mcnach

[quote name='andyonbass' timestamp='1340045943' post='1698276'] Recently aquired a fretless fiver, its a very well put together bass, not too heavy and balances well. The low B isn't great but I have a new set of strings in the post and if they improve matters, I might consider an electrical upgrade, as I agree with the previous posts regarding pickups and circuit. Here's a pic (courtesy of mykesbass - hope you dont mind ) [attachment=110799:CortBass001.jpg] [/quote] Nice looking bass! I didn't know there were fretless versions.

I figured I might add a couple of pictures of my actual bass...

[quote name='apa' timestamp='1340034377' post='1697982'] I must admit Im realy coming round to this colour! Orange is by no means my favourite but this has a lovely 'not too in your face' thing going on. It reminds me of a matchbox mini I had as a child Consider my withdrawin and have a and a A [/quote] yeah, I never considered orange until recently when I saw one orange jazz and i thought... "that is warm looking and nice" It also brings me feelings of... warmth and fuzziness... maybe because it was a popular colour when i was child So, are you getting ideas for a new bass project?

[quote name='allihts' timestamp='1340041779' post='1698170'] I've got the older, cheaper version in a funky blue with a pearloid pickguard and pearl blocks on a rosewood neck. Very showy and very bright sounding but I dropped it and f***ed up the stacked bass/treble EQ knob so is now stuck at a default treble boost which makes it hard to use. [/quote] You should get it fixed, I can't imagine it'd be too hard. Is the actual pot damaged? Is it wired via cables or inserted into the PCB of the preamp?

wow, that is really nice! You did a great paintjob, at least on the pictures it looks very good.

I was checking other reviews etc, and found this: [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/139724-sold-upgraded-cort-gb74/"]http://basschat.co.uk/topic/139724-sold-upgraded-cort-gb74/[/url] kinda pretty in blue too Not as good a price as mine was, but still very reasonable I think. Funny that the preamp was gutted and the pickups changed on that one. Not surprised. I think this bass has a lot of potential. It's fine as it is, but it can be much better with little hassle I think.

[quote name='Roland Rock' timestamp='1340010267' post='1697407'] I refinished my Precision in Capri Orange. Love it! Looking forward to seeing how this turns out. [/quote] pictures, pictures!!!

[quote name='xgsjx' timestamp='1339952276' post='1696691'] I sanded down my old Vox many yonks ago, gave it a couple of coats of purple celly & never got round to putting a top coat on it. That was 20 odd years ago & it still hasn't flaked off (though I did start partially sanding it off a few months back). As long as you sand the thing so it keys, it should be fine (unless it has an adverse reaction to the current finish, but then you already do ). Mind & post pics. [/quote] thanks for that, very interesting info, thanks! I will be posting pictures, for sure. Watch this space

[quote name='bertbass' timestamp='1339937729' post='1696449'] Use a couple of coats of primer first and it shouldn't flake off. [/quote] so... 2 coats primer + several orange + buff ok? without clearcoat? I do like the idea of the finish not being ultradurable... but I don't want it all to flake off in my gig bag within a couple of days

Hi Balcro, I think I agree with you in most of what you said. Putting new strings on really transformed it. I was rather enjoying the very deep dub/reggae tone I could get with the old strings... but NOW it sounds like a bass I would play more regularly, and after adjusting the action, it's really nice to play. I still get a weird feeling everytime I pick it up.. because it's so light. Is yours also very light? The mid-boost switch is a bit strange. When I bypass the preamp, it sounds very much like it does with the "mids boosted"... so I see it more as a bass/treble boost. But I have to be honest, I have not been playing much with it, I leave it down all the time. I downloaded the schematics and other info I could find, but I have not checked it yet. I will do. I have also now played a bit more with the preamp. Leaning towards keeping it. I don't see as being a bass that will become my main one. The Stingray and SUB are still my go-to basses and I don't think that's likely to change. So I don't feel like spending much money in it, if I don't have to. And I don't think I have to. The politeness of the pickups when passive can be helped just enough with the preamp. It's funny because the setting I ended up favouring matches your description: I find that if I just add a touch of bass boost and leave the treble flat, it makes me smile I think the treble frequency center is a bit higher than I'd like, if it were a little lower, it would be great to turn it down and get a very dark, mellow round sound. But it's alright. It'll work for me. So I don't think I'd bother replacing it. Still unsure about the single coil/ full humbucker selector. The thing is I really like the one coil option (either of them, I find one works better solo, the other one works better for both-pickups-on), and it's well balanced with the neck pickup. Full humbucker is clearly louder. I think having a single coil/parallel/series would me more useful for me. Nice bass. But not a substitute for a Jazz. The neck pickup is Jazzy... and it's very nice for slap lines like "Forget me nots", but the bridge and both-on sounds are not exactly Jazz. The bridge is nice, passable for a Jazz. Both pickups on is not very much like a Jazz. IIN a way it's better, since it cuts through a lot better... but if you want "that" sound, it's just not there. Still, that's not a negative point. This is not a Jazz, but something that in some ways resembles one and to describe it it helps to compare it to a Jazz. But it's what it is, and it's nice. I love that type of bridge, because it makes life very easy when you need to work on the bass... just loosen up strings a bit, strings unhook... and you don't need to remove them. Since it's so easy, I want to try my Seymour Duncan SMB4A on this bass, and see what it does to it. I was going to get rid off this pickup, but it may just find a new life here. However I want to become more familiar with the bass as it is, so that I can judge it better and not just replace it for the sake of it, but only if it makes a substantial difference (for the better). Still, the final proof is using it with the band. So many basses sound great at home, but then at higher volumes in a band mix are difficult to make it sound right. I have a gig on Thursday and I might just try it then. I don't need effects for that one, so I don't have to worry about how they interact with a different bass etc, just worry about the basic sound.

