Lfalex v1.1

[quote name='OutToPlayJazz' post='681941' date='Dec 12 2009, 09:22 AM']Most electric basses will do a fairly good facsimilie of an upright if you play over the end of the fingerboard, but my personal recommendation would be a Stingray with the piezo bridge. Very convincing & adaptable, too. It's like having two basses in one. [/quote] I was going to suggest the technique option! No, it doesn't make the instrument "fretless", but it gives a fretted delivery of [i]that[/i] sound. If you have a a two pick-up instrument (especially if it has the extra flexibility of active tone controls), favour the neck pick-up, and dial in a bit of extra bottom, judiciously rollimg of a bit of the top. Plucking with your thumb (from the same basic position) softens the attack further.

Depends on many of the factors people have already mentioned. For example, Warwick Just-a-nut IIs have the same sized grooves in all of the adjusters, and will accomodate any gauges without protest IME. I've strung/tuned my Stingray V fretless EADGC. I've used 30-50-70-90-105 on it without issues. You will, of course, have to look at action, intonation and neck relief. IIRC, a High C string exerts more stress on the neck than the Low B it replaces, so your truss-rod may need a [i]slight tighten[/i] to compensate... As with all set-ups, it's a bit "suck it & see" until you arrive at something which suits you.

[quote name='Buzz' post='678469' date='Dec 8 2009, 09:18 PM']I was going to post how it's really wierd to name inanimate objects when you're an adult at least. I know I don't do it with any of my possessions as far as I'm aware. However, I then realised I posted a comment in regards to [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?s=&showtopic=68066&view=findpost&p=668443"]this post in the Porn section[/url] which unless I'm all confused, is one of Beedster's from back in the day, a certain white precision known as Kylie. That bass has been named and it's stuck. I think it will always be Kylie to those who own it (if they're BC members and know it's history).[/quote] You want to be careful with that one. "Kylie" is Aboriginal for Boomerang. "She" might go running back to him! [quote name='silverfoxnik' post='678474' date='Dec 8 2009, 09:21 PM']The Far Side!! Love it.. Naming basses is definitely wierd...[/quote] Which is why lots of manufacturers do it? [quote name='Eight' post='678556' date='Dec 8 2009, 10:18 PM']Don't know if "necessary" is quite right... but the only inanimate object I ever named came from a similar vein. Ended up referring once to my Vampyre as Vanessa. Just thinking of Vanessa Warwick... the old Headbanger's Ball presenter on MTV. Unfortunately the name stuck... but I try not to use it around people. On the other hand, I used to spend a lot of time setting up servers which need network names and always found it so boring to use a naming scheme like apps002... so coming up with cool names was always the highlight of my job.[/quote] Only one name for a Warwick... Dionne!

[quote name='BigRedX' post='677814' date='Dec 8 2009, 01:03 PM']A tuner isn't just for tuning up on stage. If you're doing your own setups you want the best you can get.[/quote] +1. And it wants to be mains powered in some way, shape or form. It's no good if your 9v packs up when you're only half way through setting-up your 13-string Schack! And as for the Tone Suck issue? run it from a tuner out. It's not in the signal path that way. Only problem is that you may lose the ability to tune silently... The choice is yours!

+1 to a "gentle" shim to tilt the neck ever so slightly - just using something as thin as those plastic A4 document pouches or laminating material in the pocket under the rearward part of the neck may be enough. I had a similar issue with a bass (not my Status, though!) and fixed it with a piece of card from a cereal box. I felt a bit "guilty" about having done it until the Luthier who built it played it again. He said it was phenomenal! Needless to say I didn't tell him about the shim! Otherwise, I'm surprised that a Status product has failed to completely satisfy. Rob's QC is legendary. Are there no specialist Bass Vendors / Luthiers in the Chicago area? From the way you worded your original post, it sounds like youv'e approached "Guitar Techs", and whilst many of these are perfectly capable, we all know that bass & guitar are entirely different disciplines ( ) and that they may not quite understand what you want !

You live in Colchester? Get thee to Status Graphite! Rob, Dawn & co. will doubtless have something that takes your fancy!

[quote name='gafbass02' post='672386' date='Dec 2 2009, 06:50 PM']The hardware is prob gonna be black n gold I reckon[/quote] Custom 3 ply. Black/Gold/Black!!

Try and make sure whatever strings you buy have hexagonal cores. Round-cored strings have a bit more "give" in them, and that'll not be helping with the floppiness. Sounds like a cure for erectile dysfunction to me...

Is it tuned EADGC or BEADG though? I can't tell! If it's the former, I'd rather have one of the old fender V's with 14(?) frets...

+1 on black. Not sure whether it'd be single-ply or b/w/b, though. What colour's the hardware?

Welcome to the forum! And remember, GAS is not a crime! (Well, not around here it ain't!) Alex.

Hmm. Don't think I'd part with that much for the 4 string- the 3piece body timbers aren't very well matched. I'd save my better cuts for natural / translucent finishes, and hide the less appealing ones under solid finishes. Having bemoaned the aesthetics, it could still be a great player and a tone monster. I'd rather have all three; tone, feel and a lovely finish on a nice bit of wood.

I tried a (Korean) Bison on the off-chance when looking for a Jazz many moons ago @ the Wapping Bass Centre. It was better than many of the MIA Fenders (various vintages) Certainly better than any Epi T-Bird I've played, and without the dive. I've not played any LP basses, I'm afraid... My only bugbear? The white/gold ones look like a tacky bathroom. I prefer the Black/Silver incarnation!

