NJE

5's are starnge beast and everyone has different experiences in making the switch. I have been playing 5 strings for about 2 1/2 years now and most of that time I have not owned a 4 string (had a jazz 4 string a couple of months back but quickly sold it because it didnt feel right playing 4). I tried a 5 when I was about 18 and didnt get along with it at all. I then decided to try again and bought a very nice warwick for very little just in case. As soon as I picked it up and played for ten minutes it just felt right and I didnt touch my stingray again. It was sold a couple of weeks later for a better 5 string and I never looked back. I think it was because I didnt over think it and didnt make it out to be a any different to a four (so completely different approach to J3ster below). I know people that overthink it and let it scare them to an extent but I thought about it as the same instrument but with a few extra notes and as soon as I thought about it like that it was simple. Also it sounds really stupid but learn the notes on that string like you do on a 4 when you first start playing, and also try running through scales incorporating it. I really liked the B string and started using it to go down to notes from the E string rather than up to the A string. I dont use it all the time as its not always needed but it is great to drop right down sometimes and feel that rumble. Like someone mentioned previously, I use it to go accross the neck rather than up and down and it makes life very easy oince you get used to it. The low C,D and E is great to have (rarely use a low and I think the key to switching for me was just learning to substitute the notes I usually play on A string with those on the B to start with. When I got used to using the notes on the B I was then able to incorporate them when needed as well as using the higher notes. Also listen to some records with 5 string on and just try and play along and learn them. Canned heat by Jamiroquai is a fun one on a 5. Maybe it was because I had no choice but to get along with it as i quickly sold my 4 strings, but if you put some time in it really does become very natural quite quickly in my experience. Sorry that was a long old rambling post. Nathan

I believe these pictures were taken at a Annie Lennox gig. I know he does prefer using 4s but like someone said earlier for the kind of music he often plays he needs to get that low bass that is predominant in a lot of pop music. Saying that if the post about his Alleva now being in the hands of one of our own, maybe he has given up on 5s or switched back to his MusicMan. (sure he was playinga Nordy at one point too, and Sei.....cracking taste in basses) I think he is such a fantatstic player and one of my biggest regrets was not going to say hello at the london guitar show a few years back when he was on the Ernie Ball stand.

[quote name='Platypus' post='689977' date='Dec 20 2009, 06:37 PM']Our Birdy has got his Olympic White Coppolo LG5[/quote] Seriously? Is it actually Pauls or just one that looks like it? I am a huge fan of Paul Turner owning an Alleva that was his would make my life.

Saw these on a old thread on Talkbass whilst GAS-ing over Alleva basses and thought I would share. Great player and superb taste, this is just perfection to me: [attachment=38638:IMG_0558.jpg] [attachment=38639:IMG_0540.jpg] [attachment=38640:IMG_0547.jpg] [attachment=38641:IMG_0545.jpg] [attachment=38642:IMG_0541.jpg]

Well thats just marvelous, now I am finding the website a joy to browse which is creating some major GAS. Nice website, much much better and nice and clear. Good stuff and thanks for letting us know.

My vote goes for Comfort Strap and Schallers. Best strap I have ever had, so comfortable and just a pleasure to wear (doesnt fold up into my case though which is a pain). Never had issues with bouncing though. It does extend a slight bit if i jump up and down and dont hold my bass but i dont make a habit of doing that. I dont get why so many people have problems with schallers, I have never had to mod any holes on any of the 5 basses I have put them on, the nut/washer has never come unscrewed (to be fair I do use a ratched set to get them so tight) and I have never had to puncture holes in my straps. Been using them for about 10 years never had a problem (bet they fall of next practice now )

I had a feeling it was that MTD! That bass has haunted me ever since I first saw it, STUNNING in every way! I dont envy your descison making process in narrowing down a collection that comprises of Alleva, MTD and Overwater. Good luck and I hope you make a descison your going to be happy with.

The last thing I needed to hear was that there is a chance a MTD 535 could be for sale in the near future! Its a really difficult issue that obviously only you can make a final descison on. I find that time spent equally between both scales does help and your body can remeber what both are like after a while without stumbling over notes. If you play one instrument a lot more than others then you will obviously get used to that instrument and notice the difference when you switch. The next logical question I would maybe ask myself in this case would be why am I playing one more than the other? One thing I will say is that if you find yourself favouring one or two instruments (sounds like its the Alleva and Shuker...Nice!) do you actually need the others despite them being fantastic instruments? I had a few basses at one point and as lovely as they were I only really played one. Ok it didnt quite give me every sound but it was more than enough for what I needed, so the others went and I am currently bonding with one bass (I have another which i kept for sentimental reasons) and really getting to know it well. I think what I am trying to say is spend enough time with any instrument and I personally believe you will adapt and get comfortable with it and really get to know it. I think one reason I was so unhappy with instruments in the past is that I never gave one enough time to really get to know it. It was actually Mark at Bass Direct that gave me a good talking to about multiple basses when I went there and I thank him so much for that talking to!

