Dan Dare

Instrument manufacturers don't make strings anyway. They have them made/branded by the likes of D'Addario.

Hilarious, isn't it? Like the bedding from hotels famous people have stayed in being sold to the sad. "See these stains? They're not just any old pee stains, you know"

Is it still available? I had one and have always regretted selling.

Wonderful player and never overcooks it.

Good man Brig. Remember, everyone is "just a pub band" in the beginning. You'll be grand. All the best..

Have you tried holding a long metal straight edge against the frets (whilst the neck is under tension/strung up) and attempting to rock it lengthways? That usually reveals any high frets.

May not need to buy new to get it on instalments. If you buy used from someone/somewhere where you can use PayPal, you can put it on your plastic and pay it off monthly.

A couple of decent looking TC2x10s on Fleabay at the moment.

If North London isn't too far, try Malcolm Hine. He designs, builds and repairs valve amps. Google MPH Guitars to find his website. Nice bloke and very knowledgeable. Good player, too.

Er, no. A genuine observation, based on my personal experience. Used to have a HD350 and replaced it for exactly the reasons stated. "Gain weight"? Can you translate?

Know what you mean. Kit has a habit of multiplying. I'm wondering about that little Soundcraft tablet-controlled digital mixer at the moment. Very tidy size and have read a couple of favourable reviews. More expenditure...

Would your travels ever include London? If so, I'd like them. I'm happy with 16 ohms as use a 900w power amp - less need to worry about melting drivers...

Great cab. A pal uses one with a Mesa Subway and a 70s P bass and it sounds fab and plenty loud. If stuff I'm flogging goes, will PM you. Atb.

Agreed, Pete. Same result, different routes to achieving it.

EBS Freak - where did I say I could "compete with digital"? I didn't. I carry a modest outboard rack - couple of graphics, couple of multi FX and a couple of stereo compressors. It more than does the job. One rarely needs to compress more than 4 voices/instruments and you can always group things like backing singers or brass sections. Global eq is taken care of by the DSPs in the PA.

The point I was making about eq was that most desks have fixed/shelving low and high frequency eq and two sweepable mids, ranging between about 50hz and 12 kHz - around 6 octaves. The Q/bandwidth of the mids will be wide as a result and unsuited to making subtle adjustments to a bass. Even a digital desk with typically 4 sweepable bands of eq covering the entire frequency spectrum will not be ideal.

The eq on a dedicated bass head/pre-amp will have half a dozen or so turnover frequencies (more if it has a graphic) which will be concentrated at lower frequencies better suited to a bass and will be more usable as a result. That's the reason, incidentally, that I replaced my EBS head (I note you're a fan). Effectively, it had low and high frequency eq and one sweepable mid - not a lot of use, especially as I had to use it to get rid of the built in peak EBS seems to build into all its products (presumably to make them sound bright and in yer face and give them sales appeal in the showroom). I could never get a less than aggressive sound from it.

Have a nice day.

Didn't want to be boring and list my outboard, but do have fx, etc. Most mixers have 4 band eq - less than many heads (mine has 6), so not always the case.

Stingray Pete. If we're going to compare stuff, my PA is a Soundcraft GB4 into Fohhn LX150 tops and XS30 subs. Not cheap kit. Without my Basswitch in the line, it's clean but anaemic for bass. All the best.

Not my point. Mixing desk eq not generally suitable without some kind of preamplification. You get a flat, sterile, 'studio' sound (regardless of the quality of desk). I know because I've tried my bass via my own(high quality) desk and PA.

I'd take a decent preamp a least - the average mixing desk eq won't cut it for your bass. I agree with others' suggestions to take a combo.

Surely it isn't only about what the audience hears/likes? If you enjoy the sound you make, you'll play better and probably win over more people. Even if they don't like you, the good feeling you get from playing and sounding good will be its own reward/consolation. I take a very high quality PA to pub gigs (because it's all I have) and it does us no harm, at worst.

Why not speak to Armstrong's. They're very helpful in my experience and may be able to make suggestions. That way, you'll get an exact size replacement. The other thing that occurs is the question as to whether you are looking for a P sound from it, which perhaps isn't in its palette and you'd be better sticking with the P.

Good for Bill. So much snake oil in cables, especially in wunnerful wold of hi-fi (where those with the most expensive set-ups usually have Van Gogh's ear for music).

Easy. Just post an expensive instrument in the for sale section for 50 quid, no questions asked. You'll get barred in no time

Isn't this a little pointless? Call it trade or sale, "value" of anything is where what a buyer is prepared to pay meets what a seller is prepared to accept. There is no ultimate determinant of value other than the market.

Where is it/are you?

Japan Axe. Have no doubt you're right. I emailed them once, asking if they would be interested in selling my Satellite P Bass that had been owned by Gary Glitter. To their credit, they sent an amusing reply.

Easy. Just buy his hands and brain from him and you'll have it nailed...