casapete

[quote name='Simon.' post='800560' date='Apr 9 2010, 09:29 AM']Another wanting to add in a bit of love for the P-Lyte! I have one of the original Japan models (1986, if memory serves), in the cherry red with the gold hardware. It was my first 'proper' bass and I can remember every hour that I slugged away to pay for it! Sound wise - great for rock/pop/indie stuff, but didn't do too well in either jazz or americana settings. Sounds nothing like a P-bass, but it's a very light, very fun bass to play, and the neck is ridiculously thin and fast - even my CIJ 75 Jazz feels a bit chunky afterwards. Only downside I found (other than the aforementioned battery & jack issues) was the finish - it took to dents like a moth to a flame! Even with the best of care, the bottom edge of mine looks a tad chewed. Even in the worst of scenarios, I'll never sell it. Can't understand why there's never been a re-issue.[/quote] Mine was in Arctic (or was it Frost ?) white - used to dent just looking at it! Great little bass for the dosh.

I personally much prefer the 'wacky' Bongo design to stuff like Warwick , Status & Ibanez etc. Bongos have that 'wierd but it kinda works' vibe for me, and they do play and sound wonderful. Dare to be different.

IMHO Les Paul basses are cool as f*ck. As for the Warwick SC, a big no , (although for me any Warwick looks like its been hit with the ugly stick more than once......... .....stands back to await the flack........here it comes.....)

Saw Carl Radle with EC in the mid 70's, one of the first people I saw playing a Stingray.Great tone and feel. Think the EC band had an endorsement deal with Musicman, as they were all using their amps as well as basses and guitars. Have always loved Carl's playing, especially with the Dominos.

[quote name='Pete Academy' post='789122' date='Mar 29 2010, 08:30 AM']The EB range has always been made in the Far East. I wouldn't be concerned at all.[/quote] Think the early ones were made in UK ( if that matters to anyone). Good value amps that sound okay.

Bass looked like a jazz style Levinson Blade, and the guitarist was using a tele style Blade too.

Went to buy some D'Addarios yesterday but the shop did n't have my gauge in stock, so took their advice and got a set of Rotosound RB40 nickel/steel. Never a fan of Rotos, I must admit they're okay-used them on my Stingray last night and felt/sounded good. Guy in the shop said he thought they were the closest to the D'Addarios they had,and I would agree. Not bad for £14 either ( but won't be changing to them permanently I dont think.)

[quote name='FunkyFinger' post='785414' date='Mar 25 2010, 02:43 AM']mike that Ibanez sr 605 ltd looks very tasty. the sr series is now on my to try list. Realistically I think that the most I'm going to be able to save up is £1500 without cancelling next christmas though if I could find something for less i'd be that much closer to funding a lighweight amp and cab (I always thought Bass stuff= Heavy stuff). So for this year at least a million pounds is definitely out of the question. As is the fodera though they are very very nice. As for the fenders I've tried a MIA jazz and P but unfortunately the pair in question where owned by a player who had set a very high action so whilst I liKed their sounds my fingers felt like they were doing a high wire act. I haven't discounted them yet though as I'm sure there's a very good reason why you see more pro's playing fenders than anything else. to me It seems to be the £400+ mark where the quality basses start unless you get a lucky like some of the ones in the bargains thread. To those that say go try out a few thats what I intend to do, unfortunately Hull is not the best city for bass shopping unless I've been missing somewhere. So where in Yorkshire is the biggest selection of basses? or the densest area of guitar shops? where I can get me mitts on some basses so i can narrow my choices down a bit. Or do I need to head south?[/quote] Electro Music in Doncaster is always worth a visit. Great staff & prices okay too, and they'll let you try everything with no pressure. Good luck.

[quote name='Musicman69' post='781655' date='Mar 21 2010, 01:55 PM']I saw Stevie Ray Vaughan in London years back, he just kept it tuned as he played.. made 3 or 4 tiny adjustments during a 2 1/2 hr set. Rory Gallagher used to do the same. Class![/quote] Exactly...... both used heavier strings which must have helped a lot. A band I was in during the 70s had a guitarist who used 008 gauge strings, and then wondered why chords always sounded out of tune. Most well known players don't use anything too light for this reason, and also heavier strings = more tone. Simple!

Plenty of manufactures do the old 'designed in blah blah' bit on their amps, Peavey and Hartke to name a couple. Can be very misleading, so always check the back panel small print. Sure I saw some Ashdown s recently that were made in the US?

Am still GASsing for a Dano Longhorn - think I may have found one at last. Mega cheap n cheerful but somehow so good-memories of seeing Gary Tallent with Mr Springsteen I think. I like all Dano stuff,mainly because it's not derivative of any other brand-same goes for maybe Italia too.

Get him some heavier strings..............

Have only done this with tuff paint - maybe you could try a bit somewhere inconspicuous to test,say bottom of your cab?

[quote name='Linus27' post='774791' date='Mar 14 2010, 11:11 PM']One of my best sounding and playing basses I own is an ESP 400 series jazz, seen in the below picture (black with white scratchplate) and based on a 1962 Fender Jazz. Its from 1988 and is uber rare because it has the same headstock as a Fender. I think at the time, ESP were making parts for Fender Japan in the same factory so it could well had ended up as a Fender. I have never ever seen another ESP bass with this headstock. My bass has served me really well and done 100's of gigs. I would never ever sell it. [/quote] Those early 400 series instruments were superb, and the whole range featured Fender style headstocks. They seemd as good if not better than the Tokai range of the same period. ESP guitars were also excellent, again Fender designs with proper heads - the Telecaster model was a peach.

Try and find an album by 'The Reel and Soul Association'. Was a project involving acoustic-y versions of soul standards. Songs which may work - Ain't no sunshine Move on up Warm and tender love Harvest for the world When something is wrong with my baby Lean on me.

Not tried them, but personally would go for the 2x10 (5" more speaker mass than the 15!!)

Gone already for a donation to basschat. Cheers.

I have a set of DR Fatbeams (Marcus Miller sig MM-45 set) if anyone would like them? Gauges are 45-65-85-105. They're used but not shot - I tend to restring fairly regularly (despite not having sweaty mitts.) These have been on my Stingray, so are probably only suitable for Musicman 3+1 type headstock designs (as they've been trimmed accordingly). Maybe a good way to try them out before buying new? Yours for donation to basschat. Cheers Pete. NOW GONE!

Are n't these the same as early Mark Bass design? Spares may be common to both perhaps?

Loads of okay stuff out there - Tanglewood, Takamine,Washburn,Crafter etc. Don't forget though that few acoustic/electric basses are very loud, even in a home environment. Sure you'll hear it better than a solid body bass but the sound won't be very full without some form of amplification, which you'll need also if you plan to play it with any other instruments really (even in rehearsals unless you both/all play very quietly!). As is often the case with musical kit, may be best to look for a decent s/hand bass - that way you get better quality for same price as a new entry level instrument. They crop up for sale on here quite regularly. FWIW I've got a Washburn AB20 - had it for 15 years and for the money I think they're decent basses. Good luck!

Ace, especially the horns!