Grangur

[quote name='ForestPoetry' timestamp='1491243655' post='3271542'] We all have off days. My Squier VM Jazz, sometimes I absolutely hate the sound and feel of it, other times it's just right and I'll happily sit there and bang out Rush tunes on it for an hour straight. Same thing with my Ibanez Portamento 5 string; some days it's the best instrument I've ever owned, other days even the Soundgear neck feels too big for my girly sized hands and I don't want to look at the thing. It's almost like Russian roulette with these things at times. [/quote] Many thanks. So, I'm not unique. I am on the lookout for a lighter 5 string. I'm interested in the Marcus Miller M7 5 string. It is a bit new though for finding one "preloved". I might have to dent the bass fund.

I've one of the files with the pre-shaped curved files on the sides. They're ok. I've just bought a triangular file, though as the pre-shaped one is just ok. What it lacks is giving you the ability to control where on the side of the fret that you're fileling. Or how much you're removing. What I was expecting is the curved profile would shape the top correctly. I guess it does, after a fashion. But then it can do the top and make a mess of the sides.

[quote name='lowhand_mike' timestamp='1491227908' post='3271344'] just be happy with what you have, theres plenty of people who cant afford a warwick let alone 4 of them plus a fender [/quote] Yes. I know you're right. As I have said. I have had regrets about posting.

[quote name='Woodinblack' timestamp='1491211429' post='3271173'] I can understand that - I have had a problem with some of the best guitars. I have sold quite a few basses because although I really liked the bass, but couldn't get the sound I wanted from it. I am now in that position with my ibanezes, I love the 1605, I prefer playing the 805, but I don't gig it because the sound just doesn't do it, now trying to decide if I can justify £200+ on some new pickups for it. Get some different pickups or a different bass, your basses seem to be a bit monocultrural there! [/quote] To answer your dilemma; I'd change the pups, but keep the old ones so, in the event you sell, you can swap them back. Nobody is going to pay £200 more for a bass because of the pups - as you already know I'm sure. You can then sell the pups separately, or move them to another bass. On the matter of my basses. I'm probably go to try adding to the herd. But it'll have to wait until May. I'm off on holiday soon and won't be buying anything before I get back. Unless I buy something while I'm away, of course. I do, so happen to know of a great music shop..

When i find I dislike them it's generally down to the sound. The feel is always fine. I love them all, but sometimes I play them and the tone simply doesn't do it. I love the look of the Streamer S1. The wood grain has amazing flaming in the maple. It is, without question, the most amazing looking Streamer I've seen. But the tone is generally very clangy. I prefer a deeper tone. It's probably all in the mind. TBH, as soon as I posted this thread I regretted it and went to bed. And lay there regretting it. It's me being daft. I'm actually amazed that the discussion has got picked up. Thanks, all, but I'll live.

Corvette 5 string, Bubinga body. 2000 Streamer Stage 1, 4 string 2005 Corvette 4 String 2004 Streamer LX 4 string Fretless 2008 Fender MIM, with Bill Lawrence P-46 pickup and Babizc bridge I guess I'm progressing towards playing a 5er, but don't want to ditch the 4s. I find the 5s heavy. I did own a Thumb 5 string too, but sold it.

[quote name='gareth' timestamp='1491164496' post='3270982'] what are the five basses? [/quote] Corvette 5 string, Bubinga body. 2000 Streamer Stage 1, 4 string 2005 Corvette 4 String 2004 Streamer LX 4 string Fretless 2008 Fender MIM, with Bill Lawrence P-46 pickup and Babizc bridge I guess I'm progressing towards playing a 5er, but don't want to ditch the 4s. I find the 5s heavy. I did own a Thumb 5 string too, but sold it. The Bubinga Corvette is heavier, but I re-built it from being a wreck. So it comes with a certain degree of sentimental baggage.

Nice one Ambient. Congratulations

[quote name='Bobthedog' timestamp='1491041250' post='3270025'] I have had three auditions (30 mins for free as the first session) for a tutor. One was immediatedly dismissed as not being suitable for me from a personality angle, the other two were fine. Yes it does happen and should happen, even though I have no problem paying for the first session either. [/quote] My comment isn't really about the money angle. I'm really thinking more about the benefit of actually sitting and talking about objectives and chemistry.

My Bro in Law is a cello teacher. I'm at his house atm. He's got someone coming here shortly for an "audition". What's that? It's where a prospective pupil comes for a chat to see if their aims are likely to be met with the teacher. It's FOC and if works both ways. Does this ever happen in the world of bass?

