mcnach

[quote name='Mister RLP' timestamp='1481916943' post='3196321'] Would the Entwistle PBXNs sound good in the Matt Freeman P Bass? Would they make the sound even better? [/quote] I did exactly that. Better? That's subjective. But I did like it.

as I said before, I'm not a fan of V type or generally pointy instruments... but this one looks fantastic! I love the green/maple... it kind of tames the 'pointiness' a bit... like "yeah, I'm pointy and I can rip your heart out of your body if I wanted to, but if you don't betray me I'm all mellow and sweet, really"

[quote name='sammybee' timestamp='1481795569' post='3195153'] I recently added/upgraded my 75 RI Jazz to sport a J-Retro, wanting to add a MM type sound to my arsenal. Boy was I disappointed. It just seems too much, like adding nitrous oxide to a moped. It's not my only active bass, I have a stingray and used to own a MM Jazz. Love the stingray sound (wasnt so keen on the Jap MM). Am I the only one who thinks the J-Retro sound is just too OTT? Should I persevere with it? At least it's an easily reversible upgrade. Opinions? [/quote] what's OTT about it? It can sound pretty much like anything you want to. Like with most preamps, a little boost/cut goes a long way.

[quote name='dave_bass5' timestamp='1481912853' post='3196275'] In his first post he said he told them he didnt want to send it back in his first contact with Thomanns. He also suggested a different bridge was needed, and they were offering to supply one but at his cost. Sounds reasonable to me considering he didnt want to send it back for replacement. [/quote] erm, yes... like I said: they offered to charge for a fix. The OP said to Thomann that he liked the bass and did not want to send it back [b]because[/b] it's a fixable issue, and therefore just wanted a fix. Only not paid by him, which is not unreasonable if he didn't cause it. Thomann's response smells of them not understanding what the OP meant.

[quote name='Grangur' timestamp='1481911811' post='3196262'] CNC computers don't often make mistakes. [/quote] exactly

Another thing: look at the imprint the bridge ground cable left in the finish. There are TWO marks. To me, that suggests that after being set one way, someone removed the bridge and fitted it again (the cable was not laying in the same position as originally, so it left a second imprint). We can only guess why.

[quote name='Grangur' timestamp='1481905185' post='3196192'] Well, I for one, am trying my best not to buy from them. I'm also trying not to buy from any other seller as I'm trying to kick GAS. This situation is really odd though. Squier turn out 100s of basses. How come this one bass got singled out to have a second set of holes? After all they don't make a fretless by taking a fretted off the line and giving it special treatment. If fretless needed holes in a different position, which I can't see, they would drill the one set in the correct position. This isn't a luthier making a mistake. This is factory workers on a production line. [/quote] It is very odd indeed. I can't imagine that the pilot holes are not drilled by a machine... really strange

[quote name='dave_bass5' timestamp='1481907387' post='3196225'] The OP went even further, he refused to let them fix the issue lol. [/quote] they were not offering to fix the issue, they were offering to [u]take money[/u] to fix the issue But it does look like they did not really understand the issue in the first place, or they thought it was caused by the OP.

8lbs for a 5 string is pretty good! I'd love a white light one... and get a new scratchplate and a white MM style pickup on it.

Homebase have some cool foam mats, designed to protect your knees while working kneeling on the floor. They're about 3cm thick and come in various sizes. Cheap too. Those would work well.

[quote name='lowregisterhead' timestamp='1481862766' post='3195791'] +1 for the 55-02, does everything well, and great to play, although they can be a little inconsistent in my experience, so try before you buy. The older Korean ones have more 'heft' tonally, IMHO. Or a 55-94, which has the edge, if your budget can stretch to one... I've got one of each, a DJ5 and a 55-76, but I'm a greedy b*stard... [/quote] a 55-76!!!!! THAT is what I would like... so rare, 'though. A real Stingray 5 alternative, with the right string spacing

[quote name='stingrayPete1977' timestamp='1481848969' post='3195766'] You have answered your own question, the 55-01 hasn't got any humbuckers, they are soapbars. I really like the 55-02, sounds like you need to go and try a few out in a shop? [/quote] The 55-02 is a fantastic bass. If you don't need it to do the Stingray sound... the 55-02 would get my vote. Really well made, well balanced, lovely neck dimensions (personal, I know), versatile without getting into crazy 307 combinations with 17 switches territory... I kind of regret selling mine.

[quote name='scrumpymike' timestamp='1481827664' post='3195538'] What a bummer - surely Adrian's not using cheap Chinese screws?! [/quote] the pickup mounting screws aren't made of the toughest metal either. I snapped one too. I had a lot of fun removing the bit that was stuck in the body... It's usually advisable to be careful, ensure the screwdriver tip is well matched to the screw head, and if it's tough... be extra careful. I'd say be a little more careful than usual with these.

