TRBboy

[quote name='essexbasscat' timestamp='1321802109' post='1443157'] The idea of adjusting your guitar until happy works fine much of the time. But what if you are setting up a guitar and desire [b]a lower string height than the build quality of the guitar will allow[/b] ? or you are setting up an instrument for someone else and they require a lower height than the instrument in it's current state will allow ? or the instrument's owner requires a certain spec ? This is the kind of situation that may be presented to the luthier. [/quote] That's exactly the problem - you're fighting a losing battle from the start! EDIT: Apologies, jumped in before I'd read all the posts!

WOW! Only a week today, it's come round so quick! Think I might go for a look in PMT and/or GuitarGuitar beforehand. I don't often get to go near any half decent music shops! Shame there's not a few more coming....... Thought there might be quite a few BCers in and around Birmingham.

[quote name='Ou7shined' timestamp='1321565562' post='1440841'] I know what you mean, however.... I set up a bass/guitar with the lowest action attainable. I do that because that's how I like it and it also lets me know where the tolerances are on a specific neck. The need to know specific heights comes in when your customer prefers it set in a specific way... which is cool as long as it is over the minimum of what the neck can offer. [/quote] True, I understand where you're coming from too, but.......... I don't see how you can know exactly what the tolerences are like on any one neck. I suppose it depends on how accurately you're trying to measure it really (until a couple of years ago I was a Quality Engineer measuring things to .001mm every day!), but I think that even if you had 3 seemingly identical necks side by side, there would be differences between them. I also aim to set up as low as I can without significant fret buzz (clearly this can be slightly subjective anyway), but I guess I just do it by finding out what the neck will actually accept, instead of trying to impose the tolerences I think it should accept. When I was doing set ups and repairs, no one ever said "I want Xmm action", they would just say "i want it as low as you can get it" or "I play really hard so set it up a little higher". That said, most of the people I did work for didn't know their arse from their elbow when it came to their guitar/bass! (although I guess that's why they were paying for it to be set up!)

I've never quite understood why people feel the need to measure the string height. The fact is, you can set a bass up using measurements, and it'll still play like a bag of crap. There are far too many variables in a bass neck to be able to successfully measure it that accurately; the fact it's made from wood and despite being quality, well seasoned wood, and being reinforced by a truss rod, it is still susceptible to climate change and will move and twist ever so slightly. Factor in the frets too; fret wear, some of them may lift ever so slightly over time, etc, etc, and you get the picture. When I worked in one guitar shop, we had a top of the range, Prestige Ibanez RG which was ordered in for a customer and had to be sent back twice because it buzzed so badly and even choked some of the notes higher up the fretboard. I spoke to the technician on the phone who said; "I don't understand it, I've set it up twice and the measurements are spot on!" IMHO, the only way to get the best out of a bass is to set it up intuitively. Play it, see how it feels, and keep taking the string height down until you get a bit of buzz and then tweak it back up a little. Some seem to set up better with a slight relief in the neck, others seem to take a better set up with the neck almost dead straight. This is all just IME and IMO of course.

Seriously now, I guess that when I'm really rocking out I seem to do sort of a frown and pout at the same time whilst bobbing my head!

I very cleverly play unconventional "surprise" notes, and sometimes play slightly off the beat too.......

[quote name='Machines' timestamp='1321535612' post='1440260'] No. I have arranged for some guitarists to have a meeting next door and they ALL have Marshall 8412 cabs with 500w valve heads, they will be conducting an attempt at the world record for joint shredding solos with their volume set to 11. But i'm not bitter. [/quote] It'll be alright; I always make sure I can go plenty louder than the guitarist!

I found that it took me a while to get used to the Sandberg sound. Neither the pickups or preamp are weak, but they are inherently VERY bright sounding basses, and the Glockenklang preamp is very transparent. The controls are quite sensitive; a small adjustment can affect the sound quite a bit! The fact that the sound is so clear and defined can make you think that it's not very gutsy, when in fact it is. When I first got my Basic, I tended to have the treble rolled off a lot, and the bass boosted a lot because I was under the same impression. The first time I gigged it, friends in the crowd kept telling me to turn down because all they could hear and feel was my bass! It wasn't that I was in fact too loud, it was just so bassy that I was overpowering everything else and turning peoples innards to mush! Have you had the bass long? If not, I would giving it a good chance and see if you can make it work for you. The pickups and preamp are very good quality, although like I said, these basses are very bright, clear and defined, although they're pretty versatile IMO. If you want a vintage, muddy or woolly sound, I would suggest finding a different bass. Hope this helps.

