Grangur

[quote name='wishface' timestamp='1469548412' post='3099286'] I don't have a bass amp at the moment. [/quote] Have you had an amp? Maybe that's a higher priority than trying to get a perfect bass? After all, if you don't have an amp you can't really judge what the bass sounds like?

[quote name='Marvin' timestamp='1469547698' post='3099278'] The SR500 is made from better woods, but that's marginal tbh. The most noticeable difference are the electronics. The pick ups and eq pre amp are much better on the 500. Personally, if I could find a second hand SR700 I'd grab it. They go for about £250. It's basically a 500 with a nicer finished body. Brand new they were upwards of £500. My only criticism of the 300s are the weaker pick ups [/quote] I've always fancied a SR600. How do they compare? The narrow neck could be a problem for me though. But that could be a good way for me to get a 6 string - if they do/did one

You could have wing-nuts as tuning heads. Maybe as knobs too. Although I like the idea Paul H has had of using cogs for that too. Or just a more rustic finish knurled pot knob?

[quote name='wishface' timestamp='1469540423' post='3099159'] Of course, but I can only use the amp they have in the shop at the time. I would hope they have a halfway decent amp setup [/quote] I take mine along. I've never been refused permission to use it.

[quote name='wishface' timestamp='1469532597' post='3099018'] i had a listen to some demo sounds on the THomann website and it sounds kinda flat. The 'rock' tone had some fuzz, but it was rather woolly [/quote] Listening to demos is a start. But don't forget the sound you get also depends on the amp and the person playing. Your sound is as unique to you as your handwriting is.

[quote name='paul h' timestamp='1469520345' post='3098891'] Very steampunk! I think it looks great and much kudos to you and your imagination. Well done that man [/quote] Just what I thought. It would be great to get tuning heads and knobs to match.

[quote name='progben' timestamp='1469519598' post='3098882'] I think if you do a bit of research and buy something used for £300, you'll get a pretty damn good bass. Whether that's the right bass for you is a different story and, as others have said, requires having played quite a few first. Personally I stick with Yamaha basses because that's what I'm comfortable using live and in the studio. They're very affordable and have excellent build quality, so I'd recommend looking at them. (I'm selling a TRBX304 for £150 over at the sell forum, and if you like active basses I don't think you'll find a better one for that money) [/quote] I'm no fan of Yamhahas, the tone it's normally one I go for, but I do like the [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]TRBX range. It has a more bottom-end tone which is more to my liking. At that price you can afford to get a well built, reliable bass. If you don't like it, you can sell for the same price you bought for. No risk![/font][/color] [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]THAT's why we say buy "used".[/font][/color]

I guess it depends on just how dirty the fb is. I would use a slightly damp soft cloth and a small drop liquid soap. Dry it off we'll with a towel and then use Linseed oil. I find Lemon oil too thin and it goes nowhere.

I thought mine was big when I had a LM3 and a BF BigOne. I've since downsized to a One10.

[quote name='wishface' timestamp='1469431211' post='3098112'] .... That's a reason that more pro musicians don't use this level of instrument. After all if they were great quality, why wouldn't they save the money from buying a brand name? [/quote] You could be surprised. I bought a tatty old 1980s Marlin Slammer from a guy in Norwich. He is a pro bassist. He always only has 2 basses. They're always both old cheap ones. I think you'll find pros are less precious about the instrument. To most pros they're simply a tool. Many use Fenders. Not because they're good, but more because they're very easy to work on, replace parts or replace as a whole.

I just found this comparison of a Rockbass with a Fender Jazz. It's not a Corvette but interesting just the same. The OP Corvette is interesting for the 32" scale. I recon they're good. [url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JAHxMWMuYlA"]https://www.youtube....h?v=JAHxMWMuYlA[/url]

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1469462711' post='3098505'] Not [i]Ron [/i]Wood?? [/quote] Or... ? or... ?

Jimm Lloyd Rea sat: [url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mqg6mi7Lijo"]https://www.youtube....h?v=mqg6mi7Lijo[/url] He had his reasons of course. Another one gone this year. He played with John Lee Hooker.

