Norris

Enough to make my first "proper" bass a Rickenbacker - around about 83/84. Before that it had been a Franconia P copy bought from a school mate.

I saw him play in Eastbourne as a young sprog. Still memorable now. RIP

I have an Aria Pro II SB-1000. I bought it second hand around 85/86 (part chopping a gorgeous 4001 for it!) and it was my only bass for about 10 years. I eventually bought a US Jazz and the Aria hasn't been played since. Several years in the loft didn't do it any favours. A mate of mine has been restoring it for a couple of years (!). I hope to see it soon...

I have a thunderbird with the "much slated" 3-bolt bridge. It's not particularly high mass either, but the tone and sustain are fantastic. I have no issues with it at all. I've never swapped out a bridge, but have a couple of Jazzes - one USA strung through and a MIM non-through. Not an appreciable difference. I suspect a high mass bridge would have as negligible effect. Colour me sceptical

[quote name='Romeo2' timestamp='1414680113' post='2592180'] ...but knowing how much amazing quality bass you get from basses manufactured in Asia... [/quote] Back in the 70s and a lot of the 80s the stuff coming out of the far east was pretty cheap and ropey. These days it's a whole new ball game. They are producing high quality guitars and very reasonably priced.

Back in the 80s you could hardly give away any old Fender that wasn't pre-CBS. All the 'modern' 70s instruments were regarded as second rate. Now they are worth so much (regardless of actual playing quality) it's a brave person that will actually gig a 70s Fender. I don't really own old guitars. My oldest instrument is my Aria Pro II SB-1000 - a keeper for sentimental reasons. Everything else I own was made within the last 10 or 15 years.

Get your mains sockets checked as a priority! If in any doubt consult a qualified electrician

Having said all that, I quite like that they've reissued Bass VIs, Coronados and Starcasters. I can't justify buying any more guitars though.

[quote name='KiOgon' timestamp='1414501539' post='2589855'] How about just changing the neck? MightyMite are pretty good, Warmouth or a 2nd hand? Example = http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Lic-by-Fender-70s-Maple-Precision-Bass-Neck-MM2907-/331356036454?pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item4d265bdd66 Cheerz, John [/quote] Status graphite necks look rather splendid too

Here's another one. Back in the late 80s we went out as a trio. The guitarist and I turned up to the gig and started setting the kit up. After half an hour or so there is still no sign of the drummer. So we called his house - no reply (these were the days before mobile phones). We continued setting up and phoning. I can't remember fully what happened but somehow we got half of the drum kit to the venue but still no drummer! We ended up playing the first spot as a duo whilst bashing whatever bits of drums we could. Meanwhile the landlord despatched a horde of regulars to the drummers house. He was fast asleep following a heavy lunchtime session! They eventually dragged him down to the gig in time to do the second spot

Back in the 80s I was playing in a show band at a very posh black tie do. The band leader / keyboard player had been sampling his favourite tipple all night, but towards the end of the night must've had a bad one. As he stood up at the end of the set he wobbled slightly, put his hand out to steady himself and shoved his keyboard off the front of the stage. It crashed to the floor and laid there groaning loudly at the assembled guests. The last set actually sounded better with no keyboards

I like pretty much all genres. I can't abide musicals though. My mum loves them but they just leave me cold. Horrible, contrived cash machines

Once upon a time you had a choice of Jazz or Precision. Now there are simply too many different options. Just looking at US-made basses there are a bewildering array of "base" models, vintage models, and complete over-saturation of signature models (who are all these people?!). Then multiply that by MIM/CIJ/MIJ/Squier. The result is that it would take weeks of research to decide which particular model you think you want - and then have no hope of finding an example of that particular one in any physical music shops. IMHO though, the worst shot in the foot are the excellent quality basses coming out of Squier at the moment. Why would you pay Fender US prices that approach the cost of a custom build, when Squier do very similar basses, of very giggable quality for a tiny fraction of the price?!

I sneezed on stage once and deposited the hugest greenie on the back of my plucking hand, right at the start of the song. I then had to casually walk to the back of the stage and wipe my hand on the back curtains without missing a beat Also I leapt off stage once, cracking my head against a low beam - not nearly as cool looking as I'd pictured it moments earlier!

Luckily I managed to get R.E.M.'s Losing My Religion de-listed many years ago. I simply refuse to play it any more. [i]Oh life, it's bigger[/i] <zzz> [i]Bigger than you[/i] <zzzzzzz> [i]And you are not me[/i] <zzzz zzzzzz zzzzzzzzzz...

Put the money in an ISA and learn to play the Squier

[quote name='Annoying Twit' timestamp='1413371341' post='2577558'] ... That's why we need well designed and implemented experiments to find out what the truth is. [/quote] Or just pay what you can afford for a bass that sounds good to you and that you like playing. And then play it.

[quote name='leroydiamond' timestamp='1412940544' post='2573466'] ...once one is prepared to persevere with programming... [/quote] I keep the user manual in the carry case at all times. Just wish I'd remembered to take my glasses so I could read it though

Why have a name on the front? I'd have a monster face with green LED eyes :-)

Green monster head? HULK

I had a ME50B for a bit but switched to a GT6B as it has far better fine tuning using the jog dial. I don't go too overboard on effects but regularly use the amp/cab emulation to get a valve sound for most stuff then switch to clean and bright for the odd funky number. I also use it a lot in one prog track we do, where being able to alter the effects chain order is very useful to get the sound I needed. I've never felt the need for any other pedals. Plus it has a tuner and expression pedal (usually set as volume and handy as a quick mute at the end of set) Try one

[quote name='ras52' timestamp='1412784935' post='2572037'] ... there was something niggling me about that version, and know I've hit on it: WHERE'S BONO?!? [/quote] That made me laugh, followed by a cold-based coughing fit

[quote name='Happy Jack' timestamp='1412789276' post='2572105'] John Le Carre - Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy [/quote] I really must get around to reading that Name: Colonquake :-)

Mustang Sally #joke #coat

[quote name='Happy Jack' timestamp='1412784764' post='2572034'] Surely you mean Gerald the Mole ... [/quote] Pink Floyd - Bike?