Marc S

I've done fewer gigs so far this year than I would have expected. But I have to say, the ones I've done have been pretty good. I think most punters are up for a bit of live music - having missed it so much. I really missed playing gigs during lockdown, and I missed my band-mates. Some of them are great pals who I'm glad I know. Last summer, my acoustic covers outfit played some really nice pub garden / ale festival outdoor events, and they were brilliant. Thinking more about it - were it not for gigging, I wouldn't have met some fab people, and there are pubs and towns / villages I may never have discovered. Perhaps I just didn't gig enough when I was first in a band many years back? Perhaps my near 25 year absence from playing made me more keen to play live? Perhaps I've met the "right" band-mates? Perhaps it's all of these factors, but I'm really enjoying playing and gigging again, and long may that continue Re the "lugging equipment" issue - I've worked on putting together the lightest weight, least bulky gear that I can reasonably afford, and that helps.

I'm not really sure which way to vote. I play in a covers band, and an originals band, but I have also played several tribute bands too (and would again, if / when the opportunity was right). I also record with a couple of other people - mainly singer/songwriter acoustic guitarists. I really like each aspect, and for different reasons. Maybe I enjoy the covers band most, as it can bring in a bit of pocket money, and I enjoy playing live anyway. However, I also like the other aspects a lot too..... Sometimes, even a small audience at a folk club or acoustic event can be as rewarding, or even more rewarding than playing to a packed pub, where people have danced and sung along all night. Just a couple of months back, my pal released his CD which was also the soundtrack to a small, independent film - and I was really pleased with that too. It's never going to make any money, it will probably only be played on Radio Wales (Frank Hennessey's "Celtic Heartbeat" show - fingers crossed) but it was great to be involved in the recording, and rewarding to hear the final result. Hence, I wanted to vote 4 times in that list - but really can't choose

I've got a TC Electronic BG208 thats pretty good with upright. My preference is to use my Markbass EVO1 head, and my Epifani UL110. But of course, that's not really a cheap option. I use the EVO1 head, as it has two separately controlled / EQ-able inputs, and a nice range of preamp sounds for each input. I have found that smaller speakers seem to work better for upright. Having owned & tried several 12" & 15" speakers that worked well with BG, but produced muddy, ill-defined low end tones with upright (more so with EUB too, I think). So something like the TC 208, or that Markbass 208 would be a good place to start. Beedster's AER also looks a good bet, if you can afford it. Also a point worth noting, is that EUB and BG require very different EQ'ing. I tried an ABY switching pedal, but struggled trying to EQ for upright and BG through the same channel. You could of course use an ABY switch, and EQ each output separately, with an EQ pedal for each one.... Good luck with your search.

That's it then - once GAS escapes, it's out of control and too late already I'm so glad I'm not alone in suffering this condition lol

@shoulderpetyes, these are definitely a step up. I once had a really nice US p bass in oly white, which I sometimes miss (all too predictably of course) and this Precision compares very favourably with that. In fact, it sounds better, especially the lower notes. But also, this one looks even nicer, in Fiesta Red. I must say, I like the look of your model too - it suits the anodised gold plate best imo

Hi @Mickyk I'm not sure. I should perhaps have taken a closer look, when I took the pickguard off. Whatever they are, they sound amazing. Perhaps this MIM range use US pickups? Maybe - but I think this is the best sounding Precision I have owned, or even played.

Actually, I was being a bit dozy.... (no surprise there). But after fitting the plate & removing the protective film, I later discovered that it had a 2nd layer of protective film on it! And now it looks brighter and even nicer 😀 😀

So, my tort plate just arrived - and I had to fit it immediately! 😀 😃 I grew to like the anodised gold plate, but Tort is still my preference, especially on Fiesta Red Perfect fit (well, one screw is just a tad out). Got it from "Musiclily" on eBay, about £11. Not bad value imo I think the bass sounds even better now 😉

I've only recently become a fan of headless basses, and that looks a great instrument. Have you weighed it by any chance @Old Horse Murphy? My digital scales have a strap attachment, which I wrap that around the base of the headstock.... but that would be rather difficult with one of these! lol

I played several gigs with my acoustic upright on a stand - so I could quickly switch to bass guitar. Even though I often play EUB (which of course is permanently on a stand) it felt very different. Playing an acoustic upright on a stand was much more "awkward feeling" and I couldn't get myself in a comfortable position. @NickA's point about "wrapping yourself around the bass" is quite right, IMHO. Somehow I felt less "connected" with the bass when I played it on a stand. Someone once said to me, that you need to almost dance with your bass Of course, if needs be - then you just have to learn to get on with it. I know at the handful of gigs I did this, I would have struggled for space and avoiding accidents, if I'd not kept the bass on a stand. Nowadays, I just play my EUB on such gigs. I would say though, that you should also practice with your bass off the stand, as well as on it. I'd also be careful about your posture - you may be causing issues for yourself in future. It would be interesting to hear what other Upright players think on these issues...

