Cat Burrito

I spent half of yesterday evening googling Gretsch basses and they seem rarer than hens teeth! I'm genuinely surprised so many of you have played one as I've never got to try one and it's not for lack of trying.

I started out in a Glam / punk band playing a Fender Precision. I played the exactly the same bass at a gig with my alt.country band back in November. The majority of my bands have been in the alt.country vein but I also played in a punk band and a mod band in my younger days where the Fender P fitted just fine. I did briefly switch to a jazz during the Mod band but that's hardly a great change. I suppose the alt.country did finally inspire me to get a double bass but I was dreaming of one back in my Glam rock youth. Awesome thread by the way

When famous people die I don't like the sometimes uncontrollable public grief that goes with it these days but individuals who have influenced me or who I admire obviously make me feel a little sad. I remember Johnny Thunders going who was my hero as a kid but he was a walking time bomb anyhow. I was saddened at the end of the last century when Rick Danko & Curtis Mayfield went. Equally though even when the likes of Stephen Gately die (of whom I don't like his music) I do feel sad for his friends & family. It's sad when anyone dies but I do find it strange when you see masses of people sobbing uncontrollably for someone they've never met.

[quote name='Born 2B Mild' post='705643' date='Jan 8 2010, 04:01 PM']Personally, I think I'd rather haver a Rickenchewbacca[/quote] Great, now I have GAS for a bass that doesn't exist!

Hey Sue - Welcome to Basschat, best forum on the web. Enjoy!

I saw this too. I remember Encore in the late 80s but yep, something not quite right here

Good chatting with you on the phone earlier tarcher. Sounds promising to me. Pretty much as I said on the phone but I agree with the above posts.

The open mic scene is still healthy around the areas I play but it is tragic when an established place goes under

Welcome. Some good advice from Bloodaxe too. So plus 1 to that. I was self taught for years. A positive attitude & determination make the most difference to your playing.

I like the Ampeg setting on my Bass Floor Pod but don't use it so much these days

I'm not a big fan of pure blues but it has undoubtedly influenced everyone I like so it's certainly useful. The best music comes from a melting pot

Bad news, here's to a speedy recovery. Rest up & don't use it. Take the time to read up some theory so you are still devloping but I wouldn't play for now

I assume we mean like as in this rather understated performance. Ahem!

Reminds me of my old 75 RI I had but mine was a maple 'board. Possibly the only bass I sold on that I regret selling. Two basses in one week? Wow! Fair play

Picks come in all shapes and sizes so try plenty. Personally I play with & without so agree it's good to have the choice of techniques. I'm plus one on YouTube clips too.

I was going to recommend the bridge bigjohn has for sale, although I didn't know he had one for sale! I'm sorry to hear you are having some issues. I have one of these basses and it's great. I've had no issues. I actually got a SD antiquity pup for mine as I bidnapped a cheap one on EBay so have my original spare if you get stuck.... however I think change the bridge first and hopefully you'll have a sweet bass. Problem solved. I don't want to take money off people unnecesarily! The two saddle bridges obviously aren't as good as 4 saddle ones which is why Leo changed them. They're not terrible though and I actually have 2 basses with the old 2 saddle set up.

At the risk of being obvious there are quite a few listed on EBay and many more from the International sellers. Surely something there would fit?

Hero - Skip Battin (last bassist in The Byrds) is my under rated hero. Zero - BurritoBass, like what do I know?

Pete the singer in my band used to sing in Southern Tenant Folk Union and their bassist always went to gigs by tube. Pete's standard joke getting on packed trains with his acoustic guitar and merchandise bag was to say "if you hate me, wait until the bassist comes along"! Is it in a gig bag or had case? Presumably 3/4 size? I can't see a problem unless you have loads of other bags too.

I got mine on EBay years ago. The shocker for me is how many times I had to take the band name off and put a new band on. It's better to put your name on rather than the band if you jump around a bit. I'm on my 5th band since I had the stencil! I use paint pen as it stays on until I need to change it. Just a silver paint pen, like the stencil also from EBay. The stencil is plastic and has lasted me years.

I think the other side of your question depends on needs. Most of us here are playing pubs and clubs. If I were in a big world famous band I'd have a much more impressive set up i.e. bigger and louder. There are also factors like not wanting to clutter the house up any more than I already have. We had a clear up and rearranged the living room on Sunday. Incredibly I had 5 cabs or combos in the living room! Not really fair on my wife. Musical style also presumably has an impact. I have an old beat up Ampeg SVT 115E cab. All I do is run two different heads with it. Smaller gigs I have an old USA Ampeg SVT head and bigger gigs I have a 1978 Fender Bassman head. If money & space were no issue I'd probably add an Ampeg SVT 4x10 cab to take to bigger gigs but I'm happy with my set up. I also find size and weight an issue as I get a bit older. My lack of roadcrew is certainly a factor on why I don't have a second cab.

I was going to say pretty much what Doddy said. They are recently using MIJ again. I have an early MIJ Fender and remember the CIJ stuff coming out. My newest Fender is back to MIJ. There is little difference, it's all good!

I saw a tele bass body on a JapCrap bass recently that looked like that. Looks as Doddy says. I prefered the look of the tele bass copy as it was. Some people just have to have Fender written on the headstock!