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Showing content with the highest reputation on 16/08/19 in all areas
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Another update folks Jason is on holiday so he will sort next week hope that’s ok, I’ll notify the winners tomorrow anyway so you know who you are10 points
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Can you identify the musical styles the owner of an instrument is into from their fretboard wear patterns? Of course you can, here's the simple and infallible Basschat Guide:7 points
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I’m going to download this thread in a pdf in case I need it in court6 points
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NBD is imminent at Black Towers. Continuing my apparant quest to replace every instrument I own with a P Bass of one sort or another I have jettisoned a P/J and am eagerly awaiting the bass stork. I'm calling her my Stealth Bass.5 points
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This is a local thread for local people, we’ll have no trouble here.5 points
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Said pdf could go ‘missing’ if you bring me back something nice 👍🏻5 points
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I'm heading to the studio next month and although 90% of the time I go straight to desk, we sometimes have an 'acoustic' jam through amplifiers which is good fun. I haven't actually had an amp for a while now (except the TC BH800 I have at home to power my floorboard/studio setup) so I decided it would be good to pick up a light-ish and decent powered combo. I know I like 10" speakers and I wanted a compressor built in, plus something that would match a super clean Smith bass with rounds and a P bass with flats, which is quite a tonal range. I looked at a few options, and thought about using an external pre or my Roland VB99 to take care of the front end but really fancied something 'plug and play'. I tried the Fender Rumble series which I was impressed with but I saw this come up at a decent price which happened to be en route to my in-laws. It's a 2x10 500w job which is a fairly easy one hand lift - I've got a dodgy back but even I can manage it fairly easily but would probably want help over long distances. I have only trialled it at home for a little while (I don't really like playing amps at home, stuff rattles, I don't like annoying people and people can hear me!) but my first impressions: - The compressor seems to be EXCELLENT! I was worried about this as I'm quite picky with them but it's very pleasing; you can't hear any 'squashy' effect at all, just an overall limiting and evenness. - Lots of tonal options. You can choose between three 'voicings' (Classic, Modern, Flat) and three 'responses' (Linear, 6L6, 6550). That gives plenty of options (9?). So far I like the modern voicing with linear response but I can tell that the 6550 setting sounds very close to my old Trace V4 combo which had those valves in - which I wasn't expecting. Very punchy and clackerty. Nice. To be honest it took me right back! - It also has OD, Distortion, Fuzz, Chorus and Octaver. I'm unlikely to use those but they might be fun to mess with. The chorus sounded good, the octave might take some time to balance as I think it pushes the pre into overdrive at the moment - Need to spend some proper volume time setting the input gain correctly; no indication light to show when it's breaking up and I can't crank it at home to learn how it reacts yet! - Loud... you can see I had the master on 9 O'clock and although that's no indication I turned it up half way and touched a string and now my balls are in my bottom So I'm very pleased with it so far - as I say I haven't really been up to date with amplifiers since leaving my last band, and the rigs I'm most familiar with are a Mesa 400+ and 1516BE cabinet, a Trace V4 1x15" combo and an SWR stack (see why I have a bad back!) and this gives me even better initial feels than those did, which is a good sign. Plus I can move it. A few pics:4 points
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I bloody love this bass, @Cosmicrain made an absolute stunner and it sounds incredible4 points
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Not convinced , I play punk and am sure I don’t play as much as is on that chart 🤣4 points
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Future Impact Friday fun(k) here my synth-loving brethren...4 points
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Went back to that video and thread that originally inspired this build and have started my attempt at going for a high polish. Whilst it's still a long way off being a high polish, the photos below don't really do it justice...it's as smooth as glass and working it's way to a soft sheen at present. Currently the body has two seal coats of Tru-Oil, a wet sand using 600 grit w/d and two wet sands using 1000 grit w/d. I'm off work this week, not away anywhere and weather looks as cr@p as you'd expect in Scotland for August, so plan this week is for two w/d sands each using 1500 and 2000 grits, so hoping this time next week we will be nearer where I'm aiming for. In the meantime, I'm off to see The Cure in Bellahouston Park, probably catch a death, but hey-ho, it's only Rock n' Roll...🍻🍻4 points
