Mike Brooks

Had Lodestone basses in my collection since 2012, had 5 at one point. I think I may have done the first UK review back in 2010 when they were released. Mark Gooday borrowed my original T-Bass to send to the Czech Republic to take specs, etc.

Got bass reviews and demos on my YT channel and actually set one up on a Live Chat on Friday before taking it to gigs over the past two nights. If I can help, let me know.

Mike

For anyone in or around London, wanting to attend the Nick Smith Memorial Show in Peterborough tomorrow, I have room in the car and will be leaving from Uxbridge/Hillingdon/West Ruislip around 10.30am. Message me if you want to be my co-pilot!

A set of Fret Guards (Music Nomad) and a set of fret erasers. A tin of Nevr Dull for super-shiny frets.

14 hours ago, HeadlessBassist said:

The neck profile is one of the more comfortable around. It's quite wide at the nut, but the necks are always quite thin (fingers to thumb) and are more of a shallow 'D' shape. As DoctorJ pointed out, most of the 2eq models are boost only, whereas the 3eq instruments are cut/boost with a centre detent on the controls.

 

I'm personally not a fan of the maple fingerboards, as they always seem to look mucky. I'd be going for a late 80's - 90's 2eq with the satin finished neck, as opposed to the oil finish which always feels rough to the touch to me. I'm not into all that gunstock oil and sanding of necks nonsense.

 

Others have mentioned the uneven output of the MM humbucker when comparing strings. That's a very common thing. Many have come up with solutions, but just about the best [and most even] MM sound I've heard to date is my 1995 natural ash Stingray 2eq with Aguilar's OBP-2 preamp, and the Aguilar AG-4M pickup. Oh, and it only weighs 8.7lbs.

 

The mid-2000s onwards Stingray Classic is an excellent 2eq bass as well.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Late 80s/90s models had gloss necks, I don't recall satin being an option back then...

Such great memories! I remember most of the London ones mentioned. 

For those who never had the good fortune to visit The Bass Centre in Wapping...

Cheers Andy, nice one! See you at Nick's do... 5 weeks!

Thank you, much appreciated!

Hi all,

My 'Brooksy's Bass Corner' channels and platforms hit 5 years old today. It's been a head-spinning journey, that's for sure. I have a celebratory Live Chat over on the YT channel tonight from 8pm and I'll be running it via Streamyard so if you want to come and chat all things bass (or has that now officially been changed to BEHS?) either by text, audio or video, you're more than welcome.

All the best,

Mike

10 hours ago, silverfoxnik said:

Yep - you've misread that, Mike. 

 

You'd bring stories, wisdom, cool insights - and that's just for starters! Then there's the playing, basses, etc, etc. 

 

Would be great to see you if family /work circumstances permit. 👍😊

 

All the best, 

 

Nik

Some might question the wisdom bit...  fingers crossed

24 minutes ago, Harlequin74 said:

Well your experience, ability, talent and the myriad of basses you have reviewed. Just as a starter mate! 🤣

Bless you.... the cheque's in the post!

6 hours ago, Harlequin74 said:

Yes please,

 

@MikeBrooks can you make it?

Morning folks!

Rich West contacted me earlier, I've noted it in the diary and will take a look nearer the time. Sadly, I can't commit this far out due to ever-changing situations regarding some family health issues. But I'll have a look at it nearer the time. Is it just a case of attending or would people be interested in some sort of presentation/chat? Not sure what I have to offer that people would find useful - or have I misread that?

Mike

52 minutes ago, Misdee said:

That's a common misconception, Mike.

 

It was David Paton, formerly of Pilot and Alan Parsons Project ect. who played bass on Nikita.

 

Apparently he go to the studio early one day, was just playing his Stingray along to the backing  track to test out a new piece of equipment, Elton heard it and loved it and the rest is history.

Yes indeed... my mistake! Thank you, sir!

15 hours ago, Misdee said:

Talking of Elton John, it was great to see David Paton in the band. Looked like a vintage P Bass he was playing. Another great unsung bass player. So clever, so tasteful, so inventive.

 

It must have been around that time that he was playing on tracks for Elton's Ice On Fire album, including Nikita which was a classic example of an ,'80s big hit where the bass guitar is so prominent like you seldom hear on pop records nowadays. 

 Nikita... that boy, Pino, again...

... to those of you who joined in on tonight's Live Chat on my YouTube Channel. We shifted to a new format for the first time tonight, so to then be joined by Lee Sklar of all people, for a 45 minute chat, was a little 'headspinning' to say the least.

But if you watched or joined in by video or on the text chat... THANK YOU! Legends!

John is okay, just heard from him. He will post in here later.

They were made by Status, not TE. Mark Gooday created the design with Rob Green but Status produced them and manufactured them, hence why you were able to buy the spare parts via the Status website for a significant period of time. They were originally a brighter white but as with most white basses, it's in its ivory/cream phase but then it is almost 30 years old. Nice catch!

Top work, lads!

Looking forward to meeting some of you tomorrow... albeit in horrendous circumstances. Safe travels everyone.

Mike

I will keep you posted, I might be able to do the Sunday after all...will be in touch next week.

Hi all,

I've been asked to share this far and wide... in celebration of our dear friend, Nick Smith... and to say our goodbyes. Tuesday next week.

I'm going to be travelling from West/North West London, if anyone wants to car share. PM me if you're interested, I'll be leaving from Hillingdon/West Ruislip around 11am.

2 hours ago, Russ said:

I did dabble with Picatos for a while back in the day - they were good, and reasonably priced. Not sure what happened to them, but they seemed to vanish from the shelves about 15 years ago. 

Ceased to be a 'company back in 2015-ish, lease came up for renewal I think and for whatever reason the company ceased, Rotosound bought some of their machines and the name became a brand, now under the stewardship of Strings & Things I believe. I could be wrong on all this of course.

I was an endorsee from 1997 -2015, loved their strings but by 2014, I was getting a lot of dead E and A strings in my orders, usually returned half an order's worth of strings for replacements, so I wonder if their eye was off the ball by the end.

3 hours ago, edstraker123 said:

Completely agree although the 2nd hand prices seem way too high - they have a nice one currently in Richtone but you could get a much better new bass for that kind of cash. Any idea how much the new ones cost ?

Around the $4.5 - 5k mark, depending on what you want.

Same prog...