molan

[quote name='ead' timestamp='1363594568' post='2014367'] Beauty is very much in the eye of the beholder I think. Fender is certainly iconic, but being iconic doesn't necessarily imbue greatness. Plenty of examples out there of icons that are not best in class but survive none the less. [/quote] Funnily enough I was at a gig not that long ago and someone was playing what looked like a 51 Relic Precision. Two guys standing behind me caught my interest when one of them when I heard one of them say "you know, people always say Leo got it right first time - well he didn't when it came to basses! What an ugly brute that guy is playing, hideous scratchplate and just about the ugliest headstock of all time!" I have to admit that when I took a good look at the bass I could see what he was saying. The early P bass headstocks just look 'wrong' to me somehow. They work on a small bodied design like a Telecaster guitar but look out of proportion on a bass. Absolutely agree on the pickguard too, again it just looks 'wrong' on any bass to me

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1363600441' post='2014424'] Plus, you'd feel like a gay pixie on acid if you actually gigged with one. [/quote] In that case I personally know 4 gay pixies - I must ask them about their acid supplier. I hadn't realised it was so plentiful!

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1363557282' post='2014167'] Why do people think that kids only deserve crappily-made stuff, 'in case it's a five-minute wonder'? Self fulfilling, really. [/quote] Could just be that a got a 'Friday afternoon' bass but I'd been chatting to a young girl earlier the same day who had reached a point where she was either going to carry on with bass lessons (on a pretty nasty bass) or continue with ice skating lessons. Guess which one shed already chosen. . .

[quote name='Telebass' timestamp='1363552714' post='2014084'] Only to those who find this kind of thing 'nice looking'. Otherwise, the reverse is true. My personal view is that nothing built since 1957 is particularly good looking next to a P-bass. There's just no apparent form-follows-function, no matter the design intent. They just do not work for my eye. If you like 'em, etc etc, great, but don't go saying how BAD Fenders are because of it. Most of these won't be around in fifty years, and Fender will have knocked up its centenary. THAT'S class. Staying power due to pure excellence of original design. No other basses have this, and it's likely that few of us will live to see that change. Big claim? Sure. But probably valid. [/quote] I was trapped in a room with a '58 Fender recently and was physically sick, full-on projectile vomiting. I must ensure I never venture near to any instrument produced beyond 1957 ever again. . .

[quote name='Telebass' timestamp='1363551677' post='2014070'] If I were given one, I'd get rid of it, pronto. Horrible, ugly things. I don't care how they might sound or play, I could not look at it. Come to that, I'd have trouble being in the same room. Don't get me wrong, i'm not being negative for the sake of it. They just repel me. As do a good many other 'furniture' basses, it must be said. But, if pushed, I'd have to say that there's nowhere even faintly approaching £5000 of difference between any Ritter and a Mexican P-bass. There just isn't, period. And I know which I'd have, even if I had millions. And, to reiterate, I'm not jusrt talking Ritter here, but a myriad other so-called 'high-end' basses. They simply aren't. they are, in the main, just high-priced. [/quote] I had the huge misfortune of attempting to play a Mex Fender recently and was appalled at the quality control. Skunk stripe standing proud of the neck, fret ends slashing my fingers, really low pickup output, scratchy pots and a crackly jack socket. Designed as a 'starter bass' this was exactly the kind of thing to stop new young players from ever venturing back to bass playing

[quote name='bassman7755' timestamp='1363541854' post='2013852'] For guitar it wouldn't even cross my mind to use a "real" amp as the state of the art for modelling is so good. For bass the one issue that modelling amps still have is the processing delay which while less than 10ms I find quite off putting, doesn't bother me on guitar though. I imagine however that you instinctively compensate one you get used to it. But yes tonally I'm willing to bet that almost noone can tell the difference in a blind test. [/quote] There's a guitarist near me that uses a digital modelling pre-amp which was seriously expensive. Every time I hear it I know almost immediately that it's modelled and not the 'real thing'. Always sounds over-processed and lacking in the natural warmth and zing of a good valve guitar amp. Maybe it's just the way he's programmed it though

From what I've seen it's only going to effect the market in other countries when their currencies are weaker. Currently it's good for Eurozone buyers to buy in the UK but people over there can't afford to sell their basses at the prices we have in the UK because they'll lose a lot of money. Just look at the classifieds here - many instruments listed for sale from people in Europe are way more expensive than UK equivalent prices. I've seen a couple recently for sale at prices that are higher then brand new UK prices!