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Pretty much the same for me too. The 62s have a warmth and depth to them that I’ve not come across before, but it’s not a boom or lack of treble. These pickup react well to whatever is asked of them, I play trebly twangy driven punk and they deliver, but in days when I’m playing along to Motown they also do the business when the drive and twang is removed - which I do just by turning back the tone control on the bass, no need to adjust on amp. I’ve had many different Precisions over the years and these are by far the best pickups I’ve heard in any of them.4 points
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I live literally about 20 minutes from Bass Direct but I've never been. The stock I'm interested in is the really high end stuff that I can't really afford and I'd feel a bit weird about going in there just to kick tyres. Feel free to PM me though if anyone needs a getaway driver with local knowledge or somewhere nearby to stash the loot until the heat dies down.4 points
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OK folks, thanks everyone for entering - I've picked the winners and I'm just speaking to Jason at Rotosound now about the final details, so you can expect to hear from me soon if you're a winner!! Cheers ped4 points
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My son Jack is a hip hop producer, he’s spent years developing his style, making contacts and putting his tracks out there. He’s had loads of knockbacks along the way but he’s never been deterred, he’s never given up and he’s kept on plugging away. A while ago one of his beats got picked up by a rapper in the US who used it in a track that did quite well on the underground scene. This lead to his stuff being passed on to Logic, an artist on Def Jam, and an invitation to provide beats and additional production on a track called Still Ballin’ If you’re into hip hop you’ll know the track, it was number one on the Billboard charts, number one on the ITunes chart in the US (and I think in the UK). It’s now being used on NBC’s NBA coverage in the States. Suffice to say he’s thrilled, as am I. The other day Def Jam sent him his plaque. Just goes to prove that you can do anything, with talent, drive and persistence. Even a kid from Walsall making beats in his bedroom. Where this leads now I don’t know yet, but he’s getting offers so hopefully the momentum will continue for him. I’m absolutely made up for him and so proud3 points
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3 points
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Get an estate car. It'll come in useful for the ram raid as well.3 points
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As I said in the earlier thread, resetting the neck angle (which was putting the predicted action a bit high) once the fretboard has been fitted is fiddly in the extreme. It's when you realise just how rock-hard rock maple is! But, although it has taken me all day - early morning until late afternoon - have finally got there. I still have the side -to- side in the right place (it was before, but it is too easy to get it out of alignment once you start tweaking): And - at long last, the beam is sitting where it should be - just at the level of the top of the bridge: And time for a quick mock up:3 points
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If I go with you two I can tell Mrs C some bigger kids made me do it... 😐3 points
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Another one for Vigier; Mine's a Passion V series III from 1996. I've had it from new, and it's never put a foot wrong. Can sound a little too strong in the upper mid in isolation, but that just shines through in the mix and helps give it its voice. Impeccable fit, finish and playability. As previous posters have mentioned, they don't do "vintage" very well. Also rans; A Warwick Fortress Masterman- excellent balance and a Stingray- matching tone if you want it. Not very pretty, though. Oddly, My Ibanez EDB605. Yes. A plastic Ergodyne. Neutral to the point of being sterile-sounding, but very flexible (and cheap!!)3 points
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Trips to Bass Direct always turn out rather expensive for me! I have to drive past the motorway exit on my way to rehearsal quite often, and my wallet always starts quaking until we're past the turning.3 points
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OK, by popular demand, here are some comparison pics of a Barefaced Super Twin and a Super Compact. Anyone who needs telling which is which is in the wrong thread, probably on the wrong site! Pictures taken 10 minutes ago in our house, showing one of the new sofas that were discussed in another thread this week, also some glimpses of the dusty cases containing my Fender Precision and Jazz basses, neither of which have been opened for a year now. Not a lot in it in terms of height, the top of the SC is roughly level with the middle of the cone of the upper speaker of the ST Width and depth - the rear and left hand edges are aligned. Or if you prefer the SC on its side, it sticks out.3 points
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3 points
