spongebob

I played Rics for a good few years - didn't really click with the Fenders....probably considered them a bit obvious if I'm honest. Bad move. Owned a Ged Jazz a few years ago, had to let it go but loved it....that was the start of the slide! Since then, all the regular Ric problems got me looking elsewhere....bass collection now consists of just two, both Fenders (one Ged, one P). They cover all the spectrum I need. My live sound has improved 1000000% (actually cut right through now, top and bottom), and I reckon these were just built for the job. What more do you need? What I really like is the range of sounds - even from the P - you can play classic Motown right through a down 'n' dirty JJ Burnel. The Jazz goes from Ged...to well, Jazz and beyond though a million stops. Millions of records and artists tell the story after all!

+1. I only ever buy from Stringbusters and Stringsdirect. Both firms offer excellent service....good service breeds customer loyalty, and I would never go anywhere else!

I had one for a while a couple of years back, but struggled with the shape. Plus, there were so many options on the tone, I just kept fiddling the whole time I should have been playing! I was always - 'nice precision tone' or 'nice jazz tone'....eventually, I just picked up a jazz and a precision....! Now I just plug in and play.....

50's Precisions, MIM, £600.....excellent basses. Was tempted to part with mine after getting a Ged Jazz, but just can't let it go. More likely to keep the P really. Gigged on Saturday with some other bands, and opted for the P, just because I knew I could get a great sound wherever. Always think a Jazz takes more fiddling with, whereas a P just works.

Give me feel over technique any day of the week...

Jean-Jacques Burnel signature model in green!!

+1 on all of this!

Passive for me. Had one active.....couldn't get on with it, just the whole battery-in-the-bass thing! Passive - plug 'n' go. Active - plug 'n battery runs out at a crucial time!!

I agree with the OP. I also feel that so many modern records lack real bass tones as well - not just pop. Love The Mars Volta - but as a modern example, just wish JA's bass parts had more definition and less thump. Many modern records for me have too much general thump, and no actual 'bass'. I for one far prefer bass on older records..... Another example is Lemmy. Motorhead albums used to have a really defined bass sound. I still love the albums, but in the last 10-12 years, Lem's bass tone has all but vanished into a low-end rumble. I played drums for a long while as well - so don't get me started on drum sounds. It's the same problem there as bass as far as I'm concerned! Just my 2p's worth.....

[quote name='Doctor J' post='1346418' date='Aug 20 2011, 03:30 PM']Get some Black Rose into you.[/quote] Just take out the thorns first.

I'm a recent convert - posted on BC a few weeks back for some recommendations. Since then, picked up a good compilation, followed by 'Johnny The Fox' and 'Vagabonds Of The Western World'. I will definitely be continuing my Thin Lizzy journey. Really impressed by the diversity - not at all total rock as expected, as you always hear the same old tracks. They were on TOTP 1976 this week performing 'Jailbreak'. Really getting into a lot of the tracks, and that bassman is no slouch either!

I had one a couple of years back. Loved it, but sold it and bought a Ric. Now I've got another, and the Ric is gone! I've never been a big Jazz man, had a CV in the meantime. Just find the Ged has a quality all of it's own. Just get something from playing it that I've never replicated in any other bass. I'm a big fan of Ged as well, love the way his Jazz cuts right through the mix. Had a black one first, now got the sunburst which looks absolutely gorgeous! Bought the latest one 2nd hand - it was a local guy who was selling on E-bay, so got to see it before I paid. Only a few months old with a pro set-up.....good deal and a great bass.

Martin Sims - [url="http://www.simscustom.com"]http://www.simscustom.com[/url] Based near Bethersden, about 10 minutes outside of Ashford. I used to have 2 Rics (both gone now), but he set up both excellently last year. At the time I went in, he was doing some work with a chap's Ric that he'd couriered from the US for Martin's services. Tell him Iain from Tenterden with the Rickenbackers sent you!

If you use MP3, use a high quality dock. The B&W Zeppelin is superb. Had mine nearly a year, and well worth the extra £££. I use nothing except MP3, having sold all vinyl and CD before it becomes landfill. Depressing, but I think that's where we're headed. If not, I'd have stuck with the physical stuff. Only thing I miss is the cover art and sleevenotes, but that's a small price for the extra space. Quality may suffer in places, but as the ears deteriorate, it'll be hard to tell the difference anyway!

I think it was Phil Jupitus that once described Bob Dylan's vocal style sounding like 'somebody hoovering'!!

I've had a 2009 Ged, and now have a 2011, and the standard ones seem fine to me.

Smash It Up by The Damned?

I used to have flats on my 4003. It never sounded any good with rounds - just too treble-y for some reason. With flats, sounded terrible by itself, but superb in band context.

I saw him in March, and it was the best live bass sound I've ever heard - growled like a monster, clear, precise....totally JJB!

Don't forget that Geddy has played and recorded with his $200 Pawn Shop Jazz for years. Good advert for keeping it cheap!