Happy Jack

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?

Out of all the Warwick basses I've played, the only one I've ever really lusted after was one I played two years ago at the Warwick showroom in Manhattan. That was a German-made Jack Bruce signature Fretless, with a price tag so outrageous that I wasn't tempted even for a millisecond. But bloody hell, what a bass!

They all play in bands with two bassists ...

There's nowt wrong with foam earplugs or even cotton wool if what you want is simply to protect your eardrums. On the other hand, if you want to protect your eardrums AND still be able to listen properly to what's going on, without deadening or muffling the sound, then you need proper earplugs such as ER17s. If you want to protect your eardrums AND still be able to listen properly to what's going on AND to hear as clearly as if you weren't wearing any protection at all, then you need top-of-the-range filter plugs such as ER15s or ER20s.

[quote name='LayDownThaFunk' timestamp='1447884052' post='2911299'] Ooh, sickburn. [/quote] That's a small village just south of Edinburgh, right?

If you're going string-through then you need to check that the LaBellas will actually reach the nut before the silks start. Mark where the nut touches the string you currently have (Tippex is good) and take the string off, measure it carefully from ball-end to mark, then ask your chosen string supplier to confirm the precise length of the LaBella from ball-end to silk. Obviously you shouldn't have a problem ... they make these strings to fit the basses! The fact is, I have several times found the first 1/4" of the silks on one or more strings on the "wrong" side of the nut.

Also worth a mention are La Bella FL Deep Talkin' and Status Graphite Half-rounds. La Bella FLs are bloody expensive and not always easy to obtain, but they do sound wonderful. I started using them when I bought my first proper vintage Precision, on advice from Basschatters who know this stuff inside out ... Clarky, Beedster, and Wateroftyne. They're not so good on longer scale basses like the 35" Mike Lulls I play now. The Status Half-rounds offer a genuine compromise between the feel of flats and the snarl of good rounds on a P. I converted to Lakland Joe Osborn strings when I started playing 35" scale since all Lakland 5-strings are 35" AFAIK. Those Osborns then turned out to be re-packaged GHS strings, which takes you back to Essential Tension's post up at the top. The fact that they fit 35" scale so well also means that they are excellent for string-through-body on a 34" scale bass.

[quote name='operative451' timestamp='1447780318' post='2910321'] I'm pretty sure that in my local WH SMith they sell Guns 'n' Ammo. The magazine, not the actual things. [/quote] Well it's quite normal to put ammo in a magazine. Sorry ...

[quote name='Beedster' timestamp='1447746553' post='2909877'] The cover of a music magazine - or any magazine - featuring a weapon unless strictly in context is horrendous timing at any time. My opinion of any individual who thinks it's cool to pose with a weapon is also not that high. [/quote] On a point of order, Chris, the cover does NOT feature that photo. Apart from that, I entirely agree.

[quote name='Fisheth' timestamp='1447718818' post='2909825'] Hey guys, what does two P pickups do for tone? Just curious as I've seen tons of P+J and P+HB basses, but not P+P. Can anyone explain? [/quote] They allow you to dance about architecture (if you know your Zappa).

Yup, some Ted Nugent stuff is great too. Doesn't alter the fact that the guy is certifiable and shouldn't be allowed out without his strait-jacket.

[quote name='yorks5stringer' timestamp='1447620928' post='2909048'] That was written back in time when you needed a musket to protect yourself from Grizzly Bears or poachers on your homestead.... [/quote] IIRC, they needed the muskets to protect themselves from the British. They didn't have an army so they needed Minutemen (that's militia, not intercontinental ballistic missiles).

Think I'll wait for the Deko version ...

I'm glad they didn't get your doubleneck.

Z Car design? Presumably he's an Everton fan ...

I suspect that stability might be an issue ...

Bubenreuth is where Hofners used to be made, also Framus. The whole region is famous for the production of high-quality instruments.

Couldn't he afford a proper bass guitar?

I once got chucked out of a pub for making a small gesture at the manager. Don't suppose that counts either.

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1447181936' post='2905646'] It's awful, but I quite like it for some reason. [/quote] http://youtu.be/dJmg-879j5o