mcnach

[quote name='bubinga5' timestamp='1342046062' post='1728844'] Yep.. i know this a very subjective question... but what i think comes close, is a bass line that does everything required, in a balanced way, to compliment the chords/rythm/song but show the players own personality.. this Freddie Washington on his P bass is just groove central imo... i cant imagine someone playing a better line on this track.. subjective of course.. [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Amzp7W0RkPA[/media] [/quote] Beautiful! This is the bassline that made me think "oh, so a P-bass can sound great slapped after all!". Very tasty line, one of my "jam standards".

[quote name='Kesh' timestamp='1342000507' post='1727614'] Am replacing my pickups (P/J configuration) and electrics on a bass that is very playable, but has a lacklustre sound to it. Am going for passive circuit and vintage sound. It seems I can pay anywhere from £40 (say a wilkinson set) to £230 (Nordstrand or Fralin). Can you really get that much more value out of what is just copper wire and alnico magnets? Or is it like when they blind tasted wine with some wine experts and they couldn't tell cheap from expensive? Before I part with my money I'd be interested to know your thoughts. And hello (it's my first post). [/quote] It varies. A lot. In my experience, the cheaper pickups are almost invariably disappointing and a waste of money in the long run. They can be an improvement over some stock pickups in some Squiers etc, but not that great. At the same time, just because it's expensive it doesn't mean it's a pickup you will like. It will be made well, but it can disappoint as well. I owned several OLP Stingray-like basses. Their stock pickups are quite uninspiring. I tried a Seymour Duncan SMB4A and loved it. I still do. NIght and day, fantastic pickup and not terribly expensive. Then, one day I bought a Nordstrand MM4.2... a lot more expensive and... utterly disappointed, I reverted to the SMB4A. If you stay with the "big ones" SEymour Duncan and DiMarzio, you are safer, in my opinion. They make good ones, and there are many many many reviews all over the place, so you can narrow down your search substantially before pulling the trigger. But in the end, it's a bit of trial and error... what sounds great in one bass, may not sound the same in another.

[quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1342012736' post='1728023'] If the transmitter doesn't attach to the guitar strap, then where is it supposed to go? [/quote] IT has a clip to attach it to the strap, yes, but I (and others) think it looks rather flimsy, so I avoid using the clip and I have a holder instead. I use one of these: [url="http://www.amazon.com/Levys-Leathers-Wireless-Receiver-Holder/product-reviews/B00074B67A"]http://www.amazon.com/Levys-Leathers-Wireless-Receiver-Holder/product-reviews/B00074B67A[/url]

I bought mine from Pickguard Heaven, when I had the SUB5... it wasn't that expensive I think I ended up paying around £40, with delivery, which is expensive... but then again it was well made and there aren't so many other options around. I went for the matt black finish, 3-ply, which was marginally more expensive than the glossy one. Ok, I just looked... shipping seems to have gone up, at $38, but the pickguards are between $27 and $54... $29 for white or black 3-ply pickguards, $33 for the matt black 3-ply I used to have, and many other colours... if you go for pearloid and tortoiseshell then it goes to $49 and $54... If I had mine still I'd scan it for you... but I sold it a few months ago

[quote name='cocco' timestamp='1342120539' post='1730050'] I like a jazz, but they just dont sit nicely in a mix to my ears. [/quote] I suppose it's a matter of what sound one is after. But this comment reminded me how there seems to be a lot of people who always play with both pickups on. It's my "least favourite" option in a Jazz. Both pickups on sounds big and deep, and sounds very good with a soft/acoustic band. But with a rock band it can get lost easily. However the bridge pickup can cut through with ease. I guess I am a bridge type of person, since I seem to play nearly always with the bridge pickup alone when using a Jazz, and if not I'll be using a Stingray... with a single (bridge) pickup.

[quote name='Lfalex v1.1' timestamp='1342120676' post='1730055'] Jazz Bass? Every home should have one. Like, before you buy a cooker... [/quote] One? you mean *at least* one

You turn the bass all they way up? I normally don't go beyond a quarter of its travel, or a bit more perhaps.

Well, the Seymour Duncan SJB-2 pickups arrived today... and as soon as I got home, I installed them. First impressions are very positive. I don't know how the Hammers would have been "unsuitable" but these do the trick. The bridge pickup is great. Very nice tone. It's powerful, full bodied... since this is what I use most of the time, I think I did well. The neck pickup I'm not as keen on. It is good, absolutely, but a bit on the dark side. Both pickups on also lose a bit of the "traditional" Jazz sound, compared to the Gotoh I had previously on this bass. It still sounds good, but not as good as I thought they'd be when I listened to the bridge pickup alone: that one is just right. Well I have to try it in a band context now, but it seems good.

