BigRedX

From what I've seen, the Gizmotron 2 is a massive step forward from the original model. However IMO it still suffers the problem from being too inclusive when it come to the range of guitars and basses they can be fitted to. The thing that puts me off more than anything else is the complexity of the installation. The original prototype Gizmo from the 1970s was a far more elegant and much less obtrusive device, because it was built directly onto the bridge of Lol Creme's Strat and seemed to work much better than the Mk1 production model. I'm sure they could make a far better device if they built it directly onto a replacement bridge (Strat and Tune-o-matic for guitar and Fender BBOT for the bass) rather than trying to shoe-horn it onto just about any bass or guitar. Edit: And yes it has been pretty much replaced by affordable keyboard synths, but IMO there is still a use for the Gizmotron. It's a lot more "playable" than a guitar or bass driven synth.

[quote name='uk_lefty' timestamp='1487072965' post='3236713'] I wore two watches at my last gig. On the same wrist. What does that mean?!?!?! [/quote] Why? Who needs to know what time it is when you are on stage?

[quote name='Happy Jack' timestamp='1487000842' post='3236157'] I'm guessing that cufflinks and a tie-clip are right out then? [/quote] If they are part of the band image then a suitable matching pocket watch is going to be OK. Just no horrible wrist weight masquerading as a timepiece.

[quote name='Musicman20' timestamp='1487072431' post='3236701'] I wasn't that bothered either way until I bought the Flea Jazz Bass. Even my Dad, who doesn't play, thought it looked really unique. [/quote] But IIRC the "wear" pattern is exactly the same on all the Flea Jazz Basses which doesn't makes them unique at all ;-)

[quote name='markstuk' timestamp='1487021968' post='3236368'] Never seen the point. Age and wear = mojo. Relicing does not confer mojo.. [/quote] IMO age and wear = time for a refinish.

[quote name='hubrad' timestamp='1487066215' post='3236628'] It's not just weight; balance plays a major role. I have a 13 pounds(!) swamp ash Overwater that balances beautifully. That lives with a Mono Betty strap, no problems. [/quote] IME balance is a far more important factor than weight alone. A well balanced, but heavy bass can be made more comfortable with a suitable strap. I got on well with a Comfort Strapp. Other people do better with other brands. There are plenty mentioned in this thread already. You just need to try them to see which one works best for you. However a bass that doesn't balance well will never be comfortable to wear no matter how light it is or how thick and/or grippy your strap is.

CAR for the red. All Fender blues are horrible. Especially "sonic" blue - probably least sonic colour ever created.

I'd say no watches on stage at all - unless you're Flavor Flav!

There are still plenty of bargains on eBay provided that your tastes are not too mainstream.

[quote name='Joebethell' timestamp='1486817794' post='3234749'] I think the sonicstate live stuff with Gaz Williams has some good and bad points he is a bit chaotic but his linking ideas with lots of cheap(ish) tech to a midi bass shows potential and although you might not like his style or performance I find him and his reviews generally great. [/quote] But for me it pretty much defeats the object when the MIDI bass controller costs far more than all the synths he's driving with it put together. Plus he could have done everything far more effectively if the bass had been replaced by s simple £100 MIDI controller keyboard.

[quote name='Joebethell' timestamp='1486767712' post='3234521'] This shows mr Gas Williams from about 44mins in using his midi bass [url="https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=II5J46xAjhk"]https://m.youtube.co...h?v=II5J46xAjhk[/url] [/quote] That's the Industrial Radio model. And also possibly the worst advert for its tracking abilities that I have ever seen. Why is is that given a new set of sonic toys all of a sudden bass players become really crap guitarists? I didn't see/hear anything in that performance that couldn't have been done better by someone with a keyboard synth. He would also have had more success with his pedals if he'd been wearing some shoes! Edit: I was going to post a Little Dragon live video showing a far better demo of the IR MIDI Bass and it's performance capabilities, but it appears that they have stopped using it in favour of keyboard driven synths.

[quote name='Woodinblack' timestamp='1486759424' post='3234459'] Gretch guitars always had that sparkle stuff, and it is the same material as their drums are covered in. [url="http://www.gretschguitars.com/gear/build/solid-body/g6129t-59-vintage-select-59-silver-jet-with-bigsby-tv-jones-silver-sparkle"]http://www.gretschgu...-silver-sparkle[/url] [/quote] That looks like metal-flake paint rather than MoP.

[quote name='Ghost_Bass' timestamp='1486752168' post='3234394'] Looks great, yep i think it may be something like that but without the tile vibe. Think of drum kits, they're made of wood but have a mother of pearl layer on the outside, is that plastic glued on top? Where can one find it? [/quote] I think the guitar needs to be tiled, because it's an arch top. The drum shells only bend in one direction so it's a bit easier to do with a single piece.

