Marc S

Hi Gomez68, From a fellow South Walian, There are a few of us around this neck of the woods As FuNkShUi says, you've got a good tutor - that's a great start! I'd recommend coming along to the next local Bass Bash as run by Gelfin on this forum That way, you get to speak to local bass players, and chat about anything bass related Maybe have a bit of a jam with one or two other local bass players, and see if you can pick up some more pointers? But I'd say, join a band - just for a bit of a jam Do you know any local friendly guitarists or drummers? Open mic nights might be another way to meet other musicians.... Cheers now, welcome to BC and hope to see you around Good luck Marc

I'm perfectly happy to continue paying for posting ads After all, it helps support BC Re subdividing into price brackets For me, I like to browse anyhow, and banding basses into different brackets might mean I miss something I wouldn't have been thinking about So I'd personally rather it stays the same Except maybe the ability to filter out 4, 5, or 6 strings - depending on what I'm looking for.....

The more Limelight basses I see..... The more I'm tempted! That 1960 Jazz looks amazing

Hello Si / Watten, Welcome to BC I took a break of over 20 years before returning to playing bass! But so glad to be back.... I'm nowhere near you (I'm in Cardiff) But I'll be in Worcester for the Christmas Market, and will be playing in a folk club combo / band - in a couple of nice pubs around the market So might see you then in the meantime, look in the marketplace on here, and GAS will indeed get the better of you Cheers

As others have said, an EUB isn't really a double bass.... I thought about buying a double bass for a while, but didn't have pretty much any knowledge or experience of DB at all Then I chanced upon a Stagg EUB, and it was a great price ..... so I went for it Since that day, I haven't looked back, because it gave me an insight into the world of DB Although it didn't sound too much like a DB, or play too much like one it gave me some experience of playing, and convinced me to go ahead and get an acoustic DB It's true that generally, inconveniences of the bulk, weight, transport issues etc etc are outweighed by the sound, quality & "feel" of an acoustic DB But I still use an EUB for some occasions; Unpaid / charity gigs, and rehearsals for instance I wouldn't say that buying an EUB now will leave you feeling you have sold yourself short I'd say it could be an invaluable step in the right direction Even if you find you don't like playing EUB - you have learned something! From my experience of being where you were about 2 1/2 years ago I'd say, try a second-hand Stagg. They're cheap, and you'd get your money back if you decide DB is not for you, or you want to upgrade... Sure, it may not be the best EUB, and it certainly isn't a "proper" DB But it could also teach you a lot Also, if you buy an acoustic DB and decide either it's not for you, or you want to upgrade - Acoustic DB's tend to be harder to sell on Be prepared though - after 6 months or so, you may have severe GAS for something more upmarket I have a lovely David Gage DB, and recently upgraded my EUB ..... and there will definitely be a place for both in my household Good luck, and enjoy the journey Let us know what you decide / how you get on

It's probably just a case of practice, but string choice will make it easier, I'd say I find slap style difficult on the DB, I must admit It also depends on which Spirocore strings you have? My db has Spirocore Weichs, and I find they're not too high tension, compared to other steel strings I'm sure that most rockabilly style players use gut strings (or similar) for a reason My last Db had Innovation Silver Slaps on, and they are lower tension again Slapping was certainly easier with these strings Though, I never really persisted with it - really wish I could do it though.... Let us know how you get on cheers

Great to see you all on Saturday Nice to play that rick again Gelfin - it really is the best I've played Glad I had a quick try of that purple heavy relic limelight P bass too Never mind Debs - you'll have to make up for it next time, by bringing lots of gear

I've never tried the Mittels Initially, I didn't like steel strings, as I found the tension very high, and they were hard on my fingers, and tiring to play for any length of time So I switched to Innovation Silver Slaps, and found them much easier to get on with Now I use Spirocore Weichs - and I find they are lower tension than other steel strings I really like them - they came on a bass I bought from Greg, and I'm glad I persisted with them It didn't take me too long to get used to them -unlike other strings which I just couldn't get on with Alternatively, you could persist with whatever you have? and try Daf Lewis's Innovation strings trial? Always worth a thought - you put your name on a list, then when the strings arrive, you try them out and post on to the next name on the list .... a fab idea IMO PS. I have also had a go with Innovation honeys which are low-ish tension.... I really liked the silver slaps, I must say PPS. You must also remember that if the bass is set up for a particular set of strings, it may not be quite so "sweet" for a different set e.g. Innovation strings are a heavier gauge than the Weichs.... Let us know how you get on Good luck with it

I feel for the person who has bought this bass, believing it to be the genuine article The seller may not have known this bass to be a fake but subsequent messages should have made him cancel the item, and investigate further, before re-listing Shame on ebay - and I am not alone in trusting it less and less It's OK for things like books, maybe CDs etc (even there, I have been sold a pirate copy!) But for musical instruments, I'd be very very wary of buying this way.... It's great to know that basschat members keep a lookout for such cons, and thanks again to the OP for pointing this one out Good on you! Lets hope the buyer of that fake P bass can get his / her money back.....

