lemmywinks

Failing a more appropriate mechanical solution maybe just using adhesive velcro on the main pole and legs would work? Obviously put the hook part on the legs to avoid carpet fluff transfer!

May just be larger ball ends on those strings, some ferrules are slightly smaller and aren't wide enough for them. Then again he might have swapped them out for odd ones from his parts drawer just for the sake of it which actually seems more likely.

Also the posh sounding neck pick up is apparently "from John Hutchinson at Janika Guitars in Nottingham", sounds like a hand wound bespoke unit from a luthier no? I think what he means by that is he bought a cheap generic pickup from the Janika store on eBay, doesn't sound quite as fancy though.................. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/4-string-jazz-bass-style-guitar-chrome-hot-rail-pickup-neck-position-new-JB/161217875506?hash=item2589558e32:g:UUsAAOSwnDZUJWtA

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/5-string-bass-by-Peavey-set-neck-with-single-and-twin-coil-pickups/192659707678?_trkparms=aid%3D888007%26algo%3DDISC.MBE%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20140328180637%26meid%3Dccb38ec3e9d64198bfee8889bb590c64%26pid%3D100009%26rk%3D2%26rkt%3D2%26sd%3D292733454061%26itm%3D192659707678&_trksid=p2047675.c100009.m1982 Complete with needlessly raked back tuners, odd aftermarket control knobs which don't suit the instrument and a single coil shoved into a humbucker rout - the holy trinity of mdp conversions. Decent budget beginner basses in their unbutchered state and at the correct (£160-£200) price, bit of a shame really.

Gonna remember that response the next time I hear that excuse!

I never thought these had a reputation for failing, I'm no fan of Behringer pedals as a whole but these ones generally seem to be pretty reliable. I think if they did a metal cased version with a better footswitch for some extra £ then it would be even better, DIY rehousing would be an interesting project.

If you have Amazon Prime there is a £17 option here apparently: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/offer-listing/B000KIPUQG/ref=dp_olp_new?ie=UTF8&condition=new EDIT: Not in stock for a few days, very cheap though. I got mine when they were on sale for £18 a while ago and it's a great sounding backup DI.

Info from the man himself: http://www.smithbassforums.com/showthread.php?s=9c378f5b2737d1f2378ffc114a3e7b45&t=2

That's what I do, clean DI to the desk then a post eq send to the monitor, I rarely need to tweak personal eq on stage but it's there if I need it.

If I had £300 max to spend on a bass then this would be my first choice: https://www.thomann.de/gb/marcus_miller_v3_5_ts.htm 4 String for £237 https://www.thomann.de/gb/marcus_miller_v3_ts.htm

I've never played one that I thought was a serviceable instrument irrespective of the price tag which reflects the general feeling that they are inconsistent and there are far less good ones than there are meh or bad ones. The question should be "what is one of the well made Riks good for?" as the average one you pull off a shelf probably won't be up to much. Worth keeping that in mind when listening to known Rik players on albums, they will have probably found a few until they got one with "that" sound we all associate with the instrument. The ones I've played sounded and played like cheapo basses, although I've never gone to much trouble to try many out. Maybe some people will never get on with them (the poorly placed metalwork and iffy necks put me right off) but I'd be up for playing more until I found a good one. Although they're ugly the new 4003 5 strings look a bit more practical.

They wouldn't file crudely cut slots in your bridge saddles and remove one of your machineheads to create a 3 string bass for those with big hands either. I also suspect if you went to a genuine luthier the nut wouldn't come back looking like this:

For just shy of £95 you can get the experience without ever having to step outside your front door! https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Guitar-neck-set-up-overhaul-by-post/192640896420?hash=item2cda4acda4:g:3rwAAOSwXqZbOiJy I wonder if services like sticking a J pickup in a humbucker rout, angling the tuners back for no reason and swapping pots out for ones off a 30 year old beginner bass are included in the price or cost extra.

Aye it's a good rehearsal space, we'd rehearse there even without a family connection (although we don't get a discount!) as I'm not keen on other local ones. Nice to have somewhere clean and warm where the provided equipment is adequate.

Yes that's our drummer!

I play in a party band called The Secrets but we do more out of town gigs really. Playing a wedding at Bartle Hall tonight in fact!

Thornton, well the derrière end of Thornton just before you get to Fleetwood.

Hahaha, I'm not sure there was CCTV then, certainly not in dark, dank Wigan!

I still remember getting a train from Poulton to Wigan to pick up a 5 string Warwick Streamer for £250, dodgy meet in a train station to hand over a bunch of used notes for a tatty looking gigbag. Best return journey I've had as there was nobody else in the carriage and I got to play my new bass all the way home. Good times!

I have a selection of OBBM speaker cables which I held onto even though I moved onto a powered cab, saw little point in parting with them in case I need them in the future. Fantastic quality cables which will last you a lifetime, could probably use them as a tow rope if your van breaks down.

Some of the comments do get a bit personal, I think it's fine to have a little giggle at some of his creations without getting too nasty, he seems like a pleasant enough bloke with some odd ideas about guitars. Not harming anyone, enjoys what he's doing and has some happy customers. I can see a genuine use for the wide neck guitar conversions even if the execution seems a bit Heath Robinson,. It's the odd bodging like swapping tuners, knobs and pickups for ill-suited non matching ones and trying to pass them off as upgrades that does me. As long as the buyers like 'em who cares though?

If you need a 5 then stick with a 5. If you need wider spacing than the 5 you currently own then sell it and get a different one. You don't need to break the bank, Sire 5 strings have 18mm spacing which is what I use. Sounds and plays every bit as good as the Warwicks and custom basses I've owned.

With the thicker straps get a 10mm (I think, don't quote me on that) hole punch and make a round hole in the strap for the straplock to go through instead of trying to force the leather onto it. There's a thread on here detailing how to do this. EDIT here it is:

I never feel any movement during transit, when the bag is zipped up it clasps the bass a bit more and the padded neck block holds it in place. I got mine pretty cheap (won an auction for a new one for £77) but I'd happily pay full price for one.

Used them for a decade, no problems. There's a guide on here somewhere that describes how to punch a hole in your strap which ensures a better fit. I just use the black washers off eBay now as I never take the straps off my basses.