guyl

This may not be the answer you're looking for, but you could just use your favourite round-wounds. IMO, getting the sound you are happiest with is the priority. At worst it may cost you a luthier trip every couple of years. You may also not even actually experience the "damage" that you were expecting if your fingerboard is reasonably hard wearing. If you are compromising your performance with the "don't-use-strings-that-mark-your-fretless-fingerboard" approach, perhaps the next step is "don't-take-the-bass-on -a-gig-in-case-it-gets-scratched/knocked over/stolen/etc"

Sold a Conklin Sidewinder III a few years ago. Pickups and pre were both Basslines. And were awesome.

[quote name='CyberBass' post='1301369' date='Jul 12 2011, 05:49 PM']I can rehearse with my old trace elliot commando 15" until it's ready :-)[/quote] Am I the only person that read this as additional information about underwear whilst rehearsing with a trace 1x15?

Bought an EA head off Shep. Super smooth transaction and Shep is a pleasure to deal with. Could have talked about basses all night if we didn't both have work to do .....! Thanks Mate!

The smaller 4x10 is great standalone cab for me. Has always easily coped with anything I ever throw at it. Portability is excellent. Perhaps the mids can be a bit more pronounced than other cabs, but nothing a bit of eq-ing won't fix. Certainly has enough depth/low end. Can't imagine ever needing another MB cab.

Played in a band once with a furniture maker that chopped fingers off in a saw. Fortunately he was a trombonist and the fingers were on his "slide" hand. He is now able to hook whatever is left into the slide and can still play great. (Not sure what his furniture making is like now ....)

Actually, I wish JM was sometimes more prominent in the mix. Not a reflection on his instrument though - I expect more to do with Petrucci and Portnoy controlling the mixing desk.

If you can stump up the initial cash, as long as you don't pay over the odds you can likely sell a Fender on Basschat without loosing too much if it doesn't work out for you. Can't always say the same for other bass brands

[quote name='Clarky' post='1237960' date='May 20 2011, 11:26 AM'](and countless kids' play-dates with loads of herberts[/quote] "Herberts" - brilliant!

I personally wouldn't touch Warwick strings. They are the only string I have ever snapped. It was a D or A. (not easy playing a gig with a middle string missing) D'addarios have been great for me. And DRs seem to have lots of love on Basschat. Do they make a 6-string set? I wouldn't go thinner than a 025 on the high C though. Reckon the sound will start to thin out. D'addario 030 is fine. Can always use your EQ for a more trebly sound if required.

[quote name='daflewis' post='1237834' date='May 20 2011, 10:16 AM']just a note on my experience: don't go for a stand with a cup for the spike - i have one and if you're on a gig with quick changes it's a real pain trying to locate the cup, as you can't see it....[/quote] +1 and I'm with TPJ. Would rather have it securely on its side.

[quote name='peteb' post='1237844' date='May 20 2011, 10:22 AM']Does it really matter if it is a lead guitar or a saxophone playing (mainly) single note solos? There is still that space to be filled out, the freedom to play more without encroaching on the other players and the need to get bigger tones than you would get away with if there were more instruments? A different genre of music but basically the same thing as Cream of Van Halen playing instrumental passages!![/quote] Good point. There are a lot of folk bands that tend to be single note melody instruments with rhythm section and no "chordist". In all styles, I personally love playing bass with this set-up - you have so much more freedom/power to shape the music. Even in "fuller" bands everybody doesn't need to play all the time. 16 bars of, say, drums and singer, or bass and melody, can make a really refreshing variation Thanks for the post Bilbo - will be checking out your list

Yes the Corellis are quite easy to play, although I personally felt that the tradeoff its that they don't have such a deep growly sound as most Jazzers prefer.

Good luck!

+1 for D'addarios. They keep a bright "zinginess" even as they get older (or more sweaty) Elites "die" for me much quicker.

Scary - good catch though. Could have been worse! I guess that when you've replaced the stand, every time you play it will be at the back of your mind .....

Driclor from Chemist or Boots Not something you want on your bass strings, but put on your hands at night when going to bed. After a few nights it makes a massive difference.

I'm not selling mine. If you can pick one up cheap, they are well worth it. (A bit bulky though!)