Paul S

Until last week I owned a Hayman 4040 - cousin to the Shergold. I'd say it was giggable in as much as I did use it for a gig. Lovely thing, beautifully made but, for me, a pig to play. Moved on to a more appreciative owner now. Here's some pics, anyway.

Cooler than the inside of a fridge that has been set to 'very cool' here.

Reading through the post the last confirmed sighting was 20th Feb with Starvolt waiting for DHL.

I had much the same thing here. Although I actually started with a cheapo Peavey 'kit' I soon 'treated myself' to a gorgeous 70s Hayman 4040, for all sorts of nostalgic reasons as well as the build quality of the instrument. I got used to playing it and did the lion's share of my early learning on it, despite it weighing more than a double-decker bus and having a neck like a plank, and thought it was the mutts. Then I decided to treat the old girl to some new strings and noticed the perspex bridge (ah, those old 70s guitars!) was cracking and had little life left in it. I was devastated! Anyway, I decided to buy a new bass for rehearsing and gigs - and after a couple of afternoons playing everything on the wall in my local music shop got myself a nice skinny necked Fender Jaguar. Like you, I just couldn't believe the difference. To cut a long story short, I have now parted company with the Hayman. Nice as it was to have a real old vintage piece of superb quality it was like playing a floorboard, with about the same tone. She has now gone to a far more appreciative owner. The jaguar is just amazing to play - I guess that is modern basses - and I believe I have improved exponentially as a result.

Hopefully coming to the end of it's term with M4L666? My biggest problem is what kind of sticker to put on it when I am done. Decisions, decisions....

To my shame I'd never listened to this guy before. Absolutely and completely blown away by his technique and sound.

[quote name='Dr.Dave' post='433811' date='Mar 13 2009, 03:48 PM']I refer the honourable gentleman to the answer I gave earlier.[/quote] Ah, I see my problem - the article didn't say 'will fit exactly on a fender Jaguar bass owned by Paul S'. Ta.

Presumably it would make the same kind of difference to a Jaguar? And would it be a straight fit, do you think?

The Jaguar bass does this in it's vast repertoire of noises.

Bought Steve's Hohner B2A - dispatched promptly it arrived bang on time, beautifully packaged and exactly as described. Good communicator, overall a pleasure to deal with. Thanks Steve

Bought his Tascam trainer - good communicator, promptly despatched, beautifully packed, exactly as described - possibly better than I was expecting AND a good price. Thanks Alistair!

I bought Ashdown covers for my Ashdown kit - they fit like a glove and were cheaper than Roqsolid ones. Not sure they are actually of the same quality as the Roqsolid covers, mind you - Ashdown's aren't padded, just waterproof. That's all I needed.

To come on and develop so quickly it sounds like wax or maybe an infection - nothing serious or permanent, hopefully. Good luck. Hearing is something we all take for granted and usually only think about when it is too late - I know to my cost - Tinnitus and hearing aids in both ears!

Hi from Benfleet If we keep popping up out of the woodwork at this rate they'll be running out of white socks in the local Primark.

Did some good work with Ollie Beak in the 60s as I recall That was Fred Barker we were talking about, right?

Did this move on, guys? Is it the next borrower who organises the courier for posting off to himself or the current one?

ALRIGHT, ALREADY.... I get the picture. No more thumb fretting. Silly tune, anyway....

Thanks all. I think, all things considered, I'll try and wean myself off it.

Newish to bass and I'm playing a nice skinny jazz profile necked Jaguar. I try hard, really I do, to play in classic position but often find myself with my hand wrapped around the neck. Sorry, can't help it. But from looking at other bassists I don't think I am alone in this Anyway, a few times now I have been tempted to use my thumb to fret a note on the E string - sometimes there doesn't seem to be enough time (or fingers) to do it without sounding hurried. Is this something to be encouraged and practised or simply lazy technique and a reason to go back to playing my plank-necked Hayman by way of a cure? For example, currently trying to pick up Bon Jovi's (spitting and widespread genuflecting) 'Keep The Faith' because my vocalist reckoned it was a hard bassline and I would like to prove him wrong. In my isolation and ignorance it seems like a fairly good idea to keep my thumb wrapped around the F# whilst doing all the other bits with my other fingers? There comes the point, that is often repeated, when I am playing an E on the third string with my index finger and the next note is back down to the F# again and this always seems hurried playing it 'properly' but using my thumb on the F# it seems to flow better. Any advice, comments or dressing down, please? Ta

Dumb question here with no underlying agenda. Why? Cheaper? Or better built to your own spec? Or just because you wanted to?

I believe they must have been going without a pause since the early 70s? That's when I saw them. Make a lot of noise for three blokes. Zoom Club has to have one of the infectious riffs ever.