4000

[quote name='silverfoxnik' post='1205778' date='Apr 20 2011, 01:16 PM']...and don't forget Leigh Gorman from Adam & The Ants (circa 1979/80) and BowWowWow of course....[/quote] Big +1. My favourite Wal player.

[quote name='Jean-Luc Pickguard' post='1187193' date='Apr 3 2011, 10:31 PM']It looks like it has the typical useless Ashdown 'deep' switch and the eq looks confusing and clunky. I'm sure more people would prefer a compressor/limiter built in, perhaps even a knob to add sansamp-style valve-sounding grind and maybe something [s]ripping off[/s] inspired by the MarkBass magic EQ knobs - the VPL & the STD or whatever they're called. I can't get my head around the point of the custom control panel - is it like apple engraving iPods to prevent people returning them if they change their mind after hearing it [/quote] I use the "deep" switch all the time. I never use a compressor/limiter (don't like 'em). I actually think the custom control panel is pretty cool too. FWIW, my old ABM500 (pre- Evo) consistently dusts everything else I throw against it (no idea where the "woolly" comes from either, unless you're trying to be Brian Bromberg). I'd love something lighter that sounds better (or even as good) but I haven't found it yet. Of course it depends to a great degree what you're putting through it and what you're playing it through....

[quote name='garethox' post='1196993' date='Apr 12 2011, 04:27 PM']Well they aren't happy judging by certain comments, but seeing as though John's Alembic had a Gibson shaped body - they can't really say anything. Other than the cobwebs and the note inlay markers, there is little else to set John's Exploiter apart and they were probably John's design mods anyway...[/quote] Hence the name [i]Exploiter[/i] I believe...

[quote name='garethox' post='1196968' date='Apr 12 2011, 04:10 PM']He NEVER played a Dean - total money making exercise, and I don't think they'll make that much either. He didn't actually play [i]that[/i] many over a near 40 year career... Fender Precision Fender Jazz (these till '71) Gibson Thunderbird Fenderbird (these till '75) Alembic Series I Alembic Exploiter/Spyder (these till '85) Warwick Buzzard Warwick Buzzard with Modulus graphite neck (these till '96) Status Buzzard 1 and 2 (these until his death in 2002) However, he owned hundreds! BTW, no 'H' in Entwistle!!!! [/quote] Also played an Epiphone Rivoli and Rick 4001 and 8 string live (and possibly others, like his 4005s?) ....

[quote name='Paultrader' post='1164631' date='Mar 16 2011, 05:51 PM']Hi Everyone, Here is a picture of me playing my first bass at Crawley Bandstand in about 1972. I bought it for a fiver and it lasted me quite well. It was a Framus, I thought it was a Star Bass but it can't have been. I've never seen one since or found a photo anywhere of such an instrument. Has anyone ever come across one of these? Note the home made control plate - the original chrome one kept falling off because the screw holes wore out and it was sellotaped on for a time till I made a new wooden one. Those were the days! The amp was an Impact 60 and the speaker cabinet homemade with a Goodman's 18" speaker in it. [attachment=74935:Crawley_...stand_72.jpg][/quote] Personally I think that's a damn fine picture. The 70s was probably my favourite decade so far though, so I'm biased!

[quote name='SS73' post='1193175' date='Apr 8 2011, 07:03 PM']Holy ...., AZ from pre 73, never seen one, ever. The BG looks so cool too. I will post my 75 AZ when I get chance, JG,AZ and BG the 3 best colours. With the JG it's may 72, i couldn't see a skunk stripe at all and looking closer at the peg holes I could see it had Walnut wings too, but looking at all other 72's of this period they had the stripe ( all the MG and BG's etc where you could see it ), so I figured that all the old stock bodies from 71 they had left were made into solid colour basses, so as not to make the new range appear different. [attachment=76996:IMG01344...128_0928.jpg][/quote] It was advertised as a '73 but irrespective of the jackplate (which is August '72) you can tell from the features it's a '72. Full-width crushed pearl, original aluminium bridge etc. There are only 4 '72 Azures on the Rick Registration page, so I can't imagine there are many out there. I don't think I've ever seen one pre-'72 in AZ. My other bass is actually a dark Fireglo, not BG (or Autumnglo for that matter). It's hands down the best Ric I've ever had, although the AZ isn't far off. There are other pics on the previous page. The AZ has a skunk. Never come across an AZ without, although they may exist. The Fireglo is Feb and is pre-skunk; it's one of the last pre-skunk's I've seen and could indeed be a '71 body that left the factory late. I find the easiest way to tell on a solid colour if it's got a skunk is usually (assuming you can't feel/see the ridge under the paint) to look under the trc; there's usually sufficient paint missing behind the rods to make it obvious.

[quote name='SS73' post='1192929' date='Apr 8 2011, 02:58 PM']Just put it all back together, so no strings yet, but it kind of looked quite good. 72 non skunk, walnuts flat grovers etc [attachment=76970:IMG01349...128_0929.jpg][/quote] '72 pre-skunk? Now you're talking. Here are my current 2; recently received the '72 Azure which is something I've been after for 17 years; I've only ever seen 4 and only 2 of them were for sale. This is one of them. It needs a little work (a new bit of outer binding where it's missing - the checkerboard is intact & I'm keeping the original elsewhere - and a pro set up) but is a wonderful bass.

[quote name='Skol303' post='1192871' date='Apr 8 2011, 02:02 PM']^ Fair point, but I'm the opposite! Depends on what kind of music you're making I suppose... I nearly always start with a bassline and then work backwards through rhythm and then lead; but maybe I'm just an oddball![/quote] I don't really write [i]on[/i] either, or anything else for that matter. It's more a case of trying to work out what I hear first in my head.

