thisnameistaken

[quote name='Rich' post='439273' date='Mar 19 2009, 02:32 PM']Sorry, I must have missed the bit where you were made the ultimate arbiter of taste & coolness So I guess this means that the accurate title of this thread is "Not-American Classics (But Only If [b]I[/b] Like Them)" [/quote] Well when was the last time you saw a "cool" band swinging a quilt-top super-jazz or similar? They went out with mink coats in the '80s. If you can demonstrate that The Cool People are using them then maybe I'll have to reconsider.

[quote name='Happy Jack' post='439029' date='Mar 19 2009, 11:01 AM']I've been using the Micro Q-Tron for a while now. Lovely pedal and all that, but the sound gets very thin all too easily, and you really notice it if you record your rehearsals/gigs. Someone was telling me that the MXR Bass Auto Q doesn't suffer from this, and remains a much fatter sound. Can anyone comment on that?[/quote] Usually if you're getting a thin sound it's a combination of the filter being open (or too far open) too much of the time, and a high resonance causing a peak at the treble end to be louder than the lower end. A low-pass filter (as the name suggests) always lets the bottom end through, but with high resonance it can sound quiet by comparison to wherever the cut-off frequency happens to be. I suppose with the Micro Q-Tron you've got control over the resonance (Q) but not sensitivity? Unless the drive knob does that full time... I don't know, I haven't used that pedal. I'd stick with lower settings on those two knobs though, and always have it on LP. The Bass Auto Q always sounded a bit dull to me.

I'm happy to drop it, I've explained myself about as well as I can be bothered to.

[quote name='EdwardHimself' post='439038' date='Mar 19 2009, 11:14 AM']I already told you i'm not gay but i'm sick of hearing stupid kids in school calling me gay as an insult. Yes calling someone an idiot is not so bad because there isn't anything wrong with being gay but someone who is an idiot is not a singularly definable group and it's usually something that the person being insulted has brought on themselves, such as implying that people who work in theatre are more likely to be homosexual or saying that a bass has a sexuality and that there is something wrong with that bass's sexual preferences.[/quote] That was a really long-winded insult. Try harder. Perhaps you could try using more effective language (and have some dumb scrote pull you up on it despite barely comprehending what you'd actually said). [quote name='EdwardHimself' post='439038' date='Mar 19 2009, 11:14 AM']As far as i'm concerned chavs are people who go round leaching off government benefits knowing that they could easily get a job, blowing all that money on pot, kidnapping their own daughter and fooling the whole nation into giving them gifts and money, going round reckoning they're some gangsta and stabbing people etc... as far as i see they could be reasonable people, they don't have to be rich, they just have to be decent hardworking people who do what they can for other people as well as themselves without being criminals. But they're not, they're just lazy and selfish and don't care about what they do or how it makes other people feel as long as they're happy. That's what makes them chavs.[/quote] So only a fraction of the people who get called "chavs" are actually chavs by your definition? But you think it has extremely negative connotations. So it's not acceptable to bandy the word around and label random working class people as "chavs" when you've actually no idea who they are but they're wearing the wrong trainers? Thanks for reinforcing my point.

I don't remember Mudhoney using fuzz on the bass? But yeah it can be tricky to get fuzz going on both guitar and bass without it turning to slop. Maybe just a bit of grind on the bass might work better, a la [url="http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x6vh2p_daisy-chainsaw-love-your-money_music"]Daisy Chainsaw[/url].

[quote name='alexclaber' post='438893' date='Mar 19 2009, 08:00 AM']However I suspect the [url="http://barefacedbass.com/thecompact.html"]Compact[/url] would do an even better job - a single cab that is lighter than one GS112 but louder than two of them! Alex[/quote] I've been meaning to ask: What's the max. power you can bung at one of those before it breaks? I can't see it mentioned on the page anywhere. I appreciate it's an 8ohm cab so it would probably have to be a big amp, but I'm curious.

[quote name='Rich' post='438884' date='Mar 19 2009, 07:37 AM']You think using 'gay' as an insult is funny, but you're all sensitive about calling someone an idiot (rather than using 'gay' as an insult again) and you think 'chav' is offensive? Oh please.[/quote] Explaining humour is always tiresome but for your benefit: Calling an object "gay" is clearly perverse, nonsensical, it's funny for that reason. I don't call people "gay" unless they are gay. I don't use "gay" as an insult, you just didn't understand the context I used it in. And yes I think "Chav" is a derogatory term that is used way too liberally. I don't think it's OK to declare a whole class of people to be dossers and criminals. It's considerably more damaging than calling a lump of wood "gay".

