Paul S

Just an update to this. One cropped up on eBay a few weeks ago for a low enough BIN that I couldn't resist. Collection only from Pershore, I'm 170 miles away in SE Essex, but I just so happened to almost driving past the chap's door on Saturday last. So I have finally got my hands on one. In very good condition, bought back in the 80s by a guitarist to do some odd bits of recording and thus very low mileage. And it is enormously heavy at 4.5kg. 😂 No way could I play it for more than 30 mins even with the widest strap I own. But... the neck is really very good indeed - straight and true, frets barely used, a nice warm honey colour and the dimensions and contours just seem to fit my hand nicely. Plus the pickup appears to be a DiMarzio. So I have hatched a dastardly plant to fit the neck into the body of this lightweight Encore, below, that I also got a few weeks back in my recent cheap double cutaway bass buying frenzy. It isn't a direct fit, plus the scale lengths are different, but I know someone handy with a router and there is room to shift the bridge backwards to make the 32" scale work. Strangely the Hondo neck is lighter than the Encore one so it may not neck dive either. Should look a treat with the maple neck on there

Just goes to show what a gullible fool I am, totally incapable of making quality judgements without being suckered into believing hyperbole. I mean, for heaven's sake, I also use Barefaced cabs! Thank the Gods there are experts around to put us straight. I must put all my gear up for sale immediately. 🤨

Isn't it! 3 years ago, seems like yesterday. I was hoping you'd chime in, I couldn't find the original thread!

I've owned a couple of MIJ Fender Precision basses, more than a few Squier Precisions, had long term loan of a 90s USA P and also owned two JV Squier Ps. My motivation for buying, using and keeping gear is simply having the stuff I like best. Now maybe I was lucky but the two JV Squiers were better than any of the others. Fit, finish and playability. One was a very early Fender logo one was simply fantastic but it was the other one I kept for all sorts of reasons - one being the weight as it is around 8lbs on the nose. Had I found one of the Fenders to be better I would have kept that. Simple, really.

Saw that Stew was after a pedal, I had one I wasn't using, seemed an idea to join those two dots Perfect transaction, thanks Stew.

Nothing in my inbox, sir.

I am a weak. After kissing an awful lot of frogs I finally found my prince in the shape of a Maruszczyk Jake 5 built to my spec. Black/black/figured maple neck, weighs 8lbs, sounds just exactly like the P bass sound I have in my head. It's bloomin' luvverly. My back up is an EBMM Sterling 5 that I have fiddled with (now passive with the same Delano P pup as the Jake, also bloomin luvverly). So I sold all my other basses, 4 and 5 string, because those two can cover all scenarios and are a bloomin' luvverly pair, the only basses I'll ever need. I was a model of restraint Well, apart from a JV Squier Precision, that is, which I decided to hang on to as it is rather special. Then I joined a new band - a blues/rock trio. First couple of outings I used the Jake. And it was bloomin' luvverly. Then I thought 'that JV Precision will sound awesome' so I used it and it did. Then I thought 'a short scale would be just the job' and got hold of a Squier VM Mustang (having actually sold one not that long ago) and, yes, it was just the job and I remembered how much I like playing short scales. Then I saw the new Gibson Les Paul DC and thought that would be spot on perfect for the blues band. And it is - my new go-to, I just adore playing it. But that seems to have opened the floodgates and suddenly I find I am in some sort of short/medium scale, double cutaway frenzy and bought 3 other cheapos which are all vying for position as back up to the Gibson. While all the time the Jake, which is bloomin' luvverly, sits in its case until such time as my, now infrequent, 5 string gigs come along. I could, and should, use the Jake for everything but once my head was turned that sent me back onto the slippery slope I thought I had put behind me. So, yes, I am weak. But do I care? Not in the least 😂

I have an EBMM Sterling 5 and had it converted to passive, much prefer it now. Plus it is lighter with the guts out, too

I have just this morning acquired an Elf to pair with my BF One10 for home practice/quiet rehearsals/acoustic gigs. Only had the briefest of noodles whilst Mrs S was out but I am seriously impressed. 'LOVE' the gain and what you can do with it and the two together seem perfectly matched.

