muttley

Bakithi Kumalo

If you don't want a Fender-a-like, go secondhand! Here are some examples: Ibanez SR400 (the Korean-made model with P/J pickups) Cort Curbow Yamaha RBX270 (I think this is the right number, maybe 260) Vintage V1004 Westone Thunder 1 or 1A Warwick Rockbass You'd be able to find any of these for, at a guess, around £150 s/h. Maybe slightly more for the Westone and Warwick. If you decide to move on, you'll easily get your money back.

[quote name='HowieBass' timestamp='1409997832' post='2545229'] If you have an old credit card you might try that instead of a razor blade. [/quote] That's what I would use, followed by an application of raw linseed oil.

Ending soon! Aria Pro II SB Special II for a decent price: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/321483048945?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2648

A big congratulations to all those who have studied as mature adults and passed grade exams. That takes a lot of work and dedication. I have a related question: I am familiar with ABRSM exams, but what other boards offer bass exams (if any)? I'm wondering whether there are any exams that are a bit less classically focussed.

^ I think you are comparing apples with pears and have missed kerley's point. Besides, I don't suppose GB produces anything that costs as [i]little[/i] as £1000...

Eventually found this curve linked from an old listing (I've copied it to a Photobucket account in case it disappears altogether): [url="http://s522.photobucket.com/user/echobeach66/media/STYLESWEEPSR_zps69bea331.jpg.html"][/url] It seems that in the extreme "finger style" position there is treble cut as well as some (around 6dB) midrange boost (purple curve). I wonder if the preamp can produce [i]any[/i] kind of flat response .

Just got my grubby mits on a bargainicious s/h Ibanex SR300. My question is what does the "Style Sweeper" control actually do? In the "slap" position it obviously boosts bass and scoops mids but what about the other end of the range (labelled "finger style"). It sounds quite "middy" in this position so I'm guessing there may be some midrange boost but what is slightly confusing is that there is no centre detent position to this control. Therefore, either: 1. the "finger style" position is flat and the bass sounds very middy anyway, 2. my SS control is broken in some way or 3. Ibanez did not see fit to include a centre detent. Any ideas?

[quote name='Norris' timestamp='1403005096' post='2478712'] A second hand MIM Jazz would be around £250 - and are lined [/quote] If they are anything like the US made Jazz fretless basses they have a problem in that the side dots are virtually hidden by the edges of the lines. Side dots on a plain board should, of course, be at the "fretting" position but on the Fender lined board they are just not visible enough to be of any real use.

Superb, thanks very much

Excellent! Thanks.

They're defo smaller than MM pickups. I don't have an MM bass but my Vintage V1004 has an MM type pup and looking at the photos of Ibanez SRXs the proportions (and the fixings) are different.

Yes, please! That would be great. I don't really subscribe to the "good for metal" notion, which is why I put it in quotes. I've already got a Korean SR400 with P/J pups and I fancy another but a bit different .

I've got a bit of GAS for an Ibanex SRX (if they're good enough for Carole Kaye...) and they seem to go for £notverymuch on eBay etc. Reading some stuff over on TB it seems that the pickups/preamp etc are "good for metal" (whatever that means). Since a) I don't play metal and I don't like the look of the exposed pole pieces on the stock pups I'd think about swapping them out. Does anyone know what direct replacements exist? None of the threads I've seen mention any model numbers, only brands like Bartolini and EMG etc.

[quote name='sammybee' timestamp='1400917102' post='2458089'] This is definitely not true, I bought an expansion card for a drum machine from the US - $45 dollars, got charged for VAT and Import Duties & the handling fee. [/quote] That's odd. How much duty were you charged? Were the import duty and VAT levied based on the invoice value or some other figure? Some sellers will under delcare goods in the hope that the buyer will get away with not paying any duty. However, HMRC can charge duty and VAT on what they consider is the market value of the item. See section 2.1 in the link I gave above for more info. Disclaimer: I don't work for HMRC but I do import goods as part of my job.

[quote name='Paul S' timestamp='1400856602' post='2457639'] Also Parcelforce charge a handling fee. i just bought a bass from Japan and the handling fee was £13.50 on top of the VAT. No import duty for some reason, though. [/quote] Must have been below the value threshold. If the calculated duty is less than £9 then customs don't bother collecting (just the VAT) ([url="http://customs.hmrc.gov.uk/channelsPortalWebApp/channelsPortalWebApp.portal?_nfpb=true&_pageLabel=pageTravel_ShowContent&id=HMCE_CL_000014&propertyType=document#P20_1804"]see section 2.3[/url]).

Look the same to me. I saw an SR370 in PMT recently and from what I could gather after a quick glance it appears to be an SR300 in a different finish. Bolt-on neck like the others in the range. I think it's the SRX that is neck through.

[quote name='BassBus' timestamp='1399445854' post='2444216'] Ned steinberger has to be second. Like Leo Fender he moved things forward. After him it all becomes a bit subjective. No-one else has really moved things on in the same way. [/quote] This. Fender (and his partners) gave us the mass produced fretted electric bass guitar and that was a major innovation in musical instrument technology and manufacture. I don't think anyone can doubt that. Steinberger put the tuners at the "wrong" end and changed the shape. Proper innovation. After that it's mostly fluff. Everything is more or less just a copy of everything else. I don't mean a facsimile copy but a functional one. I think honorable mentions need to go to: 1. the first successful implementation of active electronics (Alembic?). 2. the first straight-through neck (Alembic again, Tobias or someone else?) 3. successful silly/distinctive shaped basses like the Thunderbird and Rickenbacker. 4. Wal. Just because.

Cooincidence, I'd say. The body shape of the Vintage is more similar to the Peavey Grind, IMO.

[quote name='DotsFar' timestamp='1398774961' post='2437445'] Thanks Muttley The opinions about getting a fretted got me doubting, but I hang on to the starement from my teacher, that it is ok to start fretless if it is marked, and I want to play with the vibrato and sliding into tones. I didn't get many replies about the sound of Fender / Rob Allen. Can it be combined in one bass, the more acoustic sound (Rob Allen), and the Fender Jazz ? [/quote] Side dots will be OK, it doesn't have to be a lined bass. There are pros and cons to each so just go with what you like the look of etc. I started playing violin at 10 and dabbled in (fretted) bass in my late teens. Fast forward 20+ years and I'm playing bass again, but mainly fretless as it feels more natural to me.

[quote name='Grangur' timestamp='1398719897' post='2437020'] every violinist and cellist plays fretless from day one. [/quote] ^ this. The initial learning may be steeper, but if you want to play fretless, then play fretless!

Vintage V1004, strung with Rotosound nylon-wound flats. I've got some mods planned so this is the "before":

I've got one of those nifty Vox plug-in headphone amps which I use for practice. I [s]borrowed[/s] nicked some cheap DJ headphones from my lad which work great but they're tight and uncomfortable so I'd prefer something with foam rather than vinyl pads. Under 20 quid would be good. Don't care what they look like. Any recommendations?

I once played in a band with a guy who had a Hayman bass (sorry, but I was the guitarist). It sounded awesome - a sort of Chris Squire Ric character. You don't want to know what mods he'd done to it though... I always thought it odd that the body shape of the Wal was similar to the Hayman/Shergold basses. I wasn't sure which came first but now I know, thanks.