Chiliwailer

I doubled my bass collection recently when I bought my old Lull back

I sold a beloved FB4 to @hiram.k.hackenbacker - amazing bass. If I had the cash flow and more space at home then I would have kept it for those fun moments that only a FB4/FU4 can deliver. But I have no regrets, it was a joy to have owned.

We work in similar worlds. My work roles are hard to explain, but revolve around quality of life, quality of support/service and staff training in autism and learning disability in accommodation services and/or activity supports. That means most of my workload is based around behaviours of concern (sadly also known as challenging behaviour, and not interpreted in the way originally intended) whereby too often supported people are mostly being challenged themselves by others or environments - so they are not the initial problem, and shouldn’t be stigmatised as challenging. This has been shown to massively affect staff turnover when practice is poor, generally due to poor leadership and training. Cutting budgets doesn’t help, nor does the low wage staff get for a complex role they are rarely fully backed to work in. And with the UK guidance on behaviours of concern focused on debatably ‘evidence based’ behaviourism theories (I.e. not well evidence based as such when utilised in real life situations, and not backed by a plethora of autistic advocates, or even by NAS) it’s dominantly one-sided by supposing that we need to find out why the person acts as they do, as opposed to equally looking at the quality of leadership, training and knowledge in the service - which can cause a huge amount of behaviours of concern... Boils my blood daily - many staff don’t know what they don’t know, so many staff and supported people genuinely suffer stress etc. from it.

Well have you seen the prices of cocaine and hookers these days?

Ok, so I‘m not going mad... after another crazy quote of nearly £80 Bass Doc has quoted well over half that price. Cheers @AndyTravis for the reminder, So I’m going to buy that one, plus an original Lull from Bass Direct, as their prices were much cheaper than the other quotes I’m getting - considering the last time I bought Lull pickguards from them. Not that I’m knocking people in business out to make money... just not my hard earned!

This is probably a case of me being very out of touch... so without naming any names here, I emailed a UK guy who I saw was recommended here on BC to make a pickguard for my Lull, with me providing a template. I asked for cream 3 ply (meant to say parchment though), so it’s a lot more than white or black, even still the estimate came to £72! Not too long ago that’d be £40, which I paid for my last ones, though that outlet is not convenient now. How out of touch am I? I’d rather go direct to the Lull workshop if it’s silly money. BTW - I do get the labour etc.

I sold Brian a set of strings, really friendly communication through out, was a pleasure.

Someone on TB shared this lovely article in the Seattle Times. Nice to see that they are carrying on, the article says at the end that his son will involved now. https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/mike-lull-the-boss-of-bass-guitars-for-bands-like-heart-cheap-trick-and-pearl-jam-dies-at-65/?fbclid=IwAR0q_27Fu4vupY4S9HFMRxOxzza5lVk3lj9a_WFNdcRGiH-RGK6ogBdafkM

Recently had my 3rd dealing with Andy, twice buying and once selling. Always a genuine pleasure, feeling more social than transactional. Andy knows a good bass and has exquisite taste - so if you’re buying from him you’re in for a treat

You’ve good reason to be happy then

Ah, got ya... Sounds to me like it’s that bass, though as you well know, that bass could have many sounds via amps etc. so it’s pretty cool for me that he went for a tone that brought out the vintage/flatwounds vibe.

Truth is Chris, I just sit back and listen to Flea doing his thing, rather than analyse it - He’s a mountain of the bass world and I’m just a little pea (irresistible pun). The fact that he and the band are doing what they want is good enough for me, I always enjoy their stuff and feel connected to it. But to say something relevant, as you asked, I like the fact he’s gone for a different tone, and that after all these years and albums there’s yet again a new vibe, which I love.

Unless it’s Flea’s tone on The Getaway 😂 (as per that other thread ) There’s a blonde 61 SK that I played in 2004 and felt was the nicest bass I’ve ever played, seriously. In 2008 it popped up again and still was my favourite. Not saying they are better, just that it still sounded beautiful in its own way.

Can’t say for sure as I’ve never done a direct comparison in the same bass. But lots of folk hear a difference, some prefer one, some the other. I think the original SK’s had an additional resistor in the wiring. Would need an electronics savvy BC’s to chat about the difference in proper terms.

I’m out... bought back my old my old Lull PJ4 today. Couldn’t be happier - it was worth it

Depends on your price range, and do you want it vintage correct? Assuming you want a SK Jazz that’s got the period correct kind of vibe then Limelight would do a well priced relic. Or Bravewood for a more expensive one. Im sure other BC’ers here will have good recommendations too.

For me, typically with a £3-4k Fender CS (or similar, such as the Martin CS acoustic guitars that I’ve played recently) they aren’t twice as better as they are twice the price. But that’s not really the point for the many folk who own them and don’t mind the premium cost. I’ve had a fair few CS Fender basses - when they are good they are excellent, when poor they are pretty average, so worth waiting for an excellent one IMO - if you want the Fender affiliation. Otherwise there’s other makers out there who do a fine job, just in a different flavour.

For me, the 57RI is usually a P that has more top end naturally, more so as opposed to a rosewood 62RI. Plus the Phil Jones is quite hifi so I suppose it shows it up more. I’d put some LaBella flats on, check it’s got a decent capacitor & pot and slightly back off the tone pot if need be. Perhaps also check the pickup isn’t too high and the neck too straight?