Muzz

[quote name='Lozz196' post='1060025' date='Dec 15 2010, 08:51 PM']Well I`ve spent stacks of money on different basses, only to realise that the very one I coveted from the first, the humble Fender Precision, is the bass for me. With all the basses I bought, I always went for a specific sound, and they were never quite there, as it was the P sound that now realise I wanted. Still, it was fun, if costly, getting there.[/quote] +1000. Are you reading the inside of my head?

+ a lot to trying them for yourself: there are so many other variables particular to yourself (bass, style, string attack, cab, etc, etc) that comparisons are only a very very vague guide - I side-by-side tested the Tube, Rocker, Genz Benz and TC stuff, and ended up with the TC. The Rocker I found didn't have much range of tube - kinda 0-2 gives some pretty good tubey warmness, then 2-10 was just fizz. The Tube was the reverse; so subtle it was, well, too subtle for me. Ironic that I found the best tube-preamp-type was the one without an actual tube in it... YMMV, IMHO, etc, etc...

Shuker JJB - I *think* I'd love one, but I guess I'd have to try one first... Anyhoo, GASsing in the meantime regardless...

[quote name='BurritoBass' post='1057675' date='Dec 13 2010, 07:09 PM']Christ! He has my respect. That chemo is heavy stuff. I had a one off sky high dose & it wiped me out for the month pretty much. Good luck to him[/quote] Cheers for that mate - he's one of the old-school hard men (his CV has miner (at 15), docker, HGV driver and, ahem, 'Security Consultant') - chemo is fortnightly preparatory to a 6-hour op (with 4-6 days in ICU afterwards) after Xmas to remove an esophageal cancer. I asked him why he was still doing so many shifts, and he said "I'd better get some shifts in now, because I might be off for a couple of weeks after me op..."

Width and lengthways the MM neck was a good fit, IIRC it was a little shallower (board to back), but that's not been an issue, to be honest. Really good necks for the money, if you like a satin finish there's nothing to do, but you can refinish them or even buy finished ones.

[quote name='EddieG' post='1058111' date='Dec 14 2010, 01:15 AM']I've got an SX that I use as a practice bass. I upgraded the knobs, string guide for a Hipshot one, and replaced the electronics but kept the pickups as they sounded pretty decent. Its turned out to be well worth the money. I've been reading on Talkbass that a lot of folk have been stripping the "nuclear orange" tint from the necks, using something called Citristrip. Its not available over here, but I wondered if anyone else had stripped the neck of their SX, and what they used.[/quote] I've got a modded SX which has replaced my USA Ps completely, and I got around the 'Dickinson Orange' neck by simply replacing it with a Mighty Mite off t'EBay. Changed the bridge for a Schaller 3D, and it's frankly the best P I've ever played. It's the one in my avatar pic.

Not a musical gig, but I'm nominating my father-in-law for services to door security work - he had 11 hours of chemotherapy last Friday, and put in a 10 hours shift on the doors yesterday. He's 71. They bred 'em tough in Salford in the 40s...

I play 80% pick, 20% fingers, 0% slap. I use Dunlop grey .88s, have done for years. I don't grip them particularly hard, but I haven't dropped a pick that I can recall. Digging in is as variable as the song requires - everywhere from subtle stuff to a proper JJ twang. Heel of hand on/over bridge most of the time, but it does tend to float around depending on the sound/attack required. I do palm the pick (or stick it in my mush) to play fingerstyle. Thinking about it, there's a lot more to pick playing than first meets the eye, but I've been doing it so long it's become instinctive, so I no longer think about it

All great in theory (and we have always had music of all sorts on in the house) but don't think you can influence them in any way other than by browbeating them with parental approval or disapproval - they'll pick what they like in the same way they pick what they like in other areas - by peer influence/prejudice and abitrary knee-jerk reaction. The best thing you can do is ensure exposure to all sorts of music so their palette of choice is as varied as possible. My friend seems delighted that his son listens to heavy metal all the time, but he doesn't really - he listens to it either because his Dad does, or because he wants to please his Dad. When he comes to our house, him and my lad listen to all sorts (they're 5/6) and he enjoys it all. My lad used to like the stuff I played (and he still loves farting around on my basses - especially the fretless, which is 'his bass') but now insists on Galaxy on the radio in the car. Who am I to argue? M

Dunno about your gigbag scenario, but I invested in a laptop-capable rucksack which holds my RH450, leads, pedals, spare strings and all manner of bits and bobs. And it'll go over a shoulder for loading, etc. Invaluable, and the sort of thing spouses can buy without too much help...

I've put a Mighty Mite Precision neck onto an SX Precision - great fit, great neck. I ended up selling both my USA Ps on the strength of it. The 2907 which I bought was a satin finish (which I like) but I believe there are other options, too. AFAIK the fit is the same as a Fender, but I'm sure someone else will be along to confirm.

"The item may have some signs of cosmetic wear". Never has such understatement been employed in an EBay ad...

Given that your budget is a little short of the bigger MB combos like the 210, and I think the 112 MB is a little underpowered (on its own) for 'room to spare', I'd give some serious consideration to a Roland D-Bass 115 or 210 combo. Not very very light, but certainly moveable (castors! yeah...), and their relative unfashionableness* means they're a bargain second hand buy - I've seen them go for £200-250 on t'Ebay. Great range of tones, terrific build quality and plenty loud. If you get the urge for a monster stack, you can also add the 115X for 660w of doom**... Just my 2p * Not a word, I know, but you know what I mean... ** That's doom with a small D - I'm aware there a folk around these parts stacking 2x8x10s, and they're Doom...