mcnach

That looks just amazing!!!!!!!!!!!! I want one like it!

[quote name='wishface' timestamp='1347033551' post='1796298'] Bit late for that. Anyway, i'm not going to adjust it anymore. The neck is fairly straight and the action is low enough that before changing strings it would be counter productive to continue. I can't lower the strings much more anyway as doing so induces some very slight fretbuzz around the 12th fret on the D and the A. [/quote] ok, I promise then not to mention adding shims to the neck pocket to alter the angle slightly (but -if needed- it can help greatly to achieve a smooth low action... if needed!)

[quote name='wishface' timestamp='1347033403' post='1796294'] I'm sure a qualified reputable techie could make some improvements. But i'm not one and I don't know any. If I took the guitar into a shop they'd probably charge me the earth, assuming a shop that's available has repair facilities. Their used to be a luthier that owned a shop (I won't name them) in a town near me, but he was a bit of a pisshead. I live in a rural area there aren't shops nor luthiers here. Big cities have shops but i've never been much enamoured with them as they are often full of people with egos who like to charge lots of money to people that they know don't know as much as them. [/quote] yeah, definitely don't take it to the pisshead and I would not go to just any shop. Many (not all, but enough of them to make me wary) just have a guy who will do a couple of half-arsed adjustments and take £45 for it. If you state your exact location (I don't mean coordinates or even your address, a town is enough), maybe someone in the vicinity can recommend someone. Other than that, or in addition to that, I'd try to research online and find someone who has a reputation, who gets good reviews. A luthier, a real one, can be great, even if they don't work with electric basses. I met such person in my city once, years ago... he told me I was his first bass. But the man knew about stringed instruments and had the tools etc. He did a beautiful set up on my bass, which I could only manage to get right to certain extent. He identified a couple of uneven frets, so he levelled them all nicely, he also rounded the edges of the fingerboard for me... very very slightly, making the ends of teh frets smoother than they were too... and it was just beautiful. He was proud of his work, so he showed me around, the instruments he built, and generally taught me a lot. I loved it. So, I would try that if you can't find a tech that comes recommended in your area. It can be a great experience, in addition to getting your bass in great condition.

[quote name='wishface' timestamp='1347033131' post='1796289'] 1.about 3mm [/quote] that seems a lot to me... is this between bottom of the string to fingerboard, or bottom of the string to top of 12th fret? [quote name='wishface' timestamp='1347033131' post='1796289'] 2. I didn't take the strings off to get to the pickup i loosened them. the strings slip when i put them on the first place. It takes a while to get them to stay in tune. Most of the strings go around a couple of times. [/quote] it would be very useful if you could post a clear picture how you put the strings, how they are wound around the post. When I do it, the tuning is stable from the start, and I rarely go more than 1-2 turns. Right now, in fact, I have one bass where one string does not even have a full turn! (I cut it too short by mistake)... it works just fine. If you put the string through the hole, all the way down into the post, then a sharp turn out, and sharp again to wind around the post... those kinks will hold the string tightly... add a couple of turns and that thing wil not slip. [quote name='wishface' timestamp='1347033131' post='1796289'] 4. nothing, though i knew roughly about intonation before. the only problem is moving the saddles without using my fingers. [/quote] I tend to move them with my fingers, or pushing with a screw driver. It's normal. If you loosen the strings a bit, then turn the screw as required to make the saddle moe forward or backward... push with your finger if you have to to make the sadde sit in the new location, retighten string and measure tuning... repeat as needed.

[quote name='wishface' timestamp='1347003078' post='1795771'] I also didn't say the bass wasn't any good. I said it was a cheap bass, which it is. it has limitations on what can be done with it. It plays the way it plays. [/quote] you are right that you can't have the same expectations from a cheap than from an expensive bass, but the differences are often overexaggerated. Providing you have something decent to start with, structurally sound etc, which your Spector will be, you can still make it play very very smoothly and nicely. I think it's a shame when people write off an instrument as "ah well, it's not very good, it'll never be much better than it is now"... although on the other hand it's served me to buy cheaply something I could make to play beautifully a couple of hours later. Granted you don't have the experience and knowledge to improve your bass significantly by yourself. Then do yourself a favour and take it to a good tech. They can look at it and tell you what they can do and how much it would cost you. You will probably find it's not a lot of money... and when you get it back you will try more expensive instruments in a shop and think "my cheaper bass plays better than this". Seen it many times.

