7string

I had to add this to this thread.... Last night I was cleaning and polishing one of my basses and my wife reminded me that I had a pack which I'd bought from Gibson. In the pack are 3 small bottles, one each of fretboard conditioner, string cleaner and high gloss polish. The fretboard stuff was good, but the high gloss polish was b****y amazing. Really brought it up a treat. It even managed to turn the pickup covers from a light grey back to black again. OK, I know it's only a polish but I it helped turned an OK bass into a stunner.

Great to hear Mike's answer to your question. "[i]Trying to make music in the HERE AND NOW is the best way to get better. Not playing exercises in the interest of making music later[/i]". Great quote

James Tyler makes guitars which have gained great acclaim from players around the world. Together with their vibrant colours (which include such names as "Burning Water" and "Psychedelic vomit") and the trademark, large headstock they're not hard to spot in a crowd. But it's the sound and playability which Tyler's are famous for. Little wonder that the user list on the Tyler Guitars website has a fair few names on it. James Tyler has stopped making basses for a few years now, but still the basses still retain a reputation for amazing playability and great sound. A couple of years ago a friend of bought a Tyler guitar, a Studio Elite model in Burning Water. It plays like nothing else I have ever wiped a plectrum across, the neck was just unreal and it sounded good as well. We always joked that it would be cool to get a matching bass, but with Tyler not making basses that seemed impossible. So over the last couple of years, I've always kept an eye out for one. I did come across one in the USA, but I didn't have the funds to buy it. However, I did get some great wallpaper for my laptop. A couple of weeks ago, I decided that I wanted a change and that I would sell one bass and get something more traditional, maybe a 5 string. Long story short, I was searching for a replacement and right at the bottom of the list of the "New Arrivals" at The Gallery in London was a Tyler. I asked for more photos, then 'phoned them up to say I'd have it. After being delivered to the Gloucester depot instead of the Glasgow depot, the bass arrived 24 long hours late. So the question is.... are Tyler basses worthy of their reputation.... [size=4][b][color="#FF0000"]YES THEY ARE !![/color][/b][/size] The case has seen a few miles, but the bass looks much better than it did in the pics I got from The Gallery or Talkbass. These pics aren't bad, but the bass has had a good clean and polish this evening so I'll post some more soon. On the surface it isn't that spectacular, just a black bass with a lot of controls and an oversize headstock with James Tyler emblazoned on it several times. However, pick up the bass and immediately the weight is the surprising thing. It weighs just 3.5kg (I think that's about 7lb 9oz). As someone who own's a Conklin which weighs 14lbs that's a relief. Then there's that neck. It's really a bit of a Goldilock's neck. Not too shallow, not too deep. It's not a smooth 'c' shape either. There's a definate a 'v' in the neck but to me it seems to be off-centre, there's a little more meat towards the E string. In short, it's a wonderful neck to play and I can see why those who have played a Tyler remember the experience. The fingerboard is pau-ferro (also known as Bolivian rosewood) and makes a great playing surface. There's just something about the feel of it, difficult to explain, but if you see a bass with a pau-ferro 'board then try it. Whilst on the subject of the 'board the frets are fine, quite low, but it's the fingerboard edges which make the playing experience special as well. The edges are 'rolled' so the neck flows into the fingerbosrd, there's no ledge where the 'board finishes, no sharp, vertical cut at the edge of the 'board. It's so comfortable to play. At the top end, there's a set of Hipshot ultralite tuners. I haven't had a bass with these before but they work well and look smart and that's fine be me. The tuners are, of course, attached to "that" headstock. OK, it's large and "James Tyler" is written across it a lot. Now I'll move on... The body of this bass has a familiar shape to it, but has a couple of surprises on the back. The heel has had some meat taken out of it to make playing up high little easier and as a result. the neck plate sits at an angle. There's some shaping on the inside of the lower cutaway as well so all the high frets are available. There's also a generous belly cut as well which does take a big chunk out the thickness of the body. Not that it's very deep anyway as it's under 4cm (1 1/2 inches) at it's thickest. The bridge is a Badass II and this is the first time I've played a bass with one of these. It's certainly substantial, but the length of the base of the bridge came as a surprise. It's just a lot longer than the saddles could travel. I'm not saying that this is a bad thing at all, it just came as a surprise. The bridge has ample adjustment any way you want to go. Luckily though, this had gone through the hands of Martin and/or John at The Gallery, so the set-up was spot on. Now onto the electronics. I have to say up front that I do not have any technical info on the pre-amp so I'm just try to describe what I hear. I do want to get hold of the spec and if I do I'll add it to this review. I do know that the pickups are Bartolini's (or at least are in Bartolini casings) and that the pre-amp is definately an 18-volt Demeter circuit. One thing I'm really happy about is that there's a master volume control as I hate 2 volumes for 2 pickups. I really don't want to have to turn 2 pots when I've finished playing and just want some silence! As well as the master volume there's a master boost as well. After playing around with the controls this afternoon, this eq is both very subtle and very powerful. The tone of any given note can be altered to make it thinner or thicker. There are no gaps in the range of frequencies that this pre-amp controls. Have a problem up high up can adjust it, have a problem down low you can make it boom or just turn it down a tad. The boost is great as well and just gives more of everything. I have a lot of learning to do with this pre, but so far it's very, very impressive. In closing, I really, really do love this bass. The neck is to die for, it balances great, the playability is great and there isn't a bad sound to be found in that pre-amp. I have to admit that I bought this bass purely on Tyler's reputation for quality, because these basses are in the hand's of some of Nashville session masters (Michael Rhodes, Mike Chapman and Mike Brignardello who was once in Giant with Dann Huff) and because I know the guys in The Gallery are great as well. I now understand why these basses do not come up for sale very often, it's because those who have them keep them because they're amazing instruments. This bass is an instrument I will never sell. Remember when you see that headstock don't laugh. This is one serious bass.

