Lfalex v1.1

I was considering some of the issues raised in this thread, thinking; I'd buy a vintage bass if I picked it up and it played well and sounded good. Then it struck me that string technology has progressed since the 50's/60's, and that a vintage bass wouldn't sound like it originally did by virtue of having more modern strings. Strings (and electrics) strike me as the area in which bass manufacturing has advanced most obviously. The woodworking and mechanical engineering less so.

Pretty Sure that Die Monster, Die! did a song called Vagina Dentata. Better still, one of their members was called Stikki Nixx...

Then, the frightening point arrives. When they stop being vintage. And become Antiques. Then watch the prices soar. Edit- lifted from the internet, but it seems a reasonable set of definitions; Antique: a collectible item at least 100 years old. Vintage: A culturally significant item ranging from 20-99 years in age, worthy of being collected. Authentic, aged pieces in various conditions. Collectible: something inherently valuable or worth more than it was originally sold for.

Under unusual circumstances, possibly? If, for some reason, you end up borrowing a bass at short notice or sharing one at an open mic night, possibly depping for someone at very short notice.. The bass you get "stuck" with is less likely to cause you issues. (That said, it's most likely to resemble a Fender!)

I've tried it. Mainly to see how a cab was voiced with regard to full-range recorded music. I started with the device level at about 25%, gain at Zero, master at Zero. Worked the gain up gently whilst watching the input gain meter. Then gently turned up the master. No harm done, but it sounded crap with music, as the cab was (rightly) optimised for reproducing bass guitar. As for the fried Ampeg, you may have gotten away with it. The damage may stop it from functioning, but may not be terminal. A repair tech will give you a definitive answer.

I had an Ovation. Suffered the same issues as those that everyone else has noted; Lack of acoustic volume vs guitars Vulnerable to feedback at volume when amplified Potentially fragile Difficult to get cases for- The Ovation definitely was! Looked nice. Gathered dust. Got moved on. @Frank Blank Is barking up the right tree with the Rob Allen and Godin combo. I went for an electric upright instead.

I'm inclined to agree. It's taken me a while to become fully comfortable with a new (16.5mm also) Ibanez. Yet I already own a similar instrument. More so than to-ing and fro-ing between 5 string EUB, Chapman Stick and other basses to which I am accustomed. I think it's something to do with our expectation that because it's a bass guitar, it should feel like X, and when it's not quite what you expect, it throws you a bit. This applies also to neck profiles, and (I find) the way a bass sits on its strap.

As EZ says, Genuine Vintage instruments are a nice thing to have IF you have the time, buy a nice new instrument (take your pick!) and let it mature in your possession. Then it's your vintage bass.

To answer a question with a question; What do you currently own besides the Squier CV jazz? There's not much point in duplicating instruments you might already own. Status and Jaydee basses will be big money, both new or second-hand. There are other, equally worthy manufactures that could also be considered, depending upon your taste etc.

Got any pics? Surely it should go on the Ibanez owners' thread...👍

Do you play really hard? Try upping the gain/master and playing more gently and see if the issue persists.

Didn't see anyone suggest this, but they may have; Have you checked the string itself? Is it worn or damaged? Has this issue just started? Does it disappear if you replace that particular A string? Just eliminating variables... Edit- I see you have, and it's gone. Maybe it's indicative of a certain level of wear on the A string?

That, or mint white. Would also look less sterile that plain "white", which looks anaemic on lighter colours to my eyes.

Shouldn't be hard to find. Not many basses will stay in the case like that! 😉

Good thread! Fingers. R/H thumb moves from pickup covers right up to base of neck. Elixir rounds (mainly steels now) 45/65/80/100/ (+125 or 130 on fives) Vigier Passion V, Ibanez EDB605, EDC715, Warwick Fortress MasterMan V, Warwick Infinity SN IV Whirlwind cables Pandora PX-4D headphone amp/fx/tuner/metronone with aux input. Sennheiser HD415 mk1 (headphones) Other paraphernalia also owned, but the above is the day to day stuff.

Ideally, they should be. SO many basses and guitars with a humbucking neck and single coil (assuming this one is!) Bridge pickup sound watered-down when the bridge pickup is added in. Some Telecasters are awful, especially if there's only a selector switch rather than VVT. I guess the principal reason is the smaller string excursion over the bridge pickup. At least this set seems to have addressed this.

There's always the BC strap washer solution* No Grolsch need be drunk** * Other brands of strap block/ washer are available. ** Some brands of olive oil also sport such washers. As do more wholesome beers.

Nice work there, but I feel compelled to add this...

I'm not sure what capabilities playing through a PC allows (playing along with music etc), but maybe a potential future purchase might be a dedicated headphone amplifier or a multi-effects unit with an aux input. I frequently use a small headphone unit. It's small, battery powered has reasonable onboard effects and I can play music from my phone's SD card /youtube/ Spotify. Means I can take it anywhere. And play during power cuts!

2 pickup Westone rail... awesome. I guess you'd need 2 original ones and remove the pickup module from one and fit it to the other... Or fabricate (3d print?) A second. Not sure how you'd wire the pair. Y cable into a home-brew blend..

Good start you've made there. Nice bass and a decent, functional tuner. Playing through (good/proper) headphones can be helpful- you'll definitely hear any mistakes you make, and it means you can play on even when everyone else has gone to bed! Just don't play too loudly for too long- Take care of your hearing. It'll be a culture shock when you plug into an amp. They're more forgiving and less clear than headphones, ultimately more flattering to your instrument and your playing.

I've always wondered how good Hickory might be for necks. It's stiff and tough. Might be hard to work, though. If it's good enough for heavy tool handles, it ought to be good for necks.

Vigier used brass inserts in the s3 instruments (presumably in the 1,2 &4 also) for the strap buttons to screw into. I don't know if they're screws or bolts- mine are as tight now as 25 years ago so I've never touched them.. I don't know what's holding the bridge down, though. It's a through-neck, so no need to good the neck on with fixings.

These work okay for me. Not much wood apart from Maple necks and Rosewood boards 😉

This is a tough one. In my previous life as a hifi geek, I spent many a happy hour trying (often succesfully) to rigidly couple whatever speakers I was using to stands or plinths (dependent on their being stand-mounts or floor standers) The aim was to hold the cabinets as rigidly as possible in position such that only the drivers were moving and to "mechanically earth" the enclosures- trying to stop them storing energy. You need to do the opposite! @Woodwind is barking up the right tree, methinks; deadening the room surfaces- particularly the floor if you've people beneath you will help. Heavy rugs? Wall hangings? Something absorbent under the speakers and stands as others have suggested. And, just maybe, swap the Early Megadeth for Pachelbel's canon in D major? 😉