Doc B

I always got the idea that Flea mainly just used Stringrays live and a range of basses for recording. As others here have said he played a Wal for at least a large part of BSSM (his fretless and 5 strings may well have been Stingrays) and IIRC he had an Alembic Epic for the One Hot Minute sessions. The comments about the Jazz suiting his more recent chordal/melodic playing is interesting to me. I play a lot of lines in a similar vein (both me and Flea rip off Hooky big style) and found a J type bass to be more suited to it than my graphite-necked Status Groove (like a cut-price FleaBass). Maybe Flea should get a Squier VM Jazz and install a Bad Ass 2 and Wizard 64s Hopefully whoever gets his endorsement will be able to make a more affordable version for 'the fans'. Apparently Ernie Ball's refusal to do this with EVH's guitar is one reason he jumped ship (this was a long time before SUB and OLP).

[quote name='thedonutman' post='264674' date='Aug 18 2008, 03:57 PM']The worse experience(s) I've ever had with a guitar shop is Wizard Guitars in Sheffield, the worst guitar shop I've ever been to, and it's not even on Denmark Street![/quote] I'd agree with you there - I went in once with the guitarist from the band I was in as he was looking for a second guitar and wanted to try some Epiphone Les Pauls. He had the cash on him and was literally at the point of finalising the deal when he asked if the Epiphone came with a case or gig bag: 'you've already got one' came the reply as he had his other guitar with him. We left there and then! I did get some revenge on them when I was in once and saw a second hand Kent Armstrong Sky Telecaster bridge hotrail type pup and asked how much they wanted for it: £35 said the boss-eyed brother of the other ugly guy. I burst out laughing and said that's what they cost new - I got it for £20 with a scratch plate thrown in! There was a lovely blonde girl who worked there for a while though....

[quote name='Born 2B Mild' post='265571' date='Aug 19 2008, 03:11 PM']A £599 Streamline 'made in Czech Republic' could be very tempting, and perhaps stimulate a wider demand for other basses from the Status range.[/quote] great idea - I'd have one in a shot!

[quote name='joe_bass' date='Aug 19 2008, 09:59 AM' post='265265'] Talking from experience I wouldn't do that right now, keep on to it!! OK - I'll just try to use it more.

I've not sold anything I really regret but I am trying to decide whether to part with my Warwick Streamer Std as I've not played it since I got my (now modified with Wizards and BadAss2) VM Jazz. The Warwick is a great playing and sounding bass but it isn't getting played, so maybe it's time to let go? My Jazz is easily the best sounding bass I've had, mainly thanks to the choice mods I think. I'm now wondering what a Corvette Std with a set of Wizards would sound like....

[quote name='Smash' post='257942' date='Aug 8 2008, 11:35 AM']Still toying with the idea of these basses, which of the 4 woods on offer has the best sound for a warm growly sound? I am not into bell like glassy sounds.[/quote] can't offer a definitive answer but my old graphite necked Groove was very growly and had an alder body.

Guitar Guitar in Glasgow is a great shop - I've bought a few things from them.

Nice bass - I didn't get any tools with my VM jazz

Cheers!

I'm a big fan of Peter Hook's bass playing and would really like to get a 6 string that would allow me to get close to the sound of his Shergold and play chords easily. As far as I can see the Shergold 6ers are as rare as rocking horse sh!t So I'm wondering if any one can suggest an affordable alternative? I had a Danelectro baritone that I had modified to be strung E-E but it was too 'twangy' for what I wanted and lacked sustain.

I think Dood's point about playing position is interesting - I've tried a couple of 6 strings before and found it really awkward to fret a low C, same with a wide necked 5 I had. maybe experimenting with the height of the strap would have changed that. Anyway - although I don't/can't play them, the nicest looking ERBs looks so impressive, especially when played well.

At the moment it is Elbow's Seldom Seen Kid album - perfect on a sunny day with the MX5's top down, shades on Bose system bumpin...

Judgement Night from 1993, the OST is way better than the film and is all rock, indie and metal bands collaborating (I think Fred Durst may have a copy of this ;-)): Highlights include: Helmet and House of Pain - Just another victim Teenage Fanclub and De La Soul - Fallin' Faith No Maore and Boo Yaa Tribe - Another Body Murdered Slayer & Ice T - Disorder Living Colour and Run DMC - Me, Myself and My Microphone Cypress Hill and Pearl Jam - Real Thing Mudhoney and Sir Mixalot - Freak Momma One of my favourite albums of the 1990s

I've posted 2 basses using Royal Mail and both arrived with no problems, they were in hard cases and packed with padding though.

I've tried a lot of jazzes and 'J-types' but the only Jazz I was ever moved to buy was my Squier VM Jazz in natural with maple neck and black blocks. It was fantastic for a £220 instrument but £70 for a set of Wizards and £40 odd for a Bad Ass II transformed it into a seriously good bass IMO. It sounds way better than my Warwick and looks gorgeous.

[quote name='Drink!!!feck' post='237701' date='Jul 11 2008, 11:19 PM']This fella ight fancy the job [/quote]

Get a Squier VM Jazz with maple neck and black blocks a Bass Ass bridge and a pair of Wizard 64s - SOLID!

I've had my Streamer Std 2 (the dual pickup one) for nearly 8 years and still love the sound and feel of it - it's still the most comfortable bass I've played. I was completely GAS free for 5 years after I got my Streamer and only bought another bass to get a different (more cutting sound) but I always go back to the Streamer Std.

[quote name='Buzz' post='222607' date='Jun 20 2008, 12:44 AM']Well, it's only a Squier VM...[/quote] CHEEKY B@ST@RD I'm pimping my Squier so my ham fisted efforts at wood/metal working would looked decidedly non-pimp and hardly in keeping with the pickup cover, Badass 2 and Wizards installed so far.

Cheers - that's a good idea - I'll need to find someone up here (Glasgow area) to make one though. Either that or I'll see if I can drop in on Mr Shuker when I'm holidaying in the peaks this September. Out of interest - how much did yours cost?

My Squier VM Jazz pimping is well under way but I've decided that I'd like to fit a thumb-rest just in front of the bridge pickup (i.e. between the pup and the scratch plate) as that is the playing position I use most and find most comfortable. From what I've seen the size of thumb rests that are normally available 'off the shelf' would be too long to fit where I want. Do any of you know of anyone who will make me a nice wooden thumb rest that would go where i want. Kiain

I've had 2 Ashdowns a Mag 250 1x15 and an Electric Blue 130 with 1x12 (my current amp) and found it very hard to get a sound I liked out of the preamps in them so I use my SansAmp BDDI. The EB 12 seems much better than MAG to me. I got the Sansamp years ago to get round the problem of using different rigs at gig as I'd always just go straight into the power amp. I also used the Sansamp with my old Trace BLX combo. The Eden Nemesis NC410 combo I sold recently is the only amp I've had that I was entirely happy with the sound.

Good to see the return of CC Music!

[quote name='steve-soar' post='213545' date='Jun 5 2008, 10:48 PM']Where's the naked boy getting out of the pool?[/quote] You can see him if you look very carefully in the reflections on the machine heads ;-)

Stunning bass - a work of art, especially the bridge/tailpiece. My hand hurt just looking at it.