Happy Jack

[quote name='Geek99' timestamp='1448527987' post='2916086'] sure - but would you buy second hand like we do with basses ? [/quote] Arguably, most of us do precisely that in the real world too ...

[quote name='chris_b' timestamp='1448384825' post='2914975'] I've seen most of the bands in my record collection, with the exception of The Band. I'm sorry I missed those guys. [/quote] Well at least you have The Last Waltz as a perfect representation of their live performance.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/RENAISSANCE-LUCITE-BASS-1978-SMOKED-EXTREMELY-RARE-THUNDER-BASS-TONES-GREAT-/141824194326?&_trksid=p2056016.l4276

I was lucky enough to see a number of the bands listed above by people who didn't see them. The Sex Pistols? They weren't all that. Nowhere near as good as the bands they replaced ... Dr. Feelgood, Eddie & The Hot Rods, The Motors, etc. Little Feat? I thought they were OK. The friend I went with (far more knowledgeable than me about music) was absolutely blown away, but I wasn't that impressed. Frank Zappa? I went with an Australian drug dealer who lived in Chelsea. At every solo ... [i][b]every single f***ing solo[/b][/i] ... he passed around a bottle of amyl nitrate. Were Zappa any good? Sorry - what was the question again? AC/DC original line-up? Utterly, utterly mind-blowing. I saw them on three consecutive nights at The Marquee when they first hit London. Jesus H Christ, what a band! Incidentally, with the benefit of 40 years' hindsight my view of the first three bands listed here may have changed a bit ...

Still not convinced that an ACG would ever be described as a "double P pickup" bass in any sane world ...

[quote name='Dad3353' timestamp='1448312927' post='2914437'] It takes much practise and work to be able to sight-read dimly-lit 'pit' scores or show and jazz lines, but at least it can be done, if it's really required. [/quote] I can't even see the dots on the side of the neck of my own bass when it's dimly-lit.

For panto work I think you'll find that you need Buttons ..

[quote name='LayDownThaFunk' timestamp='1448297494' post='2914247'] Usually, friends in other bands recommendations. [/quote] Yup, either this or (more commonly in my limited experience) someone in the band "has a mate with a studio" or a mate "who's an engineer and can get us a really good deal". Speaking purely for myself, I would always go with someone I know personally and trust, rather than with the "best" studio and a bunch of strangers.

Don't mean to be controversial, but if you plan to start with reading TAB rather than actually reading music 'properly' then I'd advise you to start with a 4-string. Trying to play a 4-string TAB on a 5-string bass can get very confusing! If I had my time over again, I like to think that I would take the trouble to learn to read music 'properly'. Trouble is, if I had my time over again I suspect I'd just do the same things all over again ...

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/HofnerCustom-Shop-Gold-Label-Berlin-Violin-Bass-Handmade-at-Hofner-Germany-/151893189433?&_trksid=p2056016.l4276 Take away the price tag and you're looking at a rather tacky take on a vintage classic. And don't forget to boast about the "flame maple back and sides" which can't be seen through the solid finish. At that price there's a greater than 50% uplift over the price of a stock, handmade-in-Germany Hofner 500/1. How does that work anyway? The German Hofners are still handmade, always have been, which is why they're so dear to start with. How do you then charge a premium price for a handmade Custom Shop version?

To do that you'll need to replace the existing strap buttons, and whatever you use will not look right on a violin bass. Does he like lager? If so, buy him a case of Grolsch. Swing-top bottles, natch.

Here's my tip ... buy this book: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Lost-Art-Country-Bass-Electric/dp/0793569923/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1448040241&sr=8-1&keywords=Lost+Art+of+Country+Bass Excellent piece of work.

[quote name='Paulhauser' timestamp='1448032579' post='2912530'] This B string issue is world in it own, so many opinions and variables, the best bet is to make your own opinion by trying basses. [/quote] My thinking too, though I have to say that I am happiest with a 35" scale. My old Alleva-Coppolo KBP5 had a very wide, very flat neck on a 34" scale, and I was perfectly happy with the low B until the first time I played a Mike Lull. The Lull has (I suspect) a lower-mass neck but a 35" scale, and with the same strings as the A/C (and the same person playing it, natch) the Lull's low B is noticeably less flobbadob.

[quote name='Ghost_Bass' timestamp='1448032667' post='2912535'] Are you making fun of me because of my signature??? [/quote] Do you know, I hadn't even read your signature until you pointed that out! So ... how's the treatment coming along? Off the medication yet?

Then you realise that people like Zoom make all-in-one devices that do everything you want, all in one neat little box. With an LCD panel and everything. So you buy that too. But then you find that the Zoom's tuner is a bit wibbly-wobbly so you keep the Zoom but add your dedicated pedal tuner. Actually, the Zoom's Octaver ain't that great, so then you add your dedicated Octaver too. Then ... then .. then .. And finally, you start looking for a larger pedal board.

Depends on other factors of course, but the reality is that I'm running the DB through a Fishman preamp before the signal reaches the Bigshot so I can do a fair bit of level matching up front. If memory serves, the amount of DIM can also be tweaked. It's been a while since I last tinkered with it.

I use one of these: http://www.radialeng.com/bigshotio.php

Whereabouts in the country are you?

May I refer you to Post #84? [quote name='Happy Jack' timestamp='1446572259' post='2900473'] I think a lot of Basschatters are under the impression that Basschat is now a huge concern, with thousands of enthusiastic members who are potential buyers of their basses. The various statistics in the public domain do tend to give that impression. BUT Actually spending time on Basschat, seeing who is posting what and where, gives a very different flavour as far as I'm concerned. I suspect that there are no more than a few hundred truly [i][b]active [/b][/i]Members and a helluva lot of dormant user names. If you think you're reaching a potential market of many thousands of active bass players with money in their pocket, then prepare to be disappointed. [/quote]

Jumping into anything new at the very top end is asking for trouble. It's your dosh and you'll do what you want, but I think you'll get better results by taking easier steps. For well under half your budget you could have your pick of pre-owned fivers, and spend a month or two seeing whether or not you actually like them. Getting back to your original question, where are you coming from in terms of go-to basses? Are you a Precision player or a Warwick sort of guy? Does 19mm string spacing matter to you? Are you hung up on weight issues? Do you want an active bass with more controls than Concorde or do you do everything at the amp? Etc. Etc. Etc.

[quote name='CamdenRob' timestamp='1447942821' post='2911695'] I bought a "high end" replacement power cable for my Glockenklang earlier on in the week... [/quote] Not sure they yet make oxygen-free earplugs, but probably worth checking.

Is this a 4-string Android or a 5-string?