Marc S

Thanks for posting that link dannybuoy. Really like that sub-shortscale in the Youtube video too - I want one Cheers

[quote name='Happy Jack' timestamp='1472628736' post='3122662'] Not entirely clear how an acoustic (or semi-acoustic) ultra-shortscale bass with strings for a bass uke actually differs from a bass uke. Sounds like the same instrument to me. What am I missing? [/quote] As happy Jack says - sounds like a Uke bass to me. I have a Kala Ubass (though mine is fretted). It's a great little instrument, though in truth I don't really use it as much as I'd anticipated when I bought it... I had an Ashbory, again, bought as a curiosity which I didn't use very much. I do prefer the Kala though, as it is "acoustic" - which means you can hear it better when stitting on the sofa, just jamming along. It's not that loud when not amped up though, so you can't be heard if someone is playing acoustic guitar - it's just louder than an Ashbory Also, I really disliked the Aguillar Thundergut strings on the Ashbory. I just didn't get on with them at all. They felt slightly better when used with the talcum powder-like substance recommended for playing these strings.... but not much. The strings that came with the Kala are lower tension again, which is a little odd, and more "rubbery" rather than "synthetic gut" type material of the Thunderguts - but the Kala strings feel infinitely better to me. Have you any drawings / designs of your proposed instrument? PS. The Kala is a tad pricey, but there are cheaper alternatives online lately Cheers

Thanks for that guys They do seem to be the lightest gauge DB strings I've seen....

Nice bass. You can get a cheap replacement scratchplate on ebay for about 4 quid - from China They're pretty good quality, and fairly tough, properly laminated.... Yes, some Fenders can be bad, but get a good one, and you'll know it. I've got a few, and love them all - but have had some not so good ones too. My Roadworn Jazz and P basses are absolutely stunning. Glad you like yours - I like the VVT controls on my Jazz. I prefer simple controls on the bass TBH. I set them to roughly mid-way, and do EQ'ing on the amp, to suit the venue. Then I've got room for manouvre either way, at hand, on the bass... But each to their own - I had active basses and a few that had loads of control knobs. I found I was forever fiddling then Enjoy your fab looking new toy

[color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]Welcome to basschat DrPAR, I'm sure you'll find lots of good advice on this forum, and plenty of helpful, friendly players. Don't forget to look out for a bass bash type event near you - I'm sure you'll meet lots of good pals, and they usually let you try their equipment Don't rush into your first purchase. Try several basses our before buying. There are some good starter basses out there these days. Try a few long scale basses too, and compare as many as you can. Don't be embarrassed about trying basses in shops, as a beginner - always remember that they see loads of newcomers in shops... Just try as many as you can, and good luck with your playing EDIT: Though I'm a long scale player, I have a Hofner Violin bass (which I usually carry as a backup) Really impressed with the big, punchy sound from this bass - though it feels a little odd to play (due to body shape, I think) It's a great bass - so try one if you can.....[/font][/color]

Hi there, Just wondering this, as I got my Eminence second-hand. The seller also gave me a set of nylon strings, and I put those on right away, as the strings that were already on the Eminence seemed very light gauge... I'm never going to use them - so I thought I'd flog them, but want to be sure these are the strings that originally came with the bass... Cheers now - any helpful advice would be appreciated I know, I really should post a pic! Perhaps I'll do that tomorrow

[quote name='blue' timestamp='1472170039' post='3119173'] I don't know if it's been mentioned, but an amp is a lot more likely to fail than a bass "Gigging Without A Spare Amp" Blue [/quote] I've broken far more strings than amps. BTW, as I mentioned in an earlier reply, I have a spare amp! Mind you, it's tiny.... I mean really tiny. It's a Euphonic Audio 550W head, and it fits into the pocket of a gigbag, with room left for spare leads. I keep it in a hidden compartment next to the spare tyre in the boot of my car. I'm not massively keen on its' sound - it's rather too "clinical" and hi-fi like for my ear, but it's just so small, it's really handy as a spare... But I really doubt that players break more amps than strings - unless they're seriously overloading the amps? Maybe you should start another thread Blue?

