Bloodaxe

No Idea what it is, tbh. At first glance I wondered if it was a WAL, based on the shape of the top horn. But a quick screengrab (didn't know ALT+PRINTSCRN worked in Youtube - I do now) & some quick 'n' dirty Photoshoppery kyboshed that theory. Jazz-style P/Up, Bijou headstockette, & a rather pointy scratchplate. EDIT: Our man appears to be wearing a bottleneck as well... EDIT 2: Quite [i]why[/i] he has one seems to be a mystery, I didn't hear it. Attached is said screengrab...

[quote name='JTUK' post='805672' date='Apr 14 2010, 08:15 AM']You stick with the forum that is the most useful ( or fun..? ) unless you have [b]no life at all[/b] and duck and dive between them all.[/quote] That'll be me then... Off to sign on, having spent the last two hours on re-typsetting CMS 123 (Maintenance of Locomotive Hauled Coaching Stock at Outstations and Depots) - for fun I might add. P.

[quote name='bigthumb' post='805472' date='Apr 13 2010, 10:26 PM']We eat babies... [/quote] Isn't it your turn to cook, Paul? I've laid in a nice Château de Chasselas & it's Ken's turn to draw the Pentagram... I'm "on" four music Forums: Here, There, The American One & Matsumoku.org - They're all different & useful in their own way; I've had several good grins, bought/sold some fine things & learned good stuff out of all of 'em & trust I will continue to do so. To use the "pub" analogy I rate them like this 1: Here - Tends towards a busy Gastropub (Some real ale, lots of bottled Trappist rocket-fuel) , good range of punters, bar staff fine in the main, can be a bit Shi-Shi. Jazz-Funk on the sound system. 2: There - Back street spit & sawdust, sticky carpet in the Lounge, couple of handpumps (Mild & Bitter) & a nicewhitewinefortheladies. The kind of place that goes quiet when you walk in but warms up once everyone's got the measure of you. Jukebox full of Prog, Blues & Rock. Some Jazz. 3: The American One - Yates', with bouncers. Especially the Off-Topic section. Loop tape of Jaco & Cliff. 4: Matsumoku.org - As Finnbass, but it's the fundamentalist wing of CAMRA's local, & there's only 3 of 'em, so it's very quiet & the conversation can be rather erm... "focussed". No jukebox or fruit machines allowed. IBTL, Pete.

[quote name='Doddy' post='803669' date='Apr 12 2010, 01:15 PM']Throwing a slight spanner into the works.... I think that rather than looking for a fingering chart,it would be much more beneficial to you if you learn some chord theory. It will do you much more good if you know that,for example, a C major chord contains the notes C,E,G (or I,III,V if you want to look at it numerically),than just what the 'shape' is. If you know the notes you can arpeggiate them all over the fingerboard rather than being stuck in only one position.[/quote] To slightly hijack your spanner... Anyone have an opinion/experience on/of Jeff Berlin's "A Comprehensive Chord Tone System for Mastering the Bass"? Also Gary Willis' "Ultimate Ear Training For Guitar & Bass" Pete.

[quote name='pal1972' post='800382' date='Apr 8 2010, 11:28 PM']just got my hands on a new bass but the pup screws are all schewed up and i want hem out to replacethem! tried pressing really hard with a screwdriver but just keeps turning and chewing them up even more!!! any ideas how to get them out?[/quote] If the heads are raised, see if you can get a pair of pliers to grip & tweak them round, it'll take an age, but they should go. Alternatively... They're more than likely quite soft as screws go, so try this... Find a narrow electronics/jewellers' screwdriver with a FLAT blade that's just a tad smaller than what remains of the crosspoint slot in the screw. Put it in position, give it a tap with something to get it to bite, & apply pressure whilst turning to keep it engaged. If that doesn't work, you'll have to get the Dremel out & drill/grind the heads off, then take the pickups out & ferret the screw stubs out with pliers. If you end up drilling 'em out, stick some tape over the poles of the p/ups to stop all the shrapnel sticking to them. Pete.

