Marc S

[quote name='Stu-khag' timestamp='1487842710' post='3243372'] I see where you are coming from but reading the blurb about the bass he mentions him and his brother have always loved the weird shaped fenders... ....From what I can see he wanted a different shaped fender with a precision type sound that has a mid scale neck. Personally its a style I'm quite drawn to- I think it should have a jazz pup at the bridge. [/quote] I just spotted one of these basses on ebay, and hadn't seen one, or heard anything about them... So, Just bumping this thread, as someone asked whether any BC'ers had bought one? I'm quite interested in medium scale basses atm. I've got one, which I dabble with, and find it quite a comfortable scale Whilst it's not the most attractive Fender bass, I agree that they're trying something a bit different. After all, plenty of people call Fenders "boring" or "run of the mill" and accuse them of not being adventurous enough with design! - so hats off to them for trying something unusual. Also, it looks very similar in terms of neck finish, to the Squier Classic Vibe series. If it's made in the same factory as the CV's and the Matt Freeman sig - then I'm sure it'll be great quality! I quite like the colour, and I quite like the shape & design personally, though I agree I'd probably want to see the pickup in a different position, and it probably would look better with two pickups - perhaps a P/J, or maybe a P and MM type pickup? Anyhow, I'm also wondering whether any BC'ers have one of these? I'd just like to hear the thoughts of someone who plays one

[quote name='Lw.' timestamp='1489498743' post='3257416'] Why do people keep bumping random old threads at the moment? ...... [/quote] Maybe they were searching for some info, and just came across an old thread that provided some answers? That's the beauty of such forums - you can look through older threads, or you can ask the question again...

I'm not particularly a fan of Headless basses. But I don't dislike that bass. In fact, I quite like it! The colour is OK too - I've definitely seen worse, and IMO, uglier basses Some might say "what do you expect?" - as I've currently got a penchant for Shell Pink basses This looks an OK sort of travel bass to me; Quite small, probably fairly light, due to the small body Great if you're using battery amps and busking or doing jam sessions, and want something less bulky to cart around The thing I don't quite like about it is the "clamp" at the (lack of) headstock end - it doesn't look that secure to me Maybe that's just the photo though?

I wasn't aware of those Electroharmonics pedals either. Always nice to know such things exist.... I know the OP didn't really want to "colour" the tonal output of his bass, but another alternative could be to use a D.I. Pedal, and set the tonal controls to "flat". I mention this because these pedals are quite cheap. One here on ebay is around £25. Luckily, I got mine for a tenner, second-hand locally (Though a local Facebook "guitar gear for sale forum"). Though it's quite noisy when you boost the higher frequencies - there's a really quite good degree of tonal control with it... I'm sure you could get very close to original tone Indeed, I'm glad I bought mine. Now I have a supposedly better quality option - I use this for rehearsals and for gigs in "certain venues" [url="http://www.gear4music.com/Guitar-and-Bass/Behringer-BDI21-V-Tone-Bass-Preamp/6LV?origin=product-ads&utm_campaign=PLA+Shop+-+Behringer&utm_medium=vertical_search&network=google&adgroup=1+-+Product+Level+-+Behringer&merchant_id=1279443&product_id=8563d1&product_country=GB&product_partition_id=111959022559&gclid=CKegqvLi2NICFYYcGwod7C4JTA"]http://www.gear4musi...CFYYcGwod7C4JTA[/url]

I'm really a 4 string player. But one of the reasons I'm not quite so comfortable with 5's, is that I find the string spacing too narrow. I do like to be able to get my fingers in between strings, and "dig in" if / when I want to. So I know where you're coming from, re narrow string spacing. Some players don't seem at all bothered, or seem comfortable with narrower spacing, but it's not for me.... The trade off, of course, is that if you space the strings further apart, you end up with quite a wide neck (at least at the base, even if the neck is very markedly tapered) And I don't like the neck to be too wide either. So I guess there's just no satisfying me, really Lol My Yamaha 5'er is around 18mm between string centres. Think I'd struggle with any less...

I've got an Epifani 110 for the same reasons of portability & weight (well, in fact, I've got two of those cabs - as together, they form a great rig for DB) The Epifani 110's are the best sounding 1x10 cabs I've heard - though they're a tad heavier than the Barefaced One10 I use mine sometimes with a TC head, and sometimes with my tiny EA550W micro head. The EA head is incredibly small and lightweight, but sounds a tad "flat" and a bit hifi-like to my ears - so I then use a pedal, to muck about with the EQ (which means more stuff / leads etc to carry) I get a great sound with my TC head though... Sorry to be late to this thread - but I've only just seen it

