Rich

If I did ever sell it, I would point it out to the buyer and would tout its versatility as a real positive virtue. But as you say, it's a bit of a non-point... I don't intend to sell it at all, especially if I do make this mod and it works well. Excellent. Long may it continue. I'm 5 years into my V7 now and still think it's one of my very best bass purchases ever. I can count on the fingers of one hand the number of other 5 string J-type basses I've played that I prefer.

I adore my V7, it's very much my go-to gigging bass these days -- but for my current gigs, a PJ would be of more use than a JJ... some songs really need that P pickup punch. Unfortunately I can't afford a P7 and I don't want to sell my V7... so I'm thinking of modifying it by enlarging the neck pickup cavity in such a way that I could fit either a P or J pickup depending on what I need for a particular gig. Screw connectors could make the wiring changes easier. Obvs I'd also need to get a new custom pickguard made too, but this and the current pickguard would both conceal the resultant funny-shaped rout. This is all quite theoretical at the moment bu t I can't see why it wouldn't work. Flaws, anyone? I might look into this during this upcoming enforced gig-free period. Sorry for the thread hijack

Apart from the 3rd post on the 1st page...

Thanks for all your hard work Mike. All the best to you and Mrs Scrumpy and the scrumpettes. Stay safe. Rich

Thunder 1-A. A pretty crap picture that doesn't properly reflect the beautiful rich cherry-ness of the red. It really is a looker, this thing. And yes, I fitted gold tuners. It seemed aesthetically odd having chrome ones when the rest of the hardware was brass. I await the "eww, gold hardware" pitchforks.

JayRay -- an OLP body with a lovely Jaydee fretless neck. Now sporting an EMG-HZ pickup and homemade passive low-cut and hi-cut tone controls.

I've never seen 10 minutes with a sheet of 80-grit glasspaper referred to as a 'custom finish' before. "the custom finish, not seen anything like it" Presumably because it's the only one you've done it to and everyone else thinks it's a stupid idea, you melt. Honestly, death is too good for some people.

It's not quite 'never used' but as close as makes no odds. I have a very beaten up old Ibanez BTB 6-string bass that I bought because a) it was very cheap and b) I regretted selling the Tobias six I used to have and did use quite a bit in the past. The Ibby hardly ever gets out of the wardrobe apart from the occasional noodling around at home, and for a periodical wander through the single solitary piece I have ever written (which I can only play on a six as it uses the entire range of the bass, from an open B right up to the top B at 23rd fret on the C string). It has never been outside the house though, and probably never will. Unless I join/form another fusion trio there's nothing wrong with it sonically and it's nice to play, but it is a bit of a mess.

Trouble with the whole white/gold thing is, it's incredibly Marmite. As you've no doubt noticed by now I'd be interested to see it in one of the standard Enfield finishes. Some sound/video clips would be good to hear/see too.

Yes. I've always thought the Enfield basses look like they've got a fat lip. At least it stops it looking quite so much like a Wal. I've never had my hands on one though, and would definitely like to at some point.

What a tiny world... I was at that gig too Agreed on the subject of Mike's playing. There's some very nifty arpeggio playing from 13:15 on. I think the In The Cage/Afterglow live medley is probably my favourite Genesis thing ever. When those bass pedals really kick in at 16:48, "and I would search everywhere...", it gives me goosebumps like molehills. I remember listening to the Three Sides Live version in the car once, volume really cranked and I was just transported by the music, enthralled... when that bass pedal moment happened, every nut and bolt in the car was vibrating and I found tears streaming down my face. The power of music.

Yikes, I hadn't thought of that. I'm type 2 and only just, but even so I guess that still puts me 'at risk'..?

My gig tomorrow night is still on... hardly surprising, as the last time we were there I got the distinct impression that the main clientele of the pub in question are the sort of people who will claim it's only a cold and that anyway it's all a Chinese/lefty/EU plot. It's not my favourite place to play...

Tsk. Those aren't notes, it's the model name. He already has body shapes called 'Scarab', 'Ambrosia', 'Lobe' and 'Peanut', and now there's this one, the 'Guhcuffbuhbuh'.

Yew din't ask for one o' them noo-fangled truss rawd thangs, did yuh boy? Hot damn. Yew'll be wantin' frets next.

My initial reaction was "ah feck it, I'm probably going to catch the bloody thing sooner or later anyway, let's do it"... but with my boringly sensible and slightly less rock'n'roll head on, I think postponement may be the thing to do. As others have said, I will gladly contribute if you're going to end up out of pocket.

Oh yes, how I remember that awesome thing. It sounded like god clearing his throat. If you look up 'aggressive' in the dictionary, it's got a picture of that bass followed by an exclamation mark.

At one time many years back I had a 'bassist available' ad up in a Swindon music shop. I gave a list of my preferred styles, which were jazz, progressive (not metal), funk. Had a call from a guy who said the "band"'s style was 'jazzy with a contemporary edge' or some such. Taking him at his word, I turned up to see what they were about. Two guys with acoustic guitars, playing singer-songwriter stuff that was about as jazzy as Ann Widdecombe and just as interesting. They had no intention of getting a drummer or keys, or ever picking up electric guitars, or it seemed writing anything half decent. The only line I can remember from any of their songs is "red cars take me home". My silver car couldn't take me home quick enough.

I love my V7's preamp, so my answer to the question 'what do you think?' would be along the lines of 'that you are clinically insane' But seriously, I would definitely consider a John East unit.

'The Mahavishnu of bass guitars'..?? I think he misspelled 'Coco the clown'. I love the way this guy almost promotes the non-existent sanding and finishing, the construction flaws and poor electrics as positive design features.

Yup, and '0 bids' is how it'll stay, at that price.

But this is how he always sounds to me

Surely if you're a manager, it's more like...

To compensate for their very very tiny willies.

I design railway signalling. I've been in the rail industry since 1983, originally with British Rail in Reading where I started off in the S&T design office and then spent four wonderful years as a mechanical design draughtsman (engineering drawing was my first love), back in pre-CAD days when it was still all 0.5mm click-pencils and Rotring pens. Absolutely and utterly loved it. Unfortunately, BR decided to listen to some management consultants who told them that they could lose a load of staff, and I was one of them... I spent a year out of the industry as a draughtsman with a quarry equipment design company, and then moved to Swindon. Re-joined the rail industry by starting work with the Westinghouse Brake & Signal Co. in Chippenham, this time as a signalling designer. Mainly writing data for the newer computerised systems, but also involved with older relay-driven stuff and even some mechanical. I spent 14 years with them, working on a wide variety of projects for the UK and overseas, and was lucky enough to see some of the world... Portugal, Hong Kong, Slovenia, Japan, and quite a few months in Indonesia. Had some great times on those overseas trips... we worked bloody hard (my longest ever working week was 109 hours) and we played hard too. What happened in Jakarta stayed in Jakarta Left Wes in 2003 rather than be permanently transferred to an LUL contract (metro signalling does not appeal to me at all, in the slightest) and joined Mott MacDonald in Bristol for 4 years. Enjoyed the work, but unfortunately MM were a very small fish compared to Wes and the work dried up. Luckily I was headhunted by Wes (or Invensys as they had become by this time) and rejoined in 2007, and have been there ever since. Invensys were bought by Siemens a few years back, so now I work for Ze Chermans. They are good people to work for, I have to say, good Ts & Cs and as much training as I could wish for. But I have grown to dislike the UK rail industry -- years ago I was proud to be a railwayman and would defend it to the death in an argument, but not these days. More often than not, it embarrasses and angers me. Far too much political bullpoo.