Some ebay shops list a price for exporting to the UK and EU If the shop in question doesn't list this price, then expect to pay the VAT charges on top These can add considerably to the final price you pay I've been stung once or twice now, so I won't buy unless I can see a final price, incl VAT & shipping Good luck with your purchase and let us know how you get on, fitting the pickups, and what you think of them Cheers Marc EDIT: Thanks for linking to that duty calculator dannybuoy - useful

Couldn't tell you what the actual dimensions are, re distance it 12th fret etc But I don't like the action too high That feels more difficult to play Don't like the action too low either I like to be able to get my fingers underneath the strings, when playing finger style and I play fairly hard, when I use a pick It also varies a bit, from bass to bass I've got an electro-acoustic bass, which oddly enough - I prefer a higher action On my fretless (which I really only use to muck around) I like it fairly low On double bass, I also prefer a low-ish action Strings on Bass guitar, I like a slightly heavier gauge 110 - 50, round wounds and Flat wounds (Steve Harris sigs) on the fretless

Hello from South Wales Dutchie, Welcome to the forum, and as others have said, get along to a jam soon Do spend some time learning scales though They'll help you find your way round the bass Good luck, and have fun

[quote name='Weststarx' timestamp='1413878935' post='2582941'] My girlfriends grandma plays piano and reads off sheet music, she once had a massive rant at me about how I didnt understand music properly because I told her that I learn songs by ear and work it out that way. It was a strange one because she seemed really offended by it! I thought it was always a decent skill to have... [/quote] An ex girlfriend of mine was a pianist, and clarinet player It used to wind her up, when I just jammed along to something on the TV, radio or CD player! I never quite understood why, but she used to hate it when I did this She could read sheet music, and I never could (well, apart from some basic stuff years ago in high school) Also, I played in a band, with a keyboard player who read music, but couldn't play be ear at all...... It was annoying, because he used to download sheet music, and it was sometimes in the wrong key but he couldn't tell! Playing by ear is how I learned, and it's a skill you acquire with practice If you don't read music - it's something you will benefit from being able to do As others have said - play along to as much different music as you can, and build up the skill as you go.... For me, working out a nice bassline can be very satisfying I wish I could read music but I'd always want to be able to do both Cheers

There are indeed lots of great replacement pickups for Jazz basses around Without actually hearing them, it's difficult to make a judgement Any reviews on here are handy, and everyone will have their favourites - for differing reasons I wanted to just try something fairly cheap, as a first attempt at pickup change on my Jazz I got a pair of DiMarzio's from a fellow BC'er, for a reasonable price Fitted them, and I must say, they've worked really well There may be lots of more expensive options out there but sometimes it's worth experimenting with some second-hand pickups.... Keep an eye on the marketplace here....

[quote name='Mattmit' timestamp='1413667913' post='2580830'] This ones arriving tuesday... limelight .[attachment=174098:005.JPG] [/quote] I agree with antnee Looks fab!

[quote name='alexpea' timestamp='1413569020' post='2579751'] Yea Marc great value pickups. I did a comparison at a gig and found the bass Max had a slightly bassier sound whereas the J tone picked up a lot for finger noise. Would probably have just needed to EQ them differently. [/quote] All good info again alexpea Cheers The guy who bought my Boosey & Hawkes was looking for a pickup too .... so might be worth taking a punt on one of those bassmax ones....

[quote name='Roger2611' timestamp='1413738328' post='2581402'] ......Hopefully no one will fall for it and it will remain unsold....but I agree Ebay should be more responsive when they are advised as item is a definite fake [/quote] This is one reason I don't like using ebay for musical instruments You could get scammed, and it seems like they don't care otherwise they'd remove it! As the above poster says - if it was a Rick copy, it'd be pulled off ebay straight away They are more in fear of legal action, than a buyer being ripped off

Thanks for pointing this out soulboy Any other hints & tips for spotting fakes is always welcome....

I've bought a couple of sets of second-hand strings As others have said, it's a cost-effective way of trying different brand Buying them from someone on this forum is a good way to get S/H strings, I think As BC'ers would be more honest about the use they've had, I'm sure PS. Although I've not tried it, Daf Lewis's Innovation Strings trial is a great idea .... and I'm sure those trial strings have been on & off many basses in their lifetime....

[quote name='blunderthumbs' timestamp='1413471378' post='2578588'] Who said she didn't have the right papers? [/quote] Indeed. She'd have been foolish to do so, and I'm sure this was not the case - or the OP would have mentioned it If she saved hard, I'm sure she would have had a ticket .... this may have been the vital clue that customs missed......