mcgraham

Did you fit it yourself or did you get Rob to do it for you? Mark

[quote]Couple of years back I changed the stock neck on my MIM Jazz fretless for a Status Graphite fretless. Very stable and could handle the small relief much better - didn't move at all in the year or so that I had it. The tone did change a bit - bit more trebly even with flats but not un-nice. One thing I would suggest if you went down this route is having it fitted at Status. I was lucky and had two MIM Jazzes - it only fitted one of them! I would have had to do some pocket work on one of them (plus a shim) as it wanted to fit at a slight angle. It was perfect in the 2001, not in the 1996.[/quote] Thanks for the input, I would get Rob Green to do it for sure, makes my life a heckuva lot easier. Also he seems to do them with block inlays as a 30 quid upcharge, so may be able to keep a somewhat similar look. Did you find the tone changed markedly or not so much? I wouldn't mind a bit more treble in the sound, as the pups I've got in are very dark and meaty, would be nice to have more of the tonal spectrum to play with. [quote]I was going to post about this since im currently fighting my Pbass to get as close to 'right' as possible.. So thanks for bringing it up.[/quote] No worries. My problem isn't getting it there, it's [i][u]keeping[/u][/i] it there. If anyone has any input on Status replacements whether they liked or even better if they disliked the result that'd be great (just to get a balanced input) Mark

Thanks for the input SJA. That's what I thought would be the case, for that drastic a surgery I may as well get a new neck. I'm starting to desire a slightly thicker neck back to front as well. Time to start searching for input and clips of Status necks methinks! Mark

[quote]I think 1.5 mm at the 12th is EXTREMELY low - I couldn't possibly run an action that low - I'd be clanking all over the shop - maybe that's bad technique on my part - most of my basses are 2 - 3 mm. I'm not surprised you have to keep tweaking![/quote] The Smith I just sold was even lower, no buzzes anywhere, even flatter board. A well constructed instrument, a good consistent setup and a playing style that fits that setup should yield no problems. (IME) I implemented the lesson inherent in zero frets, in that the nut should be as if you've fretted an imaginary fret lower than your 1st. So with a next to flat board, and the nut like that, it means that there's no discernable change in the string height above the 12th fret or 15th fret when you fret the 1st fret. It's a setup style I've adopted on any other basses I've owned or setup, it does work and it keeps a more consistent feel across the neck. I'd argue that the way I have my bass is not at all responsible for how [u]often[/u] it shifts, but I do acknowledge that it means when it does adjust/shift by even a fraction from my preferred action, I [u]notice how much[/u] it shifts, just due to the tolerance needed for such a setup. I'll maybe drop Shuker a line come 2008 (darn Christmas!) and ask what he reckons would be a good approach. To be honest, this doesn't bother me excessively, but in anyone's search for an instrument that works for them and suits them perfectly, the smaller things start to matter as you get closer. Mark

I've had it for 3-4 years, and you're right, it did require a lot more tweaking in the beginning. However as the seasons move from one to the other, it needs adjusting. Particularly around now (about twice in November and once last night), will happen again in Jan/Feb transition then again around May time, again during mid summer and possibly again come September time. I'm just not sure how comfortable I feel about having the neck hacked open for a new fingerboard and/or reinforcement, even by a pro. Has anyone here had such a thing done? If so how did it turn out and how much did it run? Mark

Thanks for the help people, I think that if I decide to anything about it, I'll go down the replacement neck route. Don't fancy having someone cut into a neck if I could get a replacement one for the same price and have the choice of the two. Mark

Unfretted it's a hair above 1.5mm at the 12th fret, a hair under at the 15th. I've had it this way for 3 or 4 years now, it's susceptibility to 'moving' it's one of the few things I would want to change about it. I appreciate such fine tolerances make it difficult for anything but the necks of finest construction to get that flat and stay there, and the shifts I'm talking about are only of the order of 0.5-1mm, nothing serious, but I notice. Mark

Sorry guys, realised I was somewhat vague. It's a Geddy Lee, I always put the shifting down to the thinness of the neck, and whilst the sound is my sound, I need to address a few issues it has to make it what it needs to be. A Status neck does tempt me very much so, but I'm unsure as to how radical the tone change would be, also I love the look and feel of the original neck, so I'd perhaps need to get a Warmoth one or similar. Thanks for the input guys, much appreciated! Mark

[quote]Probably not much use but you could try to live with a slightly higher action and then you may have a lot less hassle.[/quote] It's not so much rattles or it being too high that's the problem, it's the change in feel that results in the shift. But either way, I like my setup the way it is. Mark

Hi there, The neck on my main bass seems to need a truss rod adjustment maybe once every one or two months, although that's the average, sometimes in weird weather I've adjusted it up to 6 times in a month. I'm not sure if anything can be done or if that is perhaps normal in response to changing weather throughout the year, or at least on the 'needs more adjustment' end of the spectrum. Points to note, I like my action lower than most, and I like my board only fractionally away from zero relief; it also has a paper/card shim that has been in since I received the bass. It doesn't help that I need to take the neck off to adjust the rod either. Any thoughts or experience on how best to deal with this? Mark

