6feet7

Yup, like that one Not the one on there a few weeks ago. It was yesterday. £65.00 and already got the string grooves. Unlike most people on here, I'm not overly fussed if things are a millimetre wider or narrower here or there. I just pick up play whatever's there (badly I should say :), but when people discuss string spacing being 17.5mm or 18mm etc etc. I'm not bothered (probably a sign of someone who doesn't really know what he's doing but enjoys doing it anyway

As you can see, I’ve got the mag pickup (for loud gigs) attached to the end of the board already but fitting that and the bridge ‘support’ hasn’t made any discernible difference acoustically (I haven’t gigged it yet, but at home it sounds the same). Also, I’m not sure if you noticed, but I also have an acoustic pickup attached for when I play quieter gigs/restaurants etc, so you guessed wrong As an aside I’ve just bought one of those metal triangular shaped bridges on eBay. It was going for a decent price and it’s for a 5 stringer, so watch this space.

3 times in 12 years for you. Two times for me in about 10 years. So we're about the same I just don't want it to ever happen again because it makes a god awful noise when it does slip over. You think that something has snapped in half for a second or two until you see the bridge flat.

No idea what I do - it's only happened twice. Probably needs a damn good setup, but I'm too tight for that so had the height adjusters fitted to the bridge. Acoustic pickup tightener bolts added and now the Brass WonderTone Hydraulic Boost Module (© Happy Jack). Trying to get it to look a bit steam punk. You should see what I've done to the heel of the neck - took an electric sander to it to round it off because my technique is so bad that I rest my forearm against it and its so much more comfortable now

I can offer to sell them one for £250 too

I had the idea how to fix the pickup to the end of the neck and had Simon Farmer at GUS Guitars make it up for me. A block stuck under the end of the neck and the cradle for the pickup screwed into the block. To get the adjustable pole pieces directly under the B & G strings, Aaron Armstrong would have had to make a completely new mould for my bass (which typically was just a slightly different shape to the last pickup he made for a 5 string DB - probably yours , which would have cost a lot more, so he adapted the nearest shape he had (so the middle three strings are directly over the poles) and the B & G pole pieces are at an angle facing the strings rather than right underneath them, so it makes no difference to the amplified sound at all.

Having had the bridge occasionally collapse, thankfully only at rehearsals, probably due to knocking it slightly getting it in and out of the car/rehearsal room etc. I was thinking of how I could stabilise it when I saw a metal, triangular, fully stable bridge going for sale on ebay. Unfortunately it was only for a 4 string DB and mine is a 5'er. Also it went for over £150 - a bit steep I thought. But it gave me an idea. How about fitting a plumbing pipe bracket from the bridge to the neck? As I've already got a Kent Armstrong magnetic pickup fitted to the end of the neck this would be easy. So back onto ebay and for £2.95, plus a bit of old rubber tubing to disguise the steel rod, I got exactly what I was after - photos below (purists and officianados look away now The alternative was to get another bridge, cut the feet off and stick them to the front of the feet on the bass to make a T shape. A bit fiddlier, more expensive and a little less rock 'n roll

It's on ebay at £495, but it's had a Fender decal put on instead of Squier and a Fender neck plate, which, even though the guy isn't passing it off as a Fender - he's totally upfront and saying it's a Squier - he thinks that this should put the price up. I've told him that anything that isn't original detracts from asking full price but he seems to think it's worth it. I'd love it but I told him I thought it was worth about £300 - £350 max so he's given me an offer of £400. I just wanted to see if I wasn't the only one thinking that the price was a bit high. Many thanks for all your help. That's saved me a few quid that I can spend elsewhere instead

I've been offered a Squier Vintage Modified 5 string Jaguar bass for £400. Part of me thinks this is a little overpriced but the other GAS part of me doesn't. Is this a reasonable price for this bass? HELP

I actually got rid of my red with tort pickguard Jake P/MM 5 because of those oval tuners (and the hipshot B bridge) I just couldn't get past them they were sooooo wrong. My Jake PJ 5 has a hipshot A bridge and standard vintage tuners and (IMO) looks perfect.

I've gone the other way. I used to love way out guitars and basses (I had several GUS carbon and chrome ones in the past in purple or metallic green). Now I've a sunburst PJ with tort pickguard. It'll be cardigans and slippers next.

Ignore all of that. I've decided that the bass has to go. It's wonderful but I just haven't gelled with it. Whenever I start to customise something it means I'm not happy with it (at some level). First was putting the black plastic parts on (I've taken them off now). Then it was going to get a custom bridge made. It's not worth it. I've been down this route before, spent a fortune customising something, then sold it for a massive loss.

I'm looking to find affordable 5 string pickups as I want to do something similar to a Jaguar bass. At the moment one 5 string T'bird pickup appears to cost more than the whole bass, so this idea might not take flight Since I posted that last bit I've had a reply from Josh Parkin Guitars who could make me a set for £270. Just need to buy a cheap Jaguar or similar shaped bass now.

I'll be posting pictures of it once it's done.

Just been email chatting with Simon at GUS Guitars. He's just about to get a CNC machine so said he could make a 5 string Ricky/hipshot style bridge for me once lockdown is relaxed. I suggested that he would have quite a few customers for that bridge if he marketed it. Watch this space

I wish I could get an adjustable bridge for my 5 stringer, but they don't seem to make one

Totally agree - I was wondering whether I could have an old fashioned looking bridge made up to new specs for the 5 string (unfortunately, Hipshot only make a 4 string bridge replacement). I know Simon Farmer of GUS Guitars and he makes all his bridges (and everything else metal) from solid blocks of aluminium in his own workshop. As he's only just up the road, once lockdown has relaxed, I might see if he can make something up.

I've found that I can't play anything even the remotest bit fast for more than 20 minutes on my 5 string double bass anymore. Once lockdown has eased and I can get to a luthier I'm getting the action lowered (I don't trust myself fiddling with a double bass bridge's height) just to make life easier. I don't play anything fancy or rockabilly etc etc, so as low as possible is the way to go for me.

Looks lovely. I've been looking at getting an electric upright as my double bass is a bit big for some situations, and looking at Youtube reviews this sounds a lot more double bass(ish) than some other well known makes at three to four times the price. Shame they don't do a 5 string version

I wonder if they'll make that bridge for the 5 stringers. As much as I love my 4003SW-5, the Schaller bridge just doesn't have that iconic Ricky look

My first bass was a YOB one - 1964 Gibson EB-0. I have no idea why I sold it (for a loss, like every other guitar and bass I've ever sold). I can't remember if I liked it or not, as it was my first and really didn't know what I was doing (some things don't change).

Ditto. I'm absolutely addicted to his YouTube channel, and, like you, am wondering whether I can afford one of his courses (though I'd really want to pack up everything, do his 3 month luthier course and set up my own guitar business. In my dreams.....

Watching this with interest as I'm thinking of making something along the lines of a Reverse Jaguar Cabronita 5 string with a single Filtertron or Rickenbacker style pickup, volume pot only (I never use the tone anyway) and left handed neck. Getting some good ideas here