Hugh971

I say keep it, I've never played a Bongo but I actually like the weird look. Hugh

In terms of gear I prefer to use wired monitors, it's one less thing to go wrong. I use [url="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Behringer-MA400-Monitor-Headphone-Amplifier/dp/B000KUCQXY/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1457428254&sr=8-2&keywords=behringer+headphone+amp"]this headphone amp[/url] with a headphone extension and [url="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Shure-SE215-Sound-Isolating-Earphones/dp/B004U9NH3E/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1457428292&sr=8-1&keywords=sure+se215"]Shure SE215 earbuds[/url]. It's a lot cheaper than a wireless system and a lot less prone to problems (such as interference / noise). Those Shure earbuds do block out a lot of sound though so you need to be running everything through the desk. If you don't run drums through you won't hear them, which you don't want. Hugh

I love my IEMs but for your case I'd suggest you don't want them based on your first post. You need to run everything through the PA (including drums) and you need a desk with enough sends for each band member for IEMs to be worth it. And (in my opinion) you need a good sound guy dedicated to running the desk. If you're already running everything through the PA and fancy sharing the details of your PA setup (speakers, desk, what you normally run through PA) I'll happily tell you if I reckon IEMs are appropriate. Hugh

I once played a wedding reception which was actually in a Church with a nice house PA. We turned up early, brought our own sound guy who set us all up, and ran everything through the PA. We did a proper sound check and then left for a few hours. When we got back one of the guests had gone to the desk with their iPod (to put some music on) and for some reason turned EVERY gain on the board all the way down. Thankfully the sound guy was competent and fixed it with a quick line check. Proper annoying though! Hugh

No, I take spare strings and cables but that's about it. The only times I've had gear issues were when I first started playing and used to break strings (bad technique) and when I've used active basses and had preamp or battery issues. I almost always use passive now, and I still carry spare 9V batteries! Most gigs I do now have PA support so if my amp or cab died I could fall back to pure DI. Hugh

I had 2 brand new Vintage Icon Jaco basses a couple of years ago and had to return both due to quality control issues (one was a warranty replacement of the first). First arrived with a stripped truss rod socket from the factory, so the neck was not adjustable. Thankfully I tried to adjust it the day I got it even though it was almost spot on otherwise I wouldn't have noticed until it was too late. Second arrived missing the string tree, there wasn't even a hole drilled for it. Basic stuff. It's a shame because the first one was a very nice instrument, it looked the part and played nicely, but with those QC issues I didn't attempt a 3rd. I've not tried that specific Ibanez bass but every Ibanez I've played has been great quality so that might be a good call. It won't sound anything like the Jazz though. Completely different instruments. Hugh

Tom bought a tape deck from me recently. He was a pleasure to deal with, payment was fast and comms were good.

Ian bought a bass from me. Great communications, fast payment. A pleasure to deal with.

[quote name='Grangur' timestamp='1456351099' post='2988269'] Please can someone tell me how you kill the mwahh on a fretless. I've tried relaxing the truss rod on mine, in the hope that it will help, but I still find I get fed up with it sounding like a sittar. I'm playing a fretless Streamer with Chromes. [/quote] More neck bow (though you've tried that), raise the bridge saddles, use more neck pickup than bridge pickup, roll the tone back, roll off some upper mids at the amp. Though some fretless basses get much more mwah than others. Hugh

[quote name='PauBass' timestamp='1455892375' post='2983382'] Gracias Jose!...I'll ask Adrian Just wanted to know how their necks compare to standard Fender Jazzes or the Geddy Lee in case the difference is substantial [/quote] As far as I know by default the Elwood's have a thicker neck than your average Fender Jazz. The nut width is 40mm compared to a Fender Jazz 38mm. That said there have been lots of different jazz necks over the years. The Geddy Lee has a very thin neck, I think it's 19mm at the 1st fret. I've got a custom Elwood build in progress at the moment and I've specified the neck dimensions myself. If you know what you want Adrian can build it (as long as it's not ridiculous!). Hugh

Wow, that looks great with the scratch plate. Completely changes the look. Hugh

I have a HB 75 Jazz from a couple of years back. The neck seems to be made to roughly the same dimensions as a 70s Fender Jazz. I measured mine up recently because I'm getting a custom made soon and like the dimensions on this neck.[list] [*]Nut width 38.1mm [*]Depth just behind 1st fret 20mm [*]Depth just behind 12th fret 23mm [/list] However my sister recently bought the same bass and the neck feels different (thicker) to me. I've not measured it though and so don't know for sure. Hugh