[quote name='Evil Undead' timestamp='1346968300' post='1795604'] My claim of you not reading things properly is nicely backed up here firstly by you calling me sir, when just to the left here it clearly states that I'm female. [/quote] maybe you wrote 'female' in an ironic way... [quote name='Evil Undead' timestamp='1346968300' post='1795604'] And secondly because if you bother to go back and read my posts you will see that the suggestion to take out the foam was not mine. I wouldn't have told you that because I wouldn't do that myself. [/quote] Nothing wrong with removing the foam. On old pickups teh foam can get all squished and... useless. Easy to remove and use new one.

[quote name='wishface' timestamp='1346967654' post='1795594'] And, again, I have been nothing but polite and friendly in response. And for the third time i THANKED you for your offer. Yet this is now the second time you've decided to throw that back in my face and tell me how much you don't want to help me.Never mind the fact that my understandable and reaosnable reluctance to tinker with something as delicate as a pickup on the only bass I own is met with derision and accusations of being ungrateful.Never mind the fact that following that advice was not successful, any follow up on the result of that advice will not be forthcoming because you and your friend have decided to chuck your toys out the pram. I don't particularly regard that as helpful at all, sir. The foam at the base of the pickup is glued to the thing and is placed there for a very good reason that I'm surprised you both chose not to mention. It's there to stop the pickup wire getting crushed by the pickup when it's screwd in place, which is now what's going to happen if i tighten it. [/quote] woah... easy there. All of you! as for the foam: its purpose is not to avoid damaging the cable. You would not damage it anyway as you would never screw it down deep into the body. The foam is there to provide a somewhat flexible support so that you can screw the pickup into the body to the height you require, and the foam will exert some force upwards, so that the pickup will be in place and not move. If you unscrew it slightly, the foam will gently push it up too, to some extent. It may require more foam sometimes.. or as I do, I add a bit of cardboard to the bottom instead, if I need the pickup higher than I can adjust it. Some pickups use springs alone to do that. I prefer foam, the pickup stays in place better, once you get it where you want it. Nothing very delicate about the pickups (do not remove the covers unless you have a reason to do so, to avoid damaging the coil windings, as some pickups protect them with tape but some don't). Other than that, just be gentle, don't pull hard etc... but there's nothing truly delicate there. Having said that... better to be too careful than careless... as long as it does not prevent you from achieving your goals. I was once a bit scared to open up a guitar... do you know how I cured myself? I dismantled it completely!!! Losing that fear has saved me a lot of money over the years, as electric guitars are very simple things, electronically, and bolt-on neck ones, even better when it comes to doing set ups etc. There is nothing you can really damage there, as long as you have some minimum amount of common sense (if a truss rod nut is tight, don't insist on forcing it at all costs, etc) Having said that, it's also cost me money, for I love buying cheaper instruments and tinker with them forever People here are trying to help you. Sometimes misunderstandings occur. It happens. Let's not escalate it unnecessarily. This forum is a great resource, I hope you get to enjoy it fully.

[quote name='wishface' timestamp='1346964880' post='1795541'] Right i've just dug the pickup out and there was only a tiny bit of foam glued to the bottom which i've scraped off as best I can. It hasn't really made any difference to the height at all, nor to the sound of the E string. Replacing it wasn't easy and I've a horrible feeling ive squashed the wired by screwing it back as the springs around the screws came loose. Fortunately it all still works. But there wasn't anything there to work with, removing the foam hasn't made any noticeable difference at all, but then it was screwed in tight anyway. [/quote] reading through the thread, catching up... by your previous posts, your being reluctant to remove the pickup in the first place and having done so, saying it was not easy... I reach the conclusion that you don't particularly enjoy fiddling with these things nor are particularly adpet if you need to. No problem. Hey, some people enjoy this, some don't, we're not equal. At this stage I'd say what others have already: take it to a tech. You'd be amazed at what someone who does these things for a living can do to a bass, in little time and for little money... it'll be like getting an entirely new instrument. Believe me!

[quote name='wishface' timestamp='1346788920' post='1793344'] I don't own a very good instrument, unfortunately. At least that's how it feels. It's made by Spector, but i couldn't tell you waht the model is (it has no number and i've long forgotten). It was cheap. The problem I have specifically is that the bass feels 'wrong' when I wear it. It's as if the weight is off centre. Playing around and above the 12th fret is uncomfortable as a result. it doesn't matter whether I have it high or low (usually high because it's uncomfortable to play when slung low anyway). The neck feels a bit too wide, and although I've lowered the action considerably (it was never that high) the E string (4 string) feels heavy and high on the neck, exacerbating the 12th fret issue. In fact it's really the E string that's problematic. The intonation, high, isn't great, but that's to be expected with cheap instruments. The reason I post this isn't to have a moan; there's nothing I can do about it anyway I certainly can't afford a better instrument and liklely never will. But it's to try and get some feedback on those problems. I would love to know whether my performance and development are limited by me or the instrument (or both). At least if I knew those sorts of issues were solely the purview of cheap instruments that would be a help. Conversely if I knew I had a rock solid instrument I would know that whatever problems I have as a player were thigns I could work on and practice. If that makes any sense. [/quote] I think the fundamental issue here may not be cheap vs. not-cheap... maybe that bass is just not the type for you. Basses, cheap and expensive come in many different forms, shapes, neck profiles... I'd try as many as possible, until you find one that feels more "at home" for you. One of my first bases was a Warwick Corvette $$. Not exactly a "crap bass". But it never felt right to me. I found that Stingrays and Jazz basses do feel right to me, even if they're different from eachother, and even if I play a cheap Squier or a more expensive Fender... the style feels right for me. Go forth and explore

