Rayman

Same with the Starfire

Has everyone seen the JC on the bay, that’s been defretted and had its fretboard painted gold?? It’s unbelievable

I’ve had a love/hate relationship with hollow/semi hollow basses over the years. I really want to love them, but I just don’t. I had a Gretsch Thunder Jet, absolutely beautiful to look at, but tone wise just totally meh. I also had a DeArmond Starfire, again stunning to look at, and lovely to play, but it just wasn’t my sound. My bass player in my solo/band project had a JC, and loved it…. and sounded great recorded, but lacked something live. The Epi JC has always been on my list too….. but I fear it’ll be the same end result. Middy, thuddy, but unexciting. I want to be wrong, I hope I am, when almost certainly get one.

So new to Rayman towers is this early 00s Epiphone Embassy Standard IV. Basically a Thunderbird in a more manageable shape, I grabbed it for a very bargain price, not expecting much I’ll be honest. Well how wrong I was, after the usual setup/cleanup, replaced the very average Jin Ho tuners with Hipshots, then fitted it with Roto flats, it’s a stonker. Beautiful blue/green translucent finish, it has been sat on a wall unplayed since it was bought new nearly 20yrs ago apparently. Lovely action, nice honk, NICE dubby lows with a little top end zing, nice. I’ve gone from two basses to 7 in a very short space of time….. and with another (new) Epiphone Newport on it’s way, there’ll be 8 here, and that’s enough (of course it is 😒). Happy days.

Yeah and in hindsight there was no point. I should’ve just put away for when my flexibility came back. I have an Epiphone Newport on order, to see if a shortscacle helps….

I hear you with regards to the frozen shoulder thing, I’m a year and a half in. I ended up selling my TRB1005 because I was painful to play. Strap locks…. Personally I put Dunlops on everything. All my basses have them fitted as soon as they arrive. So all my basses and straps all correspond. You can buy the button parts separately from Feline Guitars without having to buy the full set every time a new bass comes in.

But will everyone else hear the difference?? 😆

Yep, that I absolutely agree with 💯 %

Interesting ??

Mate…. remember that massive Phil Jones rig you had? Years ago? At some bass bash somewhere? I remember wondering how different that would sound, with a bunch of 8” (?) speakers instead of a couple of 12”s? I suppose it’s all part of the same conversation….. would the audience notice the difference between that and a Fender Rumble? I mean I’m playing devils advocate here as far as the thread goes, but it’s an interesting question.

AHHHHH not what I said 😉….. my (admittedly generalised) point was that they more or less get the same end result. The playing experience would obviously be very different, but for the punter in the audience, the end result is exactly the same. I DO however have an absolutely stellar £50 bass that’s one of my favourites.

Yep, the same formula works for pretty much everything. I’m not saying either are right or wrong, just saying. I suppose it’s all down to the user experience and the performance of the item, but if it achieves the same end result….. I do wonder about the big price difference.

Bass guitars….. You can buy one for fifty quid, you can buy one for fifty grand…. but they all do pretty much exactly the same thing. You can make folks smile, dance and have fun with an instrument that cost less than a tank of fuel…. or you can bore them senseless playing a slap solo on one that could be a deposit on a house instead. Mad eh?

I have one… love it, lovely tone, nice to play. Currently fitted with flats, it’s a great bass. Not the highest output from the pickups, but you can turn the amp up right? Mine was £375 recently, but I shopped around and struck a deal. They are massively overpriced online at the moment. Just saying.

We have tickets for the tour, and cannot wait. I doubt Victor will make the trip though unfortunately.

Recently it was my birthday. I posted a picture of a very cool Ibanez Jet King my Mrs bought, and it’s really awesome. This bass, is from my mum. Mum doesn’t really know about it, because she has advanced dementia, and it’s almost certain that when I went to visit her in the home on my birthday, it will be the last birthday I have with her. I wanted something special. I saw this online, used, and just couldn’t stop going back to it. I loved the looks and loved the history and vibe of the Reverend company. So, I took a punt on it. Today, I got it out finally to set it up, clean it and restring it. It was set up like donkey. I swear many people just do not know how to do setups, including stores. It’s used, 10yrs old actually, but in mint condition. So, a clean, a shim, a truss rod adjustment, a fretboard oil, a substantial bridge saddle adjustment and a new set of strings….. and it’s absolutely sublime. Beautiful piano like tone from the pickups, lovely low action (eventually), it’s fabulous. Thanks mum ❤️

Yep, I'm watching a couple of used ones online.....

Cheers, yeah trying one could be difficult, but I’ll keep my eyes peeled on the used market. I remember Gordon Smith guitars being decent workman like guitars, maybe these are similar, don’t know. I’ll do some more digging.

I guess it’s really only the Esprit bass I’m interested in…. there’s a few on the used market, but are they any good? And what’s all the blue, green, black label stuff all about? Different levels of quality? Dunno

Ooooh the Esprit is what I’m talking about! Love that shape. There’s a Candy Apple Blue version in the new range, that love the look of, coming in under £500. Nothing like the quality of yours of course, but I’d love to try one. I’m not sure if Trev Wilkinson = decent or budget in terms of parts, I don’t know much about him or his company.

Lodestone? Nice…. I don’t know anyone who ever had one…. I’ll be interested to hear what you think