stingrayfan

If the bass is worth any cash, you're cheating yourself unless you get a hard case. Especially if it's getting loaded into the car with amps etc. That said, I do use a gigbag for practice when I need to leave a cheaper bass in the boot, while I'm parked at work. And no, I'm not telling you where I work. Who'd want a Yamaha, anyway?

...and avoid leaving it plugged in when you're not using it. The battery will be draining.

[quote name='john_the_bass' post='65882' date='Sep 26 2007, 01:54 PM']what's the hole routed in it for?[/quote] Drainage.

Worth knowing Jean-Luc, thanks.

[quote name='bass_in_ya_face' post='65261' date='Sep 25 2007, 12:12 PM']looks like I opended a can of worms here. Thanks for the musicians web sites though. Sometime in the future I may well stop the lessons and track down some other duffers to play with.[/quote] You might also like to think about doing the Weekend Warriors course too. It's a scheme designed to get people who are 30/40+ into, or back into, gigging. You pay about £90 and they put you in a band with like minded/age people, lend you amps etc, organise rehearsals, offer advice and then stage a gig at the end of about 4 or 5 weeks of practice. I've seen a scheme in action and it looked really good. [url="http://www.weekendwarriors.uk.com/"]All the details are here.[/url]

Buy a Gotoh bridge rather than a BadAss. The Gotohs are an easy swap - like for like - whereas the BadAss, you've got carve the slots into the saddles yourself. Just fitted a Gotoh to my Yamaha BB614 and it rocks!

We use a Behringer 1204FX Pro 6-channel mixer and a pair of Alto PS4s power speakers. It's a great, lightweight setup that's done us proud for almost 3 years. Defo recommend. Really clear sound - more like a pair of hi-fi speakers than PA cabs.

You've got GAS. Only a bass-related purchase will cure it. Edit: if you like that sort of semi-acoustic thing, there's also the [url="http://www.imuso.co.uk/ProductDetail.asp?StockCode=EG01450"]Hofner Club Bass[/url] or the much cheaper [url="http://www.bass-soup.com/prod-show.asp?id=39&prod=Ibanez-Ibanez-AGB140-semi-acoustic-bass"]Ibanez version.[/url]

[quote name='Soulfinger' post='65189' date='Sep 25 2007, 09:12 AM']Oh yeah? Didn´t like [i]my[/i] post then, ey? I tell ya, if this kind of snobbery continues, I will stop contributing to this thread. [/quote] That's the most intelligent thing I've read on here.... ...oh, we've done that one...

Yeah, if you get an enjoyment out of playing, that's all that counts. It doesn't matter if that's in your bedroom or on a stage. But it has to be said, you will have more fun playing live than you ever will have playing along to stuff at home. For me, it's always the thrill of playing with a live drummer - it just makes your playing feel "real". Also, playing with a band makes you realise about the power of playing less, rather than filling every silence. Hanging back and locking in with the drummer is a great feeling. You don't need to be particularly good to gig, either. So, don't get irate - get in a band! Look at sites [url="http://www.partysounds.co.uk"]Partysounds[/url] and [url="http://www.musofinder.co.uk"]Musofinder[/url] to find some like minded musos.

[quote name='dirtystatic' post='62407' date='Sep 18 2007, 11:05 PM']is it a bird? is it a plane? is it a fat rainbow? no - its me [attachment=2375:rainbow.JPG][/quote] Jeez.. any chance of turning the volume down on that zip-up top please?

They're obviously not really needed otherwise every bass would have one fitted. Let's face it, almost every bass on stage and in studio is played through a jack-to-jack lead.

This ends Sunday @ 1430. Beautiful bass.

[quote name='Jez' post='64005' date='Sep 22 2007, 12:48 PM']i know i havent got the best kit, but hey im 14. now my band is starting to get better, im looking to go bigger[/quote] Welcome. Your gear sounds good to me. Good luck with the band.

Stingrays = Big bodied and pricey. Nice woods and glossy paint finishes. US built. Sterlings = Stingrays baby brother. Smaller body but also top notch finish and pricey. US built. SUBs = Discontinued. Used to be budget version. Cheaper woods and rough finishes but built in the US factory so good quality. Same chunky hardware and pickup. Worth seeking one out. 2nd hand they go for £350+ OLPs = Copies made in China under licence from Ernie Ball/Musicman. Starter instrument. Hope that helps.

[quote name='Paul_C' post='63707' date='Sep 21 2007, 05:12 PM'][/quote] Bugger...you beat me to it!

A bass-playing Grandad. How cool is that?

I've started taking one as a backup. Never broken a string, thankfully, but there's always the crackly jack socket or some other problem that could go wrong. So keep the spare just in case. Don't see the point on swapping basses at a gig. Think it's a bit pointless. The difference is too subtle live. Most people watching wouldn't notice.

[url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/G-L-L-2500-FIVE-STRING-BASS-GUITAR-C-W-HARD-CASE_W0QQitemZ330167084776QQihZ014QQcategoryZ4713QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/G-L-L-2500-FIVE-STRI...1QQcmdZViewItem[/url]

[quote name='john_the_bass' post='62555' date='Sep 19 2007, 10:54 AM']I've imported stuff meself and I think it's no more difficult that buying from within the UK[/quote] I agree. All you have to do is cough the VAT & duty up when you pick it up from the ParcelForce depot (or similar).

[quote name='slaphappygarry' post='61709' date='Sep 17 2007, 02:44 PM']...tell them thomann are cheaper and they should go bark up a tree.[/quote] Haha...like it. It does seem that London stores are offering rubbish service at the moment. Volume of orders is no excuse - as Thomann can prove. If they can A1 customer service, then there's no reason why Turnkey and the Bass Centre can't. It comes down to attitude at the end of the day.

I like the scale and size of a bass. Guitars sometimes feel like toys in comparison.

Ker-ching! Well done. Not sure about that pickguard, mind... Have fun with your new toy.