mcnach

[quote name='darkandrew' timestamp='1484684594' post='3217541'] I had a similar problem with an EBMM Sterling that I bought. My favourite strings have been DR coated strings (Black Beauties / Silver Stars) for a few years but I just couldn't get them to grip onto the tuning post so had to go to Ernie Ball string's on that one and they grip on fine. Are your strings coated by any chance? [/quote] I used briefly Black Beauties on my Stingray (and Peacock Blues )... not a problem: sharp bend exiting the post works on those too, in my experience.

[quote name='andydye' timestamp='1484645313' post='3217042'] s'awful Purdy, feels like an extension of my hands and sounds perfick! [url="https://flic.kr/p/RfjA8o"][/url] [/quote] oh god... I'm in love. THAT is just perfect. If it sounds and feels maybe 10% of how it looks, it would be a superb instrument... wow.

8-week milestone just passed. Time goes sooooo slooooooooooow

[quote name='grandad' timestamp='1484599867' post='3216751'] I don't want to have the hassle of battery changing. I like to keep things very simple and straightforward, less to go wrong, and less likely to forget something. I don't want any more knobs to play with, I have quite sufficient. [/quote] I think this sums up the position of many, from what I've heard, more than actives having an inherent sound (which I don't think they do, they are all different). For some the battery is a 'hassle'. Some think that replacing a battery once a year is hardly a 'hassle' (myself included), but the thing is I don't choose a bass because it's active, I choose it because I like how it sounds, and active/passive is just not a factor... if it has a battery I'll deal with it, if it doesn't, then it doesn't. If, however, the bass you like is passive... then you can see how adding an active circuit may seem unnecessary, if what it adds is not interesting enough for you, so yeah, then it's a 'hassle'. I don't worry about electronics going wrong or batteries. The risk is minimal, negligible, to me. But that's just me. There's nothing 'superior' about active or passive... or one vs multiple pickups. "Oh, but two pickups are more versatile, you get a wider range of tones, so it's better". No, it isn't better *for me* if the sound I like is the one coming from a specific one-pickup bass. Some, like grandad above, mention liking things simple, fewer controls etc, and I sympathise with that. Having had basses with multiple switches and 3-4 band EQ... I find them distracting. But again, that's just me and my personal preference. My personal preference is active EQ, onboard, because I like the ability to tweak the sound just so at my fingertips. But a lot of preamp/instrument combinations leave me cold, so I guess I'm mostly talking about particular preamps in particular basses. I would not prefer just any active bass over any passive bass. I like my Precision passive as it is, thank you very much. I like my JJ and P/JJ passive too... a Jazz I like either way, and a Stingray active because their preamp seems just right for that instrument, to me. It all boils down to how much you like a given instrument... if it's active you will embrace the battery etc, if it's not then you won't have a reason to put up with it (even if it's just a once a year event)...

[quote name='Kiwi' timestamp='1484105999' post='3212735'] Try living and being an entreprenuer there! I'm lucky I still have my sanity and hair. Being informed that there Chinese way of doing things and then seeing sh*t hitting the wall after my advice wasn't heeded has made me less tolerant...not more worldly (and this isn't my first time here). I could go on for hours about why this is the case. Mostly I believe it's the education system - it focuses exclusively on remembering facts and passing tests, not on understanding and problem solving. My niece is 12 and works until 11pm each night on homework (and she has a near photographic memory so never needed to study much in the past). It's a relentless grind for them with no room for personal development and I feel sorry for the poor bastards. The education system produces machines, not thinkers. Still...some, like my inlaws, can't help but think outside the box . In terms of generally working with Chinese, some allowance needs to be made for skill levels not being as high as in western countries and details get overlooked very easily. It's much more efficient to give them an example of what is wanted if so much of what is expected lies in attention to detail. It's then easy to point to the bits that are key to quality. Then they need training time to gain confidence and experience through repetition. As you say they're very eager to please. Once they've got the hang of what is expected, they turn into machines and can work relentlessly and very consistently - (as they are expected to by the education system). As for the topic of IP, it's a source of considerable frustration for myself. Trying to develop proof of concept without the manufacturing partner stealing those ideas is almost impossible to enforce legally. Yes there are confidentiality agreements that can be set up but the courts here generally like to have a pop at western interests on the basis of principle if there is an opportunity. So even if you took a company to court, used Chinese representation and had all the paper work in place, the courts might delay a decision indefinitely. [/quote] Interesting post, thank you!

