Marc S

When I started playing BG as a begiiner, I was quickly able to use all 4 fingers on my left hand (probably because I'm left handed, but play a right handed bass). On DB it is of course, the preferred technique not to use your 3rd finger I discovered this on various youtube lessons, and tried to train myself to play the "correct" way, and not use this finger on DB Usually, if I concentrate sufficiently, I'm able not to use it most of the time However, there are times when I'm a bit lazy with technique, and moreover, times when I just find it seems natural for me to use all 4 fingers like artisan says above, I've probably just switched over from playing BG...... bad habits, but hey ho, old dog, new tricks etc etc

[quote name='Hobbayne' timestamp='1478267443' post='3168039'] The bass intro to Princess of The Streets is a work of art. [/quote] I second that - one of the best intros I've ever heard

Not sure what the actual width was, but I recently played a Steve Harris sig, and compared it to a few other Precisions in the same shop The Steve Harris was the widest, and deepest / chunkiest of the lot. It reminded me of an early '70's P I had years back, which was wider & chunkier than other P's I had tried at that time - mine had a maple board.....

Hello Markus Welcome to basschat Good luck in your search for a '59 Precision - I'm sure it'll be expensive But if you want one.... that itch won't go away Cheers from South Wales Marc

I'm careful with all my equipment, and try to look after it as best I can. I've rarely had a brand new bass - mostly second hand. It's funny, I know, but if the bass was mint when I bought it, I wanted it to remain so. I once had a near mint Rick, and I was way too precious about that, so rarely gigged it (twice I think) Nowadays, I either gig my Squier CV P or my Fender Roadworn P or J. So I'm not too bothered if they get an additional ding or scratch. The Squier is near mint still.... so I suppose I'll be annoyed if/when that gets its' first scratch or ding!

If you have found a sound & style that works for you, then that's great. But as for any differences in the sound of the bass, I quite often slide up to higher notes, and I like the sound of the slide itself. The slide and the notes at the dusty end of the bass are integral to some songs, like RHCP "Give it away" or Macca's bassline on "Come Together". In fact, those are 2 of my fave bass lines, and I can't imagine either without the slide to the dusty end You may not use that end of the neck much, but never consider it out of bounds EDIT: Also, when playing "Come together" I quite like the sound of a slide back down from the higher end of the neck, to the lower

[quote name='karlfer' timestamp='1478267835' post='3168046'] Definitely seperates as folk have suggested. Probably a head and 2 x 112's. Decide what sound and features you require. Do your research (Basschat really is an excellent resource for this). Then buy used from here, preferably from some of the guys with some decent feedback. If you buy decent gear used, you won't lose massive amounts if it doesn't work out live for you. Gear is VERY different in shop/bedroom/rehearsal room/ Ferret and Hat/O2. Welcome back, good luck, enjoy the journey [/quote] I meant to say, of course, the marketplace on here is very good for second hand gear And you'll get more for your money buying used. A new head, say TC Electronic 550W and a Markbass 1x12 would be a good start Then add a further (used) cab at some later date - check out what other BC'ers say about each cab, it's merits and weak points And as others have said, buying components makes it easier to change or upgrade

Ah JJ - one of my fave bass players! In fact, probably the man who made me want to play bass, and sound like him... Love the song, haven't played it in years. I seem to recall never really "nailing" that intro riff - just playing some rapid notes, with a pick, around A and B on the G string. Of course, youtube wasn't around back when I played it - so that's my suggestion anyway; see if there's any footage of JJ himself playing it live, or if there's someone on there who has made a video bass lesson? Worth a try.... Funny enough I saw the Stranglers recently, and watched out for a few details like that; eg, which part of the neck he plays such & such a riff etc. And I don't recall him moving his left hand that much when playing NMH Best of luck

[quote name='Lw.' timestamp='1478254590' post='3167854'] The current popular choice seems to be two 1x12" cabs - you can take one for small gigs & both for bigger ones. They're mostly light weight & pretty small box-sizes, especially compared to what you'll have used in years gone by. I chose the TKS ones because of the tone but there are plenty of other brands available; Bergantino, Vanderkley, Barefaced, even Ashdown apparently make a good one...... [/quote] Yep, plenty of choice of lightweight cabs out there these days. Barefaced, Markbass, Epifani I use a couple of Epifani 1x10's, also, love my Markbass 2x10 traveller Perhaps a rig consisting of a 1x12 and a 1x10? Don't be fooled by smaller speaker sizes, and thinking they won't cope... I had a 1x15 and it wasn't capable of handling any more power than some 1x10's. Also, it tended to sound very "boomy" and ill-defined at the bottom end, whereas some 1x12's and 1x10's can sound more well defined, focussed and punchy Also don't forget cabs like the Phil Jones 4x5 Piranha cabs. I had 2 of those, and boy did they sound great, despite the speakers only being 5". They were a tad heavy mind you, but now they do a lightweight version of those cabs too... [quote name='FuNkShUi' timestamp='1478255057' post='3167870'] Where do you live? Maybe a nice BC'er can offer you a go on their equipment? The more you try, the more you'll know [/quote] Can't see what area you live in, but honestly, most BC'ers seem decent folk to me. If you were anywhere near FuNkShUi and myself in South Wales, you'd be welcome to pop in for a cuppa at mine, and have a listen to some amp heads & cabs.... just bring some nice biscuits! Plus, is there a bass bash anywhere near you? As BC'ers usually turn up with basses and amp gear for others to try out... Any BC'ers playing any gigs near you? Check that, and pop along to listen to their gear in a live situation - and support their band & venue to boot. Don't worry about being out of the game a few years. Yes, things have changed, but IMHO, things have changed mainly for the better. There's lots of choice out there re basses. Cheaper end instruments are so well made now eg. the Squier Classic Vibe range. And amps and cabs are so much lighter weight than they used to be. I started playing in the early 80's and basses were expensive. There was quite some cheap tat out there too. And amps were very hefty. I stopped playing for over 20 years (nearly 25 in fact) and boy, things had changed - but look on it as an exciting journey, where you can learn a lot too. Most of all, good luck in your quest. And post your location in your info - so others will know when to invite you to a gig or bass bash

