Marc S

Just ordered some LaBella 760FL low tension strings, as mentioned by BassBus - thanks for pointing these out good sir So I'll see how I get on with those first. I really must try some half rounds at least on a fretted bass anyway - must get round to that lol In the meantime, I'd still like to hear from fretless players who use, or have used halfs on their fretless Cheers all EDIT: The chap who I got my fretless Jazz from had fitted a cheap set of Adagio strings - they're a bit past their best, which is why I'd like to change them. Although the Adagio strings are quite cheaply priced, I'm surprised at how much I like them. They're quite low tension, and sound pretty good. Though, like the TI's, they're a lighter gauge than the rounds I play with.... Are they lower tension purely because of the lighter gauge? Or is it also likely that the type of metal core and winding is making them a lower tension? So many questions! lol

[quote name='gsgbass' timestamp='1494383679' post='3295526'] For what I've seen of the Fender MIM's, they're a well made bass. I wouldn't hesitate to buy more Fender MIM's if I wanted, or need any more. [/quote] Yes, I think these days MIM Fenders are very good. I've owned 3 of the Mexican made Roadworn basses, and they are absolutely awesome instruments! I've not played a MIM Mustang - though I'm sure they're very comparable to the US made version...

There seems to be a lot more choice of flats than I'd previously thought! Which of course, is no bad thing. Thank heavens for BC, otherwise, I'd probably just have gone for the only set that seems to be available in all the local music shops.... Not much choice of fretless strings in my local shops I'm tempted to try the LaBella nylon wound strings - but as I've never tried any half rounds either, I also want to have a try of those too - oh the pain of making such decisions Cheers again for all your help and thoughts folks

Thanks for your thoughts BassBus and geoffbyrne I'm not really huge fan of flats - despite also playing Double Bass For me, the tension of many flats is way too high. I've got a set of T.I. Flats on my fretless P, but they've been on 2 basses now, and I don't want to be swapping them once more. I'll shortly be selling my fretless P, as I've just got a Fretless Jazz (I prefer the sound of Fretless Jazz, I think) I'm at the stage of either getting another set of T.I.s to go on my newly acquired Jazz - or trying something else. I'm tempted to try nylon wrap strings too. But I wanted to hear what other Fretless players had experienced with half rounds first. I had tried round wounds on a fretless sometime back, and there were definitely signs of wear on the fingerboard. It's nice to know whether half-rounds would cause similar damage.... PS. I like the T.I.s quite a lot, in that they are lower tension than any other flat I've played, but sometimes, I think they're almost too low tension lol

As per the title really.... I only play fretless occasionally. And I've no experience of half round strings anyway But I was just wondering whether half round strings would wear the fingerboard on a fretless bass, as much as round wounds can? Has anyone fitted half rounds to their freltess? What do you think? Any info appreciated. Ta

That does look good - rather different, but really good Nice, neat lines to it. Headstock does look great too Enjoy!

Another vote for the Vox Amp headphones here. Great sound, and via a mini-jack lead, you can plug them in to an MP3 player or iPad / tablet They're "enclosed" too - so they don't even disturb Mrs S when she's watching telly, and I'm rehearsing in the same room... EDIT: and she can be quite fussy about such things.... believe me

[quote name='Phil Starr' timestamp='1494398791' post='3295549'] I don't understand. You have two lovely and expensive cabs which you quite reasonably don't want to take to the rougher venues, but all the suggested replacements are of equally lovely and expensive cabs. [/quote] Another lol from me when I read this - good point indeed Re the OP's original "fears" about some venues. I know what you mean - I've played a few of those venues myself. Oddly enough, they are often the ones with the best atmosphere, or where the punters come & chat to you about your bass, or particular songs, or say how they liked your set! In my case, I'm not usually concerned about amps & speaker cabs - I'm more worried about whether a bass will get bumped, or stolen while I'm loading the car etc. I think cabs can take someone falling on them, or bumping into them - and they're not really something you can sneak out through the door, under your coat... You could end up buying a cheap cab(s) - but not being happy with your sound, or finding they weigh a ton, or are far bulkier than your current rig. I'd carry on gigging with the rig you have - it's what you bought it for

[quote name='Adrenochrome' timestamp='1494268649' post='3294574'] Most excellent guitarists I've come across have been excellent on bass. I suspect the idea that guitarists can't 'really' get into playing bass well might be a myth. Didn't Waters, Foxton etc switch from guitar? [/quote] Yes, Bruce Foxton certainly switched from guitar to bass. And what a bass player

Welcome to Basschat Talent is not as important as sheer enjoyment!