[quote name='prowla' timestamp='1486750445' post='3234378'] I think it was triggering on fret contact, but not doing fixed pitch from there, as the bloke was doing vibrato. [/quote] They are claiming a latency of 6.5 ms. There's no way you can do that without using the frets for pitch sensing. If it's been done properly then the fret position is used to determine the basic note and then the performance data is derived from the change in pitch of the actual string - bends vibrato etc, just like you would on a keyboard synth. Having looked at the video again, they are going to need to have a re-think about the connectors used for MIDI if they want people to use this outside of the studio. IME neither 5-pin DIN or USB connectors are robust enough to be used live, plus the slightest misconnection can result in stuck notes and performance data not resetting, none of which are things that you want during a performance. If they are going to keep these, then I hope there's a nice big easily accessible "all notes off, reset CC data" button somewhere on the bass, because you are going to need it.

[quote name='Roger2611' timestamp='1486750961' post='3234383'] [b][url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mj4of1kGhYs"]Heaven 17 - Party Fears Two (The Associates Cover) - YouTube[/url][/b] [/quote] Terrible.... I'm surprised that this hasn't been picked up for use in a TV ad. It has all the required features: needlessly slowed down lacklustre performance of an 80s classic.

[quote name='Andyjr1515' timestamp='1486598968' post='3233246'] Yes - the Cool Rails are relatively low output with a mids bias. [/quote] Can you post a link for the pickup you are intending to use? All the SD Cool Rails I can find say they have a mid-scoop which IMO isn't that useful on a bass. BTW that top looks fantastic!

Like this? [IMG]http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n249/BigRedX/soundgarden_04_zpszeapawtm.jpg[/IMG]

Personally I'd be cautious about using water on a lacquered fingerboard, as the slightest crack in the finish will allow it seep in and affect the wood underneath. That would include all the fret slots, because you can't guarantee that the finish has sealed all the gaps - especially on a factory made mass-produced instrument. Something like white spirit would be a far safer option.

It must be bloody cold in that workshop! Omg a more serious not I see it uses fret sensing technology, which IMO is the only practical way to do pitch to MIDI. However a video which only shows a couple of seconds of each mode does make me rather suspicious of how good the tracking and false note rejection actually is. On a more positive note looking at the price of the guitar version and comparing it with that of the Industrial Radio MIDI guitar, the bass version should be a lot more affordable than the IR MIDI bass.

This Mortal Coil - "Song To The Siren" The Sundays - "Wild Horses"

[quote name='Crawford13' timestamp='1486675653' post='3233828'] Ben Folds - Such great heights [/quote] No, no no! Go and sit on the naughty step and think about what you just wrote.

[quote name='Killstarz' timestamp='1486656324' post='3233611'] I never understood why folk wanted to emulate Flea's tone. It works in the Chilis but at least to my ears it's not what I'd ever consider a 'good' tone. I mean, like everything it's a personal taste thing, I just never liked it much. [/quote] That goes for any player's "tone". What makes it good is the way it works in the arrangement of the song. Wanting to emulate anyone else tone is a complete waste of time IMO unless the rest of your band sound like the rest of the band whose bass players tone you are trying to emulate.

[quote name='LayDownThaFunk' timestamp='1486597449' post='3233233'] Thought I would bump this thread - Tonight I auditioned for a band looking for a bass player. Audiiton went well and they asked me to join there and then. Tight band with some catchy tunes - but they have a gimmick. On stage they wear jodhpurs and riding boots. Okay, some bands like to stand out from the crowd but is this necessary?! Could be a double denim onesie so I guess it's not that bad... [/quote] If they say so then yes. Unfortunately IME musicians who can't get into the non-musical spirit of the band never really fit in and generally don'y last long.

[quote name='Andyjr1515' timestamp='1486593386' post='3233191'] Now that is very interesting . I have been looking at the SD cool rails neck pickup. A number of jazz players seem to rate them and it would fit with the fact that my string spacing at the pickup is likely to be non-standard. What rails did you try? I'm also looking to extend the bass strings to 26" and also fit flat wounds, again heading down the Jazz tone rout. It's an interesting project already [/quote] I don't know what the pickups were. Manne make their own rails picks, but the ones on my bass didn't look like any of the current models. Hopefully the SD Cool Rails will have a lower output and a less "rock guitar" tone that the ones on my bass had. I would suggest getting something that can be wired in series and parallel - I think mine would have benefitted from a parallel setting.

Regarding the pickup, IME what you choose to fit will very much depend on how the owner of the bass is intending to play it and what sort of amp he is going to be putting it through. My Manne piccolo bass had guitar hum buckers with rails rather than pole-pieces and IMO they were somewhat on the "hot" side for playing through my bass rig and getting a bass-type tone out of. As a 4-string guitar through my H&K Tube 50 guitar amp it sounded lovely, but I originally bought it so that I could do faux 8-string bass parts on recordings which would have weird things happening in them like the octave part not always exactly tracking the bass strings, so I was constantly fighting against the "guitar" tone of the pickups and the fact that they really wanted to be driving some pre-amp valves hard.