Grangur

[quote name='sykilz' timestamp='1402520509' post='2474456'] Love the look of that body wood. [/quote] Thanks. FYI the wood is spalted maple

[quote name='throwoff' timestamp='1403010325' post='2478794'] The violin point is slightly out of sync with the argument (despite me being one of the people who used it! ) The quality of wood on an acoustic instrument does alter the sound as the whole thing vibrates as one. Sold bodied electrics do not. [/quote] Totally agree. If the sound board in a violin body didn't vibrate it'd be like having a static cone in a speaker cab. Acoustic instruments are a whole different situation. They have one similarity - they have strings and tuning keys... end of.

I'm in. Can I bring Mrs G? Maybe I can let her off in the nearby fields as well? I can also bring my Gear4Music LA P-bass for the test. I also have 2 Wick Streamers; fretless and fretted, and a Wishbass if anyone's interested? Rich

[quote name='JapanAxe' timestamp='1402657633' post='2475684'] A guitarist friend of mine just picked up an Encore in great nick for £20. Can't knock them at that price! You should get one into the test and see how it fares. [/quote] I'm coming and I'll bring my Gear4Music LA bass http://www.gear4music.com/Guitar-and-Bass/LA-Bass-Guitar-by-Gear4music-Silver-Flake/7I0 It cost me the dizzy fortune of £20 & delivery!! I'll leave the spec as standard until after the Bash

[quote name='SubsonicSimpleton' timestamp='1403007626' post='2478745'] Just go to somewhere like PMT and try a bunch of supposedly identical spec guitars or basses through one amp - If you can't tell any difference then the only thing you really need to worry about when buying an instrument is whether you like the finish. In the strad versus modern blind test, the musicians couldn't identify whether an instrument was vintage or modern, but they did consistently identify instruments that they thought were better than others [url="http://thestrad.com/latest/news/blind-tested-soloists-unable-to-tell-stradivarius-violins-from-modern-instruments"]http://thestrad.com/...ern-instruments[/url] Human beings don't function like scientific precision measuring apparatus, but the senses are potentially very sensitive in a very non-linear way, so small differences in frequency response can make a big subjective difference in whether or not you like something. Ultimately it doesn't really matter why you find an instrument inspiring to play or like the sound it produces, the most important thing is the joy you get and bring to others from the music you produce with it. [/quote] You're so right. LOL It's the one reason I'm definitely going to the Herts Bass Bash in July; a blind test of P-basses.

I may be being thick here, but surely it's better for the sound if the bass doesn't vibrate? E.g.; 1 - High mass bridges are claimed to aid sustain; as they don't vibrate. 2 - Using a sponge deadens the note as it vibrates with the string. 3 - Putting a finger on the string kills the note because the flesh vibrates with the string and absorbs vibration. The only thing that would go against this is if the body vibrates it may move the position of the pickup in relation to the string as it all vibrates and THIS may mean vibration in the body is a good thing. My $0.02

Have you seen this It's a gadget made to "open up the wood" by vibrating it to get it moving and open up the sound. I can see it "possibly" working on an instrument with a sound board, but with an electric bass..? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZsRhNzdB-g8 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1VwBzplLz8Y

[quote name='throwoff' timestamp='1402911458' post='2477698'] Wood is not a homogenous material no, that's why it's lucky that ALL the tone of a bass comes from the strings, pickups and electronics. The wood makes not one jot of difference. [/quote] You may be [i]extremely [/i]slightly wrong if we consider the possible effect that a beautiful wood with amazing grain could make the player feel better and more "at one" with the instrument, and therefore play with greater feel. Also the shape of the body and neck gives the player the ergonomics to be able to access the strings better. This is all "splitting hairs" though. So this puts us firmly back in the realms of "it's all in the fingers".

Surprise, surprise... it came with a padded gig bag too!

