hiram.k.hackenbacker

[quote name='Paul S' timestamp='1401212035' post='2461277'] ....not reformed Elco Jones, by any chance, Warren? [/quote] Er, no! I think hell might freeze over first. Besides which, all Elco members, bar possibly one I believe, have their fingers collectively entrenched in various other pies now.... Streetlife - me Total 80's - me, keys & sax Skamite - trumpet, keys & ex-trumpet The Real Swing - drums, three vox & ex-keys Soulsation - drums, two vox & ex-keys Never say never though

Just checked back in and I'm overwhelmed by the responses. Post #1, Song #4 (from discreet - thank you) and we're off and running. I very much doubt whether I would have found Stone Cold Sober by Paloma Faith on my own. I'm going through them one by one to make a short list. Thanks again everyone.

I should add Treasure is the only one were working on at the moment, which is looking good and we've vetoed Get Lucky.

I know this is a really lazy way of doing it, but it does actually make sense bearing in mind the depth of playing experience here on BC. I'm in a covers band. The line up is three brass, three vocals (1m & 2f) and a four piece back line. We've consistently struggled to agree on decent material recently, not for want of trying I might add! I would say the most successful new pick we've had is the song below and I have to say we've nailed it, including the middle section which isn't In the CD version. http://youtu.be/o95FLUk7o9Q Although I'm happy to play anything, I'm not very 21st century in my musical outlook. So needs to have brass, can be male or female vocal lead, needs to be "popular", needs to be recent, needs to be funky. Hit me up. Feel free to bias your opinions on excellent bass lines.

[quote name='M@23' timestamp='1401109709' post='2460102'] Fair enough - I thought I had probably missed something! Glad its all sorted for you. I have a 2012 US Fender that I love, but still want a 59 Heavy Relic, there is just something special about them. [/quote] Totally agree. I've never had a relic before, but it's a work of art. Fender obviously think they look good too because they stamp RELIC on them [quote name='leroydiamond' timestamp='1401112695' post='2460151'] Ok lets get down to brass tax here. Is it any easier to play YYZ on this bass ?. [/quote] Yes Yes Zitis

[quote name='M@23' timestamp='1401101783' post='2459983'] Why didn't the retailer check it out before passing it on, or have I missed that bit after skim reading the thread? Surely if you're spending that sort of money they ask you how you like your set up, or at least give it the once over? [/quote] You missed a bit. It came directly from Fender to the distributors UK warehouse and then it was couriered to me. I wouldn't have wanted it any other way. By doing so I have taken possession of it in the same condition it left the USA without anyone else tinkering about with it, which could be anything from a quick noodle around, to messing with the factory setup. Granted the neck, I believe, moved slightly in transit, but I don't believe that is wholly avoidable given the journey it made. As far as the set-up is concerned, I think that would be something that would have to be done with me being present and I wouldn't have been able to get to the supplier. Talking of which, I would like to reiterate the suppliers have been fantastic from the first moment I raised the issue.

[quote name='leroydiamond' timestamp='1400849696' post='2457511'] A Pino and a Geddy!!. Congrats dude and enjoy. Any idea what these babies weigh? [/quote] The Geddy weighs 9.4lb and the Pino weighs 8.4lb. It's my first gig tonight with the Pino and I'm more than just a little bit excited.

[quote name='Roland Rock' timestamp='1400826597' post='2457249'] :-O Now you're just showing off ;-) [/quote] Sorry man, that wasn't my intention. I had always admired the Pino and had hoped to get one some day if it ever came up on BC. As you know, they just don't that often. Completely unexpectedly and right in the middle of my wait time for the Geddy, I became aware of the Pino for sale. Literally as new, but less than the new price. I knew I couldn't let that pass and was lucky enough to be able to play before pay. I fell in love with it straight away and the rest is history. Damn thing still had the hang tag on it!

[quote name='leroydiamond' timestamp='1400769707' post='2456822'] How much £ did it set you back? [/quote] The Gedster was just under £3.5k. [quote name='molan' timestamp='1400789222' post='2457123'] We had a Pino in the shop recently priced at £3,050 and it sold in under 2 weeks. It was a great bass, much nicer than the '64 P original I used to have. [/quote] I believe that particular Pino was the other CS I picked up last Sunday. It is indeed awesome.