I swap between a 34" and 36" 5 String and it doesnt really bother me that much. The 36 took about ten minutes to get used to initially but know its fine. I think the kind of bass makes a difference to the feel as well though. My best friend has a Lakland 5 with 35" scale and that feels really awkward and big to me and I just cant get comfortable with it. On the other hand my 36" Overwater is nice and compact and well thought out in comparrison and I don't really find the extra length and issue because of where the body sits and how it fits with me. Although 34" is ok on a 5 string, after using the Overwater for a couple of months I dont think I would want to drop below 35" scale for a 5 string.

It obviously depends on the sound you are after but if it was me and I was dropping to lower tuning I would probably want to go for a longer scale to tighten things up a little and give me a little more definition. I play a 36" scale overwater which is phenominal. It took about 10 mins to get used to it over my old 34". You can get them secondhand for reasonable money or go direct and see what they can make you from scratch. They are unbelievable and sound fantastic and also the customer service is superb. I would also suggest checking out dingwal basses. I played a 5 string J at Bass Direct and it was great, again takes a little getting used to the fanned frets but its looks great, and its a bit different and something people will remeber you by. Great basses and under hand you barely feel the difference.

Following my quick play on a Enfield at Music Live at the weekend, I suddenly thought I have not seen one on here yet. I was just wondering if anyone had bought one or was considdering it? I thought the bass was fantatsic and the flexibility of those pickups is phenominal (if not a little scary at first). It played beautifully and the build quality was superb. It was very Wal in appearance (maybe why I liked it so much) and I would like one although may wait for a few to trun up secondhand as 3k is a bit much for me. So anyone else played/own one? has anyone had opportunity to play one in real life gigging situations?

Already had my christmas present from me which was my Overwater, but if money was no object: 1. A complete Epifani rig. The new 600w Piccolo Head, a 1x10 cab for taking to practice and 2x12 for gigs. 2. A fodera almost exactly the same as Janeks but the lower horn the same as Richard Bonas Fodera and with a birdseye maple board. 3. A Wood and Tronics Zoid because they look so weird and wonderful. So cheap Christmas this year.

Hi, yeah it has its own PA and lighting and I think they take it quite seriously there as well, so you should be in good hands. I am playing in battle of the bands type thing they hold there every year, and when we went to the introduction night for the event they went through the PA etc. It seems like a good venue and the guys that run the place seem quite on the ball and have quite a proffesional but relaxed attitude so I think you will be ok.

Hiscox cases, not too expensive, very durable and great quality, Shuker and GB guitars use them so they must be ok. Try APC overnight, they are superb couriers and I have sent numerous guitars with them over the years with much success. There is courier rating thread hear somewhere. If you dont havea hard case to ship the bass in, I always ask fro the neck to be taken off if it is a bolt on, smaller package and less chance of snapping.

You have a lot of choice with a £700 budget and as folks have said there is no substitute for getting out there and playing as many different basses as possible. Musicman basses are great and I loved my Stingray but I found it was restricting even with the 3 band eq, it did that sound and that sound only. I have not tried the new double pickup stingrays though, they seem to offer a lot more flexibility than the single pickup version. Laklands are good and very versatile and I just recommended my best friend buy one. The 5502 (i think) with the musicman and jazz combination is great, does most sounds, has active bypass, good EQ and you can coil tap the humbucker giving you a very good Jazz, MM, and P-ish sound. Personally I dont like the feel of the neck but thats personal preference rather than any problem with the bass. A double pickup warwick will give you a good range of tones and they are very well built and there are usually a few around on the forum for sale. In my experience you really have to try a few. I have played some with massive necks and some with slim quick necks, all down to preference really but superb basses, especially the streamers, they are very pretty. There are a huge amount of basses available and the secondhand market really opens up a lot of basses that you would think you could afford. As an example I picked up a Overwater Progress for £800 secondhand and it completely blows any other bass I have ever played out of the water with the exeption of a Goodfellow which was on a parr with the OW. Some of the bolt on Overwaters come up secondhand and I would suggest checking them out if you get the chance, very versatile and they sound really big. Anyway, dont know if it helps at all and good luck with the hunt, let us know what you go for in the end. Nathan

Congratulations, what an awesome gift, you must be chuffed both with the bass and most importantly the engagement. I will have to show the missus this one, I have been hinting at engagement bass (when the time comes) so maybe I should leave this page open on her laptop as a hint

Went today, what a complete waste of time energy and money. The only very small saving grace was getting to chat with Martin Simms and play a Endfield 5 which was a very tasty bass, and also accidentally coming across Janek Gwidala at the TC electronics stand. He was amazing and his Fodera is the most stunning bass I have ever seen. That was quite cool but not worth £18, the whole thing was a shambles, hardly any gear by any major brands, I will never go near that show or LIMS come to mention it, ever again.

