The Burpster

[quote name='Silverwolf' post='629080' date='Oct 17 2009, 09:50 PM']Again, thanks for the earlier advice. Ended up buying a used Yamaha BB604 in natural finish for a fair price, which I'm happy with, and fairly certain will last me for quite a few years. Had to give it a dust and also cleaned the frets and rosewod neck following the cleaning tips on here - used masking tape to protect the neck while cleaning the frets with a cloth dippsed in Brasso, and they're now nice and shiny.[/quote] Good choice, and a bass that you ought to be able to conect with. It will also be easy enough to set up to play well, so if you need to adjust stuff dont be afraid to ask!

Stevie, It is very easy to come on here and quote as you have, however if this is the ONLY '09 Fender that you have picked up then it is a bit niaive of you to say they are all the same....... A bit like driving somone elses newish car and then branding ALL models of that make crap..... IIWY I'd play at least 5 or 6 before you make a statement like that, because as a fairly regular contirbutor here you should have picked up that Fender QC is, has and probably always will be at best average, and at worst negligent. I soooo often see this on a bike forum that I'm on, " my XXXX has broken down so they are all sh!te " unwittingly it instantly brands the poster.......... It also does not take into account the 1000s of happy owners that are riding around with big stupid grins on thier chops (of which I happen to be one). See a bit of a link here?

Welcome on board! Sadly there is no one answer to your question, because 'tone' is such a subjective issue. If there are a 100 folks on here you wil get 100 different answers...... Its easiest and probably most sensible to say that ALL elements of the construction and spec of a bass wil effect its 'tone. 2 basses made from identical wood with the same electrics can sound different - that just the nature of wood, some of it is more dense than other bits and cuts. The most stable and consistant sounding basses are those made of Carbon composites because the matrerial is so stable (as well teh odd metal ones out there too) . The easiest way to change the 'tone of a solid body bass is to change the electrics as ultimately the electric signal is generated by the strings moving through a magnetic field..... change these and the tone will change instantly. Types of wood to generate types of sound is as hit and miss as the lottery.... but to give you a VERY general guideline, the more dense the wood in the build the brigther sound and longer sustain. The reality is much more confusing than that tho' (refer to para 2 above). Anyone who says difinitively that X wood with Y pick up will give Z sound, is using real salesmanship because as soon as wood is involved the whole issue gets foggy! Someone saying this about a Status or Steinberger on the other hand, may be a different issue! The even tone between strings is definately a pick up issue, although the nut and bridge can sometimes have an influence on large dia. low range strings.

[quote name='LukeFRC' post='625333' date='Oct 13 2009, 06:35 PM']I still think there are two types of bass player on here. Firstly the 'pros' those that make money and their living from being a musician. and secondly the non-pro's. The folk who play bass as a hobby, for fun, or whatever reason. I don't want folk to put value judgements on these labels, both are good. Theres nothing wrong with being a pro musisian and nout wrong with just playing for yourself in your bedroom. I would guess the 'pros' would er towards more 'of the shelf' designs. Even if more high end off the shelf designs. The bass is a tool for a job. The focus is on the result of the process of playing bass. The 'non-pros' would be more likely to start modding stock basses and then getting custom built basses I think. As the result and reason of playing is less defined then the focus becomes more about the process. Tone woods, super transparent cabs, top of the range pre's and so on. Two other reasons for this I can think of are.... 'non-pros' by definition will have a source of income. I guess if bass playing is your hobby and love and you earn £xx,000 a year and can afford to indulge in your interest, then why not? Also I think part of the drive to get 'better' gear is down to the limits of the players ability. You compensate for your weaknesses by having top of the range everything. I would guess a 'pro' is more likely to have been brought up to practice rather than sit on internet forums developing needs for a new pre-amp that uses exotic tonewood hand built valve power to make you sound.....well like a slightly different sounding bass guitar....[/quote] What utter, utter, utter...... ...... COMMON SENSE....! Well done Luke, summed up what I was thinking and put it very well. "Custom" means the customer having some involvement in choices prior to the article being finished - by that analogy all Volvo cars are now 'custom' but who in thier right mind would say "I have just bought a brand new custom Volvo" ? I'd also add a 3rd phase to Lukes eloquent post, there are two types of blokes (and for these few seconds I am deliberately leaving the fairer sex out of this as the vast majority of bassists are blokes), 1. Blokes who love their gear and can quote infantesimally boring and anal details about every aspect of it, and 2. Blokes who just use gear and really dont care what the bits are as long as they work.... Niether one of these groups is right or wrong, they are just different! These two types of blokes are prevelant everywhere and in every form of hobby, pastime, sport or job. These groups may never see eye to eye but should (and need to) co-exist in perfect equilibrium, because one without the other is boring. So back to the OP - Bilbo is not being prevocative, he is just re examining up the oldest argument known to blokes!

OP... Heartfield were Jap produced between '89 + '94 by Fuji Gen Gakki - there were basically licensed Jap Fender copies,and distributed with the Fender network. Heart/Heartwood, were high quality hand built British between mid and late '80's they renamed Heartwood in 1988 for the last couple of years of production. They were distinctive by heart shaped inlays on fretboard and headstock. (all from the Blue book)

A Jazz with a pre amp would be my recommendation too....

.........no it would not. 10k for well used albeit original J is obscene by anyones standards. Bets of jolly british luck to the seller!

[quote name='henry norton' post='616526' date='Oct 4 2009, 02:30 PM']Maybe we should start a database with easy to use parameters describing brightness, depth, smoothness, tension etc. on a 1 to 10 scale or suchlike. At least it will give a starting point for anyone looking for a change.[/quote] While that is a great idea its also frought with problems, i.e. my dull - brite - very brite may vary from say Niks or yours.... My lovely tension (considering I only use flats) would probably rank amongst some others as unplayable.... Now were there an industry std by which all things could be measured, that would be a great help......

