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4000

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Everything posted by 4000

  1. 4000
    Unfortunately it's not the weight of the bass that's the problem, or how it sits on my back/neck. It's the shape and how that causes my arm to sit, because I have to rest my arm on the body (for reasons mentioned earlier). If the body isn't the correct shape, that's what causes the problem. My Alembic Triple O, which I had to sell because of its weight (approx 11lbs or so) which affected my prolapsed lumbar disc, didn't cause any arm problems whatsoever; in fact apart from the weight it was fantastically comfortable and my right arm loved it. This is only 8lbs but causes the aforementioned problems. My Jazz was approx 9lbs and also did. My Statii were similar weight but were excruciating to wear. I could wear a 4 pound bass that's the wrong shape and have the same problems. I was just born lucky! FWIW, I went through all the strap issues trying to save my Alembic (my dream bass), but to no avail.
  2. 4000
    [quote name='warriorbass05' timestamp='1324755278' post='1477665'] I really meant 110 (one hundred and ten)...I have a list of all of the serial numbers...And then there is a certain cocobolo Jaydee that I really dig that is in my sights!!! [/quote] Folks, he's not kidding. Best of luck with the Jaydee Jaymi!
  3. 4000
    Thanks Peter. We'll see how things pan out over the next few days as I've had a couple of interesting offers. BTW, will have to meet up again sometime and chew the cud. Sadly I'm missing Moffat again this year by the looks of things.
  4. 4000
    Cheers!
  5. 4000
    Peter, you can always make an offer.. Good to hear from you by the way, long time no see!
  6. 4000
    Cheers Jules, it's a great bass. So good in fact that after getting it back out earlier I started trying desperately to get past my arm issue, but unfortunately I can't; within minutes it was back. I'll reiterate that I have the same problem with many basses, the worst being most Fender types - Jazz are the absolute worst, P not so bad - and the classic Status shape, which is a complete no go for me (I don't even bother picking them up!), so anyone who can play those basses comfortably -almost everyone then! - should have no problem at all with this. Shame about the Sei, but let me know if you ever do (of course it's bound to happen when I've got no money!)
  7. 4000
    Forgot to mention, the scale length is 34" and the neck is graphite-rod reinforced.
  8. 4000
    Crikey Loz, did I miss this? Gorgeous bass and an absolute gent of a seller. Bump!
  9. 4000
    Gorgeous!
  10. 4000

