HowieBass

This is my favourite track off St Vincent's latest album; I really like her guitar playing/effects http://youtu.be/A5ZM1a2zhkw

Looks fantastic. Congratulations on the new arrival!

What thicknesses are you going for? That looks super thin at the nut!

[quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1400483328' post='2454161'] Magnets or items containing ferro-magnetic material Makes you think... [/quote] That's probably to cover hard drives/floppy disks/magnetic tape which could be adversely affected if placed close to other items containing big magnets (loudspeakers) or close to large power cables (in a depot?).

One thing to consider here is how well is your bass set up? If you have a high action it'll be harder to fret and in particular if the nut slots aren't deep enough you'll find it harder at the top of the neck, plus trying a lighter gauge string means more compliance (lower tension) which might make playing that much easier. Having your bass set up properly can make an enormous difference to playability.

The Mike Dirnt has a thick "C" shape profile but it's reasonably narrow at the nut (42mm). My Squier Vintage Modified P is a "C" profile and 41.3mm at the nut. Both have the same fingerboard radius of 9.5" and medium jumbo frets.

The Parcelforce website states "Musical instruments - no enhanced compensation is available" in their terms so I took that to mean their standard inclusive cover (up to an article limit of £100) is still payable in compensation.

There's a link to a pinned topic on couriers and packing here http://basschat.co.uk/topic/156589-couriers-packing/ There's a current topic to do with avoiding myHermes as a courier because of bad experiences. I've used ParcelForce to send stuff a few times but you're only insured up to £100 for musical instruments and you cannot extend cover beyond that limit. Interparcel seems to have pretty good feedback on here. If you're packing a bass in bubblewrap inside a cardboard box (try a bike shop for empty boxes if you have nothing suitable) then it'll probably weigh around say 12 to 13 lb (say 6 kg) and you ought to be able to measure it when packaged surely?

Good to see another happy Squier Jazz bass owner. I've got the 4 string Active Deluxe and I'm mystified as to why owners of more expensive (Fender) jazzes have problems with hum when soloing the pickups because mine is as quiet as a mouse and I see no reason to change a thing with mine. That's a great colour combination too; happy NBD!

Yeah I do have my thumb on the back of the neck and playing the F#, Bb, C# progression on the E and A strings I don't need to move my thumb at all (it stays roughly under the 1st fret position). I don't know whether this helps the OP or not but I find it easier to use my ring finger to fret the C# rather than my little finger because I have more strength in the ring finger; my little finger gets used more for reaching octaves on the D and G strings (from roots played on the E and A).

[quote name='JTUK' timestamp='1400411971' post='2453539'] Here you are [url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EIK9D1-WGf4"]https://www.youtube....h?v=EIK9D1-WGf4[/url] [/quote] 'Home' is one of my all time favourite songs. Great Choice!

For those with Android phones, a free Oblique Strategies app https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.multiply.strategies.oblique

Available for another few days http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b02qncrt

Those keyboard stands look pretty 'sexy' too

[quote name='SaxyBassist' timestamp='1400340525' post='2453069'] You must have very long fingers!! the furthest my little finger will stretch keeping my thumb in one place is fret 3 [/quote] My hands aren't that large at all; note that I play the 5th with my ring finger not my little finger because without moving my hand much I have a longer reach using that finger (maybe a further half inch or so).

That ACG has the best body shape I've ever seen with a single cut! What are the body woods?

Just tried that and the way I play it I have my thumb under the neck, closer to under the 1st than the 2nd fret position and I play it root:middle finger, 3rd:index finger and 5th:ring finger and my thumb stays pretty much in one place...

I'd recommend the Squier Vintage Modified Precision in amber finish and maple fingerboard - I bought mine from a fellow Basschat member and the stock Duncan Designed pickup is really good and the fit and finish are excellent. If you had to buy new you'd be looking at about £273 though there might be someone selling a Squier VM P bass on here. You won't get anything particularly loud with a bass combo with the rest of your budget (something in the region of from 20 to 50 watt) though if it's just for home practice then you won't need huge volumes anyway. Good luck with the search for your gear and welcome to the word of bass playing! Edit: The Laney RB2 Richter bass combo would be within budget and user reviews seem positive.

A body coloured pickup cover is not standard on a Cort/Tanglewood Curbow - they're black with both the Mighty Mite and a Bartolini pickup.

What are the advantages/disadvantages to having a flat vs a radiused fingerboard?

I'll get Stein's photography book when it comes out in autumn so I can enjoy my memories of Debbie and Blondie when they were at their most vital. BTW is that a Spector bass?

+1 for Scott Devine - hours of content available (via his website and his YouTube channel). Oh and welcome back to bass playing (I was in a similar situation about 18 months ago) and welcome to Basschat!

When you think about it, 2 pickups need 2 pots/knobs for a vol+vol or vol/blend arrangement leaving 1 knob for tone control with a 3 pot/knob layout... so having an active circuit with that layout means you have just one tone parameter to change; most active EQs have at least 2 (treble/bass) and more commonly 3 (treble/mid/bass) parameters so I think you don't really gain anything going from passive EQ to active EQ if you only have one tone pot available. I think the stacked 3 knob arrangement is probably neater looking for an active Jazz.

The two bands using Kaos pads who immediately spring to mind are Muse (built into the guitars) http://youtu.be/po1ojCMBjPs and Radiohead, eg. Everything In Its Right Place http://youtu.be/dZZnKmzkU04

Having a 3 band active EQ gives you more to fiddle with but you're right in thinking that once you've dialled in the sound you want it can be a case of set and forget, similar to your amp's EQ section. I've got 4 active basses and a single passive but I don't feel that the passive is particularly lacking when it comes to changing the tone, it's less to go wrong and in any case I also have a bass effects console (with its own pre-amp/EQ/cabinet simulator) which gives me yet more tone shaping possibilities to consider. Sometimes, simple is best!