Kiwi

[quote name='eude' post='360728' date='Dec 22 2008, 09:53 AM']Don't suppose you clocked an all black Jazz Bass while you where there did you?... Cheers, Eude[/quote] No I didn't mate, sorry. I only had 45mins there and couldn't really hang around.

[quote name='SisterAbdullahX' post='360036' date='Dec 21 2008, 03:30 AM']Which preamp did you use?[/quote] IIRC it was a Summit. I didn't really get a chance to try it out with another preamp. I've played an Avalon too and found that quite sweet as well. I would have liked to have tried something solid state just as a benchmark, in an ideal world.

[quote name='Ant' post='360282' date='Dec 21 2008, 03:50 PM']that looks awesome, did you see any other basses while you were there?[/quote] Jon showed me a few necks including one he's building for a bass for the bloke in the Kaiser Chiefs apparently. I also picked up Veil's 5 string and tested it for ergonomics and weight. Its a very nice instrument, medium light and feels very comfortable. I'd be very happy with it if it was mine I also had a go on the daphne blue jazz bass that Jon has on the Shuker home page. I didn't quite know what to make of it, the instrument was definitely not jazz sounding. The midrange was full and very solid and not at all scooped. I wondered whether the pickups were in phase with one another instead of out of phase like on most jazz basses. I think I'll have to talk to Jon some more about how he's set the electrics up. I also tried a single cut headless 5 that he's very happy with and that had Jon's typically solid mids/lower mids. Jon is also building me a headless guitar with some Steinberger parts I'd scored off Ebay and a Fernandes Sustainer. I'd left the body up to him to design but said I liked his standard body shapes.

The neck profile is based on my Smith 6 and its a load more shallow than the Spector (which I'm actually more used to now because I play it exclusively apart from a 4 string). I'm all for the idea of getting used to one bass now, I've found switching instruments too often screws up my muscle memory and it makes playing quickly a bit difficult. So I'm going to get used to one instrument for a while and see what happens.

OK, so Friday night I went up to Leeds via Peterborough and Mr Shukers place in the Peak District. Picture me leaving Jon's place after arriving late. I probably accepted too many offers to try various new basses he's made out and because I was late, I was hurtling through rain soaked back roads cross country trying to make up time on the satnav. (BTW don't get me started on the one-way system and bus/taxi gates in Sheffield city centre, my satnav couldn't cope and I may have been on the receiving end of a ticket). Finally made it to Leeds at 5:30pm and caught the van unloading as I arrived outside the Town Hall for a corporate gig. Incredible venue! Really elegant, such an impressive organ (fnar) and so much space on stage! Mewsie dropped by to say hello and to return my Pentabuzz and she stayed for the soundcheck. The acoustics were really appalling and the large stage presented us with monitoring issues (plus the guitar amp had apparently been left behind at Wednesdays gig that I didn't play) but it was an interesting experience. Not as many people stayed late, but the people who did seemed to enjoy themselves. The food was good (christmas dinner AND sandwiches AND drinks vouchers for the bar) and we even had help from the town hall staff with our load in and a security guard for our dressing room! Then yesterday we did Fawsley Hall out in the wopwops near Daventry. Very very remote venue but sumptiously laid out inside. We had an easy load in through double giant doors straight into the stage area. We set up, sound checked, and were down for doing three sets. We were all knackered after staying the night in Leeds but we managed to put out even more energy than for the Leeds gig! (How does that work out?!) The crowd were very entertaining with all sorts of oddly arhythmic but enthusiastic dancing styles and we had the bride and groom up on stage for Valerie (we do that if they are really nice people and the crowd are particularly appreciative). I played my ass off too, I pushed the boundaries of the songs a little bit by taking a few musical risks and they mostly paid off, at one point I could even feel a cheer go up from the crowd as I dug in a bit on the intro Shake Your Body Down and I pulled out all the stops on Think and just went for it. Bass was definitely boss last night . Tonight we're at a wedding in Westgate on Sea in Kent.

I went to see Jon on Friday on my way through to a Leeds gig and managed to get a few shots of the instrument. He still needs to deal with some blemishes and flatten back some overspray but I'll let the pictures speak for themselves.