[quote]Just of curiosity, how do you pronounce it? Is it O-vang-kol or maybe o-VANG-kol?[/quote] I said it o-van-kol, he pronounced it as ARGH said, with little emphasis on the kol, o-vankol. I also used to pronounce Warwick (as in the basses wrong... supposedly?) I always called Warwick (the place, the uni) War-wick, but it's pronounced Warrick, so i thought that applied to the basses. One of the guys years ago at my school snapped at me after the nth time of me calling it Warrick and said it was War-wick. I think I still them Warrick tho... Hmm... [quote]Perfect example of the (nonexistant) art of British customer service...[/quote] It's a stereotype but unfortunately it's a fairly accurate representation of the average national store rep. Hence why it's so good to support your local dude or dudette who puts that extra bit of effort in. Though, that mild irritance aside, I do believe that on an individual level we are each responsible for causing that (directly or indirectly) and that we can also make the difference (directly or indirectly). It's easy to be kind to those who are kind to you, there's true reward in every sense if you respond well and love those who don't respond that way to you. Mark

Funny story with an additional thumbs down... Was in London yesterday sorting some gear out, met a friend for lunch and we made a quick trip to Denmark street. Popped into the Bass Centre. As always, I wasn't asked if I wanted any help, it's your job as a customer to ask for that..apparently. In the window I'd seen a Thumb 4 BO that looked to be of a shorter scale than previous ones I'd seen so I went in to have a look. He gave me quite a contemptuous 'uhh, no, it's not short scale, it's normal'. Actually handed it over to me, I had a look, noticed it had some wear, so I asked how much. He said it was a pricey 1500 but it was a limited edition so I could be persuaded somewhat that it was 'justified'. He felt he also had to correct me on my pronounciation of 'ovangkol', because we all use it everyday and it's spoken out loud soooo often I should OBVIOUSLY know how to pronounce it. Final piece of contempt was in response to my comment that I felt it balanced better. 'It's the same shape as all the others, no different mate'. I'm an easy going guy, I don't expect to be treated like royalty. But I can't stand it when people show such contempt for others (particularly customers that could/would make up the majority of their business), particularly from the outset of conversation. There was some similarly harsh treatment to some teenagers wanting to have a look at a pedal. Somewhat fair reasoning behind his reaction as they clearly had no intention of buying. But he asked them outright if they were planning on buying today, they replied no, he said 'forget it then, saturdays are a nightmare'.... whilst it was only me and my mate other than those 2 teens in there. Not intented to be a gripe, maybe he'd had a bad day, it's more a voicing of my personal aversion to people who treat others like they're idiots. Mark

I have often wondered that myself. I'm pretty sure there are various numbers of hoarders (a few American names spring to mind!) that just keep collecting/accumulating basses that range from cheap to uber expensive. Plus, as the years go by, the ones made years ago become more collectable and worth keeping. Just look at the older Squier's, they go for quite a bit more than their modern day counterparts. Mark

A good setup always seems to do that for an instrument. Congratulations on 'finding' your bass again! Mark

In celebration of my rejuvenated relationship with my trusty jazz, I was wondering if any of you have ever experienced something similar, that in pursuit of the next best thing, you missed that you already had the best thing for you. Anyone here ever underappreciated the instruments they've been blessed with? (then realised their mistake) Mark

I have to be honest, I don't think I've had any particularly bad encounters with guitar shops, but I do remember the good ones. I won't deny I've had less than stellar service but then I don't expect a shop catering to the general mass consumption of interests to tailor exactly to what I'm after. Props to... John Williams @ Noiseworks in Coventry, the guy does a fab setup for a great price and is always up for a chat about music or even technical advice. The dude even walked me through how he does setups for no charge, even told me what tools to use and what to do/not to do. Legend Scott @ Soundcontrol Nottingham, really friendly guy, will take the time to chat and is uber helpful. Not been in as much as I had been in the above store, but Scott's great. Some guy @ Soundcontrol Brum, I cannot for the life of me remember his name but he was incredibly friendly (and in a genuine way, not a yes-man kind of way), wasn't pushy and gave a great deal when I got my JS guitar last year. Can't remember his name but he was what you should expect from a guitar store employee. Enthusiastic, patient, attentive (in a good way) and accommodating. Thumbs down to... Another guy @ Brum Soundcontrol, impatient sums him up. Didn't annoy me or frustrate me, I just don't expect to be rushed or treated as if I'm asking too much if I'm parting with my hard earned cash. Bill Bailey-esque hair cut. Avoid if you're like me. Another guy @ Soundcontrol Nottingham, nothing too major here, but I asked for some info about some rewiring on that Ibanez I was selling, the guy had it a week and hadn't even taken off the cavity cover, despite me coming down personally 3 times to ask and despite 3 assurances he'd look at it that evening and he'd call me the next day. He is the techie so I understand he's busy, but that's just not on in my books. Honesty is important. And the clueless award goes to PMT in Cov. They told me the truss rod in my Geddy was maxed out. Seeing as how I'd JUST received it I wasn't too impressed. Took it to John (Noiseworks) and he said 'the muppets were trying to adjust a screwhead nut with a normal screwdriver, if it's stiff you need to use a T-bar or something that will exert some torque rather than just stripping the head'. Lesson learned, don't trust muppets! Like I said, nothing offensive or serious, just enough to make me look elsewhere to ensure I get my money's worth. Mark