Leaderboard

The LORD tells us that Idle hands are the devil's workshop... and thus did it come to pass that I unexpectedly stumbled across this unholy beast. Almost immediately, voluminous clouds of sulphurous GAS appeared. Eww! Save me, Jebus! But I've been yearning for one of these - on and off - for many years, particularly in Polar White. After an epic struggle with my inner thoughts and feelings the planets all lined up and lo, it fell into my hot 'n' heavy heathen's hands. It has accumulated a fair number of dings, dents and scuffs over its 37 years and the Hipshot tuners are clearly not original - but the rest of it is, including the monstrous 3-band EQ-B Tone System, Sure-Grip Controls, P5S and J5S pickups, Accu-cast Bridge, 5-piece maple and walnut laminate through-neck (with steel tone bars), ebony board, ash wings and original green velvet-lined leather case. Serial number dates it to May, 1983. Build quality is superlative. Finish is a heavenly cream pearl under a light amber lacquer with highlights of gold and green. Very lush. It looks like butter, but plays more like silk. A stunning range of big, bold, very usable sounds on tap. Incredibly responsive, hugely playable and punchier than Punchy McPunch, winner of last year's 'Mr Punchy' competition. It's alive! Once I get more acquainted with it, I'll record and post an audio clip. But for now, I'm pretty stoked. Praise be!

@Simon. is spot on with his praise of the selflessness of Basschatters. The knowledge you people share so freely must have been very hard won over a long time. To just give it away is beautiful. I would never in a million years attempt this just from watching a youtube video, but with my hand so firmly held I haven't felt the slightest apprehension at any time. A wonderful experience already no matter how things go from here. Thank you all, and a special mention to @songofthewind who first told me to get a grip and do it, then @Maude who picked me up when i thought I couldn't do it and set me back on the path, @Reggaebass for offerring tools, and of course the Elders Of The Build, Des Meilleurs Ouvriers de Basschat , those who's sandals I am not fit to tie. Thank you all.

Well, to return the gushing bonhomie that apparently is a side effect of covid-19 cabin fever, I would like to point out, reference the following two posts - and that you, @stewblack , performed the surgical operation of removing the fretboard and trussrod like a Harley Street Consultant. That's pretty awesome in my book But let's get back to criticising each other - it's much more fun

Whether Stew goes ahead with this or not, whether it works or not, this has to go down as one of my all time favourite Basschat threads! The sharing of ideas, the willingness to help out, the support, camaraderie and Stew's willingness to give it a go, are all just awesome. Exactly what BC has come to mean to me. Now, I have to go as apparently I have something in my eye... 👀

I know the Top 40 is full of this stuff these days, but what the heck... here’s some more! Edit to say, not sure if it works or not, and I don’t understand how all this kind of internet/social media stuff works, but well worth seeking out if you can! Edit again... I’ve copied a link from YouTube, which will hopefully work better!

One thing Rick doesn't point out that starting your debut solo record for a newish instrument and a bass at that with a bebop cover is a proper c### out on the table thing to do.

Wanted to build a Roger Waters 71 bass. Black, 62 pickups and flats. Although I’ve built bodies before I wanted it to look authentic, So I got a GuitarBuild body. 3 piece alder. Amazing quality. Decided to route out trussrod access, as I hate the idea of taking neck off to adjust. Very happy with result, I enjoyed it so much I wish I had built the body. Lol

I’m following this with interest, Theres some really great advice here , @stewblack whatever you decide to do, if you need a router to do the work, I’ll post one to you with the cutters , and return it whenever you want 👍

Basschat at its best. Some threads can get heated when folks don't agree but deep down I think we're all here with a common interest and a willingness to help others if we can. Warm hugs all 'round. Now enough of that malarkey and back to manly wood carving. 🙂

Trying to work through the questions posted above, but am here with the bass so keep 'em coming

Other than it’s a P bass, what’s the problem?

The best way to progress with ear training and transcription is to start singing everything you're trying to play - start with a bassline or melody that you know really well, but have never played, and break it down note-by-note. Sing each pitch and find it on your bass. Learning the correct names for all the intervals can come later, but the thing that takes the most time is building a link between your ears and your fingers. Sight singing is also an excellent way to develop your ears, as you really can't sing anything accurately unless you're hearing it in your head first. For learning intervals, the most effective thing that I've found is training yourself is an app called Functional Ear Trainer - this teaches you to hear how each degree of the scale sounds in context. As someone who does a lot of transcription, it's worth noting that many of things that make the process easier and more enjoyable have nothing to do with ear training - working on your reading is the quickest way to speed up the process of writing things down.

Day 50 - Rubberband Man Bonus! - Rick Beato - Everyones favourite music You-tuber (after Adam Neely!)

Here’s Gumi

Actually, just sussed it how a single action can work OK with these dimensions and why, even if the centre strip has split, why that might not be a problem. I'll draw it up in the morning and see if the wise sages around here agree

Hi everyone. I’ve just got this Rockbass. Pretty much new in to Warwick basses, been playing Pbasses and Jbasses mostly so I don’t know much about Warwick basses. Can someone tell me more about her please? Or in general about those models (one piece bridge, 2005?...). Thanks.

