Dingus

Dave Ellefson seems to be very popular with the ladies on Basschat . Much more popular than me , in fact . I'm sure they will be along soon to fawn over him and his admittedly very impressive pick playing .

Weight is indeed a big issue regarding basses for a lot of people it seems , nowadays . It never used to be that way - back in the 1980's I don't remember one conversation with a bass player or bass builder about the prohibitive weight of any particular instrument , despite the fact that there were loads of basses around at the time that weighed a ton due to the exotic woods they were made with and the chunky brass hardware they were all equipped with . The funny thing about weight and basses is that there seems to be a tipping point around the 9 pound mark for most people . Under that feels light , over that starts to feel heavy . Half a pound either way seems to make a huge amount of difference to the percieved weight . Anything around or over ten pounds starts to feel very heavy . I like lighter basses myself , but if you want to play a selection of models , you have to accept that some designs are inherently heavier than others . 10 pounds is light for an Alembic Series 2 , for example , but heavy for a Fender Precision . If you want to play a Warwick Thumb or classic Yamaha BB bass , you will struggle to ever find one under 9 pounds . Precision Basses on the whole also tend to be lighter than Jazz Basses , although I am not sure why . I find a very wide ( 41/2 inch ) high- quality padded leather strap helps a lot , but if you want to play certain models of bass , you just have to accept that they are going to weigh a bit more . It's also worth pointing out that basses with compact bodies , like Warwicks , feel heavier than basses of the same weight with larger bodies .

My Precision - style basses have got unusually slim and narrow necks , so that is probably why superficially this one looks a little more meaty to my eyes . I can sympathise with not being able to have a go on it yet - once I had a brand new bass delivered and , due to unfortunate circumstances , didn't even get to open the box for three and a half weeks !

That looks absolutely gobsmacking . I would love to be wrapping my paws round that chunky - looking neck right now and knocking out some classic 1970's basslines on this thing , preferably through an Ampeg amp . More details of how it sounds and feels as soon as possible , please . .

I grew up listening to Frank Zappa , and I definitely think he had a spark of genius to him - certainly he had an abundance of talents and originality - but was damned to an extent by having such a prolific output . Like a number of other exceptionally gifted artists , he needed an editor , someone to say "no" to him once in a while and to cut down or in certain instances cut out certain excesses and indulgences in his music . He made so many records and created so much music , all on his own uncompromising terms , that it's not surprising some of it has held up better than some other parts . If Frank had gone the same route as most mainstream rock artists and turned out an album every two or three years , imagine on the depth of material he would have had to choose from . With some outside input , he could have honed that material into a consumate rock album to compete with any of his contemporaries . But the reality is that if he had done that he wouldn't have been the Frank Zappa that we all know of many of us love , whatever his percieved shortcomings . And he took a penguin , and put it in bondage .

They look like bloody awful basses to me , to be honest . Kind of [i]faux [/i]- Carl Thompson wannabes . I suppose ten years is a long time in the world of bass building , and fashions change . By the time these basses get delivered they might have come back into fashion , though . I would love to know what the original projected delivery date was for some of these basses . If this was a U.K - based builder and it was Basschat members who were waiting , it would have been resolved a long time ago . Either Ann Robinson and Watchdog would have got involved or we would have got together and gone round in person and sorted the guy out in a vigilante fashion ,.

Being a bass builder involves actually building basses , not being able to build them but not actually getting round to doing it in ten years . These folks should have had refunds several years ago . In effect , they have been scammed .

[quote name='4 Strings' timestamp='1370208635' post='2097713'] This is more like it, actual experience, thanks. Any recordings or tracks to show off a stiff neck against a less stiff neck? Very interested in the difference in quarter-sawn necks [/quote] The diffence isn't such that you would be abe to clearly identify it in itself on a track , but more in the overall integrity of the sound of the bass and the lack of deadspots and overall eveness of the tone . If you listen to something like the Yamaha 2024 / 25 basses they have quartersawn necks , which I'm sure contributes to the overall superb sound of those basses , as do all U.S.A -made Laklands , which also sound remarkably good : [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rscMwAdyhLE&list=PL20B2939BE19B3BB9[/media] [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zw-MUm9-irA[/media]

[quote name='BetaFunk' timestamp='1370266201' post='2098282'] I think that Mozart would have ditched the clavier pronto if Stingrays had been around then. [/quote] Incontrovertible evidence for this hypothesis : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ceoLCYMOwP0

[quote name='EMG456' timestamp='1370265283' post='2098246'] I actually did LOL at that! Dingus, you really must be the long lost bass playing twin that I never knew I had! Like you, I have been a flats-free zone for getting close to 40 years and astonishingly even to myself, am now thinking about stringing up a couple of basses with them to see how they go. There are some archetypal flatwound sounds that I would like to have at my disposal now but this would be more akin to using an effect if you like for a particular song or piece. I would not go back to flats as a default but that's because I like my basses to provide all the frequencies from the very low to the very high and flats simply don't do that. I'm well aware that many disagree with me on these things but hey - I'm happy! Cheers Ed [/quote] Hi Ed . I came across this the other day , and it has kindled my intrest in trying some flats on one of my basses . This fellow has got some T.I flats on his Fodera and it sounds good to me both slapped and with fingers . Nice and rubbery but not so dead that you would be inaudible playing with a band : [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_eOLlJzUWDI[/media] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vOcd6FEdwMs Maybe flats are just another option people need to have nowadays . Playing with a pick is socially acceptable nowadays , so anything is possible !

