mcnach

First world problems, eh? So, not counting the Squier VM Jazz, which stays stock and I may let go... I have 3 Jazz basses, and soon I will have a fourth one (my very first bass, which I'm reacquiring, yay! ) I have one J-Retro in my drawer. I mounted it on a black plate, after drilling the extra holes etc, and I meant to put it on the Squier VM... but I haven't. I still have the original, of course. So, where would it be best? 1) Japanese Fender, 75RI, natural/maple/black pickguard. I think it would look pretty nice, and since it's my favourite Jazz, it makes sense to fit it here. However... This is the one Jazz bass I have owned that I don't find myself wishing I had a preamp on. It has a pair of Nordstrand NJ4SE pickups and although not the most "traditional", it sounds great, and I get a wider range of tones with this one that I have ever done with any other Jazz. So I feel like keeping it as it is. I might try the J-Retro, just in case... but I also prefer the standard control plate look, so unless it's significantly advantageous, I'll keep this one stock. Yes, the midsweep... I'm a big fan of it... chances are that when I try it I'll remember why I love this preamp... but I really like its passive voice. 2) Korean Squier. Red/rosewood/tortoiseshell. It has a plywood body... but a delicious neck and I love this bass. A pair of SD Basslines SJB-2 pickups help this bass make me smile. Fender flatwounds on this one, which are quite bright. The J-Retro would be a very nice addition, But I'd ruin the "classic" look. Vain? Superficial? Moi? I've gigged this bass a few times. Love it. 3) Fretless. A Squier VM Jazz with a replacement body (shoreline gold) and pickups (SD SJB-3) and white pickguard. Looks don't really enter here. The body might be painted orange, or would be replaced by an ash one with some mild wood stain and oil finished. A fretless Jazz and the J-Retro could be a fantastic combination. The thing is that I play fretless only at home and not all that much. 4) Vintage brand Jazz bass. Black/rosewood/black metallic pickguard. My first bass, the one that started it for me. A black plate J-Retro would look great. The thing is I don't know how much I'm going to use this one. I am buying it back for sentimental reasons really, as I don't need another Jazz. I remember it being really nice... but my perception may have changed... it's been 4 years since I last played it! I'm leaning towards fretless or Vintage... but then I realise those are the two less likely to see live action and to be used seriously. Decisions decisions! First world problems, like I said.

what drives me mad is thar everytime I go to the beach and walk into the sea, I get wet! Every single time!!! I get really angry and people tell me I should not walk into the water then, but then I would not be able to feel the water on my legs!!! Why can't they comprehend that??? Dumb people...

Hmmmm... I just located a nice looking natural, unfinished, ash body... It looks like the course of action will be: sand the new body, *may* stain it, and apply oil to it for an easy satin finish. I'm lazy and I like these finishes. The shoreline gold one? Either I sell it or I try painting it anyway to see what it is like. Hmmmm. Decisions decisions.

[quote name='andyonbass' timestamp='1344627729' post='1767418'] Just pulled the trigger on a used U-Retro, its gotta be an improvement over the stock preamp, I dont want to get into changing the pickups though, as I think it might be a bit of a problem finding a MM type pickup compatible with the wider spacing, and anyway, the retro has nearly doubled the value of the bass! [/quote] That's going to be a great improvement! Yeah, wide spacing 5-string MM pickups are not very common. But I'm sure the preamp alone will be a great improvement. The pickups are not the best, but they aren't bad either. The U-Retro is a tremendous preamp. Let us know how you find it!

[quote name='Darkstrike' timestamp='1344634342' post='1767518'] If I can fit it without any carving, I have a East MMSR spare that'd I'd love to stick in mine. [/quote] I have not checked, but I'm pretty sure it will fit, there is tons of space in the control cavity. I can fit a MMSR in a G&L L2000, and that's a lot tighter!

