Marc S

Ha ha, you're welcome @Bogdan - but it didn't take much to fuel that thirst for a new bass, did it? lol Hope you can get to try one out. But if you get chance to play a Roadworn Jazz - try one of those too - especially one of the earlier ones Good luck with your search

@Bogdan - IMO they're great basses. As with each of the Roadworn series, they're lovely players, good construction and sound great. I particularly liked the Flea sig, with its' Stacked control plate too. Took a while for me to get used to this, but I really liked it. So much so, that I got Kiogon of this parish to make one up for me, for my Roadworn Jazz I like Shell Pink as a colour for a bass (Sadly Mrs S thought it was the worst colour guitar she'd ever seen!) My only criticism of the colour on that particular model, is that it's too faded and not quite pink enough If you ever get chance to try one - I would say do so...... If you like Jazz basses, then it may be the bass for you Along with the RW Jazz, they're very lightweight for a Jazz too

Do you mean the newer version of the bass? I can't vouch for that one, but I did have one of the older versions I must say, it was very nice. Lightweight, easy to play with a slim-ish neck which really felt "worn in" Lovely tones from some rather nice pickups too Only problem for me was, my wife absolutely hated the colour

Well, there's sparkly! Nice when you finally get something you've craved for a long time Let us know when it arrives, and what you think of it Happy NBD for that day too

I had posted some questions about this amp, as I was looking for an amp head with 2 separately controlled inputs, suitable for doubling-up with Bass guitar and upright. Anyhow, I bit the bullet just over a week ago, and ordered the EVO1 head from my local PMT in Cardiff. They price-matched it to the sale price on Andertons, who were offering it at a considerable reduction I've not gigged it in earnest yet, but I did play BG through it at a local folk club (on Friday). My previous problem was that my other 2 channel head (Euphonic Audio micro 550W) was just a bit to "clean" and "hi-fi-like" with a Bass guitar, but pretty good when amplifying Upright (Acoustic DB and EUB). My precision(s) or Jazz just seemed to lack a bit of warmth or "bite". First impressions of the MB EVO1 are really good. There are a range of pre-set amp modelling sounds on each channel to help too. But I've been impressed with the range of sounds and tones I can get from the amp Plenty of bite and grunt with a Pbass or Jazz plugged into it, and a nice warm "mwah" with my fretless Jazz. Also, playing my EUB through it, I could get a decent upright sound, and it's so easy and quick to switch between the two channels. I now feel I've got complete control over both Upright and BG at the flick of a switch! One negative point though, is that each channel has a lot of dials, and in the dark, it's not quite so easy to see which control is which. There are several "atmospheric looking lights" on the head - but none of the properly illuminates any of the control knobs. I'm sure I'll get used to them eventually, but to me at the moment I keep forgetting which one is which... Perhaps I should just stick some sticky labels with "Gain" "B" "M" "T" and "Mvol" on them? Seems a shame to have to do that IMO But overall, so far, so good. I'm gigging with it on Friday, and I've got a loud rehearsal with it beforehand on Tuesday eve And I'm looking forward to hearing it cranked up

Welcome to BC Cobbyco I had a short break from playing too... of about 25 years! So I know how that is. Still, I'm enjoying my playing more now than I ever did as a "young-'un" I'm coming to Oxford for a pub jam, with some folky types in a few weeks, if you fancy popping along

Kraftwerk are one band I've never seen live. They don't play too often, especially lately. I know they do play festivals now & again.But they're not too often either

Enya played live with Clannad. But has rarely, if ever played live solo (did she do just one gig or mini-tour?)

It may be that's the one. Though he couldn't recall what it was - perhaps the word "Gibson" had worn off? Though I'm sure he would have remembered that... Then again - he said he'd bought it many years back. Hmmm, I think I'll look into Gibson Switchblade now I can remember Strawberry Switchblade..... I'll get my coat EDIT: Just found the Gibson Switchbalde strap - they're £89 Pricey - but if it helps heavy basses feel lighter, and helps those of us with ageing backs & shoulders...... hmmmm

If you're on a tight budget, definitely buying second-hand would make more sense - especially if buying from someone on a trusted forum such as BC. When buying used elsewhere - just make sure it hasn't been really hammered, and that the speakers are fine at higher volume. Not sure how your amp would be rated with an 8 ohm cab? But bear in mind, it won't be 350W. You'll either need a 4 ohm cab - or two 8ohm cabs It can be useful this way, as you have a flexible rig, or you can upgrade one item at a time when finances allow. I've heard quite a number of BC members talk very highly of Ashdown amps & cabs, certainly as being really good for the money. Better still, that they can go for great prices second-hand. Keep your eye out on the marketplace here on BC. You haven't put your location on here - so we don't know where you're based.... but it might be worth asking for some friendly BC'ers who are local to you, what they recommend, and even if you could give their amps & cabs a try.... just a thought. Good luck with your search, and let us know how you get on.

