Lfalex v1.1

Both the Ibanez I have owned were great players. I just sold my SRX700 as it wasn't getting used much. It was my main gigging bass for ages, and never let me down. That said, I took care of it, so it should have been okay. Never really got on with the electrics, but the hardware and woodwork were fine. On the flip side, I wish I still had old my EDB600. Bought for a snip at £80, and damaged when I chucked it across the lounge after having worked a (hard) nightshift and then being interrupted 6 times in the space of practising (through headphones) one song by my wife/children. It bounced badly and the Luthite cracked and the control cavity literally fell out. Disgusted (and still fuming) I then finished it with a swift kick to the neck that caused half of the frets to pop out. Pity. It really was a stonking bass. Period. Strung with DR Fatbeams and with a bit of judicious mid-control tweaking, it could deliver some sounds that only my Vigier could better. In short, they're generally good and well made. The good ones are REALLY good (true of many manufacturers) Just look at the number of members that recommend Ibanez to people starting out (or Yamaha or Squier) My main concern in [i]some[/i] is the quality of the pick-ups and EQ, which give an aggressive sound that can't readily be smoothed out. The SR 500/505 are well regarded, and almost an industry standard at their price-point. Certainly, they'd be on many people's shortlist. Not so sure about the BTBs and Prestiges. At those sort of prices, the competition is starting to improve dramatically...

[quote name='Delberthot' post='995859' date='Oct 21 2010, 12:57 PM']Congratulations, you win a weekend for two in February.[/quote] Wow! Cool! Thanks. The Mrs will be delighted! [quote name='silverfoxnik' post='995860' date='Oct 21 2010, 12:58 PM']... isn't it just that times are very tough and some people are having to liquidate bass-related assets to raise fund for other things in life which [i]may[/i] be more essential right now?[/quote] Well at least I won't have to sell my Status and Vigier to pay for a weekend away in February!!!

Surely we haven't reached the astonishing realisation that a good player can make almost anything sound half-decent, and that the benefits offered by expensive instruments are not only incremental but subject to the law of diminishing returns when compared to the fiscal outlay? What would we do with all our time and money then?! (Thinks of Bilbo's earlier post and starts saving for a rainy day.)

Both points duly noted, but even so! Besides which, I can't see people parting with some of that stuff just so they can afford a Turkey/Nut Roast (delete as applicable)

As I type, in the "Basses for sale" part of the forum, there are all kinds of exotica! To wit; Multiple Ken Smiths A Fodera and a Fodera-a-like Overwaters A Wal US Spector Valenti Alleva Coppolo and God only knows what else... Yet few or no Warwick/Fender/MM that are usually the bread and butter of the For Sale part of the board. What's going on? Is it another one of those phases during which a given brand becomes deeply unfashionable (as Warwick & MM sometimes do) except [i]really[/i] expensive? Answers on a postcard (or even below) please!

[quote name='BottomEndian' post='994756' date='Oct 20 2010, 01:22 PM']As long as it's been built with an amount of neck relief that suits the way you play. Just out of interest... how much relief do they build into it?[/quote] Visually, rather than measuring, not a great deal. I think the slightly raised zero fret helps. Never had any issues, and I can play quite hard sometimes.

Yep, they're good. Even my OLP has one! My Vigier's better- no truss rod at all!!

Needs a cream "J" cover to blend in with the body! Otherwise, ok. As long as it sounds good, which I'm sure it does...

I have a VMJ with a BadAss II on it, strung with DR Fatbeams. I suppose it needs better electrics, but it's hardly bad as is. Little bit heavy, but the neck fit/finish and fret work are exemplary for a budget bass.

I have one of these also. Not a great user of the synth bit, But... Get a non-latching footswitch, and use that as a tempo switch. It can then control the Delay, and (better still) the flanger, which can have a cycle length of anything between about an eighth of a note to 4 bars. In perfect time, naturally. ME8-B. Sounding more like a Messerschmitt than any other pedal!

If you've got a big budget, then it's got to be a Status Streamline V. Maybe not the epitome of rawk, but it's light, comfortable, fast, balances well and doesn't impede your playing. Chuck in the fact that they sound superb and are difficult to damage and I reckon you're onto a winner. Did I not see Guy Pratt pictured with one? I guess that's a pretty good endorsement of quality!

[quote name='daz' post='993051' date='Oct 19 2010, 04:34 AM']You saw her "on X Factor". Whats X Factor? some kind of porn show?[/quote] Isn't it an Iron Maiden album?

The set I tried were rough as hell, and died really quickly. Better than Rotos or Warwick Reds Elites are a reasonable choice. Elixirs are good for durability and smoothness, but not everyone likes the tone. I'm currently favouring DR Fatbeams or Sunbeams. Haven't tried D'Addarios, La Bella, GHS or TI etc.... Yet.

Most monorail designs will only go down to 16/16.5mm spacing. I [i]think[/i] the Warwick style (2-piece) units will do the same. I've got a Kahler (2400?) on my Vigier. It's a royal bugger to do the intonation, and as Ped will tell you, the action adjustment is adjusted in half-turn increments of the saddles. That was too coarse an adjustment for him, but I found it fine. Beyond that, they're excellent but pricey! I really don't know how tight the Kahlers will go, but I'd guess at 15mm or even tighter, due to the shape of the rail pieces.

I paid £200 for a QSC PLX1202 in a Cash Converters. 1200w bridged into 4 ohms, 700 into 8 ohms. RMS! And operates in class A/B rather than D or H. Awesome way to make a rig. Makes you wonder why people even buy "heads" in the first place...

Did someone say "Attitude"? A picture speaks volumes, but this says only 3 words; I AM PURPLE!

[quote name='BigRedX' post='986575' date='Oct 13 2010, 08:12 AM']...I'd try all the easily available picks at your local musical instrument shop before looking at the more esoteric stuff.[/quote] I can't belive what I'm reading! BRX advocates normalcy!

[quote name='fillerbunny' post='986667' date='Oct 13 2010, 10:13 AM']Who wouldn't! I do think the Stick looks cooler, though. [/quote] That's because Tony Levin's playing it!!!

+1 on liking Judy Tzuke. I am the Phoenix is a superb album.

[quote name='cris the man' post='983970' date='Oct 11 2010, 12:28 AM']oh good grief lol i meant nut aha! what material would you recommend for the nut? i've had bone twice before , but it keeps coming out?[/quote] Brass, Nylon or Graphlon.

I tried a Korean one many moons ago, when trying (unsuccesfully) to find a Fender Jazz that I liked (tone-wise). It was easily the best sounding bass I played that day! It played well, too (But this [i]was[/i] in the now legendary Wapping Bass Centre, and their instrumnents were nearly all superbly set up) I liked the pick-up switching. The "wild dog" setting is good! I'd have bought it, but it was white and gold, and looked like some tastless nouveau-riche individual's bathroom suite. Had it been black/silver, I'd probably have bought it. Now, I have too many black basses, and probably wouldn't bother... but only for that reason!