[quote name='Norris' timestamp='1484502583' post='3215928'] This. I always put a 90 degree bend in the string and pop it down into the centre of the tuning post. Also cut your strings to length to allow a couple of wraps around the post [/quote] That's what I do. I put the string down the central hole, and as it exits I bend it sharply so that it's anchored on the post... then wind it. I pre-cut the string so that I only have 2 turns once in tension, unless it's the E or A strings (without a string retainer), then I pre-cut it to allow a few more turns so that the string leaves the post from the bottom and it then exerts enough downward force on the nut that it won't rattle around. If you anchor the string by sharply bending them, the string won't slip.

wow

[quote name='skej21' timestamp='1484409275' post='3215286'] I partially agree with this. Attitude and persona certainly do not mean anything on basschat (and should be challenged if appropriate or if someone disagrees, present your counter argument in a sensible way that can be read by other parties as part of a discussion, not a heated argument). However, there is a LOT of negativity here when it comes to an individual's [u][b]experience[/b][/u]. People will try to use their wealth of experience (it may be the inner workings of music retail, what it's like behind-the-scenes playing arenas with a 'name' band or how product endorsements work etc) and other people who have little or no experience of this, will wade in with their opposing opinions on the matter and think what they are saying can be taken as fact just because they shout loudest (i.e. I have a mate who has an endorsement deal and you just get everything for free! - This doesn't mean EVERY deal has the same terms) I think that is one of the greatest pitfalls of this forum. I joined when I was fairly inexperienced and as I've gained experience away from this forum, I tend to spend less time on it, because i find a LOT of opinions that are simply incorrect get posted on here and when the correct answer is given or someone tries to say 'that's not actually how it works' they just get shouted down. I also have one or two students who also joined basschat and will come to lessons saying "i heard/saw this on basschat..." and i have to remind them that it's a forum populated by passionate, opinionated people and that it's not an academic resource, therefore what is said should be taken with a pinch of salt at times. I also tell them to spend less time online and more time practicing This frustration probably applies to most members and scares some away (name player or not). It's a shame really, because I've watched all of Janek's blogs and he would be a great addition to the forum. He could talk for hours just about his experience will all his pedals, let alone the travelling and playing experiences he has had. [/quote] and that is true as well... Some people definitely know a little less than they think they know and can be very vocal in their opinions. No open forum on internet is ideal...

[quote name='gjones' timestamp='1484499959' post='3215904'] I like this line. It sounds like you're talking about a child, not a bass I used to have 7 basses (down to 3 now) and I used to feel the same when I was deciding which one to take to the gig.. [/quote] Ha! It's true, they are my babies But today I sold another one. Little by little the list becomes shorter and shorter...

[quote name='alyctes' timestamp='1484482083' post='3215721'] I'm not a fan of white basses generally, but mcnach's GF has a good eye, IMO - that's really pretty [/quote] of course she has a good eye! she's with me, isn't she?

[quote name='ambient' timestamp='1484311972' post='3214573'] How many times have you used a public loo and seen someone finish, and just walk out without washing their hands ? The first thing I do when buying a used bass is strip it down, clean it and put new strings on. [/quote] My guitarist saw a guy from what seemed to be the band before us (pub gig, this one) do exactly that and was telling us about it, when said guy approaches us wanting to know who the bass player was. He had tripped on the stairs and damaged his bass, and was wondering whether he could use mine for soundcheck and then run back home (we were playing in their town) to get another. Oh, how they laughed at me...

[quote name='MacDaddy' timestamp='1484316943' post='3214635'] For future reference, brand new bass strings £1.71 plus 99p postage. [url="https://www.amazon.co.uk/d/Bass-Guitars-Gear/Generic-Gen-4722-Steel-Strings-String-Bass-Guitar/B00CTGOGPI/ref=sr_1_3?s=musical-instruments&ie=UTF8&qid=1484316810&sr=1-3&keywords=bass+strings+4"]https://www.amazon.c...=bass+strings+4[/url] [/quote] Ha! Well, I was putting together one of the basses that I want to sell, and in this case I had to put new strings. It had been disassembled since I had it refinished (what a waste of a refinish!) and I had to put strings... so I put a new set of Nickel Rotosounds because I had a couple of them and I've gone off nickel strings.

