Sean

I've tried a BB1024 and was impressed, it easily compares with a Lakland Skyline or Musicman for build quality and sound quality. The BB2024x and BB2025x that I have are sublime, top end instruments that feel, look and play like the £2k+ instruments they are. They are very special and I'm impressed with them every day (I've had them about two years and in that tim ( )have found nothing that I have lusted over as much. They chime and breathe and feel absolutely right. I have a PRS C22 guitar which is an exceptionally good example of that make/model and both Yams are a step above that in all respects. If anyone has any doubts about the 2025x's B-string I can confirm that it is as good as any 34" scale low B I have ever tried. Negatives? Yes, I suppose. Single coil hum but this doesn't bother me. Anything else? Uh, not for me but some people baulk at paying £2k for an instrument that is easily mistaken by Joe Public for a mid-range bass. But then again these people that baulk probably wouldn't buy a Sadowsky because it looks like a Fender copy. I love my BBs and think they are worth every penny. I did some sound clips on one of the Yamaha threads and the modern Super BBs just wet all over the other cheaper BBs I have. Unfortunately for a full comparison, you would have to feel them, play them and live with them; I'd put them up against any custom made luthier instrument of similar construction.

I really like it for lots of reasons however, like my BB1300, I can't help but think it's not a proper BB because it's not a P or a P/J. At £549 it's probably better than anything out there for the money.

OldGit (bless him) posted a lot about band websites and how they should be to maximise interest from potential customers. Do a search on BC to try to find some good stuff and PM me your email address and I'll send you a ton of OG's wise words on band websites that was aimed directly at a function band website I was setting up at the time. It's priceless stuff from someone who knew what they were talking about.

[url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Hondo-Alien-headless-bass-guitar-very-rare-eighties-/290723669692?pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item43b07b26bc#ht_832wt_1165"]Hondo Alien[/url] craziness.

[url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Ibanez-Blazer-Bass-Custom-Series-Made-In-Japan-80s-Simply-stunning-/261079215771?pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item3cc988ae9b#ht_4111wt_1399"]Nice Blazer[/url]

[quote name='noelk27' timestamp='1344548475' post='1766414'] Jack Bruce, Geddy Lee, Lemmy, etc, etc. [/quote] Yeah, but they can sing and play. It's strictly one or the other for me for any basslines that are not straight time or just very easy; if I start singing when playing the playing goes wrong and if I start playing when singing the singing goes.

Oli's an easy guy to deal with. Just sold him a pickup, prompt replies, swift payment. All good stuff.

[quote name='cheddatom' timestamp='1344498186' post='1765330'] Have you not thought of getting a bassist instead? Then you can take the vocals [/quote] We've been through this with a couple of bass players and it changed the feel of the band too much and became a problem because I build the songs around my bass lines and the bassists didn't get it. Plus I love bass playing more than singing.

I've been in a band for 18 months and we've really struggled to find a singer that's a keeper for whatever reason but the three of us get on well and are vey creative. We've recorded a few bits and pieces with me singing; overdubbed because I can't play my busy lines and sing the melodies. I was wondering if anyone else is in this situation, whether you think it can be maintained long term, what the pitfalls are etc. I like the recording process, I like writing as a collective and I love singing ( I fronted bands on guitar and vocals for 20 years) but obviously we'll never gig unless we find a singer. I get a massive buzz from gigging, always have since I was 14 years old. Am I like an alcoholic trying to convince myself that orange juice is the way forward? I've thought about packing it all up and joining a function/tribute band or someone else's original band but I've been there, done that in the past and I don't get the satisfaction cos there's no ownership. I'd be interested to know your thoughts. Cheers Sean

