Dingus

[quote name='TRBboy' timestamp='1376929436' post='2181056'] Cheap and cheerful, but has anyone got any experience of the dunlop s/s strings? I'm sure I remember reading that one of the "Boutique" type of bass manufacturers was using them on their basses, and also that some fairly notable players from the states were using them (out of choice!). [/quote] Dunlop strings are very high-profile at the moment , it seems to me . I have never tried the stainless steel , but the nickel ones I have had were O.K but fairly unremarkable overall . At least they aren't particulaly expensive . One thing I would say about these Dunlop strings is that they claim to be low-tension , but to my sensibilities they are just "normal" tension , not tight and not slack . They are certainly not elastic-feeling like DR round cores such as Hi Beams , Sunbeams , Fatbeams ect .

If this "discrepancy" is the one I think it is , that GW has referred to before , then it is a moot point whether it exists except for the most discerning of players ( I've certainly never noticed it on mine ) , and it would probably come under the banner of "design flaw " rather than fault .

I only got my Musicman Bongo at the instigation of Mrs Dingus . For some reason, she thought looking at the EBMM catalogue for these basses would inspire me to new heights of creativity . "Why don't you go out and get yourself a Bongo mag ? It might give you some new ideas " she would say all the time . I thought I would surprise her by going one better than looking at a magazine by coming home with the actual bass one day , but she only seemed dissappointed , as usual . Oh well .

[quote name='cloudburst' timestamp='1376814583' post='2179297'] I'm looking at a Wal just now and need some advice. This got me thinking that it might be a good idea (if not already done) to catalogue our resident experts for future reference. I've had some really good Steinberger advice in the past - but just because some decent soul chanced to notice my post and PM'd me rather than by me knowing who to ask. Anyways...for now: who is our Wal expert? CB [/quote] I used to play Wals , have owned a few, and used to go to Wycombe to get my basses serviced ect , so knew Pete and the crew a little bit , but I wouldn't claim to be an expert by any means . Is there anything specific you want to know about Wal basses ?

[quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1376836216' post='2179707'] I was going to say that IME Elites were fairly average but then it occurred to me that a lot of pickiness in selecting strings has been to do with the fact that as a 5-string player getting a low B that works well with my rather aggressive playing style has been the over-riding factor in my evaluation of strings. Once you take that out of the equation, I'd be quite happy with the above-mention Elites. In fact I'm also of the opinion that if you play a 34" scale 4-string bass with standard gauges (40/45 to 95/105) you can't go far wrong with Rotosounds bought new (not ones that have been sat in the shop for months). [/quote] I would add the proviso to anything I have said about strings that I have never owned a five string bass , so all my observations are based on the humble four string . That low B string thing is a whole different issue . Taperwound / contact core ? 125/ 130/135 ? These are a whole host of problems I have not yet had the dubious pleasure of having had to deal with .

Hi Beams and especially Fat Beams are great, especially if you want a more flexible feeling string . I find DR Strings last pretty well , ( especially the nickel-wound Sunbeams ) , but as with any string , a lot depends on how much sweat and grease the player is leaving on them . I would also endorse BRX's recommendation of La Bella steels , too . La Bella are excellent quality strings all round , so you can't really go wrong with them . Also , if you can be bothered to find them on the internet and get them sent from the States , I can thoroughly recommend GHS Super Steels . They are very bright with a great overall tone , last well , and they are a balanced tension set that feels really good . They are reasonably priced , too . I would, however , make the overall point that expensive , slightly exotic strings like DR'S or La Bellas or whatever don't really end up sounding that much better in terms of the final sound coming out of your amp than strings that cost half the price in the U.K . Are two sets of Elites ( or something similar ) a better use of your money than one set of DR's ? I have spent a fortune experimenting with strings over the years , and I have yet to find the definitive brand that I can say " Eureka ! These are the ones !" . More and more , I am settling for some fairly ordinary ones and finding they do the job just as well .( I am also still occasionally buying rubbish ones that make me swear a lot and complain that I have just wasted another twenty -odd quid . )

[quote name='Fionn' timestamp='1372848858' post='2130574'] For many many years I've played stereotypically classic active Warwick basses (dolphin/ thumb/ and presently a steamer stage1). So much so that they have influenced my approach to bass playing over the long haul ... but I find myself teetering on the brink of change. A crisis of "bass identity". I'm just not 100% sure about taking the plunge. The thing that screwed my head up was playing a Jazz bass (American Standard) in a shop last year. I loved it; The sound, the feel of the neck, the playing position ([i]not so much the aesthetics or the feel of the big slabby body though[/i]). The thing that really got me is that mellow rolled-off passive vibe that sounds so good in the old school funk and disco that I love, yet it could still be tight, poky, and defined. The bass felt so "forgiving" to the touch and really suited my style. Thing is though, I love my Streamer for all its punch, prescence, growly groovliciousness, woody goodness, and sexy good looks. They are so different. I can't justify nor afford both. AAAAArrrghhhh!!! I'm gassing like hell for a Jazz, but it's a leap of faith and regret is a terrible thing. Jazz Bass players! Streamer players! Help! convince me, one way or the other. [/quote] Sounds to me like you are dyed-in-the-wool Warwick player , so the bottom line is that the Streamer has to stay . I guarantee that if you sold it , you would be full of remorse and end up on a quest to find another one in no time at all . So , in the fullness of time , you need to get a decent Jazz Bass of one kind or another . The good news is that there are [u]loads [/u]out there . Even a casual browse of the Basschat classifieds will throw up a lot of possibilities , and there are always good deals to be done . Why not save up a few quid over a period of time , and make adding a Jazz Bass a medium - term project ? You can enjoy looking in the meantime . I would also concur that a SS2 will never substitute for a Fender Jazz . The woods , hardware , and electronics on a SS2 are all in many ways the antithesis of what makes a Fender sound "Fenderish" . If you get a Jazz in addition to your Warwick , between the two you will have a huge variety of sounds available to you . Having said all of that , I find a good Jazz Bass is so versatile that I can quite happily use that as my only bass in any musical context I can think of , so if , for whatever reason , in future you ever ended up with just a Jazz , then it wouldn't be the end of the World .

