4-string-thing

A Top Twenty P type thing, short scale with a tele headstock. The pup stopped working after a while, so it got replaced by an Ibanez humbucker. The second bass was a Hondo 11 rick copy which didn't last too long. Third bass, bought in 1979 (£240, or 2 months wages) was a s/h Fender Precision in Oly white (?) which I still own and is still in a condition which would put many 2 or 3 year old basses to shame! I plan to be buried with it....

[quote name='bubinga5' post='1265378' date='Jun 11 2011, 09:07 PM']Yamaha really know how to make an electric bass.[/quote] Agreed! The BBG4-A I had was really well made, sounded great and was a joy to play, I wish I'd never sold it!

[quote name='chris_b' post='1264788' date='Jun 11 2011, 11:51 AM']Welcome to the world of Fender basses! I'd worry about the sound later. The most important thing is to find a good used bass that feels “just right”. Then if you find the sound is not to your liking you can then replace the pickups and electrics with any one of a dozen units and make a better sound than any stock Fender.[/quote] Surely you meant to say "make a different sound to" rather than "make a better sound than"?

I have met Michael and his bandmates (he bought a Stagg EUB from me a while back) and he seemed like a thoroughly nice bloke. Its a shame that people want to take the p*ss when someone places an advert on here that says a little more than the usual "covers band need a bass player for playing blues, rock etc" There are probably loads of people on here for whom bass is not their only instrument? It could be that some of us have come to bass after playing brass etc in a school orchestra? Maybe the ad was aimed at them? I for one, am glad that the band have found someone and that Michael didn't rise to the bait PS: Michael, if you ever decide to sell the Stagg, can I have first refusal? I'm missing it!

This reminds me of when I was in an originals band in the mid 90's. We had one rule we lived by: If you want to be a star, you have to act like a star! We did, and we never became stars, but it was great fun trying!

Just bought Marks Ibanez, it arrived well packaged, very quickly without drama. What a great guitar, exactly as he described it. A jolly nice bloke to deal with and I would buy from him again with no worries! Cheers Mark!

Ah, I can imagine the phone call now.... Hello, The Edge speaking.... Oh, Hi Adam, how's it going? Oh no, those basschatters are taking the p*ss again? Ok, have you tried checking your bank balance? .... You have, and it's not worked.... Don't worry, the cheques from Fender should start rolling in soon. I'll have a couple of cases of Bollinger and some supermodels sent to your hotel suite after tonights gig, that should put a smile back on your face. Oh, and don't forget to bring a change of pants with you..... you know what happened last time we played a sold-out 40,000 seat arena..... that limo ride to the hotel was really uncomfortable for all of us....

[quote name='waynepunkdude' post='1049651' date='Dec 6 2010, 06:47 PM']I have developed a serious hard on for the look of Jaguars but I have no idea about the tone or feel. Can people give me some idea what they sound/play like?[/quote] I played a few Squiers in PMT, Birmingham a couple of weeks ago, TBH I came away disappointed. The active one I tried didn't feel nice, the fret ends were sharp and the tone was lifeless without variety (stacked pots) The other two (both passive, I think) were just the same really, dull, weedy sound, bad frets, the short scale one felt like a toy, but thats probably because it was so small and light. I had been gassing for ages over the CV 50's precision so tried a couple of them as well. They were both horrible, huge fat necks, rough frets and dull, lifeless sound. I came home with my bank balance intact, which was a shame, cos I really wanted to like the Squier basses, but they just left me cold. On a positive note, all the basses I tried looked really cool and did look to be well built apart from the rough fret ends.

at the end of our first tune when I was in a folk-rock/Irish band a young woman with dark glasses and stick yelled "you're crap, f**k off you're not even Irish" Our drummers reply "you f**k off, you're not really blind" She was, but at least she could see the funny side (no pun intended) apparently she used to heckle every band that played there, we got off pretty lightly according to the promoter.

[quote name='paul_5' post='1251932' date='May 31 2011, 07:30 PM']I did read in the paper today that Ukelele sales are now outstripping guitars...[/quote] This surprises me, as I've been advertising for ukulele players for my uke-based U2 tribute band (Uke2) and had no replies!