    SOLD

    4000 replied to silverfoxnik's topic in Basses For Sale

    Good luck with the sale Nik! Looks like there are some bargains there....
  11. 4000
    Me too Matt, all the best!!!
  12. 4000
    Thanks to all for your comments and thoughts, they're very much appreciated. It's heartbreaking for me to have to let this go; I really do love it, and worst of all I feel like I'm letting Robbie down as he's done such a great job on it. The build quality is up there with my Sei Melt and the neck is just great IMO. What's more, it appears to be far more stable than probably any other custom/boutique I've owned; it came with a great setup (although I've since lowered it a tad more - I can't help it! ) and has not budged at all, which is unusual so early on IME. As above, I'm open to sensible offers. Maybe one day I can get another with a couple of ergonomic tweaks; I'd be more than happy to do it again and I'd recommend Robbie's work to anybody. I'll add that I don't prefer any of the basses mentioned as possible trades (in fact I prefer this to the Warwicks, Jaydees and GBs and like it every bit as much as the best of the Seis), it's just that ergonomically they're some of the only things that work for me. Loz, look forward to you bringing the Streamline over (or I can meet up with you if you like). Drop me a PM. More pics:
  13. 4000
    Hi all, Well, as the final nail in the coffin of what has been an appalling 2011 for me, I'm going to have to move my recently received custom built Rim Marseer 4. I waited a year for this and in normal circumstances it would have been well worth the wait; it's a great bass, one of the best I've owned. However as some here will know I have a couple of prolapsed discs, the one in the neck affecting my arms and shoulders, causing some nerve issues. I have a problem with the placement/shape/size of the upper bout on many basses, the worst being the classic Status shape and the Fender Jazz bass, in that they exacerbate my nerve pain problems. I can't float my right arm either for the same reasons (i.e. I need to rest it on the body), so the upper bout has to be just right for me. Unfortunately I've found that the Rim falls into the Status/Jazz bass category, so I've no choice but to sell/trade. Robbie and I have considered reshaping but the upper bout was chambered to lessen the weight, so there's not much we can do there. Plus I need some wood where there isn't any above the fishtail, which is impossible to fix. I did try a Marseer before ordering but it's a problem that doesn't manifest immediately; it does however become very problematic once it starts, hence the quick sale of my Roadworn Jazz a year or 2 ago. I do want to emphasise that there is no problem with the bass at all. The bass is wonderful and I'd love to keep it; if not for this issue there's no way I'd be selling (I'll add here that Robbie is fantastic to work with and I'd love to do it again someday) . However I'm simply finding there are very few basses that I can now play (thankfully I have no problem - yet - with my Rics). So, the spec is as follows: Chambered flamed maple body with three-piece flame/rock maple/flame through neck, honey buckeye facings, purpleheart accent and name badge and macassar ebony board. Build quality is excellent. Passive custom Rim pickups by Aaron Armstrong wired with 4 way Dingwall switch (neck/both series/both parallel/bridge). Output is huge for a passive bass, easily the loudest I've owned, especially in series. The tone is thick, fat and growly. It does a fabulous dub tone with the tone rolled off, but is equally at home with modern stuff - or rock - if required. Very versatile. Of course there's room for a preamp of your choice if that's your bag. The build thread is here on Basschat: [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/9653-rim-basses-in-progress/page__st__600"]http://basschat.co.u...s/page__st__600[/url] It comes with a high quality semi-solid Protection Racket case and a minitorch for the "glow in the dark" side markers. The only issue is a small ding on the neck (see pic) which doesn't affect playing and would be easily fixed; this happened when I took off my straplock-equipped strap and the straplock caught the neck. Otherwise it's exactly as I received it just a few weeks ago. Weight is pretty near bang on 8lbs, string spacing is approx 16.5mm but is adjustable. Action is currently very low. I was hoping for the neck to be similar to that of my Alembic Triple O and that's how it turned out. The neck itself is a very comfortable C-shape and the fingerboard radius is 12". If you've played a Series or Mark King Alembic this is very similar neck-wise. Balance is perfect. It cost me £1800 and I'm looking at £1450 ono. Would prefer pickup but postage could be arranged at cost. If you're in London or Manchester I may be able to drop off/meet up on my next trip down. As for trades, as you can see from the reason I'm selling there aren't that many things I'd be interested in, for ergonomic reasons. Would possibly do some sort of a trade on a Sei Flamboyant, Singlecut or Original (4 or 5), with possible adjustment either way depending on what it is. Would be interested in getting either my old 4 string buckeye Sei (Moonbassalpha?) or my Flamboyant 5 (Ziggydolphinboy?) or my Sei Melt (currently in the Gallery) back, with a probable preference for one of the former 2. Anything over 9lbs is probably out. Also may, repeat [i]may[/i] consider a Rickenbacker 4001 from '72, a newish thinner-necked full-width inlayed 4003, a Warwick Dolphin Pro 1 or Streamer 1 (pref earlier model and must be no heavier than 9lbs), a lightweight Jaydee MK, or maybe a a GB Rumour 4/5, all with any necessary adjustment either way, although with the exception of the '72 I'd probably be looking for cash on top my way. Oh, or possibly a less-than-backbreaking Les Paul Custom in black or a PRS McCarty, or anything Alembic basswise that doesn't require a chiropracter or a huge sum of money on top. I may be interested in a Status Streamline too but I'd need to try one first! Happy to answer any questions, send any pics and interested parties are welcome to try at my convenience. Pics:
