Musicman20

I've said this before to many people, but Interpol are in my top list of favourite bands...ever. I have tried to find like-minded musicians to play that kinda choppy/dark post-punk but it hasn't worked.... The bass lines are really really good.

[quote name='geofio' timestamp='1470723821' post='3107858'] I purchased a Guitar last year in Las Vegas, i just took it on to my return flight in a gig bag and the stewardess put it in her personal locker for me !!! we were upstairs on a virgin Jumbo, and no one even looked twice, at the customs when we got home a customs officer called me over and wanted to know what all the signatures all over the gig bag were , they were from the guys at the rock vault show lol, he loved the autographs, never even bothered about the guitar at all. just bring it home. [/quote] Amazing!

I'm in the same boat but I won't be buying a guitar/bass as I've got enough (and if I did it would be a guitar as they are FAR smaller). I will also be loving the theme parks, which is probably pretty sad, but honestly, our attempt at theme parks in this country are pretty shoddy compared to Harry Potter at Universal. But, I MAY get a few effects pedals. Some of them are much cheaper over there. Does anyone know if Boss pedals work ok from the US when brought here? I want one of the new CE-2W's which are currently rising in price a fair bit here.

I had an MXR Compressor and I didn't get on with it. I don't know why. For MXR, I also wasn't impressed with the build quality, which is mad considering their Carbon Copy is built so solidly. I opted for two cheaper options. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Budda-Chakra-Compressor-Guitar-Effects/dp/B00CJRLVXC Budda Chakra - reviewed pretty well for bass - Was on offer for only £50 for a while. Boss LMB-3 - Bought one before the recent price rises and again, it definitely does the job. For Octaves, I use: EHX Pitchfork Boss OC-3 Both do the job extremely well IMO. I would say the Pitchfork but they have also gone up from around £95 to £120 very suddenly.

Having never really known what these were, as I've become more interested in effects (more so for guitar playing) I've started to try new pedals. The Waza Craft line really are superb. The quality is just perfect...matching a boutique effects company yet still keeping the price fairly decent, with that Boss solid enclosure, and peace of mind warranty. If you haven't tried the VB-2W, you really need to. It is so good at what it does. The effect can be subtle or extreme, and in-between, but the sound is so syrupy and warm its unreal.

I would have said TC RS210...one of my favourite little powerful 2x10 cabs, but alas, they have increased in prices...

Hopefully arriving this week. Yes, despite looking around Amazon was again the cheapest with the most hassle free return policy, although it is sold by a music shop through Amazon, and the item is actually with Amazon at their warehouse. I've rearranged my gear a fair bit recently and ditched a few big cabs that I just didn't need....a shame but I've got plenty of nice kit. I wanted something I could just plug in and play and take into any room for guitar, bass or acoustic. It was this or the Yamaha THR, which has now gone up to £250 from around £200, which is far too much for what I want it for. I don't need perfect tone, I just want a nice clean canvas for writing and trying new pedals etc.

[quote name='GrammeFriday' timestamp='1470731673' post='3107911'] PS I should say that my Sandberg is also 34 scale. I used to think scale length was key to getting a taut B string but now know better - as LewisK says above, it's all about the construction. [/quote] This is exactly right. It doesn't matter whether it is 34 or 35 or beyond. A well constructed bass, made and designed as a 5 string and not just a 4 string with a few extra bits on it, (like the older Fenders) will make a massive difference. As I said above, I've played perhaps 4 or 5 Lakland 5 sting basses and as much as I like them aesthetically, the B strings sounded too woofy and muddy...no matter what I did. I think one advantage of the Musicman humbucker is that the 5 string version really does enhance the tone of the B, making it sound even....the whole bass sounds 'together'....hence despite liking Musicman before hand, I knew when I was venturing into their 5 string basses that they were one of the leading industry standards for a 5 string bass for many years. Nowadays, there is more choice, e.g. Sadowsky if you want a nice Jazz, or Sandberg if you want a more individual take on a Jazz, etc. You could pick up a second hand Stingray 5 for under a grand.

I have a fair few Musicman basses. The B strings are tight and defined. It was night and day versus the much slacker Lakland B string feel.