@Thecountegc - I've got a Dolphin I wouldn't mind selling. Please can you tell me when you've bought the Thumb, cos something tells me THAT will be the exact time I should post my ad. As the above say - hold out. Even change the Ibby for something else if you don't like it, but keep the "Save the Dolphin" fund in a savings account. GLWTP

This is an interesting discussion. It's been good hearing everyone's views. Many thanks. FWIW I'm a tinkerer. I like to play about with instruments, as you can see from the Squier that went AWOL. This weekend I was browsing on the bay; as you do. and saw a cheapie P going.... brace yourself now.... It was "collect only" and up near "The Wash", and I live near Stansted. They were, as luck would have it, coming south to see their daughter, a music student, in London. This bass was the property of the said daughter and they dropped it in to me on the way south. I can't say I'm in love with the colour, but maybe I can fix that at a later stage. But I could not believe the set up. The action was WAY up high and the bbot bridge was down so low the grub-screws weren't even binding on the base-plate. The pots were crackling from lack of use. The truss was totally un-tensioned. I took it apart, cleaned the pots, shimmed the neck, shielded the cavity in the body and gave it a set up. Now it plays ok. I think it needs some good strings, but it's a start. I might change the pups if I keep it. The body is basswood, I think, but it's like new. Oh, yeah... I sanded the headstock and removed the "Gear4Music" logo. That typeface looks sooo tacky. It looks to me like "Toys R Us". But... I really dig the feel of it. The neck feels nice, my fingers move along it like it was made for me. The weight is fine. The tuners are crap, but I can do something or nothing with those later, I can spray it... if I keep it. It's a chance to work on the p-bass concept, try some bassy strings. I've got a spare set of Quarter-pounders and a set of Kent Armstrongs... Besides, what do you expect for £40 inc delivery? Edit: This bass was clearly sold to the girl online; in such a bad state of set-up that it was unplayable. I'm just amazed that a commercial seller can do that, even on an £89 bass. NO WONDER she never played it and lost interest. She COULD have loved it. No wonder some brands get a crap name for themselves. Now, where can I buy a Fender P-bass logo...?

Bump

Hi-jack away. This is about having a good discussion and comparing experiences. Thanks all for your in-put

[color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]Hi there, a friend in Exeter has a family party planned for November 1st and wants a folk band to play.[/font][/color] [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]If you PM me with any links ypu have to soundcloud or Youtube etc I'll pass your details across and try to help you get a nice gig.[/font][/color] [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]Thanks for looking[/font][/color] [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]Richard [/font][/color]

Good point. I'll try that. Many thanks

[quote name='wateroftyne' timestamp='1402043593' post='2469410'] I'd be interested to hear opinions on how a passive P/J with the P pup solo'd compares to the real thing... [/quote] I'd be interested in seeing how my Warwick Streamer PJ would stack against a P. That can be played passive. I also have a Wishbass if you want a real red herring in the mix. The only thing is the Wish is fretless so it would stand out for that alone in this blind test.

£100 would be about the right price for an Affinity P-bass in good condition. A jazz style might normally be a bit more and others can be found at around the £150 mark or more. I could be wrong but my guess is it's a good deal. The proof is in the playing though, of course.

bump... still looking

@Marc S I'd agree that most Fender players/owners are probably not snobs, but are more-likely reacting to fend off the jibes from others who are less knowledgeable who ARE the brand snobs. It's not something I'm going to rush into I've got 2 Warwick Streamers; with and without frets. So the Squire is really an indulgence to replace the one I miss. I sold it because the tone was a bit "metalic" for my liking. I'm getting to be more of the view that a change in strings would have cured the 'problem'. [quote name='neepheid' timestamp='1402564159' post='2474761'] One poor instrument and you're condemning the entire output of a factory? I don't think that's fair. [/quote] I agree. I'm not a Fender expert by any stretch of the imagination, but I've played Fenders that do nothing for me and others that melt you socks. Regrettably I've never owned one of the latter. I've had a few of the former ones. There's also the problem that 1/2 of the "Fenders" on ebay are not "Fender" by origin. I've owned a fake and sold it on. The buyer wanted a part credit because the decal wasn't as good as it could be. His view was he'd get a new decal, then it would be a true Fender. It takes all sorts...

Wow! I posted the OP from my phone at lunchtime and I come home and I'm chuffed at the good responses. (But on BC I know you/we are always great) I have bought a few Fender basses and never really gelled with them. I had a Squier P and it went in a purge. Besides I have 2 'Wicks, so what do I need anything else for? Besides I'm not in a band. Work commitments don't leave me much time to rehearse, and I can't be sure of being free at weekends either. Man I miss that Squier! I sold it on ebay and it went missing and got nothing for it in the end. Thankfully I kept the Hipshot bridge and SD pups. So I may even do another re-build. I'm not 100% sold on going for a Fender or Squier. I was actually thinking "budget or premium". I guess an Overwater-Tanglewood is also an option. Your responses are really interesting. What comes across most, and my own findings agree with this it "try before you buy". I was once surprised a bit when I went to a BCers house and tried 2 basses. I didn't really gell with the £300 one I went there to try and buy. I did really like the other bass ha had, but he wanted £700. I couldn't afford that just then. He got a bit funny when I didn't buy... But hey-ho. It takes all sorts. Thanks again guys.