[quote name='4000' post='428170' date='Mar 7 2009, 07:15 PM']Do you (yes, you personally) buy the cheapest, most functional clothes you can? The cheapest functioning car? The cheapest functioning tv? The cheapest pc that actually works? Because your argument says you should and that anyone who does anything else is nuts.[/quote] To some extent yes I suppose I do. I drive a little Daihatsu because it's cheap to run, convenient and utterly reliable, I buy cheap clothes if I see cheap clothes I like, I have actually never bought a TV, now that you mention it... Would you (yes, you personally) spend 10x more on a bass if it had an especially nice veneer on the front and it sounded and played just as good as your other basses? Would it be worth 100x as much? 1000x? At what point do you label the buyer a cretin? I draw the line a bit earlier than you it seems. [quote name='EdwardHimself' post='428218' date='Mar 7 2009, 08:48 PM']... Also what makes you think that everyone who works in theatre is gay? I know several people who do drama and are far from homosexual. I'm not gay myself by the way i am just sick to death of hearing every stupid chav in my school who calls me gay because they seem to think it's the worst thing you could ever call someone.[/quote] I didn't think anyone was still using "gay" in that context, I haven't heard it in ages, that's why I thought it might be funny to use it. Actually I still think it was funny, and you're a bit humourless. And I don't "think that everyone who works in theatre is gay" and nor did I say that. [quote name='Rich' post='438219' date='Mar 18 2009, 01:09 PM']I am firmly with Edward here. [b][u]The word 'gay' is not a term of abuse and should not be used as such[/u][/b]. If anyone wants to call something crap, say it's crap. If you want to call someone an idiot, call them an idiot.[/quote] Fair enough if calling a bass "gay" is unacceptable (I can appreciate that there are some sensitive gays out there somewhere), but calling someone an idiot is OK? I've seen "chav" used quite a lot around here too. That's pretty offensive.

One benefit of having 2 12"s rather than a 2x12" (or at least a ickle one like the Schroeder) is you get speaker closer to your ear. I'm always looking for stuff to put my Shroeder 1212 on so I can hear it on stage without deafening the audience. But in portability terms, the 1212 is very cool. And I can't imagine ever needing two of them.

TBH I think just a good compressor and a good low-pass filter would do you right. It's quite a subtle sound, not far off an electric bass really.

Wouldn't the easiest option be to give us the name of this sales guy, and the phone number for PMT in Leeds, and let us have some fun with him?

I was waiting for them to start kissing but it never happened.

[quote name='Rich' post='437981' date='Mar 18 2009, 07:48 AM']So the Aria SB isn't a classic, but the Yam BB is? Hmm. This is all very subjective.[/quote] Yeah that was a bit silly. The Arias should be in. [quote name='Rich' post='437981' date='Mar 18 2009, 07:48 AM']Boutique [i]nobody[/i]? John Paul Jones would disagree! The Mansons have been making basses for decades. I would suggest that the Kestrel bass from the early 80s is something of a design classic: [/quote] Are you serious? Anyway, nothing with a figured top is going in this list. This is for [i]cool[/i] basses.

To me that sounds like a fuzz into a low-pass filter, cut-off operated with an expression pedal? And some clean bass sound blended in.

[quote name='Musky' post='437878' date='Mar 17 2009, 10:43 PM']I know beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but how can you say these are ugly! [/quote] That's got a kind of chic '60s vibe about it. I think I like it. Bear in mind the '60s had some equally ugly pop stars. They weren't going to play guitars that looked better than they did.

[quote name='LukeFRC' post='437695' date='Mar 17 2009, 07:19 PM']i would expect to see bass guitars replaced with synths and keyboards.[/quote] That already happened in the '80s, people still liked the sound of bass guitars though so they didn't go away altogether. [quote name='LukeFRC' post='437695' date='Mar 17 2009, 07:19 PM']The backlash against this will be a return to skill of playing being valued.[/quote] That already happened too. Try convincing anyone who listens to modern "prog" bands that music can be valuable even without a 25-minute guitar solo in the middle.

