Marc S

[quote name='gelfin' timestamp='1436216833' post='2816166'] I bough this one a year ago off a BC member for £625. They are fairly rare now, I haven't seen one for sale for years. You have to hear one to believe how awesome they are. [url="http://s970.photobucket.com/user/gelfin5959/media/20140910_131236_zps9986ec53.jpg.html"][/url] [/quote] Having had a little dabble with this very bass I have to agree with Gelfin - the sound they produce is very different However, I wasn't quite used to the feel of it I think it'd take me a bit of getting used to Re the OP That does seem an excessive price But if they're very rare nowadays, it's worth what someone is willing to pay......

[quote name='Geek99' timestamp='1436860889' post='2821382'] You can use a regular 3/16 Allen key but the fender tool is waisted allowing you to turn the nut at an angle [/quote] I bought myself a set of decent allen keys from B&Q Make sure you get some nice Chrome Vanadium keys Mine have the waist too - as Geek99 says, you can angle the key There's much advice on here, and elsewhere But take it slowly. I've heard luthiers talk of no more than 1/4 turn every hour or so Good luck PS. I got a copy of the Haynes style Fender Bass manual It's got advice on maintenance in there - good read too

Some nice alterations here Nice, neat work Cheers

I mostly play 4 strings I've only got a 5 string to dabble with But I do find it heavier than any of my 4 ers I don't know if I'm alone here, but my hands (particularly the right) seem to tire more when playing the 5 er - probably due to the extra stretching I also play DB, and don't find my fingers tire as much as playing the 5 er 2 of my basses have Hipshot D Tuners (A P bass, and an Electro-acoustic) Both on a 110 gauge E string. Roundwounds on both, with Phosphor Bronze on the acoustic.... I don't find it overly sloppy on either bass..... Usually, the low D is as low as I need to go I did find myself using the drop D quite a lot, with an acoustic outfit, where D seemed to be the most popular key Not using the drop D much, now the D Tuners have been in place a while, and the novelty has worn off - But I do think it's useful As someone else said, once you've got one fitted you don't HAVE to use it - but it's there if needed Yes, it's a bit of working out a different pattern, but I find it easier than adjusting to 5 string, personally EDIT: And easier on my back..... I'd recommend giving it a whirl

Did you get one of these flamencito ? I'm interested to know what you think..... Cheers

Yes, good decision indeed At least with this choice, you'll be able to sell the bass on whether she decides DB is not for her, or loves it and decides to upgrade later I very nearly bought a cheap bass when I started But there was a very worrying split near the bottom edge of the bass..... Yes, it was a cheap bass, but I may well have regretted buying that one.... Good luck to you & your daughter .... and I wish I'd started at ten as well

Just picked up a fantastic faker Had one of these as a lad A Shaftesbury 4001 - Sold it in the 80's and instantly regretted it! Have been looking for one for the past 7 years finally found one (when I had stopped looking!) It was local, reasonably priced, so I snapped it up At rehearsal, through my full rig I was blown away by how good this bass sounded Really comfortable to play too, and this was while in need of a setup & new strings I owned the "real thing" recently, and this just blows that out of the water

[quote name='Marc S' timestamp='1435140994' post='2805808'] I had one of these, in my first spell of bass playing (far too many years ago to even think about now......) ....... Really wish I'd kept that Shaftesbury - they were fabulous........ [/quote] I've quoted myself here, because I had always regretted selling my Shaftesbury Rick copy I only sold it, cos it needed a re-fret and always wished I had got that done. At the time, in my early 20's I couldn't afford it, and would not realise how rare these were to become .. and just how good they actually were Anyhow, on returning to playing after 25 years abstinence I searched high & low for another one of these beauties, but I searched in vain If I saw one on ebay, it got pulled I think I only saw 1 get to sale completed - and that went for well over 500 quid ! But the other day, I managed to track one down locally Last night I took it to rehearsal, and plugged it into my gigging rig for the 1st time I was utterly blown away by how good this bass is Honeslty, I recently owned the "real thing" - and that was no match for my copy The tone is immense! And it's far, far more comfortable to play I haven't posted a pic here, as I don't wish to upset anyone, knowing how upset Rick*******r can get Although it's not the bass I originally owned, I'm well pleased to have tracked down one of these increasing rare superbly built instruments

I haven't tried any of the brands you're thinking about However, I use Spirocore Weichs, and they are lower tension than several other strings I've tried Don't discount Innovation strings too I've used Honeys (briefly on a bass I bought, before swapping them) and I used Innovation Silver Slaps for some time too... The Silver slaps were the lowest tension DB strings I had tried and I gather Gold Slaps are very similar and Innovation Rockabilly's are slightly lower tension again (I think) I wouldn't say the Silver Slaps were particularly loud strings But they had quite a nice dark sort of sound to them... They certainly seemed louder on the bass than the Honeys I replaced Again, it may depend on how the bass is set up Don't discount Innovation strings if you're after lower tension...... defo Are there any knowledgeable friendly BC'ers anywhere near you who'd come & advise you on whether you need a set up? Worth a try Good luck, and let us know how you get on PS. Moving from Bass guitar to DB a few years back I was astounded at the amazing variety of string types .... and equally amazed at just how different the few I've used can sound.....

