NancyJohnson

Evening all. Anyone in my proximity (Reading) own an NS Design WAV4 that I can have a noodle on? Maybe a loaner for a couple of days? I really can't justify a blind purchase of one, but am really drawn to the instrument after 30+ years of regular 4&5 basses.

[quote name='DaytonaRik' timestamp='1486505264' post='3232407'] NancyJohnson is your resident T-Bird expert...I'm sure he'll be along to point you in the right direction [/quote] Ahoy-hoy. If you want my opinion on these things, source a Gibson and put a Babicz FCH bridge on it and you'll have a killer bass. Forget about all these people moaning about neck dive (whatever that is); you generally play with two hands on the bass, so for me it's never been an issue. If you can spot one of the recent non-reverse Thunderbirds, I'd try and land it. It is a decent bass (put a Babicz on it), but it's as different to the reverse model as a Precision is to a Jazz. I sold mine to Gus...I do wish I still had it. On the Epiphone front, work permitting, I will pick up one of the new Epiphones mid-year. It's a great shame that Gibson have dropped the legacy basses this year as the new Epiphone is the reissue they should have done. On the other models, I really can't advise on the low end stuff like the Tokai. Sorry. I own an ultra rare Hamer FBIV (there's only a handful of these left) and the pride of my basses, a Mike Lull JAXT4. Some years ago I posted to this forum that Thunderbirds were like magic. I'm a slightly overweight guy in my 40s and when I use a Thunderbird live, I'm the skinny kid I was three decades ago. It's a wonderful thing. It doesn't matter where I play, no one is ever interested in the other band's bass players Precisions or Jazzes, it's always, 'Ooh, I love Thunderbirds.'

I have HP and PreSonus looking at things. PC was fresh out of the box last week. It's a bit frustrating and I don't seem to be alone with this problem...quite a few people have experienced high frequency noise. I'm logging everything on tickets with both companies, so hopefully I'll find out what's going on soon enough.

Went through Rotosounds early on, same as you. Elites for a bit, D'Addario for a long time, Dunlops for a year (they were great, cheap, but I had a couple of breakages and that won't do at all). Currently using Elixir Nanowebs on all but one bass (but this will be restrung accordingly) and they're fantastic. They remind me of when I first started playing on Rotos. OK they're currently around £35 a set, but I had one set on for ten months and only changed them because the E was going a bit deado. The others were fine. I suspect I may go the route of just buying an E next time. So damn good.

Hello mate Been there with the drivers. Interestingly, PreSonus (who have been amazing BTW), suggested I try plugging my monitors into a different power source. I ran an extension from another room and while the tone was still there, it was actually quieter. P

I've just purchased a new PC (HP Pavilion); software installation and dejunking all smooth but for my PreSonus Audiobox USB which handles all my audio, be it to powered monitors or cans. I'm getting a tone pitched at a high B (7th fret on an .009 string) through my monitors that is unaffected by the main volume control on the AI. It's not line interference or a ground loop hum; the tone was initially constant but following ongoing advice from PreSonus it niw only returns for a couple of seconds before audio starts when I playback through my DAW or Winamp and lingers for a few seconds after playback stops. Also, if I'm scrolling through Facebook and there's a posted video, the tone starts up until I've scrolled past the content. It's very weird. Drivers are all up to date and configuration of the device is nor significantly different to that of my old PC (given the new computer has USB 2.0 and 3.0 socketry). So I thought I'd just put it out there. See if anyone here can shed any light on things. Cheers

[quote name='Cosmo Valdemar' timestamp='1486171563' post='3229881'] [url="http://www.gmpguitars.com/spec.bass.html#Deluxe"]http://www.gmpguitar...ass.html#Deluxe[/url] GMP Roxie! [/quote] Belter!

And this is why this forum is so damn good.

I was watching a [i]One Hit Wonder[/i] show on BBC4 earlier and New Radicals 'You Get What You Give' came on. I'd be grateful if anyone could ID this bass for me. [Edit: I've since found out the guy is Sasha Krivtsov...he was Paul Stanley's touring bass player, is the house bassist on the US version of The Voice and also seems to have a resume as long as your arm!] Cheers! The bass is a purple-sparkle 5-string, Les Paul kind of shape, fixed or through neck, two part bridge (which looked distinctly Warwick-esque), P/J pickups, two control knobs. Machine heads were in a 3/2 configuration and headstock had a slight indent at the end. I got some blurry stills (below). There's also some footage on You Tube where he's using another version of this bass in silver sparkle. Cheers P

I can actually believe how old this album is! It was one of the first CDs I bought.

Can't say I really know much about John Wetton, but I did enjoy the stuff he did with UK.

http://fullcontacthardware.com/users/49443/photos/photo/49443_2631027.jpg

I'd also add, the Cimar, if it's a bolt on neck, take the neck off and shim it at the furthest point with a cut of sandpaper (it compresses less under pressure). Give the truss rod a tweak and boom, you're sorted.

I'll try and help with the Babicz FCH bridge. The base plate is 7-8mm thick and the saddles ride on metal runner (1mm) and are held in place by a small (and slightly) offset Allen bolt (1-2mm); the bolt isn't diectly under the string, which makes sense. With the saddles at their lowest point it's feasible that the hex bolt could (and I emphasise 'could') make contact with the strings, but it's unlikely, so realistically the mininmum body to saddle distance you could go would be 11-12mm. I have two of these on Thunderbirds and the bottom of the saddle on the E string is a good 2cm above the body surface, so there is a ton of clearance from the fixings. You have to be of the mindset that these were designed as a replacement for Gibson models with their neck/pitch angles.

I loved the concept of the JamHub, but needless to say things fell over when the cost of the thing was raised; needless to say it did go any further. Shame! It's a great bit of kit.

