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Yet Another New Bass Day I last posted in this section a month ago to announce the arrival of an Ibanez SR1200 to my collection. That left my care yesterday having been played once during my brief custody, and replaced by a Fender Jazz US Special. I just have to face up to the fact that I am not really made for exotic active basses, and should stick to standard Jazz & Precision basses from now on. Obviously,y it is inevitable that I will deviate from this sensible course, but such is life. I acquired the Jazz after seeing it advertised on Facebook by a chap who wanted to swap it for a Premium Ibanez. As I had one doing nothing, I decided to get in touch, yesterday he came over to our house and we sat in the garden with an amp & cab, talked bass stuff and tried each other's basses. The result was satisfactory for us both - he prefers Ibanez and I prefer Fender, so a straight swap was agreed. Looking at the prices of each, it was a fair deal for us both, and a pleasant hour or so chatting and playing in the evening sun. I now have four Jazz basses (though I am selling the active one) and only one Precision…. Obligatory picture of the new recruit:

On recent builds, for earthing the bridge I've started using a strip of the self-stick copper foil that I also use for the chambers: The solder joint sits inside the entry scoop and so you don't have the worry of the wires lifting the bridge or eventually sinking into the finish and breaking contact: And we have a fitted and earthed bridge : As the copper foil is out of the drawer, next job may as well be shielding the chambers.

Just a couple more tips and tricks I have reminded myself while I've been doing the pickup chamber and cable tunnel, @PatrickJ . I generally add an overlap and find it easier to pre-bend the edges before I take the backing off: Now, of course, these mostly disappear when you take the backing off, but the lines act as a datum for placing the main shape in the right place. Then I smooth from the middle towards the edges, finishing off running my fingernail into the corners and securing the overage. If I get a split (the double rout in this chamber was a bit too much compound bending for the large piece I was trying to put in) I just fit a covering strip. Again I prebend and aim to get that corner into the corner of the wood first: The tags of wiped solder will ensure that the continuity is maintained so it's no problem that the one-piece is now a two-piece of copper And...shielded: And, even though I say it myself - looking very pretty

Leave your cards at home.

The website just passed 60000 hits. Roughly 1150 per week.

Finally back in stock at Andertons. I have just ordered one, interest free credit over 9 months A black one What's not to like I have a gig in september that I can try it on. Roll on delivery!!

Easy to answer: 1. More basses 2. Less money 😁

GAS ignition stage 1 complete.

The black plate really gives it that 70s vibe, which I really dig and have on my G&L tribute...... Jazz necks are really nice to get around and can imagine yours is a dream. The only thing that took a bit of fiddling for me is eq'ing the thinness out, while still keeping that jazz bite. I took me a while to find a tone I was happy with, especially after playing with humbuckers for so long, but they're pretty versatile basses!

I ordered a cab from Bass Direct early PM yesterday, payment was easy, and I received a very nice email within minutes thanking me for my custom, nice experience. Doorbell just rang and it's the bloody cab, I make that around 18 hours from me first seeing it to their delivering it. Absolutely bloody awesome service, especially given the accounts I'm hearing of other (and bigger) shops making a complete mess of things at the moment. Well done Mark and team, and many thanks. Chris

I think that's the Japanese calendar, in which the year derives from the reign of the emperor at the time. In the Showa calendar, which ran from 1926 - 1989, for the duration of the reign of Emperor Hirohito, 58 corresponds to 1983. And that's a stunning JV. If you didn't give the chap at least a grand for it, you robbed him!

A tad shocked at myself but a fairly casual investigation turned into a purchase last weekend. Bar the commmon, slight misalignment of some of the pots I can’t fault the thing. Took me ten minutes to set it up. Probably the best action on a bass I’ve ever had. Sounds fabulous (to me) and is quite a looker in the flesh.

Another weirdo here, but I think it's a known fact.

No apologies needed. My threads tend to meander anyway - and usually it's me doing the meandering It's also useful your comment about the low B with a 30" - because it is something that a number of folks do wonder about. But, like you, I've never had an issue. And we have all marvelled at @Jabba_the_gut 's very short scales at various Bassbashes where they seem to defy gravity with such hefty strings played so low on such small instruments. Short-scale is by far the most frequent requests I have been getting over the past three or four years and there is a lot to be said for them from a player's point of view.

I do. And yes, I am 🤪

No one prefers tort you weirdo

Holy moly 😍 I think I prefer the tort but both look superb 🙂

Control chamber and hatch shielded. Pickup chamber this evening

In the modern era , ie 2000 onward, I've always had a single multi pedal for doing gigs, if nothing else it's handy to have a tuner, provided it's 'lighty up' and visible, plus I tended to have a v.small ammount of chorus or reverb just to give the sound a little bit of extra something . I never really went far into the effects that were on these pedals, personally I can't see the point of distortion on bass unless you're a Lemmy tribute act , just imho !

Another one for old time's sake, this is Jimmy Bain's bass part for the tune 'Stargazer' from the 1976 Rainbow album, 'Rising'. One of the greatest Heavy Rock albums of all time. https://bilbosbassbites.co.uk/stargazer-rainbow/

Bought a black one too last week from guitarguitar, awesome bass! There should be a black pickguard in the gig bag if you fancy changing it 👍🏻

I've been playing for 45 years and have never used effects, nor has anyone suggested that I should.

Thanks for your answer @skelf. That said, I don't know either why this S. Martyn bass appeared here as it has nothing to do with @Andyjr1515 build thread. You both Alan and Andy are doing an amazing work on your own builds. It's always a delight to follow your threads.

