DBerriff

I take back the adjective "hobby" business. "Lifestyle" business is a better description, as in the Facebook response.

If I have the right business in mind then it has a phone number and email address on the Contact page and in the website footer. Facebook is a social media site that they keep messing around with and I have missed messages sent to me because they have not been flagged up by the software. It is not a communication system that can be relied on, although it is ok for a bit of promotion and discussion. The owner is a really affable guy who runs the business for the love of it. So yes, there is a bit of a "hobby business" air about it but to counter that you will get a very personal and knowledgeable level of service when you do visit (edit: if you had have visited). I had to wait for him to come back from holiday before I could call in but it was well worth the wait. I am sure Bass Direct will look after you in the meantime. Another retail outfit run by enthusiasts that does not appeal to some; give me the knowledgeable enthusiasts any day.

The Rode NT1-A comes as part of a kit which includes a good quality shock mount and cable. I'm very pleased with mine and it works fine with my Scarlett as you would expect.

A ruck-sack from TK Maxx? That is what I have used for the last couple of years and my Tecamp Puma 500 fits neatly in the laptop section. It cost me £12! It is hit and miss though as their stock changes so much. I do have a Gator amp bag as well but as you observe the extra space is minimal.

[quote name='bassace' timestamp='1463761359' post='3053933'] There's a lot of stuff described as 'ex display'. So why's that? Is it perhaps that there may be a few marks and dings? I've found the bloke so so. Not a fan. [/quote] Possibly. The items also might have been displayed elsewhere or bought at a trade show. The ex-display bass I bought a couple of years ago was pristine although it had been displayed at one of the shows. And it was a bargain.

I see you are in Warrington. It is an easy drive from there to the Great British Bass Lounge. Drew is an enthusiast and will give you his undivided attention. I would suggest you book an appointment and try out a few of his options before committing hard cash. I started playing 5-string in my mid 50s as I too had come back to playing after a long break. I was not really interested in playing below bottom E but rather finding some easier fingering for some of the numbers I was being asked to play - Sir Duke springs to mind. I thought the transition would be easy, but after a few weeks I was still dropping clangers by hitting the wrong string. It did come good in the end. I guess it is down to how we map the fingerboard in our mind and I think I was to used to referencing everything to the E-string. Others might be different of course and I suspect far more competent than me. It all seemed so easy at home... I have recently gravitated back to a 4-string. I have never been totally convinced that the B string sounds that good, and this is with a top quality Mike Lull 35" PJ5 bass. Just my opinion of course. I'm also going through a period of improving my fingerboard knowledge. Four strings gives me less to think about. So by that logic I should switch to one string...

It is all a bit of cheat, in my opinion. Any scars on my basses are genuine, not that there are many. I had a rule never to get my bass out until our drummer had finished setting up, and to get the bass in its gig-bag before he started packing up.

I wish you the best of luck with this enterprise - and not too far from Oakham either.

I don't "get" this relic thing either, but it would not stop me buying the right bass. Immaculate to me would imply perfect frets, neck and electrics with only cosmetic false wear. It is hardly Bass Direct's fault that these basses turn up used for sale.

I think that is one of the best reviews of bass gear I have read. I agree with it all, but especially the bit about not having to apologise for it only being a single 10". I take Alex's point but for the rest of us one is often, and surprisingly, sufficient.

Musicman mentions small screwdrivers and nails amonst other options. I would rather avoid having nails near my Stingray. I used a small allen key in the end as it was what I had to hand, but the exact size is immaterial so long as it does not bend. It must be the best truss rod adjustment method there is.

1. Google Musicman bass FAQ. 2. Choose this option: http://www.music-man.com/faq 2. Scroll down to "Do I need a truss rod tool for my bass?".

To my eyes the Tolex finishing looks as good as I have seen. I also quoted serial numbers as evidence that I have had the first of my cabs for as long as anyone except prototype users. I am careful with my gear but it still gets carried around with other "stuff" in my car, but perhaps I am not the best stress-test individual. What I do find odd is that this fault has been tolerated with no referral back to Barefaced. How are products supposed to be improved without that dialogue? Barefaced as a company is totally open to communication and discussion as evidenced by Alex's intervention here. Edit: The input on operations overlapped.

It hasn't happened to either of mine. Serial number R005 from the first batch is in daily use, gets taken out to rehearsals (with Roqsolid cover) and still looks immaculate. Serial R033 has had less use but also still looks immaculate.

[quote name='SH73' timestamp='1462617290' post='3044375'] I'm sceptical about these little amps.I don't think it sounds clean when playing finger style hard. [/quote] Sceptical - or unrealistic expectations? For the money and form-factor it looks like an attractive option for apartment or travel use (practicing, not gigging obviously).

How does a bass look cheap these days? You are paying for Musicman build quality I suppose. Having said that, the pickups did make me think of Sandberg's Electra models. Which are cheaper than some. Not £350 cheap though.

USA SB-2. Isle of Man Blues Festival, 3 years ago. [url="https://flic.kr/p/ejBcaR"][/url][url="https://flic.kr/p/ejBcaR"]Soul Suspects - Big Wheel Blues Festival 2013[/url] by [url="https://www.flickr.com/photos/berriff/"]David Jones[/url], on Flickr My guitarist friend is pretty useless at playing by ear so I am trying to tell him which key we are in!

It might help me pick up the right one.

A USA SB-2 was my main gigging bass for quite a while. I must try to dig out some old photos.

If you go to beta.focusrite.com and scroll down to the entry for USB driver 3.0.653 then that might be worth trying. I have not had a chance yet to try it myself so I can make no guarantees.

That specific interface has problems with the current version of OS X. I cannot get my USB 6 to work with my MacBook. My Focusrite Scarlett interface runs just fine. Focusrite had acknowledged the problem; perhaps you could email their support address to find out if they are anywhere near fixing the problem. Edit: I have not read this myself yet but it addresses the problem: https://discussions.apple.com/thread/7259971?start=0

The MJ has all the makings of a great working bass. The preamp frequencies sound good to my ears and the controls are not over-sensitive like some Aguilar preamps. I like the Ash body but do not miss fancy finishes because, as mentioned, this is meant to be a working bass. My previous JB-2 was too pretty, if anything.

My Focusrite Scarlett interface works just fine off my iMac USB 3 interface. A PC should be no different. It is worth searching the Focusrite knowledge bass if you have questions. [url="https://support.focusrite.com/hc/en-gb/articles/207546885-Latency-Issues-with-Interfaces"]https://support.focu...with-Interfaces[/url]

After an expensive diversion into the world of 5-strings I have returned to the world of G&L. I picked up a Tribute JB-2 and MJ-4 last week from The Great British Bass Lounge. The JB is amazingly good for the money. One of the basses I stupidly sold was a USA JB-2 but I honestly think this as good and the pickups if anything warmer and more to my taste. The big band I play with really noticed the difference when I used it at this week's rehearsal. The MJ-4 is meant to be my gig bass. Compare it the Tribute and it is poor value for money. Compare it other USA custom shop jazz basses and it is a bargain. My advice is if you find a G&L you bond with, never sell it. Otherwise you will every now and again have a wave of regret wash over you. Why oh why was I so silly? [polite version]