No adjustable bridge on this one But it's a lovely bass I know, cos I used to own it Absolutely beautiful http://basschat.co.uk/topic/265531-boosey-and-hawkes-artia-34-size-double-bass/

Adding to me earlier post, I suddenly remembered, I bought my PJ amp head and 2 PJ 4x5 speaker cabs from Spacechick on here too Sold one of the cabs since (again, not on here) So I've even more to be thankful to BC Marketplace for ... or Mrs S has even LESS to be thankful to BC for

Bought 2 double basses One of which I sold (not on here) Bought my favourite RW Fender Jazz and a lovely US 72 RI Jazz I'm not using (so I guess I should sell?) Also my rather nice US P bass Plus a couple of DB pickups, and other bits & pieces EDIT: Some DB strings and some Phosphor Bronze strings too.... .... thinking about it I've a lot to thank the market place for

[quote name='alyctes' timestamp='1436027193' post='2814454'] ....And this is worse: [url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/DEAN-Custom-Zone-4-string-BASS-guitar-in-Florescent-Pink-w-LIGHT-HARD-CASE-/141219661594?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item20e159071a"]http://www.ebay.co.u...=item20e159071a[/url] [/quote] I have to agree with you, I think that one on ebay is the worst colour instrument ever!

No real help, sorry I've had a CMD102P for years now and I absolutely love it! Great amp, great sound, and so lightweight Have you got any other bass playing pals, who would let you borrow another bass to try it with? That'd be my first option I know you think your bass is fine - but you never know I once had a lead which seemed to cause a bit of hum But it only happened with one bass - it was fine with another bass What's that all about? Good luck anyhow.... EDIT: Or even try a guitar?

Indeed, not many folk on here seem to like G4M I bought a hard case from them, and had awful trouble with delivery and communication with them was terrible When I later complained - they did nothing On that evidence alone, I'd be wary (Edit: I'm aware that this is just my experience, but I've heard other bad reports) Although I've not tried either, many people seem to like Thomann and Gedo and I must say, when I was in your position a short while ago, I was tempted by several of the Gedo basses They do look fab, and other BC'ers seem to rave about them I too found that not many basses came up for sale second-hand anywhere near me But patience paid off, and I got one from a nice, friendly, helpful fellow BC member If you were anywhere near me, you'd be welcome to come & have a play of my DB and have a chat, re my own findings.... I opted for a used bass in the end, as I reasoned I'd get a better bass for my money Trouble is, if you're looking for a used one, you do have to travel, to try several If you can find one on here, give it a whirl But be patient, and don't just buy the 1st one that comes along .... or go for one of Gedo's lovely looking basses Good luck with your search and let us know what you find / decide

[quote name='dave_bass5' timestamp='1435483329' post='2809093'] Agree about all the good things said about these Squiers (MF and CV). Ive got a CV P and Jazz, and find I have no lust or GAS for anything better in P or Jazz form..... ..... Actually. I'm not a lover of P necks, so the Cv Jazz neck ends up going on whatever bass I'm currently using. In fact I need to get another one at soe point..... Now my one big, big issue about the CVP is the colour. I can't stand fiesta red. I struggle to even look at that bass. If it didn't sound and play so well I'd never use it....... [/quote] I wasn't a fan of P bass necks myself Having owned an early 70's P - not only was the bass very heavy but I found the neck far too chunky Since the arrival of my RW Jazz and the CV P, I'm now completely sold on Fenders, and have learned to love them again I have a US P bass bought from another friendly BC'er, and found the neck on this is nowhere near as chunky as my old 70's P I didn't particularly like Fiesta Red as a colour either that is, until I played a CV P Now, with red Tort plate - I think it has become my favourite colour I'm not particularly a fan of very glossy necks either .... but the CV basses are glossy, but they feel very different As I've mentioned before, they somehow feel vintage Must get myself a CVP in Fiesta Red again, and tell myself not to let it go this time