evilLordJuju

[quote name='EBS_freak' post='442665' date='Mar 23 2009, 05:00 PM']It's all ridiculous trying to recapture the vintage sound... it doesn't matter how old the bass...[/quote] It isn't how old the bass per se... A lot of basses built in the past were made with the fashion of the day in mind. 50s and early 60s basses were built to sound a bit like uprights - a nice thumpy sound. Pickups positions, mutes, number of windings in a pickup, choice of woods and construction etc.... (i'm talking mostly about Gibson here - but i'm sure these examples fit other brands to varying extents) Plus in 1953, a lump of wood from a 400 year old mahogany tree was a lot more likely (and wood harvested from an old tree has different grain characteristics, and sonic qualities). A skilled builder (such as the 50s and 60s Gibson employees) could do things like tap a top and ascertain something about how it resonates, and whether it need carving more. How many people have that skill today? Today, really ancient trees tend not to be used, pickups have all drifted towards the bridge. Bass manufacturers don't necessarily use the same species woods, and pickup designs tend to favour a different sound. Nobody wants to sound like a thumpy double bass. The actual design, woods, and components of a vintage bass define it's sound. Had someone in 1955 built a bubinga bass with pickups right up against the bridge, i'm sure they would not have a particularly vintage sounding bass, even at 50 years old.

I've de-modded a couple. If you like Watts bass, why not use the same pickups he used? This was the bass he had stolen last year. He describes what he uses here [url="http://www.flyguitars.com/interviews/mikewatt3.php"]http://www.flyguitars.com/interviews/mikewatt3.php[/url] If you want an authentic look - theres a cheap repro bridge pup available If you want an authentic sound - you'll need the original bridge pup But if you don't mind looks, i've heard that the Rio Grande pitbulls work well in the bridge position.

Martin Turners version is still out and about playing - saw them not so long ago, and MT is still using his 1960s Thunderbird. Sounds great of course. Obviously, for us bass-players, that is the line-up to catch! see his tour dates here [url="http://www.wishboneash.co.uk/livedates/1.aspx"]http://www.wishboneash.co.uk/livedates/1.aspx[/url]

Perfect transaction Bass arrived exactly as described, very well packaged (no hard case) and in good time. Can't say better than that Thanks Matt

Within reason I guess. Anything without polepieces will be fine I suppose, and there is some lateral movement at the bridge, so even something with polepieces has got a chance if you adjust string spacing accordingly.

I would imagine they will shift a few at full whack (the people worldwide that simply have to have one) then delete quickly, selling any excess at what they can get. Gibson are a company of limited runs these days - guitar of the week syndrome. Like stamps, they know there are collectors out there that will have to keep their collections complete. Looks like a nice bass, but an utterly piss-taking price. So, who here is buying one?

[quote name='MananaMan' post='413548' date='Feb 18 2009, 08:02 PM']Hey folks, I've got a Gibson Victory Standard bass, it's a beautiful instrument but I'm thinking of changing the pickup. Just wondering if anyone knows anything about the pickup and any suitable replacements...?[/quote] I have some info on [url="http://www.flyguitars.com/gibson/bass/parts/pickup/#31"]Gibson bass pickups[/url] - including the Gibson Victory series. I just spotted a few omissions on that page (including dimensions) which i've just added. I can't suggest a replacement, but can tell you the Standard had different pickups to the Artist, but both were designed by Tim Shaw, who was working in Kalamazoo in the early eighties. They are the same size though, so an Artist pickup would fit at least, assuming you want to keep the scratchplate. If not, the world is your oyster. Could you get one custom wound?

I really like the B-302. I actually really rate Guild - semis maybe more than solids, and earlier stuff more than later, but they made some terrific guitars. Mine is a fretless (B-302F), and I just can't play it, so it sits sadly waiting for a trade (subtle hint). It does have some really nice tones - just no really nice frets

Ahh, what an [u]excellent[/u] choice of basses. And influences of course. I generally use an EB3 live too. What's your favourite out of the ones you listed?

[quote name='BOD2' post='410799' date='Feb 16 2009, 10:08 AM']BUT... this technique means that the headstock is often a separate piece of wood "scarf-jointed" onto the neck otherwise there would be a lot of wastage carving the shape from a single piece[/quote] Most Gibson bass necks don't have the scarf-join. They just waste the excess wood I guess. Part of the reason Gibsons are expensive... The Grabber and G3 are an exception - most of them have the scarf-join, and there are a few Gibson basses with very shallow headstock angles (SB 300 / SB 400), but that headstock angle (13 degrees on the EB3 I just measured) is of course one reason they snap off when you drop them backwards.

[quote name='lozbass' post='406154' date='Feb 11 2009, 12:16 PM']Ripper (I still have it) modded out of recognition - sounds great but nothing like it did originally.[/quote] We hereby demand pics and soundclips of that too please. I love Rippers - definately my favourite of the grabber/ripper/g3 group - although many disagree

Are you going to lay some sound clips on us too?

You never know with ebay. Bid low and let fate decide. there will be another one along soon enough. sometimes you get lucky, and in todays climate.....

Shops always charge way over private sales. But can you find another? Wait around, and you will get one cheaper on ebay. But have you got X years spare to wait?

[quote name='big cat' post='400193' date='Feb 4 2009, 05:23 PM']Why there is such a big difference in price? Quite confused.....[/quote] Same as anything... the retailer buys the bass at £xxx and sells at whatever they think they can get. Difference is their profit. Some places are happy to make less money but sell more of them. I think £800 is not a realistic price for a new one. Offer any shop that sells them less than they are asking, and they will most likely cut you a deal. I'd be surprised if any new Tbird IVs go as low as £800 though. Perhaps they are thinking of the cheaper, but now deleted studio model?

I'd played guitar for ages, but my brother had a bass, so I was using his for a while. Eventually decided to buy my own, and got a modded and refinned 1973 Gibson EB-4L (although being sold as an EB-0) from one of the shops in Denmark street. It was wired up all wrong and somehow blew any amp that I played it through. Eventually fixed that and semi-restored it, but eventually parting it a few years back because I could never find the right switch, and I had a (cosmetically) much nicer EB-4L by then. Serial number was 904991 Would love to see what happened to this old bass. Anyone here got it?

[url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Fender-Jazz-parts-1973-1974_W0QQitemZ250365580601QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV?hash=item250365580601&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=66%3A2%7C65%3A10%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Fender-Jazz-parts-19...A1%7C240%3A1318[/url]

Heres one from allparts. [url="http://www.allparts.com/store/pickups-bass-pickups-pu-0419-010,Product.asp"]http://www.allparts.com/store/pickups-bass...010,Product.asp[/url] Sorry, never used them. If you get it, i'd be keen to know what you think

I've got a fretless B-302 (the two pickup version). Never play it because i'm terrible at fretless. Very nice basses actually, but not as collectable (and therefore valuable) as the older Guilds like the Jetstar, JS and Starfire. Just wish mine had frets

I'd still say all original if a minor part was replaced with an IDENTICAL period part. By that I mean bridge covers, knobs, tuning keys, truss rod covers etc. The phrase "all original" could mean any number of things. What I find funny are the basses that truly are all original (but generally knackered) and the obviously non-guitar playing seller apologies for the missing original string...

Yeah, I got one. In my opinion they are not great. There is no truss rod (so you need light strings) - the tuning keys are not great either. The input jack is a coaxial cable too (unless someone has changed it - they had on mine). An immaculate one may be of interest to a collector, but that is about it. If you want one as a player, i'd get a battered one on ebay and replace the bridge and tuners.