[quote name='RichZbaraski' timestamp='1344464499' post='1765145'] So, I may have the opportunity to buy a 1963 Fender Jazz bass for £800! Crazy right?! Reason is, is that it really needs a refinish and the markings on the neck have been sanded off swell as the logo (ugly red varnish refinish) though the markings are still on the neck plate and majority of the hardware is original. My question is, refinished in OLY white with a matching headstock, how much do think this will be worth? I've seen a unoriginal refinished 63 jazz bass go for around £2,750 but I can't be sure Sorry if this is violating any rules! rich [/quote] Sorry, I can't find the other 1962 questions... where are they?

Liking what I hear

[quote name='MiltyG565' timestamp='1344355889' post='1763272'] i like it too, but it has to make room, and im not in a band right now, so i cant really afford to have 3 basses kicking about (picking up another bass tomorow.) you interested Mcnach? [/quote] OLPs always tempt me. I've owned 4, three of them simultaneously, but at the moment my Stingray needs are covered by the Stingray, the SUB and one OLP... still, I think it looks yummy. With a good pickup on and a nice set up they are great basses.

I like the orange one!

How odd is that colour?

[quote name='Darkstrike' timestamp='1344266742' post='1761950'] I found swapping the 3 way switch to single/series/parallel to be much better [/quote] the question is... which single coil? I'm sure once I pick one, I will not miss the other, but they do sound different. However, having the midsweep onboard, I doubt it'll matter.

[quote name='Musicman20' timestamp='1338495259' post='1675520'] Very impressed with this seller: [url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Ernie-Ball-2736-Cobalt-Regular-Slinky-5-String-bass-strings-45-130-/370599422937?pt=UK_Guitar_Accessories&hash=item5649726bd9#ht_2255wt_689"]http://www.ebay.co.u...9#ht_2255wt_689[/url] My set arrived very quickly and much cheaper than the shops. [/quote] I bought a set from him a couple of weeks ago, which arrived pretty quickly. Waiting to be installed in my Stingray anyday now.

Hi Lucas, welcome to BC! Yeah, I'm liking that Cort GC74 a lot. I did a couple of gigs with it and tehre's pictures to prove it and it worked evry well. I find the light weight a bit disconcerting for a bit, but I soon get used to it and it's very very comfortable. I think the pickups can be improved, and I don't like the preamp... so I have a couple of modifications planned. I have all the "ingredients", just waiting for the right time when I have the right combination of time and will 1) replacing neck pickup (Jazz) with a Seymour Duncan SJB3 2) replacing bridge pickup (MM) with a Seymour Duncan SMB4A 3) removing preamp, and wire a passive tone control with a John East midsweep module. the only thing I have not yet decided is what to do with the switches. The single/series/single might give way to a single/series/parallel... or not. The other one... might not do anything at all, or maybe engage a fixed capacitor for "dark switch"... I don't know. very nice bass, for sure.

[quote name='RandomBass' timestamp='1344168456' post='1760608'] And as we all know the truth that TC amps only put out about three and a half watts, you will need as much speaker area as possible to be heard over a tweeting budgie. Actually, I'm probably just jealous. [/quote] (maybe a very loud budgie with a good PA could pose a problem )

This question has been asked many times (not a dig at you, I ask questions that have been asked before many times just saying that you can find this info elsewhere from other people more reputable than myself, that's all ) So, yes... find the details on the TC website. But the short answer is: it's ok. Impedance is not a fixed number for all frequencies, so giving one number alone is an exercise on abstraction. An indication. TC knows the behaviour of their amps and of the speaker cabs they use with those amps, so they recommend to treat their "8 ohm" cabs as "8 ohm" cabs when using other amps, but if using TC amps, you can use up to three of them. The amp has a auto-shut down safety mechanism built in, so it's unlikely you'd damage it if you went lower than you should, but yes, 3 TC cabs are ok with TC amps. In fact it was one of their advertising points: "use up to three (TC) cabs for a ridiculously powerful rig", or something along those lines. Mixing brands? Treat the head as a minimum 4ohm and cabs as rated in the back. All TC? Then use the head with up to three "8ohm" cabs

Well, I used Interparcel and it was all very smooth. Just under £40, insured, easy. I took it to the depot (UPS) myself to avoid the waiting game. I took it on Tuesday, the parcel left Edinburgh the day after... and on Friday it was collected in Germany by the new owner of my Fender Precision CIJ fretless... such a beautiful bass... So, thumbs up for Interparcel here. I guess when using them you really are at the mercy of whatever company they use for each particular delivery. I chose Interparcel Standard, which for Germany meant UPS. You can see that on their website before you book, so you can change different services if you want to avoid a particular carrier.