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Decided it didn't need a 2nd grain fill, it's absolutely smooth as glass all over with the one. Gave it another fine coat with Tru-Oil and tried to buff it up to a polish...not quite there yet. Used a cotton cloth to buff up and in-between rubs using 6000, 8000 and 12000 grade 3M Micro-Mesh. It's currently got a soft sheen to it, without being highly polished, so I think I might repeat the process tomorrow. I've read using lemon oil in between buff coats helps remove / prevent fingerprints and smears...might also need to look out the latex gloves...😱 Anyway, a couple of pictures and a 'fess up...the string ferrules are polished nickel and the neck ferrules are chrome...couldn't locate the string ferrules in chrome...😬 Btw, wee bit early trying out the shielding, I know...the pup shield was removed as I was sanding...3 points
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Vigier Passion 4-strings series II, born 1989 carbon graphite neck, no truss rod, a detuner original except two pot knobs two single coil pickups by Benedetti original semi-parametric preamp, 2 x 9 V some lacquer has detached from the nut, but no cracks in the carbon anywhere Serious instrument, sound is extraordinaire. My all time favourite fretted 4. I have two, so this one is leaving. No original hardcase left.2 points -
After a rethink on the price, a huge price drop to £2750, now £2350! (sorry I couldn't change the main add price after I had posted it originally). After some considerable consideration, I have decided to sell my original 1974 Fender Jazz bass. The bass has the original black factory finish (custom colour for the time), with a black pick guard and complete with a maple neck with pearl blocks. All the parts are original to my knowledge. The bass is also lightweight at just over 8lbs. I am the 3rd owner, the guy I bought it from had it from 1980 and he bought it from the original owner. The bass is dated from the neck plate 502248 (source - Fender Vintage 50,000 to 58,000 = 1974, and the pick ups which are stamped 74 (one clear to read one not really readable but it is the original one). The original pots are dated from 1973, and the neck is actually dated from 1972 (02033923) meaning Jazz bass, Maple neck, Wednesday 27th September 1972). There is nothing "funny" about this, it was common place for Fender employees to just grab parts off the shelf. All the parts are original to this bass except the pick guard. Somebody had tried to relocate the thumb rest but the holes have been refilled. I managed to source an original 1974 pick guard from the USA so it's back to original! The bass came to me with a generic 70's case, however I bought a period correct Fender case from Tony Williams (bass player of Stealers Wheel fame and who toured with Jethro Tull in the late 1970's). He very kindly sent me a certification of authenticity with the case and a Jethro Tull touring tag (see pics). The bass was set up to perfection by Xperience Guitars in Nottingham, (low action, currently with Rotosound 105-45 Swing Bass strings). All the electrics work fine, the bridge pick up has been repaired but it is the original one, and rest assured everything functions exactly as it should. There are a couple of marks on the neck, non of which effects playability. The bass has marks, light scratches, dents etc... and crazing as you would expect, but overall i'd say it is in excellent condition for it's age. It sounds sweet as a nut too! So, the bass comes with the period correct case with certificate from Tony Williams, the original pick guard (pick guard replaced with an original 1974 part), original thumb rest with screws, and the original covers too! I am also including an original long screw and saddle that I bought as a spare from the USA. The only parts not original that i'm aware of are the covers screws which are 1970's period correct replacements. I have never used the covers or thumb rest and they are in excellent condition. I have placed them on the bass for photographic purposes. This bass has been used for gigs in Judas Priest tribute band Hell Bent For Priest, Ronnie James Dio tribute band DIIO (D2O), and classic rock and metal covers band Synner. I am only selling this bass because I rarely use it anymore as I am using my Musicman Sabre all the time these days. I think I have priced it fairly at £2750 (new price - £2,350) which includes UK postage (elsewhere at cost,) given I have seen these go for way more than this and that's with missing/changed parts, refinishes, missing case, etc..... I will post but i'd far sooner you came to my place to see and try this beauty for yourself. I live about 5 minutes from junction 26 M1 Nottingham. This is a proper classic, and sorted vintage bit of kit that will only keep on increasing in desirability and value. It plays and sounds wonderful and is in great condition for it''s age, and lightweight too. In fact I have not seen a better one for sale for ages. I will only accept cash on collection, bank transfer or (PayPal if you are willing to pay any additional costs). Please be aware that buyers from abroad not in the EU will incur import duty and tax, paid for by the buyer. In all cases this bass does not leave my possession until I have the money in my hands. I may possibly take a P/X or possible exchange (a Pre-Ernie Ball Musicman Stingray in Sunburst ideally) but a cash sale is much preferred please. Check out the pics. Tony.2 points -
