mcnach

[quote name='Annoying Twit' timestamp='1413673505' post='2580884'] Are you sure you could tell the difference if your baby had actually been made by a different body wood? [/quote] ha!

[quote name='uncle psychosis' timestamp='1413673745' post='2580885'] Some impressive trust in authority on display in this thread. Customs and Border Control can do pretty much whatever they want for whatever reason they want and just because your papers are in order doesn't mean they're going to let you in. No idea what the full story is here but the assumption that UK customs are nice chaps who always apply the rules correctly is quite amusing. [/quote] what he said!

thank you all! "wide and not too deep" sounds very promising. Can't wait to try it! The first thing that made me think of this model was that when I find videos featuring a beautiful sounding Precision, it's often a Classic 50. In addition, it looks just right to me

[quote name='Jono Bolton' timestamp='1413553834' post='2579483'] Squier Matt Freeman? They're very good. [/quote] It was a contender! I used to own a Squier CV60, in fiesta red, of course, that I let go in a moment of madness to acquire my G&L L2000. It was a lovely bass. The neck was probably the slimmest I ever tried on a Precision, but not in a bad way, it was really nice. If it's anything like the CV60, it would be a great bass. But I have a thing for red I have recently bought some red shoes and a red car, and I even got a red Korg Pitchblack tuner... if I buy a Precision it's got to be red

[quote name='sblueplanet' timestamp='1413569710' post='2579758'] I have a lefty in two-tone burst. Nice and light, thewide neck will give your hand a good workout in an unashamed manner. [/quote] is it really noticeably wider than most Precisions or modern Stingrays? It seems it's about 2-3mm wider at the nut -which I consider a good thing-, and providing it's not crazy clubby, it might just be my kind of neck. I would play anything, but I tend to prefer P/Stingray to Jazz, and on 5-string basses a wide string spacing is a must for me, as long as the cross-section is not ridiculous. I know, I know, I'll have to try it to judge, but I wonder how you'd say it compares.

[quote name='theyellowcar' timestamp='1413547380' post='2579382'] Hmmm. I'm just going to leave this here. [url="http://www.dv247.com/guitars/jandd-pb-vintage-1963-4-string-bass-guitar-fiesta-red--208552"]http://www.dv247.com...sta-red--208552[/url] [/quote] crucially, it's got a rosewood fingerboard... I already have TWO cheap precisions with rosewood fingerboard: a Sue Ryder one with a Wizard Thumper pickup, and a Squier Mike Dirnt signature. And I enjoy them, but I want something a little better... and MAPLE. It's got to be maple... oh yes.

[quote name='Big Bass Man' timestamp='1413547372' post='2579381'] Oh yes! I had the exact same one - you will not be disappointed, they are absolute quality basses! I sold mine on to get my Lakland 55-02, but I am seriously condidering getting another (in the sunburst colour though ....) They are so light and easy to play - I hope you manage to get one soon mate - I'd best get saving then! [/quote] Interesting, as I may be selling my Lakland 5502 if I buy this

[quote name='Cosmo Valdemar' timestamp='1413546748' post='2579366'] Oh and be aware, the neck is fairly massive. But brilliant. [/quote] It's one of the things I think I will like. I'm hoping to try this bass soon! Ha! Baby sick colour... I like that colour a lot, with a white/mint pickguard probably. But I'm at a red period in my life, so...

You are... not... helping...

I feel this very strong urge to get one of those, in fiesta red, of course... And I thought I was free of GAS... [color=#ff0000][b]EDIT 23/10/14: got one... and it's AWESOME![/b][/color]

[quote name='icastle' timestamp='1413497295' post='2579041'] Neutrik plugs and Klotz or Van Damme cable for me every time. I've always made my own up but I seem to have a vague recollection that there might be someone here called OBBM who could do that for you if needed... [/quote] :thumbsup: OBBM and Award-Session Cleartone range use Neutrik and Klotz/Van Damme cable, so for those who don't want to make their own, those two suppliers seem to be the ones to go to.

[quote name='jassbass' timestamp='1413383124' post='2577740'] So are these j&d jazz's good enough to gig? I do love the green one [/quote] yup! Used mine a few times completely stock.

[quote name='uncle psychosis' timestamp='1413383917' post='2577749'] Doing a gig next week, the promoter assures us that the backline is being provided by one of the other bands. Lets hope he's OK'd it with them first [/quote] Where?

[quote name='Protium' timestamp='1413367331' post='2577503'] Bad experiences with amps in particular always means a no, except in the rare circumstance it is a friend. Top tip, I am still going to say no even if your fat guitarist squares up to me shouting "why the f*** not, how are we supposed to perform?" [/quote] ESpecially if your fat guitarist... etc. Really? That happened?

