White Cloud

These are very rare...and very good! Have you considered the premium range as an alternative? There is not a huge deal of difference in quality and they are easier to acquire.

[quote name='lee4' timestamp='1366054090' post='2047849'] Having got myself a P style bass,and publicly stating on BC that it is the Lurchers Landing Gear,I'm now finding that it's,well,uncomfortable. Either the fretting hand is comfy,or the plucking hand. I've wanted a Precision type bass for a while now,and am feeling worried that something so right is becoming wrong. All suggestions gratefully recieved(except ones that say "grow some balls and just play the thing,weedy boy"). [/quote] It's not becoming wrong...it was perhaps never right for you. Give it a while, but if it still feels uncomfortable kick it to the kerb. Musical instruments should never feel uncomfortable. Find something that feels right for you ...and ignore what everyone else is playing.

[quote name='iceonaboy' timestamp='1366052254' post='2047817'] I learnt by playing along with vinyl records , just lifting the needle and playing a bit again and again. I cant read music, but Ive got so much enjoyment out of playing over the years, so dont be hard on yourself and let it happen [/quote] Ditto! Spot on advice btw.

Just play. Honestly, music should be fun...do not become bogged down in theory. Its great to know all of those scales and notes...but the most important aspect of music is feel. Listen to as much music as possible, learn as many song basslines as you can...and dont forget to learn how to play melodies either.

This looks great, it kind of resembles an Ibanez SR in shape. The wood choice is really nice.

Yamaha, Ibanez and most other mass produced instrument makers beat Fender hands down when it comes to QC. The whole current Fender obsession is a placebo....everyone is playing them....because everyone else is playing them. Don't get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with them...good basic, workhorse instruments.....but its almost as if 85% of the bass playing public has become brainwashed by Fender and just cannot see past them. I remember back in the 80's it was the exact opposite, nobody wanted them and they were considered boring! You could pick up really old vintages for chocolate buttons.

[quote name='Truckstop' timestamp='1365937581' post='2046141'] You are all wrong, keep your eyes peeled for a second hand Yamaha BB424 or 424x. They are literally the balls! Actually, any of the BB series look great, sound like P's and have great necks. In between a jazz and P I think. Loads can be got for less than £200. Truckstop [/quote] This is the right answer. Despite having owned loads of them I find the current P bass obsession really really boring.

Looks great, sounds great, bet it plays great...whats not to like. Looks like incredible value for money to me. Nice playing, really like it. Thanks for sharing!

Top player. I remember seeing Norman playing with the Blockheads...he used an Alembic Series 1 and the tone was to die for.

Ibanez = Well made, great playability and sounds. Yamaha = Well made, good playability and sounds. You cannot go wrong with either. I prefer Ibanez 5 strings to Yamaha variants though.

I bought a pristine used MIM F Jazz 5 years ago for £199. The fret job was a little hit and miss but that aside it was a good little bass. I would not consider £300 to be particularly cheap. Have just checked out ebay and, correct me if I am wrong, the P with the B.I.N of £275 is actually made in Japan. Now thats a game changer! They are in a different league from Mexicano examples IME.

[quote name='warwickhunt' timestamp='1365591382' post='2041400'] You know they are light-weight... are you sure? I've owned two which were bought on the reassurance they were 'the lightest bass I've ever had' (I can only assume that their other bass had lead weights in) and both weren't a kick in the backside off 10lb. Now if 10lb is your reference point for weight then fine but I'd ask for accurate weights if buying off the internet. To add to that I personally have probably asked another dozen or so DJ owners for the weight of their basses and iirc only one came in at 9lb (none lighter). I even went on TB some years back and asked on the DJ owners thread about the weights of their basses and though there was talk of some examples being light not one owner stepped forward with a verifiable light-weight. I realise that now that I have posted this, every Lakkie DJ owner with an elusive light-weight example will come out of the woodwork and prove me wrong! Sorry, I should add that I'm not trying to urinate on your fire, more a case of offering my research/insight into getting a light-weight Jazz type bass which included the Lakkie DJ. [/quote] I hate to be that guy...however my 4 string DJ was feather weight - weighing in at around 7.5lbs. It was the finest jazz bass that I ever played over a period of 35 years. It had it all and blew my vintage Fenders out of the water. I will say however that Laklands vary greatly in weight. Dan Lakland had a personal philosophy that big weight = big tone. At the other end of the scale I owned a 44-02 that was almost 12 lbs. I bought it online sight unseen....beautiful instrument but after recovering from a serious back injury I really could not live with the weight of that beast and had to move it on.

