Skybone

I've had both the Zoom B3 & the POD HD500x, I must say that the HD is absolutely superb, great sounds, loads of choice with effects and options. The B3 was good, but the HD is brilliant. It takes time to set up, but well worth taking the time to set up. The upside of the new Zoom B3n coming out, is the fact that there should be some very good deals on the B3.

And a "Teach Youself Slap Bass" book/video

With the B3n coming out, there should be some cracking deals on B3's due. Not forgetting second hand versions as well.

Does anyone know if there's ever been a "wide neck" version of a Thunderbird?

Don't think GAS ever goes away (especially when you visit forums!), it can be delayed for a while (especially if you can't afford to buy anything else). Very happy with my Faker's, they play great, sound great and look great IMO. I still GAS after a Ric, and other basses, but I'll just have to make do for now.

It'd have to be between Geddy & Geezer for me. There are others, but they are the two players who made me want to pick up the bass.

I just use a bog standard, 3" wide, unpadded leather strap. Works for me, wide enough to support the weight, grippy enough to prevent sliding, and long enough to be comfy. Best of all, it was relatively cheap too.

I'm not a fan of flats. Tried them a couple of times, and they just sound dull to me, and they're a bit too expensive to buy just to find out you don't like them. I'll stick with the roundwounds thanks.

Loads of chorus!

I used a B3 for a while, and found it to be versatile, though if you want to use more than 3 effects at once, it could be a bit limiting. I got an MS60B from someone on here, a great wee pedal, but very limited regarding switching effects during songs. I now use the Line6 POD HD500x, which gives me all the flexibility of an effects floor board as well as all the amp sims. Sounds great too. Modern multi-FX are so much better than their forebears, though a good number of people insist on individual effects. Must admit that I was something of an analogue snob while I was playing guitar for gigs & rehearsals (valve amp & analogue pedals), but used a POD for recording ideas and practising at home. A good multi-FX can allow you to experiment with effects that you'd either not find, or would be too expensive to buy just to experiment with. IMO, you can use the multi-FX to find sounds that you like, and then you can build an analogue rig from there if that's still a priority. When you start to look at rigs like the Axe FX, Kemper & Helix, you realise that multi's have come such a long wayin a relatively short period.

Asking for someone I know... I was asked for a bit of advice the other day about setting up a SansAmp BDDI to get a bit more "growl" from it, but without it getting too distorted. As I've never used one, I'm not too sure where to start. They use a Geddy Jazz into the SansAmp. Thanks

I used one for a while, mainly for band rehearsals & practicing at home. At rehearsals, I mainly plugged it into the PA, but also plugged it into the bass rig at the rehearsal room (bypassing the amps pre-amp section). I sold my PODxt Live last year and replaced it with the HD500x. Very happy with that, the sims and effects sound great, even though there's less choice of sims & cabs (see the POD HD500x thread).

When I was using my old PODxt bean, before I added the Bass Expansion Pack, my favourite model was the DR103 & matching 4x12. I bought the xt Live, and added the Bass Expansion Pack and discovered the SVT model that was great, but I wasn't happy with the effects. The HD was the ideal replacement, the amp models, although not as many as the XT, they are far better quality, and just sound so much better. The effects bundled with the HD's are similarly great. I'm very happy with the HD, it sounds so much better, a great improvement on the XT's.

Sonic, at the moment, I'm plugging the HD into the "Power Amp In" socket on the rehearsal room's Peavey rig, so you're bypassing the amp's pre-amp. You could try going into the "Effects Return" socket. You have the pre-amp modelling from the HD, and the "oomph" from the amp. You could always just plug it into the PA. At home, it's either headphones or into the computer. No.8, I was in a similar quandary, whether to upgrade from the PODxt Live to the HD. I added the Bass Pack to the xt, and used the SVT model, which sounded great. I added the HD Bass Pack to the HD, and the SVT model is definitely my favourite. The upgrade to the HD was well worth it, as it sounds loads better than the PODxt IMO. I must admit that I haven't tried the HD HiWatt model with the bass, but I would expect it to sound pretty good.

Those old Aria pedals were great, had quite a few in the early 90's. Might even have an old Compressor pedal kicking about somewhere.

My Jetglo 4003, and possibly a blond '89 Stingray.

I'm tempted

It's been the domain of Traders & chancers for too long, it's the real reason why people are more "savvy" as to what they have, and for those that don't do their research to either have too high hopes for their item. Then there's the utter chancers that give way too low offers on items, and complain when their offer is declined.

Has anyone heard any other Rag'n'Bone Man songs other than "Human"?

Probably most critically acclaimed albums. Especially anything by Coldplay.

Still GAS-ing for a 4003 or 4004, but seriously considering a custom jobbie too. Can't afford any of them, but I can dream.

I wasn't knocking your Westfield in any way, shape or form. In fact it's probably a far better instrument than quite a few of us started out with. Whatever it is, use it, enjoy it, learn to play it and have fun doing so.

I loved mine while I had it, great sound, but it weighed a ton and was a bit weird on the strap. Would have loved a Thunder II or III.

As I am sure most of us do, I have been perusing the various music shop websites for basses again (and again, and again! ). One bass that has caught my eye is the ESP / LTD Stream. It's kind of a modern take on Thunderbird inspired design, but not too OTT / spikey if you know what I mean. [url="http://media.musiciansfriend.com/is/image/MMGS7/LTD-Stream-204-Electric-Bass-Snow-White/J08273000001000-00-500x500.jpg"]http://media.musiciansfriend.com/is/image/MMGS7/LTD-Stream-204-Electric-Bass-Snow-White/J08273000001000-00-500x500.jpg[/url] Anyone tried one out?

First off, welcome. A Westfield isn't the most "high end" instrument out there (not disparaging your new bass in any way! ), so as a first guess, it would be basswood with a maple neck. Thankfully, the days of cheap "plywood" bodies would seem to be long gone. What strings? What can you afford? If you can afford high end strings, go for them. If you can't then there's absolutely nothing wrong with lower end strings, you may not get the life of the high end strings, or the high end "zing", but you'll have strings that you can afford. I use "cheap" Fender strings. They're affordable enough so I can have a few spare sets in, they're bright enough for me and they last a good while. More importantly, I like them. Rotosound are a good "middle ground", and used by a lot of name players.