Custom built ‘Fender’ Precision '51/55 slab bass 2 piece ash body finished in relic arctic white. Relic nickel control plate and flat top knurled vol/tome knobs with correct slot top screws. CTS audio taper 250k potentiometers and an A.p47uf Sprague orange drop capacitor. Vintage true solid core cloth wiring and upgraded Telecaster type jack socket. 5/8” nickel vintage string ferrules and Brass saddle/Squier Vintage bridge. Try Custom PB’51 single cool pick up. Scratch plate by BassDoc and whole set up too. Very nice solid maple neck and Mexican P bass tuners. Weight 9lb Nut 36mm Comes in a soft case/gig bag. welcome to come and try in Hexham. Would trade for a Jazz or PJ Bass2 points -
New Spector bass day! Landed a week ago but this is my first chance to get it photographed and uploaded 😉 Spector EuroLX 'Rachel Bolan' sig model 😎 Sounds, looks and feels fantastic! 🎸 A question for you all though.... I'm not sold on the red 'crowns'. Would it be heresy to cover them with white MOP decals?2 points
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Burns Flyte,2 points
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I'm not kidding, a few weeks ago, before I went to Athens, I contacted the previous owner of this beauty to hunt it back for me, but I got no returns! Today, I finally bought one, JUST today, I just arrived home from Germany with it! But I'm totally in love with it! Of course, it's also a Deluxe, I just removed the trussrod cover for daily adjustment until I get it right, it's still fresh! If you posted this one a bit earlier, I would have already bought it! Plus, it's a killer price.2 points -
When your young and starting out it's probably not that bad. It's a young mans game anyway you look at it. Blue2 points
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2 points
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... against a black back-drop rather like those Czech puppeteers who at one time enjoyed a fleeting popularity on 1960's childrens' TV shows. The other usefulness of this approach is that if one is invisible both to the audience and one's bandmates it opens up the possibility of nipping offstage during the set for refreshments and / or a crafty Woodbine, without anyone being any the wiser.2 points
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...and then wear all black stage-clothes & a ninja mask!2 points
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Lovely. I tell you what I'd do - I'd get a triple-ply BWB scratchplate. I know, it's not all back anymore, but I replaced the all-black scratchplate on my Onyx Sterling and it looks more black with the accent.2 points
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New Adventures was the last good one. I saw them at Brixton Academy in 2003 and it was some anniversary of recording Fables of the Reconstruction so they played Feeling Gravity's Pull/Maps and Legends/Driver 8/Life and How To Live It - after that they could have played anything from Up or Reveal and it wouldn't have mattered2 points
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Second side of the top binding done - again ironed on: While I was doing a swift inlay on one of @wwcringe 's basses yesterday, I did a couple for the headstock of this while I had all the tools out and set up. Standard stuff: Glued with z-poxy mixed with wood shavings: And tidied up with a sanding block: Next thread is today's task. Taken me pretty much all day...resetting the neck angle.2 points
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You need fender tapewounds... They're black and sound amazing on a P bass. They're black too.2 points
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For me it's simple. The 62's produce the P sound I'm familiar with from umpteen recordings. They just sound right (in every sense... tone, bite, output, warmth). I play rock, indie, blues, motown and the 62's nail that. But if you play funk and modern, than 62's are not right for that sound. In fact, a jazz bass would be more suitable, with "modern" voiced pickups. As the OP was comparing two "vintage" voiced pickups, as said by many of us, the 62 rules, imho.2 points
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Looks like you can still download it from the link below, but I should point out that I haven't actually downloaded it so I've got idea if this is what it claims to be or whether it's a virus or some other nasty! I'm just absolved myself from any blame if it turns out to be dodgy! http://riffstation.findmysoft.com2 points
