redstriper

Ah - Paul's new picobass is also on my list.

[quote name='thunderbird13' post='656829' date='Nov 17 2009, 11:44 AM']Chaps - I'm using a Zoom B2 1u and I am linking a compressor and a wahwah effect together which works fine for the verse but I want to use the tube screamer effect with the foot pedal for a solo but as soon as I use it the volume gets really loud. I've tried playing with all the gain ouputs and also with the ZFM ( ?) mix dial but so far cant get a balanced output - anyone else got a way around this ??? I'm prob doing something really stupid as its my first pedal [/quote] I haven't used one, so this is just a guess - Set the patch level of the tube screamer effect to where you want it and then store it to another patch location and use that instead of the preset. You should be able to set the individual levels of each patch and store them, (hopefully).

[quote name='Happy Jack' post='660108' date='Nov 20 2009, 01:21 PM']If you find yourself in West London, Red Striper, you're very welcome to try a few other vintage Hofners. Apart from the 500/1, I currently have a 500/2 (Club), a 500/5 (but not the President), and a 500/7 (Verithin). And another 500/5 in my office. [/quote] That's very decent of you, thanks - I do visit London occasionally and I'd like to take you up on the Hofner fest offer sometime, I'd also like to try an Aria Sinsinido when I can, (seem to remember you had one of those too).

Mr. Norton - you're right, sustain was the big thing for basses in the 70s and I don't need much - I sometimes use foam to damp the strings. I only use one of those skinny single coils, coz I don't like the bridge pup sound and yes maple is known for it's brightness. Don't know why the old thing works for reggae, but it does. OTPJ & HJ- thanks for the suggestions, I have tried a few violin basses, but not liked them, feel or tone wise - I can't explain, but they're just not me and I really wanted them to be. They reminded me of the EB-0 I had, which was lightweight with a deep sound, but just not right for me. There is a Hofner Senator bass for sale down the road which I think Owen bought from Happy Jack and that might be better. I'm taken with the idea of a new body and neck and there are Fender licenced ones available in the UK [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=130303968599&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT"]here[/url] or from the states [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=330378016789&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT"]here[/url]. That would make my old bass more like it was originally and should improve the weight and feel, whilst retaining 'my' sound. Bit risky though and not cheap. Still thinking...............

[quote name='chris_b' post='658800' date='Nov 19 2009, 01:28 AM']Family Man used a stock Jazz and recently has been using a Lakland 4-94. Two reggae bass players come to our jam nights. One uses a very old and busted up Ibanez and the other is using a stock Fender Precision. Both get good reggae tones. Your choice of bass could be wider than you think.[/quote] I'm sure you're right. One problem is that new basses are always strung with new roundwounds, which makes them sound clanky and feel awful when I try them. I like flats and I've even taken an old set into shops to try on stock basses, but they don't like it. The only exception I found was a used Warwick Corvette which sounded very deep and warm, but weighed almost as much as my old jazz and wasn't much prettier.

A most excellent gentleman to deal with and highly recommended - good with a soldering iron too.

I don't think of it as a '63 bass worth loads of money and I'm sorry if that's the impression I gave. I'm not particularly sentimental about it and I certainly don't love it or attribute any great value to it. It's just a tool that has served me well for 30 years and now I find it too heavy. The problem is that I can't find a bass with such a great reggae tone and feel - if I did and it was lighter and prettier, then I would buy it and my problem would be solved. Maybe I should just get out more

[quote name='Starless' post='658455' date='Nov 18 2009, 07:44 PM']"a 1963 jazz bass with the L serial number, all original except for the body, fingerboard and headstock" Sorry, but is this a wind-up thread? Surely this ceased to be a '63 Jazz bass some considerable time ago, and is now in the category of 'Frankenbass'. Clinging on to that description on say, an eBay listing would have the punters on here laughing their socks off. When does a bass cease to be what it was manufactured as? Change fretboard OK, rip out the electrics fair enough, but replace a Jazz body with a P? This is mental.[/quote] No it's not a wind up, it's not mental and frankenbass isn't even a word - thanks for the help though Starless. It is what it is and I tried to describe it clearly and honestly in response to genuine questions, I'm not selling it and this isn't ebay. I'd like to thank everyone else for their helpful input - I'm deep in thought as to what to do and considering all your suggestions.

