BigRedX

The weird thing about the relic look is that it seems to apply only to 'modern' electric stringed musical instruments. I can't think of any other case where "worn" is an acceptable look for something old and collectable. Certainly if you turned up to a classic car rally in something that had the same amount of wear as the average pre-1980 Fender you'd be a complete laughing stock.

Maybe it is because these instruments are still relatively young, in terms of human history and this is just a passing phase the market is going through.

Personally I prefer modern designs but if I did come across an old worn instrument that turned out to be "the one" for me, I have no qualms about having it visually brought back to an 'as new' condition.

Cool stuff!

Not as musically immediate as Pandora, but it'll do for now.

As others have said it's all down to taste.

Personally I don't like the worn/battered look whether it's real or fake. To me it doesn't look 'old' it looks neglected or a cheap finish that hasn't been able to stand up to simple playing use.

I have a second hand Gus G3 that I bought last year in a very worn condition, refinished by Simon Farmer; and when money allows I'll also get my early 80s Overwater fretless restored back to it's new condition, because I want it to look as beautiful as it plays and sounds.

[quote name='Kongo' post='481542' date='May 7 2009, 12:06 AM']The Array is nice too...Smaller than the others but still the same.[/quote]

The Array is probably my least favourite of the Traben 'bigger bridges' It reminds me too much of naff 'metal' tattoos.

Ta!

The Harkte looks like a thin brushed metal film over black plastic. The Talbo is aluminium sheet. The Traben is part of the bridge so chromed whatever the bridge is made of. The Reverend is the strangest - it looks like a thin semi-opaque white over black which just happens to look silver in certain lights.

Has it got to be pointy?

If not, how about a Gus G3?

[quote name='OldGit' post='480462' date='May 5 2009, 10:33 PM']Any contenders in your weird and wonderful collections?[/quote]

From my personal basses....

Hartke XL-4


Tokai Talbo


Traben Phoenix


and my favourite, Reverend Rumblefish

Hi Tony and welcome to BassChat

Completely off-topic (for this thread), but I'd just like to say that you are one of my favourite bass players, and I loved your work with Greenslade!

Many thanks for the info too.

At least three switchable inputs each with their own gain control.

Programability of all the controls (except the input gains) with at least 40 memories for storing your favourite sounds.

[quote name='chris_b' post='480559' date='May 6 2009, 12:05 AM']Why aren't you getting the digital copy?[/quote]

I like printed matter. You can take it and read it anywhere.

Digital stuff is simply too ephemeral. I don't have any downloaded music for the same reason.

Just got an email announcing the publication of issue 3.

Apart from esoteric designs like the ACG filter pre-amp, electronics on basses offer nothing that your amp's controls ought to be able to do better.

By the time I bought my first bass I'd been playing guitar for 7 years, and had dabbled with borrowed basses for a couple of years. However it took me almost a year from my first guitar lesson until I could actually strum my way through a song in a way that was recognisable to other people.

Thunderbird.

I'm also a fan of the look of the Traban Basses with the "bigger bridge" where it takes on much the same aesthetic features as a scratch plate, particularly the Phoenix and the Tribal Sun designs.

I get mine from Alan at ACG. He posts here as [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showuser=156"]skelf[/url].

TBH I don't remember, but it was at least a couple of months ago.

Simon does some very nice work indeed.

Personally I'd have gone with an EB0 large style humbucker at the neck even if it was just cosmetic to fit in looks-wise with the wider J and P pups. The plate around the bridge is an inspired move!

Now I've got GAS for a modified Europa Bass in either the new version or one of the few original models made with the Gibson-esque pups, to complement my Esprit V Custom guitar.

Good luck with you quest for a Gus G3 - what configuration are you after?

Notice how they carefully avoid playing more than one note at a time.

I'd be interested to try one, but it's probably more trouble than it's worth.

No problem here. I've had both issues. The first seemed to take an awful long time to arrive considering I started subscribing after it had been published, but the Issue 2 arrived very swiftly. If you're getting no joy via email how about PM'ing Tom Bowlus on TalkBass?

[quote name='cytania' post='476854' date='May 1 2009, 11:41 AM']What actives are promising is more versatility. This isn't always the case, my Ibanez has a single tone control that just cranks up big balls bass from a natural 60s type sound (PhatEQ in Ibanez speak, look for a 'Boom' tag in store). However on a passive bass the tone control just diminishes making the sound muddy, rarely useful.[/quote]

But the controls on an active bass are nearly always less versatile than the ones on your amp...

On the whole I don't get the obsession with active basses. Unless you're spending a lot of money on the on-board circuit, most of the time it won't do anything that your amp doesn't already do much better.

The average active circuit on a bass has to deal with so many compromises. It has to fit into the bass without removing too much wood, it has to be powered from a 9v battery, and you're generally limited to 3 frequencies otherwise there's too many controls requiring too much wood removal. Also on a mass-produced active bass you can bet that little has been done to mach the characteristics of the pre-amp to the natural sound of the bass or the pickups. None of these compromises apply to any decent amp design. You have room for decent circuitry and components, it's powered off the mains supply, and you can fit as many controls as it needs to get the maximum versatility out of it.

There are a few exceptions where an active bass may be an advantage...

1. You need a high output to drive something else in your signal chain - although the bass with the highest output in my collection is passive, therefore proving that a well designed pick-up can do the same thing.

2. The pre-amp does something that most amps can't do such as the the filter designs from Alembic, Wal and ACG

3. The pre-amp has separate tone controls for each pickup, which may give you extra flexibility if required.

Generally any sound engineer will tell you that the best tones are produced by cutting the unwanted frequencies and then boosting the overall level, so it would be better to do this with the best quality electronics possible and in most cases that will be those on the amp and not on the bass.

There's nothing at all sad about the decline of Denmark Street for bass players. It is and always has been full of overpriced mainstream crap. Anyone with anything about them used to go to the Bass Centre in Wapping and now goes to the Gallery in Camden.

6feet7, please ignore EBS_freak, he's just jealous because his only got GBs which are essentially Fenders in posh frocks and seriously lacking in the cool. ;-)

It would be great if you post some photos of your mod'd Esprit Bass in the porn section. Please?

I prefer [url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Edit"]Dean Gray[/url]

[quote name='6feet7' post='475359' date='Apr 29 2009, 06:52 PM']LOL
I'd rather have had a GUS Bass but couldn't afford one (got 2 of their guitars and had one of their baritones once). I like something that looks different and apart from the thunderbird etc this looks the most different (can't stand yet another fender clone - need a bit of spice in life). Plays like a dream now. Only had favourable comments about it too. I also always customise every guitar and bass I get (why have the same as everyone else)[/quote]

A man of taste I see, not only a Gus fan but also a FretKing Esprit Bass owner.

I have 3 Gus G3 basses as well as a G1 guitar as well as an early version of the FretKing Esprit guitar. Having tried the version of the Esprit bass reviewed here I think the upgrades you made are the right ones.

Myself I'm waiting to try the Europa Bass version and then have a custom version made to match my Esprit guitar.