mcnach

So, as a long time "dismisser" of P basses (which still didn't deter me from owning a few, trying to figure out what it was all about), I have been over the past year and a half or so "appreciating" their sound a bit more. And finally, I bought a "proper" Precision. This is the Classic 50, in "fiesta red" although it looks like a slightly toasted fiesta red to me, I don't know... And it is without question the nicest Precision I have ever played. A friend of mine loves his '74 Precision and yeah, it was nice, but... it didn't really make me ditch my Sue Ryder Over time I have tried various Precisions in shops, but I was never really taken by any. So why suddenly do I buy this one? Not sure! Because it was there, I suppose! No, lately I have been listening a lot more to the P-bass sound, but I am really a Stingray/Jazz player. However, the Precision held an air of mystery to me... and I loved the look of this one... I became intrigued, and before I even had the chance to try one (been travelling, and not playing, which is bad as it makes me look for shiny things to buy online ) I found myself ordering one. It's a fantastic bass!!! I can't fault it, and I try. Well, little things. The back of the neck has a small blemish... In a shop, I'd probably just ask for another to try etc, but it just feels soooo good, there's no way I would return this bass for a mere cosmetic mark. Here it is: The wood is dark at that spot, it does not affect the way the neck feels or anything. And the bass is just a dream to play. It was almost in tune when I took it out of the case, and all I did was tune it, and spread the strings a tiny bit wider, as I like wide spacing (those threaded saddles are great!)... and that's it. The tuners are a bit weird, as they turn the opposite way normal tuners do, something to do with being "period realistic", but no biggie. The colour is a bit darker than I expected, but it's still red... and I like red. The pickguard is... weird, it feels weird, and when my nail scratches it... agh, I hate that feeling, like nails on a blackboard... It's going to go. Mint white would be nicer. The neck is... FANTASTIC. I read a lot about them... how big they are and this and that... but it didn't seem it would be clubby, and it isn't. It's wide, which I like, and a relatively shallowish profile, which makes playing it really comfy for me. The setup was perfect... small frets, lowish action, no significant fret buzz unless I go mad... and the sound? The sound is excellent. Whatever pickups these basses use, they're good. I don't feel I want to change anything in this bass, other than the odd-feeling pickguard. I play mostly finger style, and I love the prominent mids, and how responsive it seems to be to how hard I play. Nice tone control too for a passive bass. I seem to like the tone rolled off a bit... which gives me scope to get a bit more aggressive by opening it up fully, or darken it but turning down. And the slap tone is just DELICIOUS. It's just so easy to play! I don't know why I didn't like Precision basses in the past. It's taken me quite a few years to start appreciating them, and this one is finally *it* for me. Finally a Precision I see myself using a lot. Well, I doubt it'll make me change my mind about Stingrays and jazz, as I tend to prefer the bridge pickup... but there is a place for Precisions in my playing, and this bass will occupy that place admirably, I am sure. That neck! What a neck... Rehearsal on Sunday, let's see what it sounds like then

[quote name='Woodinblack' timestamp='1412960159' post='2573712'] Thats not true though - go on youtube you can hear isolated vocals of loads of songs and most of them are men (which is probably as it tends to be rock acts and there are more men). That is just an article by someone on their own hobby horse who didn't bother doing any research [url="https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL5TqrD7I6G6idEcV8ymcHf02x22oJt6Vt"]https://www.youtube....mcHf02x22oJt6Vt[/url] Personally I think her voice in that is fine, in that it sounds pretty much like her voice in the mix. Her guitar is awful but I assume that is just there as a prop, not to be played. [/quote] That's my view too. There's this video of the band in Paris... She forgets the chords at the beginning, which I know it can happen even if you played the song a million times, the brain has a way of playing with us sometimes , but you can hear the same kind of guitar sound, out of tune too, and as soon as the song kicks in, her guitar is dropped from the mix. [url="http://youtu.be/BG6xZlBUDD4"]http://youtu.be/BG6xZlBUDD4[/url]

[quote name='xilddx' timestamp='1412959684' post='2573706'] From the Guardian: Raw power: why mocking the isolated vocals of Courtney Love is misogynistic Raw audio of Courtney Love performing was posted online by a vengeful sound engineer. But male musicians are rarely exposed like this, so is it just another means to tell women they don’t belong? [url="http://www.theguardian.com/music/musicblog/2014/oct/10/raw-power-why-mocking-isolated-vocals-of-courtney-love-is-misogynistic"]http://www.theguardi...is-misogynistic[/url] [/quote] you're not seriously suggesting this was posted because she is bla... oh, sorry, because she's a woman, right?

