BigRedX

I've owned two basses that have had noticeable wear to them. One was the first bass I ever owned, and TBH it's tatty state meant that I could actually afford to buy it. It's too far gone to be worth restoring, but recently I have been eyeing up examples that are in better/more original condition with a view to replacing it. The other one, once I'd decided that it was worth keeping, went straight back to the person who made it for a full overhaul and refinish. When it came back, apart from a small about of wear to the fingerboard, it looked like a brand new bass.

[quote name='stingrayPete1977' timestamp='1487080800' post='3236831'] I think I'd be more concerned about the front man wearing nothing but a fur coat and frilly panties for what looks like a fairly regular tickled trout pub gig than whether the bassist is wearing a watch or not! [/quote] Which means that his attire has done the job. You've remembered who we are and what we look like. On the other hand I know nothing about your band.

[quote name='stingrayPete1977' timestamp='1487080259' post='3236825'] We take the piss out of drummers yet we now have a thread suggesting you should not wear a watch on stage, whatever next?! [/quote] IMO a band should present themselves properly on stage and that means attention to detail in what you wear just as much as what you play, especially if you wan to be stand out and be remembered. I really don't think that anyone actually needs a watch to tell the time while they are on stage performing. If you've done your pre-gig preparation properly then you'll know how long the set lasts and also how long each individual song is so that you can adjust as required to take account of any over-run. Maybe if it fits your band image than a suitably ostentatious watch will look the part, but otherwise, IMO it's a random piece of tat clogging up your wrist.

[quote name='owen' timestamp='1487076489' post='3236771'] <rushed off to google a Baz Extravaganza Punk Rock Bass but found nothing> [/quote] Unfortunately the Bas Extravaganza site is no more and most of the images including that of the Punk Rock Bass have gone with it. The bass itself used to be owned by someone who posted on here occasionally, but I haven't seen them about for some years now. Imagine a Fender Precision battered to within an inch of total destruction, but still (just) playable.

[quote name='uk_lefty' timestamp='1487075438' post='3236753'] One digital, one traditional, of course. [/quote] But why did you need to know the time while you were playing on stage? It's as bad as people who take their phones with them on stage...

That along with the Baz Extravaganza Punk Rock Bass are the only Fender-esque instruments I'd consider playing.

[quote name='Twigman' timestamp='1487074279' post='3236736'] That's what's attracting me - the nuances that can be achieved - it seems to make the bass almost cello-esque.... [/quote] Exactly. However before you go ordering one, I suggest that you have a read of the [url=http://www.gizmotron.com/pub/files/gizmotron_manual_rev_C_small.pdf]Installation Guide[/url] first.

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.