  14. 4000
    [quote name='jazzyvee' timestamp='1325124616' post='1480129'] I had that scenario. I'm primarily a guitarist but fell onto being a bass player more by chance than desire so get more gigs playing bass these days really. But a few years ago I decided I wanted to get a decent bass for recording and to learn on so got a MM Sterling bass because the body was compact, the neck was slim at the nut and I liked the sound of it. I only ever used it at home and on my music course. Then after a while I started to feel that it only had one sound that I really thought was good and whenever I rolled off any of the top end or bottom end it just sounded lifeless. Then after about a year I decided to take big step and buy a short scale Alembic 4 string. The leap of faith was cushioned by the fact I loved the sound Stanley Clarke was getting from his so I felt confident that the bass would not give me a bad sound even though I knew I wasn't gonna sound like him using the signature model. I have to admit that when I first got it i felt the neck was too wide at the nut but as it has very little taper down to the body it felt more comfortable everywhere else and I loved the sound and the action was low. Eventually I got used to the neck and the different approach to tone control took a while to get used to. Soon after that I started gigging and loved the alembic sound so sold the Music Man. Ironically, in recent years I've done a lot of tracks on gigs where the bass parts were originally by Marcus Miller so now that Music man would have been perfect for that kind of Fendery sound. Fortunately for me the decision worked out perfectly but it is a risk and certainly the alembic tone is not everyones cup of tea and the controls are very sensitive and do take a while to really be able to dial in the sound you want consistently. I think for me, the fact I wasn't gigging, I was only playing bass at home, meant I had less pressure and no reputation to maintain as a bass player so I had less to loose by making a bad choice. The thing is, If you go down the custom build route you can always get the builder to match your existing neck profile and string spacing so you have at least a familiar feel to the bass. There is always gonna be some level of risk if you are moving into unfamiliar territory especially if it is a custom build that you can't physically interact with during construction. What bass are you thinking about then? Jazzyvee [/quote] Actually, one of the good things about Alembic is that although they'll build you petty much anything you want, most of the neck-throughs that you come cross will either have classic or comfort taper necks and pretty similar electronics. Having played several Mark Kings (and indeed another Triple O) I had a pretty good idea what mine would feel and sound like as I specified the same neck (classic taper) and electronics (signature). Of course the sound is going to be subtly different, but at least you've got a pretty good idea. If you tried to do the same with a Sei or something it wouldn't work, because each has been built uniquely; there is no "standard" as such. Alembic can do unique - indeed they'll go further than most - but you can play one that is a "typical" Alembic and work from there.
  15. 4000
    [quote name='LukeFRC' timestamp='1324923416' post='1478519'] Question, somewhat related. Say you have a bass, and a good bass too- how do you decide to sell so you can afford a high end bass. Esp as a lot of this stuff is custom or rare. Surely the risk could be that you end up without the goodbass and something techniccally better but suits you less? [/quote] Absolutely. None of my boutiques - with the exception of my Alembic Triple O, barring the weight - have suited me as well as the pick of my Rics, which are essentially much cheaper basses.
  16. 4000
    [quote name='Jean-Luc Pickguard' timestamp='1324911639' post='1478411'] A few minutes with a set of allen keys might get them playing the same though. A tiny variation in the relief on the neck can make a massive difference to how a bass feels. [/quote] Agreed. However I've now owned 14 Rics, mainly 4001 basses. All very, very different. I've loved 2 or 3. Liked 3 or 4 more a great deal. Liked a couple more quite a lot. The rest? From pretty good to meh, with a couple of don't really likes thrown in for good measure. Even when you get the set-ups the same, everything is not necessarily equal. This goes for any other make/model too.
  17. 4000
    That is everything a P Bass should be IMO. Gorgeous.
  18. 4000
    Glad to hear you're enjoying them. My first wasn't so good, but my second was great; unfortunately my back didn't think so - it was very heavy - and I had to return it to the shop! I'd like another one day if I could find one light enough (under 9lbs).
  19. 4000