[quote name='uncle psychosis' timestamp='1343377658' post='1749668'] I'm not sure he counts as either unrecognised or forgotten but I always hear a lot of Mike Mills in my own bass playing. Which is unsurprising, because I've long worshipped REM. What is a little bit odd about it, though, is that I only know how to play one REM song on the bass...so [/quote] +1 Mike Mills is awesome. He is one if my biggest influences and like you, I can't play many REM songs complete. Kenneth is one if the best bass lines ever. In parallel universe I'm married to Mike Mills, he makes me think, he sings incredible harmonies, he has impeccable taste in his playing and always manages to give me goose bumps on the rockier stuff. The man is absolute magic. Sting is such a part if my musical make-up that his style is now innate. I can't shake it off. Our drummer told me tonight that the new song sounded very early-Police, i couldn't disagree :-)

Status flats have less tension, try 'em. I have them in my Yam BB400s and it sounds really authentic. I play Chili Peppers songs on that bass and they sound great. Give it a go, if you don't like, then you will know :-)

Very sad. Midnight Train to Georgia is a song I've loved since I was a kid and it's one of those incredible bass lines that stays with you. Bob's website is an excellent source of info on bass and Motown. Bob, your music lives on.

[quote name='fretmeister' timestamp='1342127848' post='1730225'] £2500 status streamline[/quote] Wow! What extras have you got on the Streamline? Must have LEDs to get the price up that high, surely?

I like the big old lead sled bridges that come on old Yamaha BBs, they rock and they look a bit C&W but not totally Kenny & Dolly so that's OK. BBOT bridges just don't work for me but if I want to replicate their sound I stuff a load of foam under my strings ;-)

Ten by Pearl Jam Regatta De Blanc by The Police London's Calling by The Clash Live in Dublin by REM - Mike Mills kicks so much ass he must have to have new boots after every song :-)

He was great in Belgium two weeks ago. I miss John F's vocals but the band was on top form.

I've bought a few specials from John, always easy to deal with. Had some repairs done too at very reasonable prices. I'm after a U-retro for my Streamline next :-)

[quote name='overdriver' timestamp='1341931687' post='1726406'] Yes. [/quote] They might indeed come from the same factory but they will be made to different specifications according to the mother company that's sub-contracted the manufacturing. It's the Cort factory and they make all sorts of instruments for many companies. The Hohner headless basses and Steinberger Spirits are not the same animal in the same way that a Lakland Skyline and an Ibanez SR300 aren't the same despite coming out of the same factory.

I've had a couple of Status basses in the past and didn't get on with the necks but the Streamline I have is fine; it was the one thing putting me off but I took the plunge and it's like a Ray or modern Precision shape. The Streamline is nigh on perfect aesthetically for me; I've tried a couple of XL2s in the past but just hate the way they hang; the nut feels as though it's too far away, like on a Warwick. As far as sound goes I can't remember what the Steinbergers sounded like; the Streamline suits me, I like the sizzle although it needs an East U-Retro to replace the two band Status EQ, I like to boost my lower mids and am doing this with an outboard EQ at the moment.

[quote name='charic' timestamp='1341781959' post='1724171'] Are you SURE you weren't plating Rockband with the special strat controller? [/quote] Definitely Rocksmith. Definitely Epiphone real guitars. Definitely out of tune. Or at least the top three strings were way out, maybe the E and A were OK, like I said, the song I did (a Nirvana one) was on single note setting and only the E and A were used. When I had a noodle it was shocking and when I strummed some chords it was horribly out.

I can't even begin to imagine how it feels to be told that a loved one has passed like this. My thoughts are with the family.

He's still missing. Let's hope he's OK.

[quote name='Johnston' timestamp='1341599554' post='1721747'] You sure ? Everything I've heard says that guitar being in tune is important as it doesn't simulate anything. It's just a USB cable to the console. Otherwise if you played a wrong note how would the system know when you can use a any guitar? Heard the Bundles Epis were actually quite bad . They are just the cheap budget starter fodder after all. [/quote] The guitar was way out of tune; I had a strum with it unplugged. Maybe the two low strings were i tune - they were the only ones I used on the demo. Maybe the Rocksmith demo Epis were the pic of the bunch and set up just for the exhibit stand; they certainly weren't gas-inducing but they were 1000x better than I was expecting them to be.