[quote name='BassTractor' timestamp='1344022940' post='1758939'] Just tell me how old you are. Looking at your sig, I'll be any age required... Brother! best, lil bro [/quote] I forgot one thing: you need to speak Spanish edit: oh, so you have a Bongo! Hmmm, I'll teach you Spanish, don't worry

[quote name='Deep Thought' timestamp='1343990347' post='1758231'] I also have the Line 6 G30 and am well pleased with it-although if honest, if I had the cash I probably would go for the G50-I believe the receiver unit is metal not plastic, and the G30 unit has a minor issue with the battery compartment door, which can be a bit of a sod to close with a set of batteries in. This is a known fault which has come up several times on the Line 6 support forums, I get the impression Line 6 deny the problem exists. It's only a minor niggle, it closes eventually with a bit of fiddling, and in use I have no complaints with the unit. One thing I will say is use decent batteries-when I first got mine it would eat a set of pound shop cheapo batteries in an hour-plus I was using a normal length lead between transmitter and amp. Switched to Duracells (also available at our local pound shop!) and bought a short patch lead, and battery life has improved enormously. I understand the receiver unit clip is more robust on the G50 too. [/quote] I hear about that door "problem". I don't get it. Yes, you have to press and slide the latch, hard. But it's not like you need to be the Hulk, and it actually ensures it does not come undone by itself. As for batteries, I never used anything other than Duracell. Packs of 36 at Costco for just over £10. Each pair lasts the advertised 8h of continuous use or more. I really like the battery life indicator. It warns you well in advance, and it is accurate. For me, the only negative is the transmitter clip. It looks very flimsy. For that reason I use a separate holder attached to my strap, and the transmitter goes inside it.

[quote name='x_Morning_Star_x' timestamp='1343987839' post='1758189'] ive heard good things about both of these line 6 units, i may look into the G30 actually, i think i was being a little too specifc just saying rack, is there any latency issues with G30? [/quote] None. I have been using one for over two years one and it's a fantastic thing. No latency whatsoever, or sound degradation unlike the older radio units. I'd totally recommend it.

[quote name='BassTractor' timestamp='1344013737' post='1758799'] Oh! My! God! We're brothers!!! My dad would have cogs left after repairing clocks, but the clocks would still work perfectly of course. Never ceased to amaze me. best, bert [/quote] If you are younger than me, but older than my brother, I'll ask my parents to adopt you. I always wanted to have a brother in between.

[quote name='charic' timestamp='1344003116' post='1758567'] That's quite pretty [/quote] Interestingly, Lindo=pretty in Spanish

[quote name='Conan' timestamp='1343999152' post='1758463'] Fair point. I'm just a bit intimidated by things like that. I'm good at taking things apart.... less good at putting them back together again! [/quote] my dad would disassemble anything that stopped working at home, from TVs to washing machines. When he was done, tehre were always a few screws and washers left over... "and that?" I'd ask. "oh, that was not necessary, it works fine without it" Fortunately, he was a lot more careful with the car

[quote name='charic' timestamp='1343998779' post='1758452'] There's not enough caves in the UK... [/quote] maybe that's what drove the British to invent so much over the years!

[quote name='Conan' timestamp='1343998447' post='1758433'] Surely it's the sound that matters most? If you like the tone you get, is it important how the pickups are constructed? [/quote] Yes, if you are of a curious and inquisitive nature and like to know how things work etc. We'd still live in caves if there weren't a few people in every generation like that