BetaFunk

[quote name='ash' timestamp='1366650901' post='2055488'] I'm not sure the demo video truly represents it as a bass guitar - which it undoubtedly is. It is an extremely useable, versatile instrument. The Cure, Jack Bruce, The Beatles, Jet Harris, Glen Campbell, Carol Kaye, Placebo, to name a few have used the Bass VI on a wide variety of music to great effect. It can be used as a tic tac bass to compliment upright bass or a solo instrument as on Wichita Lineman (if you forward to 1.56 you'll hear that great solo sound on the closing link). Hooky used his Shergold Bass VI with chorus and made a trademark out of it. Placebo have tended to use it for a more aggressive indie rock sound. Jet Harris made a career out of his. Jack Bruce used it as a bass in early Cream. I used to own a Shergold Bass VI and regretted selling mine so I recently picked up a MIJ Bass VI and I've ordered the Pawnshop version to compare the two. I use mine in a surf and Rockabilly band where I mainly play double bass but the Bass VI sounds great on Dick Dale and Cramps songs - I also use it for Prog, classic rock covers and when I occasionally play Country. It's not everyone's cup of tea to play but I love mine and it always gets positive comments from band mates and audiences. If you get the chance it's worth trying out believe me it's great fun to play and makes you think a little differently about how you play! [/quote] I think that you summed that up perfectly ash. I'm not a gigging musician but i bought one because i always been fascinated with the different sort of music the Bass VI crops up on. It's never going to replace or compete with a guitar of bass but was never meant to. I just find it totally sound to anything else i have. The same reason i have a 70s Fender Jazz, 60s Hofner Senator, Shergold Marathon, Guild Pilot basses and my old 60s Teisco, Kawai and Guyatone guitars. They all sound different! P.S. I would have preferred to have a MIJ Bass VI so i'll be interested in your comparison to the Pawn Shop version.

http://youtu.be/VUSd_RYnxAY

[quote name='Jebo1' timestamp='1366619761' post='2054822'] It's a strange business the world at the moment. With something like a vintage guitar I'd be loathe to part with almost £2,000 of my money without seeing a guitar. Indeed, London is a big place but there's buses, trains, the tube and much more to help you get there (all funded by the Great British tax-payer). When I used to trade in vintage basses (I've had a large number of these) I'd always make the effort to get to meet the seller somehow. Often, if only for some history on the guitar... As for the buzzing, again it's something you just need to see for yourself - there could be a number of reasons - it's pretty obvious the guy didn't know much about guitars really. I hope whoever paid £1850 for it is happy with the guitar. [/quote] Perhaps whoever bought it did have a look at it first. It seems to be about the going rate for a Jazz of that year so maybe it was just what the buyer was looking for.

[quote name='ash' timestamp='1366549491' post='2053803'] I agree that the supplied low E at 084 is too light making the lowest string buzzy and difficult to intonate. I read quite a number of articles on various forums and most long term users have used La Bella flats with a 095 E on their Bass VI. Apparently the bridge on a Pawnshop VI needs some adaptation to accommodate the width of the 095 - but this is contradicted in some discussions. The La Bellas are very expensive however (£60+) - having read an interview with Jack Bruce I put a Picato flat wound 095 medium scale E string and a 075 A on my MIJ Bass VI. Cheap and as a compromise it works the bass behaves much better although I think I'm going to save up for a La Bella set! An interesting discussion here about the Pawnshop version - [url="http://www.offsetguitars.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=66276"]http://www.offsetgui...php?f=6&t=66276[/url] [/quote] Thanks for the info. I'm still doing a bit of research to see what to do with mine. At the moment it has a really clanky old sound. Someone on the Facebook Bass VI group has put Ernie Ball 095 & 080 strings on his Pawn Shop Bass VI.

[quote name='Dingus' timestamp='1366559492' post='2054016'] Just kidding ! I blame Thatcher . [/quote] Thatcher: There is no such thing as society Society: There is no such thing as Thatcher

I pray for the day that someone organises a cruise with bands like Jackie-O-M*****f***er, God Speed You Black Emperor and Tortoise. If they ever do, i'm there waiting on the quayside with my Captain's hat on at a jaunty angle, lifejacket in hand.

[quote name='arthurhenry' timestamp='1366537539' post='2053579'] The worst thing I've noticed is people beginning sentences with "So"... (Smiley face) [/quote] ......or ending it by saying 'just saying'.

I like the description: [size=3]This is an original 1975 Fretless Fender Jazz Bass made in Fullerton California at the original factory. Leo Fender was still there and probably made this bass himself.[/size]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/JACO-PASTORIUS-JAZZ-BASS-1975-FENDER-FRETLESS-ORIGINAL-/151031567068?pt=Guitar&hash=item232a2ed2dc

[quote name='iceonaboy' timestamp='1366482755' post='2053165'] Yes it looks like a very boozy nose indeed dun nit? [/quote] Nice avatar. Fat Freddy approves.

