neepheid

[quote name='Ou7shined' post='1260887' date='Jun 8 2011, 10:41 AM']Could have saved myself a post if I'd seen this. Second part : I suspect you've been listening to your tutor (or someone else banging on about your technique) too much Matt. This new negative thing about what Johnny Punter thinks (or not) about your tone is pish. The assumption that no one listening to you is a bass or indeed a music fan is bad - ok the percentage won't be high but there will be some punters out there who can tell a good sound when they hear it... do it for them/us. Also there's the science bit (which I'm sure is what you got off on to start with) it's not just about "upgrading" it's about exploring the possibilities and learning the limits of your instrument. Like you did with your Les Paul - in your quest for excellence you've modded it out of it's own price bracket but you did it, it was fun and you learned stuff. Cheer up bud. [/sermon] btw - I've turned many an apple into, not an orange but a peach. [/quote] Was the fruitless pun really that bad? Perhaps my irritation at the first part spilled over into the second bit, but I will say that I'm definitely feeling a shift away from modding and piddling around and more time spent actually playing the bass. You are right that efforts should continue to be made to make sure one sounds as good as one can given the usual constraints of house backline and not being in control of your FOH sound. GIGO is as applicable to the sound source as the player after all. I still think that I have spent more time in my formative bass years piddling around with pickups, preamps and wires than actually playing the damn basses, and I think that balance needs to be restored by not putting basses under drill presses for a while The trend is away from modded basses in my collection also - once the Les Paul goes, the L-2000 will be the only modded bass I have, and that mod is as subtle as it is reversible and optional - as an elegant mod should be, of course. Of course, the house of "under-appreciated basses from the 70s and 80s" will continue to expand Where's that El Toro?

[quote name='Jakester' post='1260672' date='Jun 8 2011, 07:38 AM']Couldn't you have the s/c mod carried out on the L2000 and run inner/inner coils on the two humbuckers, which might get it closer to the MM location?[/quote] Done it, doesn't work (not that I was trying to make it sound like a Stingray per se, but an opportunity arose to A-B it with a Stingray and just simply, no.). It just sounds (slightly) different to the parallel setting. Additional: I am becoming disillusioned with the desire to make basses sound just like other basses. My L-2000 sounds like ... an L-2000. Additionally, it sounds like ... a bass. It's getting to the stage that as long as it sounds like a bass, I'm happy. I think my priorities have shifted thus: 1) neck must feel nice to play 2) sound (as long as it's got a "good" sound (as defined by me - a bit of character, a bit of grit, plenty bass (duh!), if it sounds assured and authoritative through my 30W practice amp then I'm happy) and 3) appearance. To be honest, I'm getting really tired of this pointless obsession with tonal micro-differences. Johnny Punter won't notice, and I've come to the conclusion that my time would be much better spent improving my technique than ripping basses to bits and making pickup/wiring changes in a fruitless quest to turn an apple into an orange. Don't flame me, it's only an opinion.

[quote name='Ou7shined' post='1260145' date='Jun 7 2011, 07:39 PM']But you've seen it you wally. [/quote] I am speaking for the masses, you secretive so-and-so

[quote name='Ou7shined' post='1259939' date='Jun 7 2011, 05:12 PM']Haha. Mine's Surf Green (it really is). [/quote] Pics, or it never happened

[quote name='paul h' post='1259719' date='Jun 7 2011, 02:24 PM']I had a Shine 6 string which was a really good bass. Great tone and really low action. It was incredibly heavy though and [b]the nut was apparently made out of butter[/b].[/quote] That's a good thing, playing like butter, isn't it?

Nothing jumping out at me. He mentions that the pickguard is a custom addition. The post '87 Thunderbird has a smaller headstock than before, black hardware, smaller tuners. TRC logo looks gold to me. Serial number is in the right place along with "Made in USA" stamped underneath, although I can't read the serial because of the flash. See [url="http://www.flyguitars.com/gibson/bass/Thunderbird_1987.php"]http://www.flyguitars.com/gibson/bass/Thunderbird_1987.php[/url]

Similar advice here. Wait for the right opportunity with decent people playing songs you actually like. In the meantime, get some lessons, take some time out, give your bass(es) a good clean and check the setup etc. My old band broke up in August last year and I only dabbled in 3 gigs between then and the end of the year, then I embarked on some lessons, and I'm hoping to join a band soon (got the rehearsal/audition on Thursday). So that's the best part of a year out of being in a band.

