Skybone

I know, bit rich for my pocket though unfortunately.

Bass Centre: http://www.basscentre.com/bass-centre-elites-strings.html

Have you tried leaving some silicon gel sachets in your base case? The one's that you find in most electronic goods packaging. They effectively "suck" any excess moisture from the air, and are small, so ideal for leaving in your instrument case instead of throwing them straight in the bin. Worth a try.

If you want to use the HD500x for bass, the HD Bass pack is pretty essential. As you say, there's the B15 flip top on the standard model pack, but there's also the Fender Bassman & 4x10 cab that's worth a try, and I've had some good results using the HiWatt amp & 4x12 cab model. However, though it "only" adds 3 amp models (2 of which are variations of the SVT), it also adds the 8x10 & another 4x10 cab model, and the SVT Normal model is simply superb IMO. If you run the HD into your amp's Effects Return socket (bypassing the amp's preamp), you'll get the sound from the HD without too much of the amp's colouration. I run mine into a MAG 300 2x10 combo, into the Effects Return, and it works for me.

I'd love to get my hands on a Ripper, be it a Gibson, Epiphone or one of the 70's MiJ "lawsuit" versions. Unfortunately, they are a bit like rocking horse poo.

Didn't they revise CITES recently for musical instruments?

A used W RB Star would be fantastic, but they're a bit like rocking horse do-do. Ideal body shape, twin pickups, etc. The G4M looks like a bit of a Star, long scale, and importantly, won't break the bank. It could potentially be upgraded with Warwick pickups & decent pots etc. too. I accept the pickup "problem", however, my main bass has a similar "issue" (see avatar), and it's far from sonically limited.

The D-4 basses look nice, but have a bit of a soft spot for the Stream bass.

Fender 7250's (Nickel Plated Rounds) would seem the logical choice. I would recommend the 7350's (Stainless Rounds), but you can't get them anymore. Dunlop's are a good choice, currently using the DBS Stainless Rounds, and they do keep getting better (wasn't convinced at first!). If the budget is tight, then the Warwick Red Label Strings are an excellent choice. Won't break the bank, so you can change them twice as often! 😀 I have tried the Red Label Stainless Rounds, they were a decent quality string that lasted well at half the price of other brands. Can't go wrong really.

Has anyone tried any of the Gear4Music semi basses? They look pretty decent, meet the requirement, and are cheap. https://www.gear4music.com/bass-guitars/types/hollow-body?page=1

It looks as though it's been discontinued.

Beautiful bass

Won't bronze frets wear really quickly?

Just seems like a bit of a daft move by them to go from a separate strap button / screw arrangement to a single piece strap button & screw. The new knurled nut with the locking grub screw is a good idea though. Thing is, the new S Locks are a fair bit more expensive than the old style ones.

Been using the Schaller strap locks for years with no problems. Tried the Dunlop locks many years ago, but found them to be a real faff to install (especially the circlips), and a similar faff to use. Never tried the rubber washer, mainly because all the guitars I use with a strap are fitted with Schallers. Though saying that, I'm dubious of the new Schaller S Locks, mainly because of the fact that the strap button is now combined with the screw, instead of the old style separate strap button & screw. What if you need a longer screw? What if the existing strap button screw is bigger than the S Lock's? What if the S Lock screw is bigger than the existing screw & needs the hole to be enlarged?

Whoever is selling them will have to be careful about the repercussions from skin allergies if they use Nickel Wound strings. Caveat emptor?

My old 2005 model had a relatively slim neck compared to the newer version 4003's I've played.

It's only because he's left all the hardware on... daft bugger

The current specs for the 4000 series came into play around 2006, when the headstock gained the Walnut "wings", and the neck became a bit thicker than the previous incarnation. The fretboard inlays also became full width again, after being slightly narrower than the fretboard since the early 80's. Also, the current "Vintage" circuit only became a standard fitting from 2006 models. Pre 2006 didn't have it, though some were retro-fitted with it.

As you're officially out of the band, and have been asked to play the gig as a 'dep', then I would be asking how much they're going to pay you for being a session bass player. If the figure they come up with isn't the right one, tell them to rethink or you don't play the gig. Don't be greedy, just make sure you're getting paid to cover your costs, and a reasonable hourly rate for your time.

OK, I'll sell my Faker's and buy Fender instead. For as much as I would love to buy a genuine Ric, my finances say otherwise. Unfortunately, a lot of people are in a similar situation, so there is a demand for a lower priced, non-US made version, but it'll never happen.

Failed Monty Python reference... "I'm Brian, and so's my wife"

I'm John Hall, and so's my wife.