BigRedX

VCRs (at least ones in decent condition that have been used in a smoke-free environment) go for serious money on eBay. When I sold my TV and all the associated bits, the VCR fetched the most out of all of it and went for only slightly less than what I paid for it new.

[quote name='TheGreek' timestamp='1484596457' post='3216709'] Featured in BigRedX's thread on weird basses I believe.. [/quote] If it was, it wasn't posted by me, because I couldn't find any evidence that they were still being made when I was doing that thread. Having said that, this along with the Baz Extravaganza Punk Rock bass would be the only standard Fender designs I'd consider playing!

[quote name='EBS_freak' timestamp='1484604317' post='3216829'] Thats great if you can actually get to your amp... or don't want to manipulate the EQ mid song without going over to your amp. [/quote] I can always get to me amp no matter what the stage size. Plus mid-song I'm going to be to busy actually playing to be spending any time fiddling with the controls whether they are on my bass or at the amp. [quote name='EBS_freak' timestamp='1484604252' post='3216827'] You do realise that if you run them passive, the pickups are going straight to the jack or running with horribly wrong pot values? [/quote] Most basses that have an active/passive switch actually have passive volume and pickup blend controls, only the EQ is active and that becomes disabled in passive mode.

Unless the controls on your bass do something very different such as the filter EQ of the Wal or ACG, or they allow you to EQ each pickup separately, I really can't see the point as all they do is duplicate what you should already have available on your amp.

[quote name='Woodinblack' timestamp='1484512161' post='3216028'] Has anyone got one of these: [url="https://www.thomann.de/gb/harley_benton_guitarbass_vs_vintage_series.htm"]https://www.thomann....tage_series.htm[/url] Its basically the Harley Benton version of the Bass VI. I got a new bass VI (S/H) just before christmas, as it was cheap and I thought I missed the old one I traded on here, but getting it back I realise the issues I had with it before so I probably won't really keep it long. I wondered that with this having a fixed tail, that might fix some of those issues. [/quote] As an owner of a Squier Bass VI that HB version has some plus and minus points... Plus. With the slightly wider neck (42mm nut as opposed to 40mm on the Squier), it might turn out to be a bit more playable for people who aren't already used to the very narrow Fender guitar necks. I'd certainly welcome it, although TBH I'd prefer it to be a couple more mm wider still. Minus. Pickup switching doesn't look as versatile as the Squier VI, especially considering that I'm currently favouring the bridge and neck pucks together as my go-to tone. Also theres on "strangle switch" which can be useful in some situations. Minus. Tuneomatic bridge will need to be positioned even more accurately than the Jaguar-style bridge of the Squier, and is unlikely to accommodate strings of gauges other than the ones the bass comes with due the limited intonation adjustment. Who's going to take the plunge and get one then?

[quote name='markstuk' timestamp='1484485594' post='3215767'] Tuner slipping ? [/quote] Because of the way the gears in machine heads work, they can't slip unless the gears are extremely worn or part that holds the worm gear in place has failed so that the worm gear is no longer held securely agains the gear at the bottom of the tuner post. In either case it will be very obvious, as you will see the tuner post jump back as the gears disengage under string tension.

The Roland TR626 should still be worth a bit of money - recent eBay prices (for ones that sold) are around the £120 mark. Also any Apple kit if you still have all the packaging is worth selling even if it doesn't work.

[quote name='Paul S' timestamp='1484581932' post='3216474'] That is an astonshingly beautiful bass. I just had a look at the website and could see no prices - how much do they cost? Are they made to order? [/quote] Thanks. That particular one was made to order especially for me. At the time Simon did have some demo models that he would take to the various trade shows and would be a bit cheaper than a full custom order, but I haven't seen him at any since about 2005, so I don't know if he still has "stock". When I last enquired, about 5 years ago, that particular bass, made new to order would have cost just under £5000. I have no idea what the current prices are, but I doubt they have got any less expensive.

[quote name='MoonBassAlpha' timestamp='1477656622' post='3163614'] Wouldn't it be easy to file deeper notches in the saddles to stop that happening? [/quote] The string break angle is so shallow over the bridge on the that the bridge slots would have to be almost nut depth in order for it to cure the problem.

If it's originals then you need to be focused in terms of what you want and put that in your ad. As someone who has auditioned prospective new band members, I'm always wary of musicians who say that they like everything, because invariably it means that they are unlikely to understand exactly what I want from them musically and I will have to spend at least a month educating them musically so they fit in.

Some time in the mid 80s there was a news article in one of the monthly musical instrument magazines about Simon Farmer and embryonic company Gus Guitars, accompanied by a photo of a very futuristic guitar. At the time I was mostly playing keyboard synths and occasionally bass, and on top of that I was essentially unemployed and completely broke. However I really liked the design of the guitar and thought that should Gus Guitars ever start making basses and I found myself in possession of enough money then I would buy one. Fast forward to 1999, and I was at the Mad About Guitars exhibition in Birmingham and there was a stand for Gus Guitars with not only guitars but also his brand new bass guitar design. At the time I had recently switched to playing the guitar in my band, and after ascertaining that I could indeed afford one I ordered a Gus G1 guitar. Three months later I was the proud owner of Gus G1 #22. That was just the start. In 2002 I put in an order for a 5-string G3 bass and a few years later bought the 4-string fretless demo model. Later I picked up a very sorry looking G3 5-string second hand off eBay and had Simon refinish/refurbish it back to new. These are now my first choice guitars and basses. I can't really see myself playing anything else anymore. [IMG]http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n249/BigRedX/Bass/GusG1Vibrato.jpg[/IMG] [IMG]http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n249/BigRedX/Bass/GusG35Passive.jpg[/IMG] [IMG]http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n249/BigRedX/Bass/GusG3Fretless.jpg[/IMG] [IMG]http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n249/BigRedX/Bass/GusG35Active.jpg[/IMG]

[quote name='nash' timestamp='1484307544' post='3214516'] You don't need a preamp for a bass to sound amazing and they cost next to nothing to make. [/quote] IMO if you need a pre-amp in a bass to make it sound good (other than basses like Wals where the pre-amp works in a very different way to normal tone controls) then there is something wrong with the rest of your rig.

