PTB

I agree it would be great if Bass Direct handled them. I also agree that the pre-amp is key which means that the passive mode is flat in comparison. Consequently, I never use it but it's good to know it's there if the battery dies mid-song.

MM20, I hear what you're saying & I agree that current new Metro prices are too steep. However, I've also had/played many MMs over the years & prefer the Metros I've played to them all. The only MM I've kept is my fretless which is the best of the bunch by far, the rest have all passed through because of weight or tone issues. The argument about making their own pickups etc doesn't matter to me, nor where it's made. Only the end result is important to me. That's why we all need to play a bass to be able to tell whether it works for us, just knowing about its components isn't enough.

I had a 79 Stingray I wish I'd kept. White with a maple board. It weighed a ton but what a sound!

I love my Metro RV4. Sounds, feels & looks great to me. There's a large price difference between Metro & NYC basses so unless you need a custom option that only a NYC can provide, I'd say the Metro is a fine choice.

James Cammack was probably the guy with the Alembic with Ahmed Jamal.

IIRC, I think he said in an old interview that rhythm stick was recorded with a maple neck 70s P-J bass.

So sorry to hear your news Clarky. I'm a bit late to this so much of what I might say has already been said. I was a newbie DBer a few years ago too and after my first DB band fizzled painfully out, I ended up where I am now and couldn't be happier. I'm sure your doubling skills, enthusiasm and integrity will get you where you want to be. Just hang on to those callouses in the meantime!

What a beauty!

Pretty easily replaceable but this is good. My band is v busy doing 60+ gigs a year. There's no way I could do that many & remain married so there are 3 or 4 deps that are called on to do those I can't. Most of them are great players so not sure I'd be missed if I couldn't do it. Just enjoying first-call status while it lasts.

Which ones are the best for metal?

Lovely job. Perhaps he can do something classy for that keyboard too! :-)

I am very lucky to own one of each - an RV Metro and a wenge/tulipwood/maple burl 535 that I bought off Gwilym (see post 2 above). Whilst both are excellent and versatile basses and there are many gigs where I'd happily use either, for me it's usually an easy decision which one to take. For me to take the MTD, I'll need to know the bass will be safe and secure and that the modern appearance would fit the bands image. However, if the venue is more rough & ready and/or the band has a more vintage-vibe (that's 95% of my gigs!), I'd take the Sadowsky for its classic vibe & replacability. I would also add that the cheaper Grendel and K series MTD basses are excellent and worth a look if you were thinking Sadowsky Metro rather than NYC. Hope that helps.

Welcome from another Midlander (now in exile). Enjoy!

You can certainly do what you are suggesting. Ensure you give the PA a strong signal, ideally from the D I out from your pre-amp. I assume you have one, if not I strongly advise you to get one to give you control of your sound. I play a central London venue where the stage is tiny & the house bass amp is either broken or locked away downstairs. I got fed up of struggling upstairs & through a packed club with it and started going direct into the PA. Whilst there's no monitor, the PA speakers are just above my head so I can hear just enough. Whilst I'd prefer my amp onstage, the practicalities make the PA solution the best for me.

+1 for Silver (or Golden) Slaps. I do 50s thud too & I find them great. My slapping ability is very basic but I find them easy to work with and the pizz sounds just right to me.

I had a couple near me at a gig in central London who sang loud & clear during the call & response choruses of some of our swing tunes. Eventually, I leaned over & told them they were the best backing singers we'd ever had which they loved. Turned out to be Alfie Boe & his co-star who had a night off from their latest opera. He was a lovely guy & left us a great message on our website guestbook.

I played Orlando Shearer's bass a few years ago which had Supernils on. He plays with West Weston & King David and many others on the London blues scene. I was playing Spirocores at the time and found his strings much too floppy for my touch and rather indistinct in pitch. He of course made them sound great. Like you, I now also play Innovation and find the sound, tension & definition just right for the jump blues & west coast swing we do. Personally, I wouldn't be trying Supernils again.

I shall be at B D this pm & am hoping there are Lulls to try.

Just bought some upright strings off Nick. His enviable record continues unblemished - a smooth fast transaction with clear comms. Thanks Nick!

+1 for what Bob says. I wouldn't be without my LS-2.

Why didn't you use AutoTune to sort the bongos? :-)

I bought both my DB's second hand from Peter Tyler. He's based off J7 of the M4. He was very patient in helping me choose and gave me loads of good advice when I was starting out. His website is limited but he will e mail you his current stock list. He offers a trial period with his basses which is rare these days.

If you do to the Bass Guitars section, you'll find a pinned section at the top called "Importing Basses" which is full of useful stuff. I Imported a used bass from the US about 7 or 8 years ago when the x rate was more favourable IIRC. I got a bargain & BassNW in Seattle were a pleasure to deal with. Hope it works out for you.