[quote name='Happy Jack' post='798836' date='Apr 7 2010, 03:49 PM']Heavy metal harps? Why not ... erm ... heavy metal bagpipes? [attachment=46682:mera_lun...xtremo_2.jpg][/quote] Or even WHY? Lasers are the Future: More here: [url="http://hacknmod.com/hack/create-techno-with-a-laser-harp/"]http://hacknmod.com/hack/create-techno-with-a-laser-harp/[/url]

Fender Bassman + 4 x 10 = Win in my experience.

[quote name='Rumple' post='797619' date='Apr 6 2010, 02:54 PM']Some more advise/thoughts please folk. Finally got hold of an old speaker and wired this beasty up and it's really not very well! Only one of the two EL34's glow and only for a short while then the HT fuse blows, just before it goes there is sound (humming) from the speaker though. I guess my question is does this sound like a typical problem with a valve amp that could be cheaply repaired by someone who knows what they are doing or should I assume it's beyond repair? Cheers R.[/quote] [i][b]Nothing[/b][/i] is beyond repair, just depends how much ££ you're willing to throw at it. PM'd. Pete.

[quote name='robocorpse' post='790180' date='Mar 30 2010, 01:47 AM']That Kay is Fkin gorgeous. But its up to 128 quid now, no bargains to be had here![/quote] It finished at £131.66! That's got to be a complete steal of a bargain.

Some kind of foamy bathroom cleaner then? Thought: ... Is it Ported? If so it may be that the internal wadding has become "tainted" - only cure for that would be to strip it out, bin it & replace it. Pete.

[quote name='saxobass' post='796886' date='Apr 5 2010, 07:58 PM']E-bay is carrying several lots of machine heads made in China. The single type are described as made from copper. Not sure how likely, or desirable, this is. Does anyone have any information or advice about such products?[/quote] Wouldn't copper be a bit soft for that? It wouldn't be my material of choice for a machine head for fear of either breakage or gear wear. Pete.

Carpet or vinyl? If it's Carpet, then... Carpet Shampoo? If it's vinyl, here's a song that might help:

[quote name='Musky' post='794352' date='Apr 2 2010, 03:20 PM']Interestingly the rout on the 300 is 1/4" deep. Which models have you seen the shallower rout on?[/quote] Well, having just taken the bridge off my SB-900 & jabbed a ruler into the recess. The ruler says 5mm, i.e. just shy of 1/4", so I'm forced to conclude that I must have made it up M'lud. I've probably taken my SB-1000 as a reference when I was [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?s=&showtopic=5094&view=findpost&p=53106"]butchering that about[/url]. IIRC at some point in the proceedings a belt-sander got applied to the top & as a result the bridge rout ended up a [i]lot[/i] shallower. Pete.

[quote name='Annoying Twit' post='792933' date='Apr 1 2010, 08:59 AM']Is this too recent to qualify for this thread? Looks interesting. [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/MIJ-GRECO-VBS-1200-OIL-Limited-Products-Late-90s_W0QQitemZ250607184106QQcmdZViewItemQQptZGuitar?hash=item3a595a28ea"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/MIJ-GRECO-VBS-1200-O...=item3a595a28ea[/url][/quote] Monkey Pod? There's not really a tree called that is there? "That looks nice mate, what's it made from?" "Monkey Pod" "You what?" "Monkey Pod!" <fight ensues>

[quote name='Musky' post='792734' date='Mar 31 2010, 11:41 PM']It always baffles me why people swap out the original bridges for 'better' ones like Badass/Schaller/Gotoh. Besides the fact that the originals were routed into the body so any replacement is going to be a bodge, the originals were far more solid and just as well constructed as any of the popular bridges from the usual suspects.[/quote] It's a very shallow rout - about 1/16" - so anything with a large enough baseplate would cover it. Also there are two types of the "standard" Aria cast bridge... The SBs have solid cast brass ones but the "lesser" models tend to have plated aluminium alloy castings. The chrome on these has a tendency to blister, & the alloy quality isn't exactly Aerospace standard. I've seen a Cardinal with quite heavy wear purely caused by 30 years worth of hand contact! That said, there's still nothing wrong with them. They could be better, but the same could be said about most bridges. There's a huge amount of apparent love for the Badass, here & on Talkbass, but to me it's all just smoke & mirrors - after all... a bit of bent tin was good enough for Jaco.

