lakland 5594 or a Lakland 5502. Why.? its got a neck thats the best in the bass business and it is super versatile.Best 5 string bass on the planet.. No doubt  I do love an SR5 as the punch the neck are hard to beat. Tight string spacing though. 

 

I've had a couple of SR5s - they sound great but I just can't get on with the string spacing. 

6 hours ago, Woodinblack said:

I have always wondered why people who don't have never had an issue with a company are really quick to deny the experience of people who did

Allow me to explain.

Bass Direct are a small company that provide a pretty unique niche service to musicians in a challenging market, and I have used them quite a few times and always found them to be very helpful. However, if I knew nothing of BD or Basschat and was searching on the internet to see if I should use them or not and came across some of the posts here, I might get an unduly negative impression if those posts were to go unchallenged.

The thing is that they are not a big box mover with lots of staff and they are never going to manage their online operations as well as a company like Thomann. But Thomann, good as they are, are never going to give you the level of in-person service / advice that BD will, nor will they give you the opportunity to actually try out gear out before you buy. Every thing you say about BD you can probably say about Bass Gallery, who I think are great even if their website is even worse than the BD one!

Now I know that BD really don’t need me to champion them and they're doing OK despite a few negative posts on BC, but there’s not many of these types of small companies left in this country and we ought to appreciate them (or at least cut them some slack) while they are still in business…! 

8 minutes ago, Waddo Soqable said:

I don't get the aversion to phones at all.. I'd rather speak to someone on the spot and hopefully get a resolution there and then. 

It's usually far better to have a conversation with a human being (assuming it's one with common sense!).. think of all the stupid "tiffs" that arise on forums, most of these would never happen if the same conversation took place in the pub for instance. 

The one occasion I dealt with BD I ended up speaking to the bloke on the phone, all sorted in 2 mins. 

I was beginning to think it was just me - either that or I had indivertibly wandered into a self-help group! 

I always wonder how people function in bands if they can't talk on the phone or have social issues with dealing with people face-to-face. It seems to me that they are choosing the wrong lifestyle! I've never had issues talking to BD on the phone (apart from the odd occasion when they're too busy to pick up) - they've always been very helpful... 

2 minutes ago, Woodinblack said:

 

Because I absolutely can't stand talking on the phone and will do anything to avoid it. Which is why the internet is such a fantastic thing. I am sure you will find it is a lot more common than you realise.

Its not really an issue, I don't expect anyone to cater to my problems, but if they don't I am happy to go elsewhere.

Must make getting gigs and dealing with agents, other band members, etc difficult... 

21 minutes ago, Woodinblack said:

Unless my life depends on it, I am not ringing anyone.

Why would you be so adverse to speaking to someone on the phone? 

When it comes down to it, Bass Direct is an old school bricks & mortar shop providing a specialist service to a niche market (in fact, a niche part of an already niche market). It's target customers are generally people (like me) who appreciate the personal touch and are happy to discuss a potential purchase and any possible alternatives before we buy an expensive bass / amp / whatever. If you want something generic then you can probably save a few quid buying online from Thomann, who are great at what they do. But Bass Direct and the Bass Gallery, etc are a different thing and offer a different service... 

15 hours ago, ead said:

I bought a bass and paid for it this morning via the website.  14 hours later I am yet to receive even an order acknowledgement email which is disappointing to say the least.

I am still amazed that people would be a bass online from a shop like Bass Direct or the Bass Gallery, etc instead of ringing them up and doing the deal over the phone! If you have to buy in that way then I would suggest Thomann or someone similar, who's business is geared up to that. You could buy a bass online from BD while someone is trying it out in the shop, or are on the phone to buy it. They won't be checking the website in real time and the guy on in the shop (or on the phone) will walk away with the bass! 

A couple of years ago, I was interested in buying a cab on the Bass Gallery site. So obviously I rang them up , only to find that they had sold it six months ago and hadn't got round to taking down from the website! It only takes a phone call... 

59 minutes ago, dmccombe7 said:

Something that is a nice touch on this version is that if the transmitter goes down for any reason you can just plug a lead into the receiver unit and it acts like any other pedal (tuner) rather than re-arranging pedalboards on the hoof at a gig.  

 

I've had this unit for a fair few years now and never realised that...! 

4 hours ago, TwoRs said:

Yes, that'll be us!

Ah yes, Johnny Gowcho / Dixon / Nashville Hipshake's mob - I will have to actually see one of his bands someday! 

3 hours ago, TwoRs said:

Currently playing in a mad skiffle punk band

Howlin' Johnny and The Devil's Rejects?? 

