Musicman20

[quote name='Clarky' timestamp='1325105976' post='1479965'] Who are you and what have you done with Gareth? [/quote] Haha, I even try to spend less time on bass related sites now. The more I look the harder it is to resist anything new. So far, I'm quite happy to look at other 'normal' things I need/want to buy.

IMO, its the best bet for a PJ that's currently available.

Offer him £850. You won't lose any money on it if you sell it on. I used to be set in my ways with a P/Ray/Jazz shape and now I have a Big Al and Bongo incoming, and they are completely out there when it comes to style. This Overwater is just a nice slant on the Fender style.

Since my new Musicman got sorted and the new Ray I received is perfect, all im waiting for is my Bongo which I've wanted for a few years. I'm finally feeling like GAS is running out. The excitement/addiction of new gear is becoming less and less fulfilling now I've got some excellent equipment. It's been a mad 2 years of buying/selling and seeking new gear. It's probably a good job, because now I can focus on just gigging and saving towards other things that life throws at us. Does anyone else seem to have hit a wall with what they want? I'm actually really glad its happened. Maybe its a sign of the financial difficulty many of us face. I feel I can't take risks anymore like I used to, even though my current job is safe (ish).

That PJ sounds great! Never been a Warwick fan though. Nothing wrong with pick playing. Been doing it since day one but im 95% a fingerstyle player now. Being able to do both to a high standard is where I want to be.

Always liked his playing. The thumb over the board was always a 'NOOOO' moment from my tutor when I started. It can lead to early arthritis and wrist problems, apparently! Not keen on the Xotic aesthetics though.

[quote name='JTUK' timestamp='1325023978' post='1479282'] On my visit to Gtrgtr down here tho... all the basses I looked at were pretty damn rank and hardy got off the stand because a) either the action was plain ridiculous or the general build didn't warrant a closer look, IMO. [/quote] Same with my visits to the Newcastle store, but this was at least a year ago now, so things hopefully have changed. I think with this one WOT, I'd 100% go with the P. Sadowsky basses are very nice, but they don't offer the traditional Fender tone, (which is a good or a bad thing, depending who you are) it is more polite, I agree. I really like the new Deluxe Fenders. Can you blend the pups properly, or is it neck/middle/bridge? Good to hear the quality was up there with the Fender.

[quote name='warwickhunt' timestamp='1324726373' post='1477335'] (though it is so small the tax man laughed when we tried to offset our bands earnings against tax, we were told we were hobbyists and not to be so silly as to try and claim it is a 2nd income etc). [/quote] This raises an important topic for me. Have we covered tax on earnings on Basschat before?

I checked and triple checked that my gear was covered for gigs, on numerous occasions before I clicked on 'buy' the insurance. It did cost me more than normal house insurance but I expected that. I have checked their T&C's and everything coincides with the conversations I've had with them. The only caveat is the limit on each item is no more than £1,500, upto a total that I can't remember for a number of items. So, as much as my Big Al is worth a little bit more than that, it doesn't get gigged much anyway at the moment, (more for my own enjoyment practicing at home).

I'm with the AA Home Insurance and a certain value of gear is covered (as s my iPhone, girfriend's cameras, etc) when we take things out of the home. I've checked and this covers my basses, amps, etc as well.

