EliasMooseblaster

[quote name='Donnyboy' timestamp='1487158030' post='3237573'] It's a no from me.. I was expecting to be impressed but they just don't do it for me. I didn't like the feel or tension tbh. I've got a set of black nylons in a drawer that I might try for a laugh. [/quote] Sadly I've got a ladder in mine...

[quote name='Rikki_Sixx' timestamp='1487155911' post='3237535'] I'd love to try a DIY kit (or just buy a ton of parts) sometime. I'm not too concerned about the woodworking aspect of it as most of the work is done (to varying degrees of QC!), but it's the electronics I'd be concerned about. I haven't used a soldering iron since high school, and I've forgotten what little I ever learned about circuitry! [/quote] [quote name='prowla' timestamp='1487163328' post='3237655'] The electrics in a plain P-bass are simple. [/quote] Better still, on the Brandoni P-bass kits, they come pre-wired with the pickup taped to the scratchplate!

Just a quick bump as this one's coming up this weekend!

[quote name='LewisK1975' timestamp='1487081469' post='3236837'] 'Is anybody getting bored of reliced instruments?', you can't ignore the fact that Fender have been doing the Roadworn stuff for pushing 10 years now? (think they started in either 2007 or 2008). [/quote] [quote name='dlloyd' timestamp='1487081805' post='3236841'] They've been doing relics for 22 years. [/quote] So through the second-hand market, I might be able to get my hands on a genuinely road-worn Road-Worn!

[quote name='DangerDan' timestamp='1486722721' post='3234059'] The only problem with checking FOH sound during soundcheck is that an empty room doesn't sound the same as one full of punters. There comes a point where you just have to trust the soundguy. [/quote] It is for this reason that I have started chalking markers on the floor to dictate where punters must stand. Strange resonance from one corner of the room? Two or three large people in there, please. Smaller people? Near the front, but please don't stand in the line of the guitarist's speaker lest you limit his projection to the back of the room. Punters are obviously not allowed to move from their designated spots during a song. If anybody wants to go the bar or needs the loo, they'll have to wait, otherwise I throw down my bass and scream at the offending punters for denigrating the music by interfering with our finely-honed live sound, and could they not have waited [i]just ten more minutes[/i] for our introspective musical contemplation upon the majesty of Andromeda to finish? Clearly not. Hurry up and we'll start again once you're back from the gents' and standing in your chalk circle. [i]Da capo, [/i]lads, [i]da capo.[/i] And a-one, two, three...

[quote name='Twigman' timestamp='1486722547' post='3234057'] ever heard a german girl trying to say "squirrel" ? [/quote] See also a French person trying to say "smooth." (They get their own back by challenging us to pronounce "grenouille" correctly...)

[quote name='prowla' timestamp='1486592876' post='3233181'] You need arms like an orangutan to play a Thunderbird! [/quote] This is a very good point - don't know how tall your friend is, but there is something about the way long-scale Gibson-style basses sit that puts the 12th fret a lot further out than it would be on a Fender. Consequently, first-position playing either requires you to hang the bass really low on the strap, or be blessed with long arms!

Time to begin with the obvious question: Is it any good for meat(al)?

I enjoyed that, very interesting take on the song - and a lovely upright tone, as you say. I didn't think the strange key change in the piano line during the second chorus really worked...maybe I've missed the point, but I didn't feel like it added anything to the song, just seemed to be dissonance for dissonance's sake. Very nice arrangement otherwise though! Have just listened to their cover of [i]Teen Spirit [/i]as well - great stuff, though I shouldn't have made the mistake of looking at the comments beneath...!

