Conan

[quote name='Scoobs' timestamp='1382469753' post='2252609'] Budget for everything is £400, How should I split the budget up between those things? Sound I'm after? I want a bit of flexibility really as although I won't be playing any heavy metal I don't know what I might end up wanting to play. Neck width - I have big fat fingers so want a bit of space between the strings - does this vary a lot between styles and makes?[/quote] You'll find that a lot has changed in the last 25 years!! For the better, mostly. Firstly, I would say that the neck width thing is maybe not as big a factor as you might believe. My main bass these days is a Mexican Fender J, and although I have pretty big hands I have never found the J neck too small/narrow/cramped. Many top players use them, and some have gigantic hands! Try a few and see which feels the most comfortable. If you prefer to buy new, you should still be able to get a reasonable set-up for your budget. Fender/Squier do some "beginners' set ups" which have everything you need. The price really is stunningly low and the quality of the Affinity range is surprisingly high... [url="http://www.gak.co.uk/en/squier-stop-dreaming-start-playing-affinity-jazz-bass-pack-black/31258"]http://www.gak.co.uk...ack-black/31258[/url] There are a number of excellent value used basses on here at the moment. Squier would be a sound buy (the Affinity range is the cheapest, but the "Vintage Modified" and "Custom Vibe" models really punch above their weight) but Ibanez also do some excellent "budget" instruments. I've played one of these recently [url="http://www.gak.co.uk/en/ibanez-sr300-ipt-iron-pewter/18711"]http://www.gak.co.uk...on-pewter/18711[/url] and was very impressed! Even manufacturers like Stagg make some good quality basses for silly money. We have one of these [url="http://www.gak.co.uk/en/stagg-b370-vintage-j-bass-style-metallic-black/16673"]http://www.gak.co.uk...lic-black/16673[/url] at school, and I was blown away by how good it felt and played! There are loads of examples and lots of people will tell you what they think you should buy! It's a buyer's market at the moment, so if you have cash to spend it puts you in a very strong position to do a bit of haggling. Enjoy the search!

[quote name='rhythmbug' timestamp='1382618011' post='2254458'] we both started out on drum machines! I'm still stuck on that one though.. [/quote] Was that a drum machine on your Soundcloud tracks? Wow! I'm impressed. That's a great drum sound!

[quote name='charic' timestamp='1382616079' post='2254416'] I'm sorry to say as soon as audio started playing automatically on page 2 you lost my interest [/quote] Yeah. It does feel at bit amateurish...

I agree with Mr Dye above. It's certainly an unusual layout - but it doesn't give the information I would want. Who are you? Do you make these basses or just like them? Why do you make these basses? How much do they cost? Where can I get/try one? Any user testimonials or endorsees? etc, etc. Looks nice though!

[quote name='bagsieblue' timestamp='1382615435' post='2254402'] and me... [/quote] Join the queue....

[quote name='D-L-B' timestamp='1382614403' post='2254367'] no band "needs" a bass player,[/quote] Hmmmmm.... I think that depends on genre and who else is in the band. Whilst it is true to say that in some types of music the bass part (if one is required) could be played on keyboards or a guitar with an octaver/pitch shifter, there are other situations where the lack of a bass guitar played by a "proper" bassist (yeah, I know! ) would leave a bit of a gap (or at least a perceived gap) in that band's sound. Everything else you say in that wonderful post is pretty much spot-on! The "[i]get a P-bass and whack some flats on it, it's all you'll ever need[/i]" camp do become a bit tiresome after a while...

[quote name='rhythmbug' timestamp='1382309830' post='2250579'] Alrighty then, the demo track is done. [url="https://soundcloud.com/loscrujientes/room-3"]https://soundcloud.c...ujientes/room-3[/url] [/quote] Really enjoyed that! Thanks for sharing

Also, there are many different types of "big hands"!! I have very large, meaty palms - but although my fingers are very thick, they are not particularly long. Compare that to someone like, say, Stanley Clarke - when his fingers must be about seven inches long... Horses for courses.

