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This reminds me of the kind of elitism I used to see in triathlon, there were plenty of rich blokes with super light bikes that cost thousands of pounds & most of them could've easily lost a fair bit of weight by addressing their tubby bellies. They'd look down on me with my self built racing bike that probably weighed twice what theirs did. Then my (then) skinny frame & crap bike would kick their butts. I'd love a six string TRB but I know it'd be wasted on me, I'd have to become much more musical inside to do it any justice. I play fives mostly because the shapes make more sense to me & that means I get around the neck better than I do with a four string.

Cracking Pair!

Yamaha UK 084-481-11116 I think in this thread somewhere is a mention of a UK based distributor that has lots of Yamaha stuff!

Only to get my possessions back after my last sleepover at the local cop-shop.

These guys https://www.facebook.com/hydrodipdesigns Their website has disappeared tho so not sure if they're still trading.

I'm also not a huge fan of unfinished necks, I like how they feel but when they start to look like a weathered fence it's time for lacquer. My 55-02 below looked pale & anaemic (& a bit cheap) but felt great, probably the nicest neck I've played. I'd already worn through the thin lacquer on my 55-01 & decided getting the 55-02 done to prevent wear through & make it look a bit better. I went for satin to retain the soft feel. I also had my Stingray neck lacquered by Shuker in high gloss vintage with stainless frets.

I brought it from GAK I think when they were discontinued & going cheap & I wasn't sure I'd keep it but it played so good it became my main squeeze. I fancied doing something different so I had the body hydro-dipped, the neck lacquered with a satin vintage tint, I dyed the fretboard do give it a bit of an ebony look then added the Hipshot bridge & string retainer. Oh I took the pickup selector out & wired it VVT.

More of a makeover!

Not really a resolution as such, more of a long term plan to get my act together. COVID hit my practice hard with all the extra humans in the house during the day, which is the time I like to plant myself in my studio (aka, our kitchen) & lose myself for a couple of hours. I went from playing pretty much everyday to putting the basses in cases & hiding them away. So the main aim this year is to get the habit back. I'll need to work through the repertoire cuz no doubt I'll have forgotten loads & with that I'd like to broaden the scope of what I learn & play, adding songs from genre's I've overlooked. The other thing I've started working on is making my playing more of a whole body thing, yes it sounds woo woo but until recently my attention was all in my head when I'm playing. I've always played by feel, never counted anything & I've always anchored on the "one". Recently I've been finding anchors on other beats in the bar & even between beats & my time & articulation has already come on loads. I know it sounds weird but I feel the music in my body more now & that means I'm getting out of my head, as a byproduct I feel more relaxed & enjoy grooving to even the simplest of tracks. It's only took me 30 years 😂

Herb Flowers blue jazz 😍

Similar story with our eldest sons Christmas present (£200 car part), DHL delivered it while my Dragon was hovering so she didn't hear him. When she got the delivered message she went out to the door & it had gone. They supplied a photo of the box on the doorstep. Unfortunately the ring camera was flat so didn't catch who took it but the company we purchased from we're great. They sent a replacement & DHL claims forms. I've since told the driver nothing gets left on the doorstep & we don't have a safe place.

Recent stupid (& not serious) hand injury made playing my 35 scale 5 strings a bit of a mission so to keep the cobwebs at bay I've dug out my favourite 4 string. The pain of the hand injury just melted away as I remembered why I love my Stingray so much.

My practice has always been all or nothing. Nothing as in just picking up the bass a couple of times a week to keep my hand in to all which is very structured & consistent (at least once a day most days) & with intent & purpose. There's a book on my bookshelf called The Musicians Way, (ashamedly I forget the author) & it's been invaluable for the times when I'm highly motivated to improve & need that structured practice. There's a website too. I get the biggest gains (& satisfaction) when I have intent & a solid plan before I pick up the bass. I spent years just noodling & as much as it was fun the time could've been spent better.

I'm not sure this will help any but see if you can find anything that Russ has shared online. https://www.notreble.com/buzz/2009/10/27/player-spotlight-russ-sargeant/

It's a 425 that I brought new for a discounted price just as they were discontinued. I had the body design hydrodipped, changed the bridge for a Hipshot, dyed the fretboard & lacquered the neck & wired it VVT. I'm looking for a 414/424 now for a similar project only it'll be hand painted.

Cool looking venue that!

I wanted to contribute something useful to this thread but I can't think of anything useful to say other than I have two Laklands, a Stingray & two Yamaha's & this one is definitely the most used!

I'll get me coat!

I know this was originally an old thread but I have a take on this too. I think it's really important to decide for yourself what level of commitment you're prepared to give, what you expect from the other members & also what exactly you want to get out of it all before you take the plunge. In the past I've liked the idea of a band but not the reality & that's meant that I've had to disappoint people (& myself) all because I've acted on ill considered feelings. Last night was my first rehearsal with a new established band & this time I made sure that I considered the details before I committed. I'm working hard now to catch up with the set but they know that I won't over-rehearse once it's up to scratch (I do like the social aspect of rehearsals don't get me wrong) & they're aware of my crazy shift patterns & family commitments. Everyone is happy & we're already having fun which to me is what is all about.

I hear ya, my comment was in no way a dig. BD have to make their coin & the prices of BB 42's are creeping up. I bought mine just as they were being discontinued & it was a steal to be honest. Great basses regardless 😎

425s too, I'm currently after a black one for a hand painting proj. The price BD are asking for Ricky's is too rich for my pocket tho 😬

I auditioned for a band several years ago & I had put in the effort on the run up & nailed everything they asked me to play. They seemed like really cool guys & I wanted to get the gig. However, at the end of the audition after the whole band telling me they liked my playing & my personality the singist says "what kind of guitar is that"? To which I replied "oh, this is my Musicman Stingray" He came back with, "hmmmmmmm, haven't heard of them, you'll need to play a Fender in this band"! In my broadest black country accent I said "thanks for the jam, t'raaa a bit".

Mids, Noun, meaning - where tone lives 😁

You are absolutely correct, it is a J pickup in the bridge position along with a reverse P. My original plan was to source newer 414/424 pickups & replace them however, I think the lugs from the original J might still be visible behind the blade J of the newer models. Hence, the bespoke pickup surrounds that I'm going to have made locally. I know, I know, a lot of effort for a cheap bass so what's the point?! I just really like the bass & I think the pickup surrounds are essential to the looks of a BB 😁 (I'm not saying the new ones look crap, but the new ones do look crap) 🤣

Yep, exactly that! Pickups are slightly different in shape but it's the curved edges that I want to get right! PM incoming, thank you!