[quote name='Count Bassy' timestamp='1324663708' post='1476883'] So does this men that the existing head is actually only 300 Watts, and in the 5110 combo it's only putting out 150 Watts? If so that would go some way to explaining why I was a bit disappointed with the volume I got from mine, although my main complaint was the horrible clicking noise it made when the volume was turned beyond 1/3, and the fact that it wasn't that loud at that point. Alternatively I guess that may have realised that the speaker in the combo can't take 250 watts without making the above mentioned clicking, or of course it could be that they are using a different power module so that they can drop the price. For anyone who was following my other thread on this, mine has now gone back to 'Rockem Music' to go back to the distributor for assessment /fixing. I should hear something in the New Year. I've told Rockem that if it is faulty and it comes back fixed then I'll be happy, but if it's not faulty and this is just how it is then I'll be wanting my money back (and I'll pay the return courier). [/quote] I would suggest asking for a brand new unit. I always steer clear of having 'repairs' on brand new gear. I always ask for another or money back. You are well within your rights to ask for a new one, or a full refund including any postage price you paid, because the item is faulty, (which is NOTHING to do with you, its the manufacturer, so you shouldn't pay a penny). My guess with the new wattage is that the 250W or whatever the amp currently is at 8ohms is too much for the size of the box and spec of speaker. You get what you pay for, and the fact the combo is £500 ish can't really mean a high end 10" speaker. If it does, well done to them! I don't personally think its anything to do with being 'honest'. 250W through a 1x10 won't sound much different to 100W really; the speaker is too small to push that much in that tiny box. I think they either decided the 500W was too much for that combo, or they wanted to save some money. Who knows, the may have made it 300W at 8 ohms and bumped it upto a 1x12.

What 300W for the current amp head and thats it?! That is a little bit strange.

Totally agree. Lakland (when I started to get back into buying again in 2009) were very very popular on here, even in the UK. I played around 8 different JO4/5s and DJ4/5s. All of them didnt seem to stand upto the normal QC i'd heard about....and the weight was pretty high on all of them. I still want one, but I don't think the prices reflect what you get in the UK. No case, and sometimes more money than a Fender. I am still holding out for a perfect DJ5/JO5, but I don't see any I can try that are nearby. I'd rather buy from the Bass Gallery over GuitarGuitar, but I live nowhere near. One day, I'll have one, but I don't want to pay £1300 when for that price I can get a USA Deluxe Fender 5 Jazz with the new quality active elecs or almost buy another Musicman. I am quite excited about these new DJ5s, but agree they need to sort their products and bring something exciting out.

Ok, I want the white one, because I never got one before that was decent. I'll have to look into it. Probably the best model Lakland have ever made. Just looks effin cool.

Probably been quite lucky, but i'd quite like to have NOT sold my early 00's MM Ray Single H Natural/Maple. I wish I'd kept it and used it as my goto bass. Also, if I had the cab back I would have never sold my Tecamp M212 knowing how much of a good deal/price it was.

That little 3.0 8T is very tempting! Then again, so is the 6.0 12T (which would cover my live work quite well).

[quote name='JTUK' timestamp='1324295170' post='1472577'] Not surprised G...appalled, tbh. I find it funny that you have to set a few straight... altho imagine the seriousness of a situation like that without proper advice. My lot are a lot of clowns and jokers but when they get to play with other peoples lives.. it is no laughing matter. When are you going back to Toon..? [/quote] Move is going to be roughly July for my start date mid August! Getting closer now.

[quote name='JTUK' timestamp='1324290583' post='1472495'] Most HR's in companies that I know are useless and don't know employment law...and you'd be surprised how far they will press you with 'reasonable' request/requirements that a tribunial would have a field day with. And in these times when jobs are difficult, they aren't going to slacken off, IMO. OT apologies [/quote] Hahah, I work in HR and you'd be suprised how little other HR departments know. As you know John, I have legal training, so for me HR is a walk in the park type position until my legal contract starts, but at least my current HR dept knows a fair bit about the law. I know a LOT of HR depts who don't even understand basic sick pay rights, and I've had to put them in their place a few times. Its quite funny being so low in the chain (HR Assistant) yet being more qualified than others. Luckily its only temporary, but to go on topic, they think its great that I play a lot. We don't work Sat/Sun so I only occasionally have to finish work early on a Fri if its an early gig, but normally, no problem. When I move back to Newcastle, gigging will take a backseat for at least 6-9 months until I settle and find another band I feel comfortable in, (would prefer a quality covers band again). I think it depends on your job/career. Music is 100% just for fun and additional cash is brilliant, (IMO) and I doubt i'd ever see it as a career. But in normal day to day jobs, I don't see why flexibility can't be called on. Heck, enough others take the piss with time off work, so a few hours once a month for a Friday gig is nothing.

