Prosebass

[quote name='Spoombung' post='627616' date='Oct 16 2009, 10:15 AM']Ah, I remember you playing 'April' at one of the bassbashes, Paul.[/quote] Well trying at least, same notes I suppose... Chris Gartner is an interesting guy , accomplished multi talented musician , been in some mad bands like 'Look People' Have a look at his myspace page.

Hi Chris looks superb mate good to see another fretless , you'll start liking Percy Jones next As regards the intonation do you mean you are struggling with it or the setting up is difficult ? With an high action the best way to set the bass up is get the harmonic and the fingered note at the 12th fret ( or where the 12th fret would be) the same. This may give you an open string that is slightly flat due to the mechanics of stretching the string with fingered notes but is better overall and a slightly flat open string sounds better in a band situation than going even a little sharp.

[quote name='Rayman' post='628629' date='Oct 17 2009, 12:18 PM']Howard Devoto reaaally looks old eh? I didn't reckognise him at all.[/quote] He certainly hasn't worn as well as Mr Lydon ! his singing style has changed a bit too....cracking bass tone on the last track though. Its a pity (or good I suppose) that Seasick Steve sounded more musical with one string than most of the other guests who had many more... I had to look twice when Devendra Banhart came on as I thought it was 'The Mighty Boosh'

[quote name='BigRedX' post='628569' date='Oct 17 2009, 10:49 AM']In what way are the controls on your on-board pre-amp more flexible than the ones on your amp?[/quote] Hi Mike its not really a case of flexibility with active setups but down to simple electrical theory. Passive basses with volume and tone pots load the output impedance of a bass , this in conjunction with a long poor quality cable can have the effect of 'killing' higher frequencies and will make any bass sound 'muddy' Using a good active preamp the output impedance can be engineered into the circuit to exit the bass low (impedance buffering / similar to DI boxes) and the bass output will retain the highs , hence the reason active basses sound more alive. I am a big fan of passive (simplicity) but my recent builds only contain a volume control so as not to degrade the output signal too much. Best set up for a passive bass is direct from the pup into the amp via a high quality short instrument lead but this is generally impractical for use other than recording / studio work. Obviously if you are after a dull , muddy tone then all of the above does not matter, but as you agree , the best way to modify your tone is with your amp, and the best / cleanest / most transparent way of getting the true tone from your bass into the amp is via an active , buffered preamp with no specific individual frequency band boosted. Paul

[quote name='thisnameistaken' post='627422' date='Oct 15 2009, 10:39 PM']Sorry but that sounds like Nigel Tufnel's solo where he bows a guitar with a violin. The one Brand X record I heard I liked, but that is foul-sounding.[/quote] Nay , Nay and thrice Nay........ just different Whilst we are exploring fretless in this thread how about a bit of Chris Gartner

[quote name='Rodders' post='627036' date='Oct 15 2009, 04:06 PM']I'm a fan of his I discovered him when my Dad played me some Brand X and then I bought all the Tunnels albums[/quote] Bloody hell that comment makes me feel old ! Which I am of course. Having just listened to 'Product' from 1979 I have been reminded of John Giblin.....a name that doesn't crop up much on the forum. More musical than Percy but less energetic and 'safer' but what a bassist. He wrote this one with Percy.....

[quote name='alexclaber' post='626910' date='Oct 15 2009, 01:45 PM']Here's another way to look at it - if you are going to spend £1k+ on an instrument, why wouldn't you want to give that to a local craftsmen instead of splitting it between a shop, a distributor, a few freight companies, a manufacturer, their shareholders, and finally some for the people in the factory that made it? It's not like choosing between a handmade kitchen and a mass-produced one - as long as you go for a luthier that doesn't have a great long waiting list and a famous brand you get awesome value for money. Alex[/quote] Well said young man.....

Here we all come out the woodwork.....The Percy 'Sonic Explorer' Jones fanclub members. I have listened to him since the mid 70's and have to agree with Spoonbung regarding the 70's and 80's Fusion sound. Probably one of the most underated bass players ever and probably due to him doing 'his own thing' He really annoys me at times shifting from pure brilliance to 'wot the f**k is that all about' but I guess that is the enigma that is Percy Jones. I think his Wal sounds sweeter and less gutteral than the Ibanez , why did he change ? probably because Bilbo bought one This is great though ....off the wall....and in his own little world...