At a functions gig Irish Woman; Play Brown Eyed Girl. Singer; Sorry, it's not on our set list. 2 minutes later Irish Woman; Play Brown Eyed Girl!! Singer; Sorry, we'd need to learn it. 2 minutes later; Irish Woman yelling; Play Brown Eyed Girl fof f**ks sake!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Singer; F**k off you headcase!

Hi mike,not quite the same as your situation but it may/may not be of interest to you! I had a super 12t and then brought a big twin gen 3. The bt is defo a’bigger’ softer/fuller sound/tone I suppose whereas the super 12 was more’in ya face’ middy.harsher if you like,less ‘oommphhh.interestinly I still found myself using the super 12 more as it seemed to cut through and I could hear myself better onstage.moved them both on in the end .i now have a bb3and a super midget .A more flexible solution for me I have found.Either one or t’other depending on gig situ and together they sound somewhere in between ,the super 12t and the big twin gen3 fuller sounding that the super 12t .In reality the bb3 more than covers what I need .im talking pub gigs and theatre shows aswell.How’s that for a technical response 😂!

Rick Beato is great. His "What makes this song Great?" is great. Jaco was "other-worldly". He didn't take a "bass" solo. Some of his lines were stuff a sax player would be hard-pressed to pull off. At his best no one is better. At his worst - showboat.

That’s because he is letting the notes breathe more, does some finger style and is wearing wonderfully short shorts

That is uncommon civil of you. Thank you very much. Let me eliminate that doubt by double checking Double Checked 7mm.

So for the elimination of doubt...are you saying that directly underneath the slot at that point there is 7mm of wood before you hit fresh air? And so the original rod was also acting on this same thickness of wood. Well, given the above, if this was my bass, and as long as I made sure the trussrod was positioned correctly at the nut end (and 'correctly' means in relation to that thicker area of the neck, which will put the rod just a touch further forward than normal), I would be keeping it simple and putting a modern two-way truss rod in. Anyone disagree?

I'm gagging for the 435 I bought a couple of months ago but sent it back when we went in to lockdown. Trying to buy it back from the shop. It weighed spot on 8lbs and sounded better than my P34.

I think my input now is limited until the elders meet and decide between them the best course of action. I'll then get on with whatever the consensus is. Can just I say if I follow anyone's advice and up with a broken neck I hold no one but myself in any way responsible. It's my choice to follow the advice, no gun to my head.

North London - The Gallery in Camden, is THE place to go IMO (lockdown advice notwithstanding).

There may be a non-router way out of this. Am going out for some time - to look at a truss rod I have in my possession. Lockdown, brings out the simple pleasures in life 😎

I'm not sure if it got mentioned earlier but a typical two way truss rod is 6mm wide with a 7mm diameter nut. As the channel width is 5mm then this would need to be widened as well if a two way truss rod was to be fitted. For me, that would need some form of jig making to enable a router to cut this as it would need straight edge to use as a guide.

Not all. I'm here too remember 🤯

This thread, and all the contributors, are awesome 👍🏻

I thought “not another bloody Jaco video” then I watched the whole thing which was great. It was an expert analysis of the track by someone I’d never heard before and by someone who so obviously loves the music he was still shaking with excitement over 40 years later. These sorts of videos is what makes the internet amazing, thanks for sharing!

Slightly off topic, check out Yes, Roundabout, with Rick.

When we first started dating she was up one night and I was playing music on random. Some really heavy song came on and I apologised and said I'll change that. She said no, leave it on, I like it. I thought then, this is a keeper!

Eminently possible but again not for the 'faint-hearted' I can see this considerably simplifying the jigs needed to do the routing. The existing truss rod channel would act as a bearing guide for any routing. OTOH the refinishing would increase significantly.

Hurr-hurr, Volute...

Current daily routine, get up two hours before wife (she's a singer, if you've ever lived with one you'll understand 😉 ) Breakfast and coffee, open YouTube, grab bass, warm up whilst Lee delivers an anecdote, listen to him play, feel motivated, play as much of the track as i can. Go to work.

It'll be different again, by the time I've learnt it...😂

I’m way more offended by the curtains......

The clue is in the title, maybe..? ...

only exercise I get

Rick B is great. That playing on Donna Lee just wasn't my thing though, clever as it was. I know this is a very heretical opinion, but I don't like Bass as a solo or lead instrument (either electric or DB). A few bars of breadown with the drums maybe, but nothing further.

Not a clue. But what you are looking for is the Source Audio Spectrum Intelligent Filter. Does the Meatball thing, the Mutron thing, the every thing you could imagine.

Good slap is a valid and effective technique. Bad slap is "circus bass", just pointless tricks and noises. So good slap works in the context of the song. Bad slap is usually someone showing how clever they are in a solo. My first attempt at slap came when I first heard Thank You by Sly and the Family Stone. I have to admit, my efforts since have been pretty half hearted. I haven't had much incentive, I've never been asked to slap in any band and none of the bass players in the other bands I see use slap. One singer even thanked me for not slapping! Slap (tapping, chords and harmonics) are totally missing in the musical world I inhabit. Two months ago I had such high hope for my technical improvement during lock down, and all I've done is play stuff I know. Maybe I should get the Jazz out and start learning "good" slap.