[quote name='S9_S12_Bass' timestamp='1346966119' post='1795562'] Good review, I think the black outline around the body looks really nice [/quote] The black "binding" on the body and the neck is really well done. Aesthetically it's good. The body finish etc is good, and the body/neck fit is also nice and tight, although I see a bit of a small gap on the back, which I will investigate... it could be a rough pocket, or maybe it was too tight to fit perfectly flat... however it seems just right at the moment. To be honest, my only "niggle" at the moment is the bridge pickup rout. I noticed that if I were to position the pickup more central so that the gap around it is evenly distributed, the string alignment will not be very good... and it does not look like a neck re-seating would help since it's looking pretty much right now... So, I can leave it as it is and I'll soon forget the gap... or return it for another one. I am leaning towards a return at the moment... It's a cheap bass... but for £250 a decent pickup/string alignment is not much to ask, eh? Judging by other cheap/parts basses I've had in my hands... I believe this can end up being a very nice player. You just need to spend some time on it. Not so much money changing stuff, except for an output socket at some point, as this one does not inspire me trust, and perhaps pots if they keep getting scratchy... but that's all cheap. The bridge pickup is good enough, I think. As long as it's not microphonic, and these days even the cheaper ones are ok. The neck pickup takes some adjustment, for me at least. I'm used mostly to Stingrays and Jazz... and even P basses that don't have a pickup too close to the neck. The neck pickup on the Retrovibe seems to get in the way -for me- when I slap. I mean, no big deal, I quickly change the way I play and it's ok... but it seems the pickup is right where I get my finger on the G/D strings to pop... THis weekend I will have some more time to go over it in detail and I'll also decide whether to exchange it. Or even return it full stop. I really do not need another bass BUt where's the fun in that?

[quote name='tommorichards' timestamp='1346964030' post='1795530'] For the stingray sound, could it be that the pickup is wired in series, not parallel, as i have found normally to be the case? [/quote] I think that is definitely a factor. I haven't checked yet, but I'm pretty sure it's wired in series. It has that "girth" that a MM wired in series has. But it does not have the "stingrayness" thing. My SUB has a pickup wired in series and it does have a Stingray smell, fully and entirely unmistakeable. This one reminds me of my old Warwick Corvette $$. I haven't checked the position, but I feel it's a bit farther from the bridge than a Stingray's, which would account for the different timbre. I'll check it out this weekend properly. Also, it's a ceramic pickup, not alnico, and that contributes to the sound (less than the position, of course, but it all adds up).

[quote name='BassTractor' timestamp='1346958640' post='1795406'] Great write up. Thanks! I kinda like it for some reason, and what you wrote doesn't scare either. Out to sell my body! best, bert [/quote] Nothing is scarily bad. But I feel -if mine is representative- that this is one for those who like to tinker a bit and are comfortable and enjoy adjusting and modifying things. For those who just want to take a bass out of the box, adjust the action and go... it may not be the best option. The looks, however, are interesting... let's face it, that's the main reason you and I looked at this bass in the first place There was a MM SUB for sale not long ago for £250. Now THAT would be a much more "efficient" way to spend money on basses... but they don't look "different"