[quote name='bilbo230763' post='626737' date='Oct 15 2009, 10:27 AM']And different necks and different string spacing. All of which make a minimal difference to the final product - the music. All I am saying (and some of you are taking all of this far too seriously) is that the main motivation, from where I am sitting, is aestheic - i.e. having a lovely bespoke thing that you can point at and say 'mine'. If that is the case, fine (I studied Art at Diploma level too so pretty things matter to me to). I just think its a bit superficial and has little to do with the thing that matters to me, the music. And, with very few exceptiosn, I like the look of most basses so it matters not a lot [/quote] +1 on the 'far too seriously' aspect but if you attack peoples personal choices what do you expect ? Its the same with cars and houses. People try to justify why they have bought 'A' as opposed to 'B' and it is this justification thats gets people argueing. If you want to buy something just buy it with the only justification needed being 'because I like it' Price should not come into the arguement as some people put value on the fact that a good quality bass that suits them can be had at a reasonable price and does what they want it too. The fact that a bass is inexpensive whether off the shelf or custom / handbuilt does not make it less of a bass than a more expensive one. Price has nothing to do with value and quality. Others feel the need to spend lots on either off the peg, vintage or custom to get what they want out of a bass and this is surely a decision that only they can take regardless of what others opinions are. Ask a boy racer with his Nova what is the best thing to do to his car to enable him to go faster ? He will probably reply, 'induction kit' , 'performance exhaust' , 'low profile tyres' when in reality the first performance mod to make any car go faster is in fact uprated brakes.......food for thought !

No fuss transaction , pleasure to deal with.

Again....no fuss transaction with Joe for my Guitar Stands.....Cheers mate

There are a lot of variables involved as to how much tannic acid staining involving ferrous metals and oak will be prevalent. Moisture needs to be present, bare metal, and a wood with high tannic acids ie Green Oak and Redwoods used in buildings mainly. They retain a higher moisture content than oak used for furniture. I have no problem using kiln dryed European Oak and using coated or brass screws. Also most proprietry oils will also offer protection against the wood reacting by not allowing ingress of water. Mahogany and Walnut also contain high levels of Tannic acid. Oak not being seen as a 'tonewood' is due to it not being used much in the production of acoustic instruments. although some builders have used it. Unlike Sitka Spruce , Oak does not have much strength when used in very thin section due to the vessels (open pockets) in its structure. This does not apply if used in a solid body electric instrument and indeed gives oak its distinctive look. In the workshop Oak is very similar to Ash in the way it behaves when machined with power or hand tools and has a very similar grain structure.

Oak is similar in weight / density to Zebrano. I have recently built 2 basses with European Oak tops and it is a lovely wood to work with hand tools such as rasp files and a spokeshave but be careful of grain tear-out. It smells lovely as well. I would suggest a mahogany back to temper the tone a little but see no reason why you cannot use just oak providing you don't mind that bit of extra weight. It does contain tannic acid that will attack iron and leave blue/green stains. Provided you use brass or chrome plated hardware and screws you should not have a problem. I always use plastic cased humbuckers that are fully potted / sealed when using oak. Paul

Interesting topic this as I have conflicting thoughts on whether a bass really needs a radius on the fingerboard. Is it purely left over from the double bass and other bowed string instruments that need a large radius to accommodate the bowing action. With lead guitars barre chords are more comfortable played on a highly curved fingerboard and it aids string bending. Some classical and Flamenco guitars have a totally flat fingerboard that suits certain styles of playing and not others. In other instances preople just report it as being 'more comfortable' with a radius. Best thing to do is for me to put a neck together with a flat board and report back on my findings.

I use the GX USB interface which is the little brother version intended primarily for home use with everything controlled via my laptop. It is a very useful and interesting bit of kit for recording and experimenting with new sounds. One aspect of the GX is that you can have 2 completely different setups and then either blend them as a stereo output or send each one to either the left or right channel. I use it as a composing tool along with Riff Works. The compressors are excellent as are the effects. One thing I have noticed is that the GX sounds so much better hooked up to my Hi-Fi than it does through a bass amp. It sound very hollow through a bass amp but has a CD quality sound through my Sony amp and Castle Speakers. The latency is almost non existent. I would suggest buying the GX which is only about £60.00 with some bundled software before going the whole hog and getting the Live pedal.

