Wylie

The humiliation of a buy-back request! I sold my Japanese Fender blue flower P-bass, regretted it, and asked if she'd sell it back. Answer: a very nice NO. Humiliation . . . As Bill Clinton said too often, I feel your pain, brother.

I heard a Bose kit played outdoors (farmer's market) with a four piece band: guitars, bass, singer (no drummer). Sounded fantastic. Wherever you stood in relation to it, it sounded crisp and loud, but not blaring. Damned expensive, of course.

Reading these stories, I was reminded of Bruce Springsteen's telling an interviewer that "democratic" bands--in which general agreement, not unequivocal leadership, is the rule--are the ones most likely to blow up. Everything goes along great for a while, then the inevitable ego-quake occurs, or factions form, or disagreements are worked out on the spur of the moment (possibly on stage), or not at all. According to Springsteen's story, he was the leader of the E Street Band, the band members worked for him. Sounds cold, but look what they accomplished over the years. My own limited experience with leaderless bands confirms the idea that a strong, dedicated (and hopefully sober) leader is key to a band's success. W.

Thanks, Dood. Damn! I was hoping for a miracle.

Bass players with lots more brain than me (probably most of you): I currently run one 4-ohm cab out of my small but mighty Carvin microbass amp. I would like to run a second 4-ohm cab out of it as well, but my understanding is that if the cabs are linked, the ohm rating will drop to 2, which is too low. However, the amp has two speaker lines out. Can I run a line out of each to its own cab and still maintain the 4-ohm rating? Thanks! Wylie

Should have said: My Crafted in Japan Geddy Lee is fabulous in every way. Not a 70s though, much newer.

My torment is worse than your torment. Just sayin.

My Hofner Contemporary Series "Club" bass, with the exact neck and general set-up of the violin version, was indeed a lot of trouble. Reducing the factory action took a lot of time (and some dollars as well). With reduced action, the bass was a very good one. The Contemporary version was $795, including case, and well worth it, I felt--after the adjustments.

I've two Japan-made, a P and a J (currently). Top quality.

Could it be that sustain is lauded simply because there is not all that much to say about 98 out of 100 basses?

I picked up the bass after the trio I was with got into jazz. I realized quickly that my basically folk guitar skills were not going to make it in this new world. Got a bass, learned a few basic moves (blues!) then took lessons for a year and got better: scales, modes, key centers, and just learning on the fly. It helps immensely that my trio mates are great musicians. I've since studied jazz guitar but still consider bass my first instrument.

The only thing I'd do is buy cabs set at 8 ohms, not 4. As it is, the low ohm rating restricts my ability to stack cabs.

Yes to the hardware ! Great bass, and named for a great player. Cheers!

Thanks, Silvia, for the great and thorough review. There's an Ibanez bass dealer in Rutland, here in southern Vermont (Be Music). When this bloody virus is behind us, I am going to go in and play a few of them. Hope all's well with you. Ted

+1. I have a Schroeder 2x10 that weighs 35 pounds and I've never wanted for volume. Schroeder declares it can put out the sound of a 4x10 (but of course he would say that). Whatever the case, it's a killer cab.

Ronnie Lane and Pete Townshend came out with "Rough Mix" in about 1978. Great stuff but not much played then or now.

I am turning jade with envy just looking at this. Great buy.

Hofner Contemporary Series basses (Chinese made) are several pounds lighter than a P-bass.

The Low Spark of High-Heeled Boys

Yes yes yes.

Thanks, MD, that's exactly what I did; or rather, I sanded the bottom side of the top piece of the bridge. Worked very well.

Grandad, thanks to you and all who replied. I agree about the Hofner tone; it does sound distinctive and lively. About the scratch-plate: definitely without! I may go ahead with the Cavern model, keeping all advice here in mind.

I owned a Contemporary Series "Club" bass and liked it a lot--except for the very high action. It wasn't a structural or neck problem, but required a substantial reduction of the bridge to bring the strings down. After that, no complaints; it was playable. However, I have read that high action is the norm on Hofner basses. (I have never played a German-made Hofner.) Has anyone found this to be the case, either with the German Hofners or their Contemporary Series basses? Thanks. I need help. I am being tractor-beamed in the direction of a Cavern-style violin bass . . .

Two gigs on Saturday, the first a farmer's market in a college town (Williamstown, Mass.) where I got to watch our violinist's crap pickup fall off of his instrument several times, to the accompaniment of strenuous cursing. We are a 3-piece jazz (mostly) outfit with bass and keyboards supporting the violin when it is actually being played. The market is a high-end affair. I paid $4 for a bagel with cream cheese. We hit our stride halfway through and had people cheering and little girls dancing. In the afternoon, we played an arts and crafts exposition in a huge former mill building. Lots of people, good PA, artisan beers ($$$), and a small group sitting in front of the low stage who actually seemed to enjoy what we were playing. Both were paying gigs; no complaints.

If you play that tune in Bb, you get a whole different sound.