[quote name='Paul S' timestamp='1363513941' post='2013425'] Superb. H&O wrote and played some seriously good music. I saw them live in the 80s and they blew me away. T Bone Wolk was just one of the best, GE Smith insanely brilliant on guitar. [/quote] I've seen H&O several times live, DH solo as well, and they were always seriously good. Exceptional live band and often much better than the, somewhat 'over-produced' studio sound they had. DH is phenomenal live singer and the harmonies were always absolutely spot on. T-Bone and GE were always a real highlight as well Like the Sarah cover too - only listening on iPad at the moment but will definitely give it another listen with decent speakers when I get home

[quote name='rednose200' timestamp='1363478500' post='2013299'] Why would you want to bother with one of these things. Unless you are a millionaire of course and dont give a fornication if it gets chipped or not. Other wise buy a bass that you can really enjoy playing without financial terror if it gets a ding. Pointless bass in my opinion. An exercise in craftsmanship - yes of course, but you can buy far better basses for much less. IMHO [/quote] Maybe because they are absolutely the most exceptional basses to play and they sound amazing? Really inspiring because they make you want to pick them up and play them at every opportunity. I can play stuff on mine that I simply can't get close to on any other bass. The neck profile on my favourite of the two is better, IMHO, than anything I've ever played. I'm a long, long way from being a millionaire and I have two. They are for playing and not hanging on the wall. I drag mine out to rehearsals all the time and regularly lend them to people to try. Certainly more than happy to recommend them to anyone!

[quote name='thisnameistaken' timestamp='1363464945' post='2013147'] Do they all play the same old Hall & Oates tune each week or is there some other songs sometimes? [/quote] All,sorts of stuff. Usually a mix of H&O, originals from whoever the guest artist is and some random covers of other songs.

[quote name='White Cloud' timestamp='1363375427' post='2012143'] Agreed. These people are not at the top of the musical food chain by accident! [/quote] It's been said elsewhere here but the whole 'Live at Daryl's House' series is great. Well worth checking out a few of the shows - production values and performances are universally excellent!

So basically he's just an effing awesome player

I really like this version of the Daryl Hall sound and I really like the tone Klyde Jones has: [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GoXxdObGKuI[/media] Looks like a relatively straightforward Fender 5 string and an Ampeg cab, can't quite work out what amp he's using, maybe also an Ampeg? I just wondered if there's anything else obvious in the signal chain that's giving the rounded punchy tone he's getting?

Perfect reply

I've had this problem with small bodied headless basses but the issue for me is the point at which the upper horn strap hangs. I'm used to the typical position around 12th/13th fret. A lot of the smaller headless basses are up around 15th/16th fret and this often feels like the neck has been thrown a few inches out to the left of you. Never had an issue on something like Jack where the strap is in 'standard' position.

I love being able to choose between totally different basses on different occasions. I think for my last 4 rehearsals I've taken a '63 Fender Jazz, a Celinder J Update, Status Classic 5 and a Ritter Cora - loved playing every one of them!

Is it Francis H on bass?

Played three of these today - fantastic necks on all of them, so easy to play

[quote name='TheGreek' timestamp='1362668986' post='2003088'] If money was no object would I have one?? Absolutely. Would I ever take it out?? Unlikely. Pub Gig? Never - it'd be like taking Audrey Hepburn (dressed to the nines) into your local Public Bar... Must say these at the LBGS were sex for your eyes.. [IMG]http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q639/FairfaxAikman/LBGS2013015_zps4a7634a0.jpg[/IMG] [/quote] Top left and bottom right (0f the Ritters) do it for me - but then it's possible that I'm biased . . .

[quote name='Happy Jack' timestamp='1362669671' post='2003104'] What a delight! What an absolute delight! As a player, it was simply superb. It felt just right (even though I'm a P-bass man), it sounded just right (even though I'm a P-bass man), it was dead easy to play (even though etc. etc.). [/quote] Kinda sums them up for me really! I could say exactly the same thing but just substitute P for J

[quote name='Mr Fretbuzz' timestamp='1362660112' post='2002858'] I'd love a funky coloured one but how good do they sound? [/quote] They sound universally great! Jens has a really good understanding of woods and sound and can custom build them to try and tailor them to someone's requirements. One of mine is an alder bodied passive model with single coil pickups. Kinda sounds like a really nice Fender J but without any of the foibles

[quote name='Kiwi' timestamp='1362644859' post='2002488'] The price of older instruments is usually dictated by nostalgia more than anything. If there aren't a whole load of associations to a large enough segment of the market, the price realistically won't go up much if at all. Supply won't outstrip demand. [/quote] Foderas have shot up in value in recent years. Many earlier ones now worth double what they were a few years ago. Used Ritters are currently, understandably, worth less than a new one because they haven't hit that level where the new prices have risen in line with several years of inflation However, like Fodera who've now had 30 years to grow, it wouldn't surprise me if Ritters are trading at well above their original new prices in a few years time. I own a couple and I have to say that they are just stunning basses to play. Each one sounds a little different from the last but all of them feel beautiful in your hands and can be very inspiring to play - they just make you want to reach out and grab them for a quick blast every time you walk past the guitar rack I have a pub gig in a few weeks - quite tempted to use my main Cora for it. . .