Bought Martyn's TE Elf in the most straightforward of transactions. Good comms, speedily dispatched. Can't ask for more! Cheers Martyn

From the ridiculous (Christopher Cross, see above) to the sublime. Saw Rival Sons at Brixton Academy last night and this morning I am still smiling. Proper rock band. Saw them supporting Black Sabbath a couple of years back, even better to see a whole set. Good original songs powerfully delivered. Jay Buchanan has a remarkable set of pipes! Anyone wanting pre-gig food could do worse than visit 500 Degrees, a pizza place with a wood-fired pizza oven, that is just a few mins walk away. Cheap by London standards, too.

I have the Squier VM Mustang. A previous owner had replaced the pup with a Nordstrand NM4 and put a cheeky Fender decal on the headstock and I honestly think you'd struggle to tell the difference.

I went to see Christopher Cross at the Cliff's Pavilion in Southend last night. I had only ever heard 3 of his tunes before - hated Arthur's theme, quite liked 'Sailing' and really liked 'Ride Like The Wind'. I thought - he was a massive star back in the day so it must be good. Nope. Left at half time. His voice, never strong, was a flat, lifeless squeak that didn't ever quite make it to the pitch of the note. He had the stage presence and charisma of a discarded toenail. His songs were soul-less dirges. The sound was not very well balanced, drums were massively loud (although it did go some way to drowning out Mr Cross's voice), could barely hear the bass. The swirly keys and stupid little sax thingy just made my gorge rise, trying to emulate that huge 80s production sound live just didn't work. His flashy guitar licks were ott and out of context. Easily the worst gig I have seen for a couple of years. Hey ho. Had a nice meal out anyway.

I've just turned 62 and have done the best I can with lightweight gear so the load in/out is as easy as it can be. Doesn't stop me helping the other guys in with their heavy stuff, mind. Will I ever learn? One of the things that isn't so easy any more is getting down on one knee and back up again - it's a long way up! I always ache next day but the worst thing is entirely of my own making. My neck is always really stiff - because I nod my head furiously when I play. Not the cool, downwards, heavy rock style nod but a kind of weird looking upward flick of my head. I can't help it, it just happens naturally. I sometimes think I must look like I have suddenly been plugged into the mains the way my head moves about. 😅

Just put the finishing touches on this and I am pretty chuffed with it! Gotta love a short scale double cutaway! Changed the electrics and hardware, now sports Entwistle pup, Ki0gon loom, Wilkinson bridge (had to shim the neck to use the full saddle adjustment) and tuners. Dyed the neck black. TI flats. Weighs 3kg on the nose. Plays and sounds like a bass that cost a damned site more than £175 it cost me in total (excl strings) Teeny bit neck heavy, rests just above horizontal but nothing like the Epiphone EB0 I had. Got a bit of a bark to it, which is nice. The main thing was I enjoyed doing it

Just thought of another lightweight - the Fender MB4 and the Squier equivalent. I had the 5 string version, the Fender MB-5, and that weighed 7lb on the nose so the 4 string will be lighter. The Fender ones, at least, are pretty good basses - MIJ, very Jazz like.

Bought a set of Hipshot tuners from Phil in the simplest of transactions - thanks Phil!

At 22 I was 5'11, at 62 I am 5'9. I still have the same amount of me, just arranged differently

I can just imagine it! Great left of field song choice. My recently defunct covers band played a vaguely rock-a-billy version of 'Walk Like An Egyptian' that never failed to get people, er, dancing like an Egyptian. We played it straight after a decent, if I may so so, cover of 'Shine On You crazy Diamond' and the contrast was marked.

At that price point the best 5ers I have owned are a Yamaha BB425 and a Peavey Foundation 5.