With me playing - it's like a join the dots picture, completed by someone with numeracy dyslexia

Further to discussions about neck width & chunkiness, which really is a discussion about mass and sustain (I think). Here's an interesting video about the "mass" of a guitar body and sustain - apologies if you noted that I posted a link to this before But I think it's a really interesting experiment, and an entertaining video if nothing else Of course, it's a guitar not a bass, and this concentrates on the body and not the neck - but I think such factors as weight of wood, mass etc are all linked - unless I'm missing something? Anyhow - enjoy... but DON'T try this on your vintage Fender!

I was never quite sure whether a chunkier neck would add anything - but in the absence of any other "evidence" I'm thinking there must be something in it. @bassbiscuitsI once owned a 1970's Fender P. It too sounded great - but the neck was even chunkier on that. It was deeper front-to-back as well as wide. That also weighed a tonne. If the young me felt that - I probably wouldn't be able to even pick it up now lol

I'll double check when I get home @Aidan63 - but I think it's a single piece. (In fact, I'm pretty sure it is). Perhaps that's part of the reason for its' superb sound? In all honesty, I was never quite convinced that a few mm wider neck would make a difference - but of course, I'm happy to be proven wrong. perhaps it's a combination of slightly wider and slightly deeper neck, and the fact that it's a single piece of wood? Who knows? I will (in a couple of weeks) try to temporarily swap necks - as I'm interested in seeing what happens. In all honesty, I don't "need" to keep my Squier CV Precision (I've got too many basses, and too many of them are basically Precisions)..... but I am so tempted to do so as the CV looks almost as cool as this one

After playing this fab new bass pretty much most of yesterday afternoon (and much of the evening, to the dismay of Mrs S) I thought I'd add some thoughts on the bass here. EDIT: I even picked this bass up this morning, before breakfast & heading out to work! The neck is indeed, a tad wider than I'd normally prefer. It's a shade wider and slightly deeper than my Squier early CV Precision (which I also love to bits). However, I have been getting used to this. I do sometimes wonder whether bigger necked basses might be a problem, if I ever suffer with arthritis. Of course, I hope I never suffer from this. I did used to get some aching in my left hand a while back. But this may have been down to my bad technique on an upright bass with a really chunky neck? Or perhaps it was due to bad posture / use of a computer mouse? Who knows, and hopefully that won't return. On with the positive factors re this bass. It's absolutely amazing, in terms of build quality. Though the neck is chunky(ish) the finish feels absolutely silky smooth. Of course I love the colour and look of the bass. But the sound is something else. It's snappy and punchy, but also the lows are really deep and rich sounding. More so than any other Precision I've played or owned - and that has been quite a few! Indeed, this one is better even than my old Roadworn Precision, which I always wished had been Fiesta Red and not sunburst (no problem with SB Precisions - I just wanted that one to be this colour lol). It's better than the nice Oly White US one I owned some years back, heck it's better than my old JV or the CV I still have (may sound controversial to some - but that's just how it seems to me). I am blown away at just how deep and rich those low notes are and how the mids and top end sounds are so full of "bite". I can't wait for Thursday nights' full band rehearsal I'm just wondering whether it's the fact that the neck on this bass is a tad chunkier that is helping produce this lovely sound? I'm sure there will be BC'ers who agree, and those who disagree with this thought. I'm even thinking of doing a temporary neck-swap with my CV - Just to see what happens. Maybe it's the solid maple neck that's contributing to the sound? But again, I've owned maple necked & fretboard basses before, and haven't particularly noticed that much difference. I've now ordered a red-Tort plate for it. I've grown used to the gold plate on this bass, but I just know I'm going to prefer a Tort one - not everyone's choice, but an absolute classic IMO Currently in work, and wishing the hours away until I can get home and pick up this bass the minute I get through the door