[quote name='Paul S' timestamp='1339930174' post='1696320'] I bought a Fender Precision Lyte unseen, fell for a sob story, and when it finally arrived it was a dog. Bad drippy and uneven re-finish in a colour I hated (I was told it was red, it was day-glow deep pink) with majorly faulty electrics. Rather than lose money pointlessly I decided to use it as a teaching aid - I stripped and refinished the body, stripped the painted headstock and stuck a new decal on it, put in completely new electrics. The finish didn't look bad but I used the wrong paint under a clear enamel coat which has now cracked! Do I care? Not particularly. It isn't sellable without making a loss, but I don't intend to sell it. I found out so much about how the bass was put together and now fearlessly tackle most jobs on my basses. One day I will take it to bits again and do a better job on the body. [/quote] that's the idea...

[quote name='gjones' timestamp='1339928807' post='1696297'] Will you not have to finish it with clear lacquer to stop it all rubbing off within the week? I've used this with good results [url="http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_10001_catalogId_10151_productId_203865_langId_-1_categoryId_165495"]http://www.halfords....tegoryId_165495[/url] You can use the nitro stuff if you're after authenticity [url="http://www.manchesterguitartech.co.uk/shop/category/nitrocellulose-lacquer/clearcoats/"]http://www.mancheste...uer/clearcoats/[/url] [/quote] Yes, a clearcoat would probably be needed (I was going to first see how solid it was without), but I imagine if the paint does not attach solidly enough to the body to start with, I'm just going to easily remove too much of it and make scratches before I even get to the stage of applying the clearcoat. We will see. And yes, that's exactly the coat I had in mind (manchester guitartech) since I bought the paint from him. Your Halfords one looks good, but being inexperienced, I was a bit wary of having trouble adding a non-nitro coat, and also concerned about it maybe taking to long to dry properly.

[quote name='pete.young' timestamp='1339930448' post='1696327'] I'm with AndyTravis on this one. Don't do it. Makes me regret even more that I didn't buy it when it was up for sale. Besides ruining an unusual and interesting instrument, what you're proposing to do won't work. It will never sound like a traditional fretless jazz bass with those horrible strings on it, whatever pickups you put in it. If you absolutely have to do it, take it to a proper luthier to get it done - I've seen so many original '70s Precisions that have been destroyed by cack-handed routing in a vain quest to make them into something they're not. Oh well. [/quote] I don't understand when people get so precious about instruments Sure, routing made by taking chunks of wood with your teeth will look hideous... but how exactly do you ruin it by adding a pickup! As for the "it won't work"... P/J basses are not exactly a crazy notion, tons of them out there, I owned one at one point. I happen to think it's a nice combination Damn it, now I feel like putting a J and an MM pickup together just to spite you!!! (just joking, alright, please don't shoot me ) Anyway, this idea has been indefinitely postponed as I'm working with a Squier Jazz fretless which is actually very nice. I prefer the Precision in how it feels (and looks, but that's secondary) but the Jazz gets me closer to the sound I prefer most of the time, although the Precision does a lovely thump. Oh, and another thing Those horrible strings are lovely!!! I have them also in a Jazz (fretted) and I really like them. It just sounds like you and I are not twin brothers separated at birth. But that's ok with me.