[quote name='cocco' post='792124' date='Mar 31 2010, 04:35 PM']What's the difference between the elite and the 900? The only obvious difference I can see is the finishes.[/quote] The "Eye" dot markers mean the neck profile is subtly different - there's a noticeable taper & the string spacing's wider at the bridge. Tried one once & didn't get on with it tbh, I much prefer the near-parallel classic Aria profile. The Specs: [url="http://www.matsumoku.org/models/ariaproii/bass/sb/sb.html"]http://www.matsumoku.org/models/ariaproii/bass/sb/sb.html[/url] [quote name='cocco' post='792168' date='Mar 31 2010, 05:11 PM']It's a real shame that the "lesser", for want of a better word arias and other matsumoko instruments don't get as much attention as the SB 1000.[/quote] Ahh... but it does mean that the "lesser" models are undervalued & tend to get offered at achievable prices! [quote name='artisan' post='792082' date='Mar 31 2010, 04:08 PM']i owned a lovely SB900 when i was a wee pup,then traded it for some tat or other,what a tit,[u][b]i wish i still had it[/b][/u].[/quote] Told ya!

[quote name='LukeFRC' post='791404' date='Mar 31 2010, 12:50 AM']pointyness [url="http://edinburgh.gumtree.com/edinburgh/76/56305676.html"]http://edinburgh.gumtree.com/edinburgh/76/56305676.html[/url][/quote] Very cheap pointyness with original case at that.

[quote name='gub' post='791135' date='Mar 30 2010, 09:18 PM']so what do you think of these old buggers ,always liked the sound of them myself but never played one ,so any opinions welcome. [/quote] I'm quite partial to the breed. There's a fair few people in these parts that have one in their "previously owned" list, & quite a few of those have expressed regret at getting rid of it. Do a Search for "Aria SB", you'll get a good few hits. I'd liken them to Warwicks, Ricks ...& maybe even WALs in that they're their own thing & not to everybody's taste. If you like a skinny-necked Jazz &/or have got accustomed to the "Fender Taper" (i.e. a narrow nut & a wide bridge), then you might not get on with them. The necks are nigh-on parallel; they're well-balanced; hefty without being heavy; quite comfy; & sport an overwound 16-pole humbucker. The only downside is the reliability of the "actives" which can fail in such a way that they take the pickup out as well. If you find one, try it first... they can be a bit Marmite™ The SB-1000 is the most sought after (possibly due to the John Taylor & Cliff Burton associations) & is often seen adjacent to an alarming price tag. The other SB models probably represent the best value IMO. SB-900: Passive, Through neck, twin 4-wire humbuckers, series/parallel switch on the front p/up & a coil tap on the rear. V V T & 3-position p/up selector switch SB-700: Passive, Through neck, single humbucker, series/parallel switch, Vol & Tone. SB-600: As per the 700, but with a set neck. Either a Coil tap, or possibly series/parallel switch. (I've never met one, so can't say) Pete.

[quote name='wateroftyne' post='789567' date='Mar 29 2010, 04:09 PM']My view.. Interpret the line, improve it if I can, but - importantly - keep the flavour and important hooks as they are. Personally I have no interest copying a line exactly. No-one cares, for a start...[/quote] I'm with you on this one WOT, but if anyone wishes to go down the "note-for-note" route then it's their right. FWIW though I have a higher opinion of any player who can put their stamp on a line whilst keeping within the context of the tune, than a direct copy of the original. There are exeptions to this, naturally. Anyhoozle, I found another transcription that bears similarities to the previously posted one, but isn't the same... Pete.