I bought one of these last year but there seemed to be a power supply issue, and the store didn't have any left to exchange. Trusty Amazon were selling them for pre-price rise and I watched their stock dwindle. This AM I was annoyed at not getting Harry Potter tickets so I've taken the plunge as we really do need a tiny practice amp for home. Advantages - 1. Only 10W 2. Tiny/lightweight/headphone socket/aux in 3. Suitable for bass, guitar and electro acoustic - similar to the TC Toneprint, you simply change the three presets to whatever amp you want to use, and no doubt mine will be a Fender Blackface or Jazz Chorus guitar amp, Bass and Acoustic Guitar. The other reason I've gone for one is that my partner has bought a lovely Gibson SG bass (she used to play bass way before I met her) and she wants to get back into it. The bass Is fantastic but she wanted something ultra small and quiet for noodling away when she gets time. Despite the fact my gigging amps do have a volume control, due to space, by the time they are hooked up and moved about, you've lost 20 mins, and then the 2x10 cabs are just too loud for an apartment....you have to go ultra quiet and you lose a lot. I've tried one before with an elec guitar and pedals, and a bass, and you know what, for £90 it was pretty damn good. Much better than I'd ever expected.

[quote name='Misdee' timestamp='1470308825' post='3104928'] The big question is whether, in the longer term, manufacturers will have to rethink their pricing structures for the UK market. Conceivably, there may come a point where American guitars become priced out of the market in Britain and sales fall off drastically. Companies like Fender will have to make a decision whether to cut profit margins or see their sales dwindle, leaving them with 100% of nothing. I am brassed - off myself because I've been saving for a new MM Stingray and now can't even bring myself to find out what the post- Brexit prices are. My only hope is that Sterling Ball takes pity on America's closest ally and cuts us a special deal. I am not, however holding my breath! [/quote] I have no idea what will happen. If everyone takes a similar line to me, e.g. 'I'm not paying more for something just because of Brexit' (which I think is a justifiable argument) then eventually, the stores will suffer, the staff will suffer, the middle men dealers will suffer, and the manufacturers will suffer. So, there are many people who will just buy anyway, but I won't. Luckily my instruments are brilliant. I just tend to get pedals now and I wait for the right price on Amazon. I do however think high end mass produced lines like Musicman basses WILL suffer. They have risen fairly high anyway, but further price rises will put their instruments out of reach. A big big shame for those who are starting to experiment with new instruments.

I've only tuned mine once and it's been perfect. No setup at all. Bit of fret but I can live with it.

What's not to like? Far too much to discuss and it becomes far too political, so I'll leave it for now. Needless to say I did not want to leave. It's not so simple as getting more money or raising what you charge. People will stop spending, shops will struggle, it's just a constant knock on effect that we could do without.

I've actually spoken to some stores who have said the leave vote has created significant problems. Wonder if anything good will come out of it. I don't want results that are great for us years down the line, I'm on about the next year. We can't just keep paying more and more.

[quote name='project_c' timestamp='1470218057' post='3104120'] How is an economic downturn which is an obvious and undisputed direct result of that vote an 'excuse'? The economy of the U.K. is in deep trouble, if you think this is a 'blip' i'd like to see what you define as an economic disaster. When nobody has a pot left to p!ss in, people are still going to be saying it's a coincidence that has nothing to do with Brexit. [/quote] Not to stir the political pot even more, but completely agree.

[quote name='stingrayPete1977' timestamp='1470214463' post='3104072'] I think it's still fair to blame brexit if brexit is what has given companies something to hide behind. [/quote] Exactly.

Brexit. Amazon example: Boss pedals have risen by £5-10 each (and that is AFTER the normal price rise they had recently). Politics shouldn't be part of this thread but it's the exact reason. It is not a normal price rise across the board. It is Brexit. I'm sure a leave voter will say I'm over reacting or it'll settle down. I'm quite glad I don't plan to buy anything other than pedals for the next few years.

Yeah bit much!

I would love a Modulus. I wish they would go back into production...

Sold my old one, new V2 arrived safely with usual tin and new revised manual. Compact, well built and nicely laid out. Happy I've gone ahead I'll be testing it this weekend. I could be wrong, but it 'appears' smaller. I assume it is the same size build but the extra controls give the illusion that it is a little more crammed.

Mine does look fairly reliced. Re: string spacing - can move it on the bridge!

I tend to find the difference is subtle, but the Jazz single coil is more 'hollow' sounding. I might be mistaken but I'm sure it can get a little more lively in the upper mids/treble.....not sure.

For me: Flea Matt Freeman Paul Turner Peter Hook Brian J Robinson tied with Fat Mike Other notable mentions would be Andy Rourke, Mani and Carlos Dengler.

As soon as I found out it needs batteries, then nope.

Well, still extremely happy with mine. Tried more of the neck pickup on it's own last night. I was just basically coming up with a few ideas and recording them, but through my Streamliner and RS210, this bass sounds absolutely fantastic. There must be a little more thickness on the neck or something; I find it very comfortable. The neck pickup is the chunkiest most P bass tone I've experienced on a Jazz before. It still feels relatively light.