I guess you mean that the sound from your amp is buzzing and not the lead itself....? Sounds like either cheap or broken shielding in the lead and is probably down to using cheap leads. Without spending very silly money (which I have yet to see worth it) contact our own OBBM on here and he'll make your leads for you at a very reasonable price, out of top quality components and not charge the silly price that some brands do for the same stuff. I use all the same bits (and often source bits from him), I made a lead up for my geetard who now has ditched his very expensive Whirlwind (was £50+) lead in favour of my £12 made up one from decent components.....

[quote name='Musicman20' post='610386' date='Sep 27 2009, 10:06 PM']Good idea. Maybe a NE Lincs/Lincs/Yorkshire/Humberside Bass Bash?![/quote] OOooooo errrr that sounds fun. I'd love a noddle on OTPJs Status stealth....

[quote name='chris_b' post='615614' date='Oct 3 2009, 12:02 PM']I just can't believe anyone would spend 2.5K on a Fender!!!!![/quote] Sadly some folks spend a lot more than that on them.......! Why? Only they could tell you.

[quote name='silverfoxnik' post='615597' date='Oct 3 2009, 11:33 AM']Having straightened it up it now sounds really distinct and clear and is in tune right up the neck, so I'm really happy!! Thanks for the help... Nik[/quote] You = Me

Interesting, I've never physically looked for mine before. I've just had a look and couldnt find it either but have a recollection its stamped on teh case somewhere only that you can see when you take the head out the cab. I have the original tag that came with it and that has it on for mine....

[quote name='silverfoxnik' post='615276' date='Oct 2 2009, 09:39 PM']Thanks; at least I'm not going mad then... [/quote] No, far from it. In fact it often makes me wonder on here when folks are on about changing their 'sound' or 'tone', how much of it could be done by careful and strategically changing strings. Certainly in my limited experience you can make considerable and noticeable changes with very subtle changes here and there. I now only make one small change at a time and let it settle before moving to alter others......

I'm pretty sure there is not conspiracy theory going on here.... just a large US company with shonky QC and little if any motivation to get its house in order because it's pretty happy with its market share...... Sad but true.

Clearly the ultimate 'unmistakable 80s' bass would be a Steiny clone ( a genuine one being way out of your price bracket), although a less obvious but subtle one would be a Fender P lyte or one of the pointy head Fenders of that ilk.

Si, The truth as hinted at by the Beedster is that QC wise they are no better or worse than any other Fender - What I mean by that is that it could be an absolute peach or a bit of a dog, you can never tell until you get your hands on it. My experience is that I had a CS P (from the same ltd edition that the Beedster owned) and whilst it was comprised of some lovely components, it seemed like it was put together by a primary school kid. Basically I had to take it apart and put it together properly before I could set it up. That being said after I had it was a lovely bass. The current owner is as happy as a dog with 2 tails.

Nik, Yes it does make sense, and whilst it is only very slight and subtle differences, tensions may vary and this is why we have to set up (or at least check it ) whenever we change string makes or gauges.

As all my PRSs would class as expensive using your criteria, I would expect then to be well put together but small blemishes or marks are usually down to where and how they have been stored post factory. 2 of mine were bought new but had 1 or 2very minor dinks in the paint from the shop that had had them for sale.... I was perfectly happy to accept that. So in your case I would say the neck bolt is unacceptable but the blemish is a bit picky...IMO. Have you tried undoing the neck bolt a couple of turns to see if it is actually put in at an angle, or if the screw is bent? If its the second of the 2 I'd just ask them for a new neck bolt. If its in at an angle I'd say that was a bit of shonky workmanship, and worth questioning.

Nik, Not sure what you mean by playability.....? you appear to have two issues (unless I'm mistaken). 1. Tension. 2. Tone. So both of these will vary widely with differing strings and even differing gauges of the same string. Have you tried it in the std set up that Fender recommend or that they come supplied with? That's a good starting point (use the same gauge initially and different makes) and work from there using your experience of the kind of tone that you want from it to select the strings. Then when you have the make and type of string you want then start approaching differing gauges to get one that suits both your tone requirement and feel. Trying to change all in one go gives way to many variables to illicit a plan of what's changed and how its affected your playing. If that helps, that's how I approached my PRSs and it worked for me.

I use the PRS kit, but then I would wouldnt I....? In fairness its not expensive and does the job very well. Cleaner - Lemming Oil - Polish. [url="http://www.headlinemusic.co.uk/product-details.aspx?product=94"]http://www.headlinemusic.co.uk/product-det...aspx?product=94[/url]

[quote name='silddx' post='608710' date='Sep 25 2009, 03:43 PM']No, it's a guitar. Sorry mate. Guitars are a pain in the arse.[/quote] Indeed so. However you have got me thinking...........

[quote name='silddx' post='608145' date='Sep 24 2009, 09:06 PM']I also put Sperzels on my PRS, they're really good.[/quote] Bass or 6 string.... ? If its your bass I'd like a pic of that - always been envious of my g'tarist and his lockers on the Custom 22.....

My advice FWIW is start with the best platform that you can get. You might get an absolute peach but at £85 there is much higher probabality that it will be worth about £85 - The better the wooden bits the better the end result will be, this is from experience.

Sounds more likely to be a dry solder joint somewhere if its intermittent. If they go open circuit they go PDQ and then are dead. Fluctuating between full signal and reduced signal is more likely to be as above. Oh and there are plnety of 'techs' that know how to twiddle screws but dont know one end of an AVO (Although most that know what they are doing use Fluke now )from the other!