4000

[quote name='EBS_freak' post='523218' date='Jun 25 2009, 01:32 AM']OK, just got back from Brighton - and it's been an interesting two days. Jeff Beck is in town... and so on Tuesday, me and the man dropped off some EBS gear into a rehearsal studio in London for a certain well known bass playing lady. Saw the new GB van - it's a sleek, black, mean machine (I'll get a photo up here if anybody is interested - you won't miss that thing with all the GB logos on it!). Anyway, the traffic in London is a nightmare... glad I'm not based there! Today, the crew are playing their first gig of the tour at the Dome in Brighton. Sell out crowd - and I know that a certain Jimmy Page and Gary Moore were there. (Sorry Jimmy for nearly taking you out when getting out of my car). Brum tomorrow... we'll have to see what that brings. Anyway, just a short note to say that Tal Wilkenfeld has taken delivery of her new GB Spitfire 4... and you know what...? She loves it... (She thought the lights of my Rumour 5 were a laugh too!) ...that's enough for now, I need my sleep! Stay tuned campers [/quote] Ok, that's it, I'm now officially very jealous. Keep your hands off my Tal! I'll be in Manchester on Saturday......

[quote name='fretmeister' post='522055' date='Jun 23 2009, 09:10 PM']A mate just picked one up and knows nothing about it: [url="http://www.musicradar.com/forum/showthread.php?t=41457"]http://www.musicradar.com/forum/showthread.php?t=41457[/url] Anyone got any ideas of value / history etc? ta[/quote] I had Twin Valve head until recently. 115W, I believe a solid state input with valve power stage, good sound, fairly rare. Value depends on who's after one at the time; they can be a bit difficult to shift. The combo is a bit of a beast for it's size weightwise, but definitely quality. Some people swear by the TE valve gear, and it's easy to see why.

This is a perfect example of why nobody should ever write off another bass or brand based on someone else's opinion. I've played the Stealth in question and I hated it (not the case with all the Stealth's I've played BTW), but I'm glad to see you liked it. FWIW, I think although Statii do have a signature sound, I think the Stealth's I've played have sounded a little different than the S2s I've played. I'll leave it to the Statii connoisseurs to be more specific.

[quote name='Wolverinebass' post='495003' date='May 22 2009, 11:31 AM']Thanks for the suggestions. I must confess that Warwick looks great and I'm not a particular fan of them either. I would be very loathe to spend more than £4K on a Zon as The Status Buzzard I own cost that much and IMO that's the best bass ever built. If I ever paid more than that for a bass it'd better come with a free house and be prepared to do housework as well. As much as I like the Alembic I have I prefer the buzzard as it's just so incredibly brutal. I wouldn't mind a graphite neck, but I've never played a hybrid bass before (i.e. wooden body and graphite neck). I suppose the question is which does it sound more like wood or graphite? Does anyone have any experience? I suppose it might be worth giving Status a phone to see if they do forays into 8 strings. The last model I was aware they did was the 8 string buzzard and that's at least 4 years ago. In terms of the Hagstrom, I would like to at least try one, but trying to find one is rather difficult to say the least. I assume that the fact the strings don't have individual saddles is a real problem based on the info you've mentioned regarding intonation problems. It may also be rather silly to get a bass that's £450 when the dip in quality will be rather apparent I assume in comparison to my other 2. Money isn't too much of a problem, but of course I'd like something that's good. Cheers Andy[/quote] You're correct about the 8 string Buzzard, but I wouldn't be surprised if Rob wouldn't knock you something up if you ask; an 8 string Stealth maybe, or a Buzzard 2? If money is no object, I'd definitely consider something custom built. Personally of all the 8 strings I've played (and I've played many of those mentioned here, although I've never played a Tune), my favourite by far was my Ric 4003s8. That thing [i]sang[/i]. Admittedly I'm a big Rick fan but that was an amazing sounding instrument. If I hadn't been after my custom built Alembic I'd never have sold it. Never had problems with the intonation either, despite not having individual saddles, but it was a pain to set the intonation in the first place and also to change strings on. I love 8s actually,but then I suppose I have a guitaristic style.

[quote name='SteveK' post='520625' date='Jun 22 2009, 11:50 AM']Personally, my right hand fingers prefer a heavier gauge, while my left fingers prefer a slightly lighter gauge.[/quote] I find that too, and the same when using a pick. My right hand likes 45s, but my left doesn't. FWIW, players who use light strings: Mark King = 30-90 IIRC Les Claypool = 2x40s, 2x60s last I heard Stu Zender = 35-95 (don't know if they still are) Joey DeMaio = 40,50,60,70 Stanley Clarke = think he used to use 35-95 on his regular basses, could be wrong; piccolos probably much thinner, although I also think he probably changed his mind a lot... Our very own Urb is using a 30 set I believe. I've played his Sei singlecut and it sounds and plays fabulously. A lot of it has to do with how the individual player strikes the strings; whatever works for you.

[quote name='Starless' post='519515' date='Jun 20 2009, 07:30 PM']The previously noted contempt for their customers, the shoddy Quality Control, and the fact that any famous Ric player through history has only really played them as a passing fad (McCartney, Roger Waters, Geddy Lee etc etc) leads me to finally believe that they really are not special and are now shockingly over-priced for what you actually get (even one that has managed to escape the factory relatively defect-free).[/quote] So Chris Squire and Lemmy don't count then? Oh, and Geddy still plays his occasionally....McCartney says he stopped playing his because of the weight.

That is stunning and I want one!

[quote name='urb' post='516149' date='Jun 17 2009, 09:45 AM']For what it's worth this is a 33" scale Sei 6 and having played it I can assure you it felt and played beautifully - and with less stress on your arm due to the slightly shorter neck it makes getting around all 6 strings a lot easier - even I loved it and I really don't get on with 6 strings usually: This is one of the nicest basses Martin has made - it has a Mike Pope pre in it with Nordy pups - the sound is massive, with a lovely warm fingerstyle tone... Mike[/quote] Ah, that's the one I mentioned Mike. Sounds like a good job I didn't get to play it then!

[quote name='Golchen' post='518910' date='Jun 19 2009, 10:18 PM']My big regret is that I have never played music with other people. I lack confidence in my abilities now and can't see me ever doing it. Is this music only? cos I regret not having sex with more girls before I got married! I'm the faithful sort so it's too late now![/quote] First point; get out there and do it. On a good night it's the most fun you can have with your clothes on....which leads me to the second point. I'm not married but am in a long term relationship and I agree wholeheartedly! I'm sure that's something most of us will regret when the tall bony guy comes knocking. Amongst my biggest regrets gear-wise is getting rid of my Trace AH150 and early 4x10, which were my sound. I've never been right since. Also px-ing my lovely Pedulla MVP (one of my favourite basses) for a Wal Custom that I never got on with (although that bass now belongs to a mate who loves it to pieces so I guess that has a silver lining). Even dafter, selling the Wal for £550 in 1996 to my mate to buy (groan) a Marshall Dynamic Bass 200w head and 1x15 cab, which I also never got on with. Then there's selling my first Ric 4001CS for £800. Selling my buckeye Sei Flamboyant irks me too, I wish I hadn't, but I was after my 2nd CS (also now gone). The one that really hurts though is having to sell my custom built Alembic Triple Omega because of back problems. That will hurt til the day I die.

[quote name='Johngh' post='517844' date='Jun 18 2009, 09:17 PM']Glenn Hughes ex Deep Purple and now awesome solo artist, I can't stress how much of an influence this guy was I getting me to start to play bass. [attachment=27294:GH_Photo.jpg] Many thanks to Wartypig for the use of the photo.[/quote] Genius.

[quote name='chilisfan16' post='516673' date='Jun 17 2009, 05:39 PM']actually, i played a ricky for the first time in ages yesterday, and to be brutally honest, i was bitterly disappointed from all their hype. the sound was very bland, and the action was amazingly high.i would advise againt them.[/quote] They have to be eq'd properly; many people assume they can just plug in and use the same eq as for anything else, which isn't the case. They seem to favour certain types of amps and cabs too, and really don't like others. Listen to players like Chris Squire, Geddy Lee, McCartney, Foxton etc; if you don't like them then maybe they're not for you, although there's no guarantee you'll get them to sound like that. FWIW action can be adjusted; I've always had incredibly low action on the bulk of my Rics. I would never advise against any type of bass because what suits you might not suit someone else and vice versa, and individual examples of instruments vary greatly.

[quote name='AdamWoodBass' post='517382' date='Jun 18 2009, 01:51 PM']Saw a Zappa plays Zappa concert on Sky. Probably an earlier tour but still really really good![/quote] I've got that on dvd. Breathtaking.

[quote name='barry44' post='516573' date='Jun 17 2009, 04:30 PM'][attachment=27230:25665692...13e8b7e0.jpg] for me, it would be Klaus Fluoride's 66 jazz. now that's what i call reliced!![/quote] Awesome.

Lemmy's original Ric, the natural one with the walnut headstock wings and TBird pickup. That bass taught me how to play. I'm not even sure it's still in one piece. Either that or JPJs BecVar 8 string, with Chris Squire's Ric third. Or Jamerson's bass, to sell....

[quote name='Skywalker83' post='514690' date='Jun 15 2009, 08:22 PM']Getting my bass build started in the Autumn and just finalising the design and specs to give my luthier. Its going to be a string single cut. I was thinking about a 33" scale for my 6 string. Is this do-able? whats the pros and cons? What's the availability of strings like for a 6 string of this scale? Are there any makers of 33" 6 stringers. i once heard that Fodera commonly make 33" 6 stringers. Any input would be appreciated.[/quote] Sei have made one; it looks like my s/cut without the melt top. Luckily I didn't get to play it before it was bought s/h because if I had [i]I[/i] may have bought it.

[quote name='MuseMatt' post='511128' date='Jun 11 2009, 12:57 PM']indeed they are spawns of hell as you can cleary see after having put a spawndetector over them![/quote] In the '80s I had a red leather tie like that.

[quote name='GremlinAndy' post='510762' date='Jun 10 2009, 11:40 PM']while you were at work I nipped round to your gaff and had a Luthier look at your unfinished bass... TADA! [i]NOT SINGLECUT NOW[/i]! No, don't thank me... It's *my* pleasure. [/quote] I take it the luthier was Jerzy Drozd....

Whoa Mike, that's gorgeous! Enjoy!

[quote name='LeftyJ' post='512121' date='Jun 12 2009, 01:59 PM']Did the 4001 already have two rods by then? I thought 4001's had one trussrod and therefore wouldn't accommodate the use of roundwound strings because of the higher string tension, and that the 4003 was introduced to address the need for a Ric that could take on roundwound strings. When was the 4001 modified to two trussrods?[/quote] If you ever see a Ric 4000 series with a single trussrod, it's not a Ric, it's a fake. One of the easiest ways to tell. BTW, Riff Raff, if you do buy a 4001 make sure whoever adjusts the neck knows how the old Ric trussrods work before they do it.

[quote name='Shaggy' post='263119' date='Aug 15 2008, 02:42 PM']Some great shots here! Here's a few should be familiar;[/quote] That's 4 of my all-time faves right there!

[quote name='noelk27' post='511567' date='Jun 11 2009, 07:56 PM']Same here.[/quote] They're all different. I've played probably hundreds, some I've loved, some have been ok, some I haven't got on with at all. The necks all vary, the sounds all vary, the weight & balance varies considerably....def try before you buy. FWIW the one bass I would never be without is my old Ric.

[quote name='beardybass' post='509956' date='Jun 10 2009, 10:14 AM']Carles Benavente, I know he's already been mentioned, but he deserves to be mentioned as many times as we can fit him into this thread!! Because he's awesome![/quote] Yep, Carles is superb.....