BassBus

Might be worth your while trying a [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1R44BUMfCnc"]Markbass Superbooster[/url] pedal between the bass and amp. I have found this useful when I can't get a good sound through an amp. Equally, I now use a Markbass 12" combo which has the same VLE and VPF controls. That has always helped with my semi-hollow basses. Just thought. The [url="http://acousticimg.com/#/home"]Acoustic Image[/url] amps have filter controls which are good for acoustic instruments.

Quite frankly, anyone who says they never look at the neck is talking through the proverbial. As has been said it depends on how complicated the part is. I would rather see someone look at the neck and get it right than have them try to look cool and fluff it up. I do both as eye contact with the audience is important to me, even if there aren't any pretty girls.

My E Spirocore went like that. Then it broke. Might be time to change. I put on another set of Spirocores and once again a lovely tone.

[quote name='clashcityrocker' timestamp='1341081011' post='1713696'] I saw jack Bruce last year,swear he had a fretless warwick and I really didn't like the tone,thought maybe it was due to too much treble on a fretless?! [/quote] He has his own signature Warwick. I've never really liked his tone either. I don't think it's the best tone you can get out a fretless. But then he must like it and that's fine for him.

Stranglers - Peaches

I can't speak for the MM preamps but I've just had an East J-Retro fitted to my Jazz and it sounds monstrous when you need it to.

[quote name='BassTractor' timestamp='1341091083' post='1713844'] On another note, I felt that the sound this guy got from it was not interesting enough to ward a purchase. I hope to find other examples where the gamba sounds more historic so to speak. [/quote] Likely the same problem we all face in trying to make an EUB sound like a double bass.

If you are going to play it in a punky band then I don't think the intonation thing will be too much of a problem. There will be too much noise going on and that will cover up any slightly out of tune notes. Just go for it.

John Patitucci uses this technique to mute the strings he's not playing on his electric six string. Keep working at it and any tension in your hand will lessen.

If you go to 1.04 on the video you'll see a close up of one fret. Viola de Gambas had gut frets which were tied around the neck. easily moved. probably an intonation nightmare.

As with anything, it's only worth what someone is willing to pay for it.

[quote name='fatback' timestamp='1340828725' post='1710292'] Nice. Are they tuned in fourths? [/quote] Mostly tuned in fourths but with a major third in the middle. [url="http://www.musicolog.com/violadagamba.asp"]http://www.musicolog.com/violadagamba.asp[/url]

Halfwounds are a bit sticky when they first go on the bass. They do become more slippery as they are played in. I have a new set of D'Addario halfs on one bass that are just beginning to loose their stickiness after a few weeks. The old set of halfs on my Jazz are as slippery as flats now. Give them lots of playing and they should improve. I'd be interested to know if fast fret helps (or anything else for that matter).

I have no experience of using one myself but here is a clip of Dutch bass player using an electric model. Solo at 2.57. [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fer9U3IT0T4"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fer9U3IT0T4[/url]

[url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/179827-tokai-jazz-upgrade/"]Here's[/url] my lovely Tokai defretted Jazz which is just back from an upgrade, in Build Diaries.

Thanks, and to think it sat doing not a lot for years.

I stopped getting involved in Off Topic some time ago, not why I joined Basschat, and that has kept my morale up no end.

Just thought I'd post this as it has turned out so well. Earlier this year I had my Tokai Jazz Sound bass set up properly by [url="http://www.mcintyreguitars.com/"]Chris McIntyre[/url] in Edinburgh. He transformed the bass completely with that simple set up. I had the frets removed in the late 80s and simply filled the fret lines with wood filler. Very amateurish job on my part not knowing what I was doing. Didn't have the 'luxury' of the internet at that time. There were still some buzzes on the fingerboard after the setup so I decided to spend a bit of money on it. I took it back to Chris who cleaned out all the old wood filler and used a 3/4 white veneer plus some black resin to fill the other 1/4 of the lines. That has turned out really well and the fingerboard is so smooth to play now. Next was the installation of a John East J-Retro preamp. This just makes the bass sound monstrous when I want it to. Chris routed out a battery hole under the pick guard so no need for other compartment. Lots of useful knobs and switches. Another setup and all these changes have transformed this bass into a great player which is a lot more versatile than it was before. The oldest bass I have and now being played more than ever.

And what happened to the basses they used to be attached to? Or is this someone stockpiling for 50 years just to corner the market?