[quote name='stingrayPete1977' timestamp='1481825704' post='3195516'] Devils advocate here Jose, ignoring this particular situation as I agree it just needs sending back if it does not do what the OP thought it would but is that fact or opinion reagrding the holes/position of the bridge?, has anyone looked under a Squier bridge on a fretless or measured the bridge position? [/quote] I owned a Squier Jazz VM Fretless and a Fender Precision 70s RI fretless. I know it's not the same instrument discussed here but the position of the bridge was identical to the fretted counterpart in both cases, and the Jazz certainly didn't have extra holes. I did measure the bridge position and many other things as I was in the middle of my messing about with pickup positioning phase... Not a definitive answer but that's what I've got to go by. Why do you think you'd need to move the bridge to intonate a fretless? There's plenty of room for adjustment at its normal position

[quote name='HowieBass' timestamp='1481821949' post='3195475'] Looking at where the saddles are with it in tune there's more than enough travel with the intonation screws to cope with it being used as a fretted/fretless instrument with the bridge positioned using the 'first' set of holes (those nearest the pickup) in my opinion. It looks like a botched job to me. [/quote] exactly. And Thomann will know if this bass was previously sold to somebody else...

[quote name='stingrayPete1977' timestamp='1481809403' post='3195330'] how do you tune the bass to allow for playing behind the lines as the nut wont be installed behind the line which is essentially just another fret so open strings will be out of tune with fretted ones? [/quote] if I understood correctly, he doesn't really "play" behind the lines: he places the finger just behind the lines, so that the string *exits* at the line. That's how everybody plays a fretless, am I wrong? I don't think the OP is trying anything unusual that requires a special setup. It's just that the bridge was put a little too far back by somebody. That is a mystery. Maybe someone tried a very heavy gauge set of strings?

[quote name='GreeneKing' timestamp='1481805969' post='3195286'] I'm not trying to be critical of you here just applying reason. If there are two bridge drillings, one for fretted and one for fretless with the design to fret on the fret line for correct intonation then if you refuse to play the bass as intended it's not really Thomann's fault. Peter [/quote] There are no two bridge drillings in a stock new bass. The bridge is in the same spot fretted or fretless. This is not how the bass was meant to be produced. Thomann sold a bass that someone had tampered with. Who? No idea. But if it wasn't the OP, then he shouldn't have to keep it or pay to fix it.

AS the others said: it seems to me they did not understand that the holes were there already and not made by you. If you can produce pictures (can you post them here too, please?) that clearly show the holes were there before painting, as you indicate, then I'm sure they'll realise it was not your fault and they may let you have it at a discount. Of course, they may simply choose to take it back for full refund, and if you want to keep it that won't do much. Personally, I'd send it back and get another.

another zoom R16 user here, love it.

[quote name='MrDaveTheBass' timestamp='1480938115' post='3188145'] Can't beat a good bit of dub! King Tubby is a firm favourite of mine. I recently got hold of a copy of this: [url="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Island-Presents-Dub-Various-Artists/dp/B00ISGOKDQ"]https://www.amazon.c...s/dp/B00ISGOKDQ[/url] A lot of dub compilations can be a bit patchy, but there's not a duff one on there. Irie riddims! [/quote] Thank you for that. I had a quick browse and ended up buying it too. That's a very good one

[quote name='AustinArto' timestamp='1481502913' post='3192802'] Lol. Tribute bands. [/quote] I missed the joke...

I sold Colin my Wizard Thumper pickups. Very pleasant transaction and nice chat... Great guy, would not hesitate buying anything from him or selling again. Thank you for everything, I hope you get that bass up and running soon

[quote name='whizzzy' timestamp='1481477123' post='3192560'] [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]Bought some pickups off Jose, they arrived promptly, well packed and in very good condition. A smooth transaction, just like you like it to be. Also had a very interesting and enjoyable chat with Jose via pm. [/font][/color] [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]Highly recommended and would certainly have no hesitation in dealing again. Thanks Jose.[/font][/color][color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif] [/font][/color] [/quote] it's been a pleasure

[quote name='Leonard Smalls' timestamp='1481466282' post='3192454'] I feel that those who shout loudly about how crap vinyl has always sounded have only ever heard a 20s hand-cranked gramophone with hawthorn needle and large horn, or at best a Dansette! Once you've experienced a really good vinyl system you'll know what all the fuss is about... Now I'm off to oil my beard and sculpt my man-bun. [/quote] I was there and it was very good. But then a good mastered CD sounded as good if not better, with the addition: - no crackles or pops ever - no need to turn it around every 20 minutes - the songs closer to the centre sound just as good as the ones on the edge a lot of the bad press for 'digital' comes from bad mixes/masters, and the awful compression war that started in the late 80s. I enjoyed my vinyl... the ritual of opening a new album, admiring the artwork, reading the notes, looking at the photographs... But with regards to sound quality, give me a good digital copy anytime. However, I'm glad I got to experience the following when I was 12 or 13... I got my record of "Mob Rules" by Black Sabbath and I waited all day for everybody to go to bed so that I could listen to it without interruptions. The record player was pretty decent, my dad liked his music... but it was in the living room which was always busy with TV or just people chatting etc. It was summer... warm night, windows open letting a small breeze through. The room is dark, illuminated only by some residual street lighting and the green pilot lights of the amplifier. I get my headphones on, and get the record out... I can see the label (Vertigo) with the lightning and flying saucer... a little eerie... I place it carefully on the plate and as I lift my hands... static "lightning" sparks between the record and my fingertips, resembling the lightning of the label. I stood there with my hands in the air still... ah, you had to be there! it was awesome! A lot of my good memories of vinyl comes from the fact that I was young and discovering music and I had a lot of time to go over every minute detail. Also, I'd only be able to buy one record a month maybe... unless it was my birthday... so I was carefully choosing where I spent my money and each record was a little treasure. It's just different now.