Cat Burrito

Adding to Bassace's comments it's dead easy to confuse a soun engineer - just show up with traditional acoustic instruments (even with fitted expensive pickups). Most variations of guitar / bass / drums seem to cause blind panic. That said, big shout to Harley Dave on the London Americana circuit who knows his stuff. He even once mailed me a lead I'd left behind at his own expense. Top bloke!

You can't beat a good T-bird in my book

I tend to stay away from weddings AND corporate functions purely because they seem to be predominately people who aren't interested in live music. Good money, certainly but I'd rather earn less and play to a more receptive crowd. Fair play to those who play them but I give them a miss. It'd have to be a very special friend for me to play his / her wedding!

Sweet! I'd love to try one.

but having played bass guitar for 20yrs I recently took the plunge and bought my first double bass. This was 2 months ago. I've been rehearsing along with band demos played through an Istation at home. Tonight I took it to the local hall with the band (first time with live musicians!) and played for 2hrs straight. At the end our mandolin player took me aside and said he was "seriously impressed". I had knowing looks from the guitarist and the singer. I felt I did good. Just wanted to share. A long way to go but I feel I'm off the starting blocks now

I'm a P-bass player but swear by SD pups. I can't help with the Jazz stuff but I do Antiquity pups are not just paying for relicing. I have them in a couple of telecasters and a P-bass. Aside being hand wound you get Seymour Duncan's autograph with each pup! They are just a really good package. I prefer Seymour Duncan's more traditional sounding pups and think they are vastly superior to stock Fender pups.

I've NEVER been to the Gallery but will now check it out. I always like Peter Cooks in Hanwell but it's a real trek on the tube. I think we had the same question / thread earlier this week.

I too have looked into it and was put off by the price. I understand the time that goes into it. With some basses it's almost better to source a body on EBay and sell off your old one.

[quote name='chris_b' post='566887' date='Aug 12 2009, 03:58 PM']Has anyone used an upright bass in a punk band?[/quote] There's a whole psychobilly scene out there & tonnes of punk bands with double basses. More recently didn't Blink 182 use one in the I Miss You video? The Horrorpops are good fun with a female fronted double bass playing punky vibe. For my two cents I favour traditional looking instruments as they never look out of place. You can use a P bass to play everything from Blues to Jazz to country to reggae to Indie to rock....

[quote name='chris_b' post='567053' date='Aug 12 2009, 05:57 PM']It should be a problem, but with the state of the world these days you'll find it hard to buy anything from an ethically "good" country! In 1997 Robin Cook tried the idea of an ethically responsible foreign policy and scrapped the idea in a matter of weeks.[/quote] A good point. I agree.

I have the Kustom 15w bass combo... actually I think it's 16w but it's the one you used. It's great for acoustic stuff actually (& I'm taking mine to an otherwise all acoustic rehearsal tomorrow) but I wouldn't want to do a gig with it necessarily. I mention this because I'd hate for people to misunderstand the theme of the thread i.e lack of power and not a knock on a perfectly serviceable practice amp. I nearly bought a bigger Kustom amp off the back of mine. Anyhow I think 100w is about the smallest I go for when doing small gigs.

decals are the way forward here - just do a search on EBay and you'll find what you like

And it's sold at the minimum bid! Someone obviously wanted to have the "opertunity"

I saw a link earlier today on Facebook re this. As a Fender player this is massive. I hope all the non-Fender players will continue to acknowledge his influence - even in another 100yrs!

They had a few of these in the Guitar shops in Swindon this week, all sitting around the £499 mark. Very tempting.

I'm a bit confused. They all look nice enough but I think Epiphone had a much healthier variety a few years ago that are suddenly all a fair bit rarer. Why has the variety been limited so drastically?

I'll have you know that's an original copy, stand on me!

I've played Lakland before & like them. I must say I'm very traditionalist & just feel most comfortable with a good old fashioned Fender. I too just wanted to redress the balance. Lakland is great but so is a good Fender!

Peter Cooks in Hanwell is cheapest / friendliest BUT it's a good 45mins from pretty much everywhere!

Love that P-bass!

I had a break for a few years & it did me the world of good. I enjoy it again but certainly hear you on all moans & gripes. You have to weigh up the pros & cons - if the good outweighs the bad, do it - if not, time for a rethink. Personally I love it again!

The B200r was raved about on another Bass site & I heard one last night - I thought it was fine. I have a BA115U which is good fun. I know there are better amps out there but for portability or Ampeg on a budget, yeah - why not?

I've owned a few over the years (my main CIJ or MIJ I should say P-bass has been my mainstay for 20yrs!). They are great & I don't need to add "for the money". I own a USA P-bass & I'd describe it as "as good as" the MIJ stuff.

The soundslive ones are great quality. They are made by Warwick but they don't have any listed right now.