Sorry, I just realised it's just taken me an hour to write the review !!

Yup, it arrived at last !! So the question is.... are Tyler basses worthy of their reputation.... [size=4][b][color="#FF0000"]YES THEY ARE !![/color][/b][/size] The case has seen a few miles, but the bass looks much better than it did in the pics I got from The Gallery or Talkbass. These pics aren't bad, but the bass has had a good clean and polish this evening so I'll post some more soon. On the surface it isn't that spectacular, just a black bass with a lot of controls and an oversize headstock with James Tyler emblazoned on it several times. However, pick up the bass and immediately the weight is the surprising thing. It weighs just 3.5kg (I think that's about 7lb 9oz). As someone how own's a Conklin which weighs 14lbs that's a relief. Then there's that neck. It's really a bit of a Goldilock's neck. Not too shallow, not too deep. It's not a smooth 'c' shape either. There's a definate a 'v' in the neck but to me it seems to be off-centre, there's a little more meat towards the E string. In short, it's a wonderful neck to play and I can see why those who have played a Tyler remember the experience. The fingerboard is pau-ferro (also known as Bolivian rosewood) and makes a great playing surface. There's just something about the feel of it, difficult to explain, but if you see a bass with a pau-ferro 'board then try it. Whilst on the subject of the 'board the frets are fine, quite low, but it's the fingerboard edges which make the playing experience special as well. The edges are 'rolled' so the neck flows into the fingerboard, there's no ledge where the 'board finishes, no sharp, vertical cut at the edge of the 'board. It's so comfortable to play. At the top end, there's a set of Hipshot ultralite tuners. I haven't had a bass with these before but they work well and look smart and that's fine be me. The tuners are, of course, attached to "that" headstock. OK, it's large and "James Tyler" is written across it a lot. Now I'll move on... The body of this bass has a familiar shape to it, but has a couple of surprises on the back. The heel has had some meat taken out of it to make playing up high little easier and as a result. the neck plate sits at an angle. There's some shaping on the inside of the lower cutaway as well so all the high frets are available. There's also a generous belly cut as well which does take a big chunk out the thickness of the body. Not that it's very deep anyway as it's under 4cm (1 1/2 inches) at it's thickest. The bridge is a Badass II and this is the first time I've played a bass with one of these. It's certainly substantial, but the length of the base of the bridge came as a surprise. It's just a lot longer than the saddles could travel. I'm not saying that this is a bad thing at all, it just came as a surprise. The bridge has ample adjustment any way you want to go. Luckily though, this had gone through the hands of Martin and/or John at The Gallery, so the set-up was spot on. Now onto the electronics. I have to say up front that I do not have any technical info on the pre-amp so I'm just try to describe what I hear. I do want to get hold of the spec and if I do I'll add it to this review. I do know that the pickups are Bartolini's (or at least are in Bartoloni casings) and that the pre-amp is definately an 18-volt Demeter circuit. One thing I'm really happy about is that there's a master volume control as I hate 2 volumes for 2 pickups. I really don't want to have to turn 2 pots when I've finished playing and just want some silence! As well as the master volume there's a master boost as well. After playing around with the controls this afternoon, this eq is both very subtle and very powerful. The tone of any given note can be altered to make it thinner or thicker. There are no gaps in the range of frequencies that this pre-amp controls. Have a problem up high up can adjust it, have a problem down low you can make it boom or just turn it down a tad. The boost is great as well and just gives more of everything. I have a lot of learning to do with this pre, but so far it's very, very impressive. In closing, I really, really do love this bass. The neck is to die for, it balances great, the playability is great and there isn't a bad sound to be found in that pre-amp. I have to admit that I bought this bass purely on Tyler's reputation for quality, because these basses are in the hand's of some of Nashville session masters (Michael Rhodes, Mike Chapman and Mike Brignardello who was once in Giant with Dann Huff) and because I know the guys in The Gallery are great as well. I now understand why these basses do not come up for sale very often, it's because those who have them keep them because they're amazing instruments. This bass is an instrument I will never sell. Remember when you see that headstock don't laugh. This is one serious bass.

