Cat Burrito

Stagg are doing some really good stuff these days and the reputation is changing from what they had a few years ago. If it's a first one I really would urge you NOT to buy online or at Argos... Try before you buy. Owning an instrument is hugely personal and it should feel right when you hold it, even if you can't play. Go to a few shops and have a look. Best of luck

Finally after a 15yr wait, I've got a bass to be proud of! My wife agreed I could get one in 1994 & finally the time was right for me to pick one up. I've been warned about tendinitis & I have to say having played it all afternoon my forearms are a little tender already! What one piece of useful advice would have helped you in your road to learning? I've had no double bass lessons & have done little more than pick up a cheap Idiots Guide DVD on EBay. I hope you all like the pictures... they don't do it justice!!!!

The MIM Classic Series are a lot of bang for your buck! I love CIJ / MIJ but the MIM Classics are awesome too

It now looks like this...

[quote name='LukeFRC' post='535178' date='Jul 7 2009, 09:57 PM']you're talking about Uk companies that import MIJ/CIJ fenders into the UK, The question is more about why Fender the company try and keep most japanese made stuff inside Japan. EDIT: that seems a bit dismissive and rude. sorry, wasnt meant to be I've had two jap fender basses. A CIJ '57 RI and my '82 JV Squier. Both better than anything Ive played in any of the shops round here from the MIA/MIM ranges..[/quote] Yeah got that. It was just something recent that really annoyed me. I've been playing MIJ Fender for 20yrs and was just a little disheartened with the poor service. Back to the real matter at hands people!

I contacted MIJ Fenders with a view to buying (spoke with him & everything). Credit card ready to do it. Never rang me back. Very poor customer service. So I bought a USA. I've got 2 CIJs and they are awesome. You got to keep the customer feeling valued though. Interestingly I had the same with another CIJ company too. Poor show

I opted for a 15w little Kustom combo from EBay in the end.... at £29 & as new I thought it'd do the job. It's only for messing around after all

[quote name='RAY AGAINST THE MACHINE' post='504230' date='Jun 2 2009, 09:27 PM']I have a KBA-16 COMBO. I got it when I part exchanged my old peavey TNT combo (that peavey was so crap) Anyway this Kusto is good, and loud and handles 5 string ok too. I think a metal bass player (Trivium??) has an endorsement with Kustom, so they can't be too bad.. [/quote] I too just picked up this amp on EBay for £29. The endosements seem to come from a lot of metal players & a lot of country players too. I don't suppose they are endorsing my £29 bargain but I'm sure it'll be fine

I think there's more choice than ever before with ALL musical kit. That said, I just feel comfortable with a Fender P-bass. It suits my style, my tastes & my influences. That's just me though

I used to just use a 1mm cheap whatever was available but I'm almost exclusively fingers now. I have one bass intro to one song where I need to cut through a little more so I use a pick there & I tend to revert to plan A again for that. If I play guitar I'm much more fussy. Perhaps because it's a 30 second intro I'm not so worried about slippage etc - it's just job done and discard!

Anymore thought? Anyone? Surely more people have used a practice combo? I've been searching the threads and saw a girl raving about a cheap Eden 15W amp & a few people knocking Ashdown (which surprised me actually) but that's about it. My urgency for this has changed but I will be picking one up slow time now. I have my main amp, I have the PA so it really is just something small for acoustic jams were we don't need to mic the vocals. Cheers

My Mum's family are (were!) all from that area and we used to travel up to see my Grandparents in South Shields in the 70s & 80s. I used to LOVE JG Windows (got my first instrument there in 1988). The shops were all great and I see a lot of online companies are from that area. As a personal view Newcastle is the rock n roll capital of Great Britain. Forget Tin Pan Alley & it's over-priced attitude - this place is the real deal!

Saturday was hot & sweaty with the band on fire! Friday was good too but I filmed it which has led to some over analyising from me! Two good shows though

[quote name='spongebob' post='532488' date='Jul 4 2009, 03:52 PM']I prefer a thinner style - is the original '51 more normal precision thick or jazz thin?[/quote] It's a baseball bat of a neck! Not thin at all

I had a recommendation from a friend to check these strings out. A little different but I love the tone. [url="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Rotosound-Bass-65-115-Long-Scale/dp/B0002GNUYU/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1246702100&sr=8-1"]http://www.amazon.co.uk/Rotosound-Bass-65-...2100&sr=8-1[/url] The look is a little different too (see attached pics of my bass) but they sound great. Tonally more like a double bass but maybe not as fretless-like in tone as flatwounds can sound. They also feel a bit different on the fingertips (if I may steal the bassworld award for stating the obvious!) but great for those looking for a little tonal variety. My other basses are strung normally. Any other users? Apart from Paul McCartney that time on the roof!

