Stub Mandrel

Fender nickels feel smoother than rotos to me.

The E string appears to get closer to the edge as you go along the neck, while the G gets further away. It may be an optical illusion made worse by the angle of the photo and the shadows of the strings.

My brother has a Coronet. I may have to get a Newport, just because of the matching headstocks with that uber-retro plate.

I can say neck dive is not a thing if you choose a decent strap. The Lekato neoprene straps on Amazon will prevent any trace of neck dive on any bass, and they make >10lb basses comfy as well.

Clip A sounds really artificial to my ears. <EDit> Now I've read the comments to see if I was right and I was! Some suggestions owning an 8-string makes it easier. I don't but I have an octaver, and there's a sort of distnctive artificiality to the sound of one, not unpleasant, but definitely there in that first clip.

Looks like the nut is slightly over towards the E side, but the big problem is the neck isn't fitted straight.

"The Greatest Planet of All"

Your wish is their command... https://www.epiphone.com/en-US/Electric-Bass/Newport-Bass/Cherry

Jethro Tull. Bourée. Great walking bassline, melodic, rhythmic and inventive. Played by Glenn Cornick. Please be gentle... hopefully this is a bit more accurate and easier to play than the various tabs available on line. I found the most accurate one I could, then amended it. http://www.stubmandrel.co.uk/14-music/250-bouree

Went to see my brother's band yesterday so played the role of clueless roadie. Was a big night as his first full gig since having the trapezium bone taken out of his plucking hand. He was a bit nervous due to a bizzare accident the day before that had made his wrist very sore. Place was rammed, crowd loved it and he had a great time although at a few points he was in a fair bit of discomfort. I also got to drool over the bassist's CAR Bongo.

My thumbs go to the point where I was in constant pain. Two days of Boswellia (Frankiinsense) knocked the pain on the head. A couple of hefty doses of ibuprofen or a few days of boswellia deal with any flare ups. Since taking daily glocosamine and chondroitin I haven't had flare ups. While rest might help moving the joint is ESSENTIAL. I actually found playing the bass helped considerably. My brother mashed his thumbs up with guitar and mountain biking. Had steroid injections for the last several years, but had the trapezioid removed from his right thumb about three months ago. Recovery has been fast and painless (unusual - they say his guitar playing helped) they've encouraged him to do what playing he can as part of therapy after the first few weeks). Thumb is a bit shorter and only about 80% strength, but no pain and appears to have decent mobility. Playing his first full gig (he's done a few guest spots) since teh op toinight.

I am gutted. I wasted the last 30 years of my life not listening to this...

It's well worth getting a cheap component tester kit off t'interweb. LCR and transistors (FET and bipolar). So useful!

LMFTFY...

I know someone with a 4-string Bongo in CAR. They are under instruction not to sell it without consulting me first. I couldn't live with a white one though!

Some like ramps, some like straplocks. Some swap scratchplates and some swap knobs, I like adding vintage things like tug bars, the odd ashtray and now I've added these. What little additions or changes have you made to make your basses 'your own'?

I had to enlarge the hole in the pickguard and use some better quality foam behind the pup. Wiring is different but shouldn't be hard to get right.

But did it have girth?

It's rather good. Came well set up for action, had to raise the d slightly, but intonation was off. Feels a bit slicker than the mb5. Lots of rumble. Big difference between the pups. The active is not as extreme as some basses which is good. The flamed veneer isn't as spectacular as I had hoped, luck of the draw I suppose can't complain about anything for under £200. B stock, but well packaged still got film on control cover and pups. Some grubbiness on very tips of headstock. No other marks. Balance is great although lighter than I expected. Only tried with lekato strap, very comfy, no dive. Tuners very smooth. Strings feel a bit harsh but sound ok. Will probably replace soon.