White Cloud

Yes...and no!

[quote name='ZenBasses' timestamp='1374490119' post='2149204'] Upon searching pictures of maple I came across this Stunning piece of wood.. How many bookmatched top would that have made? Sorry for the rubbish thread name [/quote] A simple design beautifully executed. That is a special piece of wood.

Seems to me that rock music is the only realm of guitar domination....

I really admire this bass - it's going to be an outstanding instrument.

Only ever owned one...bought it new in 87...it was an absolute peach! Gorgeous sound (made some nice recordings with it) and feel. Honestly cannot remember what happened to that bass - my bass purchasing history is becoming extremely blurry as my age progresses.

It seems strange to me that we cant all just enjoy what we enjoy and be happy at that. I love Jaco but honestly have no interest in convincing anyone who doesn't otherwise! I am me, you are you...we are all different.

[quote name='kennyrodg' timestamp='1341612205' post='1721943'] Fair doo's, but I guess it get's my goat when folk take the piss after he's taken the effort to show it us, laid bare his soul and all that. I did say "some" people tho'. Anyway [/quote] Indeed, "smart arsery" seems to be on the increase on this forum and personally I am finding it increasingly unpleasant and tedious. Beautiful bass and a great story. Greece as a country may be suffering at the moment however we should never ever lose sight of the wonderful people that Greece always produced...and continues to produce.

[quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1374253627' post='2146963'] You shouldn't buy British just because it's British, but when you realise that with Simon Farmer, Chris May and Martin Petersen (to name just my favourites) this country has some of the best bass guitar makers in the world, isn't that incentive enough? [/quote] Sure thing. I have always personally recognized this...just wondered what the OP's perspective was.

[quote name='The Dark Lord' timestamp='1374248311' post='2146900'] That's a good question. There is an argument that, if there is a national drive to buy everything from your own country, then that doesn't encourage home based manufacturers to be innovative and competitive. There was a drive in the UK in the 1960s, complete with a Bruce Forsyth song .... which, ironically, failed to chart. You could argue the "I'm Backing Britain" campaign in the 1960s was partly responsible for sustaining our "rust bucket" industrial base - which didn't modernise and disappeared. I think that may have been partly true, but there were many other more significant factors. I feel, if there is a product from the UK, which is of equivalent quality to one from abroad, then I should at least think about purchasing it. Ashdown make some good stuff. I love my MiBass (ironically made in China) but it is from a UK company at least. If they buy in the product from abroad, badge it as theirs and export it 'round the globe, then that does our country some good. And it's a cracking bass amp. I feel in the mood to buy a new bass - so I'm thinking along those lines. It's very difficult to identify many companies who are not "toolshed outfits" though. Good on them for doing it for themselves, but I'm after something made by an established manufacturing company I suppose. Rare in the UK bass market. [/quote] Thanks, that was a good answer. Absolutely nothing wrong with your rationale in any way. Good luck!

[quote name='EssentialTension' timestamp='1374241963' post='2146809'] I was around at the time and my experience of Jaco was not as you describe. [/quote] It is unreasonable & wholly unrealistic to expect everyone's experience of Jaco to be the same.

[quote name='The Dark Lord' timestamp='1374097122' post='2145326'] I'm beginning to feel that I should buy British stuff. I have an Ashdown head and a Barefaced cab - both of which I am really pleased with. What are my options for actual bass guitars? I can think of:[list] [*]Status [*]Shuker [*]GB ? [/list] I guess there must be more? [/quote] Why do you feel that you should be buying British?

[quote name='fumps' timestamp='1374244261' post='2146851'] It's great isn't it ? I get really fed up with people dismissing some music as "Not relevant" but who really gives a sh*te ? music is fun & creative as well, if it feels great then listen to it or just do it. [/quote] Dead right. My only surprise is the OP's surprise that the gig was good...these guys know what they are doing, they have sat nicely near the top of the rock n roll food chain for 40 years! They are top professionals.

[quote name='Dingus' timestamp='1374179577' post='2146251'] Well , the thing is that Jaco and the other artists you mention were radical departures within their given discipline , and changed their medium forever . It is possible for all kinds of fancy Dan bass players to come along with amazing chops and technique , but so far most have struggled to make the impact that Jaco did . I wouldn't put Jaco in the same bracket as Mozart or Shakespear for various reasons ( I could explain why , if you like ) , but in his own modest way he was a genius of sorts , but not because of his technique . His gift was that he thought about and interpreted music differently to other people , and happened to do so via the medium of the bass guitar . Like just about every genius you can think of , Jaco was unconventional , a radical , and unlike anything that had come before him on the bass guitar . He wasn't alone in that by any means - there were other fantastically gifted players of that era - but at his best he was brilliant in his own right . He was versatile too , despite having such a distinctive signature style . He was a World- class jazz bassist and accomplished soloist , but his work as an accompanist in various genres is equally accomplished and shows great maturity and sensitivity to the overall musical picture rather than just his own role in it . Regardless of your own personal taste ( which you are fully entitled to , I hasten to add) Jaco was the real deal , the complete package . I am not one of Jaco's slavish followers by any means , and I couldn't even say he was the player I myself have enjoyed or or directly tried to emulate the most , but his stature on the instrument is undeniable . [/quote] This.

The neck was a dog...it happens. I had a Jaydee that developed an evil back bow that eventually rendered it totally unusable - such a stressful experience. The vast majority of bass necks are wood which can at times be unpredictable and unstable by nature...considering the amount of wooden necks that a company like Fender make there is bound to be one or two like this that slip through the net. Well done to Fender for sorting this. I had a Lakland Skyline neck that developed a crack - they had a new neck shipped to me toot sweet and paid for a luthier to fit it with no qualms. Good customer service is everything.

I really like both Alder & Swamp Ash bodies...nicely selected pieces tick all of my boxes from a resonance perspective. I prefer Swamp Ash to Ash purely from a weight perspective. I believe that all work very well as bass bodies. The Swamp Ash bodied Lakland P & J variants work beautifully well. My Lakland Daryll Jones was featherweight (swamp Ash body) and sounded just so right. I belong to the camp that does believe that body wood contributes to the overall sound of the instrument. I would assert that Swamp Ash bodied basses have a slightly different low end to that of Alder. There are plenty out there who will disagree........

[quote name='Pete Academy' timestamp='1373742311' post='2141206'] f***ing incredible. How can you criticize this??? [/quote] Many members of the Bass Chat audience can be extremely hard to please.

I use both 4 & 5 string basses live. The vocalist that I play with is extremely talented but has a limited range...we frequently have to transpose many of the covers that we play - often resulting in a loss of low end. Having the 5 string in the toolbox enables me to easily compensate for this. Horses for courses. I tried 6 string a while ago...but found the extra high end totally useless for what I was playing.

I really like this...looks very cool.

In many ways you are in GAS nirvana...coming into cash etc. The other side of the coin is that actually making this decision is a nightmare! You need to play as many of the basses on your wish list as possible, make your decision ...and then live with the consequences!

It is up to you to decide, but this is unlikely to work in most cases. I would also be wary of deciding that he is a good guy after just one audition....

Entwistle's Alembic explorer that he used at Live AId...the one that worked that is!

A local bassist got super excited once with the super thin frets on my old Lakland Daryll Jones bass....I hadn't even noticed. I don't get excited over frets and honestly couldn't explain the difference.

[quote name='Soloshchenko' timestamp='1372969985' post='2132366'] Lovely basses these. Do it [/quote] Patience my dear fellow, patience. All good things come to those who can wait. £380 looks like a great deal for the sunburst!