[quote name='Mudpup' timestamp='1321394606' post='1438729'] Its my Ibby thats for sale above and the photos are a bit misleading about the colour - its not pink, its a deep pearlescent red. Still for sale and needs a good home. You wont find a better light, fast playing bass in this condition. This pic below shows a better representation of the colour. I had a Bass Collection 301 just after i bought the Ibby and it wasnt in the same league soundwise. Paul - you must be fairly close to me, you're welcome to come and have a play and a cuppa with no obligation just so you've tried one. It may help you in your quest [/quote]Is that your actual SR, or an image off the net?

Thanks guys! Yeah I'd forgotten about Incubus, I am actually quite a big fan! Saw them a few years ago with Ben Kenney on bass, they were awesome! Listened to SCIENCE on the way home from work today, it is a great album with some great bass playing. I'd forgotten just how meaty some of the riffs on that album are!

Thanks for the responses guys! I'll have a youtube sesh later! Thinking about it, I had a Fishbone tape many years ago........

I love the Chili's, and I love Flea's playing, but I've realised that I haven't actually got much similar music by other bands. Are there any similar bands? If anyone's got any suggestions for good funk/rock bands with great bass parts, I'd love to hear them!

Well done, a good buy I reckon. I'm not a massive fan of P's usually, but I played one of these in GuitarGuitar last year and couldn't put it down! Very comfortable, easy to play, sound great and look great - what more can you ask for! Preferred it to most US standards and deluxes i've played. Pics and a review when you've got it?

Well....... What is it?!

[quote name='nugget' timestamp='1321123246' post='1435651'] mmm....fingers crossed, the laquer isn't drying very quick in this weather (bit warmer today).... probably wont get top coat on till next weeked only leaving one week to dry and polish up... [/quote] I'm sure it'll be fine Dave, i'll keep my fingers crossed for you!

[quote name='molan' timestamp='1321132165' post='1435810'] Wife is up for it - need to get step-daughter 'buy-in' now Could bring pretty much any bass in my sig - either a clutch of old Fenders or some of the more 'esoteric' stuff like Fodera / Alleva Coppolo / Celinder etc. [/quote] Excellent! Personally, i'd be more interested to see some of the more esoteric ethic in your Sig (if you're asking for opinions that is!).

[quote name='gjones' timestamp='1321120216' post='1435603'] I once forgot to a bring a lead to the gig and ended up having to use the keyboard players patch lead. It was about 3 inches long. I felt very silly. [/quote] That's awesome, wish you had a photo!

[quote name='molan' timestamp='1321131634' post='1435795'] Just trying to see if my step-daughter is free that day as she lives just 4 miles away so my wife & I could come up & & she could see her daughter & I could pop over for some bass chatting [/quote] The more the merrier! It would be good to see you if you can make it.

[quote name='bubinga5' timestamp='1321120596' post='1435611'] man i want to go to one of these and meet everyone... anyone live in the gloucestershire area? [/quote] Evilundead is in Gloucester area I think, and she's coming along (hopefully). I did send you a PM about this one a little while ago, because I noticed you're in Cheltenham. It would be great to see you if you can make it!

[quote name='nugget' timestamp='1321035311' post='1434747'] YES - I wanna hear those Sandyberg basses of yours in full glory...... [/quote] Ok, i'll sort them out! Is that thinline P going to be ready Dave? I'm itching to get my hands on it!

[quote name='charic' timestamp='1321021728' post='1434470'] I don't even have to open the link huge spinaltap fan [/quote] Ha ha! Me too, love it! We used to do "tonight I'm gonna rock you" in my old band, good times!

[quote name='charic' timestamp='1321021513' post='1434462'] Sorry I'm young what is this ' that you speak of [/quote] It's an olde English Medieval measuring system I think.

I've found the Glockenklang preamps in my Sandbergs to be one of the best preamps I've used. They're transparent and natural sounding, and the selection of the frequency ranges seems spot on. They seem pretty reasonably priced too, but I've only spotted them available from Thomann so far.

I think I made my main cable about 27' and the two for my effects loop about 24'. I think.......

Looking forward to it! Just debating whether to re-string my basses. They're not completely dead, but.........