Its all been said, quality varies in a big way. There are some good ones out there...and some canoe paddles.The good ones are worth the cash and that's what makes it all worthwhile!

[quote name='Bilbo' timestamp='1365508731' post='2040412'] April by Brand X (John Giblin)(anything by Brand X is loaded with great fretless playing but a lot of it is very stylised and impossible to recreate) Chris De Burgh's album 'The Getaway' has a load of great fretless lines (John Giblin again) Barbara Thompson's 1980 live recording with Dill Katz on bass Alphonso Johnson on 'This Must Be Love' of Phil Cillins' 'Face Value' Mark Egan's work on the Pat Metheny Group's first two LPS 'PMG' and 'American Garage' - in fact, anything with Mark Egan on will be worth a look. Jaco Pastorius on Metheny's 'Bright Size Life' Mick Karn with Japan (not to my taste but very influential) Gary Willis on the first two Tribal Tech LPs 'Spears' and 'Dr. Hee' [/quote] Sublime selection...could not agree more!

Why pay anything...there is a plethora of amazing teachers on youtube for free.

[quote name='jackers' timestamp='1365184537' post='2036577'] Hey all, I may have an audition with a metalcore band coming up, and if I get the spot I am going to need a 5 string as they play alot of stuff in B and drop A. I would being looking at used stuff only, as I don't have alot of cash to spare. My first obvious thought is an Ibanez SR505 as they are cheap and alot of people say good things about them, but I was wondering if there are any other options I should consider. Cheers [/quote] You have answered your own question right here...the Ibanez SR505 (or 605) is the correct answer. No Squier, or the Yamaha RBX is anywhere near as good. Simple.

[quote name='MiltyG565' timestamp='1365327919' post='2037984'] My mate who is an excellent guitarist was a bit hopeless when playing my bass the other day. (Here's hoping he never reads this ) [/quote] Lol. Why would he be good on the bass though? Its a completely different instrument. The bass lays the foundation, provides the drive, impetus, groove....skilled bassists are often the quarterback of the band. Timing is key. I know great, highly skilled guitarists who have awful timing (including my guitarist). I consider the guitar to be a non-essential (rock and metal aside) instrument in a band. Bass is ALWAYS essential...unless we are talking about peruvian pan pipe music! Listen to Weather Reports "Heavy Weather" for a perfect illustration of this. One of the greatest recordings ....no guitar within a country mile.

[quote name='The Dark Lord' timestamp='1365263851' post='2037410'] I knew it wouldn't be long before a comment like this came along. Point of order though. Lakland don't make a "Precision". They make what they call a "P" bass, which is a shameless copy of a Fender. They should be brave and only make models of their own design. But they don't. There is no substitute for a Fender Precision. [/quote] Your opinion. Mine is that, unfortunately for Fender, there are other manufacturers out there who build their designs better than they do....so there are plenty of substitutes for Fender Precision's.

Funny thing is.....I always assume that guitarists are failed bassists!

Why settle for something mass produced...contact Jon Letts (Lettsbasses) and speak to him. He will be able to build you something special for that price to your own spec. If you really want to go down the mass produced road then the answer is simple....Lakland skyline Bob Glaub. Best pound for pound P bass on the market.

For me the best P basses were produced during the mid - late 60's. I have also owned some decent 70's models, however weight is an issue with many of those. The bottom line is that they are generally extremely inconsistent from any era. Have you considered Lakland? The Bob Glaub P bass is probably the most consistent P bass I have encountered....it is modeled on a 60's P and, to me, just feels right in every department.