    Mahavishnu

    4000 replied to ras52's topic in General Discussion

    [quote name='Chris2112' timestamp='1324652681' post='1476717'] Yep, it was fantastic. 'Adventures in Radioland' was pretty good too. Much better than the 'old' Mahavishu. [/quote] I much prefer the "old" Mahavishnu. I found Adventures in Radioland pretty insipid.
  20. 4000
    I've always wondered why people need the masses of power they seem to. I once played the Marquee in a full rock band with a 150W amp and only had it on 3; once we started I had to turn down! My 100W Marshall saw me through a few years of metal gigs competing with modded full Marshall stacks and I never got it much past half way, and that was with a loud drummer. Short of playing bloody big rooms or festivals I can't ever see needing more than 300W, even though I currently have a 500W head. I play pretty lightly too!
  21. 4000
    Awesome! Might even be the nicest ACG I've seen...
  22. 4000
    [quote name='Bilbo' timestamp='1324460205' post='1474352'] I had one of these I wish I hadn't got rid of. [/quote] I wish it had come to me! Niiiiice. Always had a soft spot for those. I miss my Alembic Triple O dreadfully. I sold it because of back & neck problems (mine, not the bass's!). I'd waited 20 years to get it, and I loved it to bits. It was incredible. I keep thinking if I could get the money together (as if) I'd approach the guy I sold it to and see if he wanted to sell it back, but the back problem would still be exactly that, a problem. If I ever came into sufficient money though, it'd probably be the first thing I bought, assuming he'd sell. I miss my old Pedulla MVP somewhat, although having played another recently and not being keen I do wonder if there's an element of the rose-tinted spectacles about it (unless mine was simply better). Often the case of course; there's usually a reason why we part with these things after all. I miss my recently sold Sei Flamboyant 5 rather more, but it had to go to pay for my '72 Azure Ric, sadly. Wish the timing had been different as only a few months earlier I'd sold a rare 21 fret Ric I didn't get on with which would have paid for the '72. Unfortunately I'd already spent that by the time the Azure came round. I also miss my old Buckeye Sei 4 (now owned by another BC-er)a great deal. That's another I'd probably try and get back if I had the money; in fcat given that it would cost half as much and I could actually play it, in reality I'd probably be more likely to go after that than the Alembic. Oh, and I regret selling my Wal for £599 in '96/'97 simply because of how much they're worth now, although the friend who bought it loves it to bits so at least it had a happy ending of sorts. And last but not least, I really regret selling my chambered Epi LP Custom Plus, which was arguably the best-sounding LP I've ever played, for £200. I once took it into a guitar shop and it dusted every Gibson & high-end Tokai in the place. The finish wasn't the best and the hardware was pants (easily replaced of course), but boy did it sound good.
  23. 4000
    [quote name='achknalligewelt' timestamp='1323877293' post='1468129'] Why does everyone get so excited about John Entwistle? Overplayed and intrusive. Then again, I don't really like Chris Squire, either. Or Geddy Lee. Let the bass serve the song, because that's what anyone in a band is there to do. All the players I admire and try to let influence me are of the non-heroic stripe. Colin Greenwood, Glen Matlock, Krist Noviselic, Trevor Bolder, all great band players. Leave the preening heroics to the berk with the microphone. [/quote] There's always one isn't there? There I was, quite happy to see who influenced who, regardless of whether it bears any resemblance to who influenced me, and somebody has to question the viability of someone else's choices. Because they're right, and others are wrong, obviously. FWIW, we all have a different idea of what serves the song. Deal with it.
  24. 4000
    Bump for one from my favourite year. Can't believe it's not gone yet!
  25. 4000

    The One!!

    4000 replied to bassist_lewis's topic in Bass Guitars

    [quote name='LukeFRC' timestamp='1323682730' post='1465619'] I don't think, unless you are lucky, you can go into a shop and find 'the one'. [/quote] That's exactly what I did. I once owned a '76 Ric, which was better than my by-then-stolen '80. I thought that was a fantastic bass. In 1993 I walked into A1 Music in Manchester and my now-current'72 was in there. I thought, "ooh, nice, never played a really old one before (it had/has checkered binding, toaster pickups, full-width crushed pearl inlays and walnut headstock wings)", so I picked it up. It was like being touched by God. The neck was perfect, and completely different to any other Ric (or anything else) I'd played at the time. It was light and comfortable, and looked the biz. But the sound....oh, the sound. It was to my '76 what the LOTR trilogy is to Krull. I knew, there and then. I didn't have the money to buy it, so walked away thinking "that was the best bass I've ever played, and will likely be the best bass I ever will play"(and I play everything I can get my hands on; always have). A year later I went back to A1 to buy a new amp and it was still there, but on sale. I bought it. I still have it. It's still my favourite of all the basses that I've ever played, and I've played hundreds, possibly thousands of basses. I've been through dozens of others since; Warwicks, Wals, Fenders, Seis (2 custom built), Alembics (1 custom built), all sorts, and nothing has touched it. Of course there are situations where it may not be the best bass. But if I could only have one bass for the rest of my life, it would be that one. Other people have played it and not really liked it, but to me, it just doesn't get any better. I pick it up and it feels like home, but not just because of familiarity; it did from the very first instant I picked it up. How did I choose it? I didn't. It chose me.
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