dannybuoy

It has a J nut width (unfortunately for me, I prefer the slightly wider nut of the P). They all have the same 'C' shape neck profile though, which I think is fairly slim.

The VMJ usually gets a lot of love so I was surprised everyone's saying go for the defret, but I have to agree. The VMJ has a marmite fingerboard, I personaly hated the sound and feel of the ebonol board. 2 more options: - Put that £100 towards a fretless neck, then you can return the bass to stock and not lose as much if you ever come to sell - Rockbottom in Croydon had a mint MIJ fretless Jazz in sunburst/tort for sale for £350, if they still have it you could sell the CVJ and trade up. If it is still there I bet they'd take £325 too.

Unless you have a lot of riffs that rely on the open C or are too tricky to play otherwise, BEAD tuning is the way to go. Otherwise there are specialist strings like the new DR DDT's: [url="http://www.drstrings.com/catalog/ddt-bass-strings"]http://www.drstrings.com/catalog/ddt-bass-strings[/url]

Ramble On, Black Dog and more I can't remember right now by Led Zep The first two Black Sabbath albums! Dimension by Wolfmother Four Kicks and others from the Kings Of Leon's 2nd album On a 5 string bass - Blew by Nirvana (from the Bleach album). Oh and Love Buzz from the same album! Seven Nation Army by the White Stripes Hate To Say I Told You So by The Hives

Order here and get a free set of strings chucked in: [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=93738"]http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=93738[/url]

£549 is a ripoff. I got my '79 in fairly good nick for £230 from here a year or so ago. They do generall go for higher but no much more than £280 on eBay. There was once a white one on my watch list with a 99p start price and no reserve, nobody bid on it and I forgot to!

[quote name='leonshelley01' post='907673' date='Jul 27 2010, 10:45 PM']Cheers for that, very interesting. Wasn't he playing Ramble On rather than What Is And What Should Never Be in the first part though when talking about melody?[/quote] Yes he was. Who would have thought I can actually play that song better than JPJ himself!

[quote name='escholl' post='905421' date='Jul 26 2010, 02:02 AM']It doesn't use a conventional BBD, instead it uses something known as an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) to achieve the same effect. As far as I can tell they seem to have produced their own chip that they can then source at a far lower cost, and yet still use analogue circuitry. Assuming they aren't blatantly lying about its function (which they could be), then the delay should be analogue. I don't really know much about the company however, so this is just my interpretation of the engrish and specs on their site.[/quote] There are a load of cheap delay pedals with the same IC, it's a digital delay that sounds analog, plus you can even get it to self oscillate. Here's a kit for one: [url="http://www.generalguitargadgets.com/content/view/125/26/"]http://www.generalguitargadgets.com/content/view/125/26/[/url] And their blurb: [quote]This is the best DIY digital delay stompbox kit on the internet. Warm, quiet, beautiful echo, patterned after the Ibanez AD80 analog delay unit. This project emulates the old-time analog delay unit, in this case the Ibanez AD-80 vintage stompbox, with a modern digital delay IC. The results are excellent and you won't know it's not 100% analog. The general design of this circuit is almost the same as the AD-80 except the bucket brigade ICs are replaced with a Princeton Technologies PT2399 delay/echo IC and the electronic switching is replaced by a 3PDT stomp switch. The compander IC gives it excellent noise specs and also contributes to the great analog-like sound of it. A charge pump is on board so that it has plenty of headroom from a single nine volt battery. The charge pump was not part of the original AD-80, but is a modern bonus in this project to save on batteries and be able to use a typical stompbox wallwart power.[/quote] I have the Carbon Copy and it sounds great, but the Memory Toy is nearly half the price and is supposed to sound very similar so I'd check that out first!

