Paul S

I would say a Westone Thunder 1A. Cheap but certainly not rubbish - you could probably pick up one in vgc for £125-150 and it would be piles better than pretty well anything you'd get for that money. Alternatively a roll of copper shielding tape to get rid of that hum

Like a swan, perhaps - all the action is below the water. I have a P-Retro fitted to a pimped Westone Thunder Jet that has Kent Armstrong pups and it changed a fairly ordinary plinky sounding bass into a tone monster. And where I think it scores heavily is the built in rechargable battery. Genius - no routing. I had this originally fitted by a luthier mate and he commented on what a quality piece of kit it was. He particularly liked the soldering, he said. I also have a custom J-retro that Nigel (silddx) had made for his Squire-a-like machine but then moved on. I fitted it into a Fender Precision Lyte and it is hard to describe what an improvement it has made - just totally expands and articulates the sounds available.

Yes. That is all.

[quote name='warwickhunt' timestamp='1322242893' post='1448601'] If you get the 22db and don't like them I have a brand new (in packet) set of 15s for sale (Etymotic Research ones)! [/quote] Have you got an ER15s cloning lab going or something? I bought a spare set from you last year!

I have the TC Classic 450 and find the tubetone brilliant. You can dial in as much as you want, from crystal clear to Lemmy.

I started off with 25db at first but found that they were too effective and I struggled to hear anything much. I now have 15db filters and they are just perfect - loud drummer in heavy rock covers band etc - I can still hear all the instruments. No more ringing in the ears after rehearsals, gigs or seeing other bands! But this is with the caveat that my hearing is pretty well shagged anyway - I wear hearing aids to hear normal level conversations!

Cheers guys. Is this a sad reflection? - my feedback has become marked a 'hot topic'!

[quote name='Low End Bee' timestamp='1322151308' post='1447289'] I have a theory that a lot of famous bands/artists have too many people around them telling them everything they do is great and they start believing it. A lack of criticism and self regulating crap filter ends up with poor output. [/quote] And that's the potted history of Fame. People begin to believe their PR.

That could have been made for the 'Festival of Britain'! Fantastic.

Bought 2 hipshot detuners from Paul - good price, good comms, speedy dispatch, arrived well packaged. Well pleased - cheers fella, it has been a pleasure.

[quote name='Ghost_Bass' timestamp='1322072783' post='1446239'] Hi Laurence. To me it looks like that one doesn't lock on the open position, only stops but i'm probably wrong... I've foud this like the one i had in me Genz Benz STL-12 cab: [url="http://www.tchweb.com/tchstore/product/503-1570/c900/Recessed-Retractable-Tilt-Foot.html"]http://www.tchweb.co...-Tilt-Foot.html[/url] But i would like to avoid anything recessed. I'm going to keep looking for the maker of the Ibanez tilt system, if i find anything i'll let you know [/quote] Is the 'new product' listed underneath the one in your link just about the same as the Ibanez thing?

I used to run a 'classic' Trace Elliot rig and considered it to be 'my sound'. Loved it. Back prevented doing it any more. Now use TC Classic 450 into a Barefaced Compact and it is tonally better. I had kind of bought into the whole Trace Elliot thing - a local firm to me, funky colour light etc but that sort of wafty branding is the only aspect of it I miss. But as soon as I plug in and play all that is forgotten. Well, before then, really - loading it all into the car - the whole rig weighs 16kg vs nearly 50kg (sometimes nearly 60kg if I used the 18" cab!).

Do You Love Me, a la Contours. Not much of a challenge. Still have a long term backburner of 'Into The Arena' by MSG which must be the bass playing equivalent of a tongue twister.

I have plenty of gas but for old basses, not new ones. Particularly gassing for a Westone Pantera X790.

Double nemesis for my heavy band was 'Little WIng'. Ex-guitarist would almost invariably cock up the intro and half way through something melodic I would stick in a bum note. New guitarist plays it differently, doesn't cock up (but I still do occasionally )

Billy Sheehan has been mentioned, you could point them in the direction of Geezer Butler? Steve Harris? Pete Way? Do they lack attack? I find it odd that they chose you to play bass for them and now want you to play differently. FWIW I play rock (and everything else) with a pick.

[quote name='stingrayPete1977' timestamp='1321625001' post='1441344'] To my eyes his new reduced sig is no bigger than yours or sildx's? [/quote] Interesting. I just measured a few, as they appear on my screen. Leemarc's is 132mm in between the lines of the signature. Nigel's is 106mm mine was 98mm yours a compact 61mm So either my screen, my ruler or your eyes are in need of some attention But you are right, my signature was far too big - no-one gives a toss about my gear list or band links so I have edited out all the sh*te .

I have little to contribute but was thinking 'my god this signature is huge and a little bit like SPAM' - not realising until I finished reading the thread it was the small version! I play with a pick almost exclusively but have spent some time with slap and fingerstyle, sort of equally, to try and be more rounded in my playing (as opposed to my waistline, which I have managed to get more rounded in quite well). I have reached a point where I can play an elementary slap well enough for a track or two that I think it suits when gigging but am still unable to get enough control or accuracy playing fingerstyle to unleash it on an unsuspecting public.

[quote name='matski' timestamp='1321615124' post='1441159'] I hum whilst playing. [/quote] Yes, I do this too. Quite loudly hum the bass part I am playing and have to retreat from the mike to stop it coming over the pa. Casual viewing of any video footage reveals that, in addition I nod my head, lower my jaw and hollow out my cheeks, tap my feet and generally fidget. In fact I look a complete prat. But it is all done without realising.

Would it be tempting fate? to say I think it is good that Midgets aren't on offer because I would struggle to justify buying one but struggle just as hard not to.

MP, I was hoping you wouldn't say that.... but... you could justifiably call me shallow because I just don't like red guitars. I have no doubts it would see off the Bass Collection - I love the way that is made but the tone is not so good. And your 800 really looks quality. But, no matter how much of a steal it is, it remains very red

OK, thanks for that. I'm not short of the odd bass to tide me over until one comes along.... I am majorly curious to see how these better Ibanez models stack up against the SGC Nanyo Bass Collection, Yamaha RBX800E and Precision Lyte that I have at the moment - the never ending search for the perfect lightweight bass!