Paul S

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.

I've got one and I love it. Plays like a dream - beautiful slim neck. Passive there are a huge range of sounds as you can have the pups singly or together in series or parallel. Have to be honest and say I'm not sure exactly what this means but the sound is very different - the blurb says Jazz bass /P-bass sounds? Switching on the active circuit gives a huge boost - it isn't very complicated - just the on/off swicth then two rollers to add bass or treble but is really adds some oomph to the sound. This is controlled by the 'master' tone control, too, so you really can get enormous variation. I've found active/passive are difficult to switch between in real time due to the change in output - probably best to find one you are happy with a leave it be rather than keep fiddling with settings. But, it is available so you can if you want. I tend to keep it active and switch from series to parallel for a change in tone, together with assorted knob twiddling. Small glitch with mine is that there is a soft but annoying buzz when you switch on the active circuit that disappears when you touch anything metal on the guitar - I've just taken it in today for it's 'warranty service' so hope it will be history when I get it back. Looks are always subjective but I think it is cool as anything - that retro styling really hits the button for me and, with 'similar' build quality and playability, is what swung it for me over a MIA Jazz when it came to handing over my credit card. Mine is black and I've just got a replacement 3-ply gloss black/white/black scratchplate through the post today - no bass to put it on yet but I reckon it will look even cooler.

Might be worth asking on here [url="http://www.shergold.co.uk/forum/"]Shergold Forum[/url] There are some pretty avid collectors on there. The condition is the main issue but ball park I'd reckon £250 for one with the usual Shergold laquer problems to £450 with a good but original finish.

I missed out mine - A fender Jaguar! I should add I have never even seen a MM Sterling in the flesh but was chatting with Rowbee about them.

No pics from Beerdragon?

Having discovered the joys of skinny Jazz necks I like the sound of the MM Sterling - gonna give one of those a try as soon as I see one.

Somewhere on here in the archives is the advice that you should go and get a lesson, using the bass they have got, before actually shelling out your hard earned on an intrument of your own. One lesson should tell you whether you'd get on with it on not. Struck me as very sensible and is exactly what I would do if the day came I fancied trying an upright.

When I was trying out stuff in PMT in Southend mid December they wheeled out an Ashdown combo that they were calling a MAG115 EVO III 300. It was an advance tester for a new range - or some other such thing - styled in the same vein as the ABM range with vinyl covering (ie not carpet), chrome corners, cream piping round the front grille. But the main thing was that it was lightweight and smaller compared to the EVOII - it had a handle in the centre of the top, rather than side handles. I think it was around £330 though. It was nice but, in the end, I preferred the sound of the 210.

You didn't see me spit in it then? Thank you sir!

Had the pleasure of doing business with Rob today - after he patiently weathered by barrage of pestering PMs and a last minute wavering between two of the items he was selling. A gentleman. And I am now the proud owner of an Ashdown ABM 210T cab that is a darn site nicer that he made it out to be. I am a happy chap - thanks Rob.

The guy on this Gary Moore set does here - is he famous? (and I don't mean the fat git in the flashy coat) Wow! i got the embedded sceeeny thing to work!

[quote name='Dr.Dave' post='373020' date='Jan 7 2009, 01:10 PM']I can't see this thread even as a debate. You use whatever technique you're comfortable with to make the sound you want to make - the more techniques the merrier.[/quote] I think that is my view on it, though I am at a bit of a disadvantage. Having migrated from guitar to bass I use a pick for most stuff but, increasingly, trying to use my fingers for the more mellow stuff. Also been practising for some of the funky stuff that seems to want finger not pick but struggling to get an accurate speed going. For example, I can play this with a pick but no way with just fingers - Edit - still not got the hang of embedding links either! [url="http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=dxaczoeNtgE&feature=related"]I shoulda loved ya[/url] does this just take time and practise, same as everything else?

What a totally fantastic getsure and great idea. I would love to join the party and will send a PM as soon as I have finished typing this. Next question - what sticker? All we need is someone to do the same with a fretless .....

+1 Mentioned it on here somewhere but I saw them during the Live and Dangerous tour - totally awesome. The most charismatic front man I have EVER seen. Frist time I saw a laser as well, wrote the words 'Thin Lizzy' in mid air then spun it round. Real Star Wars effects in those days! No slouch with the bass, either. 'Anyone out here tonight got any Irish in them? Any of the girls want a bit more Irish in them?' (from memory, maybe not word perfect...)