And another one bites the dust..... I won't have time to attend unfortunately, hope to see some of you at Bass Day in Manchester. Amended List 01. Silverfoxnik: Roscoe Beck V, Wal Pro2e, BC Rich Eagle, Fender Jazz V Deluxe, plus my recently acquired Eden Metro Rig 02. Merton: Status Retroactive, Mikey's Singlecut Fanned-Fret Prototype, LH500 and Barefaced Vintage 03. OBBM: StRay5, MB F1, UL212, something else. 04. Hamster: BFM Omni15 tallboy, Barefaced Compact, Fender P with Thumper & Villex PTB 05. Alex Claber: '87 Warwick Streamer, RIM Custom 5 with 36" scale and Q-Tuners, Avalon U5/QSC PLX3002, GB Shuttle 6.0, Barefaced Compact, Big One, Midget, Midget T, maybe Big Baby. 06. Johnnylager: Spector Euro 4LX, KSD Jazz, LH-1000, Barefaced Big Juan, DHA Custom Shop VT2-Twin-EQ-Bass with Tech Tube valves & whatever other effects I have at the time. 07. Happy Jack: Lightwave Sabre VL, Hofner 500/1 (1964), Hofner 500/5 (1959), PJB Bass Buddy + headphones. 08. MacDaddy. Custom Shuker (hopefully!) and possibly Hamer Blitz or Iceni Zoot. 09. Stingrayfan: G&L Tribute L2000, Yamaha BB614, Westone Thunder 1A, Hartke LH500, Warwick 4x10 10. Chris B 11. Cetera: Pre-Kramer Spector NS-2, Wal Mk1 Fretless, Fender/AllParts 70's Jazz, Tech21 Landmark600, GenzBenzNEOX212T 12. Waynepunkdude Fender Jazz, SX P Bass, DHA-DI-EQ & Ampeg SVT 5 Pro 13. Jakesbass Alembic MK5 Deluxe, German Blockless Wonder 1880 Double Bass (and the '78 Jazz if anyone wanted a go) 14. 51m0n (& Plux if he's not gigging): Bergantino AE410, MarkBass sa450, Focusrite Compounder, Roscoe Century Std V, (If Plux isnt gigging) Berg HT210, HT115, Hartke LH500 15. Floyd Pepper - Markbass LMK, Bergantino HT112 & EX112, Stingray '91 2eq, Lakland DJ4, Stagg EDB, Epiphone Jack Casady and a Fender '54 RI Precision 16. davidmpires - Markbass F1, Barefaced Compact, Spector Euro LX 5, T-Bass by Status 17. peted - Warwick Thumb BO 4, Hartke HA3500, BFM Omni 10, Aphex Bass Xciter, Shuker Singlecut 6 fanned fret (if it's ready by then, but I'm not holding my breath) 18. Platypus - Alleva Coppolo Jazz 5, Celinder Jazz 4 fretless, Tecamp Puma 1000 + Tecamp M212 cab 19. Monz - Stingray 5 (la bella flats) Matamp GT200, Simms-Watt PA 100, Matamp 8x10 + Whatever else I have bought buy then 20. Alien - Schecter Stiletto 4, Peavey Grind 6, Hartke HA7000, Alien Audio 2x10 + other toys. 21. EssentialTension: Lakland Skyline Decade, Fender Tony Franklin Fretless Precision (and who knows what else) 22. silddx - Warwick Corvette $$ 4, Warwick Corvette Standard Ash active fretless 4, POD X3 Live, (I am praying I won't have it by then, but I will bring the Kopo Lina fretless 4 if I do!) 23. Phil_the_bassist: MMSR5 w/JE preamp, Sandberg Cali JM, Steinberger synapse5 w/ extra pup, various fuzz pedals and envelope filters, whatever amp I happen to own by then. 24. Stingray5 - My StingRay5, StingRay fretless and Tune TWB-6 plus any other basses in my signature pic if people let me know. I also have an Aria AMB-50B acoustic bass if anyone fancies a go? Could also bring my GT6-B. Plus ('cos it's small) a BLX-80 combo. And some cans...? 25. Urb - 1 x Sei 5 String Single Cut - 1 x Sei 4 string Jazz bass - EBS and Boss pedals 26. dave.c - Spector Rebop 4DLX EX, Spector NS2000-4, Gibson SGZ,Hartke LH500, Hartke Hydrive 410 27. WalMan - Wal Pro1/Custom conversion, G&L L2500 US, MarkBass CMD121H, Epifani 1x12 (not the neo one but I can't remember the initials just at the mo), Bass Pod xT Pro, Marshall SuperBass 100 head 28. Bottle - Ibanez ATK-305NT, Gallien-Krueger MB2-500, EBS Pro-line 4x10 29. Nancy Johnson (Paul) - Waterstone TP-12 Tom Petersson 12-String bass. Tech 21 Landmark 31/Ashdown MAG 4x10/Ashdown MAG 1x15 30. Beedster: Fender, Fender, Fender, Fender, Fender, Fender..and Markbass!. 31. pete.young: Burman Pro 4000 and a Dean Bromberg B2, which has an unusual Piezo bridge pickup 32. coasterbass: Mesa 1x15 RR, Mesa 4x10, Ampeg SVP and Eden WP100 preamps 33. sixshooter: 55P bass Sonic Blue Relic, 59P bass original Sunburst, 59P bass Custom Shop relic Mary Kaye, 79P bass original but upgraded Black, Modulus 6 Oteil Burbridger 34. Jean Luc Pickguard: couple of Ashborys, an NS-design CR5M & danelectro longhorn 35. Deaver: El Maya or the Prosebass Humbucker Fretless 36. Jack London: GK1001RBII and Simnett 37. ped: Vigier S2 fretted/S3 fretless, Roland Vbass, SWR 4x8/1x15, noname 1u poweramp if it doesn't explode beforehand, phone, keys, wallet 38. bythesea: Overwater Perception 5 39. Walbassist: Wal Mk III (spalted maple) fretted 5, Rick Turner Renaissance Bass fretted 5, Veillette Archtop Bass fretless 5, Brook Otter fretted 5 ABG 40. dannybuoy: Peavey T-40 & pedalboard 41. bassace: double bass 42. barneyG42: Status Series1, and possibly me Hartke 3500 43. Johngh: Fender MIJ Jazz 75 reissue. Shuker Headless 6er and Status S2 Classic 6er headless. 44. Clarky: Shuker JJ Burnel and Mesa Walkabout 45. Stylon Pilson: £10, a Hartke LH500 and a Barefaced Compact. And probably a fretless Aria Sinsonido 46. Xzantes: Conklin Groove tools 7 string fretless 47. sdgrsr400: Lākland Skyline 55-02 Deluxe, Glockenklang Soul II, Acme B2-ii 48. woolz: ABM ashdown evoIII 575w head, peavey cab. ibanez sr20th, few pedals. 49. Paul S: Fender Jaguar, Hohner B2A; Trace Elliot AH300-12, 1153, 2103H 50. Bubinga 5: Fender Jazz custom shop custom Classic, Stingray 5, Sei Jazz 5, Ostinato Jazz, Fender Jazz 5, Cort Elrick 5, Aguilar 51. eshears: Pedulla Rapture J2, Lakland DPLEII (Darkstar P-bass), Genz-Benz Shuttle 6.0, Barfaced Compact, Pedalboard (Deep Impact, Supercollider, Ultra Fuzz, Discumbobulator, Small Stone, Dd-6) 52. Budget Bassist: warwick corvette $$ 53. tait: shuker course taitycaster, possibly an ibanez SR500 if anyone's interested in that? 54. Mikey R: Shuker course P Bass 55. Shockwave: Pedulla Pentabuzz 5AAAAA Fretless, Maybe a HK fretless 7 string. 56. Simon1964: Shuker Singlecut, Stingray (with East 3 band preamp), Rick, Mark Bass Jeff Berlin and possibly the Thumb or Precision. 57. Captain Rumble: Wal pro 1, Warwick Corvette $$ Greece