[quote name='MoonBassAlpha' timestamp='1486549587' post='3232612'] I learned a set of 10 tunes (originals) for a one-off gig. We knew there would only be 1 rehearsal as the artist was visiting for a short solo tour, he's normally based in Berlin. Got the set list in December and we all worked through it to learn it as best we could. The gig went very well, artist was pleased, etc. but I just cant get the tunes out of my head now. I wake up with them going on, they visit at quiet times during the day, and at bedtime. Any tips on clearing the tunes out? Cheers MBA [/quote] I usually find I have to go and listen to them again. It's almost as if my memory's got a partial recollection of how they sound and is nagging me to go back and refresh that memory. Doesn't clear them out straight away, but makes the nuisance of their running 'round your head a bit more bearable until they do finally fade. (For example, I've got a short snippet of [i]Straight Arrow [/i]by Spirit looping in my head this morning...any excuse to put that album on again!)

[quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1486482628' post='3232175'] From what I've seen of Brandoni (and yes AFAIK they are still going) they are in completely different league to the kit linked to in the OP. [/quote] What do you base that on? My Brandoni kit was bare, unfinished wood (I found their website; it looks like they still are), as is the kit in the OP link. The only main differences I can see are that the Brandoni was alder rather than ash, the headstock came ready-shaped, and they were nice enough to do all the wiring and tape the pickup to the scratchplate for ease of assembly.

[quote name='GarethFlatlands' timestamp='1486295862' post='3230606'] [url="http://www.kitbuiltguitars.co.uk/guitarkits/jazz-j-bass-build-your-own-bass-guitar-kit.html"]http://www.kitbuiltg...guitar-kit.html[/url] These look interesting but seem a bit too cheap to be good. Has anyone tried them? I got some paypal money and wanted a jazz and also a project to work on, but I lack the woodwork skills to do much more than assemble a kit. And even that might be beyond me! [/quote] I have no experience of the kits from KBG, but the Precision copy which I have owned for about 15 years, and which was my main bass for the majority of those years, was built from a kit. Essentially, it's like doing a parts build, except that all the parts come to you in the same box, so you don't get much scope to customise what you get. I got mine from a company called Brandoni - no idea if they're still active. I stripped it down and gave it a refurb a few years ago, but apart from that brief period, it's remained in active service throughout and it's an excellent instrument. (There are some "before" and "after" photos up at [url="https://thecrowfrombelow.wordpress.com/2015/07/22/precision-bass-refurb/"]https://thecrowfrombelow.wordpress.com/2015/07/22/precision-bass-refurb/[/url])

Schecter Model T? Not the easiest to come by, but you could probably grab one for about half the prices quoted in your OP. P/J Duncan* pickups, with a neck profile much closer to a Jazz than a Precision; you can pay a bit more for an active version, but I've got one of the passives. When I was shopping, the options were blonde body/RW board or sunburst body/maple board - conveniently enough for your criteria! I tried both and went for the blonde/RW model myself, but I remember the burst/maple one having plenty of 'snap' to it. *not a Byker Grove reference...

[quote name='bubinga5' timestamp='1485955528' post='3227974'] Am I missing something.? It just looks like a black P bass with some red on it and a black headstock. Whilst saving money and not glossing the bass. One of the more pointless exercises from Fender,s marketing team. [/quote] Kind of reminds me of the Epiphone "Gothic" series that came out around the peak of "nu" metal's popularity - basically the same old LPs and SGs but with a matte black finish. Admittedly the black satin finish on this one looks quite nice...but I think it's a bit bold to call it a "brand new model"!

[quote name='stingrayPete1977' timestamp='1485882045' post='3227479'] I'm not familiar with them but it's very possible, now how many people are using one without a pedal or sansamp etc? [/quote] I be two of them lad. (As long as you ignore the tuning pedal, and the overdrive which I just kick in a solo boost...) (PS a quick interweb search suggests "FMV" is indeed one type of passive tone stack - [url="http://pickroar.com/1003/the-tone-stack-explained-in-english-for-humans/comment-page-1/"]http://pickroar.com/1003/the-tone-stack-explained-in-english-for-humans/comment-page-1/[/url] - basically three bandpass filters, as opposed to your fancy, new-fangled cut/boost job.)

