chris_b

[quote name='JapanAxe' timestamp='1471785618' post='3115816'] And what a difference! My £550 bass now sounds like a £1,000 instrument. [/quote] Good move.

How about going passive?

I put GHS flats on my PJ5without knowing anything about them. They've been on for almost 4 years and I'd recommend them to anyone. The black tape La Bella's on my briefly owned Rob Allen were very good as well. Edit: PS The only thing I'd say is embrace the change. Flats are not rounds and will never sound close so don't try to keep your bright sound. Modify your expectations and leave the twang behind.

I was proud to put Musician my passport. I didn't always do union gigs but back in the day when the entertainment businesses were "protected" and quota systems existed it caused problems getting into France. Germany got very sniffy as well.

Some very fine dividing lines here. I call myself a bass player and musician. In that order. I don't worry about definitions except for the working/not working one.

Over the years I've heard some world class guitarists talking about differences in their gear and sound that were so small that to everyone other than themselves they were practically irrelevant. Bass gear has improved to the point that we can now do this. Some players switch around because they can. I swap basses about every 10 years or so, but have no problem with those who do so more frequently.

One of the few albums where I bought the LP, Cassette tape and then the CD.

I used to run a 212 Berg cab with a TH500 and the Gain was at 12 o'clock and the Master would be on 11 - 12 o'clock. I'm now running 2 BF Super Compacts and the Master is on 9 o'clock to get the same volume. My point is that the BF's give you more SPL for your watts, so I'd suggest you add the BF Four10 to your list.

[quote name='Trueno' timestamp='1471770360' post='3115637'] I got nervous on my very very first gigs. . . . . started thinking about my shopping list for the next day. [/quote] I couldn't eat for 2 days before my first gig. I regularly think about the shopping, that girl dancing at the front, getting the MOT etc etc when I'm playing.

[quote name='TimR' timestamp='1471729543' post='3115460'] The difference between a pro and and amateur is - the amateur practices until he gets it right. - the pro practices until he can't get it wrong. [/quote] Pro's still make mistakes. Amateurs worry about the mistakes and Pro's don't, because they'll probably know how to get out of them and make them sound like they were part of the show. There's no point in being nervous before you go on. You have done your homework or you haven't. Either way you just have to get up there and do your best job and enjoy it.

Keep up.

I have owned a US Lakland since 2003 and done near on a thousand gigs with it. It feels, plays and sounds perfect. I also own an Am Std Fender which in 2 years has done 3 gigs. It sounds and plays well. It's not a bad bass in any respect but up against the Lakland there's no competition.

Sad news. Loved his playing.

A Hofner sounding better than a Wal? Now that is rare.

I carry 2 sets of spare strings in my accessories bag in spite of never having broken a bass string.

If I ever tell my wife about gear the first thing she'll say is, "if it's that good why don't you get it?" We have dozens of her orchids, half made quilts and dolls houses around the house. There's just about enough room for some cabs and amps for me.

[quote name='dave_bass5' timestamp='1471524102' post='3113653'] One time though i took the wrong bass by mistake (picked up the wrong gig bag). [/quote] At home my main gear never leaves its cases, bags or covers. If I practise with anything I never use my gigging gear.

So far I have never needed a backup or used 2 basses on a gig. If I took another bass it would be standing by my amp. Surly that's where you need it to be? I'd never leave a bass in a car.

I don't "dig in". Maybe that puts me in the minority but I see that technique as less accurate and not a good use of energy. So, I do notice a difference in sound between strings but as I'm "stroking", not "pulling", the strings tension differences are not particularly important to me.

When referring to Barefaced, why would anyone imagine that less weight equals weak? Someone suggested in another thread that Alex wasn't ground breaking in his designs. Really?

GHS flats would be very good strings to put on any bass, but before you question any part of your sound or upgrade or replace anything you need to get a much better amp. You can't accurately judge anything through an amp like that.

Over the years, the playing, arrangement and production values on most "throw-away" pop songs has been pretty excellent.

My Mk2 and Mk3 5 string Wals had beautiful necks. Slim, fast and perfect. The weight of the Mk2 was the only downside. The Mk3 had no downsides at all, but anyone willing to spend upwards of £4500 on a bass had better have played a lot of them and decided that nothing else will do. You do not want to find, when you've spent that kind of money and waited 3 years, that you don't like the neck profile. Or anything else about it!! My Mk2 was replaced by the Mk3 and that was replaced by my US Lakland. I have no regrets about any of those upgrades.

All my big amps have been kept in an SKB 4U case. Ultimate protection and plenty of room for ventilation. I usually put them in the middle 2 slots. There was on in the classifieds a week ago.

+1 Lozz It's not your status that matters it's your attitude.