I tried one out at Bassdirect (although it was a 310 I believe). It was a very nice sounding cab but I came to the conclusion that (with the preamp I had been using with it) the cab was almost too sweet sounding for live work.

He wasn't a junkie either, in fact his problems began when he STOPPED taking his medication. He was diagnosed manic depressive (although today that could just as well have been bipolar).

Assume its all going to go tits up from the start and there's nothing anyone can do about it. Then, if it doesn't, its a pleasant surprise. Works for me, at least. Helps me abdicate any sense of responsibility for my f-ups too. There a clip of me playing on youtube somewhere, we're doing The Conga and I come in 4 bars too early. A song I've played hundreds of times before and the one time its recorded for posterity I f*** it up. No abdicating that one!

We did a gig at a place in Sloane Square on Monday. It was a corporate do for a chain of hairdressers. Went OK, the punters were mostly young and I guess enjoyed themselves but I don't think we were cool enough for some and if we had been cool enough, we would have lost broader appeal. I dunno, it was a forgettable one probably apart from the MD's 'Christmas speech' which went something like "you've all done ok this year but there's a sh*t storm coming in the new year with the recession so lets be 'focussed'." Really cheered them up no end! Had to pack down and lug gear through the dancing and drunk too and narrowly missed clouting a couple of them. We have a triple bill this weekend with Leeds Friday night, Northampton on Saturday and Kent on Sunday. Speaking of which I need to get packing.

No bass in sight. Puts a different dimension on the whole man/myth thing surrounding him, I think.

[quote name='johnnylager' post='358279' date='Dec 18 2008, 09:04 PM']Get pissed, click BIN, feel sick, lie to wife, enjoy it when it arrives.[/quote] LOL, like THATS never happened.

I'd be looking for a 5 string P/J myself. Have a chat to Mr Shuker if you're not in a hurry and are looking for a relatively standard model. Wiring can be tweaked to give different results with different pickup settings.

[quote name='warwickhunt' post='357457' date='Dec 18 2008, 12:02 AM']Can I bring my Marmy?[/quote] [i]No Jaaaahn, you may NOT bring your marmy. This is about you and you alone, the presence of your mother would create an unnecessary distraction at this juncture. If you think she would require my assistance, I'm sure we can make some arrangements to fit her own session into my schedule. Besides which I don't recall that we established a strong link between your mother and your bass guitars. Perhaps this is something we should explore at a later date? Yours sincerely Dr Hannibal Specter.[/i]

[quote name='warwickhunt' post='357408' date='Dec 17 2008, 11:01 PM']What's that you say Doc, time is up. When can I book another session? [/quote] [i]Well Jaaaaahn I think we have a lotta issues to explore here. I'd like to book you in at your earliest convenience so we may continue our enlightening discussions. I'm thinking there maybe some unresolved issues concerning guilt and committment. Perhaps a dilemna between what you felt was the right thing to do and what you felt compelled to do. I mean Jaaaahn, lets face it, you've known this instrument intimately for 15 years and then you let it go. Perhaps you're still seeking closure Jaaaahn, perhaps you feel a little guilty about the way in which you let this instrument go so easily? Please speak to my secretary on your way out and we'll fit you in for dinner sometime next week... ...look forward to seeing you soon![/i]

[quote name='warwickhunt' post='357364' date='Dec 17 2008, 09:50 PM']Actually this talking lark IS quite therapeutic, MAYBE I'm pursuing another alternative bass so vehemently BECAUSE I've just sold one of my main gigging basses, feck knows why as I'm more than happy with the tone of the alternative I have. I do know that one remedy will be a full band diary![/quote] Did you fancy a change of bass playing scenery perhaps?

[quote name='warwickhunt' post='357345' date='Dec 17 2008, 09:22 PM']I'm chasing this around in circles; where's Peter with his therapy talk when you need him? [/quote] Well I've tried to have a specific purpose for each bass in my collection and its worked for me. Each bass has a purpose or a role. Even if I am just clear about the fact that I've 'collected' it, and its an indulgence.