I have done in most. At present I lead one but don't in the other two these days

I got stung for a watch on EBay back in 2002 from some girl in the US. Since then I've got wise. EBay is generally very safe but on the .1% of the time it goes wrong you are covered.

They are awesome... actually MIJ not MIM though. They sound nice and growly & are good fun. Unless you are majorly punching above your weight so to speak the lack of cut away isn't an issue. In fact from 54 the cut away kicked in so if you are look for a 54 (which I believe the blue flower and pink paisley are copies of). Try a 51 one though, great fun

Great set!

I have a few of these. EBay used to be rife with these a few years ago but now I can just find this link [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Levys-M8P3XL-3-Wide-Black-Guitar-Strap-Extra-Long_W0QQitemZ310150117133QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Guitar_Accessories?hash=item483663370d&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=65%3A12%7C66%3A2%7C39%3A1%7C72%3A1683%7C240%3A1318%7C301%3A1%7C293%3A1%7C294%3A50"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Levys-M8P3XL-3-Wide-...%3A1%7C294%3A50[/url] IF it's sold by the time you get the link keep checking EBay, it's where I got mine

I have different experiences to the above posters - I wouldn't say I disagree with the others completely though. You need to exercise caution when buying an acoustic bass and certainly don't buy one you haven't played. I had a great Aria acoustic bass which I only sold when times are hard. I've played some good cheap ones. You just need to trust the seller has given them a decent set up. My Aria was great & is one of my bigger regrets from all the kit I've sold on over the years.

Been jonesing for a new P-bass (I know what I like & I like what I know) and today I finally got what I was looking for. It's a brand new (but old stock) 2007 60th Anniversary orange sunset Fender USA Precision Bass. Pics attached. I plan to stick a torteshell pickguard on it & chrome ashtrays. Gonna be sweet. Enjoy It plays well and sounds as it looks!

I'm always up for a nice secondhand bargain (I've never owned a brand new bass amp in 20yrs of playing) but it totally depends on what's on offer and is very difficult to comment without seeing / playing the goods. It's a minefield out there - people get great deals and people get ripped off.

Thanks for the replies. I tried a couple out today and found that mildy disappointing but wanted to offer some further thoughts; [quote name='Badass' post='527508' date='Jun 29 2009, 10:41 AM'][url="http://www.ashdownmusic.com/bass/detail.asp?ID=81"]Perfect 10[/url] I use an Ashdown perfect 10 for acoustic rehearsal. 30 watts and it has power to spare. £80 from Dolphin music I think it was. Bargain ![/quote] I like Ashdown, they sound good on YouTube so [b]could[/b] be a go-er. I need to try one first hand though as YouTube isn't always the best to fully appreciate all tonal aspects. [quote name='chris_b' post='527563' date='Jun 29 2009, 11:36 AM']If you don't want to spend much.... take your amp and turn it down! I know it's the heavy option but it saves you the cash and the hassle of finding the right amp! I use an LM2 (300 watts) with my acoustic duo. Works fine on 2![/quote] My first thought BUT with a car full of band members, I want something portable. I keep it down at home but it is a bit of a beast transport wise. [quote name='chris_b' post='527656' date='Jun 29 2009, 12:41 PM']+1 for keeping the amp volume up and turning the instrument down. If your band is doing acoustic rehearsals will they be doing acoustic gigs? If so a 20 watt combo isn't enough. You might as well get a good neo 112 and a 300w (at 8 ohm) amp then you'll be good for rehearsals and the gigs.[/quote] In terms of acoustic performance, I'd just go through the P.A. - every time! Electric wise I have my amp so it really is just a case of something light & portable to kick around with. Got to say the 15w Fender Rumble was especially poor though. I appreciate the replies though so if anyone has any thoughts they want to share on light portable low watt combos, I'm happy to listen. Cheers, BB