Is this 'hot DI' issue just with the WB-100? I've done loads of gigs with my R-400 and never had any issue with the DI at all. 

9 hours ago, la bam said:

 

Does the shure work with active basses? My flippin boss wd50 hated mine tonight. Had to use a cable for the first time in 5 years.

I've never had any problems using active basses with the Shure. 

7 minutes ago, dmccombe7 said:

Looks like it has and possibly replaced by the GLXD + which has dual band transmission.

Shure do others like GLXD4, 14 but not sure the main differences unless its the number of channels.

Dave

I think that the difference is that the receiver for the GLX-D 16 is a floor pedal type unit, while the 14 is an amp top type unit with antennae. The transmitters for both system look similar at a quick glance.  

I'm glad to see that there are new GLXD+ units on the market to replace the old GLDX systems. 

4 minutes ago, dmccombe7 said:

Thought i would re-instate this to see what's new on the market.

I've had a few minor niggles with interference and buzz thru my Smooth hound and been looking at what's out there.

What Shure GLXD are you guys using as there seems to be a few different versions with numbers after the letters and some discontinued now.

I use a pedal board in one of my bands so i'm thinking a floor mounted receiver might be better for me otherwise i'd need to run cables from the amp to my Roland Mfx unit and back again. 

Any updates welcome.

Dave

I believe that mine is the GLX-D 16 

Certainly the best wireless system I've ever used (and I've had a few), although it does seem to have been discontinued now. 

3 minutes ago, MM Stingray 62 said:

I think an aged pearl one would work really well. I had a tortoise one on my classic and changed it for the aged pearl. It completely changed the look of the bass for the better in my opinion.

 

Actually, I think that I prefer the tort on that! 

I'm currently gigging one of the earlier versions of this cab (CN212). For me, the neo Bergs are the best sounding of the lighter cabs out there and the best balance you can get between tone / power / weight. 

On 01/04/2023 at 18:40, Clarky said:

Bassdirect have a stripped 69 P bass for £3.5k, claimed to be all-original bar the finish

 

https://www.bassdirect.co.uk/bass_guitar_specialists/Fender_Precision_1969.html

I saw that - looks quite cool and not a bad price compared to some I've seen

2 minutes ago, Dad3353 said:

 

I wouldn't know; I was simply responding to the bass cost aspect. The way of calculating inflation'n'all seems to differ from place to place, and from time to time (House prices included, and rents..? Price of clothes..? Cost of agricultural land..? Bass strings..?). 

To be fair, unless you are going to look in depth at the economics and the underlying political causes, it's a pretty pointless discussion other than to say, yes, prices have gone up. 

37 minutes ago, Dad3353 said:

I live in France, and see the Thomann prices in Euros. They have increased in the same way as the GBP prices to the UK. France does not have a 'B' heritage to blame; the prices have gone up, is all. World factors are the cause. Price increases are across the board, for all. It's probably true (I wouldn't know...) that some specific UK issues have been in play for some (many..?) items, but bass prices isn't one of them, to any meaningful extent. Just my tuppence-worth. 

I don't know about bass prices, but that is generally not true. The UK has the highest inflation rate in the G7 and I believe in Western Europe, whereas France has the lowest in Europe (or at least it did a few months ago when I last looked, but Spain may have overtaken it).  

Just now, neepheid said:

 

Just seen many a thread get locked when B related discussion crosses a fairly low threshold, that's all I'm referring to.

I appreciate that. It just seems pointless to have a thread discussing an issue where you are not allowed to mention the main influencing factor. 

3 hours ago, neepheid said:

Thread lock imminent if we don't pipe down on the old B-word discussion...

The trouble is that you can't talk about escalating prices without having a discussion about the B word! Sure, there are plenty of other factors in play in an uncertain world, but that is the reason why we are getting hammered so much more than our European neighbours. 

This is a dangerous thread! I've just come across it and you see a £12k 64 P bass and think that's way too much. However, there is a very nice non-original 63 fiesta red P bass for £8k and you think that it's still too much, but not that ridiculous. Then you look at the other basses that seller has for sale and there is a nice early 70s s/b P bass for £5k and you start thinking, well possibly! Perhaps there is something similar out here, maybe a cheaper early 70s s/b P bass with a rosewood board, non-original but modded with a Badass bridge (like I would have put on myself) for £3 or £4k, then suddenly it's not so unaffordable! 

I've never really thought of buying a proper vintage bass before, although I've owned a fair few Fenders and gig a late 70s P bass now. But the temptation is there...