redstriper

GHS precision flats are my favourites after trying quite a few (not La Bellas yet) and the Laklands are supposed to be the same. I also only use 4 strings, but it will be interesting to see how you find them compared to La Bellas. I bought some new ones from the US recently and got hit for VAT plus £12.50 handling charge

I'll play for free whenever I want and I'll take the money too if it's available, because I love to play and my reward is not financial. Music is art and a spiritual journey for me, not a business venture. I've been doing this for 35 years and I've never met a musician motivated by money that I would want as a friend, let alone play with.

Resenting people playing for free is a negative view, It's like resenting foreigners for taking our jobs. Think positive, live and let live and stop blaming other people for your problems.

I think the worst thing is the shoddy build quality, they are built as cheaply as possible and over priced IMO. The Squiers CVs are better IME and the Farida Jazz which is made in the same Chinese factory is even better, for less than half the price.

[quote name='KingBollock' timestamp='1349905817' post='1832220'] It's two faced and both faces are wrong. [/quote] Da iawn bro - can you get my band any gigs down your way (highly paid if possible)

[quote name='KingBollock' timestamp='1349880547' post='1831725'] Not being bothered about making money at it does not make me evil or a lesser musician than you. And implying as much is just snide and smacks of bitterness. [/quote] +999 If you wanna make money, fine - but leave us kids alone.

I use a markbass LM11 into 1 or 2 15" cabs loaded with the same Eminence drivers as the compact. Sounds great to me

If that's your biggest disappointment of the year, things ain't too bad man

Sling your hook clever pants..... and take your new friend with you

[quote name='bremen' timestamp='1348750522' post='1817707'] GHS pressurewounds on my fretless [/quote] Thanks for the link - I'm going to try these. GHS Precisions are my favourite flats for reggae and these may be better for other styles and on fretless. Rotosound also make pressurewound bass strings, which feel smoother than rounds and sound quite bright: [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bjUWmiV9fw8"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bjUWmiV9fw8[/url]

Rotosound flats are the brightest, most roundwound sounding I've used, but they're not as smooth as the Tru Bass. Chromes are very smooth and the next brightest I've tried, but they're not as zingy as the Rotosounds. TI's are great for fretless, with a light gauge and feel, they are smooth and fairly bright, but more middy than the others.

Thanks for the kind words chaps, I'm not drinking before posting again (much)

[quote name='skidder652003' timestamp='1348659364' post='1816509'] The Ashdown is pretty lousy as a piece of kit IMO so chopping it up doesn't bother me (they're not worth much anyway) [/quote] The Ashdown MAG 115 deep cab is well built and very solid IME, the only reason I got rid of mine was the weight. I found it better tone wise than quite a few much more expensive, so called boutique cabs and I couldn't get it to rattle or buzz even at high volumes. But then, I don't go in for any upper mid or treble in my sound, so I can't comment on it's performance in that regard. Edited to point out that I didn't do anything to the ports when I fitted the Eminence 3015LF and there were no unwanted noises even at high volume.

Sorry, sorry, sorry... I've done a bad thing - first of all I'm Tacsi and secondly, I cheated My band is called Tacsi and I linked to a song we wrote last year, it wasn't written this month. I didn't read the OP properly, (I was very drunk at the time) and the picture made me think of this song so I made the link and promptly forgot all about it - until now. Anyway thanks to whoever voted for the song, but you should transfer your vote and I should be scorned as unworthy .

[url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j8sLNh8JS08"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j8sLNh8JS08[/url]

[quote name='Happy Jack' timestamp='1348434474' post='1813676'] I'm not sure that you'd much enjoy Anglesey in 1957 ... [/quote] Why not - nothing's changed at all

[quote name='Rick's Fine '52' timestamp='1348433159' post='1813655'] They can't make guitars like the old ones, otherwise people craving 'that' tone, wouldnt pay small fortunes to get it. That go's for Gibbo's too. I don't know why though. [/quote] Maybe old guitars sound and feel better because they mature over time, or maybe they were always better even when brand new. Wish I could go back in time to find out.

[quote name='Rick's Fine '52' timestamp='1348431709' post='1813619'] I've also found this, inclusing the CS relic I had, vibration and buzz seems to be quite accepted on new basses, perhaps its the norm, and not heard when plugged in. [/quote] It is the norm IME and I almost feel embarrassed when I mention it, I know it isn't heard when plugged in, but it really [i]really[/i] bugs me. Why can't they make a new bass sound and feel like an old one and why oh fekin why do Fender put roundwound strings on their reissues?

