neepheid

[quote name='Ou7shined' post='1246933' date='May 27 2011, 12:21 PM']But which is better?[/quote] I have to say that the Telebass humbucker would win most things in a game of Top Trumps

or I would say there aren't much more different pickups than these two which have been fitted to the same type of bass during a production run

Mmm, surf green is just all kinds of good.

Probably done this before but - Epiphone EB-3

[quote name='Gunsfreddy2003' post='1243482' date='May 24 2011, 09:16 PM']The point here though is that when you look at the pics it is obvious that the bass has done some work, which is to be expected, but did that guy really have to bother to e-mail the seller to complain?? Some people must have more time on their hands than me!!![/quote] The point is it's a barefaced lie.

[quote name='ZMech' post='1243943' date='May 25 2011, 09:53 AM']I think there's a bit of a diminishing returns thing. The difference between a £50 and £500 bass will be bigger than that between a £500 and £5000 bass. The more expensive ones will have better build quality, and ultimately sound that bit better, but it still comes down to how you EQ it. Think i'll stick to my one mid-range bass Of course, we'd all see a bigger improvement in our sound if we spent as much time practising as we do browsing the For Sale section [/quote] Agree on both points (especially the second). I feel that I've reached a price point in my gear collecting where I can't/don't/won't see the benefit of spending more. Prime example is the G&L Tribute L-2000. What's the point in getting a USA G&L? Same pickups, the Tribute is already pretty well screwed together, looks quite nice anyway, maybe a little heavy, but does a slight aesthetic improvement (nicer ash grain, more colour choices, the possibility of binding), perhaps a slightly lighter body, and tuners stamped with G&L along with the ALL IMPORTANT LOGO on the headstock really justify a doubling in price? Not for me, because there isn't a corresponding doubling in quality as perceived by me. Yes, I have played a USA L-2000 (in fact it was one at the Moffat bash which started me off on G&L basses in the first place) and while it was very nice and all, I'm glad I hedged my bets and sourced a Tribute - all the sound with a neck I like for half the cost.

[quote name='Gunsfreddy2003' post='1243104' date='May 24 2011, 04:12 PM']Yeah I guess so! I mean really who expects a 32 year old bass to be in mint condition?[/quote] If it's described as "mint" then I expect it to be "mint" - the age is irrelevant. You do get basses which have been forgotten in a shop stock room, or bought for someone who had no interest in bass then mothballed for years. Rare, but it can happen. But in short, I expect a 32 year old "mint condition" bass to be in "mint condition". I'm quite the pedant that way.

[quote name='Ou7shined' post='1242256' date='May 23 2011, 09:14 PM']Hahaha. Just saw this and couldn't help posting. We're currently at 3.... and counting. [/quote] Hahaha, just you take advantage of the wiggle room in that statement. I was talking specifically about the Gibson version of this particular bass, but I didn't make that clear, oops. So, yeah, chuckle away, as it does appear on the face of it to be a delicious irony

Sorry, nothing to report - been really busy and not really motivated to do anything with it. Once I've done housey stuff like put up shelves, fit roller blinds and fit a Yale on my front door because my neighbours are loud, ignorant and keep dubious company, I don't really feel like attacking another bit of wood. Once things calm down a bit then I'll continue. The way I see it, I've got until the next Moffat bash to complete it

[quote name='lobematt' post='1237085' date='May 19 2011, 04:45 PM']Anyone got any before and after pics of refins they've done?[/quote] I can't take the credit for this (apart from doing the boring bits of removing old finish) - this is Ou7shined's (Rich) work: Before: During: After: You can see the whole story here if you haven't seen it already: [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=93207"]http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=93207[/url] Rich did an amazing job, a high quality finish way beyond anything I could achieve. The metallic finish is wonderfully subtle - exactly as I requested (I didn't want a showy, glittery bass) and all for a (what I consider to be) a very reasonable price.

Hercules stand - get the one with the fold up back support rather than the padded legs - the GS412B not the GS414B. It will hang from the headstock with the auto grip and the shape of the bottom edge is irrelevant.

[quote name='Johnston' post='1238327' date='May 20 2011, 04:03 PM']Is there any quality difference between a [size=4]Fender[/size] [size=1]by Squier[/size] JV or a[size=4] Squier[/size] [size=1]by Fender[/size] JV [b]Or is it just people with half the info pushing prices up?[/b][/quote] Isn't that what always happens, regardless of brand?

[quote name='Machines' post='1238295' date='May 20 2011, 03:40 PM']I can't think of any basses that actually do have active pickups, just preamps.[/quote] Any bass fitted with EMGs (plain or X series not Select/HZ)?

