Kiwi

These were the first 5 strings to be widely endorsed. I can remember all sorts of bassists playing them in the mid 80's as an alternative to Steinbergers. How is the string spacing? It always looked a bit narrow. But its an instrument I've always had respect for. Huge warmth and growl.

If you saw the front of the guitar off, you'll have really good blow torch access.

[quote name='silverfoxnik' timestamp='1408208838' post='2528118'] Good suggestion about the Jam Room, Steve.. We'll have to do something about that. [/quote] I was thinking it might be worth doing in the Main Hall, Nik.

Generally, electronic upgrades will deliver one of two benefits: 1) They'll give you more control over which frequencies are emphasised before the signal hits your amp 2) They'll reproduce more faithfully whatever response the pickups are putting out. This is where headroom becomes important. Some bass manufacturers have fitted circuits to their instruments that colour the sound using fixed frequency boosts. I couldn't tell you who they were however although I have a few hunches. Re: Alembic electronics, it depends on the upgrade. Alembic offer a single filter wiring loom along with sets of their aviator pickups and I have a set fitted to my Pedulla Pentabuzz. What you can expect is very hifi frequency response. I'm not so keen on the filter as it only allows control over treble, not bass. There have been times when I would have liked to dial up the bass a little. If you want to go down the Series II or I route, the electronics from Alembic direct cost a small fortune. There is a company on fleabay called Boogieman who manufacture and offer retrofit electronics for Alembic basses that offer similar functions to the series circuit but caveat emptor there. Again the filters in the series circuit don't offer a lot of control over bass frequencies.

Count me in but what I bring will depend on whether my kit from NZ arrives in time. If it doesn't then I'll be bringing some short scale six string piccolo basses and probably spending my time in the jamming room. Great venue BTW. It might be worth setting up a middle row (and power points) in the room as I recall space around the sides was a little tight last time.

Ped and I both owned an Alembic Elan 6, not only did it weigh a ton but it was the darkest sounding bass I've ever heard. Huge lows and only a begrudging amount of attack - the string spacing was a little tight IIRC. They don't come up very often but may be worth a look?

I agree its black magic - pretty much every single aspect of construction has some impact on the sound of a pick up to a greater or lesser degree. The black magic part comes in the knowledge of how those aspects interact. I don't buy pickups off the shelf any more though, all of mine for the last 6 years have been custom made by either Wizard or Armstrong. The great thing about Armstrong is that they already make pickups for so many other manufacturers so all I have to do is say 'I want something that sounds like XXX bass' and they'll know exactly what I'm after.

Peavey made some incredible basses in the 80's and 90's - let down by awful pickups. The Jeff Berlin model is a little cracker and like hens teeth now, the Rudy Sarzo model they made is fabulously easy to play too (in fact if they'd ever offered that as a 5 string my gas may cured sooner).

My EBS Combo 60 has proven to be well worth its purchase price. Tilt back feature is very handy too.

[quote name='flyfisher' timestamp='1407233881' post='2518521'] Yeah, but that was when 6d was really worth something and you could buy a house, a new car, a new bass and full rig and still have change to take the missus out to the cinema with a slap-up meal afterwards. Ah, the good old days. [/quote] Lllllllllllluxury!!

About as growly as a stingray - depends on who is playing it.

Imagine being one of the security at that gig. All night, you'd have to keep your back turned to the stage...

[quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1407247281' post='2518719'] Why are you asking us? Surely that's a part of what you are paying your luthier for - to advise you on the best way to get the sound, feel and look that you are after. IMO if your luthier isn't doing this for you, then you have the wrong one. [/quote] Its more than just a luthier, its also what kind of wood they have in stock. My Spectors are also growly but because they use soft maple. The maple that Jon Shuker uses is too stiff to be growly without a healthy dose of wenge. The maple is almost like graphite. Dood's headless 6 sounds nice and growly though. Martin Petersen makes some amazing wenge and maple necks. Urb's bass has exactly the kind of growl I've been looking for. The Yamaha BBNEII Is also very growly but has a 5 piece maple and mahogany through neck and alder wings. Old Musicman Stingrays are super growly and some of the SR5s from the late 80's and early 90's are very growly too - maple neck and ash body. Each bass is its own recipe and has its own flavour of growl. The Yamaha is very soft and purry, the Spectors are a little barky and the stingray has an aggressive snarl.

Welcome to the club

This is one of mine - a second Yamaha MSG deluxe in cherry burst. I've commissioned a set of PAF's from Aaron Armstrong that do jazz archtop and tele tones for one of them. [attachment=167064:DSC_0110~2~2.jpg]

I'm surprised that listing is still up.

They are a great bass - more refined than a bog standard stingray and possibly even better built . They have fantastic, if somewhat squarish necks. I only sold mine as I didn't get on with the body shape.

IME it's sensitivity...which is admittedly ironic for an instrument that requires the proverbial being beaten out of it. Perhaps explains why good 'uns are so rare...?

100w would probably be a better choice if cleans are desired.

This is one of those frustrating questions that I used to know the answer to but have since forgotten. I know it isn't any of the above but the brand was sort of emerging as an alternative to Avella Copollo at the time things started going pear shaped for them. I believe Paul thingy from Jamiroquai was playing one as well for a short time.