[quote name='Huge Hands' timestamp='1469456177' post='3098415'] I would be interested to know what sort of volume increase this gives. I would also imagine it needs to be sat on a hard floor surface such as a stage, unlike the uneven muddy grass (that I would normally lay a picnic blanket over) we can usually get playing outdoor fetes! [/quote] That it does. I'll ask him his personal opinion - no sound level testing gear available. I can also ask him to try his out on the lawn in the garden and see if it still works. I rather doubt it will, but nowt ventured, nowt gained.

If you're interested I'll get some pics of my Bro in Law's podium and poset those. I guess a DB would need a bigger one, but the principle would be the same.

[quote name='Jazzneck' timestamp='1469451900' post='3098368'] Try an Ampeg AEB1 or AUB1 with La Bella flats, much easier to get that sound. [/quote] Thanks for the lesson https://youtu.be/uAoXcTymdGU This shows the fretless in action from 1.02 https://youtu.be/k3gNkixsLaM

My brother in law is a pro cellist. When wanting to increase the volume he uses a cello soundbox. I appreciate the size may need to be I creased, but the idea may well work for a DB. http://api.viglink.com/api/click?format=go&jsonp=vglnk_146943766111510&key=d2f6dc3d61fd72ef48d01980d6bfec29&libId=ir1t8ms001000o08000MA103zw9vlw43j1&loc=http%3A%2F%2Fcellofun.yuku.com%2Ftopic%2F6568&v=1&out=http%3A%2F%2Fccrma.stanford.edu%2Fmarl%2FCASL%2Fdocuments%2FCondax-CelloPodium.pdf&title=cello%20box%20%2F%20platform%20advice%3F%20in%20Forum&txt=http%3A%2F%2Fccrma.stanford.edu...ts%2FCondax-CelloPodium.pdf

[quote name='geoffbyrne' timestamp='1469382614' post='3097870'] Actually, the pickups on Yamaha basses are a bit of an odd size, being a wee bit longer than most - you might not find pups of the exact size you need. G. [/quote] You could always rout any extra you need, then fill the ends with a block painted black. It needs to be done well though if its not to look like a dogs dinner. TBH I wouldn't be doing it if it were mine. I think Yams are what they are. Not really suitable for changes much.

[quote name='Callumjord' timestamp='1469360473' post='3097649'] Yea I really do like her, she was my first serious instrument. Got her when I was 15 and decided that I was a bass player. Well I am doing a lot of celidh music, along with my function band and also some heavier music so having the ability to coil split the pickups individually would be great, I really like the single coil jazz bass sound when doing the celidh and full humbuckers when playing heavier. It is mainly the versatility of the pickups and being able to combine different single coil and humbucker sounds that I am after. [/quote] To get that sort of variety to one bass you'd probably do well to fit some Simms pups: http://www.simscustom.com/pickups/5string.html https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LmsaCa2roxY

You've had her for 10 years. You must like her? If you have a successful bass, why change it? New tuners won't rock your world. Pups would change the sound, but you might not like it. Fret-dress and set-up, maybe. But on the set-up side, you can't beat learning to have the skills to be able to make any tweeks yourself as and when they're needed. From a pro-luthier you'll only get the "one-size fits all" approach to a setup. You're looking for more variety in the sound for the new gigs? OK, what would you like to add to the sound? What function do you want to improve/add? Maybe a plug in pre or compressor might do it?