Oh, I do love my basses too on occasions. Also, just to make life difficult; so does Mrs G. I've already sold one which was one of her favourites. New, different strings is an option of course. I also should level the frets on one of them to make the experience better.

Yes, I too feel some envy for folk who are honestly happy with a single bass. What we don't know, of course, is if those lucky guys are active bassist or if they play simple lines in a band once a week, and never touch it from one week to the next.

... but not all the time. I have 5 basses and fall in and out of love with each of them at times. Sometimes I can play them all in an evening and find there's not one that I like much at all. Am I alone in this? Am I peculiar?

I've got some Squier tuners going begging. I have had them on a bass and they held ok. If you're interested PM me.

I would definitely be after the seller for a refund/return.

[quote name='Highfox' timestamp='1490968600' post='3269487'] Scott just put up a nice video where he compares a couple of P-baases, admitedly one is a lot more expensive than the other. Jump to about 6 mins in if you want to skip the chit chat. [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YarWwi7gRqI[/media] [/quote] To me the Fender sounded more mushy in the ringing (or not) of the notes. The Moollon rang clearer. But then, that matters to me as I play solo. If you're playing in a band, it probably doesn't matter too much really, does it?

[quote name='Thunderbird' timestamp='1490948842' post='3269241'] I had a tutor for a while and it was a waste of time and money all he did was get his bass out and show off playing solo parts and then at the end of the lesson asked if there was a song I wanted to learn and then printed the tab off the internet for me to learn until the next week I gave up after about a month he was a great player but a sh*t teacher If I did it again I think a proper tutor would be great [/quote] I guess it depends on your geography, but it seems there's a lot of guitar teachers who like to try their arm at bass and you need to "kiss a lot of frogs". The trouble is, at £26+/- a shot, it gets expensive. To be honest, I do think a lot of my "problem" has been me not being clear in communicating what I want. I've fallen into the trap of expecting the tutor to know what I want.

I would remove the nut and see if you can get the Superglue to soak in from the top - where the nut sits. The wood may not be finished there, under the nut. Also, to me the nut appears to be too short. It's not ending flush with the sides of the neck on both sides.

[quote name='Cato' timestamp='1490806325' post='3268227'] I'm entirely self taught in the pre youtube days. As a result of which I have a fair few bad habits, the worst of which is playing with the thumb of my fretting hand over the neck. I'm trying to break the habit as at some point I'd like to have serious crack at moving up to 5 or 6 strings, but after 25 odd years, it's coming very slowly. Even just a couple of formal lessons, right at the start might have seen me avoid the issue. [/quote] Have you tried simply buying a 5 string and trying? You might find you don't have a problem as you cannot put your thumb over the top, unless you have massive hands.

[quote name='Coilte' timestamp='1490793356' post='3268044'] Yes. In order to keep the pupil interested and motivated, a teacher would ask the pupil about his/her's musical interests. [/quote] And a good teacher will know what questions to ask to probe to get the right action plan together. I'm afraid I don't think I know what those questions are in my case.

[quote name='ambient' timestamp='1490791941' post='3268010'] But surely you have to know what it is you want to learn for, in order that they can help you? Do you want to learn to sight-read, more about theory, harmony, transcribing, walking bass, soloing, techniques. The list is quite endless, so they'd have to ask you. [/quote] I know a fair bit of theory, but I don't know what it is I don't know. As for the rest, yes I guess that's what I want to learn. I'm an analytical person when it comes to a lot of things. I'm an engineer by trade. So, I guess that is what I want to learn. I guess what I need is a good chat with a good teacher to discuss the next stage. IME as soon as I say "I'm not in a band" most tutors are dead in the water.

[quote name='funkle' timestamp='1490772668' post='3267745'] Because most manufacturers accommodate the extra frets (even thought the scale length is overall kept the same) by moving the neck a little further out to the left (and keeping the bridge in the same place they are generally accustomed to) - thus making first fret more awkward to reach. This is one of the reasons Warwicks are awkward for me; the upper horn doesn't generally go to 12th fret, so they tend to neck dive when I wear them, and their bridge is so far from the tail end of the bass that the first position is waaaaay off to the left and hard for me to reach. Occasionally someone moves the bridge closer to the tail end of the bass, thus keeping first fret in easy reach, but mostly they don't. This design requires a deeper cutaway to still allow upper fret access, and I guess many designers don't want to do that. [/quote] Funnily on my Warwicks the horn does go to the 13th, which is about typical. Granted, it doesn't on the Thumb.