scrumpymike

While I agree with everything that's been said about owners changing string gauge, I'm sure that most top-end manufacturers put a fair amount of thought into their choice of OE string gauge/construction for a given design. I'd replace with the same gauge from the same maker unless I had a good reason for doing something different.

That's a couple of fine instruments you have there! Played a Stanley Clarke at the London Bass Centre many years back and was deeply impressed by everything except the balance and the price. Fast forward to the present and this is the closest I've managed to get: my modified Scott Whitley SWB-1. Much cheaper but perfect (for me) ergo's.

[quote name='scrumpymike' timestamp='1497603825' post='3319378'] +1 For your budget you could buy a couple of used amps off this forum, keep the best, sell the other, buy another - and repeat the cycle until you're satisfied! [/quote] PS As already pointed out, you may never be satisfied! For your info, my current 'keepers' (i.e. for the next month or two) are an old Trace Elliot SMC300 GP7 (relatively heavy/bulky) and a neat little TC Electronic BH550 - both bought used off this forum for £400 in total.

[quote name='CameronJ' timestamp='1497602351' post='3319349'] Conan speaks a lot of sense here. Excellently summed up. [/quote] +1 For your budget you could buy a couple of used amps off this forum, keep the best, sell the other, buy another - and repeat the cycle until you're satisfied!

This is a bass I fell in love with the minute I saw Pete Quaife playing his with the Kinks. They just look so damn' cool and the fact that two of my heroes (Macca and Randy Meisner) used theirs to such good advantage is also a big factor for me. It's my favourite 'look' of all time and definitely the best bass I never owned. Too late now as s-s is the only thing that works for me nowadays!! [i]GET ONE WHILE YOU CAN![/i] [i]PS I also luuuurve Marmite [/i]

[quote name='BassManGraham' timestamp='1497188677' post='3316397'] Thanks Chris. I am clearly a technophobe! Shame there's not a pic of rear with tasty neck thru body. [/quote] Your custom Omega is an absolute beauty!

[quote name='Andyjr1515' timestamp='1496384072' post='3310905'] In my own experience I've found Fender glossy necks generally OK and Gibson generally sh*te. [/quote] +1 Worst was an otherwise fabulous gloss-black SG Reissue I bought new in 2008. I don't have sweaty hands but this neck was a real problem - and the official Gibson blurb relating to the bass claimed that the nitrocellulose finish they used was something extra special. Extra-specially unfit for purpose maybe?!

Bad luck Steve. I've got issues with loss of feeling in my hands and s-s bass guitar is all I play nowadays.

... and that seems to apply to the wider bass-playing community too. Most touching example was when I did a 'My Bass Is' article for Bassist magazine a few years back. It was actually about the 2 Les Paul Triumph basses I was gigging at the time and featured the fact that one of them was missing its bridge cover. A few weeks after the mag appeared, the editor forwarded a mint cover that a bass player in New Zealand had sent foc in response to the article! How good is that?!

Totally agree with all the positive comments - if Basschat didn't exist, it would be necessary to invent it! Our recent S-W bash was a total delight, and that was mainly down to the people. (OK, there was some VERY nice kit too )

[quote name='wateroftyne' timestamp='1496236768' post='3309787'] I totally recommend [url="https://transferwise.com/u/michaelb70"]Transferwise[/url] - it's cheap and fast. [size=3](Disclosure: the link above is a referral link - using it will give you a free transfer up to £500, and I'll get a referral point. Of course do your own research, YMMV etc.)[/size] [/quote] +1 I've used them 4 times, first foc referral and 3rd time also foc - they waived the fee because the money arrived 24hrs late, which wasn't an issue for me anyway.

Fender Rascal - absolutely unique!

Great result mate! Does make you wonder about the stuff you see in these cash-converter shops though...

And it's welcome from me too. Nice collection of bass gear you have there! I'm a big Ibanez fan although haven't got anything at the moment except the old Musician that's on long-term (permanent?!) loan to my son. My most recent was a TMB30 short scale (s-s is all I play now) that was unbelievable value for money. Never really got into the Hartke stuff though, and the brand doesn't seem to be in a good place nowadays, certainly in the UK. What is it you like about their stuff?

Nice idea but I don't ever need instant access to more than 2 basses.

Met Al in a pub car-park somewhere near Bristol yesterday to collect and pay for a nice TCE BH550, which I then used at rehearsal last night. All good, highly recommend this Basschat-er (and this amp if anybody's thinking of getting one). Mike

I'm same as you with a small part of the frequency range missing in both ears. I only wear my aids in difficult situations like meetings or when the audio on the telly isn't very clear - less than 5% of the day on average. I play without aids or plugs but we don't play very loud. We're all different s0 I think you need to experiment a bit while erring on the side of caution to avoid any further damage.