u Merv

Guitars
Over the years I've had a variety of basses. Starting from poverty they were:
Satellite Precision copy
Fender Musicmaster
Rickenbacker 4000

Ibanez Musician thru neck

Yamaha B1100S

Status 3000

Epiphone Thunderbird IV

Warwick Thumb 5 string

Ovation 5 string acoustic

Warwick Thumb 5 string fretless

Aria SWB-Lite Upright 4

SEI Flamboyant 6 String (Now in California USA]

Alembic EPIC 5 string fretless

Fender FR51 Resonator Acoustic bass

DeArmond Ashbory bass

Dingwall Afterburner I

NS Design 5 String Upright Electric Bass

Fender USA 1999 Jazz V

US Masters EP53

Of all of these the Rickenbacker (my first decent item), the Yamaha,  Ashbory, Dingwall, NSD, Fender and Epiphone remain. The Ashbory really is quite phenomenal considering its size. The Dingwall is a craftsman made item from Canada and the most noticeable thing is the Novax fanned fret system. The main advantage this has is a 37" B string and even string tension. Its a passive bass and makes a very fine noise indeed. The NS Design is big ! It sports a full scale double bass neck and is great fun to play. For UK based people the $ to £ rate at the moment makes importing cheap, which is what I have done. I heartily recommend Bass Central in Florida. The Fender  is mainly used for recording. (all the ones in blue I still own). I now have my purple length, aka a  US Masters EP53 fretless bass. It's might fine with a purple heart fingerboard, Birdseye maple neck and mahogany body with a flame maple top

Amplification
As to amplification, I havea Schroeder 1212 cabinet. Its small and very powerful (1000w) and it has made the tone controls on the basses work again. Cannot recommend it too highly! I use an Acoustic Image Focus 2R amp which provides 800W and weighs 2.5Kg - my back loves it !.

Effects
As to effects, well none! This dates from a time I was playing and Alan said “what a great noise what effect are you using?” and I wasn’t. So I decided from that point on to keep it simple. I do use an AKG UHF radio system which I recommend as its clever hinged plug means it fits flush mount (Gibson Style) and recessed (Fender Style) jack sockets. Its frequency response is not quite down there at the Low B but its nothing to notice really. Although its fixed frequency at £200, a bargain. [éTOP]