[quote name='xilddx' timestamp='1412852118' post='2572633'] And this is WITH the band. Sounds alright to me, and it's a good song. This would have been near the end of the set, and at the end she says the PA is killing her voice. If you've tried singing on stage and the monitoring isn't right you'll know what she means. Despite the sound guy saying he just likes to share, he clearly has a massive beef about not getting paid, and rightly, but to do what he's done is bang out of order in my book, for to me, it's clearly a revenge tactic, and Courtney Love would not be the person seeing the invoice. So, J.M.Ladd, you're a f***ing dick. [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=13QNXpJugBc[/media] [/quote] That sounds good because... her guitar is inaudible in the mix! It is not exactly unusual for singer/guitarists to use a guitar as little more than a prop, having the backing of other guitarists in the band. They get to play some bits (msostly intros), and look cool with a guitar, then the sound engineer ensures the appropriate mix makes it to FOH with little of that person's guitar.

[quote name='ubit' timestamp='1414140978' post='2586255'] It's got to be fake cos look at how much the audience is getting into it, plus the guy would never work again if he done that to someone! [/quote] That's clearly not the mix that made it out, live, FOH, he wouldn't be that stupid. But rather, if he recorded it, he can put this alternative mix on YouTube, allowing her vocals and guitar to be distinct from everything else, to illustrate her performance. Like I said, watch the video I posted from Paris. She has the same kind of out of tune guitar, and as soon as the song kicks in, her guitar disappears from the mix.

[quote name='dannybuoy' timestamp='1414147489' post='2586362'] I've noticed the Classic Vibe fiesta red P's and white J's are starting to dwindle in stock in more than one place too, I think a boatload of their models are probably being discontinued. [/quote] The CV 60 Precisions were fantastic. If it had a maple fingerboard I'd have probably kept mine. Maybe it didn't work out too badly for Fender, as I now bought a Classic 50 Precision in fiesta red (albeit a weird shade of it) with maple fingerboard that is just delicious... but not that far off at all from the Squier. I never tried the CV Jazz, 'though. I already own too many Jazzes and I have the feeling I could not resist. Again, had it come in maple, I'd probably own one too :-p Squier CV Jazz, shell pink and maple... I'd buy TWO!

[quote name='philw' timestamp='1414146787' post='2586357'] I've bought a previously loved maple fingerboard neck to stick on mine, I just haven't got around to doing the necessary woodwork yet. I have put a mint green scratch plate on it though. I'll post some pics when I've done the fingerboard. P [/quote] yum

it looks good in some basses, but I cannot stand the way if feels... shudder. I just got a Classic 50 Precision, and I think I'm going to have to change the pickguard. It gives me the same feeling as scratching a blackboard with my nails...

[quote name='Kiwi' timestamp='1414131858' post='2586133'] I've used it for percussion too. You just have to develop a feel for one revolution and feel at any given point where the wheel is. [b]Sometimes I'll move my head around very slightly in a circle as I'm playing just to help with the visualisation.[/b] [/quote] Genius!!! So simple, yet I never thought of body movements to help visualise the beat and variations...

[quote name='leschirons' timestamp='1414091841' post='2585817'] I'm pretty sure that grown-ups are playing this out of shot. [/quote] I'm pretty sure it's the kids playing... (just open it on youtube proper, and you'll see other videos. If that doesn't convince you...)

[quote name='simon1964' timestamp='1414077955' post='2585611'] My understanding (from memory!) is that when it was first marketed it was the first DI to have built in amp modelling. So you could ditch your amp and go straight into the desk either live or recording. A routine idea now, but quite new at the time. [/quote] exactly my recollection too. At the time a few tried speaker or amp simulation for recording directly, without an amp, and sounded terrible. Anyone remember the Marshall DRP-1? Sansamp arrived with the first decent sounding units (for guitar).

