philw

Morning all, Some old-handers here may remember my bitsa-Jaguar. Known, by me, as the Surf-Jag. It's an old Squire Tele-bass neck with a custom made Jaguar-ish body, fully passive with Entwistle PJ pickups. It's great bass, now with multiple battle scars (it survived a fall off the stage at Brighton Pride a couple of years ago - just the bass, not me also), that I gig with regularly, but the new project I'm involved in, a New Wave covers band (everything from Joe Jackson via Prefab Sprout and XTC to Gary Numan, and everything late 70s early 80s in between), really needs a wider variety of tones from the bass than it can offer. I also sometimes struggle with hum on stage from the single-coil pickups. So I'm wondering about swapping out the passive PJs and going active (the bass has battery box already fitted for this eventuality). But what pickups and preamp should I go with? I'd even consider re-routing the body to fit some humbuckery at either or perhaps both locations. Anyway, suggestions, ideas and thoughts would be much appreciated (I'd also need somebody local(ish) to Brighton to do the work 'cause I think it'll be somewhat beyond my pay grade). Thanks in advance Phil

No real need for anything beyond 20/21 frets so something traditional is probably more likely. Having said that, if something modern or even headless came up that was unmissable, that’d be cool too. p

So, this New Wave covers project I’ve got myself playing bass in would probably benefit from a five string. So, who of you would like to recommend something up to about £500. Is, for example, the Sterling SUB Ray 5 any good? Or what about the Sire basses? Or maybe a Squire Jazz 5? What does basschat wisdom reckon? Thanks Phil

Thought I'd just follow-up with what I decided on.... For the fretted bitsa-Squire I went with the Olympia flats and for the money I really can't complain. They're great - fab tone and not too dull. Only thing I'm finding is that they're a bit sticky on the fingers and that very occasionally trips me up. Only used them in a rehearsal so far though so maybe the sweat of an actual gig might fix the problem. And for the fretless Wal, having failed to find a set of Newton's that would arrive in time, I want back to my old friend D'Addario but bought something I hadn't tried before - the NYXL nickel round wound. So far I'm very happy with them. Lots of character and harmonics but not too bright. The question of course is, how long will that last? Thanks again for everybody's contribution. Phil

Thanks again for all the contributions. I’ve gone with a set of Olympia flats for the P/J and a set of “unused” Newtone Diamonds found on eBay. I’ll report back. Phil Update: The eBay Newtones are "out of stock" 😞

Thanks all. Keep it coming! Phil

It'll be around 20% import duty and then 20% VAT. Shipping won't be that much more to the UK 'cause the basses will almost certainly be coming to the UK direct from wherever they're manufactured and not seeing the USA. And on top of the two 20%s, UK MI retailers typically expect significantly higher margins (that they then tend to give away with discounts) than do US retailers. So I don't think SBMM are being particularly greedy, they're just dealing with a dysfunctional market while simultaneously trying to make a crust. As to why they're introducing such an odd looking bass? Who knows. Has a whiff of a desperate need for sales to me. P

I have quite a few gigs coming up and both basses need new strings: my fretted Bitsa P/J Jaguar(ish) and my fretless Wal Mk 1. It'll be 45 - 105 roundwounds on the Wal (it's usually tuned DGCF) and I'm thinking 40 - 100 flats (but not too dull and plummy) on the Jaguar (tuned conventionally). But what to get? I normally go for LaBella, D'Addario, Picato or DR, but what strings have got you lovely lot all excited at the moment? Hit me up (I believe the young folk say) with some suggestions. Thank you. Phil