[quote name='Beedster' post='657713' date='Nov 18 2009, 12:31 AM']it's f**king ugly[/quote] Sad but true dude - would you play it in public ? Maybe all I really want is a pretty bass.

[quote name='~tl' post='657672' date='Nov 17 2009, 11:56 PM']Personally, I'd keep that bass as is. Use it for recording, or whatever. It's unique, so it'd be a shame to butcher it up... well, more than it has been already! Then I'd be on the lookout for another (lightweight) Jazz to use for gigging. The new American Std. ones are supposed to be rather good, though I'm not sure about the weight. Maybe go down the custom route (depending on your budget, of course) and get something made that has a similar neck profile but a more lightweight body. [url="http://www.shukerguitars.co.uk/"]Jon Shuker[/url] might be a good shout for that. Or you could always get parts from [url="http://www.warmoth.com:80/default.aspx"]Warmoth[/url] (they have weights on all the bodies and necks in their store) and make it up yourself. Then there's the second hand route... Out of interest, how much does that bass weigh?[/quote] Thanks - I'd like to buy a new jazz bass rather than making my own, unfortunately Fender don't advertise the weights of any of their range, in fact I don't know anyone that does and a new bass might not have 'my' sound. The American Vintage 62 jazz looks very nice but I don't really want to spend that kinda dosh, Then there's the American Standard, the Mexican classic 60s and the Squier CV - will any of these be light enough and sound and feel right for me ? I haven't got accurate scales, but I reckon mine is about 10 - 11 lbs. Not all that heavy, but painful after a while. Anything below 9 lbs would probably be ok. I feel a road trip coming on - but the stool is cheaper.

I just read my original post and I can see how it makes no sense, so I will try to clarify things - Firstly, I didn't do any of the modifications - I haven't done anything to it except change the strings a few times since buying the bass. Secondly, I don't smoke ganga or anything else. Now the history lesson which I only recently discovered - The original owner was in a psychadelic band called The Answers and he used to pour lighter fluid on the bass and set fire to it as part of his act. He cut the headstock maybe to improve the balance or maybe because he broke the end of the headstock, he had a wild stage act and this was the '60s. The bass was then sold on in 1968 by which time the body and fingerboard were charred beyond redemption. The next owner built a new precision shaped body and replaced the fingerboard both out of maple. He then toured with it extensively before selling it to me in 1980. So, it is as I described - a 1963 jazz bass with the L serial number, all original except for the body, fingerboard and headstock. I've been very happy with it until the past couple of years, when the weight has become a problem. Now, to the solution(s) - I bought an Ashbory, which is the bass in my band's myspace music - it's great for weight and sound but hard to play without concentrating, (not my strong point). Then I bought an Epiphone EB-0, which came close, but wasn't quite right sound wise. I've also tried a 70s Fender Mustang and found it almost as heavy as my old jazz. I tried sitting down at gigs, but it's not ideal with this band, the funny thing is that I always sit down with my other band which is more jazzy and the fretless bass I use for that weighs almost nothing but it doesn't have the right sound for reggae. I don't have any wood working skills, so I won't be doing any mods myself. Which brings me back to my 3 options and I must say the most appealing is to have a lightweight jazz body made if I can find someone willing and able to take the job without charging too much. It would be nice to get the bass back to the way it was before the pyro maniac got to work. I recently tried 2 original '60s jazz basses and they both weigh a lot less than mine - they don't sound too shabby either. My second option is to buy a new (or used) bass for gigs and I'm quite partial to that idea, but all the lightweights I've tried, (not that many TBH) have sounded too bright and thin for reggae. I'm cautious of buying a bass without trying it because I'm quite fussy and it has to feel and sound right even for gigs - any recommendations welcome. The simplest and cheapest option is a stool - Jamerson used one after all. Here's the beast in question - [attachment=36613:63_bass.jpg]