One point that has been missed is the famous marketing dilemma that is the price / perceived quality equation that applies to most things in life. [quote]Perceived quality is not equivalent to objective quality; it cannot be measured in terms of technical superiority or adherence to physical standards. Perceived quality is an abstract evaluation or judgment of a product that is formed from intrinsic attributes of the product (e.g., physical characteristics) and extrinsic attributes that are not part of the actual physical product (e.g., price, brand name, packaging).[/quote] Can be read in full [url="http://www.msi.org/publications/publication.cfm?pub=196"]Here[/url] its certainly interesting and an ongoing problem for anyone who produces basses..

[quote name='Sean' post='598540' date='Sep 14 2009, 07:06 PM'][url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2kotK9FNEYU&feature=related"]This [/url] is fun.[/quote] [quote name='velvetkevorkian' post='598559' date='Sep 14 2009, 07:24 PM']That's actually quite nauseating to watch.[/quote] [quote name='Hot Tub' post='598594' date='Sep 14 2009, 07:42 PM']That's actually quite nauseating to listen to. [/quote] It sounds better with the vocal....

[quote name='BigBeefChief' post='593200' date='Sep 8 2009, 07:34 PM']The moderators actively encourage auctions so its definitely not against forum rules.[/quote] you'll need one of these soon........ [attachment=32489:200_hsas_chart.jpg]

It could look good with both pup and bridge covers.....

definately off.......

Looking at the photos it seems you have already decided....

[quote name='johnzgerman' post='590581' date='Sep 5 2009, 12:58 PM']i dont understand, how does the number of strings relate to how good or bad a player is? thats like saying people who drive reliant robins are better drivers than people who drive mondeos. in my experience they are just as sh*t as each other.[/quote] As a Mk2 Mondeo driver I would ask you to retract your fallacious statement young man........