7string

IMHO I wouldn't buy a USA Fender P or J. Fender just seem happy to rest on their laurels and roll out the same stuff with 'improvements' maybe a new bridge or a new colour. I think they're vastly over-rated and you could get better value for money from other manufacturers. Add to that QC problems which make getting a new bass a hit-or-miss affair. Why not just buy a MIJ and save a few quid? I'm not anti-Fender in anyway, but I do think that Fender could do more with regards to hardware, pickups and QC. The Fender Urge is just an excellent, versatile bass and the MIJ '51 P I had had a great feel and tone. Unfortunately, I sold mine to go towards another bass but really was so impressed with it, more so with a SD pickup in it.

Looks a lot better than the new Yamaha Billy Sheehan BB bass. Making the body a little smaller all the way around makes all the difference !!

More than welcome to come over here for a cuppa anytime.... and I hear you have an ACG pre as well !!

That's a mighty fine bass. Mighty fine indeed

[quote name='chris_b' post='273270' date='Aug 30 2008, 06:22 PM']Maybe I'm just tight, but why waste money paying someone to do something that will happen for free over time!! In my opinion this is the ultimate con.[/quote] Apparently (and please someone tell me if I've got this completely wrong) the problem is that the paint (polyester?) they use nowadays won't age like the old stuff. It'll just look new for many years to come. I never used to like the relic's but I'm coming around to the idea. I've even started to like Jazz basses more as well. I must be getting old

I think this bat might be too wide for the stumps String-wise, S.I.T. makes a set and Warwick have made the 175 string available now as well. So strings are quite easy to get hold of although I can't just walk into a store and buy a set!! For my 7 string, I buy a 6 string set, then buy the top F string from Overwater who are very kind in making the single strings available. ERB (Extended Range Bass) has made such a difference to my playing. Don't get me wrong, I still play my 4 string bass, but with the 7 I'm pretty much free to play solo stuff, chordal stuff or "meat-and-potatoes" bass. It's just a whole new game really.

Things are coming along quite nicely. Here's the headstock.... …and a shot of the entire neck The tuners aren't the actual ones that are going to be used (the proper ones will be black) but it gives the idea Alan asked me if it was OK to angle the tuners back towards the body (which it was). This has two effects. Firstly, it makes the tuners easier to reach and also shortens the overall length of the headstock to improve the overall balance of the bass. I'm really pleased with the overall look of the headstock and the v-shaped grain of the mahogany running down the middle. This headstock is different from ACG 9 No.1 and goes to show the attention to detail which Alan brings to all the instruments he builds. The designs of the basses aren't set in stone and if a change can be made for the better then it'll be changed. This constant development of bass design is a real testament to Alan's passion and commitment towards building his instruments.

I go on the Warmoth site every now and again and just spec a bass together to see how much it would cost. With hardware but minus electronics, a bass with a pretty decent spec comes out at less than £500. Not too bad at all. You could take that price down by searching out cheaper hardware. The second hand value might not be too great though, but who buys basses to sell them

[quote name='spinynorman' post='270638' date='Aug 26 2008, 11:04 PM']By "cleaning", do you mean spraying inside with [url="http://www.maxiaudio.co.uk/proddetail.php?prod=Y062"]Servisol[/url], because that would be the first thing to try? I put a DiMarzio P/J set on a 1980s Kay bass I had and was very pleased with them. I was playing mostly Cream, Free and Deep Purple at the time and they suited that stuff well.[/quote] Yup, I loosened the pots and managed to spray the stuff right into the pots themselves. Even used canned air to blow some nasty stuff out before I used the cleaner! Thanks for all your suggestions. Hopefully the funding will come soon and I can get on wih resurrecting the Jackson bass

Haven't played one but Warmoth has a good reputation.