Nice review and glad you're enjoying it. If you find a good one (assuming you are open to them in the first place) they're hard to beat IMO.

I play guitar at home and on recordings. I'm much better on bass, but I'm actually hoping to put in more practice on guitar when I can and quite honestly have no great preference one way or the other; it may be heresy on here but I'm not actually very precious about bass as an instrument. That may be because I wanted to be a guitarist first! One thing I would love to do is play acoustic really well, which I most certainly don't. My fingerpicking skills are anything but legendary. For some reason I find most acoustics almost impossible to play for anything beyond strumming.

[quote name='BottomE' post='1189455' date='Apr 5 2011, 06:45 PM']The strange thing is is that the horse is still going with lots of um, fields to plough in the near future Crikey, forget that metaphor...[/quote]

[quote name='spongebob' post='1189313' date='Apr 5 2011, 05:16 PM']I've always found that when the rot sets in, that's it. I've normally ploughed on for a bit longer hoping things will improve, which is what they've never done! You normally get a vibe when things are going down....listen to your little voice, and do what makes you happy.[/quote] +1. It's happened to us over the past few years and to be honest we should probably have packed it in ages ago but we are rather adept at flagellating a deceased equine. I'm in a similar boat to you in some ways, including not really knowing what to do, so all I can say is good luck!

[quote name='Doddy' post='1188100' date='Apr 4 2011, 06:32 PM']I think the weight question is pretty fair. There can be quite a big range in weight,even in the same model,so I don't see the problem.[/quote] Speaking as someone with chronic back problems, big +1 on this. Something like a Fender can vary from 8-12lbs, which is the difference between playable and unusable to me. Otherwise it does sound like you've been unlucky. I've only had good experiences so far.

[quote name='BottomE' post='1187932' date='Apr 4 2011, 04:21 PM']Well, i don't know - debate fine but we are talking subjectivity in a lot of cases. Its fine and dandy when something is plainly wrong, out of tune for example - its easy to rationalise this and justify ones critique. But for matters of taste there is always an element of subjectivity.[/quote] +1000.

[quote name='Bilbo' post='1187473' date='Apr 4 2011, 10:06 AM']I think for some of us its more a case of 'it has to be good' or 'it has to be satisfying' (that satisfaction coming from a sense of a good job done). But can you 'push' people to excel is they are giving their time for nothing? Some you can, some you can't. Its a complex dynamic.[/quote] Absolutely bob on.

Actually, I would've thought that if few basses have a neck pickup that's really close to the neck then one that has should have [i]more[/i] character, in the sense of a more unique character, if anything. Just my personal take.

Cool! Look forward to seeing the result.

Particularly love that 6 Zig. Nice to see you picked up the 4, which I've played a couple of times.

The old Rickenbackers have a pickup approx 1" from the back of the 20th fret (as it's approx 1/2" from the end of the neck it's referred to as 1/2" spacing). New ones will have it about 1/2" further towards the bridge (known as 1" spacing). I find the sound of my neck "toaster" pickup is pretty crucial to my preferred Ric sound. Billy Sheehan has true "neck" pickups in all his basses (his old Fender and his Yamahas) and I believe Nicky Wire's old Fenders had a proper "neck" pickup in there too. I've often thought if I had a P I'd do the same. Of course then there are all those 60s basses.... As for it sounding "bassy without any character", well I guess that's a matter of opinion. Chris Squire often plays on his neck pickup and I wouldn't describe him like that. Of course I'm not a huge fan of a J bridge pickup which I generally find too nasal (certainly when I use it) so horses for course and all that.

[quote name='Conan' post='1186197' date='Apr 2 2011, 09:05 PM']Maybe you're right. Maybe I shouldn't be playing. Although quite what the connection is between me asking a rhetorical question and my perceived worthiness to share a choice of instrument with your good self is unclear to me. I have never seen The Musical Box. In general, I don't "do" tribute bands - but as I am a big fan of early Genesis maybe I should check them out? However, as you have already explained (at great length) that they are highly skilled and very professional, surely the comparison with a "typical band playing down the pub" is somewhat bogus? Clearly the difference is down to quality rather than choice of material. Or maybe both in your case. Anyway, thanks for taking the time to condescend to reply to my question. And sorry to disappoint you. Well, not really.[/quote] You see that round yellow thing at the end of my sentence that looks like it's winking? Strangely enough, it is. FWIW, yes, you probably should see the Musical Box if you like early Genesis. Phil Collins sat in with them and said he was the worst thing in them, which as a member of the original band he was rather embarrassed about. With regards to quality/material, I think I've already covered that ad infinitum. I'll assume you read my other posts. I reckon Dave will back me up. No problem re the response. We aim to please. (that was a wink again BTW).

Yeah, I think we got there Dave.

[quote name='largo' post='1185664' date='Apr 2 2011, 11:25 AM']Surely taking your point to the extreme means that unless something's an exact copy (which it can never be) then it'll always be original. You should be just as interested in how someone has interpreted to copy a Van Gogh painting, as you are in the original Van Gogh painting.[/quote] Yes, that's taking my point to the extreme. I really don't see what's so difficult about the point I'm making. Ok, so if I say (again) that trying to make something [i]like[/i] the original but obviously inferior is pointless to me, do you understand? Do something different. If you're making some comment (i.e. with intent) on the original then ok, but that isn't the point I'm making. FWIW, it may not be pointless to you, or anyone else, but as I said before, it is to me. I'm not interested in seeing it. Personal opinion. FWIW I'm with Robocorpse all the way on this.