Lfalex v1.1

👋 Chip shortage? Valves are the answer! (But not for me. Too fragile & temperamental.)

Bargain. Probably better off without the Ellefson connection these days 😉

I think I'd rather have series for the neck than the bridge. In many implementations, I've found series a bit "shouty" and lacking in depth, but the position of the neck pickup ought to compensate for that a bit. Can anyone enlighten me as to what "OMG" entails if not series, parallel or single coil? Otherwise, it's off to Googleland for me..

Nice, but I'd go for either an SB-2 derivative with the double-coil unit at the bridge (with front/rear/parallel switching) or a Jazz with 2x SB-2 style single coils..

Chambered Zebrano. Mmmmmm.

As per BFM's reply, the depicted adaptor would only work correctly into a desk if the output was a balanced TRS at mic level.

Or source quality replacement; Warmoth, Allparts etc.

Alternative; Find the natural body you're looking for with a nice neck and budget for a luthier to re-board it with the nicest piece of Rosewood they have.

(For various reasons) I ended up with a heavily-strung (50-110) 4 string tuned to D standard. If I want E standard, I put a capo on the second fret. It wasn't at all what I had envisaged, and was driven by circumstances I hadn't forseen coupled with a touch of laziness on my part. The end result is really rather good, though.

Absolutely. But it's not just vinyl that descends into willy-waving. The best way to "gain access" to the subtleties contained in recorded music isn't by investing a fortune in replay equipment. It's by investing in your ability to listen to music. Best achieved by learning to play a musical instrument. And here we are.

I'm sure Rega could knock you up a Planar 3 in the appropriate shade of green. The hardware/Rega logo is black as standard.

Can only find one image of Tony Levin's 3 string 'Ray...

I wasn't suggesting that Fender stop producing Ps and Js, but it feels like they've mistaken the Fender Archive for their R&D department. The original P and J were innovative enough in their day, even if they did lean on existing guitar designs a bit. Even Leo himself moved on a bit; the Stingray headstock, Pickup, and the Active EQ. After that, there's the other refinements at G&L; the saddle-lock bridge, Tri-tone EQ and MFD pickups. Fender do have some nice instruments in their back-catalogue; Roscoe Beck signature Stu Hamm Urge I & II Elite Precision Marcus Miller Jazz Hot Rod Precision To name but a few. Okay, they're mostly variations on existing instruments, but it's a start. All they do at the moment is the Dimension. I think what I lament the most is that they do so little in terms of product development. All we've had in recent years was Hi-mass bridges, graphite reinforcing rods in the neck, a different tone pot and the ill-fated s1 switch.

Innovate?

Fortunately it's fairly hard to screw-up passive electrics. It's cheap, nasty active EQs that are a real issue on budget basses. My concern about this bass is that the pickups wouldn't come close the the RB's items (weren't they a Bill Lawrence design?) I'd love a "proper" RB. Preferably a five. But finding one AND having the requisite funds at the same time...

This is BassChat. "You can check-out any time you like, but you can never leave" (As The Eagles once sang) 😉

Also gives a good visual reference point for where E, A, D & G are (using D standard tuning) Only slightly strange thing is that the harmonics have all moved. The first harmonic is now at the 14th fret, not the 12th. Otherwise, still a good idea for this particular bass and for me.

Were it not for that blob of a scratchplate, it'd be just fine..

Will we get to see it before December? 🤣

Stability for small bodied upright? Tripod stand. Stays up on its own when you walk away! Fitting in small car? If it's just you, take the front passenger seat headrest out, slide the seat all the way forward and recline the back of the seat as far as it'll go. Drop the split in the rear seat. I could get 8' (2400mm) decking boards in my Fiesta like that. The NS did fit in my (original) Ford Puma also- in its flight case.

Don't think they do one. Only 2500 and 1500s (in Tribute and US, IIRC)

I'd keep the LTD. Much nicer. The Rockbass is a step backwards IMO.

A quick summary of the SB-2's behaviour: IMO, no need for tone controls. The way the volume controls work is such that they alter the tone as they go; roll off the P volume by 25% and it doesn't get a whole lot quiter, but tonally, the "grunt" fades and gives way a more traditional P bass thud. Same for the J. The trick (for me) is to get the P delivering the bulk of the depth of tone, then just wind the J up a touch for a bit more definition. P sounds fine on its own. The J doesn't. That's not to say that a J- biased sound isn't good, it is. The solo'ed sound in too thin. On the plus side, it's one of the few configurations that I've played where the P doesn't totally overpower the J. The above observations are heavily influenced by 3 factors I play with my fingers. A plectrum player may indeed find it too twangy. I'm using DR Lo-Riders (50-110) I spent an age fiddling with the pickup heights to get just the balance of output and tone I wanted.

My recently acquired SB-2 Tribute is very good indeed. Definitely not heavy. I also like the look of Reverend; The Mercalli or Thundergun get my vote

Precisely (Precisionally?) this. It's reminiscent of the American automotive tradition of having "model years", and serves only to offer the new and used buyer a myriad of choices, which, once you take variable QC into account, may leave a cheaper bass being subjectively "better" than one further up the price ladder. That would make me not want to bother with the more expensive instruments unless I chanced upon a good 'un.