Skybone

Owned a couple of Stingrays and a 4003, but my most expensive music equipment purchase was a handbuilt valve amp & matching cab from Matamp.

That Scott's bass lesson vide was really good & makes a lot of sense. Going to have to have a look at that myself.

Do the cosmetics affect the way it plays? Looks like a good, well used P bass, with a bit of real history

I'd agree with everyone else, and say that you would pay an absolute fortune for a Fender Custom Shop relic. If the wear is not affecting the way it plays, then leave well alone. If you're not happy playing a bass with wear on, sell it as is, and find a new one that is as close to it as you can, sound and feel-wise.

Do you do warm up exercises before you start playing? Stretching finger muscles, arm muscles etc.?

Again, have a look about how your bass is on the strap, and especially the angle of your left wrist while playing. Too sharp an angle, and you could be restricting blood flow.

GWS Mr Parfitt

Or maybe it was working with Axl "Whiny & Nasal" Rose that helped him make the decision.

I've owned 2 SB Special II's over the years, both black, and both from 1984. The first one was my 3rd bass, bought second hand in the late 80's. Played brilliantly, sounded great, and I stupidly part-exchanged it for a red Encore Strat (I presume that I had lost my mind). I definitely regretted selling it.

The second one was bought off eBay about 10 years ago in a fit of nostalgia. It had seen better days, but the neck was perfect with no dings and very little fret wear. Kind of wish I'd kept that one as well, but it went to fund my Ric, so it went in a good cause.

Aria Info Site: [url]http://www.matsumoku.org[/url]

Managed to cut the collection down to a manageable level, but even though the GAS is almost gone, I still manage to acquire stuff.

Even 'manageable' means having a backup.

Congrats! Saw you guys a good few times "back in the day". Good memories!

Similar experience to SpongeBob, got a great deal on a nice new guitar from the US, fa cheaper than getting the same guitar in the UK, but was landed with a large Customs bill. Even then, it still ended up being cheaper than getting the same guitar from the UK.

Like Gibson basses, just never owned one.

If a P bass floats your boat, then take a trawl around the shops and find one that talks to you.

Another vote for a Zoom B1 or B3 with a pair of Sennheiser's.

You could always track down a Behringer V-Amp or a Line6 Pod in either bass or guitar flavours, XT, X3 or HD bean.

There's always the Vox Amplug.

That Artcore should be very similar to the LP. What about the Epi Jack Cassady or Rivoli?

The Warwick Star Bass would be a very good choice too, but a bit more pricey.

The guitarist I'm working with uses Logic, and there seems to be quite a few really good drum patterns on there.

Started out with good intentions, and played finger style initially, but soon succumbed to using a pick and carried on doing so for many years. About 10 years ago, I decided I needed to go back to using my fingers (and also to go back to Passive only basses), never looked back since.

Mixed with "rediscovering" Rush, and Black Sabbath in Paris, it only seemed natural.

I'd agree with everyone else and say that it sounds like the drummer has to go, but I would say that you probably need to have talks with other drummers before giving him the heave ho, especially if you have gigs lined up.

Though saying that, at least you have a drummer. We're having trouble finding one.

Saying all that, I've been contemplating getting a cheap P bass and adding a neck pickup, not decided whether it should be another P bass split or a Jazz style pickup. Kind of like the Billy Sheehan Yamaha Attitude.

Don't forget the Steinberger days too.

I'm not likely to have the money or the justification for a Ric anytime, but I do have a couple of Faker's, and that's enough for me.

Do they sound like a Ric? They do to me, and that's enough.

A D*A*M Ezekiel 25:17. [url]http://www.stompboxes.co.uk/Ezekiel.html[/url]

I must admit, I was never that much of an Iron Maiden fan, saw them live a couple of times when they played theatres (2-3000 seat venues - remember them?).

Though saying that Steve Harris is one hell of a bassist.

He was better in Flotsam & Voivod than Metallica, you could actually hear him playing.

Two Rockinbetter RickenFakers... or does that count as 1?

I can see where you're coming from, but, so long as you make sure the pa remains under your control throughout, I don't see an issue.