Dom in Dorset

Thanks for all the suggestions, I'll look into them in depth over the next few days. I might look into graded exams.

I've just finished a job in a pit band for a panto, one of the most challenging things I've ever done! Unfamiliar set with many songs outside my comfort zone, eight gigs in quick succession playing to tight cues etc. There were some show tunes and songs from Disney films that , due to their complexity required sight reading, I made a lot of progress in a short time (having never sight read before) and now I want to build on it and get more fluent. Without another job like this on the immediate horizon , any ideas as to how I can work on my sight reading? (and keep it interestig)

I toyed with this myself and considered putting a single coil type vintage P pickup in the neck position. I did check out the spec of a few and some will fit (possible mod of the scratchplate needed) with poles lining up. I didn't pursue it further and I'm not sure exactly how "P" those pick ups sound.

If it is Parcel Farce's fault (I blame the poor packing myself) it's up to the sender to sort it out. Personally I'd just take the £15, walk away, and slag the guy off on an internet bass player's forum. If you are going to pursue it stay within ebay/paypal, it's what you pay their fees for.

I don't think that the neck makes a huge difference (maybe if you get into high end/graphite etc) but on low to mid range basses, not a lot. I tried a Westfield P next to a Squire affinity PJ, the Westfield was better in every way, nicer neck, (I couldn't set the Squire up as nicely) far better tone. Westfield Ps are cheap good basses.

In order to keep the cost of my twin neck down I went for a G&B Precision Pickup £15 from Axesrus on the grounds that it was a 10k (ohms?) pickup. I have no idea what that means but it's the same spec as Fender use. I was very pleased with it, however they don't seem to do a P/J set.

I'll get my coat.

Update on finding my sound: I couldn't quite get the ooomph out of my Jazz, I'd fiddled with amp settings, the knobs on the bass etc. Sometimes it would sound great at home , but with the band it would fade away or just sound ropey. A new set of D'addario nickel strings and the bass has twice the output, twice as much bass, twice as much trebble and 99% more va va voom. Best £18 I ever spent.

I recently had (still on going) a similar mountain to climb, a set full of show tunes and songs from musicals. Although I've had a longer time , I've also had to learn to sight read. I just played through the set as often as possible, don't worry about getting it perfect for now, just try and get some improvement each time you play the tunes.

The Fast Food Rockers song is one that I've had to learn for a pantomime after Christmas. On the good side, it's the most challenging thing I've ever done (lots of sight reading and playing stuff that's outside my comfort zone) , I get to play in a 9 piece band, the band is hidden in a covered orchestra pit and I'm getting paid.

When you're short of cash do you sell a kidney or ...

I recently got a US standard , it's a delight to play. We gigged on friday night, I tuned up before the hour long first set , played the set and put it straight in the case. got it out for the second set , plugged in the tuner ... still bang on. I'm still trying to find "my sound" , it's there but there are so many variables I just need to experiment.

The slots would be deeper on the fretless. I've never seen a nut for sale specifically for fretless, it's easy enough to file out the existing nut.

There is a review of Wizard jazz pick ups in the reviews section at the moment.

These guys will send you a paper template to check if it fits before you buy: http://www.guitarselectric.co.uk/USAMex_PRECISION_BASS_SCRATCH_PLATE_in_7_Colours/p207303_2960412.aspx You can always keep the original should you ever decide to sell the bass

My first bass too! Mine was new, weighed an tun. I remember it being pretty good (not £300+ good) I tried one recently and though the neck was a bit bulky compared to modern P copies. If I wanted a cheap p bass I'd get a westfield (I've heard of them for £65 new) The Kay is a cheap bass with some upgrades and a high price tag. "Vintage wood?" - an old cheap bass.

Once the frets are gone the strings have to go down further before they hit the neck. If you don't adjust the nut , the action is too high.

I take it that any long scale ones will do? The difference in length looks like about 1/2" on my Jazz.

To do a good set up you'd need to modify the nut, I've never heard of an off the shelf fretless nut but I would expect to have to make adjustments whatever i used.

Have you thought about doing it yourself? I've done a couple and it's not that tricky, plenty of people here happy to advise.

I was after an Aerodyne (Japan) they were all over the for sale section and ebay while I was saving , when I had th[s]e [/s]money ...nothing! The US turned up on budget just as the money was burning a hole in paypal.

Congratulations! I was in a similar situation earlier this year when got bought a Fender Jazz, I still can't stop looking at the headstock "Fender USA" - and it's mine. I love precisions too, next on my list (one day)

One of a bizarre selection that I'm learning for a pantomime: [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JmKfHixGYwc[/media] Don't knock it, I'm getting paid and it's forcing me to sight read.

Lemmy's White Line fever is quite good, get's a bit repetitive in the last few chapters but still pretty entertaining.

It's truth or dare in this thread.