[quote name='miles'tone' timestamp='1400756754' post='2456648'] Awesome stuff! Glad it was nothing major. Now, let's see some piccys of the whole bass! The little we have seen looks gorgeous. [/quote] Here's a couple of quickies.... [center][/center]

[quote name='Diablo' timestamp='1400752379' post='2456582'] Looks pretty much spot on now, how does it play? [/quote] I'll have to do a couple of tweaks. Having looked at it post re-assembly the E does look low, so I'll bring that up a fraction tomorrow.

[quote name='miles'tone' timestamp='1400756754' post='2456648'] Awesome stuff! Glad it was nothing major. Now, let's see some piccys of the whole bass! The little we have seen looks gorgeous. [/quote] I will post some decent pictures later. I've got to go to work now :-(

[quote name='leroydiamond' timestamp='1400686819' post='2456114'] Go with your gut. With the money they are asking for CS basses, everything should be perfect IMO and the dealer should insure that is the case before it gets into the hands of the customer IMO. [/quote] In the dealers defence, the box came straight off the boat to their warehouse and then straight to me. It never saw the light of day in the UK until I opened it. Personally I'm quite happy with it that way. At least I know it hadn't been handled since it left Fender.

[quote name='Roland Rock' timestamp='1400751577' post='2456574'] Great news. Has it alleviated the E string buzz? [/quote] It's nowhere near as bad and I'm sure that can be fully sorted with a tweak he and there.

Thank you everyone for your time and helpful advice. Basschat comes up trumps again

I have to say I was [b]really [/b]hesitant about this after resigning myself to it going back to the shop. I had even packed it away and come to terms with the fact that I wouldn't lay my eyes on it again until it came back from wherever it was going. After reading your comments, curiosity got the better of me. So I de-tensioned the strings and undid the neck bolts. I can confirm they are reliced all the way down to the tip! How do they do that? I had a look in the pocket, more to check that there weren't any shims in there than anything else and there aren't. I have to say that pocket is super snug, but has been pointed out by others, on these Jazz basses there isn't an awful lot on the G string side supporting that side of the neck. Anyway, I put it back together and this is the result.

Apart from the obvious questions this video raises, like Why? Why? and WHY?, it appears that Dan "The Man" Hildebrand's Geddy seems to suffering from the same characteristic. In fact, apart from the one on the Sweetwater web site, I haven't seen a picture of one where the strings look properly central. http://youtu.be/-ZXqRtH3-xw

Believe me, it took a few attempts to get this one. My left hand is out of shot near the bridge pulling the E, A and D strings left whilst trying to take a photo one handed with my other hand. But this is what it should look like. Still not bang on, but I could almost live with that.

[quote name='Dad3353' timestamp='1400712776' post='2456424'] I'm not sure (I'm a drummer..!) how important it is to have strings symmetrical on the neck. Does it play right, that's the test. Is the nut equally asymmetrical..? [/quote] In terms of playing it, apart from the buzz on the E string (the fat string in drummer speak) it's OK. I've seen the problem so severe in others that you can't see the edge of the fretboard and they actually go over the edge on fretting the string. So not hideous, but now I know it's there, it's like one of the those paintings that seem to look at you wherever you are in the room. The nut seems tickety-boo to me.

I'm finally back home. I appreciate some may not see this as the worst example of this problem ever. I know as I've seen some shockers myself, but here it is. [center][/center]

[quote name='Dingus' timestamp='1400690112' post='2456158'] Can I ask you Warren, this problem not withstanding, what is your impression of the bass overall? Does it seem like a potentially great bass ruined by this flaw ? [/quote] In a word, yes. It's not what I would describe as a heavy relic, more of a medium to light. The thing is it's been done so well that I think that's what tore me in two when I realised it would have to go back.

[quote name='UglyDog' timestamp='1400688352' post='2456133'] So -- it's looking very much like the answer to the original question "Fender Custom Shop - worth the tag?" is a pretty resounding 'nope'. [/quote] Well you say that, but early last week I became aware of another Fender CS that was about to become available. I picked it up on Sunday and it is just the loveliest thing. An absolute joy to play and georgeous to look at. I am completely and utterly blown away by it. I was expecting to be blown away by this one as well, but, well you know the rest.