Rich

Two things. Sire V7 five string. I was expecting good things, but oh my heavens what an instrument. It looks great and sounds better. Talk about bang-for-buck, this thing has it in spades. The only Jazz-style bass** I've ever played that I preferred was 3 grand's worth of Celinder. I've tried a pukka Fender Marcus Miller sig 5-string (4 times the cost of my V7) and it wasn't even close. Behringer BX600 combo. OK so I wasn't expecting it to be great as such, but it does punch well above its weight. I bought it more as a home practice tool than anything, but it's become my regular chuck-it-in-the-car rehearsal amp. It easily keeps up with my 12-piece soul band, horns and all, and only starts to complain if I get really daft with the B string. Other than that, it's completely brilliant, especially when I consider that I paid 30 quid for it. ** note that I am not including my Shuker J in this, as it's not a traditional J-J configuration.

Our tenor sax player's horn is very old and an absolute mess visually. It is SO cool though

Like it Did you consider a pull/push pot for the switching or do you just prefer toggles?

Awwww man, I had mahoosive GAS for one of these back in the day. I'd still like one now , more for nostalgia than anything.

That scores a solid 9.98 on the phwoarr-o-meter.

F'narr.

Sounds good to me. I'd be quite happy to see Hershey's abominable pseudo-chocolate tariffed out of existence.

I've got no problem with the lined board, the dealbreaker for me is the f-hole. It's visually jarring and looks out of place on a contemporary instrument. I'd have far preferred something less traditional, more akin to the 'slash' type on the R*ck*nb*ck*r 360.

All my gear goes out at one time or another. Everything has a ding or two on it, even my Shuker. But it's a consequence of being used, and they're meant to be used not just hung on a wall. A jazz guitarist mate of mine has a vintage Gibson Super 400 worth in the region of 15 thousand quid... yup, it gets gigged. All his vintage gear does. Although his gigs are rather more sedate affairs than yours or mine

Or you could have "Saucy Jack" for a Spinal Tap tribute.

That sounds cool

Oh believe me, Herr Discreet, ve already know all zis und more. Everything is on Ze List.

Anyway, I'd have though by now it was obvious that BC is a benevolent dictatorship, not a democracy. We're actually considering introducing identity papers which must be carried at all times and produced on demand in a "WO SIND DEINE PAPIEREN? SCHNELL!" kind of way.

If you're going to talk like that, at least have the decency to use 'your' rather than you're and put EVERYTHING IN SHOUTY BLOCK CAPS. Looks far more comically unhinged that way.

I had one of those once. I tried nibbling her earlobe, but she farted and flew out of the window and I never saw her again.

Four actually (mid with sweep is two knobs on its own). Seven might be a lot of knobs but it's pretty straightforward -- compared to a Wal or ACG filter setup, the Sire preamp is simplicity itself. It's my joint favourite, along with Jon Shuker's 3-band eq.

YES!

"...We don't get fooled again" PARP

My favourite is the sapphire burst -- it comes to life under lights. Fabulous colour.

Way back in early '86 I spent a wonderful day at the much-missed Wapping Bass Centre, trying a whole load of fabulous exotica. Out of curiosity, I had a quick go on a Steinberger L2... It turned out to be a very quick go. What a ghastly instrument. No redeeming features aesthetically, ergonomically or sonically. Just utterly dreadful.

You and I should form a Basschat 'Hat, Beard And Scowl Club'.

And they were 'groups', not bands. And all this were trees. And you could leave your front door open.

^^THIS.