These days the best bet is the usual suspects like eBay and Gumtree. However with it being a Yamaha you might also check out the [url=http://store.ishibashi.co.jp/ec/proList/doSearch/srDispProductList/1/1/%20/11933263000/1/%20/%20/%20/%20/%20/%20/1/40/0/0?jp=on&wd=%20&searchType=0&chgCateFlg=1&excludeSearchWord=%20&facetSearchType=0]Ishibashi Ubox[/url], and if your knowledge of Japanese is good or you have people you know living out there you could also try [url=http://www.digimart.net/search?category12Id=359&keywordAnd=Yamaha+RBX&x=0&y=0]Digimart.[/url] Good luck!

I think it takes a long time to get to know an album that well, plus it has to be one from the days when you didn't have that many in the first place so that you weren't distracted by others. Mine would be: Parachute by The Pretty Things (1970) Doot-Doot by Freur (1983) Give Up by The Postal Service - except for the last track which is rubbish and therefore I never listen to it (2003)

[quote name='Spike Vincent' timestamp='1484230740' post='3213765'] I was kind of hoping you'd be asking if you should use a bright pink Danelectro Longhorn with a Hello Kitty picture on it.. [/quote] [quote name='Low End Bee' timestamp='1484231045' post='3213767'] I want one! [/quote] Is this close enough? [IMG]http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n249/BigRedX/DSC03107.jpg[/IMG]

[quote name='pete.young' timestamp='1484236903' post='3213851'] Much simpler to buy a keyboard - amazed BigRedX didn't mention that already! [/quote] I was assuming that the OP was wanting to run MIDI-derrived sounds in conjunction with "normal" bass guitar as the band in question is a three piece, in which case the IR bass (or its Peavey and Wal predecessors) is the only serious choice. However if it's just to do some synth bass instead of bass guitar, then you are quite right.

[url=http://www.industrialradio.com.au]The only one bothering with IMO[/url]

[quote name='MoJo' timestamp='1484219406' post='3213593'] I was thinking that I should have included EB3/Ripper derivatives in the poll. We tend to dress in jeans and 'rock' t-shirts rather than period correct clothing [/quote] I that case I would think that anything that sounds right and is comfortable to play will be perfectly OK. In my short stint of playing covers I used my Gus and Overwater basses. Sonically they fitted fine.

IMO it depends on whether your band also dress to look the part or not. If they do, then you really need period appropriate instruments (and possibly back line too). However that doesn't automatically mean a P (or J bass). Most of the bands I was into back in the 70s seemed to use Gibsons or Rickenbackers rather than Fenders.

Even if it wasn't a joke, I'm sure the organiser of the gig would be able to sort out the visa requirements at short notice. I mean if he can't, then who can?

[quote name='Kiwi' timestamp='1484144808' post='3213009'] What's the secret? [/quote] Use a keyboard ;-)

My recollection is that the popped up on Basschat almost entirely in order to promote his recordings and BGM column. Now there's nothing wrong with a bit a self-promotion, but if you are going to put yourself about in a public arena, you also need to be able to deal with the fact the fact that others might not agree with what you say and also that they may not like your music either. Also on a forum there is an expectation, rightly or wrongly, that members should properly take part in discussions in order to be taken seriously and accepted. I've also met Mr Gwizdala in person and seen him play, and he's an interesting and innovative bass player (at least when he isn't doing his impersonation of a second-rate jazz guitarist), but I've also heard him make some fairly derogatory comments about some of his more mundane session work, which if I'm not mistaken is what pays his bills and allows him to pursue his more esoteric musical activities. That IMO is not cool. If you need to take on work that you feel is beneath you in order to be able to do the work that you really want, there's nothing wrong with that, but don't bitch about it in public.

A really good programme. But unfortunately it completely cemented my option that I haven't missed anything musically by not owning any Bowie albums released since "Scary Monsters".

All the Hiscox cases I own were supplied by the luthiers or manufacturers with the guitars and basses that I bought and as a consequence the internal padding in the case is slightly different for each design of instrument it came with. IIRC you can contact Hiscox and they will sort you out with the appropriate padding inserts to make your bass fit properly.

[quote name='la bam' timestamp='1483966338' post='3211435'] I suppose the 'talent' v 'fame' is another topic! What I'm getting at is say being for example Steve vai. Now he's famous is he only ever going to be allowed to gig what he's famous for on big stages a few gigs every other year, or would he love to be playing guitar in a covers band, playing classics and getting that gig buzz. Just because people have made it big, doesn't necessarily mean that they wouldn't want to have a blast playing classics for the love of playing, rather than being sat around not gigging. [/quote] Is Steve Vai actually famous amongst people who aren't actually musicians? Even to me he's just some widdley guitarist who doesn't seem to ever played any music I'm remotely interested in. And how do you know that he's actually want to be doing any of those things that you mention. There's a lot to be said for sitting on your bum watching telly or surfing the net if you don't actually need to work. And as for "playing the classics". I can't think of anything more boring.