As others have already said, Innovation Silver (and Gold) slaps are generally not that good for bowing. i too have heard that improves if you roughen the string surface a little - just where the bow will be, of course! However, I have also chickened out of doing this. Luckily for me, I have a DB and an EUB - so I have a set of Innovations on one, and Spirocore Weich's on another. That said, I'm not overly keen on the sound I get when trying to bow the Weich's either! That may be down to my poor technique, or it may be down to the strings - I don't really know... In the world of DB, strings is not just a topic, but several entire volumes. In the bass guitar world, it's pretty much roundwounds or flats, now ith half rounds, and what gauge you prefer - however, in DB terms it can be a bit of a minefield - I'd just look on it as an exploratory journey though. You might just suddenly come accross a set of strings that blow you away, and do and sound just what you want... As TheRev says, used strings often come up in the marketplace on here, as other players are often trying out new and different string combinations. Those Innovation Honeys are good strings BTW, and represent good value for money at that price - not sure how good they are for bowing though - I had a bass with them on when I first started, and I didn't get a decent sound when bowing - again, probably my technique Good luck with your search, but don't be impatient - stick with your current strings, and keep trying to improve your playing EDIT: Uber important - if you've not changed strings on a DB before - you must take care that the sound-post doesn't fall over! i.e. change strings preferably one at a time! Loss of tension through taking strings off, can lead to the sound-post falling over, and you don't want that

As Lewis says, the non original case won't devalue the bass much. The re-fret will indeed devalue it a bit. Although, as long as it's a decent job, done by a decent luthier, and there are no scars from the de-fretting, it shouldn't devalue it too much. My own thinking is a 40 year old instrument is bound to have had some wear & tear, and I'd rather buy one that's had a decent re-fret, than one that badly needs a re-fret.... Lewis's values are in the right ball-park too, I think. Do you have any photos? - That might also help, because some colours and finishes are also more sought after than others. Post some good pics, with a few close-up details and someone might be able to give you a more comprehensive answer Also, this year might be a good time to sell, as it's someone's Y.O.B. 40th birthday bass Obviously, in 2027, it should be worth more - as that's a 50th birthday YOB for someone

Following a link from some friendly BC'er - I ordered 3 sets of these http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Ashdown-Strings-ASH-STRING-ST-5ML-/292018352121?hash=item43fda66ff9:g:zuUAAOSwyQtVksOk Because I was buying several sets, I got them cheaper than 6 quid a set too! Although I've not tried them yet, I gave a set to my son, who's always going through bass strings And I'll be putting a set on my Jazz bass in the next month or so But at under £6 a set - I thought these were worth a try

Really nice work here! Love the grain of that spalted beech too. How do you manage to keep everything so neat & tidy? If this had been done by me, there'd be trickles & splashes of glue everywhere Will be keeping an eye on this - great work Jabba

The VM Telecaster basses have been out of production for some time now. Not sure about other basses in the VM series. I haven't seen so many recently. Although I have seen the VM P/J Precision - the price has shot up mind you. Not seen a VM Jazz for some time (at least, not new, in a guitar shop) Re Squier's output - The Classic Vibe series have been absolutely stunning. Although the VM's are / have been great, the CV's are a couple of notches up again. My CV Fiesta Red P is absolutely amazing - these are now discontinued, as are the highly rated Matt Freeman P basses. The CV's and Freemans being made in a different factory in China to the new Affinity series. I've heard a few players, and guitar shop staff say that the CV's were actually "too good" i.e. too close in quality for Fenders' liking EDIT: I meant to say, maybe the model in question didn't sell that many numbers when new? But if they were also good quality instruments - owners won't want to part with them. This in turn, becomes a circular argument; not many come up 2nd hand, so I'd better not sell mine, therefore, not many come up 2nd hand..... etc

[quote name='Musicman20' timestamp='1489052512' post='3253947'] I don't know why, but I just cannot listen to Ed at all, not any of it. Something really grates me about it. I've got no problem with pop music, but I just don't like his songs at all. I must have poor taste as everyone else seems to praise him. [/quote] Fair enough - taste is just a personal thing. There are no rights & wrongs - just our own individual likes & dislikes. I like Ed Sheeran personally. Not everything he does, but quite a bit of it. Great to know that Pino was in his "ideal band". A pop star who recognises (a) a great bass player and (b ) what bass can bring to a song So many singer / guitarists I have met really don't understand bass at all.......

I've never measured the height of action, and the thing is, having several basses, I quite like a different action for different basses. I tend to set the action to what feels right for each bass. I also don't like the action to be set too low - but each to their own of course. What suits one may not suit another.... I'm really with you on the playing lighter though. My background being mainly in punk and rock - I had a few lessons a while back, with excellent Cardiff based tutor Jon Caulfield. He kept telling me to lighten my touch, and yes, I think it's definitely more "controlled". Plus, if you really want to belt a few notes out, and dig in more for a short while - it gives you that ability and the dynamics of playing lighter, then more aggressive, then lighter again. Whereas if you're constantly playing heavily - there's nowhere else to go. It takes time to adapt your style of play, and it's great to hear that the lower action has helped you do this