BigRedX

Thanks for that recommendation. Another CD added to my Amazon wish list

[quote name='Linus27' post='527611' date='Jun 29 2009, 12:10 PM']HEHEHE OMG, I am far too boring to like any of them. I think I have been well and truely sold the commecial product. If it does not look slightly like a Fender then I don't like it [/quote]

From experience I know that Fender-style bases simply don't suit me and place far too many restrictions on my playing style for me to ever consider having one. By the time I would have put right all the problems I see with a P- or J-style bass, it would have so little in common with the instrument it started out, that I might as well have something that's been design properly from the ground up to be different.

Also (not a criticism aimed at anyone - simply an observation) I find it fairly depressing that for many people claiming to produce original music their originality hasn't extended to their choice of instrument.

[quote name='Linus27' post='527505' date='Jun 29 2009, 10:38 AM']I've not heard of any of those basses [/quote]

You be needing to have a good read of [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=5525"]this thread[/url] then!

You want unorthodox bass playing?

Take a listen to our very own [url="http://www.spoombung.co.uk/"]Spoombung[/url].

If I was going to expand my range of available basses, I'd be looking at the following:

Spalt Hybrid
Norton
Pagelli
Ritter Raptor
and probably another Gus (5-string fretless this time)

I wouldn't bother with an onboard pre-amp. Unless you're forever tweaking your sound as you play the tone controls on your amp should do a more then adequate job.

Probably just about any bridge from a reputable manufacturer will perform mechanically better than the one you have at the moment. Hi-mass bridges like the Badass will change the sound of your bass and it might not be in a way that you like. If the only problem is the poor construction go for a similar design but better made version.

Pickups - the quest for the right combination of bass and pickups can be never ending, and only you will know when you've got it right. I'd start by talking to either Wizard or bare Knuckles.

Whatever we do the total will be wrong.

When this thread first started I had 16 basses, I now have 27 including the Stagg EUB, but I can't be bothered to check through 20 pages of poststo see if I posted an update to my original figure.

Best really if we start again...

Active and passive is no real indication of output volume of a bass. My passive Gus G3 is louder than pretty much any active bass I have. I always use the active input on my amp unless the sound is weedy.

Personally if you're going to have 2 preset levels and not a single one with a gain control I'd like to see them labelled "Loud Basses" and "Quiet Basses" so there's no confusion.

Fantastic!

That's one of my must-try basses.

Is the fingerboard simply stainless steel, or something a bit more exotic like the Delta Metal that the Vigiers use?

Thanks for posting those photos.

[quote name='thisnameistaken' post='526376' date='Jun 27 2009, 11:04 PM']Yeah but you like guitars that look like passing space aliens sh*t them in through the music shop's chimney.

I'm not saying it's a bad finish, hard to tell what it really looks like in photos I bet. Just that it'd be easier to sell something more generic.[/quote]

And you say that like it's a bad thing ;-)

I've seen a Sandberg with this finish in the flesh and it was almost nice enough for me to put up with the fact that ultimately it's a F-style bass.

I must admit I quite fancied one until I'd tried both the Eastwood and the more authentic Bruce Johnson take on the Ampeg Scroll bass, which is a far superior instrument in every way and more than justifies the fact that it cost 4-5 times as much as the Eastwood version.

That's expensive. They're $699 in the US.

And they don't have much in common with the Ampeg they're based on except the shape.

If you're after a modern equivalent you'll be wanting one of [url="http://www.thebassgallery.com/brucejohnson.html"]these[/url]

A selection of Gus G3s and a Sei Fretless

um wait....

...but probably the reality of buying an inexpensive instrument made in the far-east these days.

IMO the finish is the nicest thing about that bass.

[quote name='Skywalker83' post='525689' date='Jun 27 2009, 06:56 AM']It's just the way he rolls. i buy the hardware i want and send it to him, he builds the bass and puts the hardware on.[/quote]

Not wanting to rain on your parade, but...

That strikes me as kind of lazy.

Any decent luthier should have contacts with the various hardware suppliers that firstly gives them a better deal in both cost and waiting times than you as an ordinary customer are able to get, and secondly should have a decent knowledge of the different types of bridges, machine heads etc so that they can make recommendations based on experience of what will both look good and perform properly and reliably.

If this was my build I'd be walking away right now.

The UK distributor for Schaller is [url="http://www.stentor-music.com/"]Stentor Music[/url] and according to the Schaller web site they now carry the full stock of products.

Good luck with that, but I think you'll find the jazz neck too narrow for an 8-string. My Carlo Robelli 8-string is the same width as the average 5-string bass. If you can find a suitable neck, I'd try guitar tuners at the body end for the octave strings, like the Kramers and BC Rich 8-strings.

Have you been before?

Depends on what you're interested in and what you want to do.

Do you know yet where abouts in Tokyo you are staying?

IMO maple with blocks always looks cheap and painted on.

[url="http://www.pedulla.com/html/strings.html"]Pedulla Nickels[/url]

[quote name='Musicman20' post='522768' date='Jun 24 2009, 05:49 PM'][url="http://www.fender.com/products//sear...tno=0257702300"]http://www.fender.com/products//sear...tno=0257702300[/url][/quote]

Well IMO that's the best looking Fender I've ever seen...

;-)

Edit:

Blast! the OP has replaced the link with a picture of some horrible looking sunburst J-bass...

[quote name='ped' post='521968' date='Jun 23 2009, 06:53 PM']Any sound clips?

ped[/quote]


Nothing in isolation, but my fretted Overwater is the bass on the SugarBox tracks (link in my sig)

I play basses with a variety of string spacings, scale lengths and other variables and the conclusion I've come to is that the numbers don't matter, it's all about the feel and you can only tell if a bass feels right for you by picking it up and playing it.

Reading through all the advice I think that the best thing you can do is get out there and try as may 5-string basses as you can, and buy the one you get on with best, that is in your price range, or if there isn't an affordable one good enough, wait until you have saved enough so you can afford something you like.

Advice about scale length and string spacing is all well and good, but ultimately these are things that only you can decide upon. My advice would be don't look at the numbers, play the instruments. If it feels good and plays nicely then it's worth considering, if not put it back and move on. You'll soon work out what is going to suit you and your playing style.

My first 5-string had a very narrow neck and tight string spacing (much tighter than anything I've come across since), but since it was the first 5-string I owned and I was just coming back to playing the bass after 7 years of synths and guitar, plus my previous bass was a short-scale 4-string, it didn't really matter. I could play what I wanted to on it which was what was important.

Also IMO with your budget 35" scale is a bit of a red herring. Getting a good sounding B string is from my experience much more about construction rather than length. A 35" B may feel better but until you get into the £1000+ range it's unlikely to sound any better than 34" B. I own 5-strings with 34, 35 and 36" scale lengths and the high quality 34" scale basses have by far the best feeling and sounding Bs of the lot. The 35" scale instruments (which are in the £500-700 range new) have the weakest Bs of the lot, except for the cheap 34" with the tight spacing.

So don't worry about the numbers just concentrate on plays and sounds good. The only reason to know about the scale length is when you come to buy strings a standard set may not fit some 35" scale basses. Other than than go on when feels good to you.