Must admit, that is very pretty!

Epifani cabinets tonal goal - huge wide low end, polite mids, airy top (quite clicky). Very modern sheen, as Talkbass points out, they are very popular with US gospel artists. I would choose something that's totally opposite, tone wise, when it comes to an amp head. In this case, something with plenty of mid content to grind if you want it to. You can take it out on the EQ much easier than you can put it in if its lacking somewhat from the tonal profile. Out of those choices, you can't really go wrong. Personally i'd pick up a Shuttle 9.0 from Bass Direct at £550 and have all the headroom/mids you want.

I wonder why its being discontinued? It must be a new model in the works....

Nice thorough reviews, I love the format of the magazine. Great project to be part of! Just because Im a Stingray/Musicman nerd, a few things they might not have mentioned when they sent the 2 Band Stingray. Originally, the 2 EQ was the only option. They introduced the 3 EQ, but you still find that some like to special order the 2 EQ, because it sound different. So, 2 vs 3, in my eyes, isn't a budget option, more like a tone option. The Ray's havent been strung-through body as standard for quite a while. Obviously the new Classic Series (a lot more money) give you mutes and string through, but that isn't a usual Musicman spec on their modern instruments. The reason those basses you reviewed are cheaper is because: A. No hardcase, (normally standard on all Musicman instruments) B. Limited colour options (eg they produced a large batch for the UK in Red/Blue/Black) The rest is standard Musicman. In fact, if you ordered a Red 3EQ, the only difference would be the case! You probably already knew that! If you try ordering a 2EQ in a different colour from red/blue/black, you get a hardcase as well, but they are only £50-£100 less than a 3EQ because the 2EQ is probably a little bit cheaper to make (and no jack socket on the bottom). I'm guessing the reason the one you reviewed sounds so good and plays so well is because thats what they should all be like

I must admit that I agree with Nigel and the quote he made earlier in the thread. As much as we all no doubt want to 'live' well off music, it isn't usually down to having 'studied' it. I opted to take a GCSE in music, which i did very well in, but I knew I couldn't make the living I wanted from it unless I was very very lucky. My bass tutor has survived from gigging, (jazz usually) session work, recording, and teaching. I think from seeing how he has been doing from the past ten years or so, it can be a struggle. i think bass is incredibly specific, despite the fact I love playing electric bass more than anything else I've tried. If I ever thought I wanted to be a full time musician, I would assume skills in piano, vocals, guitar, bass and probably something like saxophone would be the way forward. Then you open your options, even if bass is your number one. I know its a tough world now. University HAS to count for something and its incredibly expensive, so, I would personally advise unless you are 100% committed and know you have a very very special talent, to take a more academic subject that will lead to a life (hopefully) without the financial strain. Also, it would be wise to realise that unless you are in a major city, (preferably London) its going to be much harder to get excellent session work. I personally enjoy music a lot; it takes me away from the drab normal life, but I think if it was my day job, I wouldn't be as enthusiastic. I'm glad I have a career path, and I feel grateful for it. Musicians seem to take what they can and hope for the best for the next chunk of work. There is of course the other side of bands that hit the big time with NO musicical training whatsoever, just through luck, songwriting, and perserverance. Heck, some of them can barely play! I'd prefer to take that route, because often I find studying it ruins the fun. I like to practice new skills, but once it gets to a certain stage it loses the fun. My career is about studying, so music is an outlet! I tend to see a lot of musicians who think the lifestyle is easy going, 10 o'clock or later starts, with late night gigs and plenty of fun. Hey, it can be, but it won't earn you much in this climate unless you are lucky. I personally now rely on word of mouth. If a member of the public or a friend comments in a positive way about my playing, I take that onboard, and keep doing as I do. Hopefully they tell someone, who tell's someone else who can 'hire' you for a dep gig, which make take you to even more gigs. Reputation, personality, and the ability to work under pressure are key to a lifestyle like this. Many musicians earn a sideline by word of mouth and work full or part time in an office/etc to keep the money coming. Best of both worlds, IMO. Hope this helps.