The fasting showman

I have had some weird stuff happen with selling on ebay of late, I think I've had enough. But yes as a seller, it is easy for an old email account of yours to drift back into the item sale page, one to watch out for if you've changed service providers / email etc. It collapsed a sale before for me and whenever I list an item perhaps one in ten will drag in an old email (tiscali I think) which scuppers any incoming Paypal in my experience. Something to watch out for as a seller and for me yet another bitter taste.

Yes you do, I bought my first one about 10 years too late! There's bands that I was in where it would have been the perfect bass. I think they are a bass you have to see if you click with, my experience is always the polar opposite to what Lozz mentions, he can clearly make a P bass work for him (lucky man) whereas I have tried for a long time and failed! Maybe try out a USA EBMM sub 5? They're a bargain. Martin

How about (I think it's called...) Solvol Autochrome / Autoglym? It comes in a toothpaste tube, Halfords do their own version too. It will sort out what you are trying to do, all us cycle tinkerer types use it on everything from chromed steel to softer alloys. Much as what you are dealing with is a dull metal on a thread, the paste always strips off the top layer almost like a very aggressive version of T-cut. Martin

On-topic: Bootsy Collins in any band he's ever played in? Much as I really enjoy Bootsy's playing, showmanship, vocals etc I think the genius behind P-Funk is Bernie Worrell; great musical grounding and also sonically very clever. His keyboard parts have cropped up everywhere either on rap records (Prophet 5 or Clavinet through a Mu-tron) as samples or as a featured sideman.

OK Seashell, it's from 'Pablo Picasso' by The Modern Lovers. I'll keep out of this I think. Martin

[quote name='sprocketflup' timestamp='1398268660' post='2432294'] Looks like we're all stumped with that one ^^^^ [/quote]It's been covered by enough people...

[quote name='mxm' timestamp='1398110680' post='2430612'] Anyone got any idea what amps he was using around late '82 - for this performance he's got 2/3 stacked flight cased Marshall heads with an open metal grille (as opposed to the normal fabric weave). Always wondered... I'm lazily assuming they are some variant of a Superbass ?!!! [/quote]They just look like regular JMP Superbasses but in a semi open case, as you say. What an array of different cabs though!

To add; I mention the old USA Subs as they are a good cheap litmus test to see if a Stingray suits you. They sound incredible for £350ish s/h. As mentioned above by MM20, I've never felt the need to change anything on an EBMM bass personally.

[quote name='JazzBassfreak' timestamp='1397916554' post='2428603'] In Burton on Trent staffs, I'm selling my Alembic anyway, I've just not really had any trade offers or interest which is a shame [/quote]I'm just down the A38 in Lichfield if you want to try mine. Mad busy over the next week after that gimme a shout. I've found the Stingray to be the bass best for me overall, I've owned 4 different ones in the last 7 years; I went off them briefly and then missed the sound. When I listen to other players P-basses are my favourite sound but for me I find that a Stingray does everything, I seem to be either too indistinct on a P bass and when I dial in clarity I get too boxy sounding, and this is after years (decades!) of tinkering. The Stingray seems to flatter my playing and doesn't cause any aches anywhere, I think if you get on with them they are a great bass. I think the 3eq ones get a bad press, I like mine. Old USA Subs are fantastic. Martin

Tokyo Joe-Roxy Bryan 'Big shot from the hip neon cool' 'Well he was only five foot three but girls could not resist his stare'

[quote name='mikhay77' timestamp='1397481704' post='2424305'] A lot of pick playing too! [/quote]Yeah, that always gets overlooked I think. 'Magic Bus' on 'Live at Leeds' has incredible plectrum playing.

I think as Luke has said the odds are stacked against it for practical use. To hear one in use (albeit an original) for bass check out the Town hall party clips of Eddie Cochran and band playing Summertime Blues on Youtube. Sounds good in that context actually...you'd need to use one in the right band I think. I believe Joe Osborn used to record with a Fender Concert combo, similarly an open backed 4x10. Recording as we know is a whole other thing rather than struggling to compete in a live setting. '70s Fender Bassman Tens are a 50 watt sealed back valve 4x10 combo, They can cope in a polite, rootsy band setting. Just about...probably a better bet than the '50s type. Bassman Tens have a charm but are limited by a very small output transformer, no amount of valve or speaker swapping can get a quart out of a pint pot. Martin

Maybe this only applies to me so I hope nobody takes offence! In the time that I've been playing the bass I would have to say that I've been most vulnerable to the siren voices of new gear when I've been in a lesser standard of band (the 'do we sound crap because of me?' factor) or between bands. When I've played with better musicians they tend to raise my game and equipment ceases to be as important, obviously within reason. Plus at those times in my life I've gigged so much that the last thing I'd be interested in is tinkering with my gear, purely maintenance only. You start to see these patterns emerge in your life... Martin

I'm no authority, with my 2007 3 eq Stingray (sounds great to me), but I would have thought that the '83 one would have been made after all of the truss rod problems. Wasn't all the woodworking done under licence by Charvel at this point, due to said problems with CLF? It would be the '83 for me, I think you chose well.

Marcus Miller's use of a detuned E string is all over the early '80s Miles stuff (Man with the horn, We want Miles, Star people) yet I've never heard it discussed much...sounds great on 'Jean Pierre' and U'n' I. I've no idea what he'd tune it to, often mid song it sounds like, C perhaps? Mr Dingus will know...

Just got back from doing a trade with Stuart; the amp I've had off him is in spotless condition, hope the Yammy bass gets some good use. Hassle free throughout, a pleasure to deal with. Cheers, Martin

Hello, Have you tried contacting Polar Audio? I reckon they'd stand a good chance of having a replacement as the amp is in production still. Good luck, Martin

Hello, Again, dunno if my comment is valid but I use an Ashdown mag 810(don't mags have the same Sica speakers as ABMs?) with either my old GK800rb or 400rb and they sound great to my ears. I'm told that Ashdown cabs sound dark, maybe they work well in combo with the bright punch of the GK heads? Fair to add that I'm not into lots of low end. Hope this helps! Martin

You've got to do a few off Captain Lockheed too; Widow maker, Right stuff, Ejection. Some bass strangling potential there.

Some great stuff already mentioned. Two more:- 'Satisfaction'-Devo (Jerry Casale) 'Some weird sin'-Iggy Pop (Tony Sales)

'Glide' is about as good as slap playing gets for me, great groove good musical use of double stops. A clever bass line that connects with people who aren't musos, I guess that's what we all strive for.

For the bands that I have been in throughout my playing life, Niccolo Machiavelli.