You say you prefer your Fenders. Seeing as you're looking to spend a bit more than what is required to secure a Squier Bronco Fender's current short scale offerings are limited to the CIJ Mustang. Historically speaking, Mustangs do go back a fair way if you'd prefer to look for a USA made model (1966-1981). There was the Musicmaster, but it was Fender's budget instrument at the time (uses a 6 pole Strat pickup under a solid cover amongst the cost saving) and as such I would suggest that the Mustang is a superior instrument. However - the discontinued Squier Musicmaster (Vista Series) is a surprisingly much improved reissue of the original Musicmaster with a proper bass pickup (like with 4 pole pieces over which the strings actually traverse), through body stringing and matching colour on the headstock. Other Fender short scale oddities (good luck finding them) would be the hollow Coronado and the short scale Bullet Bass.

[quote name='Ancient Mariner' post='1237629' date='May 20 2011, 12:39 AM']Sounded great - really punchy and growly - but weighs a ton since it appears to be made of solid maple. If anyone's interested I'll try to take some pics later.[/quote] As the proud owner of a solid maple Gibson Victory Artist, I can sympathise. It's a good 12lb I reckon.

I had a DeArmond Starfire for a while (Korean made reissue of Guild) - I quite liked it, but in the end the short scale made it feel a bit weird to me. It had a nice woody tone to it and was nice to play. I took it on as a repair job (the fingerboard was coming away from the neck) and while I successfully repaired that with a glue injection and a good clamping in the end I sold it on as I just wasn't playing it enough. I also had a Danelectro Hodad. These are hollow, despite their appearance. This one was regular 34" scale and I liked it a lot, played it live a couple of times, but an opportunity arose to increase my Gibson collection and this had to make way to help fund that. It would seem to me that your first narrowing down of the options should be a question of scale. A lot of hollow body basses are short scale, which may or may not be your bag. A lot of them are short scale - Gibson EB-2, Epiphone Rivoli, Guild/DeArmond Starfire, Hagstrom Viking, Danelectro Longhorn/other short scale. Long scales include the Gibson Les Paul Signature, Epiphone Jack Casady, Danelectro Hodad/other long scale, Lakland Hollowbody, Warwick Star, Spector Spectorcore, G&L ASAT Hollow etc.

[i]Jamais contente[/i]

[quote name='Lylodile' post='1235024' date='May 17 2011, 10:35 PM']I may be coming into possession of an aerodyne jazz bass soon . However, [b]I was wondering what options there are for replacing the bridge without routing the body[/b] (I am not a fan of the bits of bent tin fender seem to issue as standard). I heard the badass II's don't work because of the curved tops, but would other bridges work? I've been looking at hipshot type A bridges and Gotoh 201's. Would they fit fine?[/quote] The base plate has to be exactly the same size as the original if you don't want to do any routing or leave unsightly gaps. That severely restricts your options. The Wilkinson bridge with brass saddles MIGHT be close in dimensions but I don't know definitively: Otherwise, you either have a routing job ahead of you, or you accept what's on there - which despite all the negativity isn't the worst bridge in the world. You could have one of these: See, the 4 saddle Fender bridge now seems positively high tech!

[quote name='chipmunk_jr' post='1234504' date='May 17 2011, 04:20 PM']Every band you seem to see live, there bass players seem to play fenders. I've played a couple and I cant see what all the fuss is about???? Ive played much nicer basses for a lot less money.[/quote] I attended a band showcase last week and the basses used were a Traben Array, a Jaydee of some sort, an Ibanez and a Gibson SG. Not a Fender bass in sight. Quite surprising variety for such a small, geographically challenged city.

The best (scientifically speaking) way to find out if you're missing anything is to try it. Buy a "modern" bass (whatever that means to you), attend a bass bash and try some stuff out or go to a shop. Will it make you play any better? I doubt it - not directly anyway. A correct set up will make playing easier because you're expending less energy/time forcing the instrument to do what you want but it's up to you to translate that into better playing. It's all in the set up to be honest. Unless the instrument is a duffer or your ergonomic requirements are particularly esoteric then it can be set up to accommodate you. Of course, spending lots of pennies on a bass will have you believing it's the best thing ever, but if it isn't the best thing ever then the truth will eventually become apparent. I don't think age of instrument has hee haw to do with anything, it's either well made or it isn't. Assuming it is well made then it's either well set up (for you) or it isn't. Also don't get hung up on "stigma". I play Gibson basses. I play them because I like them. Deep down I think part of the attraction is that not many people care for them. Keeps the prices down if nothing else If I cared what other people think because I play basses made by the pariah of the bass world, I'd never leave the house with one (or admit to owning one, never mind three (and a half if you count the Epi LP)). All the haters, while entitled to their opinion, can jog on. Looks of course are completely up to the individual. I doubt you'll catch me with a Big Al, tempting though the 3 pickup madness is

+1 for the ER-20 plugs. If you can't afford the full on moulded ones, these are far and away the next best thing - vastly superior to foam plugs in their attenuation properties. They last longer than foam plugs (you can clean them). They often come with a wee case and a cord to hang them round your neck when you're not wearing them. For less than a tenner, you really can't go wrong.