[quote name='thedonutman' post='638325' date='Oct 27 2009, 06:56 PM']I'd love a bongo too, probably a white 5HH for me. My only gripe is that they've got painted necks - it's understandable why a set neck/neck-thru could be painted, but why would anybody want to paint the back of a bolt on neck?![/quote] Ahhh.. Story time! I went to a well respected Bass Stockist last January. It had been super-evil cold (and dry) the previous night (-6c) For once I had a good budget and tried everything I liked the look of. So many basses were suffering from being cold that (whilst still playable) they'd all gone a bit dead. All the Warwicks, Overwaters, Laklands, Sandbergs (and many others) were not well at all. The ones that had survived the cold night best had a couple of common denominators; i) Some Graphite in the necks somewhere (Vigier, Status, Fender (!)) ii) Heavily Painted or Varnished necks (Bongo, Spectors) So I think that a good coat of varnish (or paint) may help the neck retain moisture and therefore its stablity in cold environments (possibly) I have to say that painted / varnished / satin / natural necks have never bothered me that much. Oh yes, and the last Bongo I tried was excellent (4HH) and gave the Corvette $$ a royal battering!

A friend of mine ordered an Ibanez SRX700 from them. It arrived promptly, well packaged, well set-up and at a good price. He thoroughly recommended them.

Rob Green has Carbon Sequestration down to a fine art; As far as I know, no trees died to make this bass

[quote name='KERMITNT' post='662221' date='Nov 22 2009, 10:50 PM']the question what u would get for 4600 pounds or 5000 euros me definately not a fender[/quote] Probably a Vigier Passion S2 IV and a Ken Smith VI plus a fair bit of beer money. Alternatively, you could probably rent the real Marcus Miller himself for a night for that money!!

Get the G&L, and put a pan pot in it instead of the Pick-up selector! That'd rule. P.S. I hate pick-up selector switches.

[quote name='Linus27' post='664098' date='Nov 24 2009, 06:08 PM']Which ones do you like then?[/quote] The expensive ones? But seriously, my faves are; Streamer Jazzman Streamer $$ Corvette FNA Infinity SN (I own one) Fortress Masterman Streamer Pro M (Okay, some of these are no longer made) I do like Thumbs, but every time I sit down, the damn things jump off me lap. Strap or no strap!

I have played several of all three, but don't own any of those exact models (though I do own a Musicman and Warwick) The G&L can sound monstrous, but my one reservation is the pick-up selector switch. I much prefer a pan pot on dual pick-up basses. There's lots of choice in Stingrays now, even more if you include Sterlings. The good old single H 2EQ is a classic with real clout. I've played some good 3EQ ones, too. I often find that Warwicks are hindered a bit by the MEC pick-ups and EQs (on the active ones) - the sole exceptions being the Streamer Jazzman (which may have SD Basslines in) and The JJ/J set-up in my Infinity SN4. That said, if they're just regular 4 string Jazz pick-ups, upgrading them won't be a problem. I'd feel tempted by the Warwick - find one with a killer unplugged tone and go from there. If it sounds good passive in original trim, leave it alone. If not, try different pick-ups, then maybe add an EQ of your choosing. I think the reason I favour the Warwick option is its versatility. The Ray and G&L can sound great, but lack what I feel the Warwick can offer in this respect. No matter what you choose, you can buy with a degree of confidence as build quality is generally very good from all 3 manufacturers. Otherwise, don't be afraid to try anything and everything in your price range. There are some wonderful instruments lurking out there. Enjoy.

[quote name='hillbilly deluxe' post='660200' date='Nov 20 2009, 02:53 PM']Are there any more through neck P/Jazz bases...[/quote] Quite a few Westone models from the 80's! Principally the ThunderIII. It's a fair bet that the other Matsumoku-manufactured marques (how's that for alliteration?) had a few, too; Check out Ibanez and Aria also. Where's a Bassassin when you need one!?

Mock not the mighty Klaus Voorman. Check out some nifty playing on Harry Nilsson's "Nilsson Schmilson" Album... Rendered doubly naff by the fact that Herbie Flowers plays on the tracks that Klaus doesn't!!!

Quite liking the TCV album. Definitely some JPJ influence there Yes, it is very QOTSA-esque. But with the amount of Kyuss and QOTSA in my collection, that's no bad thing. Yes, Grohl's delivery is "Modern" but as also mentioned, super tight. Check out "No-one knows" (From Songs For The Deaf) Live at the Troubadour for Grohl, Homme and Olivieri tearing it up. That said, when I saw QOTSA (on their first uk tour) Alfredo Hernandez was drumming, and they were excellent as well.

All I do know is that my favourite 3 basses have varying degrees of graphite in them; Status Streamline Vigier Passion s3 MIA Fender Jazz I think it's for two reasons: i) Reduced vulnerablility to changes in temperature/ humidity ii) The increased stability of the neck reduces neck movement as the strings are played, and [i]perhaps[/i] more of the vibration causes resonance in the body rather than flexing the neck. I think that truss-rods play a part in the overall sound, too. The Vigier doesn't have one, and I reckon that it's a major contributory factor in its sound. It sounds smooth, with no unnatural ringing overtones. I find that it doesn't slap very well as a result. The all-graphite Status DOES have a truss rod, and slaps like a monster. Still, basses would be boring if they were all the same. You just have to pick one that suits you!

Would it add insult to injury if I were to point out that the original bass upon which this is based is just a (modified) off the peg 1976 (?) MIA Jazz IIRC?