[quote name='jamusbass' timestamp='1484255679' post='3214167'] I've just sold a bass on eBay, the bass was in (what I deemed to be) great condition. I've just had an email from the buyer asking for a partial refund as the strings are old and need changing. Am I being out of order thinking that this request is ridiculous? [/quote] it is ridiculous... file under "I" for "ignore". I don't think I've ever changed strings just to sell a bass. I may have if the strings were so old that it sounded bad and I wanted it to sound good when demoing it... but that must have been just a handful of times. Conversely, when I buy a bass, I change strings pretty quickly unless I'm lucky that the bass uses my favourite strings already and they are not too old. If he's a pain the the arse and you fear how eBay might rule (they are unpredictable) you could order a set of Coban strings online, sent directly to him. They're £5. No, they're not great. But he'll get new strings, not cash. Screw him

I know you say you don't want a MIM but... their Classic 50 series is really good. And the RoadWorn too.

[quote name='Meddle' timestamp='1484254958' post='3214154'] I cut the pickguard on this bass: The workflow was reasonably simple. I traced an ES-355 pickguard onto a pickguard blank, then subtly reshaped it and re-designed the routes to match the pickup ring on the bass. I drilled out the two mounting holes first, and used these to screw the pickguard blank to a sacrificial backing board. I used my dremel, and a small cutting wheel, to rough out the outline of the pickguard. I then used some large files to dial in the outline better. As I got closer I used sandpaper on a sanding block (using the curved back on some sections and the flat front on others), and begin to put the bevel on the pickguard by angling the block. For completed sections I roughed in the bevel with a Stanley blade by hand. When I was finally happy with the shape I went around the edges with progressively finer grits of sandpaper to remove tooling marks. For the pickup route I simply drilled the corners of the route then used the Dremel and cutting wheel to cut out the rectangle I needed to remove. I cut out the area slightly too small, so that I could dial in the straight lines and get them to cleanly flow into the drill holes. I've simplified the workflow slightly, as I basically grubbed around my flat looking for things to stick sandpaper to for the correct radius etc. In total it probably took me a few hours to do. Tim at Scratchit! did make me a 3-ply non-beveled pickguard for a Mike Dirnt bass. I sent him the blank and he tried to cut it out with his laser cutter but it didn't work. He instead passed it along to a work colleague with either a CNC machine or a router (I forget which). This isn't Tim's normal line of work, so I don't think he offers it as a service. [/quote] great job! because of you I just ordered a Dremel and some pickguard sheets... I'll end up spending a lot of time on this and I'll make a mess of it, and finally I'll pay someone to make it but I've got to try! (I want a pickguard for my red Maruszczyk Jake... it looks a little naked without one)

[quote name='interpol52' timestamp='1484245860' post='3213978'] This really isn't helping my Stingray GAS. [/quote] Resistance is futile...

[quote name='stingrayPete1977' timestamp='1484245668' post='3213974'] You should sell the lot Jose, get a Stingray 5, series/parallel/single coil switching, maple board, job done [/quote] I don't dismiss an SR5 in my future... but I can't imagine ever getting rid off these two basses. I have a heart, unlike some others here

[quote name='drTStingray' timestamp='1484238001' post='3213866'] I'm very much the same in respect of the US Sub - used mine last Monday at a jam session for which I provide the bass gear. Awesome sound and even more so with the 2x10 tweeter turned up!! A number of people commented how good it sounds and looks (it is also white, a 5 string and with original chequer plate pickguard). Yours looks interesting with the red pickguard. Mine is also a featherweight, which was the main reason I took it. Hooray for relatively cheap basses!!! (Well Musicman ones at least). [/quote] Mine is an anvil, weight-wise. It's one of the heaviest basses I've had, but it doesn't bother me enough when it sounds as good as it does! I had a black SUB5 and I was silly enough to let it go.