ChickenKiev

Okay thanks . Extra distortion isn't a bad thing! Reading more in-depth into the VT Bass V2, I actually don't think it's a pre-amp. It's just an effect pedal that tries to emulate an amp. I just think I got a bit confused when it started talking about amp this, amp that. It's still handy to know incase I wanted to add a pre-amp to my rig. I'm looking for MY bass sound and in my head that's a grungy, grinding sort of tone, so the VT Bass + some sort of pre-amp is what I'm looking for (a tone hammer perhaps?). I'm also looking into stainless steel strings too. Apparently they're perfect for the sortof 'clanky' sound I'm looking for.

I am currenty oogling over a few items of gear I really really want to get my hands on, but my searching has been halted by a little lack of knowledge about pre-amps. Okay, so I'm looking to pick up a bass that has an onboard pre-amp (I'm correct by saying that the pickups themselves are passive, but the pre-amp makes them sorta pseudo-active, right?) but I've also seen Tech21's VT Bass V2 pedal, which I believe is an overdrive pedal/pre-amp if my understanding is correct. My question is this; if I plugged a bass with an onboard pre-amp into an external pre-amp, can I expect explosions? Any feedback would be great, thanks. Kiev.

I'm actually the other way round. I would love to keep acquiring instruments as time goes on. I hope to have a wall full of them by the time I'm 50 lol. My dad asked if I thought about selling my first bass the other day, and I nearly slapped him in the mouth! My basses mark different points in my life, so their sentimental value is just too great, and I always read posts from veteran Basschatters that are always like "Oh, I had that bass about ten years ago and sold it. I'd love to get my hands on another one day".

Already posted this in a different thread, but I don't care because I'm a little bit proud of this bass (though it's nothing that special really) as it was my first attempt to mod a bass at the ripe old age of 17: [IMG]http://i1158.photobucket.com/albums/p611/jamesyjamesyjamesy/00ACC2D2-2B6B-4339-B502-8F940F53436B-2186-00000402906C993A_zpsbf9fa4d9.jpg[/IMG] It's a MiM Fender Jazz, but a chip of the nut flew out while I was playing live. I then fell out of love with it for a year and let all the hardware rust like mad. I then decided it'd be a neat upgrade project. I added a new nut and found some black and chrome hardware, a new pickguard (the original was white) and some Seymour Duncan Basslines, though I forget which model. It's currently sporting some Ernie Ball Power Slinky strings and set up in drop B. Love this bass. It's my current number 1.

My general rule of thumb when deciding to pick up a new bass or gear is "am I prepared to live on Super Noodles for a few weeks in order to get this?".

Those are absolutely gorgeous! I would normally say no to the covers on the Jazz, but on this occasion I reckon you should if you have covers on the Precision. They'd truly be a matching pair then.

[quote name='gsgbass' timestamp='1363914909' post='2019638'] This 2012 Am. Std. Precision really has a great sound to it. [IMG]http://i1067.photobucket.com/albums/u426/roadrex/5509Bflash.jpg[/IMG] [/quote] I love that. I used to really dislike the look of precision basses, but the more I see of peoples' here, the more I'm starting to want one.

Ritter basses sure are swell. But I'd never get one because my playing ability would never do one justice! To me these lie in the 'super technical session bassist' zone. However, that 'Princess Isabella' guitar is the most beautiful instrument I've ever seen. It's what I'd picture someone playing in the year 3000 (not much has changed but we live under water). It's retro looking too. It's just sexual. [IMG]http://i1158.photobucket.com/albums/p611/jamesyjamesyjamesy/AF8A397B-7A21-4A86-9936-17F7A8FE1B31-3615-000005A491573F71_zpsb4a8d1b3.jpg[/IMG]

[quote name='TRBboy' timestamp='1363611253' post='2014655'] I've never considered myself to be particularly "vain" about my basses but recently I've been thinking about swapping my gloss black bass for something more colourful. I love playing it, it feels and sounds incredible, and has that nice "played in" feel that my new Virgin White one doesn't yet have. A replacement would be exactly the same model (possibly), just a different colour: Am I an idiot? How do you feel about black basses? This is it below (other two now long gone): [/quote] Ever thought about getting the black bass refinished?

