Grassie

There has been a fair bit of discussion on here recently regarding flatwound strings and their pros and cons, so as I'm always chasing an "ideal" sound, I thought I'd get a set for my P-bass. A set of Status Hotwire flatwounds have just been delivered to my house, and I've wasted no time in putting them on my bass. I bought a set of 45-105's but was aware of the increased tension flats create on the neck, but as the band I play in tune down half a step, I thought I'd stick with the gauge I've been using. I initially tuned as standard, and yes, there was a bit more room created between the frets and the string so I lowered the action and off I went. Bloody hell! These strings are [i]creamy[/i]! I rattled off a few lines (well, there wasn't any rattle) and then tuned down to the "band tuning", with no adverse effects. Why I haven't "gone flat" before now is anyone's guess, but flats on a P-bass is the way to go. I bought the Status strings as they were one of the cheapest (£20.39 delivered) just in case I didn't get on with them, but I'm a convert straight away. I'm also hoping that they will retain their fundemental tone longer than roundwounds, as I was getting through two sets a month (which is a lot for me), and I'm also looking to prevent wear and tear on the last two fingers of my fretting hand. Due to an early childhood accident involving my hand and a gas fire, I basically lost the "padding" on my fingertips. After numerous skin grafts as a kid, playing rounds often leaves my fingertips sore and the skin will ocasionally crack (not as bad as it sounds but painful nonetheless). The flats feel like a massive improvement already. Winner!

Tempted to put this on my local free-ad website for a laugh. See what happens. Dare me...

Yes, I'm a P-bass convert after about 10 years playing jazzes. I have a Squier VM precision and it sounds creamy. Selling my SX precision to help fund a US standard, or a Roadworn, or even a Squier CV. Do it, they are perfect.

[quote name='Dr.Dave' timestamp='1362141915' post='1996316'] He looks like the sort of tosser who pretends to be a wild child at the gates of oblivion but then goes out to work as a bank clerk. As far back as 1982 I was at least making an effort to look as if I'd come round your house , throw up on your carpet , eat the contents of your freezer as a milk shake and f*** your dog. [/quote] You're not hardcore unless you live hardcore.

So last night was my first gig with a new band (they're not new, I'm their new bassist), and the first gig I've played in nearly two years, and I have to say I thoroughly bloody well enjoyed it! A great crowd, who, when told I was new to the band, gave me a rousing reception and made my night. I made a few mistakes (nerves) but we only had two rehearsals together prior to last night, and out of a set list of 30+ songs I had to learn about 80% of them as I'd never played them before, so I've had a lot of homework over the past two weeks to fit in around shift work. Last night was also the first time I'd gigged my new set-up (GK MB210 combo + 2 x P-basses) and that GK has serious bottom end. I've now gone from hardly picking a bass up for two years, to having my diary filled up with around 40 gigs for the rest of the year! Looking forward to the next gig next weekend!

Def Leppard have had an episode of Classic Albums. Bon Jovi haven't.... Buy British everyone. Oh, and I've just joined a band where the drummer has one arm....

IMO the last true innovators were the electronic artists, starting with Kraftwerk and a lot of the British artists that followed (Depeche Mode, Vince Clarke in particular, OMD, Numan etc). True innovation usually follows new technology, and really, the only innovations in tech in recent years have been the way in which we listen to music, rather than the way in which we create it. There are many electronic musicians about at the moment, but to my ears it all sounds pretty similar and safe. We certainly need a new revolution, but who is there to inspire kids these days? Nicki Minaj? Justin Bieber? One Direction? "Mainstream" music is dead and buried, and the musicians who are to inspire the next generation are to be found in "alternative" genres - jazz, metal, electronica (to a certain extent). It's these genres that need the exposure in order to inspire, but by their very nature remain alternative and less likely to get that exposure. The likes of Simon Cowell have decimated popular music by reducing it to a business model and it will take another generation for it to recover.

Not too sure about this, looks like spam. Has anyone else who has a Soundcloud account had one of these messages? From a Deleted User, and I can't reply to it, so chances are it is spam. Here's what I was sent: [b]Deleted user[/b] Today 01:40 Hi, I have been playing your uploads while at the office lately, I really like them! This is why im messaging you Ive just began a new job and my employer has recently unveiled a new website which offers totally free website development for aspiring musicians. When i found out about it i immediatly thought about you. For free they're pretty good! If its something that sounds useful have a look [url="http://2.gp/qnVw"] here[/url]Also id get loads of rep from my supervisor if you could point out i sent you (Kat) Also, do you have any more uploads lined up in the near future? Peace The website is called DJ HIre... All sounds a bit strange to me.

