Skybone

I've used both the Dunlop & Schaller strap locks for years, and like Rich said, functional engineering is good design. That said, I always found the Dunlops to be really clunky & awkward, the Schaller's just work. Never had a problem with them either.

The general consensus is that it's better to be the worst in a good band than the best in a rubbish band. Like a few have already said, it's great to work with people who have more skills than you, as they push you to improve & reach their standard, rather than trying to drag other people up to your standard. As much as I hate to admit it, Coldplay are actually good musicians who decided to peddle their bland blend of self indulgent music on society. Someone has to do it I suppose... As for watching an episode of Car Pool Karoake with Chris Martin & James Corden, a) I'd rather watch paint dry and if ever there was an episode where you really wanted to watch a car crash, because they were too busy being egotistical bell-ends, it would be that one.

Try to enjoy the experience, but don't forget the bass-lines you've been rehearsing with the band. Deep breaths and go for it.

Line6 HD500X or Helix/Helix LT

Nice bass FinnDave, though I must admit to liking the 2013/14 EB more than the current version. Must check one of these out sometime.

[quote name='Lozz196' timestamp='1504961700' post='3368585'] Bridge is back, neck is front [/quote] This.

Good video and a good tune too.

I was going to suggest buying the Squier, but it seems like you've beaten me to it. It would be a shame to mod the Road Worn P into a P/J. Keep it standard and use it. The Harley Benton is another issue altogether, you could spend a fortune modding it, and it could be worth less second hand than it would be as a "standard" P. You could sell it on, now that you have the Squier (maybe with the little Fender amp?) and get a few quid back. Or keep it and mod it. Either way, enjoy your new Squier.

A post set game of Draughts? I thought it looked familiar Wood, nice bass.

Entered the "Win a Sire P Bass" competition on the Facebook page, and have been inundated with tons of spam messages from SBL... Not impressed in the slightest.

I am disappointed that the screens are smaller on the B3n than on the B3. That was one of the things I really liked about the B3.

There have been a few interesting Fakers for sale recently. Seen a few more "slip through the net" on eBay, Gumtree and the like.

Has anyone had the chance to compare the sound quality between the B3 & B3n yet? That would be an interesting comparison IMO. Although the Line6 POD HD's had less effects & amp models available, they were certainly better quality than the preceding XT & X3 range, and now the Helix is out, the amp & effects models are better than the HD range. I had a B3 for a while, and although it was a great piece of kit, I found it a bit too limiting in some respects, the number of effects you could use at any one time being the biggest. If only Zoom would bring out the Bass equivalent of the G5/G5n, that would be great.

If you want to keep the bass as a passive, then why not look at adding an EQ pedal? Does the same thing that you want, and you can easily switch it off when you've finished solo-ing, without the hassle of flicking a switch on your guitar.

I record some of our rehearsals and then share with the band. For originals, I think it's a great idea, not only for songwriting and arrangements, but to see how it all fits together in a band context whether we need to add something/take something away/do something differently/etc., it does also show up mistakes, but instead of using it to "point the finger" at someone else in the band, I would hope that we're grown up enough and "professional" enough to realise them, and practice so as to avoid mistakes. At the end of the day, mistakes happen. In my last "proper" band, we recorded rehearsals for the same reasons, and it worked. The writing got a bit tighter, the mistakes were still there, and it gave us all an idea of how we were "gelling" as a band too. I bought a Tascam DR-05 a while ago, and it's really good for rehearsals, small enough to fit in a gig bag, but has really good mics and can capture the music well. Plus, you can share the mp3's with friends and whoever may be interested. It gives them a really good idea of what you sound like as a band.

What he said...

IMO, for a back up instrument, you should have something that's very close to the main instrument you're using for the gig so that you don't have to mess about with any settings when you plug in. If you use a P bass as your main bass, then your back up should be a P bass that's been set up so that it'll match the sound of the No.1 P. Unless of course, you need to change the bass for different songs, like different tunings or sounds.

What bit rate has been used to encode the MP3's? If it's been encoded to a "standard" 128kbps, you will definitely notice the difference if you compare the tracks. However, if they've been encoded at 320kbps, then you shouldn't be able to discern much difference. I made the mistake once of using 128kbps MP3's to burn some demo CD's, and the resultant audio sound quality was absolutely awful (seriously "muddy" sound). I remastered the tracks many years later at 320kbps, and they sounded completely different. Lesson learned: Always rip MP3's at the highest bit rate possible.

Very cool indeed, enjoy your new bass.

I have a couple of the mid 2000's 6 string IC400's, and have owned a few other older 6 string IC's, including a 1978. They have a real Firebird/Thunderbird meets SG-type vibe going on . Never owned one of the bass versions though unfortunately. Played a couple, but never owned one. IIRC, the first IC bass came out in around 1995, to coincide with J Yeunger's IC Signature guitar, they did a bass version for Sean Yseult. They then reissued the IC's in the early 2000's, with a bolt neck guitar & bass, as well as a set neck guitar & bass. There was a checker-board finish one for sale on here last year. Don't know if it sold.

Here's hoping there will be some new music from Lee & Lifeson, hopefully they can persuade Neil into the studio at some point too.

Sneaky Pete rules... The bass is nice too.

Maybe take a (female) chaperone?

Cool, but would still prefer a Suzuki Katana