[quote name='Wil' timestamp='1402502403' post='2474206'] That I do like. What do people make of ESP/LTD instruments? Well built? Play/sound any good? [/quote] Yes, well built. I had a 5 string fretless. It had a great, fast, flat neck. Nice mwahhh. The strings were a mite too close together for my liking and the active-only pups weren't as powerful as I'd have expected. But for £200 s/hand, it's a bargain.

[quote name='xgsjx' timestamp='1402469283' post='2473729'] I know many of you wont understand the reasons fully, but thanks for the encouraging words. After spending quite some time praying that I'm doing the right thing, I've found it's because music has always been an idol to me. One of the first things I do in the morning & last things I do at night is read about music & come on here (still doing it too!). Every spare minute if I'm not on here, I'm playing my bass or playing about with something related to music. It needs to be broken so that I have no idols. Once this has been done, then maybe music can be part of my life & not be idolised by me. Doing this has a strange feeling with it, very similar to when I quit smoking. I feel like I'm breaking free, but there's a part that is sad that the good parts shall be missed. It's not about the playing of an instrument, but my relationship with instruments. If I'm to be a musician, I'm sure it will be. I can always buy another bass/pedalboard/rig, I might come back to keys or to an instrument I've never played before like cello or sax. If it's my calling to praise God in worship songs, then most churches have their own instruments. Maybe God is just like the rest of you & hates it when I play a bit of slap bass & he's had enough. [/quote] it sounds to me like your reasons for quitting is your realisation that you have become increasingly obsessive with aspects of the activity. You should take a good look at it though before selling up. Basschat is possibly your problem, not bass. I've been there too. Cut back on your computer use. Get back to life in the real world and THEN make a choice on the music. The 2 are NOT the same thing. Don't confuse them. We would miss you, but God gave you a talent for music. Would it not be wrong to not give pleasure to others through God's gift? Good luck

Hi all, Im tempted to invest in a p bass. I know the Squier is a budget version so the pups in the Squier may not be as punchy as the ones in the Fender. There's also a snob value to the Fender. Yet other than that, what would you buy and why? Cheers Richard

I'm in the SBL Academy. It's worth taking a look at the promo video before you decide. It tells you a lot more about the package. There's a forum website attached; which they call the "campus". There's a lot of chat there and you can get help from other members. Not all members are noobs, so you can get answers from others who're learning. The lessons to the SBL folk are more organised than on the website. The lessons start with a "Beginners" course, then there's other courses to develop with. In the SBL beginner course there's loads of music theory there to tell you about harmony and diatonic theory and the Modes. There's loads of further info about how to transcribe and create baselines using 1, 3, 5, 7 of each of the scales/modes and using chord progressions. There are monthly assignments set for everyone. The current one is to take a fav bassist, examine their work and record a vid of yourself covering a track. Other assignments have been creating jam tracks and funk-covers. Something which focuses the mind is the section on the Campus where you keep a public log of your practise activities. Simply keeping this is really useful. Others can look in and comment on your progress and any vids you post here. There's also a weekly "Bass hang". This is a 2 hours live session where members can ask questions of Scott and Geoff about anything, but mostly bass related. This is published on the site and you can watch old ones too. The members are kept up with Academy news in the "SBL Academy Show". Here you learn about good threads that you may have missed and good things going on. I've paid up and I'm quite happy about it. I've progressed well in the time I've done it (about 2-3 weeks). The beginners lessons are very good and have helped me. WRT the log I guess there's no reason why you can't keep your own private practise log, but the forum version does focus you a bit... Big Brother is watching you!! WRT the cost; the way I see it is what I paid is about the same as 2x 1hour lessons with a teacher. I'd say I've got value for money already as I've got more progress from the SBL lesons by Scott and Geoff than I've had from a local teacher on a 1-to-1 basis. PM me if you want to. Cheers Rich

[quote name='Michael J' timestamp='1401973335' post='2468801'] [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif][url="https://onedrive.live.com/redir?resid=88014765C749B87%21243=%21AD0NYa23nhcLidc&ithint=file%2C.pdf"]Minuet En So[/url][size=3]l, by JS Bach is a dead link. [/size][/font][/color] [/quote] Hi Michael J, Many thanks for pointing that out. It's fixed now. Cheers Richard