ped

Hi Pete I've had some time to play with the switches and have found my favourite sound is with all of them off - just a beautiful grainy 70's slap sound with a lot of growl. The controls still do a LOT - I tend to have the treble backed off about half way and still I'm getting a really clear hifi sound, with bags of treble in reserve. The bass control I tend to have just past middle for some extra oomph which doesn't diminish the clarity of finger style lines. Although the dip switches are a bit tricky to access, it means once you set it you still lonely have two EQ knobs on the bass, but it's like having the option of a completely different preamp depending on how you set it. I also tried the pre with every switch on, and thought it would make a great recording sound; very even and detailed especially when riding my limiter. Despite having bags of power the preamp is really musical - even with everything right up the range is useful and sweet sounding. Random Q - where is the serial number?! I swear I've checked it over completely but can't see anything, or in the cavity? The pre is a CPIIIA - I don't suppose you have any literature about the pre somewhere?

I have a flat white one in the post it’ll be like your bass had a baby!

My problem is that I’m so fussy with my setup that often cheaper instruments cannot support my preferred action and relief (both basically zero!) - this can really sort the ‘men from the boys’ - but has also given some surprises as price doesn’t always tally with my findings. There’s undeniably a lot of fun to be had with cheaper basses, a bit like driving a cheap car. However, although the price of entry might be cheap, resale is often very low, so compared to a more expensive instrument you potentially lose out in the long run. (Don’t correct me please, I’m sticking to my excuse)

Free postage!

Ah cool yes I ordered a Bacchus from them I think a while ago - great service. They managed to source exactly what I was after. I swear Japan has basically one of everything!

Everything on eBay is a potential bargain!

Here’s my ‘83

My maple necked ones

That’s a beauty. I love the transparent plates on them. They are quite unusual in the UK I think, although I think Bass Direct is a distributor now. The team seem nice too, I asked them about mine from the serial and got a nice detailed reply. Apparently Chris Celinder doesn’t do that! Where did you find yours?

Ah thanks, I think mine are off on off on. Sounds fantastic so will probably leave it for a while before messing about.

It’s great 😊 The fretwork and neck are perfect so I can get the action as low as my Vigier. It’s effortless to play as a result. The pre sounds great - I’m not sure what the internal dip switches do but currently it’s very spicy sounding and really lively. Slapped notes sound full and weighty right up to the G. The body is very tactile - a little bit smaller than a full sized J, and slimmer - it reminds me of a Smith in that regard. The neck joint is neater than your regular four bolt plate and very tidy. But yeah it sounds tremendous. The pickups soloed sound great too, which I have found isn’t always the case with jazzes. The smooth covered pickups are nice under the fingers - I’m used to using them like a ramp. I don’t know about the specs of them but they are super Hifi. Also I think they’re the first pickups I’ve had where they actually raise up when you loosen the screws! It came in a Hiscox style Celinder case which is in pretty good condition. The bass has obviously been played and has a few small marks and scratches but that’s good because I don’t want to have to baby it! The G tuner (Hipshot) is a little unresponsive to tuning down, it sort of needs going back to take up the ‘slack’ and back up to tune - maybe it needs oiling? Otherwise - perfect. Seriously love the shape and thin body. The bridge saddle grubs require a very odd sized Allen key - I have a set of every type, metric and imperial - none fit! Luckily the correct one was in the case. The truss rod needed a very slight loosen to compensate for my strings but that is a regular 5mm and was smooth as you like. The neck is a serious piece of work though - lovely bit of clank/buzz when you want it but clean when you attack slightly differently. No other neck has been this good for me and I’m really fussy with my almost dead straight neck and super low action (I normally find G saddles don’t go low enough and have to file the groove down) Compared to the Atelier? Hm. Too early to make a direct comparison but it is more Marcus Miller and enables me to set the action slightly more to my taste. It’s a close call. Both are just fantastic at what they do and have that organic grindy 70s slap sound. I’ll get some pics in the next few days maybe if the whole collection which has grown a fair bit lately. I quite like that this matches my P of choice (Black/Maple) Cheers to the Gallery for sorting a Saturday delivery, too. Cheers ped

It's here!! Well done TNT!! Brb...

The Gallery did - should be fine in it’s case. The TNT app shows it as out for delivery today (despite not showing it as being collected yesterday) so we’ll see. Fingers crossed!!

No that’s me

Ah it's new isn't it! Probably not then. Whereabouts are you?

Hm yeah sounds like the neck is shimmed (pointing down) and the saddles are up to compensate and raise them over the heel hump. Get the neck flat, adjust the relief then get those saddles down!

Sounds amazing. Isn’t Meshell’s a 60s bass?

Hi mines a DAL-4 which is basically the same but with chambered body and ebony fingerboard. It’s a great bass, beautifully made and has 70s spacing which I love. The preamp is probably different too - V/V with bypass/treble cut and boost/bass boost. Does yours have a different one?

First of all, always adjust with the strings tuned to pitch (if you’re loosening to create more relief) If it’s truly stuck you could try heavier strings if you don’t mind that, as a workaround?

Quite - and make it impossible for you to collect it when they inevitably deliver when you’re at work or out because they were meant to deliver it when you had arranged it. Apparently TNT offer the option to collect but then you turn up and they don’t let you because COVID. So that’s good too. Anyway - they have my address and it’ll turn up one day I’m sure 🤷🏻‍♂️

It was meant to have been collected on Thursday and delivered today - predictably that hasn’t been the case and TNT didnt collect at all. So the gallery have asked them to collect today for Saturday delivery - but the TNT app doesn’t show it as collected. So that’s good

Yeah I'm more into the business side - Mind you I did just read quite a good thread on the Ernie Ball forums - with 'Big Poppa' being pretty abrasive in parts. http://forums.ernieball.com/ernie-ball-music-man-basses/7512-music-history-george-fullerton.html This book was recommended as a good source of info https://www.abebooks.co.uk/servlet/BookDetailsPL?bi=30626357258&searchurl=isbn%3D9781574242164%26n%3D100121501%26sortby%3D20&cm_sp=snippet-_-srp1-_-title2

Ah crikey! Well at least you know there's a high attention to detail!

Which book is that? I really want to find a book covering Leo's adventures from Fender to CLF, Musicman and G&L. @wateroftyne recommended this one https://www.amazon.co.uk/Fender-Inside-Forrest-R-White/dp/0879303093/ref=sr_1_3?dchild=1&keywords=Leo+Fender+book&qid=1603446259&sr=8-3 The reviews are a bit mixed and it might be a bit Fender focused? Then there's this one which sounds a bit touchy feely https://www.amazon.co.uk/Leo-Fender-Quiet-Giant-Around/dp/0996793143/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=Leo+Fender+book&qid=1603446259&sr=8-1

Yeah unfortunately you're right - I have found serials above and below mine from '83 but it would be interesting to know the date (although I assume different parts will be made any time from 1974 onwards!)