[quote name='Subbeh' timestamp='1414094120' post='2585871'] I could accept the vocals as hers, sounds a hell of a lot like her on a bad day but I think even Courtney love drunk/stoned could still play guitar a bit better than that. [/quote] hmm, I don't know... listen to this, it sounds just as awful (forget the fact she forgot the chords ). It sounds like she is turned down in the mix as soon as the song starts... [url="http://youtu.be/BG6xZlBUDD4"]http://youtu.be/BG6xZlBUDD4[/url]

[quote name='gary mac' timestamp='1414061247' post='2585275'] Never, ever shorts. I only wear shorts on holiday [/quote] Isn't every gig a holiday???

[quote name='stingrayPete1977' timestamp='1414086899' post='2585731'] 55 02 is still an option Jose but I really want something that isnt a Stingray with a J pickup, I need to break my habit [/quote] It's ok, the 5502 does NOT sound like a Stingray, I guarantee you But the Squier DeLuxe is a very interesting animal. A good project bass. It's decent stock, but you'd probably find the preamp lacking a bit and the pickups a bit polite.

[quote name='stingrayPete1977' timestamp='1414009357' post='2584880'] Santa wants to empty his sack for me I reckon! Must be a fiver. Must be a Jazz type bass. Active or passive. Try before I buy. £300-1600. Top of the list and budget USA Fender V Deluxe, Oly White, rosewood, blocks and bound. But I've never found one with a B I like, if I do I'll grab it Lakland 55-60 Good B nice build quality, not a Fender. Squier Jazz vintage modified, Dont know much, tell me more? Mayones Jabba Classic, maybe. Lakland 55-14 new model USA built J and MM coil switchable, active passive etc But its not a Fender or a Jazz as such? What am I missing and where should I be shopping? PMT Birmingham, guitar guitar Birmingham and Bass Direct are my nearest shops. Any ideas? [/quote] The Squier V DeLuxe is a pretty cool bass! They made it in white, so you may still find one in that colour. Very wide neck, 19mm spacing at the bridge, it is a chunky neck, but I found it pretty comfy. Deeper profile than a Lakland 5502, which is about the nicest 5 string neck I ever tried.

I'm glad it doesn't come in maple fingerboard, because I don't think I could resist the temptation...

[quote name='PlungerModerno' timestamp='1414066864' post='2585387'] Seems to be: what are the EQ settings? OK: [url="http://www.fender.com/en-IE/basses/jaguar/vintage-modified-jaguar-bass-special-hb-rosewood-fingerboard-black/http://www.fender.com/en-IE/basses/jaguar/vintage-modified-jaguar-bass-special-hb-rosewood-fingerboard-black/"]http://www.fender.co...gerboard-black/[/url] It says it's a 3 band active tone circuit - could be close to a 3 EQ stingray. But I think the Pickup is too close to the bridge. [/quote] and it looks like a soapbar type humbucker with exposed polepieces, rather smaller overall than a Stingray pickup. Probably more "fat Jazz bridge" than Stingray. But it looks pretty cool regardless!

