White Cloud

Landmark recording...love this era of Miles's work. I like to drift off to sleep listening to this and "in a silent way" on my headphones. Jazz fueled dreams man!

Peter Gabriel is at the top of the food chain. Awesome!

[quote name='Dingus' timestamp='1380556787' post='2227037'] I honestly believe that 99% of players ( myself included) could be perfectly well-served by a decent quality off the shelf, mass-produced bass. From my own experience, the difference between a good mass produced bass and a custom built job in terms of the usefullness of the final product is often minimal . I'm not saying this to be inflamatory or provocative , but a good Fender Jazz Bass, for example, will do just the same job for you as a custom -made Celinder or Alleeva Coppolo or whatever, and you can have just as much fun playing it . Of course lots of high end basses have their own strengths and are great instruments to own and use , but a whole industry has grown up around the questionable idea that ditching one perfectly good bass for a subjectively better one will make you a more satisfied player and therefore a happier person . Listen to some of the bass comparisons that crop up on Basschat every so often and there is no automatic direct correlation between top priced boutique basses and the best overall sound . There are players out there who have discovered that their own individual style does actually neccessitate a custom -made instrument , but they are few and far between . [/quote] Couldn't have said it better than this.

I empathise...wholly unacceptable in my opinion. Disappointed to hear about Letts basses in particular. Would like to hear Jon's perspective on this (reputation is everything).

Have you considered hypnotherapy? It is a VERY POWERFUL and EFFECTIVE treatment for chronic pain. Physio/Chiro = well worth a go. Doctors = pain killers.

[quote name='Grand Wazoo' timestamp='1380465386' post='2225648'] Although not an SR300, I have a 1984 Ibanez Roadstar II RB650, which I bought it last month for £199 + £20 postage and all I had to do to it was to give it a thorough clean, I've had to scrub some serious dirt and grime from the neck and cavities and after a set of new strings and a quick setup it plays better than a bass worth at least a thousand notes. I was reading about it on TalkBass and some people there were saying the pickups was the only thing that let this bass down, but I reckon whoever said that don't know what they are talking about, these pickups are fantastic, clear as day, loud and the simple controls work like a dream, infact to me this is one of the best P/J 4 string basses I've ever played. [url="https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.587046798004670.1073741870.446213212088030&type=3"]https://www.facebook...12088030&type=3[/url] [/quote] These are wonderful basses....and yes, great sounding pups!

[quote name='Dingus' timestamp='1380385657' post='2224619'] Scientifically speaking ( and I've got a Grade 3 C.S.E in Biology , so I know what I'm talking about ) , older wood usually has a lower moisture content and the resin contained within the grain of the wood crystallises over time , supposedly giving it a different resonance [/quote] Absolutely correct!

Reliced instruments are extremely "fashionable" at the moment...purely for reasons of aesthetic trend. Pristine instruments were the "fashion" of that period of time. Fashions change almost as often as the weather. For example just look at the hair style and clothing of the 70's muso's playing those pristine instruments!

[quote name='Muzz' timestamp='1380293501' post='2223411'] I'd love to try and get a finish like this - won't sanding it down remove the grain finish though? [/quote] No.

The type of body wood will affect the way you need to approach this as different species react differently. Danish oil is a great, low skill/maintenance option especially when mixed with oil based stain...but care needs to be taken to avoid patchy satin patches. Being careful in the rub down process will take care of that easily enough though.

[quote name='arthurhenry' timestamp='1379621863' post='2215049'] I have never expressed this view upon seeing any bass player play because I fully believe that with the right amount of dedication, persistence and hard work, anyone can play anything that anyone else can play. I hear and read the phrase a lot though. If this is a realistic acknowledgement of lack of time, pressures of everyday life, etc. I understand. However, if it's due to a perceived lack of talent, or the idea that it would be impossible for one to reach a particular standard, I say that's rubbish. [/quote] I agree in principal...however would add the word "Education" to your assertion that sufficient dedication, persistence and hard work are required. Having a great coach would undoubtedly help.