[quote name='MatthewKeys' post='1258347' date='Jun 6 2011, 01:32 PM']Hey Basically, my mexican fender jazz and my mexican fender precision are in dire need of a set up! Does anyone know anywhere good in Maidstone (or very close to) where I can get an awesome set up on my bass for a reasonable price? Thanks! [/quote] How about - your house, free? Learn how to set up your basses, there are plenty of guides out there. I wouldn't send any of my basses to anyone now. I know what I want and I've learned how to get it. Only the truss rod needs careful, patient work. You can't really break anything by raising/lowering a bridge saddle or two.

Oh dear

I bought one of these as my first bass amp about 8 years ago and I still use it! Perfectly acceptable amp for practising, got the line in for MP3 player/laptop/whatever. Only one corner missing on mine though, not quite as rock and roll as this one

[quote name='Acebassmusic' post='1256627' date='Jun 4 2011, 04:38 PM']Yip Indeed it is me - that you Matt? What are you modding at the moment (I know you have a fetish for that sort of thing....lol)?[/quote] Aye, it's me. I'm in the middle of trying to make a headless Thunderbird but I've lost interest in it for the moment - too busy with lessons and getting up to speed for a band I'm hoping to join soon.

[quote name='Acebassmusic' post='1256517' date='Jun 4 2011, 02:56 PM']Hi All, After many years of lurking, reading and getting lots of good info from the forum I thought it was about time I signed up and contributed back. Currently living and working in Aberdeen I've put together a local covers band ( [url="http://Groovecruise.co.uk"]Groove Cruise[/url] ) who play approx 25 gigs a year. I got my first "real" bass 29 years ago (OMG!!!) a Kay bass in the shape of a Les Paul. Even starting on that bass didn't deter me from learning! Various bouts of GAS have seen some very nice (and some not so nice) basses come and go. Having a wonderful wife who has actively encouraged me on several occasions to buy basses still amazes me! At some point I'll try and put up piccies of some of the ones I've owned and also ones I'm using at the moment. Hopefully I will be able to contribute to threads and payback some of the invaluable help the site has given me in the past.[/quote] Fit like, Mike?

[quote name='Cygnus x-1' post='1255394' date='Jun 3 2011, 01:11 PM']Hi, i'm looking for a Precision type 4 stringer BUT with a 1.5 in. nut width i.e. jazz width, my budget is £700 max, so the only contender I can find is the Fender deluxe active P. I would probably prefere passive given a choice. So, does anyone have any opinions or experiance of this bass either good or bad, or can anybody think of any alteratives within my budget with P style body/ jazz width neck. I think Lakland may do one in their Skyline range, but I can't find one for sale or the price, any help appreciated, cheers.[/quote] The G&L Tribute SB-2 has a Jazz width nut. Passive PJ.

[quote name='The Bass Doc' post='1254353' date='Jun 2 2011, 06:04 PM']I agree, I knew of two people in the late sixties who dug out the clay dots on their pre-CBS stratocasters and replaced them with pearl so as to look more 'up-to-date'. Around 1970 I actually carved a hole out of a 1962 Jazz bass to add a Gibson EBO pickup in the neck position - stereo wired. It's only now that I give myself the 'Twit' label.[/quote] Hindsight is 20/20, right?

It's simply because no-one ever buys anything on this forum, right Tim?

+1 for lessons. I've been having them for a month or two now and it's really helped to push me on. Hadn't played a gig since December and was flagging. Having goals to work towards and having a reason to practice (as well as betterment other reasons like not to wasting the tutor's time and my money spring to mind ) have really spurred me on again. Got a rehearsal/audition/jam with a new band next Thursday, really looking forward to it. Onwards and upwards!

My first and current head is a Harke HA3500. It sits on an Ashdown ABM 4x10, which apart from being a bit of a huff and a puff to get it moved around/lifted on stage has been a great partner to it. I've been more than happy with this setup, it has got compliments from other players when I've shared my rig at gigs. Hartke (and whoever are handling their UK operations) are cool with me because I got my 3500 second hand and it was missing a knob. They sent me one FOC. Great service.

"you won't find another one like it" Good, one's bad enough!