I don't measure necks, I play them. If I like them I buy the bass (or keep it if I've already bought it!); if I don't like the feel, I pass that instrument by. The "feel" has [i]something[/i] to do with the neck dimensions, for sure - but it is far from the only consideration. For example, I generally like Fender Jazz basses, but I have played some where I really dislike the neck shape. If the sound is great, I might put up with it but it's more likely that I won't. BTW, I have pretty big hands too. I think it is quite common among bass players!

[quote name='CamdenRob' timestamp='1382367445' post='2251267'] Another one of my pet hates is when someone writes something that is clearly in A Mixolydian then tells me the song is in A.... no its not.. its in D [/quote] Yeah. It's an absolute [email="b@stard"]b@stard[/email] when that happens!

[quote name='Nick Riffed' timestamp='1382304106' post='2250518'] Music is for entertainment. [/quote] Inti?!?! Inti?!?! Are you there Inti??

Oh hell. These threads, and the frequency with which they are appearing, are making me think twice about shipping my Spector (assuming anyone buys it, of course!). I've been lucky with couriers so far, but...

[quote name='Dave Vader' timestamp='1380878528' post='2231752'] and shaving off the beard to leave a big floppy tache appeals a bit. [/quote] Sadly, that's not allowed! You have to start on the Nov 1 with a clean shaven face. It's surprising how much facial hair some guys can grow in a month! Not me though - mine grows quite slowly and is ginger!!

[quote name='Dingus' timestamp='1382360437' post='2251114'] Another big Frank fan here . Not just a superb guitarist but a complex and extraordinarily talented songwriter , too . Always interested to hear what the man is doing , so thanks for letting me know about this. [/quote] Took the words right out of my mouth!

[quote name='Marvin' timestamp='1382364413' post='2251196'] It's all to do with time and money. [/quote] I don't see how kicking and throwing items about saves time or money?

This whole courier/shipping thing appears to be a total lottery. One person says "don't use Company X, they are useless and trashed my item Y". Another member then says "I've never had a problem with them, they are far superior to Company Z - who are really bollox"... etc, etc. Why is there no consistency between these service providers? Who regulates (or is supposed to regulate) them? I have sat on an aeroplane before and watched the baggage handlers kicking cases and bags all over the place. How do they get away with this?

[quote name='walbassist' timestamp='1382346149' post='2250772'] I'd have a YOB '66 Jazz, dots and bound neck with lollipop tuners. [/quote] Oh yeah! That too!

Geddy Lee's original 1972 J bass. Not that there is much left of it that is "original" of course! Or maybe one of Chris Squire's Ricks.

I tend to start with what the drums are doing. Then I try to get an overall feel for the track. Thirdly (in this current band anyway) I listen to the two guitars. Only after all that (and if I'm still struggling to come up with something suitable) do I start thinking about the theoretical implications. My theory is limited, and I might not call things by the correct names, but I am fairly conversant with things like roots, thirds, fifths etc, and harmony and melody... Noodling has its part too though!

I now have a 2009 MIM J and I am really impressed! After a bit of a set-up, it plays beautifully. It even sounds good! I was fully intending to pop a set of Wizard Hammers into it, but I actually really like the tone produced by the stock pickups. Only downside is a minor dead spot at the fifth fret on the D string. Not unusual in Fenders, even some of the top-end ones (as far as I am aware). Bit of a result really!

Whilst I am a bit meh about much of Billy's playing style, he is a great guy who speaks a huge amount of sense. This clip has some very interesting points concerning playing covers, strap length and GAS!! Some of you might not want to hear some of his comments.... [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=yglAuOceEPo#t=194"]http://www.youtube.c...lAuOceEPo#t=194[/url]

If it is an old bass that has been regularly gigged, I'm not sure I'de expect the original hard case. It will have done its job of protecting the bass and will therefore be pretty damaged. I had to replace the case for my Status a couple of years ago. Not because it was damaged, but because the foam moulding (which holds the bass perfectly in place) was progressively deteriorating and turning to powder! I still have the original case, and if I ever tried to sell my Status (unlikely) I could offer the original case as well as (or instead of) the new Hiscox one. As long as a bass has something to protect it during gigging or shipping, I'm happy. But like others, I prefer to use gigbags. I would expect someone selling an expensive bass (say £750 and over) to at least offer a hard case.