Sean

[quote name='niceguyhomer' post='535489' date='Jul 8 2009, 10:25 AM']Fantastic pics of a fantastic bass Sean [/quote] Cheers, Al. All inspired by your photography I think I've found my true skill in life... Plagiarism!

[quote name='cetera' post='534613' date='Jul 7 2009, 12:58 PM']Stunning photos of a gorgeous bass! It looks right at home there on that blanket as well [/quote] I've just been told that it's a "throw" [i]not[/i] a blanket. "Mam, mam! The sleeve's come off the eiderdown!"

[quote name='redstriper' post='534065' date='Jul 6 2009, 07:10 PM']There's too much choice in everything these days. It leads to dissatisfaction and we spend too much time choosing and not enough living/playing. [/quote] Great video - I'm a big fan of Schwarz (he could almost be Roger Sadowsky's dad in many ways). You can always beat this dreadful choice issue he talks about and just get a Spector, then all you have to worry about is the redistribution of global wealth.

[quote name='Stingray5' post='533320' date='Jul 5 2009, 09:07 PM']Yeh, that's nice! Love the look of the inlays - what are they?![/quote] The inlays are [url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abalone"]abalone[/url] and they kind of change with the light.

headstock as requested... Sorry it's dusty :blush: Full length one when the light is right.

[quote name='Josh' post='532612' date='Jul 4 2009, 08:12 PM']Nice one Sean. I don't know why but I find the gold and black control combo rather alluring.[/quote] I tried it the other way round, gold knobs, black rings but this way is best. All gold like on my Euro4 is all wrong on this one. I saw that the DJ-Retro 01 had mixed knobs so I just asked the question... I've met a few mixed knobs over the years too

Inspired by some of Homer's fantastic shots, I grabbed my recently upgraded NS-5XL and chucked it on the overused blanket for a few moody shots... This was an incredible instrument when I got it but now that it has the U-retro and a set of Elixirs, it is far and away the best instrument I've ever owned or played. If anyone is particularly interested, the install of the East system is detailed [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=52704&st=0&p=523259&#entry523259"]here[/url] I'll do a review soon. I've not gigged the bass since fitting the U-Retro, just done a couple of rehearsals so I'll wait and see how things go before doing a full write up.

Stunning basses. The green one is just outrageous!

[quote name='Clarky' post='526134' date='Jun 27 2009, 06:04 PM']... having answered what instrument you play in the band, the previously-interested person smiles sweetly and finds an excuse to be elsewhere[/quote] Every gig!

[quote name='Marcus' post='525163' date='Jun 26 2009, 06:49 PM']Hi Guys, considering the spec for my custom build "Birthday Bass" I'd like to have the Nordstrand Dual Coil pickups installed but looking for some ideas for a suitable pre-amp Advice welcome..... ATB Mark[/quote] The ACG02 is a superb piece of kit as is the U-Retro. Both very different and equally good on my Spectors. No experience of either on passive pups though. Is that a magic 40th birthday pressie?

Jamerson for me but only because he has never claimed to have played bass on some of the recordings that I have. It is really obvious that I play fingerstyle and that on most of the recordings I've made it is so obviously not a plectrum.

There's also this: "[i]Nut spacing differs again but generally closer spacing at the bridge means closer at the nut but not always. Some Ibanez models have a 16.5mm spacing and for me that 0.5mm less is a step too far and the strings feel too bunched together. There's also the issue of pickups - I would only buy a low or mid-range 5 string if it had standard size pickups so that if I wanted to upgrade to some aftermarket ones they'd slot in. Some models have proprietary pickups that can't be upgraded. The most respected and popular 5s by mainstrean manufacturers are the Ibanez SRX and BTB ranges as well as a few of their signature models that are based on these, there's Lakland, Yamaha, Sandberg, Clover, Warwick's Rockbass, Spector's Legend Series, G&L's Tribute Series is brilliant and has similar dimensions to Lakland etc. I think the way to go is to buy a used bass so that if you don't get on with it you can resell it without losing money. This way also you'll get a hell of a lot more bass for the money. There are regularly Ibanez SRX 5 strings that come up on ebay for around £250 - 500 depending on model/spec. The neck-thru construstion ones are fantastic - SRX705 or 755, I think.[/i]"

This is from an email I had in my inbox, it was a reply to a question I had from someone who was about to impulse buy a 5-string: [i]As far as 5s go, I've gone back to using them as they make more sense to me for the material the band does as it's easier to play for long periods if you are up the next using the 5th string (sixth position) rather than down the neck on the 4th (first position). When buying a 5 different rules apply. Not that many manufacturers get it right; there seems to be a problem for some in getting the low B right, Fender for instance make less than perfect 5s on the whole and many of the cheaper Asian stuff is just floppy muddy trash where their 4 string equivalents will be pretty good. Some of the better 5s generally have a 35" scale compared to the 34" standard "long" scale. (32" is medium, 30" is short) There is also the issue of string spacing. A standard 4 string Fender-derived instrument such as your BB414 or my Lakland DJ has a 19mm string spacing (measured at the bridge), some 5s have this spacing which makes the fingerboard very wide. The Lakland 5s have 19mm spacing, my Spectors have 17mm which is quite a bit narrower but makes for very comfortable fingerstyle playing but can make slap a little more tricky. Most Ibanez basses have 17mm spacing and a 34" scale and the higher spec models are excellent. Ibanez also do a BTB range which have 35" scales and a generous spacing (can't remember exactly). As well as all this dimensional stuff there's the issues of , "does it sound good?" and "does it look good?" Get out and try some different basses so you get a feel for the differences and what features work for you.[/i]

+1 for Garageband and Mac - it's all so easy to use. Tied in with that I use [url="http://www.drumsondemand.com"]Drums On Demand[/url] instead of a drum machine, much more realistic and easier to use for numpties who have to spend a whole day or more programming a simple song. If you are using Garageband or Logic make sure you order the Apple Loops variant of DOD otherwise you have to convert the files yourself.

Bought a stonking Spector from Marc. Super-trustworthy and a hell of a nice guy to boot. It's what Basschat's all about.

I sold my Granny and now I'm a very happy Spector owner. She's pleased for me too and also I now understand what unconditional love is. Thanks, Gran. Thanks, Stuart.

Some Great T-Bone in action [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ADjW9QVCF3U&feature=PlayList&p=D226625F2E305C66&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=4"]HERE[/url] Great performance, great gig, what a day. Still made about the girl I spent that day with (13/7/85).

Johnny comes highly recommended. We had a great deal and everything worked out a dream. Great comms too. I just wish I'd had more time to hang out for a while and chew the fat. You couldn't wish to meet a nicer guy on a station platform!