I noticed this too. Aftermarket 5-string P pickups are really sparse too..I'm only aware of one or two companies that provide them.

Not cool: [IMG]http://i1158.photobucket.com/albums/p611/jamesyjamesyjamesy/B311FD93-F064-4075-BAD6-805774738E8E-3228-000004E81DC77875_zpsb19bfeb2.jpg[/IMG] Cool: [IMG]http://i1158.photobucket.com/albums/p611/jamesyjamesyjamesy/8C6353CF-2343-44BC-8FDA-B1385E847ED8-3228-000004E8239C4223_zps2d727f15.jpg[/IMG] It's really that simple. Although I think it only really applies to Fender-type instruments, because nothing looks sexier than a black Thunderbird with a white pickguard.

[quote name='neepheid' timestamp='1362948055' post='2006655'] It's quite a departure from their usual models, isn't it? It reminds me a little of one of these (Washburn Taurus): [/quote] I have this! In fact, it was my first ever bass. My second bass was a Fender Jazz so I can give a brief rundown on it. I might even do a detailed review in the future. The Washburn is a lovely bass, I mean look at it. As much as I love the large, sexy, offset body of the Jazz, this thing completely blows it out of the water in my opinion in terms of sex-appeal! It sounds a bit like a Jazz, which is to be expected. It had a little more low-end however, it's body comprised of mostly mahogany compared to my Fender's ash body. You can get tons of sounds from it but you don't get the same punchy attack that you can muster from a Jazz. In terms of playability, it doesn't compare to a Jazz in my opinion. It depends what you prefer, but it has a much thicker neck than it's Fender counterpart. I hope that helps. Schecter's Stilletto series is similar too. Does anyone have any experience with them?

Oh yeah..that's another point. I drive a mini! That's going to be a riot. I hope the muddiness isn't going to be that much of an issue (fingers crossed). Careful EQing and all that. I have a Hartke 3500 bass head which has 10 band graphic EQ, so I just need to find what works the best in the bands' mix. Being the inaudible presence that rattles the audiences' ribcage is all well and good, but I would like to be heard too . Okay, I think I've settled on the ltd, but I'd really want to try it out in the flesh first. I'm used to jazz bass necks, so if it has a slim neck I'm sold. I still reckon a precision bass is on the cards too if I want to record. I like the look of the American Precision Deluxes.

MiM Fender Jazz. Not stock though, a few years back I found some crappy 3rd party hardware, although it looks quite effective I think. I also slapped on some Seymour Duncan Basslines (I forget which model). Oh, and the pickguard was originally white. [IMG]http://i1158.photobucket.com/albums/p611/jamesyjamesyjamesy/1C818C7D-5692-476F-8D7C-B5CAFB5FA843-2186-000003F2489A6B43_zps4c3a3c34.jpg[/IMG]

[quote name='lojo' timestamp='1361984243' post='1994058'] If you can't play , then reverse the order [/quote] What if you're middle of the road like me?

It's not essential for me to choose a thunderbird, but I just love the look of them too much for me not to be hugely swayed . I was thinking the ltd with some EMGs and possibly a brass nut might be my decision, but I'll definitely try and find somewhere to try the bass out; easier said than done as I can imagine it's not the easiest to find. At first I was tempted to get the ultra bass and get some active EMGs, but it doesn't have a battery box, so I would have to mess around finding a luthier or buying the tools to do it myself, which would NOT end well. The ltd already has one so it'd be a simple rewire job. I'll keep you all posted as to my decision. Thanks for the input guys.