Thanks for the offer I just hope it gets here tomorrow and they don't take it another place beginning with 'G'. The box has Glasgow on it, a full postcode and barcode tracking. How difficult can it be to get it on the right truck.....

There's a film on the Bass Player video site. Go to www.bassplayer.tv choose "BP Live 2007" then "Jonas Hellborg" - and you'll see Jonas playing that bass. The whole thing's worth watching, but if you just want to hear the bass, jump straight to number 5. I think the bass looks very, very cool. Shame it's so darn expensive....

Well, the Tyler was meant to be with me today. Unfortunately, Business Post put it on their vehicle going to Gloucester instead of Glasgow . Had it been at the Glasgow depot I would have just gone down there to get it as it's not too far away. Gloucester, on the other hand, is about 300 miles from here..... Oh, well. Tomorrow it is

I got an e-mail today saying that "Reverb" have taken over 6 of the stores. Bristol, Birmingham, Leicester, Stockton, Sheffield & Glasgow "Reverb" turn out to be part of Arbiter, who distribute Fender (amongst others) in the UK. Makes sense if Sound Control owed you large amounts of money you might as well take over the stock and try to sell it yourself !!

For small areas, try to fog the area with your moist breath like you would clean a pair of glasses. If you run into something you can't clean with that, then get some siliva on your finger and rub that in. Another way is to grab 2 clean rags. Take one of them and put part of it in very hot water, then make sure it's totally squeezed out and crush the rag into a little ball. Take the other rag fold it to a small rectangle and press the crushed, hot rag against it to make sure that all of the excess water is out of it. Wipe the hot rag onto a small area of the body and immediately follow it with a clean rag. Between moist breath, saliva and the hot rag trick you can really clean a bass well. Also, make sure that the bass is clean before you polish it as you'll just be polishing the dirt in otherwise. When polishing, try a furniture cream polish instead of a spray. But whatever you use make sure that it has [b]no silicones [/b]in it. The silicones make a film on the surface which is hard to get off. All of this info came from the Dan Erlewine DVD's on maintenance for electric guitars and basses. I'll be using all of Dan's tips when my Tyler bass turns up [u][b][size=5]TOMORROW !!![/size][/b][/u]

Brill

Great story and cool basses

Very lovely !!

WOW

Very cool. That's going to be one classy instrument.

I sent the dosh to The Gallery today by special delivery. Had a word with Alex this morning and the bass has been duly fettled ready for it's journey north. Can't wait

PM'd

Blimey, what a neat and powerful setup