[quote name='gub' post='788022' date='Mar 27 2010, 05:11 PM']Hi all just thought i would say a quick hello ,i have just got back into playing bass after a long break from it , i used to play for a living many years ago but then moved to cornwall and never really got together with any bands or kept my hand in but hey o i am back now. had the privaledge of playing with a few members of elo in the late 80s in a spin off band called orkestra which was a great experience for me ! but here in the present just got together with a female singer and male rhythm guitarist and now on the look out for a drummer and maybe keyboard player and in a perfect world a lead guitar as well . we are mostly doing blondie, the mac , bit of clash , and other late 70s early 80s stuff. am on the lookout for a good amp now as i only have a practice one atm . [/quote] Welcome, that man! Where'bouts in Cornwall? Good amps abound in the For Sale pages on here - you'll be spoilt for choice! Pete.

Aaaggh! Undead!!! Undead!!! [url="http://www.gumtree.com/london/77/55942677.html"]http://www.gumtree.com/london/77/55942677.html[/url] £150? Cheeky Bugger!

[quote name='The inglourious bass turd' post='787504' date='Mar 26 2010, 10:26 PM']So, just congratulating myself on getting the 144 rock pace, and my long awaited 'rock bass cover' book arrives with The ace of spades in it, which is all I've ever wanted to play! Suggested metronome setting? 288! How in the name of Lemmy am I going to get that fast?[/quote] Having seen Motorhead a few times, it's a point of note just how relaxed Lemmy's technique is. There's no "sawing a log" a la Phil Lynott. Other things to consider... How high/low do you wear your bass? You may find a bit of strap-tweakage can help. Ditto, what sort/thickness of pick? If you use a heavy pick, try a lighter gauge for a while & then work back up through the gauges. I started with Jim Dunlop Nylon 0.88mm (the grey ones), & the eventually settled on JD Nylon 1mm (black). There's no "right answer" for this btw, whatever works for you is correct. Finally... It's all in the wrist! (with a bit of Forearm) I trust you're not trying the guitar-picker's technique of thumb & forefinger - that could be bad if you are, there are suggestions that it can lead to Carpal Tunnel Syndrome which is one of the worst things that can happen to any player. It's also a crap method for bass IMO. I was lying about Finally. This is Finally. All previous Finallys are hereby declared penultimate. Where was I? Ah.... Don't forget strokes can go Up as well as Down. Have some fillums of the man in question: [quote name='Musicman69' post='787606' date='Mar 27 2010, 02:46 AM']Good to get ur speed up.. get 16ths (ie 4 hits between each click) up to 120 bpm. Its not easy but youll start to bliss out if you get to 116, it sounds so sweet. Make sure its a pattern that changes strings, no Ac/Dc stuff![/quote] OI! Don't dis Mr Williams! He's one of the rock-steadiest players in the field. Sheesh! You'll be having a pop at Alan Lancaster next!

[quote name='EssentialTension' post='786533' date='Mar 26 2010, 12:43 AM']My TSB-550 from 1980 had the four-a-side headstock not the 2+2 which dates from 1981 I think. ...and I always found one pickup satisfactory. [/quote] Each to their own, I guess. Personally, I prefer a pair of overwound 4-wire hummers in series & wide open.

[quote name='EssentialTension' post='786513' date='Mar 26 2010, 12:07 AM']+1 on the price. +1 on TSBs being very nice basses. I had a TSB-550 which is the through-neck single pickup version. I think the TSB-650 was the two pickup version.[/quote] Quite right - I always get this lot mixed up! Info: [url="http://www.matsumoku.org/models/ariaproii/bass/tsb/tsb.html"]http://www.matsumoku.org/models/ariaproii/bass/tsb/tsb.html[/url] down the bottom. So it'd either be the 400 for a bolt-on or the 650 for a through then - might as well have two pickups eh? P.