[quote name='PaulWarning' timestamp='1478184619' post='3167370'] I once fitted some SD quarterpounders to my Hondo professional II, could hardly tell any difference then found out they fitted DiMazio's as standard still I sold them on for not much of a loss (the Seymour Duncans) [/quote] Earlier in the year (or maybe it was toward the end of 2015?) I put a new neck on an old 70s / early 80's Matsumoko Japan built P bass I picked up cheaply. The old neck was really well & truly broken, Someone had (mostly) removed the old logo on the headstock, so I couldn't tell what it was. It looked like it may have been a Hondo... Once fixed, with new neck, the pickup in that bass sounded awesome! It was quite a high output, really punchy too. I sold the bass by advertising it on a local facebook group. It sold the same day. Guy picked it up next day. I regret not swapping the pickup out of that bass, as it was so good. Maybe they were DiMarzio's as PaulWarning says? They sounded great, whatever they were. I since found out that the guy who bought that restored P bass from me sold it on to a chap I know (this guy does a lot of buying & selling) and I think he's sold it on again. Perhaps I didn't ask enough for it?

I've played 3 limelights, and I really liked every one. My preferred one was actually for sale - a Fiesta Red P bass. I tried it out, loved it, but didn't buy, as I needed to sell one first... I really regretted that, because the Limelight sold, then the bass I was selling (MM Stingray) went only a week or so later. I still rue the day I missed that particular Limelight, as it had been reduced in price to expediate sale (which it did) You could get Mark to build one to your spec. I have resisted, as I now have too many basses (again) Yes, the pickups Mark uses sound great. Good luck with your search. Keep your eye open in the marketplace on this forum They do come up for sale (like all makes / models) but if you see one that really floats your boat - don't hesitate like I did There were 3 Limelights on the market last week, 2 of them sold pronto EDIT: In the Limelight thread (p 11, I think) there is a Shell Pink medium relic Jazz, and I think that's the best looking bass I've ever seen. If that came up for sale, I'd really want it..... I mean, really really want it

[quote name='Happy Jack' timestamp='1478009298' post='3165949'] Seriously Marc, I wasn't having a pop at any real luthier - not intentionally anyway. My suggestion was intended to steer Mr. Newbie Scam away from Basschat. If he asked Dearnaley to do a job for him, then that's between him and Dearnaley. If it reads that I was insulting Dearnaley then my apologies to all. [/quote] No problems Happy Jack - I was only saying that if Dave doesn't charge 230 quid, then either the guy who did the re-fret is overcharging the new owner, or the new owner is over egging the actual cost, in order to get more from the seller I didn't think you were having a go at a luthier, or luthiers in general matey

[quote name='Beer of the Bass' timestamp='1478081148' post='3166540'] It wasn't a Squier, but I had a five-string OLP neck which just didn't have enough range on the truss rod to get a good setup with 0.045" to 0.130" Ernie Ball flatwounds...... [/quote] That surprises me, as I've heard nothing but good reports about OLPs

I haven't heard that tale myself. I used to have a Squier Vintage Modified Jazz, which I put Steve Harris Flats on. I found they were pretty high tension, and I had to adjust the truss rod to compensate for that, and it was absolutely fine The VM series Squiers (made in Indonesia) are good quality, well constructed instruments, though the neck doesn't feel as hard a wood as the Classic Vibe (made in China) series... In fact, my CV P bass seems to weigh more than the VM Jazz bass I used to own - though I never weighed them properly I still have a Classic Vibe Precision, and it's a superb bass - really great quality, well built, great construction and finish When changing strings to higher tension flats, I'd expect to have to adjust the truss rod on any bass. I wouldn't worry about that, and I'm sure it's well made enough to handle the adjustment. Though I use rounds on my CV P, I'd have no hesitation in adjusting if I decided on flats - go for it Some other BC'er must have fitted flats on their Classic Vibe.... anyone done this?

I'm not that keen on the feel of flats - despite also playing double bass. On my Fretless Precision, I use Thomastik Flats. They are low tension, but if I don't pick the fretless up for a week or 2, I forget just how low tension they are! Previously tried Rotosound flats and Steve Harris sig flats. Both of those seemed very high tension to me EDIT: Not tried LaBella flats, but I'd really like to. I hear good reports from others