Now... first impressions? Mixed. This will need work to make it play the way I want it to. I sort of knew that, of course. But sometimes you get lucky and you can get away with very little. I would not take it to rehearsal tonight if I had one. The fit and finish is generally decent, although there are not so good things. The routing for the bridge pickup is not pretty. The neck pickup is not adjustable at all the way it is now... no bid deal, but I suspect I'll have to put foam and file the scratch plate a little to make it fit well. The neck has that "unfinish" feeling to it that some like and some hate. I normally like that, but this feels a bit "raw". I'll use that oil I have for my Stingray. The frets are ok, but a tiny bit sharp. I'll take care of that at some point. Tuners feel flimsy. The actual ears seem very thin... but for now it works. Potentiometers, one is a little noisy, so it'll be sprayed for sure. The output socket does not feel solid to me. It's probably ok for a long time... but I'd keep an eye on it and replace it at the first sign of problems... or sooner. How does it feel? I like the weight, balance and the neck is chunky but not in a bad way. Very Precision like. I have notg set it up at all, and it's more than playable, but not awe inspiring. The action is pretty much where I'd like it to be and there's no fret buzz, so I don't anticipate any fret levelling, which is nice. Soundwise... That humbucker is powerful! It does not sound like a Stingray, no. But it sounds nice. I like it. The neck pickup right now is too imbalanced, so I cannot really comment on both pickups on or the neck alone (only that it does not seem remarkable in any way). Quite a wide range of sounds with the individual tone and volume controls... but too fiddly. I am not a fan of that layout. The good news is there should be tons of space to install various electronics there, under that pickguard. This is just a quick impression... I don't have time to try it properly yet. I am a little underwhelmed, as I've often been lucky with cheaper instruments, and this one does require some basic work before I dare take it to rehearsals with me. But at the same time, it's nothing terrible either. I do feel it does not exactly represent tremendous value, when you look at what else you can buy. A Squier VM Jazz is only marginally more expensive, and it's a bass you can use straight from the box (in my experience with them). The second hand Cort GB74 I bought second hand (ok, not exactly the same) cost me £100 less and it's a much better bass. But it has a quirky design and there's no other like it. I like it, but I would not recommend it unless you are ok with spending some time on it to bring it up to scratch... I don't think any of my other basses need to feel threatened. I don't really know whether it's a keeper. But it has potential for becoming a very interesting bass, with a bit of attention. So... verdict straight from the box: a little underwhelming, yet promising. We will see.

ok... so here it is! I was going to post pictures of the parcel, the unwrapping process... but I could not wait! I have seen better pickup routing than this: and the neck pickup is a bit too deep into the body, especially on the treble side. It cannot be adjusted by turning the screws. I think it may need more foam underneath, or perhaps the pickup is too tight into the pickguard, or both. nice detail: strap buttons with a sharp T profile. pretty in red

It's agony... that large brown box in the corner... and I have a meeting now and another at 4pm... no way I can escape... unless I email saying I cancel the meeting this week due to... a bassic emergency. :-p nah, I shouldn't do that...

Arrived!!!!!!!!!! now... the long wait till I get home and I can open it...

I haven't bought a lot from BD, maybe three times before... but it was always reasonably efficient and pleasant. However this last time it was better. I ordered a pickup. A package arrived very quickly... unfortunately with the wrong pickup. This was yesterday. I wrote to Mark, and he posted the right pickup immediately, without waiting for me to return the other one. The right one arrived this morning. For me good service is defined not so much by how they act normally, when they get things right, but by how they respond when they get it wrong. I could not ask for more, short of Mark personally jumping in a plane last night to deliver the pickup personally and perhaps install it for me So... thumbs up from me.

[quote name='S9_S12_Bass' timestamp='1346916591' post='1794709'] how far away is the depot from you? [/quote] shut up!!! I already thought of that!!! I keep checking the ParcelForce tracking page... I don't have to, I am getting it delivered at work and the guys receiving deliveries know me and I told them about this, so they'll call me the minute it arrives... but I still refresh the page. Tonight I'm busy... but nothing will stop me from unpacking it and having a quick play on it.

oooh! 07:30... "loaded to vehicle for delivery"

It seems it's finally in Edinburgh... it was logged at 01:06... so it must be out for delivery today.

Disappointment... the bass didn't make it here today. It looks like it will be delivered tomorrow instead... tic tac tic tac...

did I say already that it's due on Wednesday????? and, it so happens I have a rehearsal that day. Perfect. I hope I have time to get home and do some adjustments to it.

Bass due to arrive on Wednesday!!!!!!!!!!!

[quote name='Darkstrike' timestamp='1346613493' post='1791256'] Looks to me like the MM pickup is in the Stingray spot, could be a prime candidate for the 'ol East preamp, or the SD, Nord and homebrew versions. [/quote] Indeed. Although an MM pickup a bit closer to the bridge is also pretty nice, more "Jazz bridge" in that case, as in my Cort GB74. If I like the bass enough to see myself using it a lot, I'll put the 3-band SD preamp I have (stingray style). If I like it A LOT, I'll put a homebrew 2-band plus a John East Midsweep module. I just hope they don't come out with a fretless version of this... because I'd find it quite hard to resist.

ooh, I've played this bass. Really really nice, and superb refinish job! Nice to see it happening, step by step here.