And today the Squier got a pair of Seymour Duncan SJB-2... worth for the bridge pickup alone, enormous!

[quote name='uncle psychosis' timestamp='1342090832' post='1729319'] You could drive to Dalgety Bay and get a nice black Jazz... [/quote] and I was there only a few days ago! That black Jazz... would look even better if the fingerboard was darker. Oh, what a coincidence! I have some dark wood stain in my drawer too!

[quote name='Ant' timestamp='1342032145' post='1728525'] ive got hammers in my shuker bass, totally amazing, awesome gnarly midrange growl and beef, very articulate as well. ive got a series/parallel switch and they sound awesome in series [/quote] That's more or less what I expected... from the description, but Andy totally put me off buying them (shrug). Ever used tapewounds on that bass?

[quote name='Conan' timestamp='1341913990' post='1725935'] Really? Interesting.... in what way were you underwhelmed? [/quote] it's hard to explain in words. They seemed "polite". They were not horrible, but they sounded "polite". I bought a Seymour Duncan SMB4A after that one, and it was like day and night, nice "thump", lots of body, nice midrange without being overpowering... But each pickup is different, so you can't judge all GFS by a single model (either good or bad). However I have not yet been disappointed by a SD pickup, either in guitars or bass. Hence my choice now.

[quote name='Conan' timestamp='1341906949' post='1725784'] I haven't tried their J pickups, but if they are as good as their Ps you might want to have a look here... [url="http://www.guitarfetish.com/GFS-JB-Pro-Jazz-Bass-Style-Alnico-Pickups_p_318.html"]http://www.guitarfet...kups_p_318.html[/url] [/quote] I tried their Stingray style pickups a couple of years ago, and I was not very impressed by that, so I haven't gone back to GFS.

Karl just bought my Digitech Bass Squeeze compressor pedal. We have exchanged a few messages back and forth, the transaction and communication has been a real pleasure. I hope you enjoy your pedal.

[quote name='Conan' timestamp='1341828700' post='1724562'] My cheap J copy sounds great with Hammers in. Crisp and crunchy, but still sounding full and rich. Tone is very subjective and difficult to describe in words, but I'm happy! The original pickups certainly weren't short on output - in fact they were very hot indeed and rather microphonic! I didn't replace them to get a boost in signal, but just to make things more balanced and "musical". I bought the Hammers second-hand on here for £60 - which is a good price - but even brand new they are reasonably priced. To the OP: Next time I'm up in Edinburgh (about three weeks time) I'll bring the bass and you can have a try. [/quote] Nice one, I'd definitely be interested if you are around with your bass I have however just ordered a set of Seymour Duncan SJB-2. Never tried those, but seem high output and midrange rich... and look like normal Jazz pickups (which is a plus too... not a big fan of the big polepiece look of the SJB-3 or the hexagonal polepieces in DiMarzio Model J)... we will see. I had a last minute offer for a gig last night, and I played the red Jazz for 2h. Love it, but I am looking forward having a bit more "ooomph" there on the midrange.

Another gig tonight, and I used the Squier Jazz again. Loving it!

Hmmm, I emailed Andy, and he replied that he doesn't think his pickups work very well with nylon tapewounds... But didn't say in what way they don't work well. So I'm left with whether to just try for myself (Hammers or 84s?) or go for tried and tested Basslines... decisions.

[quote name='bartelby' timestamp='1339764442' post='1693949'] An EHX Small Stone is under £50 [/quote] This would be my choice. They are very nice and warm sounding. I have the "Nano" version and I love it. I have nothing against Joyo, I have their Ultimate Drive and I like it... but for phaser, the nano Small Stone is the one for me, and cheap too.

Nice! If it weren't a sunburst, I'd find it hard not to drive to Glasgow today.

I'm looking for a set of pickups for my red Squier Jazz. I currently have a set of some alnico Gotoh pickups that are not bad sounding at all. But I find them a bit lacking in output, and with the nylon tapewound strings I use on this bass I am aiming for that dark midrange grunt on the bridge pickup... which these get close to, but not quite, they sound too "vintagey". It's just a cheap bass but I am liking it more and more. I gigged with it last night and it's definitely not going to be the last... so I'm looking for a way to improve a bit what I have here. Looking at the Wizard pickups, which get great reviews here, I noticed the "Hammers" have a description that seems fitting... anybody has tried them?

[quote name='stingrayPete1977' timestamp='1341648483' post='1722186'] Can I be the one with the big moustache? [/quote] I think it would suit you I had moustache and beard once, but I also loved egg mayonnaise sandwiches... horrible combination. I prefer a fuzz-free face these days