tom5string

Keep the Sandberg, you seem to like it. That is the most important aspect , imho. Also, as Mark King once said: "Over the years, when parents have asked me about their kids wanting to play an instrument, I always say buy the best one you can afford. If it doesn't work out, and you flog it, you get your money back. A good instrument is also much easier to play and sounds good. If you start off with a clunker that's impossible to play, the kid will get disheartened, and you'll have wasted your money. For me, it's just good insurance. You either spend £50 and waste the £50, or spend £150 and you'll get £130 back." Ok, I guess you're not a kid, but still the argument holds - get the best instrument you can afford!

Impressive, cool Lakland sound, tight ensemble playing. Thumbs up!

No matter what that is: the price is WAY too high imo

Mornin, seconded: check Andy Baxters inventory (http://andybaxterbass.com/guitars.php?pc=1&cat=1) And another thought: owning myself an old Wal MKII - I hesitate to take the instrument to gigs. Just too precious to me, there are strange people around sometimes and .... well things happen on stage and during transport and so forth. So you might find something different - non-original - where you do not fear hitting a cymbal onstage or - worst case - getting it stolen. Thinking of the Road worn Mexican, Limelight etc. Cheers, Tom

talking about the Ruts song? Cheers, Tom

The one that cured any GAS for fretted 5ers is my Zon Sonus 5/2 ...looks smilar to this one: Lightweight, easy handling. The neck is a dream to play and that graphite-polymorphed-secret-potion material is sooo stable. It adds a certain low-punch to the sound that I have never heard before. Plenty of attack, plenty of soul, lotsa funk. The combination of wooden body and bolt-on graphite neck gives the best of both worlds, soundwise. Not as sterile as a Status - but similarily stable intonation and very precise sounding. Tom

[quote name='SubsonicSimpleton' timestamp='1479914246' post='3180252'] You could give reaper a try .... [/quote] Definitely a good advice. I changed from Cubase Elements to Reaper because the whole copyprotection has always been unstable on my systems. Paid $60 for a discounted license - after having it tested for three month.

Mornin, once in a shop I played a Magnus Krempel Aku-Bass 5-string. That was the only "WOW!" I ever experienced with acoustic basses: http://magnusguitars.de/akustik-baesse/ (sorry, site is German only ...) Unfortunately way beyond my budget.

Another vote for Reaper! Bought the full version (at $60,- that`s almost nothing) - and not missing anything yet. I used to run Cubase but switched because I got sooo annoyed by the instabilities on Win10 introduced solely by the whole copy-protection-dongle-s**t. The Reaper guys just rely on the customers being fair and buying it after (maybe three years ;-)) of evaluation. There is no copy protection. I like this.

I have two instruments in that price range and never regretted to have spend that much money :-). The joy of playing a perfectly balanced, beautiful and well sounding (to my choice of tone) instrument cannot be payed. In the end, if you have found a keeper, then it's a keeper. I bought my Wal 25 years ago, followd by a Zon 10 years later. Now I find myself walking out of a stores with a "Mine are better ...." in mind - even at Musikstore or Bass Gallery. As stated by others ... test, test, test is also my advice. Take your time for an afternoon in Camden, there is a fine choice of instruments covering your tonal ideas. I'd suggest testing: - MTD Andrew Gouche - Ken Smith Black Tiger - Roscoe LG 3005 - Spector (both US and the cheaper builds) - and maybe a Warwick Thumb (34" though) The nice thing - these instruments are in store and can be A/B ed - at least according to their web-site. Have fun! Tom

Congrats, cool playing. For this kind of music the drums are mixed a bit too much to the background. I`d rather emphasize at least BD and SN to have that "BOOM ---- GASH --- BOOM ---- GASH" thing .... Cheers, Tom

:-) Scratch plate is really cool - strings instead have been already dead on the tour before ....

String choice heavily depends on the sound you want to achieve. When mentioning flats you're surely going a different road than I am :-). For my Zon, I`d like to underping the characteristics of a graphite neck - which is clarity and punch. My first choice strings for years were Dr Hi-Beams - but recently, I found D'Addario EPS to suit that sound as well ... at almost half the price. Notabene: that instrument is used in a funk band mainly, with random occurences of slapping. Fundamental bottom, mids that don`t get lost in a band-context and a bright upper range. Tom

When testing Amps, I played this guy: [url="http://www.musik-produktiv.co.uk/sandberg-5-string-thinline-ohne-fretlines.html"]http://www.musik-produktiv.co.uk/sandberg-5-string-thinline-ohne-fretlines.html[/url] Really nice instrument!

Some time ago, I ordered a custom Wal: good choice. For now, I`m having a beautiful piece of an oldold cherry tree that has been drying now for 5 years - once I have enough money, I will take that wood to Gerald Marleaux. That should end up in a perfect fretless 5-string :-)

Voted 5 :-) During the last years everytime I went to a music shop ... I got out with the confident feeling of "mine are better".

I used to play a headless S4000 fretless, the one with a bolt-on graphite neck .... for years ... and I liked it very much. Sustain, punch clarity, growl, the graphite is hard and allows real fast attack, perfect for Jaco-esque 16th patterns. When played more close to the neckt, the sound was getting more dark, fundamental. Just sold it because I was really missing a fifth string. Highly recommended instrument ... should not be too expensive, if you can find one. Mine left Ebay for 400,- Euros :-( Cheers, Tom

Morning Buzzy, have fun. And good luck with the gig. Attachment is pdf btw. Cheers, Tom

[quote name='Lw.' timestamp='1425896696' post='2711842'] ... anyone that played one would like to chip in with a review? Do you have one - maybe you could share your opinions? [/quote] Lw, I can really follow your argumentation, might be the "modern" way of preparing a market ... maybe. Anyway, I own an Elwood 5 fretless - and since then, its is my main instrument. This one even kicked a Sadowsky out of my 'decision-match'. Which does not mean that Maruszczyk builds those high-end instruments, my Elwood is "just" a properly built instrument based on classic tonewoods .... that's it. Please find a complete review and pics here: [url="http://www.musiker-board.de/threads/bass-maruszczyk-elwood-l5-24-fretless.468658/"]http://www.musiker-board.de/threads/bass-maruszczyk-elwood-l5-24-fretless.468658/[/url] (sorry folks, German - but you might be able to pick the important elements :-)) Tom

Fretless! Do it!

[quote name='BassAgent' timestamp='1422661656' post='2675509'] ... And the best fretless bass I've ever played: ... [/quote] I really share that opinion, I played a similar fiver some time ago - absolutely fantastic instument!!! The only one I'd picked out of a vast variety - I have been to one of the largest stores in Germany ..... if only ... but the tag was at 3500,-

[quote name='Funky Dunky' timestamp='1423175593' post='2681973'] Ask me how long it took me to nail it!! Ask me!! [/quote] Errrr .... how long?

[quote name='xilddx' timestamp='1423170900' post='2681855'] ..., or played like each note has been dead for a very long time. ... [/quote] You nailed it !!!!

"Face the face" from Townshends White City album. Dont know who's the original bass player - I doubt that it's Pino. Anyway - I just managed twice to get through the whole song. These shuffled 16th are right away too fast for me :-)