Paul S

Black leather dye, forget the make but a search should throw it up.  @NancyJohnson did a post about it a few years ago and I tried it - worked a treat.

And English isn't even Nicco's first language.  We should all read and learn.

Never mind the bass, he is 65 and in unbelievably good shape.

Fab.  I remember when you said this was coming together, time to check the diary!  😀

I bought a HB Shorty when they first came out and, several years and a major bass sell off later, it is the only Fender flavoured bass I still have.  I swapped the pickup for a Tonerider, just because the extra oomph suited the band better, but everything else is stock.  Anyhoo, I would say if you buy cheap flats you will just be disappointed - you'll end up with a dull thud and lose all the nusanced tones that more expensive flats will give you.  The Thomann flats don't come in short scale I don't think and MIE cutting longscale flats to fit usually ends up with the cut end unravelling.  I have TI Flats on mine - they do a shortscale version - and couldn't be happier with the sound and playability.  If you baulk at paying £40+ for strings, they usually turn up secondhand in the classifieds here for £25-ish.  You just have to wait.

Bit late but saw the Illegal Eagles on Wednesday night at the Civic Theatre in Chelmsford.  This is their 30 year anniversary tour although, a true Triggers broom, it is an entirely different band now.  Certainly an entirely different band to the one I used to see when Ray Brown was singing.  Anyhoo.

They are nothing short of brilliant.  Five in the band, five vocals (Including Blow Monkeys drummer Tony Kiley), four of whom are good enough to front any band, one of whom (bass player and apparent band leader Trevor Newnham) has one of the finest voices I have heard live.  Harmonies are out of this world and three of them are talented multi-instrumentalists.  They aren't scared to do deep cuts - starting the evening off with 'Midnight Flyer' and throw in some Joe Walsh and Don Henley solo stuff.  Last year they played all of 'Desperado' including obscure songs like 'Bitter Creek'.  Fabulous.

I saw the Eagles proper on their 'History' tour, while everyone was still alive, and reckon this bunch can walk shoulder to shoulder with them.  If you like the music of the Eagles, go seek them out - they tour constantly all over the country.

23 hours ago, Clarky said:

Off hold. Had an offer yesterday from a well-known retailer which I accepted, packed the bass, removed FS ad from eBay etc. This morning they have come back and changed their mind. Poor form and last time I will be using them.

 

Upshot is bass is still available

Name and shame, Clarky?  That really is bad form.

I had one of these, they really are superb.  So easy to play and outstanding for blues/rock - but, as has been said, so much more.

Not that I have many left now but for the past few years I have fitted Thomastik TI Jazz flats on all my basses.  They are very bright, as flats go - by no means the dull thud of many.  I love the feel of them.  Quite low tension, which puts off a lot of folks.  Expensive but last forever.  The short scale ones are actually medium scale but that isn't a problem.

3 minutes ago, Paul S said:

 

I bought some, it gave me the trots.

And I've still got a bit between my teeth.

2 hours ago, ezbass said:

Of course, other outlets were guilty of this contamination too, it’s unfair to saddle just one company with all the blame.  

True.  There were the My Lidl Pony range.

1 hour ago, Sean said:

A friend of mine gave me some reduced to clear mince that was just on the sell by date the other day. I said, "thank you very much, I never look a gift house in the mouth". 

 

[Boom, tish and long tom full that doesn't come back on the beat...]

I bought some, it gave me the trots.

I went to buy some of the Tesco sausages, checked the 'use by' label... and, they're off.

A few years ag my old band shared a night with a band called Jamie Williams and the Root Collective - they were a lot of fun.  Great bass player - I didn't recognise the bass but it sounded amazing so I asked him about it.  He had effectively modded himself one of these from a Squier Bronco - JJ pups, new electrics, scratchplate, bridge and tuners. 

1 hour ago, Sean said:

although I've never seen the evidence, Dave Peacock swore that Chas Hodges was a much better bass player than him. 

 

 

 

Must be time for this again.

I love this one.  Same meat, different gravy  

An old mate of mine had a long and varied career as a film camerman.  He was telling me just a few months ago that the best time he ever had was following Chris Rea around Italy filming his self-funded film all about cars and ice cream.

James Taylor Quartet

I bought an early 70s MIJ Encore P bass on eBay.  When trying to date it, I (with some help from people who know things) found that the pickups were actually Fender ones of the same vintage - worth more than the bass cost me.  Sold in its entirety to someone on here.  Damned fine bass, that one.

An interesting bass was listed today but almost immediately withdrawn in between my seeing it, asking how much it weighed, and getting a reply.  Not seen one before.  Seller did a little more research and pulled it because he believes he undervalued it.  Which is probably true.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/267482497835

^^ What a great post!^^

10 hours ago, JPJ said:

Check out the TC Electronic BG250 combos. Great for home practice but loud enough to jam with mates and even gig. They come in 2x8”, 2x10”, and 1x15” formats. I’ve got the 2x8” version and I love it, and yes I’ve gigged it albeit in an acoustic gig. They seem to go for about £120-£150 secondhand and will be more future proof than a 30-50 watt practice amp.

I regularly see the Hamish Stuart Band/360 band and his bassist is Steve Pearce - a top echelon session player and one of the best bassists I have seen live.  He uses one of these.  Mic'd up but you can still hear it.

I've had a few Yamaha bassess, from a pointy headstock thing I forget the model number of but with a superskinny neck profile to a selection of broad basses - BB414 via a BB424, BB425 to a BB5000 that I imported from Japan.  Fabulous things, I was particularly fond of the BB414 which I think, for the money, is hard to beat.  Now all gone, mainly because a/ I find them too heavy and b/ I don't play long scale basses any more.

What I would like to try, but have yet to own, is the BB VIS - medium scale, slightly lighter body, single pickup broadbass model.  Or, if the weight was right, maybe a BB VIIS, which is a PJ variant of the same medium scale, smaller body. 

What I do still have, and it is arguably the best bass I have ever owned - certainly my favourite - is a Yamaha SB-35.  Medium scale 'SG-shaped' double cutaway, single pickup.  It is pretty straightforward, nothing complicated about it at all, but it is a joy to play and it just sings.  That one is going into my coffin with me.

Yup.  Sold all my longscale basses a couple of years ago and moved to medium and short scale, mostly short scale.  So they are what I gig with.  Well, up until my band folded earlier in the year, anyway.  I used whatever took my fancy from Gibson SG, Gibson LP Jnr DC, Eros EB-3, Danelectro Longhorn, Fender Mustang, Harley Benton Shorty.

With no band currently or on the horizon these are now mostly gone - just the HB Shorty remains of my short scales.

On 16/10/2025 at 23:09, Inga said:

wow brian is that real gold?

Wow Inga, are you a real comedian?

I absolutely love these Maruszczyk ones.  These are the comfiest straps I have tried (which includes most of the suggestions): really soft leather, grippy suede reverse, decent amount of padding and also quite wide and load bearing.

https://www.bassdirect.co.uk/product/maruszczyk-pes50/