BigRedX

If I had the money though I'd probably go for a [url="http://www.mikelull.com/Instruments/TBass.htm"]Mike Lull T Bass[/url]. Lush!

There's also [url="http://www.thegigrig.com"]Gig Rig[/url].

Interesting the difference that availability makes. 42 posts and only two votes for Herco picks. There was a similar thread on TalkBass a while back and from what I recall it seemed as though about a quarter of the posters said they were using Hercos - normally Flex 75s.

I'm sure if they were easily available in the UK once again a lot of the people here saying that they use Dunlop Nylon heavies would be using the Hercos instead.

They used to be easily available because that's how I came to start using them. I wonder why they aren't anymore?

Considering how chunky and heavy the Kramer aluminium necks are you'd have thought so.

However they do bend slightly over time. My 450B has a bit more relief than I would normally like. Unfortunately the only way to fix them is to ship them off to one of a couple of people in the US who have the correct equipment that will allow them to slowly bend the neck back into the correct profile without either popping off the ebanol fingerboard or the two wood inserts in the back of the neck. The process isn't cheap either!

That looks very nice. What's the problem with the missing knobs? Have the shafts on the pots broken or just the knobs themselves?

I could be interested in this too...

[quote name='ezbass' post='534822' date='Jul 7 2009, 03:46 PM']I'm super jealous!! Nice work.[/quote]

It's got to be done if you're in NYC. Just a stroll over the Brooklyn Bridge into DUMBO and you're there.

Roger Sadowsky was ultra-nice. Answered all my stupid questions and let me noodle ineptly on a selection of basses for a good 90 minutes with no pressure at all.

Is the pre-amp in the basses the same as the one in the pedal? I was under the impression it was, which is strange because I was told that for most adjustments I shouldn't be turning and of the tone controls up past a third. Anyway according to my ears all the Sadowsky basses sounded plenty good enough passive not to need any pre-amp help.

Pity there's no 5-string version....

Nearly everything you need to know about aluminium neck Kramers [url="http://www.vintagekramer.com/alum.htm"]here[/url].

Does yours have the crown inlays or just dots? Crowns are definitely more desirable.

It would be great if you could post some pics either here or start a thread in the porn section.

I own a couple of Kramers myself - a 450B and a KXB10 both of which were bought in the last couple of years and both under £300. It was while refurbishing the 450B that I discovered just what a difference getting the neck nice and shiny made. Before it looked like an old bass. Simply polishing up the metalwork made it look almost brand new:

Interesting... What amp are you putting it through? Have you tried with the J_Retro in passive mode and then dialling in the same sound using the tone controls on your amp?

I was going to buy one when I went to the Sadowsky workshop in Brooklyn last year, but after I found I preferred the sound of all the basses I tried there in passive mode, I didn't bother.

[quote name='DanOwens' post='533899' date='Jul 6 2009, 04:34 PM']Which MIDI filter and delay exactly?

Dan[/quote]

It used to be a Peavey Spectrum Filter and a Peavey Bassfex (for the sync delay), but at the moment its an AdrenaLinn Mk1 (filter and/or delay) and a Bass Pod XT Pro (sync delay). I also have an Electrix MoFx which does sync delay, sync tremolo and sync flange, but that's normally used on the guitar.

I was going to say that looks like it's had a lot of work on the body to get it like that. Any idea what it started out life as? Most of the basses tended to have contrast stripes down the middle of the body like a neck-through design. I would have like to see some photos of the back of the body as well. If the original neck plate is still holding the neck on then you'll have the serial number and should be able to find out what it was using [url="http://www.vintagekramer.com/serials.htm"]this page[/url].

BTW did you know you can post image directly into the forum using the IMG code from PhotoBucket. It makes for a far nicer user experience here.
Copy the IMG tag like this:

[code][IMG]http://i817.photobucket.com/albums/zz96/23basslord/IMG_2600.jpg[/IMG][/code]

Which gives you this:

A tricky one. It will depend very much on the condition. The serious prices for aluminium-necked Kramers are for those that are in completely original and un-damaged condition. Things that will bring down the value more than anything are the condition of the neck. Although the aluminium necks are not supposed to bend, they do, and putting that right involves shipping the instrument to one of the few people in the US with the equipment to a proper job and it's not cheap. Also watch that the inserts on the back of the neck are still properly in place.

The XL9 isn't really any more top-end than the 450B it's just a later model. They don't come up for sale very often so that could be in your favour, especially if it's in an unusual colour (not natural or black). Prices for aluminium neck Kramers go all the way from £200 to £1000 although those with asking prices over £700 tend to still be on the wall in Music Ground!

Realistically £400-500 if it's unmodified and has minimal playing wear. Maybe up to £600 if it looks like it did when it was brand new.

If you do decide to sell a couple of tips. Firstly polish up the neck and headstock to a mirror shine with Brasso before taking photos. In fact clean the whole bass. It looks far more impressive. Secondly if you're going to use eBay make sure you're prepared to ship to continental Europe as that where a lot of the serious Kramer collectors are.

I'm no longer convinced by on-board pre-amps of the traditional cut/boost variety because they don't do anything that the controls on your amp ought to do better.

The only reason IMO to fit one would be:

1. You like to fiddle with the tone as you're playing
2. You prefer volume/balance as opposed to volume/volume on a 2 pick up bass. I've still not come across a decent passive balance control that sounds as smooth as a good active.
3. The pre-amp offers individual tone shaping for each pick up.

What advantages are you hoping to get out of fitting a pre-amp to your bass?

Contact Ashdown via their web site. You should get a reply in an hour or two.

Finally my new band's first EP is out and available to buy on line:

[center][url="http://www.mableshusbands.com"][/url][/center]

There's short clips of the tracks on our MySpace page too.

More gigs coming soon.

[url="http://www.plek.com/en_US/home/"]Plek System[/url]

Chorus, MIDI controlled filter, MIDI sync'd delay.

I distinctly remember there being lots of Rickenbackers being used when bands appeared on TotP in the 70s along with the occasional Gibson (EB0, EB3 or Thunderbird).

Herco Flex 75s.

Very difficult to get hold of in the UK at the moment for some reason. They are on the Jim Dunlop USA web site, but the UK distributor of Jim Dunlop doesn't carry them. Special order took months so it's just as well I now have 200 minus however many I've managed to lose so far!

[quote name='grumble' post='421995' date='Feb 28 2009, 10:31 PM']My 2c worth
Be very annoyed if an IT tech tells you its a PEBKAC issue ! Subtle way of insulting the (l)user.
Problem Exists Between Keyboard And Chair

HTH[/quote]

The alternative is PICNIC - Problem in chair, not in computer.

And the "user" spelt with a silent "L" is a classic!

[url="http://www.ligne-roset-usa.com/Products/dining/tables/Crescendo_517.aspx"]My coffee table like my basses is a stunning piece of elegantly functional modern design![/url]

Plenty of custom/boutique basses that don't look like Fender clones or coffee tables. [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=53555&view=findpost&p=532114"]See here[/url] for just a couple of examples.

From my post on the Boutique Bass/Pick Players thread but especially relevant here:

[quote]TBH the main reason I have custom basses is because I like the way they look (of course they're also brilliant sounding and playing instruments). If I could find off-the-peg cheap basses that fitted all my needs for looks sounds and playability then I would be using those. However once you step outside of the styles of Leo Fender you're entering a specialised minority market and you have to accept the prices that go with that.[/quote]

Custom/Boutique basses don't have to look like coffee tables - see my initial post in this thread.