[quote name='skej21' post='1250844' date='May 30 2011, 09:49 PM']A mate of mine did a similar thing but when I referred to it as the "does f all" knob, he said "I always thought it was the 'deaf f**kin @rsehole' knob!" [/quote] My last band had three DFA knobs..... One was on a Telecaster, the second on an SG and the third was on lead vocals.....

[quote name='stingrayPete1977' post='1249266' date='May 29 2011, 03:12 PM']Not many comments from any Irish folk band/drinking songs bass players yet?[/quote] That would be me then..... I might have a weak shandy during a gig, usually before playing but would only drink tonic water and lime from then on. We would leave the drinking to the punters! I could take or leave the shandy to be honest. There's the drive home afterwards to think about.

I sold Oli an old amp head a few weeks ago, he paid up very quickly (despite being in the middle of a house move) and seemed like a thoroughly nice bloke!

[quote name='Lozz196' post='1242245' date='May 23 2011, 09:09 PM']But it is![/quote] Lozz, substitute the word Acoustic for the word Ampeg and you'd be right!

[quote name='flyfisher' post='1239049' date='May 21 2011, 10:07 AM']I hope this is irony, cos I've always found just the opposite! Bass players are always forward thinking and looking to try new equipment ie, graphite necks, composite bodies, new cab designs, class D amps etc etc. Guitarists can't seem to get beyond a strat, tele or les paul through a valve amp, all 50's technology! Could it be that guitarists are more concerned with their playing skills and technique rather than constantly looking for some 'magic bullet' technology to do the job for them?[/quote] I was trying to imply that bass players always seem more willing to embrace technology and changes to the actual instrument, where guitarists seem to stick to the tried and trusted. Of course, there are many bass players that think a fender through an ampeg is as good as it gets.... Out of interest, I went to PMT in Birmingham on sunday looking to buy a bass. I came away empty handed. Not one of the hundred or so basses on display inspired me enough to hand over my hard-earned! And not one of the half dozen I tried felt or sounded anywhere near as good as my precision!

[quote name='tauzero' post='1237047' date='May 19 2011, 04:17 PM']It's because bassists have no imagination or ambition. If they did, they'd be lead guitarists.[/quote] I hope this is irony, cos I've always found just the opposite! Bass players are always forward thinking and looking to try new equipment ie, graphite necks, composite bodies, new cab designs, class D amps etc etc. Guitarists can't seem to get beyond a strat, tele or les paul through a valve amp, all 50's technology!

Bit of a late comer and getting on a bit, but its The Battersea Bruiser and Army boxing legend Danny Thompson! [attachment=79927:220px_Da...Thompson.JPG]

[quote name='pete.young' post='1231211' date='May 14 2011, 06:31 PM']Probably at least three or four. This one is based in Ipswich, as am I.[/quote] Thought so, there's one local to me.... I was going to say next time you're on I'd come along, but Ipswich is a bit far!

Blimey! You get about a bit, or are there 2 Waxies Dargles about?

I wonder how much of this is down to the aesthetics of it? I played in a band til a few months ago where the 2 guitard, sorry ham-fisted meatheads, each had a 200w Blackstar half stack. I could no doubt have used a small, lightweight rig and have been heard loud and clear and sounded great, but (in some peoples eyes) this just wouldn't have looked right on a stage. So, I ended up using a 2x15 and a 2x10 just so my rig "looked the part" I lug heavy drums of cable around at work all day, so a bass rig is not really a problem yet, but I wonder how many bass players suffer in silence moving big heavy gear just because of their guitarists arrogance and never even think about trying a lightweight rig? I'm glad to say, I've left the band and am looking forward to playing in a band where the guitarist uses a 1x12 50w combo, and I can use something a bit more sensible!

The chance to pull on some spandex and wear my wig..... Oh, bugger, I forgot, I've left that band.... erm, being in a band with nice people who share a sense of humour, professional attitude etc. I'm a bit of an oddity here, I suspect, as I don't really like playing gigs or recording!