Are those the original knobs on the one with a maple board ? Looks like the original pickups have been swapped for EMG'S , too . I'm sure it still sounds great though . I remember Steve Harris having one of these that he played occasionally , and , by way of contrast , 1980's London - based session ace Graham Edwards ( he lives in L.A nowadays ) played one of these a lot , too . In fact : [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7mMoeWkDhqA[/media] (I hereby claim my Basschat 1980's Bass Guitar Anorak award for knowing these things . Yes , my life[i] is[/i] that empty )

Great basses from Ibanez's classic era . Excellent quality instruments .

Someone one told me that if I wanted to bring a bass back from America without paying duty I would stand a much better chance if I disassembled it and brought it back as parts . I got away with it but , even with the neck unattached , the amount of rectal discomfort was overwhelming and I would certainly never try anything like that again .

[quote name='uncle psychosis' timestamp='1376767002' post='2178946'] Having recently dealt with US customs and immigration there is no way on earth I would be risking anything with them. "Welcome to the USA", indeed [/quote] It's because your Scottish - they're worried your going to get pissed and smash their country up . ( Cue another round of completely unfounded allegations that Dingus is prejudiced against Scotland and its' two -club football league . Actually , make that one- club football league ...)

[quote name='stingrayPete1977' timestamp='1376766475' post='2178939'] He sounds sh*t live mostly (and I'm a fan) [/quote] He needs to stop flailing his head around like that or he will get neck problems ! As my Dad once said about Angus Young when we were watching AC/DC on t.v when I was a kid , imagine how well he could play if he stood still and stopped throwing himself around so much .

[quote name='White Cloud' timestamp='1376769259' post='2178998'] I don't really get too excited over materialistic things nowadays...acquisition only guarantee's a short term high. Some of the most expensive basses I have owned have also been the most disappointing. I will say though...the Jaydee MK's are one of the most attractive bass designs ever (in my eyes). Good luck to the OP in his quest. It's horses for courses. [/quote] JD's are without doubt beautiful bases , and I would join with you in wishing the O.P the best of luck in finding a good example . If it's any help on that score , the Mark 2 Jaydee body style with the " funk groove " cutout in the body between the neck pickup and the end of the fingerboard was the predominant design J.D were producing at the time of the dodgy era , so any bass in that style I would be extra - cautious about . To digress for a moment , you are absolutely right about looking for happiness in material things being a fruitless pusuit , and I can enjoy playing a good inexpensive bass just as much as any expensive one.. What's more , nowadays the differences between the two are getting to be less , on the whole .

[quote name='White Cloud' timestamp='1376765815' post='2178924'] Wow...small world indeed! If I recall correctly I am sure that I actually shed tears over that Jaydee....I was young and not quite as hard as I am now [/quote] I am genuinely sorry to hear that , and I can relate to that kind of upset over a bass . Nowadays I take such dissappointments as being par for the course with this game , but that is a luxury afforded by a greater degree of affluence compared to back in those days when getting a new bass was a [u][i]very [/i][/u]special event , My Musician Bass had a slight electronic shielding issue , from what I remember , and I always felt like the transition from playing on the A string from playing on the E was wrong somehow . I suppose you learn from experience , and unfortunately it tends to be bitter experience .

[quote name='stingrayPete1977' timestamp='1376765682' post='2178923'] Anyway what was this thread about? [/quote] It was about how Flea had bought an Alleva Coppollo bass and wanted his money back because it didn't sound like a Stingray . I dont think Flea makes all his basses sound like Stingrays by any means , but he cetainly does make them all sound like him , if that makes sense . I think when he plays a Wal or Spector or Alembic he doesn't come even close to the Stingray sound that we all know so well except that he always has an agressive edge to his playing .His Modulus basses come very close to that Music Man sound , and , rightly or wrongly , he will always be most closely associated with that design of bass .

I saw them play live back in '93 and they were great . They had the World at their feet in those days , and more women than Russel Brand and Harry Styles combined .