Well, a shim was put in the neck pocket. First attempt was a bit too much, so another try with a thinner card did the trick. After adjusting the saddles etc, now it plays much better with low action and buzz free. I also replaced the strings with my usual D'Addario EXL170, and now we're talking! Day and night. The other strings were really dead. I was able to get a lovely reggae tone before, and with new strings I don't get that deep tone anymore, but it sounds more like the way I would expect it to sound. Happy enough with the neck pickup, not entirely sure about the bridge one. Definitely the pickups are a bit of a weak point. But I'm liking it much better now. I might even leave the preamp,, which is not very good, but I like what it sounds like when I cut the treble on the bridge pickup. Fat warm growl. My neighbours have been just treated to a full "playalong" session to that St. Germain album from 2001.

[quote name='geoffbyrne' timestamp='1339882462' post='1695965'] If you are replacing the pickup, may I suggest you rewire the mini-switch to work Down=series, middle= single coil, up = parallel. You may find parallel to your liking, you never know. G. [/quote] This is probably what I would do if I start rewiring it, indeed.

[quote name='jaydentaku' timestamp='1339879380' post='1695918'] It looks like pearl in the fretboard, but it seems faint? [/quote] not sure what your question is I'm sure it's not pearl, but it's that "effect" yes.

[quote name='ash' timestamp='1339879046' post='1695902'] Just measured it and you are correct string spacing is a fraction under 19mms at the bridge. [/quote] well, if you decide to move it on... leave a note here so that I may take a look Not really needing a 5-stringer, I just sold mine in fact... but a 19mm bridge if it sounds like this one would be an attractive proposition

[quote name='redstriper' timestamp='1339876319' post='1695869'] I would be interested in this bass if you decide to move it on. The low weight appeals to my poor old back and I'm not bothered about a flat sound for my dull thud style - just a deep smooth neck pick up is all I need. [/quote] I'll remember that, cheers.

[quote name='LukeFRC' timestamp='1339879221' post='1695910'] hmm next time you should tell me where your house is... and when you'll be out! [/quote] Did I tell you about the two lions I keep as pets?

[quote name='ash' timestamp='1339873750' post='1695836'] I'll measure it when I get the opportunity tomorrow and post it, it's a comfy spacing though as I'm used to P basses and it feels 'natural' to me. [/quote] thanks

[quote name='LukeFRC' timestamp='1339806156' post='1694884'] like it says, cort gb74 on the ed gumtree at £150- which is a reasonable amount of bass for the money [/quote] When you posted this, the bass was already in my house while I was playing with the Richt Hoat Chillis at Whistle Binkies

[quote name='ash' timestamp='1339872246' post='1695798'] I have a 5 string version and it's a lovely bass for the money but I'm not a fan of active circuits and fiddly switching so I'm probably going to move it on. The balance and playability are excellent for a mid price bass however and I was impressed by the hardware and finishing. [/quote] WAIT!!! you have the 5-string version... you may move it on... what's the string spacing at the bridge? Is it 19mm like the pictures make me think?

Oh, and regarding weight... using my not so accurate bathroom scales and weighing myself with/without the bass, this thing comes to 7.3 lbs. Light indeed. Not sure if they were all this light, but if light basses are your thing, it may be worth checking these out.

[quote name='LukeFRC' timestamp='1339868199' post='1695695'] ahhh, glad someone on here got it. I played the 5 string they had in scayles a while back when I was jazz bass shopping- the way I was looking at it was this was the almost top of the line made by the same folk that make lakland skyline- at not so much money. The whole humbucker/single coil thing intreaged me too. The one I played was ok. I came away thinking that with a bit of a set up, the neck edges rolled a bit it would play better. I also was trying it through one of those Fender TV amps, which have a certain amount of colour to them.... and it still sounded flat. I thought of getting it and sticking new pups and pre in it... but in the end never got one. The one you picked up was tempting me for a bit mind! [/quote] A bit flat is how I would describe it too, right now. Maybe it *is* flat sounding. I plugged in my Squier VM Jazz and it was much more alive... but then the strings are much more alive too. I'm not a big fan of bound fingerboards, but this one feels ok. No sharp edges here. It seems like a lot of bass for the cash, even if it ends up needing a new pickup or two, especially since I already have a good MM type in my parts drawer.

[quote name='Ou7shined' timestamp='1339868121' post='1695690'] Nice one min. I used to fancy one of these back in the day. Was it the one Luke spotted on Gumtree? [/quote] Probably. I have a Gumtree alert thing setup for all kinds bass, and it came up on my Friday search. I called the guy in the morning and picked it up in the evening. I told myself that I didn't need it, so I would only try to see it one time, on Friday evening before my night time gig, and if the guy weren't available I'd pass on it. BUt he responded straight away and was available