O.K so he's better than Mozart , but is he better than a Stingray ? That is the real question we need to answer .

Better than genital warts . Probably .

[quote name='ML94' timestamp='1370207869' post='2097698'] Where can I get one !??? [/quote] Andy Baxter is also a possible source for something like this : http://www.andybaxterbass.com/

[quote name='kulabula' timestamp='1370204156' post='2097612'] BIG BOTTOM [/quote] I like it so much I married one .

The Thomastics have got a unique sound and feel , and that is why they find favour with many players , amateurs and pros alike . These strings have a very different construction to any other electric bass string on the market , with a layer of cotton between the outer wrap and the core of the string . That and the round core helps give them a very flexable feel that feels much more familiar to players used to the feel of roundwound strings . I like the rubbery feel and sound of these Thomastics in preference to any other flatwound string by a country mile , and if you want to experiment with flats they are the best place to start , in my opinion , unless you like a very tight feel . The Thomastics are also kinder to the neck of your bass than a lot of flatwound strings because they are less tension , another big plus point they have going for them .

[quote name='Chiliwailer' timestamp='1370200123' post='2097545'] I wonder if you'll get 'invaded from the rear' when the UPS guy turns up to collect the bass only to find out the shop is closed and the owners are now writing you that thank you letter. I'm long gone from this conversation now. [/quote] I think you have had a very successful irony bypass operation , my friend . Besides which , I would be holding their family hostage , and I would be screwing them over via Paypal so I would be covered if the goods went awry . My rear is only likely to get invaded by invited guests .

Those Yamahas are unique - sounding basses . The Ibanez might have a lot of great qualities ( like I said , I've never played one myself so I can't say from experience ) but those BB's are difficult for any bass to match in terms of quality of tone , in my opinion . The don't sound modern , and they don't sound vintage either , they just sound right . They don't sound like a Fender either , even though there is some Fender lurking in there somewhere . The bottom end is effortlessly massive and there is plenty of cut at the top end to go along with it . Overall , I like the fact that they have got such a big sound from a passive bass .

[quote name='Chiliwailer' timestamp='1370198644' post='2097513'] .......I'm now imagining the big smile on your face as you open the box containing your new cheap as chips high end bass from Korea, whilst the poor guys who sold it to you live and breath in that unimaginably horrific scenario - how ironic that smile will be...... [/quote] Cheap is cheap , and South Korea is a long way away . I will have prevented these basses falling into the hands of an evil dictatorship , and got myself a bargain at the same time . Win - win , as far as I can see ! The guy who sold me the bass will be able to use the money to buy some extra gruel to keep his family alive and will probably be thanking me for the rest of his days . Besides which , South Korea decided a long time ago to ally itself to the West and subscribe to a capitalist market economy despite having hostile and unstable neighbours and unsecured borders , so don't blame me when it all goes tits up .

The shop these basses are in is actually in South Korea , and it has got loads of truly high - end bass gear in it . I keep one eye on the international news nowadays , and if it looks like they are going to get overrun by an invading force from the North at any time , I will be ready to quickly make them a cheeky offer on a couple of basses they have in stock .

By way of a comparison , I remembered seeing this and thought you might find it interesting : [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=owYAsxl3LVA[/media] The sunburst on that CS 59 reissue is eye - wateringly beautiful , and it sounds just as good as the Pino bass to me . .

Just be a bit careful if you sweat a lot onto your basses , because the little adjustment screws are a little bit prone to rusting up and getting jammed in some instances . Not a major problem , though .

Fit fine on a Precision , and help give more accurate intonation and better overall clarity ( particulaly in the upper - register ) , in my opinion .

[quote name='chris_b' timestamp='1370166944' post='2097076'] When anyone decides they can afford £3000 plus for a P bass they're entering a world of choice which extends way beyond Fender CS. A world which Includes the likes of Nordstrand, Mike Lull, US Lakland, Celinder, Sadowsky etc, and of course vintage basses. [/quote] +1 on this . In certain instances for less than three grand , you can get new custom - order examples of some of those listed above , as well as a few more besides . And that's not even bringing secondhand into the equation . I haven't tried the Pino - I expect it's very good , but I don't like the colour or the relicing myself personally - but there are so many options if you are spending big money on a P Bass that it's just one option to look at . That said , if you are paying cash you should be looking to get a big discount off the retail price of a Fender and so maybe you could get a good deal on one . Getting the Fender Custom Shop to make you that Pino Signature bass but just how you want it would be a viable option if you are prepared to wait a while for it , but I would think it would be several months , minimum , maybe longer . Speak to a Fender CS dealer and get an idea from them . Other custom builders are usually quicker than Fender CS at the moment though , on the whole .

About five years ago you could buy these basses new for £200 , so the seller might not be losing that much in the scheme of things .

If we did have Basschat pants available to purchase , it would inevitably lead to a thread with members submitting photographs of themselves proudly modelling the pants . Take a look at state of some folks in Post Your Pictures Lets See What You Look Like and think about the carnage that would result in seeing them in their underpants . Also , wouldn't EC anti - discrimination legislation mean that Basschat knickers would also have to be available ?