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I have only owned (and still own) two five strings. A Vigier Arpege V string, one of the 'modern' Series IV with a bolt on neck rather than neck through. There is a 3 band EQ on each pickup set up which is mad and a composite 'phenowood' fingerboard. In terms of design and fit and finish it is nearly flawless. My only gripe is that the space between the front pickup and the end of the fretboard is pretty small so you have to play pretty accurately when slapping and popping. Not sure I like the monorail bridge system compared to the big hulk of metal that is the Vigier Excess bridge. Drawback of the Vigier is that lots of guitarists listen with their eyes and don't like a bass that doesn't look like a Fender. I have had this bother a few times over the years. Sadowsky NYC Jazz Bass. Sadowskys don't get the glowing praise on Basschat that they do on Talkbass, but I personally love them. The two band EQ plus VTC on the Sadowsky doesn't offer the flexibility of the Vigier, but I love the slightly more vintage voice of the Sadowsky which the Vigier just can't really do with the pickup, phenowood fingerboard and 10/90 carbon neck system. It also looks like a Fender so aforesaid guitarists don't get uncomfortable. I don't have pics readily to hand. Other fivers I want to try but I am unlikely to own: Musicman HH - they just look cool, I would also happily own a four string too. Wal Mk II - my favourite Wal shape Clover Xpression 5 - I just think that they look like a great all round bass, but I don't know of anybody who actually owns one. I will probably buy a six string before I buy another five string bass.2 points
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Rubbery red strap locks from grosch bottles & the similar ones in different colours from ebay/amazon2 points
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A very fair price indeed. As clean as a whistle2 points
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I get fed up when people think charity employees should be paid a pittance because their wages come out of donations - many charity employees feel this way too! Personally I think they should be paid extra for doing jobs that benefit society.2 points
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This is starting to sound like, Lock, Stock and two smoking fenders 😄2 points
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There's always one. And it's often me. And this is no exception! I owned a 250 watt SMX 1x15 combo and matching 1x15 cab, bought new in the early 90's and in time grew to hate it with a passion, it was an absolutely gutless pile of 5h1t that was about as versatile as Rik Mayall. It was my first serious rig and I'd saved long and hard for it. I'd bought it on the strength of the buzz about them at the time, still very much pre-internet times so I was influenced by the likes of Bassist magazine and the word on the street. I was still young and relatively inexperienced when I bought it but as I developed as a bass player and got to know what bass sounds work for me I came to realise that my Trace rig couldn't deliver the goods. I wanted a fairly flat sound with tight lows, punchy mids and enough high end to give the sound some definition. All the Trace seemed to deliver was a bright top end. The SMX pre-amp had a million and one tone shaping options but no matter what I did with it, it didn't really stray form a bright sound that was delivered with the slam of an asthmatic nematode. It was like dealing with an 8 year old; Trace, give me gutless sound with lots of treble. No problem. That's great, how about thickening things up with some audible bass frequencies? What about some more treble instead? Trace, give me some punchy mids. I know, a massive boost between 2-4KHz will work wonders. And so on. I eventually saved up enough money to replace it. I couldn't care less what the anti class D crowd say but it was replaced by a Mark Bass Little Mark 2. And there it was, all of a sudden there were all the lows and mids that were missing from the Trace. The Little Mark was rated at 500 watts and was easily twice as loud as my old SMX and didn't break a sweat delivering the lows and mids with a conviction that the Trace never could. So if TE watts are twice as loud as everyone else's, then Mark Bass watts are >4 times as loud! All in my experience of course!! Fast forward to last year and having more or less got over my old Trace rig I thought try again. Based on the high praise heaped on them on here and elsewhere online, I bought a TE Transit pre-amp pedal as my band was ditching backline for IEM's. This was a significant improvement over the SMX but still not without its issues, for example the so called legendary Trace pre-shape added so many subby lows that it was unusable. I reckon it'd even be too over powering for dub reggae. Still, the EQ was very good, and the dual band compression was fantastic. But that soon followed its predecessor out of the door. So it came as something of a pleasant surprise when I dropped in to buy a used bass from a guy a few months ago and he plugged it into a GP7 (?) (1x15 with 7 band EQ) combo to show that it was working. My initial reaction was to think "oh no, don't" but with the EQ set flat and any idiot buttons switched off, there it was, my Trace Elliot epiphany. There was that big, punchy Trace sound that's so revered. There was the weight and heft that was lacking from my old SMX. Mine was obviously a Friday afternoon special and I still sometimes shudder at the thought of it. But some 25 years or so later, I think I finally get it.2 points
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Finally I finished the bass:2 points
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No. I only play 4’s.1 point
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Allow me to direct your attention to the 'Show us your pedal board thread' if you're after some willy waving1 point
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That's a wig? I'm so disappointed now...1 point
