CamdenRob

I have a satin black guitar... it's one of these I wouldn't say it's any worse for finger prints than a regular finish, I quite like it actually.

Not a lot of love for sunburst here... I'm quite fond of sunburst :s

[quote name='Beedster' timestamp='1439225844' post='2841030'] Ah yes, the worst of both worlds [/quote] Ha... Maybe I'll give them a miss then.

[quote name='ezbass' timestamp='1439223222' post='2841007'] Why not try the new Ernie Ball Cobalts? [/quote] I'm thinking I might try out a few different types over the next few string changes... might give those groundwound types a go as well.

[quote name='ezbass' timestamp='1439222850' post='2841000'] Once you start using that mantra, it's too late [/quote] It's a sad state of affairs... I've even been thinking of starting a new project to justify it ... I'll have to check the finances after holiday silly spending season.

When I visited the Wal workshop there was a guy doing this and it looked bloody complicated....

Still this... ... and it's getting worse ... must not spend money on a guitar I have no real use for... must not spend money on a guitar I have no real use for... must not spend money on a guitar I have no real use for... must not spend money on a guitar I have no real use for...

Gold hardware, Single cuts and tort are my biggest personal dislikes....

The law of diminishing returns applies to basses as it does pretty much everything else... IMO a new Fender P or J, or a Stingray is pretty much the "benchmark bass" against which others are judged. Costs around a grand, comes with a hardcase and would last you a life time of playing, recording and touring in your chosen genre. Anything beyond that is going to cost you a lot of money for relatively minor improvements. But that's not to say these "improvements" aren't worth it if thats how you feel about them. I love Wal basses, I love the way they are made, the look, the playability and most importantly the sound. To me they are worth the premium over a new "benchmark bass", for others they will not be. Having visited the workshop I can also see where the money goes... They are making a profit obviously (they are entitled to they are a business) but everything is made in house by two blokes. Everything from the individual chrome plating of bridge saddles, to winding a pair of individual pickup coils per string in each pick up, to hand sanding ./ color finishing etc. The man hours that go into each instrument takes up a huge chunk of the cost. Handmaking every individual component of a bass guitar is an expensive business if you are not prepared to compromise anywhere on quality. it is relative though... When I picked up my Ziricote Wal I also had a HB deko PJ 4 string arrive on the same day. One of those basses cost 300 times the price of the other... Now it is obviously a superior instrument in every way but is it 300 times better?... I don't think so.

Making some progress having been going over and over the exercises in the book. I picked up a couple of cello books at the weekend to have a go at those.

[quote name='Beedster' timestamp='1439198483' post='2840640'] If it's an ebony board it shouldn't be a problem, but even if not, low action, lightish strings and a gentle technique can substantially protect a rosewood board from wear. [/quote] It's an ebony board so I'm hoping the rounds won't chew it up too much...

I changed the nickels on my Wal to La Bella flats this weekend as is my default behaviour when I get a new fretless... I have to say that I changed them back afer a couple of hours, The nickels just work so much better on this bass. So asides from being a waste of £45, as a result of this discovery I've now resigned myself to destroying the fingerboard on my pristine new bass ah well... my basses are for playing not keeping in a museum

I haven't tried TKS so can't really comment on them although they are very popular and I love the aesthetic options... But I have played various Berg and Barefaced cabs and it depends what your tone goals are really as to which would suit you. IMO the Barefaced cabs are the lightest and the loudest (for a given amp setting) but I think that volume (sensitivity?) comes at the cost of tone... I like my cabs to be efficient and loud but not if the sound that is being produced isn't what I want. I find it very honky and middy... very loud and powerful but not a very nice sound to my ears, they don't seem to have enough low mids for me. I haven't tried any of the Gen 3 cabs though so this may have changed in recent models.

So... where is this successful band with a bass player opening based? ...

[quote name='TrevorR' timestamp='1438967043' post='2839086'] While I'm here I'll say "Hi" and introduce my two babies... A 1983 Mk 1 and a 1979 Pro IIE [/quote] That's a gorgeous pair, The pro IIE is a stunner... In a fantasy world I'd love an original JG but on a more realistic level, when funds allow id like to add a fretted original pro series to the stable.

I picked up a US Steel as an emergency back up for my mesa mini rec (in case of failure at a gig) as it's basically a rectifier emulator with a speaker sim. It's not as clean as an actual rectifier but its a great pedal... Although the influences you list are a lot lighter than the stuff I use it for so It may be a bit too heavy? Its a bit of a one trick pony but then again so is the amp it's imitating... I only need it for it's one trick anyway

[quote name='pfretrock' timestamp='1438934245' post='2838704'] My 4 string Progressive Deko has arrived after 4 working days. Still trying to figure out why it is a deko. Slight scuff on the edge below the controls, small dent under the paint at one of the neck bolts. Pups and active controls not very exciting but I'll wait for a string change first. Relief a bit too much, but no surprise after correct string tension. Was expecting some fret buzz, but it plays very well., frets are well finished. Nut depth is fine. Can't believe the neck is not butter. The finish on the neck is even thinner that HBs usual thin. Rosewood fretboard is quite thick. I wonder what wood they use for this? seems to have been stained although to a better finish than the shorty. [/quote] I got one of those a couple of weeks back and I couldn;t work out why it was a deco either... The best I could come up with was that the fretboard looked a bit grey and lifeless, just like it needed a good oiling so maybe they rejected it on cosmetic grounds. I'd have been happy with it if i'd paid full price to be honest.

[quote name='tonyf' timestamp='1438901146' post='2838635'] *and it doesn't look like it's made in someone's shed [/quote] ..

Cor... That's lovely.

Never seen anything weird unfortunately... I'd like to see something, I've always been open to it, I've never even heard a bump in the night let alone seen anything like the stories above... I did see some weird sh*t when I was on mushrooms back in the day though...

...and a more sensible answer. A preamp would help but IMO the stingray sound comes from that humbucker in the sweet spot. I've come to believe that pickup type and placement is more important to the fundamental tone of a bass than anything else. If you want a P sound, you'll need a P pickup, if you want a J sound, you'll need a J pickup at the bridge and if you want a stingray sound.... well, you'll need that pickup