Cat Burrito

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!

Good point SteveK and I've worked in groups who adopt this approach. Very healthy. My point in the original post is to do with stuff getting shot down in the embryonic stages before anything has an opportunity to bed in.

Bit of Dylan!

I put one on here for a lot less than that and it had no takers (wasn't too worried as it was a mates). I expect ChrisWilliams666 will be along shortly. Not overly convinced by the ownership credentials I have to say...

I have the same record sleeve frames (different albums though). That white jazz is great looking.

Just curious really... I've always written my own basslines when working in originals bands. A couple of bands I've worked in the past have really liked the basslines to be kept very simple and I've even had to battle to justify anything outside the root note on a couple of occasions. Usually I get complete creative freedom but this isn't always the case. I've also had times in the studio where band members have liked something I've "just come up" when it actual fact it's the exact same line I've been playing for the last six months! I guess good bass playing just blends into the mix Just curious as to what others experiences are. I'd add also that it depends if you play jazz or funk I'd expect this to be less likely to happen but reckon there are lots of rock, blues and country players who know what I'm talking about

Cheers for the replies - I have 3 good studios now that we will be checking out in the coming weeks

I have a Gretsch guitar and out of all my gear it is the one instrument that friends comment on when they see my collection - over 70s instruments and custom made instruments. I'd love a Gretsch hollowbody bass but I doubt it'd ever happen for me. [quote name='chris_b' post='701841' date='Jan 5 2010, 04:37 PM']In my opinion, as it was the bass of choice for the Monkees, not cool at all!![/quote] I'd argue it was cool precisely for that reason!

I find that everything seems to be a classic just because it's more than 5yrs old. A bit of research goes a long way

I also think Old Git makes a great point on bass in other instruments. I once worked with a keyboard player that kept slipping clashing left hand melodies into the mix that made me think I was going wrong. Luckily I raised it and we sorted those songs. Doesn't hurt for the band to take a look at their settings either - get you all to gel as a unit. Possibly an amp stand or way of raising the amp (crates?) might improve things too. I've played similar stages and the other danger is using a PA at a venue with no monitors! With the amp on the floor your knees are enjoying the best of your tone. If it is raised you'll hear more. Most amp stands have a tilt too so you can angle it at your head and hear better what is being played.

To record an album and tour. To continue to develop on the double bass. To keep my new purchases to a minimum.

Took this picture when I was in Dublin back in April last year. I'm growing to appreciate him a lot more these days.

I'm with chris_b and Low End Bee in that a decent Precision bass just screams workhorse and can be modified easily enough. I love mine. They've been around nearly 60yrs for a reason... I guess looking at your choices though they are not to your tastes if you've ruled them out?

Jez - if the band are complaining you are too loud then chances are you are too loud. Sometimes players stand by their amps and claim they can't hear anything whilst everybody else quietly wipes the blood from their ears. It may be that if you angle the cab, raise the cab or stand elsewhere you'll see why people are saying you are too loud. It's difficult to comment further without being there but I think your answer lies in the positioning of the player or the amp. Although I suspect it's not the solution bass through the PA can sound fine & I've done it before - certainly at acoustic gigs.

That was one of my first ever favourite bass moments. I hope to go to Las Vegas this Spring so I am sure Elvis will be on my mind. Great band and I agree about that drummer too