mcnach

[quote name='bassbiscuits' timestamp='1478945216' post='3172837'] I hear you. I took my old P and my new Mike Lull to a biggish (for me anyway!) dep gig last weekend in front of a few hundred people. I was itching to use the Lull and it sounded fantastic in soundcheck. Then I got the old P out for comparison and it just sounded great - big and full, just right blend of thump and attack, and the band basically said "yeah use that one!" That's not being ordered around - that's just offering a choice to people. I'd have been happy too if they'd preferred the Lull but for that particular music, the P has always fitted it better. [/quote] exactly. some people get too precious about "their tone" or feel too insecure about receiving suggestions. I've seen that with guitarists quite a few times, where either a humbucker or a single coil based guitar was preferred by the band. In fact the guitarist would often bring the matter up for discussion. While I have my own personal preferences based on sound and feel, ultimately it's about what sounds best in the band. I won't be 'dictated' what to use, but we should listen to the opinion of the rest of the band too and not be so precious. We're not even talking about being suggested to buy a new instrument, but about choosing an instrument from the ones we use already.

[quote name='ead' timestamp='1479162935' post='3174505'] How about some light coloured wooden items? [/quote] That's not a bad idea I haven't found any suitable ones 'though.

[quote name='linear' timestamp='1457564647' post='2999787'] I've struggled a lot to get my BB414 to sound the way I want it to across the strings. With a combination of pickup height, string choice, preamp, and finger placement I can sort of get there, sort of, but not really. I can't help feeling my life would be a whole lot easier with a reversed P pickup. Why aren't they more common? Is it a solution without a problem? Or perhaps a solution for a problem that only effects crappy basses? (or crappy players maybe ) [/quote] Yeah, that was my thought too. And I got a bass made just like that: Does it make a difference? Hard to say, as the pickup in this case is a tiny bit closer to the bridge than normal so it already sounds a bit different because of that,,, but I think so. What I did was move the EA coil to the other side, closer to the bridge. That gives the EA strings a less bassier tone, more defined, and I think it balances better. But it is not a Precision anymore, which is fine as that was not my goal, but there it is.

[quote name='Happy Jack' timestamp='1479106555' post='3173894'] If only they were Canada basses from Hammersmith ... [/quote]

[quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1479113348' post='3173928'] Does the world need yet another Fender clone? [/quote] I never heard that before The thing is, a lot of people like Fender's general designs, and this company allows me a number of options that would not be found on any Fender in production. So it works for me. But I'm sure you knew that.

[quote name='Billy Apple' timestamp='1479105404' post='3173890'] If they're from Canada will you not get stung on import? [/quote] Indeed. The import related costs offset the 'promotion', but it's still attractive.

Steve recently bought a set of Nordstrand pickups from me. Great communication and all round smooth transaction. Great guy. I'd have no hesitation buying anything from him or selling to him again. Thanks Steve! I hope you like them!

[quote name='acidbass' timestamp='1479083129' post='3173853'] There's a guy on Facebook getting some great sounds from his Hammersmith basses - check out Remco Hendriks. [/quote] I've seen that He's a pretty cool player.

[quote name='Cuzzie' timestamp='1479056326' post='3173583'] I would say go for it! The other thing is that in TB land people do flip stuff quite a lot, you could hold out and find a second hand good 'un. I managed to get a G&L just how i wanted for less including postage and tax than it would cost 2nd hand here in Blighty. [/quote] True. Unfortunately the exact specs will be extremely hard to come by. It's a question of whether I pull the trigger or come to my senses since I don't *really* need this bass. Yet, that would be too reasonable for me I'll probably pull the trigger.

[quote name='Fisheth' timestamp='1479052783' post='3173553'] Are these going to be the new Maruszczyk basses I wonder? Seriously though, looks fabulous. I want one. [/quote] No, it's a very different enterprise, and taking into account import tax etc I doubt it'll be any cheaper than Maruszczyk. But I do like the MusicMan style truss rod wheel and they have a few other unique things that if you happen to like, they could be worth considering. They have many flexible options, but nothing like Maruszczyk.

Yeah, I've been reading the reviews too. The guy I was in touch with, Marko, seems pretty cool and although the range of options is not as extensive as others, they pretty much do what I want, and have some characteristics that I love that no other offers: truss rod wheel like MusicMan, at the body end, with a neck recess... the way EVERY instruments should be in my opinion Price is attractive with a promotion they have right now... although adding import taxes wipes that. Seriously thinking about it...

They're "custom made, assembled in Canada". So it looks like they probably get their stuff made somewhere in Asia and make their 'bitsas' from that. Still, they have some interesting things and I got talking to them... and it sounds like they could make me something interesting at a reasonable price. The problem is I have no experience whatsoever of them. Anybody? A Maruszczyk of similar specs would cost me more, but I'd be able to specify *everything* and I *know* they'll be really good. Hmmm. [url="https://www.facebook.com/hammersmithmusic/"]https://www.facebook.com/hammersmithmusic/[/url]

Yeah, I saw the Danelectro ones. I have seen them where the cream is the big knob, and also where the colours are inverted so I could possibly get two sets to build one set the way I want them... but they are pretty big and would look odd. So I think I'll just let it be and use the standard chrome knobs that come with it (I have a spare set of black knobs too but I'll keep those). Of course, anybody who knows me is familiar with my strange logic and my GAS. So... it just happens that I have been chatting to someone who can make me a Precision bass with two Jazz pickups... in a beautiful variant of Fiesta Red, with Area J pickups etc etc... and black hardware. So I might put the U-retro in that one with the black knobs (if I go for it)... and move the neck pickup on the cream bass above much much closer to the neck, which was one of my initial ideas but changed my mind as I want to have at least one bass that does "the Jazz thang". And that way I keep the cream knobs in the bass in the picture. Hey, just because I'm slowly selling my basses to keep a selected herd of around 7 or so doesn't mean I'm going to become all sensible all of a sudden!

[quote name='geoham' timestamp='1478892801' post='3172585'] Ha - looks an interesting gig! Probably a bit flamboyant for the likes of me though.... I got an email today from them. Apparently there were two bassists called George who responded to the ad and they assumed we were the same guy. The other George called off on them, hence the cancellation! They were really very apologetic and sound genuine. I'm tempted to give them a bash... I'll mull it over! [/quote] I bet Flea never had that problem Glad there was a simple and slightly amusing explanation.Well done for not replying angrily and in fact for contacting them at all...

[quote name='Chaos Daveo' timestamp='1478854207' post='3172082'] Annoying and disrespectful but you find out they are a waste of time early on. Every cloud.. [/quote] Yup. A hassle, but better to find out right at the start so you don't waste more time... I don't get why people are ok behaving like that.

[quote name='chris_b' timestamp='1478825678' post='3172013'] The Plek machine just automates the manual process so there is no difference in the end result between Plek and luthier. [/quote] That's what my impression was too Just a method to do one of the 'boring' (but important) parts of a setup it faster and more consistent.

cream/black/cream 3-ply.

They're for a U-Retro. I have this Precision/Jazz hybrid: And I want to get my U-Retro preamp in there. But I like the look with cream or even white knobs so I'm looking for suitable dual-concentric knobs I could use. I have a J-Retro with Fender Jazz alike dual concentric knobs that can be "persuaded" to fit... unfortunately they only come in black. Anybody has seen anything that could work here?