My 4 string Jackson bass, which I've had for many years, needs a bit of TLC. I had a look at the electronics today and cleaned the pots. However, the pots are showing their age and have been getting more and more scratchy. I could replace the pots, but there is a large amount of wiring. This is because the Jackson has active "Reflex" P/J pickups with a passive tone control. I have no idea why Jackson decided to make things this way, but the bass has served me well for what seems like an age and it hasn't been a problem. As I say, I could just replace the pots but with the large amount of wiring involved, I'm thinking about replacing the pickups and making it totally passive with just a volume, blend and tone pot ...and this is where I'm asking for any advice/suggestions. As I was happy with the sound, could I get the active pickups rewound as passive?? Alternatively, can someone recommend a particular brand/model of pickups. I'm after a big, chunky rock tone. I have never bought replacement pickups before as I always make sure I'm happy with the tone before I buy a bass in the first place! This is really a voyage into the unknown!! Many thanks for any advice/suggestions.

For more of that stuff, there's a great Racer X album called Extreme Volume Live

Between his books and DVDs I've managed to set up my guitars and basses as well as those of friends and students. I've seen set-ups in a couple of stores priced at £60 and that's excluding strings!! At those kind of unbelievable prices, (and incredibly low standards of customer service) it was cheaper for me to get some books, a few basic tools and do it myself.

Paul Gilbert's definately one of my musical heroes and a nice guy to boot. Unfortunately, he suffers from some hearing-loss hence the massive ear-protection he wears on stage from time to time. Mr.Big was such a great band and a shame that Paul Gilbert left. Was never quite the same with Richie Kotzen. If you can, get hold of Paul Gilbert's CD "Acoustic Samurai". It's just him and Linus of Hollywood at the Hard Rock Cafe in Tokyo. As well as "Scarified" there's the great love song "I am Satan"

If you wanted to know a little more I can recommend this book: Guitar Player Repair Guide: How to Set Up, Maintain and Repair Electrics and Acoustics (Paperback) by Dan Erlewine [url="http://www.bookdepository.co.uk/WEBSITE/WWW/WEBPAGES/search.php?key=guitar+player+repair+guide&by=title"]http://www.bookdepository.co.uk/WEBSITE/WW...de&by=title[/url] Also you can get 2 DVDs . Maintenance & Setup Electric Guitars and Basses Volumes 1 & 2 from [url="http://www.stewmac.com"]www.stewmac.com[/url] really great way to learn all about guitar (and bass) setup StewMac (Stewart Macdonald) also sell all manner of guitar tools & spares.

That really is a superb bass. Just looks awesome from every angle. Who needs sleep anyway

It's an incredible bass and they're not even the best photos

I wonder if the paint jobs were done by the same company? They look very similar....

[quote name='cetera' post='265335' date='Aug 19 2008, 11:34 AM']Ooo.... that's nice! Would love my Jackson Kip Winger in that colour [/quote] Yup, so would I

It's similar to when Van Halen left Peavey for Musicman. Peavey took his name off the guitars, re-named them (to the Axis) and kept selling them.

Nah, that's a fine looking headstock.... I play a James Tyler bass which has the ugliest headstock in the whole darn world. Luckily, is a mind-blowingly good bass

Always good to reward yourself for a job well done. Congrats on the new addition We have a Guitar Guitar store in Glasgow and a darn fine shop it is too. Great stock and great staff as well....

I did look at Overwater and quite a few others before I placed the order for my Sei. So just to put a cat amongst the pigeons, The Gallery have a Sei Jazz 5 in stock (think it was put up for sale here). Don't forget to have a look in the USA (Bass Central & Bass NW for starters) for Mike Lulls, NYC Sadowskys and the like. Still bargains to be had even though the US$ is bouncing back a bit at the moment.

I'm another who read about this in Bass Player (grab a subscription it works out a lot cheaper than WH Smith!!). I can see what their going for, but I can't see who would buy one. The price puts it against some really tough competition.

Blimey, that came out well didn't it !!!! I love the way the grain radiates out from the centre. Great from every angle!! So have you got it home yet?