[quote name='Alien' timestamp='1485724688' post='3226216'] There's a lot of chancers out there ready to try for a fast buck. If anyone pays the full asking price on that thing they deserve what comes to them! A [/quote] Anyone reckon it could be the same bloke who's been trying to get 10 Grand for that 15-string monstrosity - maybe he's decided to try the opposite extreme!

[quote name='stingrayPete1977' timestamp='1485859374' post='3227193'] Passive amp as in a passive EQ section. [/quote] I accept the risk of being dreadfully wrong and making myself look like an arse, but I believe the EQ sections on the Ashdown CTM series (and the Little Bastard) are old-fashioned "FMV" tone stacks - those are passive EQ, aren't they?

[quote name='mrtcat' timestamp='1485778234' post='3226543'] I'd guess at 70% classic rock. [/quote] [quote name='PaulGibsonBass' timestamp='1485778359' post='3226546'] I'd imagine there's a lot of blues out there. [/quote] Guilty as charged!

Cheers, would be great to see you there!

Roll up, roll up, for our first London gig of the year: [attachment=236825:hopeAndAnchor.png] Saturday 25th March: The Hope & Anchor, on Upper Street (Islington), from 8pm - we'll be running the night with support from three other highly entertaining groups: Bouquet of Dead Crows (female-fronted hard rock) Weekend Recovery (pop/punk) Stevie Jones & The Wildfires (acoustic rock) We're also flogging advance tickets via our website: [url="https://cherrywhite.bandcamp.com/merch/live-at-the-hope-anchor-mar-25th"]https://cherrywhite....anchor-mar-25th[/url] (Buying in advance is cheaper, guarantees you a spot in the venue, and we'll throw in some free music to boot!) For anyone who's interested, we also have a facebook wotsit up at [url="https://www.facebook.com/events/613881155462301/"]https://www.facebook...13881155462301/[/url]

Another vote for the colour combination - looks like a real beauty from the picture! Looking forward to hearing how you get on at the gig.

[quote name='dmccombe7' timestamp='1485510166' post='3224416'] Have you looked at the Vintage Basses. Some guitarists i know have bought their guitars and swear they are better than any Gibson Les Paul they've had for playability and weight. I do remember their basses getting some pretty good reviews and think they do a Jazz type bass. Maybe worth a look. Thomann circa £260 Dave [/quote] +1 for Vintage - I have one of their SG copies (VS6?) which pre-dates them shipping with Wilkinson hardware. Even before I upgraded the pickups, I felt like it measured up well to the Epiphone and even some of the cheaper Gibson equivalents I've since tried; since I put some Wilkinson pickups in, it's quite the beast! Edit: alternatively, because you did specify the '70s pickup spacing, are there any Squier CVs knocking around? I assume the '70s CV Jazz basses were built with historically accurate pickup positions, and whilst I've not tried a CV Jazz, the other CV basses and guitars I have tried have been universally excellent.

Hi folks, [attachment=236662:cambsFeb18Alt.png] Doing a FREE gig at The Grapes with local friends Bouquet of Dead Crows, Northampton's Stevie Jones & The Wildfires, and Kentish rockers Weekend Recovery. For the unfamiliar, we sound like this: [url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bp7UAvkMf64"]https://www.youtube....h?v=Bp7UAvkMf64[/url] Saturday 18th February - see you there?

[quote name='prowla' timestamp='1485098907' post='3221086'] What's the Fender short-scale 6-string bass called? [/quote] Ah, the Fender Bass VI - probably another good transition option from guitar (particularly as you have identical tuning then), but quite a different beast from what we tend to think of as a "bass guitar." A shorter scale length even than a short-scale bass, and the feel is much more akin to playing a conventional electric guitar, though obviously with a bassier sound.

A very good friend of mine accompanied her husband to a Dragonforce gig many years ago. She was (still is, I presume) more a jazz fan than prog-metal, or whatever you call their style. She remarked upon the "interesting" attire of many of the audience, but was quietly diplomatic about the music, as I recall...