[quote name='DarkHeart' timestamp='1379702825' post='2216009'] Ok this is probably a pointless thread but as the title says im a fretless virgin, what are the best tips to success for someone who has always had frets to rely on? I will eventually get pics of the gorgeous fretless jazz ive just built when the person (not from here i hope) that ive bought the control panel off, gets his finger out of his arse! [/quote] I don't think this is a pointless thread at all. I think it is an excellent question! My advice...as previously stated avoid overuse when it comes to the old vibrato.

Yolanda Charles who is a member here used a Levinson Blade for some time...that's a good enough recommendation for me!

Looks awesome...that neck pocket is a fantastic piece of clean router work. Nice!

[quote name='Dingus' timestamp='1379528622' post='2213805'] A very good point, Rich . You can put a Badass on using the existing screw holes for the stock Fender bridge , and you can get a Sadowsky outboard preamp that clips to your strap ( or indeed choose any of the other fine external bass preamps currently on the market ), so no need to butcher a vintage investment . The East J-Retro is also usually a direct retrofit that doesn't need any irreversible alterations to a standard Jazz Bass, if I understand correctly . [/quote] Very true this! I owned a 78 Jazz to which I fitted a badass & used a Sadowsky outboard pre - getting a Marcus-esq sound wasn't hard.

Having played actives for many years I had a epiphany when I was using an Alembic bass and realised that sometimes less is more. There is a lot to be said for passive basses that you can just plug in and play. P basses seem to just sit in a band situation and work despite their basic nature. Horses for courses of course. Try everything you can get a hold of - Its all part of the experience of being a bassist and finding your thing.

Have been looking at the 5 string version of this lately as a stable mate for my BB714....they look bang on the money. The best bit is the Yamaha logo on the headstock - that says to me "very well built, incredible value and reliable". Nice.

[quote name='BassTractor' timestamp='1379439050' post='2212758'] No worries. There's this guy in Upper Volta who ... Seriously though, I may be quite similar even though my above post might point in a different direction. I just want to learn about amps, and imagine that after that I will settle for a certain style and one rig (or two if must) for the rest of my life. Now basses on the other hand ... . [/quote] The issue I always have is that as soon as I have saved up enough cash for a nice amp.....a nice bass catches my eye instead lol!

I will be watching this one with interest...as a big Carl Thompson fan I really like the look of these basses. Love the specs....it's gonna be a good one!

Not sure if it's just me but I find it really hard to get excited about amplification in the same way that I do about basses. I use one of those 500w TC Electronic amps (not sure of the model)...it has 2x10's and does absolutely everything that I want from an amp. Even sounds good!

I have used Thomann previously....a very expensive instrument. I had the same reservations - but they were quite excellent. The level of service was absolutely first class and I would have no hesitation about recommending them.

[quote name='4000' timestamp='1379327841' post='2211211'] This is Yes you know. Which is kind of the point. [/quote] Yes I know lol.

[quote name='Lowender' timestamp='1379295019' post='2211001'] My opinion is based on the fact that he's a brilliant player but his solos are generic and uninspired. I'm not alone. I also recommended Squire to a bassist who was unfamiliar with his work and he checked out a solo and thought he was awful. I then played a track from The YES Album and then he realized how good he was. Yes, music is subjective but why make it an issue at every turn? The point is, not everybody can do everything equally well -- even great players. [/quote] I agree that not everybody can do everything equally well......but as a bassist I don't want to be able play every style though, only the style's that are useful, or "right", to me as a player within the music that I want to play. Jeff Berlin would rip it up on a fretless - but has a very strict and outspoken opinions about why he would avoid doing so. I'm certain Louis Johnson would be able to jam with Zep and do a decent job of JPJ lines also. Anthony would probably be a monster slap player IF he wanted to be....Chris? well, he has the kind of ego that comes from living in the type of bubble that comes with being a rock god. His solo's are self indulgent rubbish imo...

[quote name='SpaceChick' timestamp='1379255779' post='2210379'] I had a 5 string.... I tried hard to love it, but just couldn't. I've never needed to go below D for a song, so found it easier to quickly drop tune anyhow. So my 5 string sat unused and unloved. So a couple of weeks ago I sold it and put the money towards my dream bass an Ibanez SR1000..... Best decision I've made so far!! In other 5 string news, my bass teacher has a 5 string Sei bass with a high C rather than a Low B.... That is quite a thing of beauty [/quote] Congratulations on the SR1000 - stunning basses