A guitarist pal of mine, who is a fellow member of one of the bands I'm in, has a really really heavy Gibson LP. When I first picked it up, I just couldn't believe how incredibly heavy it was I mean, it's much heavier than any bass guitar I've owned, or even had a dabble with. So much so, that it made me ask whether it was actually a hollow body, which had been filled with lead Anyhow, he plays that guitar on a rather fancy sort of strap. Forgive my ignorance, but I'm not sure what such straps are called - but it's got an elasticated section near each end. Having picked the guitar up with my hands - it definitely felt lighter than I would have expected when on that strap. I asked him for details of the strap. He couldn't remember what it was called, or who the manufacturer was - but he did remember paying a lot of money for it. I must say, I quite fancy a strap like that myself..... as others have said, there comes a point when the weight of an instrument becomes an important issue.

Hello Bill, Welcome aboard. Don't spend too much time trawling the markeplace, like the rest of us do! Oh, go on then Most of all enjoy your playing

Of course, this "test" may not be as valid for basses, as it is for guitars But here's an interesting watch, no less....... enjoy! But I wouldn't recommend you try this at home, with your pre CBS Bass

There may be something in Graham's point here. Although, you'd have thought by now, someone would have designed a P bass type pickup that does work well with a 5 string.... Then again, maybe that's not all that easy? Perhaps, as Beedster suggests - the P pickup is perfect for a 4 string P bass, and maybe it's best to look for another solution, in the form of a different pickup? My first 5 string bass was a Squier P, made in Indonesia. It was a really nice bass, given the very reasonable price I paid for it second-hand. It was good quality construction, and was playable, and sounded reasonably good too - excellent bass for a beginner or someone wanting to try their hand at converting from being a 4 string player However, I did find the B string a bit "flabby" and not very distinct in tone - hence I sold it. A point to note here though, is that it was an unusual pickup arrangement in that it said "Squier Precision Bass" on the headstock - yet it had 2 Jazz pickups! I've seen this on other Squiier 5'er P basses since then too.... I'm intrigued to see what other players have done, to "pep-up" their B string now - what pickups do folks recommend? Or what other solutions are out there?

Looks really fantastic Neat!

Hello Mark, all the way from South Wales. Good to hear you started up bass again, and that you're playing despite the financial constraints of raising a family, and that you're managing to find time to practice and gig - very impressive I never managed to do that. In fact, I had a "gap" in my playing....... of almost 25 years! But I'm so glad I came back Sounds like you don't need an amp just yet - unless you end up playing somewhere they won't let you play through the PA, for some reason When I first played (many years back) it was almost unthinkable to allow a bass player to play through the PA! Cheers matey Marc

Had some bad ones, and looks like a festival I'm playing at next weekend is going to fall into that category. The "organisers" seem to have little or no idea of what bands need - and they've booked quite a lot of bands to play from lunchtime through to 8:30 or 9 at night. Lots of pink torpedo-ups so far, and it seems a couple of the bands have already pulled out - because the organisers didn't think to arrange any parking for loading / unloading of equipment They seem to be expecting bands not only to play for free, but for every band to turn up before mid-day, and then stay until after the last band has finished and the crowds have dispersed! We'll see though.... lets not pre-judge too much, in case they see sense I have to mention a funny tale though. Sometime back, a drummer pal who I was in a band with, had decided to look for some open mic nights - so our band could do a few, before we felt we were "gig ready". Anyhow, we went along to one bar who were advertising open mic nights. Got there, and the place was empty, with no sign of so much as a 10 watt practice amp - let alone a PA or any mics. Bear in mind, this bar is on a pedestrian only road, with no parking and no road access whatsoever.... On chatting to the staff, they said bands were to bring their own drum kit and any amplification and mics they might need. "What about some sort of PA?" we asked.... "What's a PA?" was the reply. "It's what you're going to need, to be able to hear anyone singing, in a room of this size" was our reply "Oh, we can't be expected to provide everything" was the reply.... "Why can't you bring your own amps, mics, guitars and drums on the bus?" lol

My go-to gigging bass is a Squier Classic Vibe P bass - one of the early ones The neck is superb. Of course, matters such as dimensions; depth, width, radius are all subject to personal preference But I like the C shape of the neck - the fact that it's not overly chunky, or too slim (somewhere in between) As others have said, it's a lovely finish to the edges and frets too. The stock pickup sounds superb. I had a CV Precision in Fiesta Red, and foolishly sold that. Which is a move I am now regretting.... even though I already have too many Keep an eye out for one of the earlier ones, second-hand on here But also try the new CV range, and the VM series too - especially as you liked the one you tried