Here, I'll do it properly for ya

Go to the Status website and check out some of their half-rounds. They are rounds ground down to be smooth like flats, the best of both worlds, I have em on my fretless and they're pretty cheap too! Also if you want brighter flatwounds check out D'Addario Chromes or TI Jazz Flats. Chromes are the brightest most roundwound sounding flats I've used but they are quite high tension so I'd recommend a light guage. Alternatively you can get compression wound strings which are a bit smoother, not tried these but I've heard Ken Smith Compressors recommended before over at Talkbass.

Try the GK MB2-500 out... But it does sound like you have GAS just for the sake of it since you can get bright/modern tones out of the TC and MB anyway. I know what it's like though, I think I'm finally learning how to resist the GAS. I change my mind every couple of days about what I want anyway so I may as well stick with what I've got and spend more time improving my playing instead of drooling over new gear!

You're better off buying through this forum or eBay, most shops will try to fleece you for a vintage Fender. How old are you looking for, is this '78 any good to you? [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=91209"]http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=91209[/url] if not, post an ad in the wanted forum, there are always a few floating about ready to be sold.

Come on Mark, this is Bass[b]Chat[/b], not BassMakeControversialPostsThenNotRevisitTheThreadToDiscussThingsFurther.co.uk! Your website [url="http://www.markpercy.co.uk"]www.markpercy.co.uk[/url] sure is an interesting read, it's like a lucky dip collection of bass stuff, art, religion and randomness. I didn't know the actor who played Jesus in Passion Of The Christ got struck by lightning twice on set, this has nudged me one notch further away from atheism on the agnosticity scale!

You just got served. Now it's on!

These amps are meant to be pretty good practice amps and this is a bargain for someone at only £20: [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Fender-Frontman-30W-Bass-Amp-/170518178439?cmd=ViewItem&pt=UK_MusicalInstr_Amplifiers_RL&hash=item27b3acea87#ht_500wt_1154"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Fender-Frontman-30W-...7#ht_500wt_1154[/url]

I say go with your instict and get the Squier Vintage Modifed or Classic Vibe P - there is a new one out soon too: [url="http://www.guitarandampshop.co.uk/acatalog/Squier_Vintage_Modified_Amber_Precision_Bass__70s_Style__Electric_Bass_Guitar__032-6802-520__-____span_style__color___ff0000_______DUE_IN_SEPTEMBER_____span____.html"][/url]

I usually don't like red or blue basses and do like black or natural finishes. However for some reason when it comes to Rics, I love the blue/white and red/black combos the most, with black coming in 3rd, and Mapleglo last!

How's the low end on the Full Bore?

Right these Rickenrays are only £249 now and I'm very tempted. I wonder if putting coil tap switches on would help give it a more Ric-like tone?

[quote name='Davo-London' post='900249' date='Jul 20 2010, 04:44 PM']I'm VERY late to this debate ... but it won't stop me. I think there may be a link between the simplicity of the P and a demand for straight-forward bass playing. I cannot deny that the P sounds good in the mix. I also cannot deny that my bass playing development has been significantly held back by only owning a P-bass. Chords don't work and I find it impossible to play fast and articulately. If only I had bought a Jazz instead of a Precision 32 years ago I think I would be a different player. That said, I would happily own a 60's P with a narrower neck. My 70's P feels like a great slab of wood. So I went from the sublime to the ridiculous and commissioned a Cliff Bordwell Ball Bass as my main fretted bass. They are different instruments, they really are but I'll try and use the P-bass next time I'm in church. I'll need to give it new strings though! As for Leo getting it right. Well he did alright. I don't think Fender's popularity can be so easily dismissed. There's been plenty of opportunity for other basses to take the No1 spot. But they haven't. And the resale of Fenders is by far the easiest route. Davo[/quote] On the other hand, the P could have been holding you back from where you didn't need to go in the first place! I leave the chords and fast articulate playing to the guitards.

I'd check before ordering. I've been screwed by several big name internet retailers who list stuff on their site then don't even bother to email me to tell me it's not in stock until I chase them up a week after paying.

I like DR Sunbeams or Dunlop nickels on mine.