[quote name='Annoying Twit' timestamp='1413186844' post='2575506'] There could still be a correlation between basswood and basses that aren't wonderful. Simply because basswood is cheap and therefore gets used for cheap instruments, and also high end instrument buyers don't like it, so high end bass makers may avoid it for marketing purposes. But, correlation does not imply causation. [/quote] this

[quote name='hamfist' timestamp='1413180593' post='2575463'] I'm sure basswood construction can be done right. I am aware that Bongo's are made from Basswood for example. But the whole instrument will have been designed from the ground up with that in mind I expect, and a lot of care gone into the whole construction. Cheaper basses just seem to use standard designs and yet make the bodies from basswood. Doesn't work IMO. [/quote] I very much doubt that they designed the Bongo thinking of the properties of basswood. I think it's more likely that basswood may be cheap(er) in some places, so it's used on cheap(er) instruments, and the lack of "inspiration" is merely a reflection of an instrument made cheaply, cutting corners. Leo Fender didn't choose alder or ash because of their "tonewood" qualities exactly. Plenty of decent guitars are made of basswood and got nothing to be ashamed of. The whole classic "metal" Ibanez RG550 guitars were fantastic (once you removed the meh V7/V8 pickups), and made of basswood. Incidentally I had an RG548, which was the same design but with a natural finish, and the body being ash (for prettiness)... it didn't sound any better than a miriad of basswood RG550s I came across. But... I know, we'll just have to agree to disagree

[quote name='chris_b' timestamp='1413022096' post='2574202'] Where do you draw the line when you're trying to polish a turd? If the exercise is to mess about modding a bass then fine, but i didn't get that impression from the OP, so IMO there comes a time when a better instrument is what you need. If the OP changes the neck, pickups etc he's going in the direction of Triggers broom . Just sayin. [/quote] If he likes how the bass feels but it's a matter of the sound, we're talking well under <£100 (possibly more around £50, if going second hand) for a simple experiment with a different pickup. That doesn't seem crazy to me. In fact, if I liked how a bass feels but I wasn't entirely happy with the sound, I'd probably buy 2-3 different pickups that on paper look promising, and test them all to see whether one of them do the trick, then sell the rest.

[quote name='chris_b' timestamp='1412812470' post='2572429'] From what you've said, it sounds like you've reached the limitations of this instrument. You should be looking for a better quality bass. [/quote] I'm not sure that the problem described has anything to do with the general quality of the instrument in this case. I think the pickup the OP is using is probably not the best suited for the sound he's after. I would try a Wizard Thumper if you find one, or anything that's more "traditional", and don't forget the strings. I have a cheapest of the cheap Sue Ryder P-bass with a Thumper and Rotosound rounds, and it's got the loveliest Precision sound, well balanced and punchy.

[quote name='leschirons' timestamp='1412712937' post='2571327'] Not sure this applies to just bassists and guitarists. Any highly technical performance that is brought into the spotlight will have its critics. Look at the recent Dirty loops thread. Obviously Henrik Linder's musical performance is highly technical but I seem to remember both he and the keyboard / vocalist came under fire along with the arrangements. People just like to moan about stuff they can't do themselves. How many times have we heard that Marcus Miller can "only slap in E" or that Victor Wooten is "good I guess, but not very melodic with his phrasing" Maybe they're right, maybe they're wrong, the thing is, the critics can't usually do it any better or don't understand what's going on. [/quote] There's often a bit of that, I am sure!

[quote name='xilddx' timestamp='1412511295' post='2569433'] Why is it that highly technical bassists largely seem to be loved on Basschat, but highly technical guitarists seem to be denigrated? [/quote] really? I haven't noticed such division, myself...

[quote name='Annoying Twit' timestamp='1412633977' post='2570718'] The even cheaper Harley Benton Jazzes seem to stay put with their owners a bit more. It must be the coloured finishes of the J&D basses that are triggering the more magpie-like instincts of basses. [/quote] based on a sample of n=?

[quote name='steve-bbb' timestamp='1412500602' post='2569292'] looks about as useful as tits on a kipper why is there no video demonstration? are they embarrassed or something? [/quote] seems like a totally pointless and tedious to use contraption... If you're not away from a bass for months, you won't lose dexterity. If you are away from a bass for months... get a new bass!

[quote name='dincz' timestamp='1412614633' post='2570417'] I'm stuck waiting for parts for my Mingray experiment (see thread in Bass Guitars). Meanwhile I'm wondering if it's worth including a series/parallel/single switch. I'd guess series/parallel would give quite different sounds but is a single coil option worth including? I'll be using a Seymour Duncan SMB-4A mounted in the Stingray spot. [/quote] I would not bother. But it may be worth trying both the parallel and the series configurations and see which one you like best. I personally don't find it that useful to switch between the various configurations in one bass (I have a couple of basses that allows that, but I didn't choose them because of it), but one configuration may be nicer than the rest, for you. One of my SUBs is wired in series (stock), and it's my favourite when using a 2-band preamp. It seems that the extra mids complement the preamp better than the parallel config, for my liking.

[quote name='Annoying Twit' timestamp='1412405652' post='2568602'] These do seem to be making the rounds. People rave about them being good for not much money, but they demonstrably do not seem to be 'keepers'. [/quote] When they're so cheap, many people buy them on impulse and after a while they come to their senses and realise they really don't need it, and possibly have other basses they prefer so... away they go. Not very surprising, really. What is surprising is that they're so good for the price they go for!

[quote name='Bigwan' timestamp='1412148252' post='2566030'] True, but then why the little laughing emoticon? It's belittling... [/quote] I'm truly sorry you feel that way... I think you're taking things far too seriously