90's "Fender licenced" Sunn Mustang. With a plywood body, plastic control knobs, shiny glossed maple board and slightly pointy headstock. My first ever bass, and at the time I thought it was the mutt nuts. With hindsight it was as cheap and nasty as they get (and I wondered why it didn't make me sound like Flea...)

Look, if you want it, get it. And if, after a while playing it, you still feel like a twat wearing it, at least you'll get your money back because those things are incredible and won't depreciate like an Epi T-Bird...

[quote name='XB26354' timestamp='1359119558' post='1950143'] Try posting an ad instead of one pointless paragraph. Do you really think anyone is going to snap it up with no location, description, price or shipping info? Newbies! [/quote] Bit rude IMO.

Hell, I'm no journalist, but I reckon I could review BGM's basses for them. Regular gigging with a band that plays various styles of music means I could give a review bass a thorough seeing-to (providing BGM don't mind shipping a bass down to the IOW....) I'm almost serious....

[quote name='Protium' timestamp='1358081596' post='1932676'] It's not unreasonable to ask to be kept in the loop where your order is up to, especially when no contact is possible over the site the order was placed on My plate has arrived, I have nothing more to say in this thread [/quote] This. I'm done.

[quote name='BassTractor' timestamp='1358077534' post='1932608'] Don't know about the law where you live, but here in Norway, the customer is legally bound to be a part of the solution rather than a part of the problem (though admittedly, some customers "don't know" that law). This thread taught me to trust in dealing with the doc - not with you. [/quote] Well, we have a saying here in the UK - "the customer is always right" and also "the customer comes first." As I've stated before, it was the total lack of communication from Howard that was the problem - nothing else. I'm certainly not the only forum member on here that thinks the same way. As for your last statement... FWIW, it's totally irrelevant (to me anyway).

Quick update - I received my pickguard this morning, just as I wanted it, fits perfectly, Hope that's OK with everyone.

[quote name='Conan' timestamp='1357761321' post='1928070'] Several weeks ago I offered to pass on Howard's number to concerned Basschatters. In that time only two people have asked. It would seem that some people would rather diss him on here, even though he won't read it himself. Not impressed. The guy offers excellent work at mates-rates prices. He has hundreds of satisfied customers but as soon as he experiences a few logistical problems people start sticking the knife in. Unbelievable. [/quote] I got his number from someone else on BC, so I followed that contact up with an offer of my phone number so that Howard could give me a call (seeing as I'm the one waiting for my goods, I didn't think I was being unreasonable). As I waited and heard nothing, at the start of this week I called him and had a pleasant enough conversation with him. It turns out that during the building work he was having done to his workshop, my address details got seperated from my order, so he didn't know whose pickguard went with whose address. He then told me he would get to work on it straight away (this was Monday). As far as I'm concerned, all I need to do now is wait for my pickguard to arrive. Conan, I understand from your somewhat aggravated post that you are actually friends with the guy, and I also understand that friends stick up for each other. However, you need to understand that I (and pretty much everyone else who has had problems with orders over the past five or so months) have never met him, let alone regard him as a friend. We have all paid (mates rates or not) for goods that we have not received, with absolutely f**k all contact, correspondence, phone calls, PM's whatsoever. So forgive us if we feel a little narked, but none of us have been "sticking the knife in", as you put it. If you feel pissed off on his behalf, fine, get on with it, not my problem. My problem is paying for something nearly four months ago and hearing nothing. Get over yourself.

I have a 2x10 combo which weighs 16kg. That in one hand, bass in the other, out the car, in the venue, plug in, tune up and Robert's your mother's brother! Gives me time to have a drink and watch the others setting up for the next half hour...

I was a disciple of the Jazz bass for years, and the thing that put me off P basses was the frankly terrible sound that a lot of indie bands seemed to get out of them - treble full up, no bottom end, just very flat sounding. I thought that's how they all sounded. Then I for some unknown reason, I started to get a hankering for one, completely out of the blue, so I bought an SX from my local shop. Once I'd got the action down to a playable level, I plugged it in as was blown away by the amount of bottom end and downright creaminess that I could coax from a bass that cost me £160. So I sold my jazz and bought a Squier VM precision and I'm done! I have two basses that sound as good as anything I've had before (including the USA deluxe jazz 5'er) that are so easy to play, sound great and are beautiful in their simplicity.

+1's for Flea and Chad, and Michael Anthony and Alex Van Halen Also: Mark King/Phil Gould Gary Beers/Jon Farriss Billy Gould/Mike Bordin Mani/Reni Robert DeLeo/Eric Kretz Stuart Zender/Derrick McKenzie/Sola Akingbola

Status S2... err... Classic. Nothing else looks like 'em, been around for 30 years. I think it qualifies.

Did Christmas get cancelled? I used to have one of those Jazzes (1996), lovely basses. Good blow-out sir!

Post Christmas blues bump!