lownote

Back in 2012 I bought a Hohner VI B Bass, the first of 3. By chance I strung it with Overwater strings. The bass loved them, and never sounded as good on any other strings. Which was a shame, because for reasons unclear Overwater stopped stocking those strings not too long afterwards. So imagine my delight when I found an unopened six pack of nickel light roundwounds for sale on Fleabay a few days back. Cost me a fortune, but the bass is happy again. Don't know why. Maybe its the construction, or the weird gauge: 028, 038, 058, 078, 098, 128. Probably the last set in the world so I'd best look after these then.

A drexel is a university, according to woggle: bit big and awkward to finish pickguards off with. A dremel is a handheld drilly type thingy into the chuck of which you can place various tools, including wirebrushes, sanding bits n similar. It's an ideal way of reducing your project to a useless wobbly edged piece of [insert material], plus a pile of probably semi-burnt stringy sawdust which will get into everything for the next week.

er, do you mean a Dremel?

A combo is a head and driver (speaker) in one box. If there's a suitable connection on the combo you can add an extension speaker to the combo to get more grunt. But you can't put two amps (the original and an additional head) into one driver. Combos are are great for practice and small gigs and portability. But if you're looking for flexibility and bigger gigs a separate head and cab is the way to go.

Trying to sell my Cort GB75 but before I can I need to replace the stacked pot: bad crackle with 'off-or-full-on-only'-ness that spray wont' sort. It seems to be a special solderless pot. Anyone know where I can get one? The Cort site seems to be down.

If you want super light, Barefaced 2xOne10 or 1xTwo10. You'll need to put a beer glass on the One10 to stop it blowing away. But they're not cheap. I love Markbass cabs and they run about £250 secondhand. Depends on whether you want real bass sound - or something else. Why keep the head? I had a Profet 5.1 and it weighed a ton. I wouldn't stick with any of it. Depends on your taste but a Markbass LM2 or 3 will set you back about £2-300 and kick out 500w with 1x 4 ohm or 2x 8 ohm cabs.

I'm finding Mark much more accessible on slap than Scott.

I had three alders and an ash. Sold the ash as soon as I could - couldn't get the sort of deep blooming sound I like. So probably ideal for slap.

+1

I just bought a Cort GB75 secondhand for £250. I never intended to, it just sort of happened cos I wanted something to learn slap on and edge funkwards. Glad I did! I'm blown away by the build quality. I've been through 35+ basses, although none have been posher than a MiM P bass and this Cort is better than them all, pretty much. Who'd have thought...

There are some very good bassists on there. But hot? What... as in shaggable? Hot as in playing 32 notes all the time? Enduring summer weather in Greece? That list includes a couple of very very good players .... it also leaves out many many more. Why am I taking part in this? Because I'm bored waiting for Postman Pat to bring my new strings so i can fit them.

Cheers Myke. Now bought. Any idea what the various knobs do?

Anyone offer any inside track on this bass from personal knowledge. Looking to learn me some slap.

FYI I have pulled out after one lesson. I have a strong feeling if I had nothing else in my life and was laser focused it would be extraordinary. But I don't and I'm not. Any road, I 'm out while I can still get my money back. I expect I'm missing something great but its too much for me at this stage.

It’s a racist slur on Norfolk and it’s alleged reputation for inbreeding. Hexadactylism leading to a high six, rather than a high five. I know....

Scott Devine is launching a Gary Willis masterclass. I’m tempted. But given that Scott himself is so heavily influenced by yer man, surely anyone who’s studied with Scott down the years will already have much of what will be in the masterclass.

I’m in a London boozer and listening to the pub musak. This soul / funk piece has the funkiest bass - a gravelly punchy deep deep sound. Not so much a dull thud as a deep dark chocolate-with-scotch bonnet chillies sexy punchy sound with a hint of high tension rubber hawser underneath. Anyone running that sound and can tell me how to get it - bass, amp, settings? Obv I can’t find out this end as it’s just quality pub funk/soul background music.

I was always a bassist who wanted to do diddly diddly. Eventually I took up sax to let off the show off, and now I meekly play the invisible rhythm section geezer when I'm on bass. But it does have to be a sixer, to remind people there's more to me than a stand up drummer.

With a Sire there is no substitute for trying before buying. Only you can decide if its quality enough for you, the weight and balance, and the sound. The EQ is different to any of the other 37 basses I've owned. Which may be right up your strassa or a turn off . And having had four Sires, they all had very different effects on me. One I couldn't live with all sound wise and had to get rid. So don't ask us. Ask yourself after playing one. Don't forget you can get one from Thomanns and return it if you don't like it.

Just dropped my Markbass LM2 onto a wooden floor from about 4 feet height. No obvious dings, rattles and it still works. Is it likely to be OK?