spongebob

I saw them in Brighton last year - awesome, true professionals. +1 on the new album. Best in years.

I suppose the secret is getting a good one in the first place! Besides obvious wear and tear, and suggestions on what to look out for buying 'older'?

I'm window shopping at some old Ric 4001's. I've had a fair few 4003's before, but I've always fancied a nice '01....skunk stripe, etc. Thing is, you can buy a new '03 for a similar price as a 30+ year old '01, with all it's years of wear and tear. For me it would be my 'other' bass - practice, rehearsal, and maybe the odd gig. I've recently sourced another 4003, and I've come to the conclusion that it's really 'my' bass. I need a backup (currently it's my only) but I don't want another newish one, just too similar. My question is, am I mad looking at the old stuff? I'm a bit concerned about it being a bit like driving an old car....when you need it, it dies on you! I look after my gear, so if I buy a good one.....? Anybody here on BC got an 'old' bass as their main player? Any issues/stuff to look out for?

Bump!

Many years ago, I threw up on my Marshall practice amp! Woke up after a, ahem, long evening to find the damage. Got most of it out, but the plastic surround never looked the same as I couldn't quite get it out of all the cracks.....

+1. I've thought of the last couple as a kind of 'returning' to form. Some good bits, and some duff bits. Personally, I think 'Norfolk Coast' would have sounded better without Paul Robert's vocals. But I reckon this is the real deal....no duff tracks! Rather than comparing it to other stuff they've made, it's a great album in it's own right. Stranglers 2012. My favourite since 'Feline' (for me their last faultless LP), without a doubt...I never thought I'd say that!

[url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=etwIu8-FlGU"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=etwIu8-FlGU[/url] [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iTOtNtwjrb4"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iTOtNtwjrb4[/url] I love the Isley's. Great band, great musicians. What a run of classic albums - so consistent.

[quote name='yorks5stringer' timestamp='1331031918' post='1566467'] Remember seeing them in Manchester Free Trades Hall in the 70's. It was a Warner Bros Triple Bill of Montrose, The Doobies and Little Feat ( who I'd gone to see). It was around the time of Bad Motor Scooter, which they played. [/quote] There was an album release, I think called 'The Warner Bros. Music Show' with a big Bugs Bunny on the cover. It was a compilation of a load of their bands at the time, with, I think, the tour dates printed on the sleeve. If I'm right, there was a big sticker saying something along the lines of 'don't pay more than 59p'! I had a copy in the early 90's - I'm quite partial to some Feat - but really loved the Montrose track (BMS). Also had some really good other stuff too - Graham Central Station, Tower Of Power, etc. Quite amazing the level of greatness when you look at it today.

Cheaper on Amazon download by 50p if you're a tight git like me!

'Giants' is out today. Got some very positive reviews - I'll be buying my download copy this morning. First 'new' album of theirs I think I've ever bought - loved the old stuff for about 20 years (but too young at the time of release), and passed on the 90's era...got into parts of the last 2 after the fact, but on the strength of seeing them live and the clips of the new stuff.....I'm in! Anybody heard it yet....hope it's not a letdown!!

My first bass was a Sunn Mustang! It was incredibly heavy, probably the heaviest bass I've ever owned. But it was cheap, and a good starter bass. I bought it for about £120 new, and traded it a few years later in part ex for about £200. The shop that took it told me it was one of the best 'budget' P basses you could buy, and that they were quite sought after. He didn't convince me to keep it one bit!

Road Worn Precision - great bass and MIM!

I've had 4 4003's before, and my latest (5th!!), a 2011, is by far the best yet and free of the trouble spots that I've suffered before. Congrats on an awesome bass...my first 4003 was a FG...excellent choice!

[url="http://www.nme.com/news/mc5/62118"]http://www.nme.com/news/mc5/62118[/url] Sad news is the death of MC5 bassist Michael Davis. May not be a household bass name, but I'm sure many of us (me included) are big fans of those classics he had a part in creating...'High Time' for me is a brilliant record. There's quite an MC5 reunion going on up there - we've lost Rob, Fred, and now Michael. Sad loss.

[quote name='Spike Vincent' timestamp='1329609972' post='1544939'] Nothing past the first 4 albums then? Interesting.. [/quote] In that case I'd stick in 'European Female', 'No Mercy' and 'Was It You'..... Oh, and much of 'La Folie'....really good bass sound on that album IMHO, quite underrated.

I have a friend who went to school with Boy George's brother....and near where I work (and down the road from a colleague) lives Rick Astley's brother. He visits a good few times a year, and is apparently a very nice guy!