Mister RLP

1 hour ago, Twanger said:

The Squier VM P is excellent for the price. But be sure you want a P bass!

+1

I have one to play alongside my Matt Freeman pbass. Thought that they wouldn’t feel too different - neck size etc. 

Worth listening to what the original band plays for their live versions, too. Sometimes the bass part is simplified anyway. Or different. Or better! 

I haven’t enough basses for all my strings! 

I really like D'Addario tape wounds. Sound great on the Flea Jazz bass. Can't decide these or nps rounds it came with...

Where do the Sterling Ray34 fit in this weight wise? They seem a fairly good build but I assume they are heavy due to having a slab body. 

Most seem to be between 9 -10 lbs ish. But there are some that buck this trend! The new Subs I have picked up seem to be fairly light. 

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Not many sub 9lb rays around. Many hit 10lb.

It's really annoying. Tried a really light fretless stingray in Bath - Vintage Guitars which I almost went for. Great sound. 

Nice! Good weight, too. 

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What are the chances of me finding a Flea sig jazz with a weight under 8.5 lb?

Very good. Mine clocks in around that weight. (Same as my Matt Freeman P-bass which is good.) One of the reasons I love the Flea Jazz and the Road Worn series is their lighter weight. Don't want to go any heavier. Now if I wanted a Music Man...are they all really heavy?

I’m loving tapewounds on my Flea  jazz. The worn in rounds don’t sound right on my Matt Freeman so Chromes going back on. Chromes on VM P bass fretless - the bass that had the tapewounds on. All change! 

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Ok then folks, let's have it. Favourite flat brand, size etc and why.

At the moment it's still Chromes - regular light gauge: 45, 65, 80, 100. Bought them October 2012. They feel and sound great. Not too stiff and really easier on the fingers. 

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Fender flats are the horridest flats I've ever tried... Stiffer than a doornail. 

+1. 

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Are these things addictive? Will I ever enjoy the twang and sizzle of skinny round strings again? Is there help?

Yes. No. And no. Sorry. 

Once I'd 'discovered' flats I put them on everything - violin bass (great), p-bass (perfect), Rickenbacker (wow). Trouble is I do want a bass with rounds for a different sound. I just prefer the feel and sound of flats. I did get a Flea jazz bass in November because the set of Fender rounds on it have been worn in (it was the demo one in Andertons - might even be the one from the vids). Sounds great. Only taken two months to put flats on. Been through Fender flats, Chromes and now tapewound. I really like the Herbie Flowers type sound so tapewounds are sounding interesting at the mo. Thinking of trying some TI or La Bella. Having just read drTStringay's post I'm also thinking cobalts. The issue now is which flat rounds sound best...

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There's a Status showroom in Brighton? This is dangerous information, I thought they were based in Essex though?

 

That would be cool if there was. No, I meant in Colchester. Took daughter up to look round Essex Uni last year. Not sure she would have been happy with me skiving off to look at basses though. Just as well I didn't know. 

Great idea. Didn't realise the showroom was right next door to the uni! Was up there last year year on an open day. No idea. 

I was very pleased at work the other day when I announced I had created some playlists on iTunes. I was given a sympathetic look and told: 'That was 10 years ago. People stream and use Spotify, etc, now'.  

I will listen to all the right songs on my albums on iTunes but not necessarily in the right order...to paraphrase Morecombe and Wise as sometimes it goes on shuffle without me knowing. 

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For about 20 years I would swear by Elite Stadium Roundwound strings but for the last few years I've been using Ernie Ball Super Slinky' s. I might go back to Elites as there seems to be some lovd for them on here. Plus I've been a bit disappointed on the Super Slinky's lately.

The only  rounds (so far) that sounded good (to me) on my Matt Freeman P Bass were Ernie Ball Super Slinky' s. Everything else sounded a bit harsh. I'm used to the Chromes that I have had on for about six years. However, the Fender Flea bass I bought sounds great with the stock rounds it came with (Fender?), Ok with Fender flats (tension a bit too high), rather good with the Chromes off the P Bass. Will end up putting back the stock strings - even though it was the showroom bass and the strings are worn in. Maybe that's why I like them? 

Cheers. Will give them a go. Also interested in the white nylon tape wounds. 

Thanks. Are La  Bellas worth giving a go? Really like Chromes but hear a lot of good things about La Bellas. 

I’ve got a Squier Matt Freeman which is pretty similar to the cv p bass 70s. Everything fine about it. Tried switching pickups but preferred the stock pickups. Had to change the jack socket after a couple of years to Switchcraft jack. Put a set of flats on. Rather good. 

Where do Chromes appear on the floppiness scale? Are they more taut than La Bellas?

Thanks. 

What’s the weight of this lovely bass?

Damn. Only saw the poster for this on the seafront yesterday. Missed it.