[quote name='BigRedX' post='437655' date='Mar 17 2009, 06:27 PM']thisnameistaken, obviously beauty is in the eye of the beholder, because I personally think the Overwater Originals are as cool as f**k, and find most traditional bass designs seemingly stuck in the 50s and 60s...[/quote] Sorry, I just saw "Overwater" and didn't think of the Original. Yeah that's a kooky bass, but I'm not really sold on it in design terms, looks a bit like a kid's jotter sketch if you know what I mean. A bit half-baked. Still, you're right, at least it's not overtly derivative. [quote name='BigRedX' post='437655' date='Mar 17 2009, 06:27 PM']BTW I had a look at your profile, but there's no info there. So I can get where your coming from with this question what bass(es) do you use and what music do you play?[/quote] I've got a Stingray and a Thumb, and I play hip-hop influenced pop music, I suppose is the easiest way to describe it. I didn't start the thread because I have any real need for a "classic"-looking bass, I just wondered what's out there in terms of alternatives to the Fenders, Rics and Stingrays we usually see indie bands swinging. I was thinking of basses that can compete with them for classic cool, rather than odd/quirky designs (of which there seems to be a plentiful supply).

[quote name='Shaggy' post='437598' date='Mar 17 2009, 05:33 PM']My GS Galaxy (1984) - the only "modern" sounding bass I've ever liked, although it looks like a vintage one. They did a few others too, sadly only guitars now, but still handmade at a small workshop near Manchester. [/quote] I've never seen one of those before. Nice one.

[quote name='BigRedX' post='436964' date='Mar 17 2009, 10:17 AM']From the UK, the Overwater Originals from the early 80s, and as CK said the early JD basses, Wals and Status again from the late 70s and early 80s. All these designs are now at least 25 years old so if the OP thinks that they're too modern that just shows how far ahead of the game they were when they first came out![/quote] But they were never cool. The only British manufacturer who had a distinctive shape was Status, and that literally was "too modern". It looks very dated now, not in a good way. I agree that Burns probably qualify, even though their designs are based on American shapes but "wrong". What about Vox - did they make basses?

Thanks for reminding me I really shouldn't drink so much on Tuesdays.

[quote name='Buzz' post='436830' date='Mar 17 2009, 01:53 AM']Hofner (yes, I'm too lazy to add the umlaut). Specifically the Violin basses that Sir Paul loves.[/quote] I did mention that in the first post. [quote name='Buzz' post='436830' date='Mar 17 2009, 01:53 AM']As for Danelectro, I may have implied they weren't American, but I never said so (even tho they were probably more popular over here) [/quote] I'm going to take that as an admission of error. Shots of nice Shergolds will absolve you.

Hmm. OK let's try to distill that a bit: Vigier - I've never seen an old Vigier, anybody got a snap of one? That's a new bass to me. John Birch - Would like to see one. Looks like he just makes copies of American basses. Gordon-Smith - I think their Les Paul models are modern classics and I love them, but I've never seen a GS bass - again, pics? Chris Eccleshall - Another American copier? Jaydee - Too modern. Aria SB range - Bit plain, but the best suggestion yet. Yamaha BB range - Agreed! [b]Not-American Classic[/b] Ashley Pangborn - Look just like Jaydees or Alembics, no, not good enough. Manson - Does he even make basses? Another boutique nobody - NO! Wal - Agreed! [b]Not-American Classic[/b] if you can find an older one or the original body shape. MkII and later basses don't count! Overwater - Too modern, too exclusive. Hagstrom - Inspired by American designs but still with original features and still cool. I say [b]Not-American Classic[/b]. I've never played one though and they don't look too clever in the "giggable" category to me, but maybe that's just me. Egmond - Best example I could find looked like a really cheap Fender knock-off. Pics? Ned Callan - Would like to see some examples. All I'm finding is Shergold links. Washburn - Can't think of a "classic" Washburn, I remember them for (admittedly good) budget guitars in the late '80s. Were they around before then? Tune - Too modern. Ibanez - Again, great suggestion, I declare the Musician a [b]Not-American Classic[/b], always tempted by them when they come up for sale. Vantage - Would need to see classic examples, I thought they were a relatively modern brand. Riverhead - Can only find '80s models. Did they do anything else? Westone - I remember lots of people learning on Thunder models. OK then - [b]Not-American Classic[/b] - but ugly! El Maya - Didn't they just do Fender copies? Fernandes - Didn't they just do Fender copies?

I had to admit I thought Danelectros were American... They're a bit ***-looking though aren't they? With those pickups and the pastel colours. Hmm. I just looked up Danelectro and they're from Redbank, New Jersey! I've played there and it's definitely not outside of the USA.