SpondonBassed

Ah so it's my remark that provoked you. Sorry about that.

Okay The OP isn't disagreeing with you... I am not sure who has provoked the comment. I can't see a single recommendation for Rotosound strings in this topic so far. Just to justify your comment though, I have a set of Rotosound 88s on my fretless and they have made me enjoy playing the confounded thing for the first time in its entire life! The issue I've now got with Rotosound is that they're forcing me to improve my intonation, despite my fat lazy fingers.

Aw. Are you sure it isn't a case of you being quietly appreciated?

The Norrisbacker? Yes, why not? This is how I feel. Good words to live by generally too. Then again, I have been called a tool on occasion.

It was only a matter of time before this discussion disappeared up its own orifice. Heeheehee I've always liked the look of a Rickenbacker. They've got an instantly recognisable visual impact. You could say the same thing about Fenders until you realise that you are probably including numerous other branded clones. Squier is an exception since it is licenced to be a clone. I've never tried a Ricky. Instead I read about them and the baggage is enough to put me off. Technically, they have some interesting ideas like the ability to bi-amp and the twin truss rod thing. In practice though, I'd have to be in a rick-bass based tribute band that was earning well enough to be able to afford a good one.

Welcome Hugh. I'm confident that your basste buds will be stimulated here. There's lots of inspirational stuff going on.

Fair enough. I suppose a detuner modification introduces its own issues too. I did a bit of drop tuning but it's a drag. I am never going to be able to detune and retune on the fly like some of the true exhibitionist players.

Have you tried a five?

That's where Andy keeps the secret meat pies. (He has to have an outlet to get rid of all of the leftover necks and bodies that he ends up with)

D'Addario's half rounds? I have them on two of my basses. As you'd expect, they've got some of the qualities of both round and flat wound strings. They are not cheap though.

Aye. Spot on. It's also very stable tuning wise. Double ball end strings can sometimes be difficult to find but many string clamp modifications are available. My B2A sits well on the strap but the heavier Steiny five has a bit of neck dive. If you are anywhere near Derby, message me and I'll arrange to let you have a go on mine. I have a four string Hohner and a five string Steinberger for comparison. Also, I am taking the Hohner with me to my next recording session for the BC Podcast so you should hear how badly it can be played in the Sept cast.

Welcome Wegga. You've come to the right place. Pull up a bean bag and chill.

Oh boy! Litigious sentries are poised at strategic locations all around the civilised world and are ready to pounce on any attempt to undermine the total domination of the bass guitar market by WickenKnacker Bass Inc. Nah... It's cool. Just some legal action by a zealous corporate entity. Corporate entities are really nice though when you meet them on a night out and share a pint or seven.

May we know what it is that attracts you to the Nordies? The little bit that I have read suggests that the pups are made with differing numbers of windings depending on whether the coil pairs are series or parallel wired. If I understand the term "hot" when applied to pickups, you might not need a preamp. Just wire a pair of coils intended for parallel installation in series instead. From Best Bass Gear's website: "Series Dual Coil 4 Set This is a modern design dual coil humbucking pickup. Pickups like these are usually found on very high end basses. They use Alnico V magnets and the traditional bi-pole layout with two poles per string. It’s almost like two Jazz Bass® stlye pickups in one cover. These pickups are available in two different versions. One set is designed to be wired in parallel, and the other in series. The reason we do this is that a pickup that is made to sound good wired parallel will usually be too hot and dark sounding if wires in series. So, we put less wire on a series dual coil than a parallel dual coil. In general, a pickup wired in series will have a fuller and fatter midrange with a subdued high end than a pickup wired in parallel, which will typically have more highs and a deeper low end with a cleaner midrange. Series pickups also have more output than parallel pickups. Parallel pickups are generally a better choice for a split-able installation, as there will not be the gain loss associated with series pickups." Hot and dark sounding eh? I could go for that.

Some folk have a chequered past. Here's to your chequered future!

No. There is an odd number of holes making it fit one way up only. Thanks anyway.

Ouch. At least you came back with it. Get well soon.

What about the Midlands Bush? Are you banning us from that too?

Fir goodness sake!

That's lovely! I like how having just the saddles in gold balances out the frets without being gaudy. It certainly stands up well with the rest of your fleet.

oo

"It's people like you what cause unrest." Monty Python

It is rumoured that Andy was secretly developing a bass filled with helium. Development was interrupted when it was found that it sounded like a soprano ukulele once filled with the gas.

Oh no. Not again. Concert is NOT the only pitch.