[quote name='Rick's Fine '52' timestamp='1348428434' post='1813546'] '63 Jazz, there's plenty out there, but you'll need deep pockets. What spec is yours? (Colour/guard etc). [/quote] Mine was 'customised' in 1978 after a hard life and the only original parts are the neck, hardware and electrics. The previous owner used to pour lighter fuel on it and set it on fire as part of his stage act, so the body and finger board were badly charred and had to be replaced. They were replaced with a maple Precision shaped body and maple board with new jumbo frets. It weighs 10.5 pounds and isn't particularly easy to play if you like fast runs, in fact it's a bit of a bitch and ugly with it. But it sounds and feels sublime, especially for old school soul, blues, funk and reggae. I'm sure the sound and feel come from the original parts - the neck and pick ups in particular, although the solid maple body may add to the depth of tone. I have toyed with the idea of having it restored to original condition, but it's risky and I don't want to chance losing the sound and feel of my favourite bass. I'm looking for something lighter weight (under 9 lbs) with the same tone and feel as my old bass and I have bought, sold and tried lots over the past few years, with nothing really doing it for me. I was planning on trying some custom shop and road worn models, but I've a feeling that only an old Fender will satisfy me. I'm not mad fussy about colour, but mine is black and I like the look of the custom colour black one in Bass Direct. One other thing about my old bass - there is never any fret buzz, despite my heavy touch and all new basses seem to buzz, no matter how high the action is. Dingus - you make a good point about the sound comparison in your post, but it's not the recorded sound that makes an old bass special. The same player recording the same bass part on different basses, with the same strings and set up will sound very similar, particularly in a band mix. The difference is how they feel and how that affects and inspires the player and everyone is different in this respect. Having said that, I would be very happy if a new American Standard Jazz felt and sounded like the pre CBS Jazzes I have played and I would buy it immediately.

Thanks Rick - I won't rush out to try some custom shop models, (something I have been seriously considering). I know exactly what you mean about the feel and sound of a nice pre CBS bass - they ruined me for all new basses, which just feel and sound wrong in comparison. There is something about my old Jazz with it's heavy gauge worn flats that is just so 'right' for me. I bought it in 1980 when you could get pre CBS Jazzes easily for £250 - £400 and it's still my favourite bass after buying and selling various modern basses. Now I want the same bass as my old one, but unmodified and completely original - where to find one though?

[quote name='Rick's Fine '52' timestamp='1348424358' post='1813470'] I've never heard so much opinionated crap in all my life. [/quote] You obviously don't read as many BC threads as I do Rick - how do you rate the current custom shop Fenders in comparison to pre CBS models and where do you consider the current American and MIM standards and road worns fit in the analysis? I have a 'customised' '63 Jazz and my friend has 2 lovely original pre CBS Jazzes. I haven't found anything like them tone and feel wise in the current Fender range, but I haven't tried any custom shop models yet. The nearest I've found in tone and feel is a Chinese Farida copy (£150 new) and even the Squier CV Jazz feels more like the old ones to me than any modern standard Fender. Steve.

[quote name='gjones' timestamp='1348177257' post='1810608'] Pssssst why not just fit the speaker in your Ashdown and if it sounds good and doesn't fart or make funny noises at volume..........just leave it there. Don't tell those other guys that I suggested this...........I might get into trouble. [/quote] Good advice, that's exactly what I did and it sounded fine, none of the problems the experts here have mentioned - no chuffing, farting or buzzing, just nice deep, smooth bass. But it was still a heavy cab, so I changed to a smaller and extremely lightweight Flite cab with a small port and it sounds even better. Like these: [url="http://www.darekoles.com/gear.htm"]http://www.darekoles.com/gear.htm[/url]

[quote name='Dingus' timestamp='1348410158' post='1813251'] Fender basses were the highest quality instruments available in their day, bar none. Until Alembic came along in the late 60s / early seventies ( albeit with a radically different design concept) who could rival Fender basses for sound and playability ? A big part of the genius of Leo Fenders designs was that they were fantastic instruments without the need for the highly skilled and detailed craftmanship needed to produce traditional instruments such as violins or better quality acoustic guitars. I would have to disagree, however, that todays Fenders are neccesarily poor clones. I've played countless pre-CBS Fender basses and whilst some were very good basses ( and very beautiful objects), as a working instrument a well-chosen bass from the current Fender range could easily compete in terms of sound, and will almost certainly be superior in terms of playability and durability. If you want to collect antiques then be my guest, but if you want a bass to play then a new one ( providing you choose the right one ) arguably has more to offer, especially if you look at some of the great work the Fender Custom Shop is doing. I'm not saying this to be provocative or denigrate anybodies vintage collection - I think some of these basses are absolutely exquisite- but the simple fact is that Fender basses are fairly straightforward instruments, when all is said and done. [/quote] Best post so far - nail on the head.

[quote name='skidder652003' timestamp='1347728336' post='1804416'] thanks Bill im not going to find anybody round here with the time or inclination TBH! Ive ordered the kappalite 3015LF and im gonna bung it my old ashdown 115 deep mag cab or my warwick wca 115 and hope for the best! Trial and error on this one im afraid! [/quote] I did exactly this and it worked for me, I love the 3015LF and it sounds great in the Ashdown MAG. It sounds even better in the Flite cab it's now in, which is a smaller box and must be the lightest 15" cab in existence, while sounding very deep, loud and smooth. So good, I got another for big gigs, but the other has the original Eminence ceramic driver, (can't remember the model) and it sounds more middy and less deep. Together, they make a great noise and they are very loud, but I mostly use just the 3015LF loaded cab and prefer it to any other cab I've had. Thing is, I play mostly reggae and don't use any upper mid or treble - it's all about deep smooth bass for me.