BassBus

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?

[quote name='Twigman' timestamp='1340408986' post='1704285'] [url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Original-Vintage-P1965-1966-Fender-Jazz-Precision-Bass-Guitar-Thumb-Rest-/140761667778?_trksid=p4340.m185&_trkparms=algo%3DDLSL%252BSIC.NPJS%26its%3DI%26itu%3DUCI%252BUA%26otn%3D10%26pmod%3D150840789260%252B150840789260%26po%3D%26ps%3D63%26clkid%3D101425799417088307"]http://www.ebay.co.u...425799417088307[/url] [url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Original-Vintage-Pre-CBS-1962-Fender-Jazz-Precision-Bass-Guitar-Thumb-Rest-/130705414938?pt=Guitar_Accessories&hash=item1e6ea65b1a"]http://www.ebay.co.u...=item1e6ea65b1a[/url] [url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Original-Vintage-1960-1961-1962-Pre-CBS-Fender-Jazz-Precision-Bass-Thumb-Rest-/140774988106?pt=Guitar_Accessories&hash=item20c6d7d94a"]http://www.ebay.co.u...=item20c6d7d94a[/url] [url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Original-Vintage-Pre-CBS-1963-Fender-Jazz-Precision-Bass-Guitar-Thumb-Rest-/140774989772?pt=Guitar_Accessories&hash=item20c6d7dfcc"]http://www.ebay.co.u...=item20c6d7dfcc[/url] [url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Original-Vintage-Pre-CBS-1964-Fender-Jazz-Precision-Bass-Guitar-Thumb-Rest-/130713193017?pt=Guitar_Accessories&hash=item1e6f1d0a39"]http://www.ebay.co.u...=item1e6f1d0a39[/url] [/quote] But the fourth and fifth ones come with a free hand. Good value.

Mighty fine playing.

I would generally work with a bridge placed mag pup. However, as I have discovered recently the positioning of that pickup is critical. My Status fretless basses have the mag about one centimetre from the bridge. On the other hand my Tokai jazz has the pickup place in the '60s position about five or six centimetres from the bridge. That extra distance keeps the tightness from the back position but gives a lot more body to the sound. As always it comes down to personal taste.

I saw this yesterday. And they have the cheek to try and get that price.

I currently have a set of Flexocors on my CR4M. They are a 4/4 set strung through to the back plate. As moonbass says there can be some issues with certain 'real' DB strings. Some 3/4 sets are too short. I tried a set of Spirocores on and didn't get beyond the G. Too short. Luckily there was still enough to use on my DB. If you want to try DB strings check the speaking length, so the silks don't cross the nut or the bridge. I have also used Belcantos which sounded good too. I haven't tried the NS strings so can't comment on them. However, 'real' DB strings really do help the sound of the instrument.

[quote name='pete.young' timestamp='1339856745' post='1695485'] GK3B is not Midi. You would need to fit something like a hexpander to it. [/quote] ...which is why I originally suggested the GR-55 which does away with the need for any in between box and gives you all the samples and synth sounds you need.

Thank you plunkbucket.

Link?

It's hard to say as they don't come up often. I've had a look around on Statii.com and a few have been around in the past few years. Prices ranged widely from £375-£1100. I doubt you would get £1100 but it might be worth your while starting around £600-700. You might have to try and sell for less though.

If I follow you correctly, Scott Devine has just posted his secret way around this. [url="http://www.scottdevinemusic.com/how-to-make-your-4-string-sound-like-a-5-string"]http://www.scottdevinemusic.com/how-to-make-your-4-string-sound-like-a-5-string[/url]