Well, I finally got my hands on the bass, if briefly... First impression is just Well, no, the first one was a bit like ... The colour. Is this Fiesta Red, really? I find it a bit dark... I like it, but just not what I expected. It really does look like the picture on the very first post on this thread. Anyway, but it's fine, and... it's just awesome. It's got a little "ugly" spot on the back of the neck, the sort of thing that if I were at the sho I'd ask for another one. However, it's not a big deal and because I like it so much, I really don't want to change it now. It was nearly in tune when I took it out of the box, and the setup on this bass is very nice. Can't fault it, it seems that I'm not touching anything, leaving it as it is. Even the strings are fine, so no replacing those either yet. Oh, I did change one thing. I slightly tweaked the string spacing, making it overall a tiny bit wider than it was. But that's just my preference. My biggest question was the neck. As I went for it ordering online rather than buying at the shop, and didn't even get to try this model anywhere, I was a bit concerned about the width of this neck. What do I think of the neck? It's REALLY comfy! It is wide, no doubt, which I like, but the profile is shallow, not clubby at all. It's the widest neck I have, but it's very nice. Coming from a Stingray, this feels at home. It's noticeably less clubbier than my Squier CV50. Very very nice neck. Soundwise was great, but it was just through a small practice amp. Good punchy sound, pretty even between strings, lovely slap tone... I love those mids. I don't foress I'll want to change pickups either. One thing I don't like: the pickguard. At first I thought it didn't look very good... but it's the touch that I hate. I need to trim my fingernails too, and when I scratch the pickguard with my nail makes my teeth feel funny. Blergh. It's going. I already have a mint-white pickguard that fits well, but it's too green , not very nice. I might get another one somewhere. I'd prefer a mint one, but it's so hard to get the right shade online, something that doesn't look GREEN. Tomorrow I'm off work... can't wait!

RATS!!!!! I went to refresh the DV247 page that I had opened for a few days, and it now displays "not available, discontinued" All I could find locally was the "babysick" one, at Guitar Guitar, and I haven't even managed to go and check that one out in person as I am currently out of the country. I checked a few other online shops, and alarmingly, a few say "not in stock, expected soon". So, I just went and ordered one online from GAK, not only without trying the actual bass, but without trying the actual model! I have been caught before thinking about a particular item and just seeing it disappear in front of my eyes as it became "discontinued"... and I don't want to risk it this time. It's not how I wanted to buy this one, but... we'll see!!!

[quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1413800995' post='2581952'] Actually a well-designed tripod is more stable, once you introduce a 4th point of contact all of them have to level in order for the stand not to wobble. Also with a tripod design the back leg can be tucked into a space between two amps getting majority of the stand and the instrument it is holding safely out of the way. TBH I am looking at it from my own personal needs where stands are used to hold spare guitars basses at gigs and need to be placed somewhere out of the "performance" area, but still close enough so a replacement instrument can be got at easily and quickly. The less room a stand takes up the more options you have for its placement. Plus nearly all my instruments are too asymmetrical in body shape for this stand to support them securely. [/quote] I get that, that's why there's a range of designs available... regarding the tripod comments above: the BND design is essentially a tripod, isn't it? The bottom part is bendable, and the back is round to prove one point of contact... or it could be made to be that way, couldn't it? At least that's the way I say it, although looking at some pictures, they do look like the bottom part is all flat on the floor. However, being bendable, I would add a bend to it. As for the back leg fitting between amps... My Hercules one can't be used that way. The leg will fit but the bass is tilted back, so the neck would hit the amp... the stand has to be moved forward so that the neck clears the wall/amps etc... Clearly your stand is not like mine, I guess yours holds the bass more vertically. I think the BND would be an improvement over my tiny Hercules, and I like that. But I understand it's not the answer for every situation. Actually, I keep thinking we should get a multi stand so that we can all leave our instruments (need at least 4)... the trouble is when we have small stages, it's easier to distribute guitars around than having one place for all... and being an 8-piece, nearly every stage is a small stage

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1413743669' post='2581489'] I had one of those for a while, and the stability is excellent, as is the portability and ease of use... but in the end I moved it on because the angle at which you are obliged to have your bass is too flat, i.e. not upright enough. Which is a shame. [/quote] That's right. It's the stand I use at the moment, but the angle at which the bass is held means you have to watch out you leave enough room behind it. I think the BND one might actually require less space when you consider that.

[quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1413739543' post='2581417'] Some good ideas and some bits they clearly haven't considered at all. I notice in the video there are no guitars with even a vaguely off-set shape on those stands, also I think the footprint is too big. Tripod stands like the Hercules can be fit fitted into all sorts of tricky places whereas these require a lot more room. More R&D required I think. [/quote] I think the footprint looks good: more stable! I only have my bass on a stand when I am not playing it, so I don't see space as a problem. I like the idea a lot.

The CV60 Precision is a fantastic bass. For me that would be the one to go for. Or the Matt Freeman one, is maple fingerboard is preferred, as they appear to be made to the same specs.