Just spotted this thread. I was about to advertise that I have a set of used innovation Honeys. They were on my last bass, which I restrung with silver slaps. I kept the honeys, in case I wanted to try them in future However, I'm now using spirocore weichs. Sorry I didn't spot this earlier. You couldve bought the honeys from me lol

[quote name='Musicman20' timestamp='1472113061' post='3118544'] The Flea pickups are the American Pure Vintage 64 set. The standard Road Worn pickups are Mexican Standard Vintage Alnico pickups. Both sound great. I assume the Mexican pickups are different to the average Mexican Jazz bass......... [/quote] yes the pickups in the Roadworn are definitely better than the pickups in a standard Mex Jazz. (Mind you they are fine too) I played a MIM Jazz and a roadworn when I first got my RW, and they sounded better, more bite to them, more powerful and a better range of sounds - a better defined bottom end of the tonal range too... That said, I then went & replaced the pickups in my RW, for some old DiMarzios, and it sounds even better Really wanting to try one of these Flea sigs.....

[quote name='Painy' timestamp='1472075529' post='3118387'] That gives me an idea. Maybe we should start a Basschat "Gig Assistance Service" (see what I did there ) for people who can't take a spare bass with them to their gig. If a string breaks then we'll come and replace it. If an electrical connection goes then we'll resolder it. If for any reason we're unable to repair your bass there at the gig then we'll tow it to the nearest garage. I might need to give the last point a bit more thought... [/quote] Sign me up for this service! No, wait...... I carry a spare - I don't need it!

For those who may be limited on space in the back of the van / car. Looks like a relatively inexpensive backup, small & lightweight too... 2.9Kg [url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/221904870728?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT"]http://www.ebay.co.u...K%3AMEBIDX%3AIT[/url]

[quote name='Woodinblack' timestamp='1471969713' post='3117350'] I think that a lot of modern cars no longer have a spare tyre. But anyway, why a spare tyre? I have blown more engines (or related things that make the car go forward) than I have tyres, and I have never blown a tyre away from home - except once on a bike, which A) didn't have a spare and put me in hospital so wouldn't have really helped. So yes, a spare engine would have been a lot more useful in life. [/quote] Yes, some of the smaller modern cars don't carry a spare tyre / wheel Such as my colleagues Smart Car - the sport version. However, when her tyre was punctured on a Sunday night, down a very dark country road in the Gower Peninsular, miles away from a street lamp or a lay-by, let alone a garage - she certainly wished the designers had factored a spare in, when developing that car. It is true that many people never get a puncture, but I've had a few, and wouldn't buy a car which didn't have a spare. Are you seriously blowing engines up on a regular basis?

[quote name='rushbo' timestamp='1471618856' post='3114539'] I have the luxury of a spare bass, so it comes with me to every gig. I've broken about five strings at shows since I started gigging in 1986, so some people might think that carting another instrument about is a waste of effort. I would disagree. It takes seconds to swap basses - certainly less time than it takes to change a string. I have also had the strap button come away from the body of my bass at a gig, so the spare was pressed into service on that occasion, too. I gig a lot (for a weekend warrior anyway), so, in my opinion, it makes sense to have back-ups for as many things as possible - I have a Behringer BDI 21 in my gig box along with spare leads, mics blah blah blah. Fortunately, that's the only bit of spare kit I've never had to use. I keep my basses well maintained, but there are circumstances you cant foresee, so I bring back-ups. For me, it's insurance - the mild inconvenience of having one extra thing to bring to a gig is out-weighed by the piece of mind. And, if I'm doing a two set gig and I'm feeling saucy, I might give the back up a run out too.... [/quote] Absolutely. If you can afford a spare (even if it's a cheapie) and if you can transport it to a gig then take a spare. I have a Hofner violin bass which is lightweight and small enough to fit in even the fullest of car boots. I rarely use it, but it was cheap and I only ever take it as a spare, and plug it in once in a while, to check it's still fine. I know some of you have asked "who breaks bass strings?" But I'd ask "Who's never broken a bass string?" It may be a rare occasion, but I've broken a few. Also, I have known pals who've had a pickup die on them mid-gig, and another pal who had an electrical fault (turned out to be a dry solder joint) which didn't show up till the bass was a few years old, and had been gigged many times. He didn't have a spare!. You really should never ever need the spare, but as rushbo says, it's an insurance policy. Yes if your amp blows, go through the PA, but for a paid gig, I wouldn't turn up without a spare bass - that's my insurance My wife informs me she's never had a puncture in a car tyre, in 30 years of driving - does that mean she should drive without a spare tyre? I think not..