[quote name='White Cloud' timestamp='1376760227' post='2178829'] The jaydee was the most beautiful bass I had ever seen...I was young and in love. Things went sour quickly and I eventually took it back to the shop where I bought it and we agreed upon a straight swap for a fretless Ibanez Musician - which turned out to be a lovely totally reliable beast. I believe that the Jaydee eventually required a new neck. [/quote] Wow , we could be bass twins separated at birth ! Funnily enough , I went shopping for my first expensive bass in the mid -1980's , nearly bought a Jaydee Roadie 2 A. they had in the shop , which was also the most beautiful thing I had ever layed my eyes on up to that point , but had to settle for an Ibanez Musician Bass as I couldn't quite stretch my money to the J.D . In retrospect , that probably turned out to be a lucky escape .As I recall , by 1985[u] [i]a lot [/i][/u]of J.D basses were developing "issues " of one kind or another , so much so that even in the age before the internet ect , it very soon became common knowledge amongst players at the time that something was amiss . The necks were too skinny in profile and were made out of walnut , which wasn't hard enough to resist bending . Add to that dodgy truss rods and you have got a recipe for disaster . I also recall a bad batch of thinners used in the laquer caused a number of basses to have finish problems , if I remember correctly . With that knowledge , my custon J.D had a neck made from laminated rock maple with walnut stringers ( instead of the other way round, as it was on the older JD's ) , with a more substantial neck profile and graphite reinforcement . Thankfully , it stayed stable the whole time I had it .

To my ears , they were never the same band after the digeridoo player left .

Pino laying it down in the studio for Alain with his Lakland Bob Glaub : [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uAmLl2Jn7ZY[/media] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=61N3vQC-8Tk

[quote name='warwickhunt' timestamp='1376752847' post='2178718'] How can the the issues with the bass be a moot point? Surely the issues with the bass are ALL that matters! Regardless of what I feel about the buyer/seller, the situation as it 'appears' on TB or of AC basses in general, the 'fact' is that the bass is a poor specimen of an instrument regardless of builder or price point and that isn't subjective. Any way, I'm sure like many I have reached my own conclusions based upon what I have seen, read and debated and I'll leave this be for now. [/quote] That's your prerogative , but , put simply , the point I trying to make is that if the builder warns you that the bass isn't exactly perfect and you agree to buy without properly ascertaining the true extent of the wear then that can be a rather elastic scenario when it comes to assessing the permissable degree of"inconsistancies" on the bass . With hindsight , both parties should have been way more specific .

[quote name='warwickhunt' timestamp='1376750493' post='2178686'] You may have overlooked one or two other person's observations but to a few people it is about the multiplicity of the sad scenario; the quality of the instrument sold as well as his response on TB! Aside from anyone's personal stance on JC, as far as I am aware there were no 'unproven accusations'... or did I miss something? [/quote] The issues with the instrument are a moot point because of the ambigous nature of the understanding between the buyer and Jimmy Coppollo . The buyer knew the bass was compromised , he just wasn't expecting it to be [i]that [/i]compromised . As I have already tried to highlight , we only know what the buyer is telling us . We don't know what he he may be omitting from his account . There is great scope for subjectivity in his version of events . The unproven accusation is that Jimmy Coppollo was knowingly dishonest and unscrupulous in his dealings with the customer . It's quite possible that there was in fact a genuine misunderstanding or faliure in communication between the two parties . Regarding JC's reaction , in hindsight he could have managed things better in that respect , but like I just said , public relations are not neccesarilly his forte , and he was most likely feeling a bit upset by that point . He's only human , after all . As far as I am aware , there has been no chorus of other disgruntled AC customers chiming in with similar experiences , so maybe this incident is a one -off abberation .

[quote name='Dazzler' timestamp='1376750120' post='2178682'] Thanks dingus, yeh heard a bad batch of wood knocking about in the mid 80s and a problem with the truss rod's. But I will have a look at any available. Wanted one for 30 years finally got the cash and can't find one! cheers [/quote] Just try and be a little bit patient and I'm sure one will turn up . I wouldn't be surprised if someone on Basschat reads your post and decides that they would be prepared to sell you theirs . There are quite a few of them in circulation due to the fact that they were very popular basses back in the 1980's when Mark King was so high - profile . The problems with the quality were mainly due to John having to take on help to try and cope with the overwhelming Worldwide demand for his basses at that time . John Diggins made me a bass in the late 1980's when he had gone back to building by himself and he was much happier working that way , and the bass was absolutely perfect in every respect and never had any issues whatsoever in all the time I owned it . JD is a lovely chap and one of the best builders and repairmen in the country , bar none .

Keep an eye on the For Sale section on Basschat . They are not all that uncommon , but be aware that , at the height of their popularity in the mid-1980's , the manufacturing quality of some of JD's basses went a bit awry , as John would admit himself . Ideally , you would want a fairly early ( pre '83 /84?) or fairly late (post '88ish) example to have a better chance of getting a good one , on the whole .

[quote name='wateroftyne' timestamp='1376748640' post='2178653'] That's a LOT of cheese. [/quote] Cheese strings .

[quote name='wateroftyne' timestamp='1376748640' post='2178653'] The strings were there for the whole tour. [/quote] Just shows how much I know !