Bought that 12" the day it was available as an import as it was a much anticipated release at a time for those into that sort of music when with no internet you only heard rumours and (if you were lucky) press releases. I bought this before hearing it at a specialist dance and soul record shop and couldn't wait to get it home to give it a spin and it's still one of my favourites from that era.

[quote name='Chris2112' timestamp='1366147548' post='2049057'] Of course he was, but then that was 1982. Signature models weren't exactly all the rage then (though they soon would be). So Fender said to Victor: "hey, we'l make you a cool bass with your name on, and you'll do a few adverts. Are you happy with that?". Did you expect him to say no? [/quote] .....and there was i thinking that Fender put his name on the bass just because they liked the sound of it. Thanks for clearing that up.

I'm sure that when i saw Weather Report in 1982/83 Victor Bailey was playing a plain old Fender Jazz Bass. So there you are, who needs a Victor Bailey signature model anyway?

Is it another Air Guitar?

[quote name='Pete Academy' timestamp='1366115134' post='2048444'] Maybe I'm going crazy? [/quote] The VB a lot different to a 78 Jazz isn't it? I have a 1974 Jazz and wouldn't part with it for a VB. I might swap it for this..............

[quote name='Qlank' timestamp='1365430639' post='2039464'] Got the "British Sound" pedal. Just fantastic. Replaced my VT Bass with it. [/quote] [quote name='Ancient Mariner' timestamp='1365528608' post='2040783'] The American Sound is brilliant for bass. [/quote] Thanks, i'll have a look at both of those. I was so impressed with Analog Chorus and Classic Flanger i'm now waiting for a Joyo Voodoo Octave pedal to be delivered.

[quote name='Pete Academy' timestamp='1366059121' post='2047957'] I'm probably in the wrong thread and will get bollocked, but hey ho. I have an amazing 1978 Jazz, all original with plates and original case and tags. I've suddenly had the urge for a now discontinue Victor Bailey bass. Am I crazy? Anyone got one? [/quote] Do you mean that you are selling the 1978 Jazz to buy a VB?

[quote name='richardjmorgan' timestamp='1365899609' post='2045859'] If there a white one, I could well be all over this. [/quote] Sunburst, Black, Candy Apple Red.

[quote name='Jono Bolton' timestamp='1365882792' post='2045679'] I think there are just two options at the minute, sunburst and trans red with a maple neck [/quote] Sunburst, Black, Candy Apple Red.

My Pawn Shop Bass VI

This is my Basitar build blog: I took a perfectly usable six string electric guitar and removed all the strings. Closing my eyes i (slightly) altered the body shape with my chainsaw to give it a more rounded look. I then removed the control knobs and fitted some custom ones that i found somewhere in my shed. I think they were originally on an old wardrobe. I then filed the nut with an industrial rasp so the strings were within a nadgers doo-dah off the frets which i dressed with floor sanding grade abrasive paper. The fretboard was then liberally oiled with recycled chip oil as i find this helps your fingers stick to the fretboard during those slow and sometimes difficult solos. I'm sure we've all been there. Next the strings. Not sure of the gauges (as they came from the dustbins around the back of Abbey Road studios) but are very thick. That's the tanning studio near me where Terry the Dustman lives above the chip shop, hence my never ending supply of chip oil. Unless of course Terry is evicted. Next my attention was focused on the bridge. I found the ideal bridge on freecycle but unfortunately it was in Bognor. Sadly it was a bridge too far so i settled on a high quality unknown brand custom one of Chinese manufacture. I sourced the pickups from a old guitar that Terry found on his round and despite them being left out in the rain for a few days definitely add that classic 60s vibe. I alway like to add my own stamp on my creations so i made a new scratchplate from an old kitchen cupboard. I think that the white melamine really stands out even if it does have a few tea stains on it. Well that's it really. Only one more thing to do and that's plug it in and give it a strum. Here goes. Oh, it's gone very dark and the lights have all gone out. I think i'll have to give Terry a call and see if he knows an electrician.

[quote name='TheRev' timestamp='1365773094' post='2044296'] This is what you do with one of those: [media]http://youtu.be/985JGeGq_tc[/media] [/quote] Yes Mark Sandman was my inspiration for my Basitar. My next project is to convert a short scale bass into a 2-String Bass. The Sandberg version is rather lovely but i'm looking for 'cheap' rather than quality!

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1365770161' post='2044211'] That would be a definite improvement. [/quote] The only reason i haven't relic'd it yet is that i can't find where to attach the rope to the rear of my Transit Van.

Be fair chaps at least i haven't relic'd it (yet).

[quote name='Clarky' timestamp='1365769636' post='2044196'] He would file down the unused nut slots (as it improves the tone), add a "possibly Gibson" humbucker and slap a coat of bee oil on it (thought - wonder if he is responsible for the devastating decline in the world bee population?) [/quote] Don't laugh but i have actually got a bit (o.k. a lot!!!) of fine tuning to do and filing the nut slots of one of them!