[quote name='JPJ' timestamp='1494328650' post='3294974'] Hi Marc, No, OBBM is a founder member of Basschat..... [/quote] Ooops! Sorry, I probably should have known that And yes please, report with photos on that tailpiece.... good luck with it

[quote name='planer' timestamp='1494334246' post='3295052'] ....1. When we start playing..... It's difficult to imagine any teenage guitar legend stood, legs akimbo, in front of his cranked amp thinking to himself, 'Marshall stack - check, Flying V - check, AC/DC T-shirt - check, earplugs - check'. It just ain't gonna happen. That becomes the norm, mostly until it's too late.... 2. It's hard not to feel at least a little isolated from the music wearing earplugs and unless everyone does it, it's just not cool. [/quote] Yes, I think you've got a point here. When you're young, you also tend to feel at least a bit invincible... Or at least like, it's never going to happen to you! Much like when most of us took up smoking (I don't anymore) but you can see all the warnings, ads and posters, or hear about others who became ill because of it... ... but it's not going to happen to me, and anyway, heck, I'll be old then, so who cares?

Very nice! Enjoy

So sorry to hear of your problem itsmedunc. Even sadder to hear of Craig Gill's suicide Inspiral Carpets remain one of the best live bands I ever saw - Reading festival (forget which year) they blew me away, and I wasn't particularly a fan at the time - they were just brilliant.... I've not started using in-ear monitors, and can't see that happening, as I'm in several bands - they'd all have to completely change. However, I do use earplugs, after years of not having done so. I've not really suffered from Tinnitus. I get a bit of "ringing" now & again but it always goes away, and it's usually months before I get it again. I suppose I've been very lucky, also given the loud gigs I've been to as punter? I now carry a set of earplugs in my gigbag. Some of the bands I'm in aren't loud - so I don't use them then, just for the louder bands, or where I'm right next to a PA speaker. I'm surprised at just how well I can hear everything, even with the plugs in. I'd recommend every musician carries a set...

I was going to say Mike Oldfield and Sting too.... And Paul McCartney.... although he played bass in the early Beatles stuff - did he also learn guitar at the time? I seem to recall hearing that he did, as that's how he and John wrote some of the early songs, with them both on acoustic guitar?

[quote name='JPJ' timestamp='1494243290' post='3294218'] I'm running the mag pickup and a pair of J-Tone Red wing pickups. OBBM made me up a stereo lead with two mono jacks on one end and I use this with a Headway EDB-1 preamp to blend the mag and the piezo's together. Regarding protection in the gig bag, the metal hoop does indeed protect the bridge to some extent, but be careful of the tailpiece. Mine took a whack and it cracked around the bolt hole. Opening the gig bag and the bridge dropping out is not a pleasant feeling I can tell you. I've managed a glue repair to the tailpiece which is holding fine for now, but as this is quite exposed, I'm thinking of making up an aluminium tailpiece to prevent further accidents. [/quote] Thanks for that info JPJ, Is OBBM the guy who sells the J-Tone pickups? Your set-up sounds like something I'd like to try. I've got a K&K preamp with inputs for both a piezo and a mic. I think it could work with a piezo and a clicky? - It's always worth exploring options, I think.... Cheers for the heads up re the potential damage to the tailpiece too - sorry to hear this happened to you An aluminium plate should do the trick in protecting and strengthening it though, good idea, so I'd go for that if I were you Cheers again

[quote name='prowla' timestamp='1494006482' post='3292607'] My first bass was a Columbus Jazz, bought in an electrical retailer (Laskys?) in the Four Seasons shopping centre in Mansfield in '76; it used to be there in the window next to some fridges & suchlike. It was a decent bass and certainly a lot better than the Kay, Top Twenty and other rubbish of the day (which seem to be going for hundreds of pounds at the moment!). I must be having a retro half-hour, as I'm just listening to Force It, by UFO; we used to play Shoot Shoot in the band I was in at the time. [/quote] Ah, I remember Lasky's - what ever happened to them? I bought some of my old hi-fi from them. A Sansui amp, and Mission speakers, which are still both going stong after 30+ years Didn't realise they sold guitars or basses though. Don't think I ever saw such things in the Cardiff branch. My first bass was a Kay (Rick copy) and it was truly, absolutely, utterly dreadful. My pals Columbus was certainly streets ahead of that - maybe it seemed like a Fender, when you compared it with a Kay

[quote name='gsgbass' timestamp='1494211347' post='3294003'] It's a Mexican made, the D'Addario Nylons play well on it. I use the ETB92's on my Ric 4003W also. [/quote] Thanks for that. It's good to know whether the MIM versions of a bass can stand up alongside US made versions. It is of course, so often the case, but we don't always hear how good they are or how they compare..... If I was looking for a short scale bass atm, I'd really be considering one of these, especially as I'm a fan of P/J's. Cheers

Whilst many 78's may not have much monetary value, and yes, they were mass produced. It's worth remembering the delicate nature of the medium - I'm sure that a very high percentage of each mass produced 78 have been broken, or got left near a radiator / sunny window and have warped... My Dad has quite a few 78's. Most of them worthless, but some of them are now quite rare, and yes, there are collectors around. Do you live anywhere near an antique dealer / centre? Are any similar titles advertised on ebay? As has been said though - don't chuck them just yet..... see if you can find a collector