I have a 1963 Fender jazz bass that I'm now finding too heavy for long gigs. It had a home made maple precision body fitted in 1978 which is what makes it so heavy. It also had a new maple fingerboard at the same time, the neck is original, but the headstock has been cut in the musicman style. The electrics and hardware are all original. These are the options, I've considered - 1: Get a lightweight bass for gigs and keep the old jazz for recording. 2: Sit down at gigs. 3: (This is my latest plan) Have a lightweight jazz shaped body made and maybe also a new neck or fingerboard. It's been my main bass for 30 years and I love the sound, So what should I do ? Any suggestions ?

[quote name='deaky' post='656338' date='Nov 16 2009, 08:16 PM']Hi all, Got a bit of a dilemma here Iam having my MIA Fender Deluxe Precision set up and I am wondering whether or not to stick a new set of strings on it. I currently have TI flats which are fab but a bit I find them slightly "loose". I like the look of the Rotosound Jazz 77 strings I play in a christian group so looking for a nice smooth silky sound. Appreciate any thoughts Deaky[/quote] Roto 77s are similar in sound to TIs but brighter and rougher in feel - if you want smooth sound and feel, I recommend GHS precisions.

I recently got a Tanglewood Rebel fretless on ebay for £23 delivered, it needed some work removing all the stickers, de-rusting the bridge and adjusting the truss rod and action. It plays and sounds lovely now with used TI flats which cost £15 from this forum. it's the lightest weight bass I've ever played with a jazz like neck and unlined rosewood fingerboard. I only use the P pup because the bridge jazz one just sounds wrong to me, but you'd get more mwah with the bridge pup and roundwounds. Another one to look out for is the Squier VMJ fretless, which I've heard good things about, but not tried for myself.

I have a spare set of new silicone strings and also a new set of pahoehoe strings which are much stronger and more stable - you can read a thread about them on the Ashbory forum [url="http://www.largesound.net/bass/index.php/topic,653.0.html"]here[/url]. I prefer the new pahoehoes, but not everyone is of the same opinion. They are not available in the UK as far as I know and I got mine [url="http://www.bassuke.com/Pahoehoe.html"]here[/url]. I can sell you either or both sets. Steve.

How does the weight affect the sound ? Or is that another thread ?

[quote name='buff' post='655921' date='Nov 16 2009, 01:15 PM']Picked up two in my local guitar shop and i recon they varied by a couple of pounds in weight.[/quote] That's a big variation and I'm surprised on a mass produced instrument - I wonder what other differences there are in raw materials.

Whaddya mean no deadspots - that can't be right, all my basses have deadspots. mmmmmm................. You can buy a Squier CV jazz, CV 60s precision and a VM fretless jazz and get all 3 for less than the price of one American Standard Fender and you might even get a CV 50s precision thrown in ! mmmmmmmmm............................

Thanks for the review. I'm seriously conidering one of the CV basses and will try them as soon as I can. Just a couple of questions please - How much does the CV weigh compared to the American Fender. Also, are there any dead spots ? Thanks again, Steve.

I had exactly the same experience recently with a used passive corvette standard in my local shop. I'd never tried one for the same preconceptions you describe, so I wasn't expecting much when I had a go on it. But I loved it - couldn't put it down and even thought of buying it except it's £50 more than a new one! Great deep, fat sound and a joy to play - like a jazz but clearer and more direct. Fit some fat flats and it's the perfect dub bass. On the subject of blowing stereotypes - my main fretless is now a tanglewood rebel that I got from ebay for £23 delivered. It sounds amazing strung with TI flats (which cost more than the bass) and is lovely to play after a good set up. Moral - you can't judge a book by the cover.

If it's still available, I'll definately have it - been looking for one for my mag115 for a while.