Wow, so many replies , I'll try and address a few. Okay, I like the Corvette $$, those two giant pickups look like sex, but I'm quite a big guy, and I honestly look ridiculous with small bodied instruments. I generally prefer larger bodies, strung low to hide my crotch and belly . I have a jazz bass (he wants a different bass when he has a jazz??) and that's the perfect size for me, and I figured t'birds' body size + shape would offer the same 'protection'. Is there anything I could do to counterbalance the muddiness of t'birds? I'll most probably be playing with a pick, so that would help add some punch and definition, but how much exactly? Also, are there any third-party thunderbird pickups that could help? Lastly, what would happen if I added a brass nut? The bassist from a band called Attack Attack uses a Phoenix live, and the tone of his bass is amazing, although I'm 90% sure he recorded using a p-bass and possibly used something like a Tech21 sans amp pedal: [IMG]http://i1158.photobucket.com/albums/p611/jamesyjamesyjamesy/BE2AE517-46B1-43E9-BA7A-4A07EBD700C0-1803-000003D676E381A0_zpsb3c77554.jpg[/IMG]

I would be tempted to say 5, but would I be right by saying most bassists play 4 string? Or would that earn me a slap in the mouth? If the majority of people play 4-string I would say make it 4, then keep options open for a 5-string. Oh, don't forget the token left handed version too, for a 10% added cost of course .

Hey folks, I've recently become the bassist for a local band, and I'm taking the opportunity to grab a new bass. The reason being is that I want a fresh start with an awesome-sauce new gigging and recording machine! The band I'm joining is hardcore/metalcore, so I've been eyeing up a thunderbird-type bass, as from what I've seen they are perfect for rock an metal (and they look drop dead gorgeous too!). However, I don't want to fork out for a proper gibson as they are a bit out of my price range, but also I would be terrified to take a £1000+ bass on the road! After searching around, I've found three nice alternatives in the £300-£450 mark. The first is an Epiphone Thunderbird Pro IV [IMG]http://i1158.photobucket.com/albums/p611/jamesyjamesyjamesy/15E34121-D8AD-448D-B4E7-47DDA8DEBCD0-1803-0000031564DB54BE_zpsfb811225.jpg[/IMG] Second is an ltd Phoenix 204 [IMG]http://i1158.photobucket.com/albums/p611/jamesyjamesyjamesy/7406F86B-0ED0-450C-BB99-4EDFA56AB937-1803-000003156AD23692_zpse17c66d6.jpg[/IMG] Lastly a Schecter Ultra Bass. [IMG]http://i1158.photobucket.com/albums/p611/jamesyjamesyjamesy/C186806D-7B36-4043-B861-F42B558C7FA8-1803-000003155D690520_zpsd0d74f6f.jpg[/IMG] My question is really, which should I get? Has anyone had any experiences with these basses? I'm wondering more about the ltd and the Schecter than the Epiphone because I've already read plenty about the Pro IV 'birds.

[quote name='neepheid' timestamp='1361490398' post='1986656'] [/quote] Yeah I saw that. I know old epiphone versions exist, but they are so rare that they're impossible to find. I was wondering if hey were going to reissue the epiphone version in 2013 alongside the Gibson

It's beautiful! Thunderbirds are yummy, but there is something about the non-reverse versions. They're kinda ugly, but in a really cool way. Is anyone else getting a Jazz/Jaguar vibe from them? I wonder if there will ever be an epiphone version..hm.

Hello everyone, pleased to meet you all. I'm glad to be here on the Basschat forum! I'd like to make a brief introduction, so here goes! My name is James, I'm 23 and live in the NW of the UK. I've been playing bass since I was 14, and guitar for even longer. I started playing bass when my high school hosted a battle of the bands competition, and because there was a sparse quantity of bassists at the school, I was elected by my bandmates to provide 'the thunder from down under'. The rest is history . I joined the site because of course I like to play (well duh), but I'm also really interested in modding and customising instruments; the idea of getting a 'stock' bass and doing something different with it in terms of pickups and hardware and as a result changing the character/sound /aesthetics of it just fascinates me. So I'm mainly here to ask questions to some more experienced peeps, and just to have a laugh really, oh, and to drool over peoples' instrument/gear collections! So, yeah. That's me in a nutshell, I really hope I like it here, and hello again .