Dan Dare

Black, too.

I think it's a rolling thing. Everything changes over time. When I were a lad in the 1950s, a classic car was something pre-war. The classic cars I eventually owned (Saab 96s and 99s) hadn't even been introduced or even designed back then. However, when I had them in the 1990s/early 2000s, they were considered classic cars. The music's no different.

They do project well. I first noticed this when someone else played through my rig. I was surprised how much bass there was out in the room from a couple of 4x5 cabs. Re. comments about weight, they are solidly built and the larger PJB cabs are heavy. However, if you run several of the smaller cabs, as we do, they are easy to carry in several trips from/to the car. No big deal.

Don't you believe it. Plenty of jazzers do very nicely playing in function bands, etc. They may not get to play much pure jazz, but if they make good money doing a few weddings and parties each week, they have plenty of time to satisfy their souls at other times.

That's a nice set-up you have. I prefer the 4B to the C4 (I have both). You'll have to spend a lot of money to improve on it and I also find they make just about any bass sound great. Is yours the older Suitcase (same size as the 4B)? The newer (C4 size) one is a bit punchier and not as fat sounding in my experience. Probably due to the cab size.

You simply must try and compare before making the switch. FWIW, I use PJB cabs with an AG700 and like the sound a great deal. PJB stuff is quite hi-fi and the slight warmth that Aguilar kit has is a good foil for that. You need a few PJB cabs to shift air if you're using the 5" drivers (I have four 4x5s, although smaller jobs are adequately covered by two or three). The 7s, as in the C47s you refer to, are better in that regard - more weight to the sound. However, don't make the switch without trying/comparing. It could be an expensive wrong turning.

You have our sympathy, but do they want the other guy - the one who left and came back - because he's a better player? Experiences such as this are unpleasant, but there is often a positive (even if it's hard to see at first) that we can take from them. Worth taking some lessons and/or working on the technique to improve your skill level and musical abilities?

What a sweetie. Obviously very musical if she was attempting to stop you making a solo bass album 😁

They disappear through a hole in the space-time continuum, to turn up in a parallel universe bearing outrageous price tags.

A nice reel. Sorry, wrong type of bass...

That's a very good idea (assuming you use more than one cab, so can run two amps). A lot cheaper than a new valve head and if you're happy with the sound of the PF50, it should give you more of what you like.

Ag700. On the warm side of neutral, but not the thicker sound of the THs. I use mine with PJB cabs, which are very clear and it's a good blend.

Have you a small or class D head already? If so, I'd just get a small, lightweight cab. That's what I've done. No heavier than a small combo and less expense than one.

Small mixer will do the trick. If you run a PA, you're already sorted.

I used to play Dicey's in the 80s, too. Had a Fender Bassman plus a 2x15 at the time. Deadly on that iron fire escape that went up/down 3 floors. O'Neill's in Wardour Street was a nightmare. No parking, wardens everywhere. Had to dump the gear, leave a couple of the chaps to keep an eye on/load it in, drive off and look for parking (usually ended up somewhere near Warren Street) and walk all the way back. Then the same in reverse at the end of the night. Have done Thames riverboats, too. Staggering up/down a narrow gangplank. Played a riverside hotel in Richmond once. The only parking was on the opposite side of the river. You had to pile up your gear on the quay opposite, press a button to alert the hotel and they sent a small boat to collect you. Took several trips - the boat was not exactly large. These days, at my advanced age, I check access before accepting a job.

PJB heads (imho of course) are very 'modern/hi-fi' sounding. They're powerful, well made and also rather spendy. I didn't think it worth upgrading to one from what I use (AG700). You should definitely do an A/B comparison with your GB before taking the plunge. Re. "sounding what your bass sounds like", that's a neat marketing phrase from PJB, but you may not actually prefer it. There is no truly "flat" design and if there was, you may not like it. If you run your bass through your hi-fi, which is probably as close as we can get to hearing it "flat", it can sound a bit sterile (for me, at any rate). May be OK at living room levels, but in a live context, it simply wouldn't cut it. Class D heads these days all use one of quite a small number of power amp modules. The major differences are in the preamp, where the designer's preference is what you hear. In my case, I like that slight warmth Aguilar bakes into things. Others prefer something different. One man's meat and all that.

Anything under a ton is likely to be a sideways move, really. The Yamaha referred to above is good for the money, but if you could save up a bit more - say another £100 - you could make a more worthwhile improvement.

dmmcombe. Spot on. The only Christmas song worth listening to. Good to hear from another KBW fan. Happy effing Christmas 😎.

It was a 4 string. It had that long, shaped upper bout that sits against your, er, rounded bit. I appreciate your kind offer. Sadly, I'm in The Smoke (aka London), so not really a practical proposition. Thanks everyone for advice. Full German is obviously the way to go. I've started looking out on eBay, etc. They do seem to hold their value, so if I don't get on with it, I should be able to recoup. There's a very pretty one on the Market Place at present, which is tempting. Are there any snags/things that fail that I should be aware of, apart from sockets and the nut - I can use a soldering iron and screwdriver (I understand the nut is a bolt on, so not a problem)?

I borrowed a Warwick this weekend. As a long-time (since the 1980s) Fender user, was mightily impressed, mainly by the tone - very solid, full but not overblown with a real punch in the chest quality - and the neck wasn't shabby, either. Did old school and modern sounds and easy to play. Had two J type pickups (active or passive - I mainly kept it passive). It was German-made and not cheap, apparently. Are the far eastern made ones worth a look? Don't fancy spending big money, but would like that sound at my fingertips. Suggestions and recommendations welcome. Thanks all.

Why not look for a used Mex P/J? Decent instruments for not a lot of money. I have one (which is not for sale - I'm not trying to punt it), which I use as a standard gigging instrument when I don't want to take my old J bass out. P body, J neck, P/J pickups. Does the job very well.

1. Take bog standard production line instrument. 2. Add minor bells and whistles. 3. Slap the name of someone famous/dead/dead and famous on it. 4. Charge an arm and a leg. 5 Kerching.

Good points, nay excellent ones. I dare say Stevie W, with his amazing musical ear, could also tell you how many days, hours and minutes the strings had been on it just by listening to a couple of notes. If you do get a Far Eastern jobbie, do post plenty of pic's here so we can admire and comment on it 😉

Last for ever, apparently.