[quote name='Burrito' timestamp='1471881463' post='3116668'] I use Gut-a-like as they are more stable for tuning. I can't imagine ever using steel again. [url="https://www.thomann.de/gb/gutalike_vintage_double_bass_strings.htm"]https://www.thomann....ass_strings.htm[/url] [/quote] Thanks for that info Burrito, Due to having read this thread, and being inspired to experiment a bit more, I have ordered a set of "Weed Whackers" They are fairly cheap on ebay (cheapest DB strings I've seen!), but the seller is in the US - so they'll take some time to reach me

[quote name='Musicman20' timestamp='1471948512' post='3117145'] I played a Roadworn Jazz a few years back now...in fact I think I tried a few. I wanted one, and I should have gone for it. The wear and tear is very similar in terms of how it 'looks', but obviously the pattern is different and I think the Flea is a heavier relic. The feel is very similar. The worn in neck feels great, except all of the hardware is new, as you know. The differences? The rather fun v/t/v/t and the absolutely superb pickups....it really is one of the nicest passive jazz tones I've personally experienced. Oh, and I love Fiesta Red, but faded Shell Pink is amazing. [/quote] Thanks for that Musicman20, I was completely "off" Fenders, until I tried my Roadworn Jazz (Bought 2nd hand, from another BC member) I was so instantly smitten by it, that I bought it there & then, following a trip to the nearest cashpoint. I took a gamble with my Roadworn P, as I hadn't tried one, but everyone who owned or had tried one rated them - so I bit the bullet, and again, I was amazed at just how good the RW's are. Yes, I sometimes wish my Jazz was Fiesta Red, instead of sunburst - but I completely agree - Faded Shell Pink is stunning. Hmmm..... should I consider re-painting my RW Jazz into Shell Pink? Now there's a thought.... Anyone else compared the RW Jazz to this new Flea Sig?

[quote name='petebassist' timestamp='1471948587' post='3117146'] Marc, thanks, that would have been great to pop in and have a cuppa, a very kind offer. Not sure you would have appreciated my being covered in mud and "unwashed and somewhat slightly dazed" from the festival. Was just thinking about having something more portable for rehearsals & tiny venue gigs. Let me know when you're playing a gig and I might just be able to come along. [/quote] Ah, I've been to a few festivals myself, and am well aware of the dazed and unwashed state of those attending such events. In fact, I didn't mention that the cuppa & play on my bass wasn't in the garden, did I? I've not been playing DB / EUB much at all lately, owing to a foot problem, and a band folding. Foot now appears to be on the mend (slightly anyway) and new band joined, in which I can play DB - so I'll let you know The Eminence is much more portable than even my David Gage Czech Ease (which has a reduced size body) And as the Eminence has a small acoustic chamber / body you do get some acoustic qualities, unlike many stick basses. Having said that, have you ever heard a Yamaha SLB Silent Bass? From the soundclips & demos I've heard, it sounds very DB-like Cheers again sir