So a bit puzzled as to why Bassadder posted the Brazilian build in your thread.

Well, an interesting, if slightly odd, diversion to the build thread. But any diversion that gets @skelf (who's work I find awe-inspiring and bass-builder-inspiring in equal measure) posting on one of my threads is always very welcome Anyway, we'll be getting back to the boring old stuff like my-bridge-earth-wire-hole-blocked-by-glue very soon

Ah, I have one of those 😉

On a side note why is it that historically the overly Pious, morally outraged people tend to blow a fuse and go on killing sprees? Personally I think humans are just another animal which given the right conditions are capable of great empathy and creativity and the reverse is also true. Not condoning uncomfortable songs but I would rather the beast was expressed metaphorically in art.

Check out this one! It''s being sold overhere in the Netherlands... Yamaha BB5000A 90's Metallic purple

Finally found some time again…. Neck fixing/ferrules sorted, bridge and tailpiece sorted (and scale and lining of strings is even fine 😂). Nut and tuners next….. then redo the pickguard and polish up the frets. Then just lots of sanding and finishing…… And once this skinny thing is done, I will be refocusing on a real instrument, ie the bass ….

Only a small update - shaped the heel and radiussed (radiused?) the fretboard. On to another scary job next, fretting!

UPDATE TO THE UPDATE... I stated a dispute with eBay re this matter; eBay handed this over to Paypal as that is how I paid. Despite being given repeated opportunities to give ANY response re this matter Peter Barton (aka 'vintageinvestments' on eBay) refused to engage in the dispute process (quell surprise) and Paypal have refunded me. Why this guy has dragged this out is beyond me. He clearly did not hand over the cab to a stranger knocking on his door claiming to have won it... how could anyone know he had sold it on eBay and how the hell did they get his address when even I didn't have it? You just wouldn't would you? The main thing is that in about 30 days I'll have the funds credited back to my credit card (almost 7 weeks after paying) and with the assistance of BC I know a lot more about Mr Barton and I'm wise to him should I ever have the pleasure of meeting him professionally/in person. Oh and I'm still in the market for a TKS cab.

It’s interesting. Initially I went for tort and then thought that white on cream might be classy. I think it is. I’ll have the option of both too. Thank you go to Mike for the photos.

So apologies in advance I wasn’t intentionally trying to promote another builders instruments and take away from the Sterling work done by Andy your bass looks beautiful, and for complete transparency I did work for Overwater Basses for 18 years... My point was I to see how many people on here play short scale 5 strings and to gauge what the feeling So I got in 30” scale instruments for health reasons firstly and secondly because I’ve been studying with Evan Marien for the last 18 months and he’s introduced me t a 30” scale 5 string instrument.... Though my guitar friend has been on at me for years to go down the short scale route. Obviously I’m interested in jazz & fusion improvisation.... Evan’s solo voice is something I really identify with and so I started taking lessons.... Because of health issues and having relatively small hands I’ve found the 30” a god send... There elements to playing a 30” B string which are very different especially with your right hand and you certainly have to adjust to the closer together notes placement on the fretboard but I love it. I also have another 30.5” 5 string made from different materials etc. Anyone else have experience with a 30” scale 5 string

Honestly, I'm genuinely worried about what I might come back with.

Saying all that though, it is fun P!ss!ng around with the Multi-FX trying to get the sound right. You're still practicing, and probably practicing for longer as you're sat in front of your computer for longer trying to get the new patches sounding right. That's my excuse anyway.

He's also got to consider a budget for sound-proofing the basement. Assuming that most properties in the UK with basements tend to be in built up areas, and in older properties, so time and money spent soundproofing will pay off when he does come to start hosting jam sessions, as his neighbours won't be complaining about the noise. Humidity / damp in a basement in the UK is also a factor to consider, it'll play havoc with any equipment left in there for any length of time, so maybe a dehumidifier might be worth looking at. Sorry to rain on the parade, but they need to be considered before outlaying on gear. Can't go wrong with an EB 180, or any of the other Ashdown amps. Consider maybe a Vintage brand bass. Though any relatively inexpensive, second hand bass should do the trick. Vocal PA, stands etc., second hand again, though it might be worth looking at getting a new mic or two. Maybe even look at an electronic drum kit, and plug it into the PA.

I find the best way to get a really tidy job is to pay someone else to do it.

Practice, @PatrickJ, practice !

That was the album that really lit the spark and made me want to pick up a bass and be in a band!

Beat it myself in 2009 - chemo was just, wow! Good luck to the guy, It's one hell of a journey to go through.

That is the beauty of the young. Jagger was in his 20s when he wrote Brown Sugar. He was still subconsciously thumbing his nose, not really giving a toss, the way that the creative young do! Now he's 100, like most artists as they get older and become part of the establishment, he doesn't have that same creative blood running through his veins. I don't suppose Pete Townshend would write My Generation today, or John Lydon write Anarchy in the UK (OK, I may be wrong on that one🤔). Brown Sugar is a story, as is Delilah. I actually think the lyrics of both are rather exceptional and thought provoking. Isn't that what we want in our art?

Hi Alan hope you are well sorry it’s been so long since we’ve had a chat (it’s Laurence from Carlisle) I was just showing a 30” scale 5 string with a low B to demonstrate it can be done and that it actually works, I also have a Serek 5 string 30” scale that is great as well. Simone (Martyn) like you developed the Blaze RAS signature bass shape along side bass virtuoso Robson Albuquerque, which he’s been doing for a quite a few years... Cheers Laurence

But, but, we're for immigration when it gives us doctors, nurses, carers, hospitality staff... we didn't vote Brexit just because of immigration - honest!