[quote name='wishface' timestamp='1469209923' post='3096736'] Can't remember what i've had, but what I got currently is a Revelation RBJ67 that i brought for £165 from Rikaxxe in Bristol. He specialises in cheap stuff and these kinds of brands. Seems like a nice guy with experience in the industry, but I have no way to verify that and this bass isn't working out great. A couple of dead spots, intonation never seems to stay and it just feels oddly weighted - like it's too small and too big at the same time. It's a Jazz style instrument. If i pick over the neck pickup the instrument feels really short and my hand is awkward. It's kinda hard to explain. The varnished fingerboard is nice (and easy to clean), but higher up it's hard to get to the lower strings (my hands aren't weirdly small either). Tonally it's ok. Nothing earth shattering. Some fret buzz on the low E, which feels very flappy. [/quote] If you're not happy with the weight, then the neck and tuners are probably too heavy for the body - sell it. Dead-spots; most basses have spots that may not be as powerful as others. You can even have that on some more expensive basses. Intonation shouldn't move. If it's set right, it should be set for life, or at least the life of the strings - you could change the bridge to fix this. Varnished fingerboards are generally what you get with a maple board. No fingerboard should get very dirty though. It's best to wash your hands before you play. Access to the E-string at the dusty end - this is near impossible on a lot of basses. But playing up here is the sign of a sick mind and it's only put there by luthiers as a tormentation. Flappy E-string - I don't know if you've ever changed the strings. But cheap strings can give some interesting results. I even bought a cheap bass once that had 2 A strings - one was fitted as a D string, so the tension was really high - to make it go up a few notes. Maybe you've got a dodgy E string. Go play some basses. If PMT only have expensive basses, still play them. OK you won't buy, but who cares? They chose to put them up there. It's a choice they make. And by trying them you'll get a feel for what you would get at the top end. You never know you might find the result surprising. Maybe what you're cursing in a cheap instrument is still there in some top-end basses? Maybe you'll find other things you don't like?

[quote name='wishface' timestamp='1469209923' post='3096736'] I'm not judging cheap basses per se, just that I want something that's good all round, not just good for it's value. It's time I had an instrument that lets me do what I want to do without having to fight it or having a crappy tone. Can't remember what i've had, but what I got currently is a Revelation RBJ67 that i brought for £165 from Rikaxxe in Bristol. He specialises in cheap stuff and these kinds of brands. Seems like a nice guy with experience in the industry, but I have no way to verify that and this bass isn't working out great. A couple of dead spots, intonation never seems to stay and it just feels oddly weighted - like it's too small and too big at the same time. It's a Jazz style instrument. If i pick over the neck pickup the instrument feels really short and my hand is awkward. It's kinda hard to explain. The varnished fingerboard is nice (and easy to clean), but higher up it's hard to get to the lower strings (my hands aren't weirdly small either). Tonally it's ok. Nothing earth shattering. Some fret buzz on the low E, which feels very flappy. The sound I like is a rounded tone, that's why I like the music man tone. But i like the Jazz tone. Geddy's tone (less the overdrive) is nice too, punchy but not overly trebly. [/quote] OK, I'm on a PC now, so it's easier to answer a long message. The Revelation RBJ67 is a jazz bass style. That should give a good rounded sound. It has a variable sound by adjusting the volume of the pickups. The Neck pickup will give a more rounded tone. The Bridge pickup will give a tighter more treble (to my ears), punchy tone. Other pickup configurations will also give other tones: P-bass, or Precision: This pup is positioned in, about the same position as the jazz-bass Neck pup. Because this pup has more coils and so the induction in the coil is greater, the tone is similar to the jazz-bass neck pup, but it's got more umph, heft, or punch/thump to the tone. The bass on the far left above is a Musicman. This has one pup in the "Bridge" position. This is a double-coil pup, so the punch will be similar to a Precision twin-coil pup, but being in a bridge position, the output is more punchy. The actual tone you get will be dependent on the strings as well, but with a more rounded sounding string this will give a punchy burpy kind of sound or a trebley punch, This is not soft and round at all. The tone of a bass can also be changed by the playing position - play near the neck and it will be more rounded, as the string has more ability to move. Play near the bridge and the sound will be more punchy and clipped. In any case ALL pups work most effectively when you play with your hand plucking the strings above the pup. You said: [i][b]"The sound I like is a rounded tone, that's why I like the music man tone. But i like the Jazz tone. Geddy's tone (less the overdrive) is nice too, punchy but not overly trebly.[/b][/i] Then I'd stick with a jazz if I were you. The MM would be wrong. Buying a bass: If you are in the market for a bass in the price range under £400, then I'd definitely look at used instruments - you'll get far more bang for your buck. Here's some in your area: https://www.gumtree.com/p/guitar-instrument/fender-mexican-jazz-bass-with-hard-case/1179555499 https://www.gumtree.com/p/guitar-instrument/fender-squier-silver-series-made-in-japan-jazz-bass-1993-1994/1176315198 Go play and see what you think of them.

Hey Bajanbass, Welcome to Basschat. Cheers Rich