cloudburst

When I first played in a band in the late 70s early 80s, the father of the guitarist and drummer drove us around in a Citroen CX GTi. I really liked them. However, that was during the blissfully ignorant part of my life before I learnt about reliability etc. CB

[quote name='Protium' timestamp='1358893458' post='1946865'] My Leon has the same engine, whoever came up with the economy figures is living in la-la land. Expect 27 to the gallon at best Very nice car though [/quote] 27 is fine! Bear in mind that I've been looking at Cayennes :-) CB

Yee haa. Made the plunge. Bought an Audi S3 Sportback with the S-tronic DSG gearbox. Very dark metallic blue. Black leather interior. Four wheel drive. Not overly big, but plenty of space. Reasonably economical. Awesome to drive with that DSG box. Thanks for all your help. PS: Also bought a Steinberger XL-2 so probably don't need the practical car anymore LOL CB

[quote name='Protium' timestamp='1358722043' post='1944189'] I don't think he'll lose any sleep, he's just happy they didn't ask him to endorse a bass modelled on a toilet seat and an amp dressed up as a bee. [/quote] Ha ha. Love it :-) CB PS: These bees get everywhere :-)

Here you go - scientific proof that "wooly" and "ashdown" go together. Coincidence? I don't think so. :-) http://www.beverlyashdown.ca/?p=382 CB

I had actually been thinking that there was very little that interested me in the classifieds in the last couple of weeks. Just goes to show how different all of our tastes are. CB

[quote name='Protium' timestamp='1358712850' post='1943947'] You're right, your one experience with Ashdown applies to their entire range and all of their users. [/quote] Agreed. That would make total sense - I haven't liked Pino so much since he stopped using the fretless StingRay and OC-2 and changed to Ashdown amps and P-Basses. CB

[quote name='MarkMcK' timestamp='1329316739' post='1540539'] What do you guys think of the 4003 Walnutburst? [/quote] The ergonomics and aesthetics deserve each other. CB

I reckon we should all celebrate the diversity and be thankful that the Ashdown users have introduced us to these 'wading bass lines'. Every day's a school day where music's concerned. :-) CB

Ashdown wooly? +1 So much so that in the practice studios we use, I always go to the extra effort to bring along my own little Markbass combo. Can't remember the model of Ashdown, but it is total rubbish. No matter how I played around with it I couldn't get any mids or tightness. And every so often it would spit out an extra loud, extra wooly tone - completely out of the blue - that set every drum kit in the vicinity resonating. The band members all looked as puzzled as I was. We now make good use of the Ashdown amp and cab to stack our coats on. It's probably fairly mediocre at this task too. CB

[quote name='4 Strings' timestamp='1358416922' post='1938636'] Actually, as a point of order, as a 'born-again-Christian' I have a pretty thick skin and, despite, it seems, what some think, I am no more or less offended by bad language etc than anyone else. But when people use 'Jesus!' etc as a swear [b]it cuts me to the core[/b]. [/quote] I'm religious about Apple products and find your metaphor based upon the mutilation of the popular fruit to be deeply offensive. CB

[quote name='swanbrook' timestamp='1358373737' post='1938240'] Sterling made for girls and skinny small men looks silly on a big fella [/quote] Ha ha. I've a Sterling fretless and love it. But then I'm a small skinny guy. :-) Don't underestimate the Sterling though. The brand new fretted Sterling I tried a few days ago was an absolute revelation to me (having owned a StingRay in the 80s). Lovely to hold, lovely size, lovely to play and one hell of a punch. Sterling is one underrated bass in my opinion. CB

My Bongo 4HH is by far the best bass I've ever played. My observations (hope these help you): 1. Looks - some love it, some call it a loo seat. 2. Neck - painted - mine's worn in lovely and glossy; I generally find EBMM necks a little sensitive to temp (but consistent with each other and easy enough to set a compromise so you're not always adjusting); truss-rod wheel is great 3. Weight - light. 4. Balance - good. 5. Tone - range of tones is virtually unbeatable; some folk say a little "hifi" as opposed to "organic" but can certainly approximate a 'Ray, and the first bass where I've been proud to listen back to my recorded performances. 6. Controls - 18v active electronics are very capable; some players are worried about the potential to accidentally key in a completely wrong tone at a bad time in a performance until they get used to the stacked 4-band eq controls; I reckon its easy to get used to and all 4 knobs (plus the pickup pan) have centre detents. CB

Ref the moronmod comment, I've just had Bruce Foxton phone me up in tears, saying he no longer felt welcome on the forum. :-) CB

Thanks folks. Must take another look at that particular bass when I get a chance. I didn't have all that much time, so wasn't able to really analyse. Settings were the same on the amp for both basses so all I really did was fiddle about with the SR5 settings to no avail. First thing to try will be to have a play on the SR5 unplugged - just to take a view on the strings. CB

Has to me "Mess Around" with the late (no small wonder) John Candy. CB http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nut5sJFjRkk

What's the general consensus on the white XL2? Does it occupy the same spot on the cool-wall as the more prevalent black L2 and XL2? Is it an iBass? :-) CB

A lot of obvious stuff missing that I'd expect to be there. - Bat Out Of Hell - Don't Stop - Chasing Pavements - Waiting For A Train by Flash and the Pan (not particularly advisable whilst on a level crossing) - Spitting Games (can be distracting in small cars) CB

Was a bit stressed at lunchtime today, so I dropped into a music store that I hadn't been in for absolute years, and noticed a few MusicMen and Markbasses. I'd wanted to try out a SR5 for a while and there was a new one on the wall. First I plugged in a new Sterling 4H. What a lovely bass to play. I have a fretless Sterling but this was the first fretted Sterling I've played. Oh man it was fine. Far nicer to play than I remember my own SR4 being back in the 1980s. Then I plugged in the new SR5H. Man was I underwhelmed. Certainly it felt nice in the hands. And not as terminally heavy as I'd expected. But just no zing. Compared to my Bongo, my Sterling and the fretted Sterling in the shop, it just sounded dull. Tried all the settings on the bass. The Markbass combo remained on flat settings throughout. What gives? Would I have had a different experience had I played an SR5H from about 6 or 7 years ago? CB

Looks like I've got myself a White XL2. Will let you know what I think on NBD next Saturday (19th). :-) CB

Oops - fixed - ta. CB

You want a new amp and you like lifting weights. Just found me a buyer for my Trace 1215 combo :-) Welcome. CB

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Pre-Ernie-Ball-Musicman-Stingray-Bass-Guitar-1979-Natural-rosewood-Fingerboard-/281050479968?pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item416fe9fd60&ssPageName=RSS:B:SHOP:GB:101 Looks like a reasonable price. Was there an option to have no dot markers on the fretboard? CB

Noticed this and thought of you lot: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Musicman-Cutlass-Bass-Guitar-/221177034726?pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item337f2db7e6&ssPageName=RSS:B:SHOP:GB:101 CB