gjones

That's my problem too, except I try to get every (non Jazz) Bass I buy, to sound like a Jazz Bass. I should really just stick to Jazz Basses.

I bought a G&L L2500 tribute because I felt I was missing out on something by not playing a 5 string. I have to admit it's a great bass and extremely versatile soundwise but I've never actually needed the 5th string, so stick with my 4 strings. I bought an Auralex gramma pad, a dozen years ago, when everyone was going on about them. I used it once or twice and, by mistake, ended up leaving it in a pub that I had played in. I was so underwhelmed by the thing, that I never bothered going back to collect it. These days I just put my amp on a chair, or a beer crate. I bought a Nord string mute, which I have never used live (maybe one day). I bought a John East J-Retro pre amp..... and liked it so much I bought another two! 😊

On the other hand... The guitarist in my band plays through a 15 watt Pro Jnr combo and is still asked to turn down by sound engineers. He really isn't that loud.

At 7.53 in this video the bassist in Lynyrd Skynrd wished that wireless guitar systems had been invented in 1976. In fact, after this incident, he may have been the person who actually invented them

Slap bass (mainly because I'm crap at it) 6 string basses (when will you ever play that skinny string - never) Wireless guitar/bass systems (pointless unless you're in Lynrd Skynrd, or plan to crowd surf while playing bass) Hofner Violin basses

The band I used to be in, played a regular, well paid gig, in the bar of a 5 star hotel, in Edinburgh. One night we were playing to a, very large and appreciative, crowd of Americans. They were on a trip over to Edinburgh, paid for by the bank they worked for. At the end of the night the President of the bank came up and asked us to play 'one more song'. We told him that the management told us that the curfew was 11pm, for the sake of the residents staying at the hotel. Under no circumstances were we allowed to play after that cut off time. He replied 'Goddarn it, we ARE the residents!!!!'. He had a point.... So we played one more song. The next day we got an email from the management to advise our contract had been terminated 😢

I used to own a Classic 450. The problem I found with it, was that the low mid control had almost no effect on the sound. After I bought it I went back to the shop and tried the display model and the low mid on that had the same issue. I sold it and bought an Ashdown ABM head, which had a very effective low mid control.

I found that removing the pickguard, then fitting the control plate, and then re-fitting the pickguard usually works. It took me a while to figure this method out though, as in the past I've ended up sanding the pickguard to get it, and the control panel, to fit snugly.

Piano/keys are good to have in a band but there has to be discipline to stop the bottom end getting muddy. I would recommend listening to Fleetwood Mac to see how they incorporate both bass and piano, without stepping on each others toes.

Buy them both! Edit: Most people on Basschat suffer from GAS (gear acquisition syndrome). They'll get the joke

I wouldn't have bothered trying to talk with Pirate, I'd have just called the fire service right away. They'd confirm the place was safe, or not. They would then contact Pirate.

Even the master of singing and playing bass has problems sometimes.

from looking at it I think it's more of a modern radius . There was no radius quoted in the original add.

Yes I recall buying a bass from a guy in the States in 2008, as it was cheaper than buying it from a guy down the road, even with the postage and duty added. The exchange rate was $2 to the pound back then.

This is where you'll find the experts

I agree. I decided to take a punt and I was surprised, as the neck is pretty good. No sharp fret ends or anything. The action is not bad but could probably do with a bit of a tweak by a guitar tech to make it 'really' good.

The seller for my neck no longer has any for sale. I suspect they may be made by a Fender/Squier manufacturer in China and one or two of them disappear out the back door. But these look like the exact same ones https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?item=177280017838&rt=nc&_trksid=p4429486.m3561.l170197&_ssn=ningbohante20231205

Recently I bought a very good Chinese, Jazz Bass neck, off Ebay, for £76 including postage. It arrived within about 10 days, all the way from China. I wasn't expecting much but it really is excellent. Even has a cheeky Fender decal on it. I've also spent a lot more from a company in the States, called Stratosphere, for a used, Japanese Fender Jazz Bass neck. It was also very good but it would cost you about £400/£500 these days with the cost of postage and duty. I'd go for the Chinese option if I were you.

I was at a jam, a few years ago, and a trio got up to play three U2 songs. The bassist proceeded to play slap bass over all three of them. It would have been hilarious if it wasn't so tragic.....

The other day I bought a Chinese Jazz Bass neck, on Ebay, for just over £70. It's a perfect replica of a Fender Jazz neck and has both a 70s style Decal and a made up USA serial number on the back. I seriously think it has made its way out the back door of a factory that makes necks for Fender in China. It looks and feels like it could have been taken straight off a Fender Player. Of course I have no plans to sell it, or any bass its connected, to as the real thing.

A Ping Ray?

Why didn't you tell me that before I sold my estate and bought a saloon. Double bass and Saloon car are not a good mix.

Setlist is always a very good idea. I tend to put the key next to the song title too.

I've owned 5 Japanese Fenders and all of them have been excellent. (including a Japanese Squier from 1992). They have a reputation as having excellent quality control. Whichever one you choose I'm pretty sure it will be excellent. I never needed to change the pickups, as the ones installed were pretty good.