[quote name='Floyd Pepper' post='647870' date='Nov 7 2009, 09:17 AM']Sorry to possibly disappoint but personally, I thought it was a sad state of affairs. I hadn't been for a couple of years and it was very visible to see how this show is dying. The hall could not be filled, empty stands from late pull outs, no appreance from advertised companies ( Bass Merchant and Bass Direct - I'm not blaming these guys as they probably had the foresight to see what was coming and held on to their hard earned cash). I spoke with a couple of the people on the stands who also pointed out the increased width of the aisles to spread the stands out but also stopped passing trade. Apart from a couple of good drum clinics, we walked away from it feeling quite jaded about the whole thing. I assume the London Excel show is better? FP[/quote] Thats quide sad news, I have never been before and a friend and I are going for a boys day out tomorrow to go and have a wonder round. Are Bass Merchant going this year does anyone know? Anyway this sound much like London International Music Show at Excel. I used to go to the London guitar show which used to be fabulous. It was the first place I saw Goodfellow basses in real life, Overwater and I seem to remeber playing a Celinder there as well but had no idea what it was at the time. Its a shame but I think it has really gone down hill since it has become LIMS. My friend and I used to go every year and last year was pathetic. The music tech side was ok with some good stand and people like Apogee etc but bass wise it was shocking with none of the smaller brands/companies there like Overwater, real shame but I heard from a friend who had a stall previous years that the prices for stands was massively increased. I will not make an effort to go there again unless I am after some bargain studio equipment.

[quote name='thepurpleblob' post='647255' date='Nov 6 2009, 02:05 PM']It's rubbish, I don't like it Seriously... that's rather nice. Tell us a bit about it! That pickup arrangement is a bit unusual is it not??[/quote] thanks, yeah it is a bit odd, never seen another like it. Apparently the pickup config was a very special order, its single coil neck with humbucker at the bridge which also has a coil tap. It's a really good combination, I always wanted a J+MM like a Lakland and this is not far off, although not quite the snarling growly beast a MM is. The body is American Walnut and the top is burr Maple with matching burr maple headstock. It is also 36" which makes the B string sound amazing. I love this bass so much, I can understand why so many people sing their praises now.

I have very recently become an Overwater owner and seeing as this was one of my favourite threads anyway, I thought I should post. So here is my new Overwater (well new for me). Words cannot express how much I love this bass and how completely stunning the build quality is, I don't know how they do it. Anyway I love it, hope you like it too. [attachment=35851:OW4.jpg] [attachment=35852:OW3.jpg] [attachment=35853:OW2.jpg] [attachment=35854:OW6.jpg] [attachment=35855:OW7.jpg] [attachment=35856:OW5.jpg] Cheers, Nathan

I love flicking through this thread, so I thought I would add my first contribution. This is my current setup and I am so happy with it. I have always used Ashdown/Trace gear and I have to be honest, to my ears this is a huge step up in quality of sound. It doesn't cover up anything, when I play a wrong note I hear it but it really cuts through a mix and the rest of the band. Anyway here it is, Eden WTX260 brilliant bit of kit, so felxible and very gig friendly and my awesome EBS Proline 2x12 and Overwater: [attachment=35847:Rig3.jpg] Second Pic with my Squier Deluxe Active Jazz V. [attachment=35848:Rig2.jpg] Cheers,

Recently asked sdgrsr400 (Francis) if he would be willing to do a deal with a friend of mine (I was looking for a bass for him on here). It was an unusual request and he had plenty of reason to say no, but he was kind enough to meet my friend and the deal went through and my best friend Owen is over the moon with the Lakland and very grateful for an easy transaction (He's a guitarist they don't have nice places like Basschat). Highly recommended to you all. Many thanks for all your help, I cant wait to go visit him and try this bass out. Nathan

[quote name='Rich' post='644832' date='Nov 3 2009, 11:04 PM']To be honest, I'd far rather read i/views with lesser known players than yet another bloody article on [i]*insert name of v.famous bassist here*[/i]. Dave Swift is a case in point -- most people have probably never heard of him, but his interview in BGM is one of the best they've ever had. Just my 2p.[/quote] I have always bought BGM even through the bad months because I like supporting a British magazine and I wouldn't want to lose it. I think the content is getting so much better and the interviews more interesting, I just really like where the magazine is going at the moment. I do agree with the above comment about some slightly lesser known players though. It would be nice to read a few more articles like the Dave Swift feature but with say Lawrence Cottle, or Phil Mulford (have they been interviewed before?) who are more "behind the scenes" players. I would even like to read a good interview with Dave Marks, I have been watching his youtube channel and really like his attitude and approach. I have to admit though, I would love to see an interview with Pino unless I managed to miss that issue, and he is a real big name I guess