[quote name='warwickhunt' post='357317' date='Dec 17 2008, 08:41 PM']You may well be right Peter... again I keep searching for something that is going to knock my socks off in comparison to my Streamer and/or Infinette[/quote] FWIW, if I purchased any bass with that expectation, I would probably be setting myself up for disappointment. In terms of playability there's probably not a lot in it between the two IMO. In terms of sound, the Spectors are probably more aggressive sounding. Whether thats a good or a bad thing probably depends on the context. Its probably best to view the bass as a tool with a certain tonal character. What you do with that tool obviously is up to you.

I've just installed a set of titanium alloy strings by Olympia with some interesting first impressions. The strings do appear to be a little lighter in mass and more supple than stainless steel equivalents by D'Addario. I like this, and I'd imagine its a slappers dream. The only difference tonally is that the fret clatter is at a slightly lower frequency and has slightly less sparkle. Nothing necessarily bad with that at all unless I was looking to do a Marcus Miller impersonation. Lets see how long they last for...

[quote name='niceguyhomer' post='356628' date='Dec 17 2008, 08:26 AM']Thanks for that Steve, also considering an ACG 02 but, being a complete technophobe, I find them a bit complex to use. Gonna try Greene King's ACG loaded posse on Friday before our Kendal gig - I'll make my mind up then. [/quote] I think having some extra control with a midrange sweep of some kind is definitely a good thing. I haven't tried the AGC 02 myself but I'm quite happy with the U-retro.

[quote name='niceguyhomer' post='356171' date='Dec 16 2008, 05:01 PM']I'm probably gonna stick the EMG BQC system in my Euro LX after reading the"Tone Dump" thread on Talkbass - some good sound clips on there too.[/quote] Al, I had one in a Warwick Rock Bass and found the bass boost was lacking a little. That might say more about the pickups and bass more than the circuit but I thought I'd just chuck it into the mix. [quote name='dub_junkie' post='356173' date='Dec 16 2008, 05:02 PM']Anyone able to compare an Aguilar against the Tonepump in a EURO? ( I believe some of the Euros shipped with Aguilar preamps) I like the OBP1 in one of my other basses and wonder how it sounds with EMGs compared to the spector preamp[/quote] The Aguilar OBP-1 and 3 I have had in my jazz basses sounds a little scooped, it might work quite well with taming the Spector's rawness but I couldn't speculate whether it would be an improvement to my ears.

[quote name='Josh' post='356141' date='Dec 16 2008, 04:40 PM']Hmm, well hold on, both me and Steve play/played High-End Boutique basses, and you yourself have a few GB's, Steve played Ken Smiths and I play an MTD, all which have a very Hi-Fi and crisp tone. So really, I'd just like to be able to have a bass of cheaper value but sounds almost as Hi-Fi.[/quote] I think the Spector I have is a better live bass than the Smiths (both the 5 and 6 I had). The Spector has more midrange thanks to all that maple in the neck and that makes it easier to sit the bass within the overall mix onstage. That also means I can hear myself without turning the amp up so far. Having said that, the sound man misses the chest thumping bass that the Smith produced. (I guess we can't have everything with an all maple necked instrument). [quote name='Mike Brooks' post='356145' date='Dec 16 2008, 04:41 PM']I was pulling your legs.......[/quote] I know mate.

[quote name='Josh' post='356125' date='Dec 16 2008, 04:29 PM']I'm kind of with Steve on this one. Whilst the core tone of my Spector is great, I personally would like to have a more Hi-Fi esque edge to the treble whereas I find the treble as it is quite harsh, also, I'd like to be able to control the overall mids and have just one master volume. I am seriously considering a EMG BQC system to see if that helps, maybe you should look into it as well Steve?[/quote] Yeaaah, thing is I have installed a u retro in my Euro 6 already. Of course because its transparent, it hasn't really changed the character of the pickups that significantly. When I have some spare cash, I'm half tempted to email Reinhardt at Delano and see if they can pop some SBC coils into soapbar covers but it's not a high priority on my list at the moment though. When I play live, the u-retro does a good enough job of taming the gnarliness with its sweep control set to cut and dialled in. Blimey I had to play an extremely dark stage last night and got lost on the first 8 bars of the first song of the first set! Some neck LED's would have been realllllly useful at that point! :blush: