Norris

The tone control (or whatever) is just called 'Mix'. Whether it's a pan, or controls the "Ultra Shrill Treble" I don't know. There's a lot of information about fitting it, but not too much about controlling it or what it does.

A mate just emailed me this link. A bit of... erm... slap bass. Warning: Contains scenes of a chap with serious identity issues [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H_X7mMU6Gb0"]YouTube link[/url]

A few years ago somebody gave me this kit. They had it sitting on a shelf for several years before that. It's for converting a Jazz ("Jazz bass, lookalike or clone" says the documentation ) to active and dates to 1987. Fitting the kit involves routing out a battery compartment behind the scratchplate and has a cover that fits to the scratchplate. I'm not the greatest fan of active, and I'm certainly not going to take a router to one of mine to try it out. The kit seems to be complete, all packages still unopened, all instructions and templates present. It takes a single 9V battery and contains active/passive switch, switched output socket and battery warning LED. For your amusement, some marketing blurb verbatim from the manual: [quote]CD-J ACTIVATOR The heart of this professional system. Power up your JAZZ BASS with a truly silent Treble and Bass control. Super Thick Bass and Ultra Shrill Treble at your finger tips. The controls are NON-INTERACTIVE giving wide tonal combinations. Output suits usual amplifiers and pedal effects as well as studio DIRECT INJECTION. The ACTIVATOR will even power headphones for tuning in the dressing room![/quote] So, is it any good? (And, shamelessly) Is it likely to be worth anything? Behold pictures: [attachment=65673:004.JPG][attachment=65674:002.JPG][attachment=65675:001.JPG]

Part-exchanged a Rickenbacker 4001 for an Aria SB-1000 & had to make up quite a bit of cash, 'cos you couldn't sell a Ricki back then. Never did like the Aria and after several years threw it in the loft to fester... ... it's now being restored, partly out of guilt, partly because they are fetching reasonable money now. I still probably spent more on AA batteries over the years than the bass cost me!

Every fule no it takes 30 years for the mojo to grow

Painted bass? Wood bass? Painted bass? Wood bass? ... sunburst!

[quote name='flyfisher' post='1008895' date='Nov 1 2010, 07:21 PM']In the end I fixed it for him. It took less than half an hour but he now regards me as some sort of technical genius. [/quote] ... and he'll be asking you to fix stuff every 10 minutes now

[quote]What to do when you find yourself a little 'bored' with Fenders?[/quote] Buy a thunderbird

I've never taken a spare bass. Spare strings, always! It only takes a minute or two to change a string, and it's entertaining trying to finish those last two songs on the remaining ones Do you take a spare amp? There's a lot more gubbins to go wrong in one of those. (Oh no, here comes the paranoia... )

Apparently MU are good for insurance ... [url="http://www.musiciansunion.org.uk"]http://www.musiciansunion.org.uk[/url]

[quote name='Jean-Luc Pickguard' post='986670' date='Oct 13 2010, 10:16 AM']It's human nature to fear anything we can't understand, so I'd say "Kill it with fire"[/quote] That made me laugh

[quote name='thisnameistaken' post='974082' date='Oct 1 2010, 02:38 PM']Maybe they've been playing covers for so long that they've forgotten what it's like to play music for fun instead of for money.[/quote] So playing covers isn't fun? I'd better give up now then - I certainly don't make any money out if it. Anybody want to buy 4 bass guitars? Seriously, it really doesn't matter a sh*t whether you wrote the song or not, you can still enjoy playing it. Some of us just enjoy being there. Some of us seem to have their heads way too far up their own a***. <Norris has left the building>

It depends what you're after. If you're serious about having a career in music, you would probably want to go for an originals or a tribute band. If, like me, you work for a living and just play music for fun & beer money, a covers band is a lot easy to get regular *local* work. I don't really want to be travelling all over the country several nights a week. I did a lot more playing in my youth, but it just hurts too much getting up for the day job now-a-days, when you've not got in until 2, 3 or 4 am. There are a lot of very serious and committed bass players on this forum. I'm one of the more casual ones

Sultans of Swing gets the band nicely warmed up to 'cut some licks' for the rest of the night. After that, it's fairly random picks from the list or requests. We try to save a few decent ones for the end of the last set/encore.

[quote name='simon1964' post='957456' date='Sep 15 2010, 05:39 PM']Funnily enough, I came across this link the other day, which might help: [url="http://jimshine.com/claydots/clay_dots_and_other_fender_inlay.htm"]http://jimshine.com/claydots/clay_dots_and...ender_inlay.htm[/url][/quote] Nice article

This seems to have turned into a 'which songs do you hate playing' list ... in which case I'll add Losing My Religion (I hate that song with a passion). Mustang Sally is so darned popular with punters. I've never met a musician (or drummer) yet that liked playing it

[quote name='bigjohn' post='949458' date='Sep 8 2010, 02:21 PM']I do think there's a distinction though between improvising (trying to do something different with I piece I know) and improvising (trying to do something that fits a piece I don't) - they're two different skills.[/quote] A.K.A. 'twiddling' and 'winging it' Over the last 25 years or so my band has made a feature of occasional improv. Ever tried playing a 12-bar as a bosa nova? Status Quo tracks as a bolero? Any completely inappropriate syncopation? The important thing is to play most of the set tight. Then, it is much more obvious when you're [s]larking about[/s] improvising, and the audience has no trouble 'getting it'.

[quote name='Ou7shined' post='938255' date='Aug 27 2010, 04:56 PM']I used to only have one bass.... then I signed up to basschat.[/quote] +1 I only have 4 at the moment, the new Thunderbird having pushed the Jazz down into 2nd place

[quote name='FlatEric' post='899893' date='Jul 20 2010, 12:27 PM']Oooo, I bet when you opened the case it was a bit of a shock. OUCH![/quote] It was - I'd left the strings on, which then looked about as thick as my fingers due to the rust [quote name='FlatEric' post='899893' date='Jul 20 2010, 12:27 PM']Sound Pad. . . . . Ah, those were the days!!!! [/quote] I could never afford to buy from there. I got it second hand from Humbucker Music in Leicester (if you remember that place )

[quote name='Bloodaxe' post='899522' date='Jul 19 2010, 10:31 PM']At least you didn't EMG it, or let a mad router-wielding butcher near it like a couple of examples I've seen recently. I'm guilty of this too... how's this for a poorly executed really bad idea:[/quote] I think we need an 'abused basses' thread Nice ... er ... PUP job. it looks a lot better now. Mine has had the dents steamed out a bit & the cellulose is being built up slowly by my luthier mate, now that he has got the 'vintage' tinting sorted out (big colour difference evident now bridge has been removed). I think he was looking at Gotoh winders - I'll have to check them out before purchase.

I've owned one for about 25 years & bought it second hand then. It was my one and only bass for at least 10 years, being gigged 3-4 times a week. It's been thrown around, whacked with drumsticks, crashed into cymbals and been through dozens and dozens of batteries. I was young, impetuous, and never actually liked it - probably because I'd had to sell a gorgeous midnight blue (correct me if not right colour for year ) Rickenbacker 4001. It then spent about 10 years in my loft... years which were not kind. The [b]good [/b]news is that it is currently with my friendly luthier getting a bit of TLC. Now poor a stiff drink, sit comfortably and make sure a box of tissues are close at hand, because if I can work out how to upload pictures, you'll be weeping... [attachment=54625:015.JPG][attachment=54626:006.JPG] [attachment=54627:005.JPG][attachment=54628:008.JPG] It[s] will get[/s] is getting better! I promise! Edit: The serial number is 004087. Does that make it an early one? The electrics are all still working (or were when it went into the case all those years ago) Edit #2: To show more shameful scenes of devastation [attachment=54629:009.JPG][attachment=54630:012.JPG]

[quote name='Clarky' post='894621' date='Jul 14 2010, 12:42 PM']Glad you, errr, like it Norris So, did Mrs Norris come to the gig? [/quote] No. She's coming to the next one though

[quote name='Clarky' post='893738' date='Jul 13 2010, 02:10 PM']There's not too many fans on BC, its true. I owned one recently but sold it as I couldn't cope with the skinny neck (I play P basses generally). BC dudes such as Shaggy, Marky L and Norris are T'bird fans though and I am sure they will chip in![/quote] The bass has finally been gigged (third owner lucky!) and I love it. The trusty Jazz is now taking a bit of a break while I indulge in some of the nicest sounds to ever come out of my amp. It's a keeper. I can understand that some people don't like them. Yes, it has a very skinny neck. Yes, it is kinda offset to the left due to the strap position (can't say I suffered any neck dive though). Yes, it tends to tilt forwards so you can't see the fret board. Yes, I hit my knee on the bottom horn if I jig about too much. Yes, it's big & the case weighs a ton. ...but I look, sound and feel like a SEX GOD playing it! I grinned all the next day after my first gig with it. There's love right here