Nice to see Ded Orse playing the Introducing stage. I was their original bassist. Lovely blokes, but a bit heavy for me.

[quote name='scrumpymike' timestamp='1484823245' post='3218723'] How can one of the two 'iconic' brands ship a premier product (i.e. made in the USA) product that has design flaws and hasn't been set up to factory spec? Beats me!! [/quote] Knowing Gibson, they probably ordered a zillion of the wretched 3-pointers and were too stubborn to listen to customer feedback and go with an alternative.

I've no qualms about my bass in the slightest, OK I had a lot of issues with it when I got it, but it's all sorted now. Thing is, I don't have favourites or anything...it plays nicely, sounds great and I confess that I was drawn to it more by the uniqueness of it visually and for all intents, it was a blind buy. My other basses are all nice too. My point being (again) is the price point. Despite me maintaining it's a lovely instrument, is it truly three or four times better than a Gibson? Straight answer is no (even thought it's not a straight Thunderbird clone). 100%.

Aaw, come on. I'll admit visually the JAXT4 is Thunderbirdesque, but somewhat lesser so than the regular Lull T4 which, headstock and bolt-on construction aside, is pretty much a direct lift from a 60s Thunderbird. The JAXT4 has a 20% larger body, two-part bridge, reverse headstock and lots of chrome. Even my eight year old nephew pointed out it was different to my Gibsons.

[quote name='chris_b' timestamp='1485422019' post='3223789'] You own a Lull and don't recognise what makes it different to a Fender? [/quote] Aah, but there's the rub, Chris, it isn't a Jazz or Precision, it's a Jeff Ament T4. I'll admit the bodyshape shares some similarity visually with a Thunderbird, but beyond that it couldnt be any more different. The design is unique to Mike Lull.

I've never quite understood why anyone would pay that sort of money for what's essentially a Precision bass copy. I just don't get it (never have). I know there's the addage 'it's not the having, it's the getting', but you could purchase several US Precisions for that sort of swag. And before anyone chips in with a he-doesn't-know-what-he's-talking-about comment, yes, I do own a Lull.

[quote name='Cuzzie' timestamp='1485355330' post='3223343'] Love Corey glover and living colour as well, that would have been brilliant. [/quote] dUg was great, honestly great. Corey Glover was just a bit strange...he was good, but his band were just limping through the hits and at times really struggling. A bit disconcerting, but CG wore what could best be described as a pink romper suit and at one stage started crying.

I saw dUg at The Cutting Room in New York a couple of years ago (double bill with Corey Glover). It was also the first time Jerry had played live with him in a few years. We turned up mid-afternoon to get our tickets (we'd booked over here) and the bands were doing the load in; the owner of the place was knocked out we'd come from 'blighty and let us in for the soundcheck. I had a long chat with dUg's tech and a guy from Tech21. The rig sounded immense.

I know Overend meant nothing to many people on this group, but his demise has really saddened me. Interestingly, Morgan Fisher posted up an email he'd gotten from Pete back in early December. It's both a sobering and upsetting read; there's humour, he expresses concern for Mick Ralphs while at the same time saying he's had enough and is fine about going. Honestly, what a bloke. Tissues out: [i]Oh Yay Clifford T. Whoard! Thanks fur your lovely message me old son. Looks like the news is finally out. But PLEASE KEEP IT UNDER YER HAT. IF POSS.[/i] [i]Managed to keep it quiet for more than 6 years though - so that was pretty good.If you [/i] [i]remember I wasn't great at Hammo in 2009 - felt very grimeworthy then ! I just dread being besieged by Mott fans - all PRAYING for me, sending cards or gifts - or worse still, trying to visit me ! God forbid - even tho I don't believe in him - even NOW. Can't deal with all that crap - even tho I know they mean well. My sis got a message from [/i] [i]Joe Elliot yesterday which made me think the game might be up. I know [/i] [i]Jean and Buff were overwhelmed and were upset by it all after going public.[/i] [i]I think it's about 5 years too late for 2nd opinions now son. I've had every type of treatment, [/i] [i]surgery etc, - it was far worse than the illness itself ! I've had enough now and am fine [/i] [i]about going - it might be plezz up there (or down there)- an adventure, whichever way [/i] [i]yer look at it. I'm not in any great pain, just giddy tired and weak. To be [/i] [i]honest I'm more worried about Ralphur than myself right now. I really hope he [/i] [i]recovers so he can play again. I love the guy so much - just as I love you son. [/i] [i]I hated having to tell you that only the original band were doing the reunions - I know it [/i] [i]must have hurt you a lot. One of me worst jobs ever. I wish we could've done it [/i] [i]but it wasn't financially possble + too difficult to co-ordinate. with everyone concerned.[/i] [i]The Hospice is great - very much like Carry On Nurse - so I 'aint complainin' ! Another [/i] [i]3 decent years of travel would've been good but it's not to be.after all - but I did a hell of a lot anyway. Glad you shifted the skin cancer - and I hope you have a long, healthy and happy life.[/i] [i]I can hardly type so I may not be able to keep in touch, but i just wanted you [/i] [i]to know that you are still the best musician I ever had the privilege to work with [/i] [i]and a brill bloke to boot...... - but David Reid - guitarist from The Contrast 'int [/i] [i]far behind you !!! I was gonna bloody join them on electric 6 & 12 string till [/i] [i]this bloody disease returnrd. What a bummer that was. Anyway, must sleep now. I refuse to say "Goodbye" [ so I;ll just say ........[/i] [i]Take care Morgo - Love you son - Olde Gruff Pete xxx[/i] [i]PS OH - PIES OF GRATE MEAT !! We had some great times didn' t we ![/i]