dave_bass5

I play with a pick and would say im in the middle. Im not really heavy handed but do dig in a bit at gigs. I have the action on all my basses at 2mm 12th fret/E string. If i cant get that ill probably shim the neck to see if i can get it or send the bass back. I tend to shim my necks so that the action doesn't get any higher past the 12th fret. This works well for me, even though i dont really play up that high (much). I used to hate fret buzz and clank but im starting to live with it. I do all my own set-ups at home and can get quite anal about it, but at gigs i very rarely hear the clank/buzz so i dont worry too much if its there in isolated playing any more, and this helps me achieve the action i like on necks that aren't maybe the best for low action. To me its about feel, and familiarity. While i can play higher it doesn't feel as comfortable up at the dusty end.

I use a Gigskinz 2U gig bag and couldn't be happier. Its not in the position to get knocked about too much but its easier to carry around and looks nicer than having my SA450 just sitting on top of my cab. It seems well made and while not offering the same protection of a SKB its working well. Had it for a couple of years now and use it almost every weekend.

Let me clarify my previous post. As i play the Jazz mainly with the neck soloed a PJ wouldn't be any better than what i have, although would open up more tone options than a P. I've never needed more than one bass. Ive been playing covers in this band for around 7 years and have used everything from a Lakland 55-01, P's (both 4 and 5 string)Jazz 4 and 5), Sub, Ray34 and a few others. I only every use one bass, whatever my new bass is that becomes my gigging bass and i try and sell off the last one i brought. All work with all songs, ranging from rock and roll to present day chart stuff. Even the Sub and Ray34 worked well for the old stuff. I got rid of those because i was struggling with the necks a bit, i prefer the slimmer Jazz necks. The 5 strings were sold because i stopped gigging with a certain band where 5 string helped to play the same songs as my main band but in different keys. The other changes are just me getting bored. I always seem to come back to a P or J though. The Jazz more for the neck and look, the P more for the tone. Having both now means i (hopefully) wont get bored and buy anything else and ill take one or the other to gigs. The Duff McKagan bass (and the Japanese version it was based on) look pretty good, especially with the slim neck but i do like the Reggie H model better. I defiantly wouldn't say no to that one in black and i wish i had seen that 6 months ago.

Yes, a PJ does seem to cover wider tone spectrum. Its funny because i had my DJ5 converted to a PJ last year, as i like the tone of both, but now I realise i like the P tone, and the neck pup Jazz tone so i think im stuck with one or the other.

[quote name='ThomBassmonkey' post='1071287' date='Dec 28 2010, 09:30 PM']Why's that? If someone's had a negative experience of somewhere, other people should know.[/quote] Indeed. Ive posted a couple of times in the past few years about bad experiences with the Gallery (and good ones of course). Has that stopped anyone going to them or stopped people referring to the Gallery as the Mecca for bass players? Nope, its just shown that every shop makes mistakes. The only issue i've had with the BC was when Simone (im assuming it was her, it was before the Bald guy died) told me "XL's are guitar strings and this is a bass shop" That made me laugh, as she has been the one person who hasn't been slagged off from that shop. It does seem like some people like to get on the band wagon though, and the Bass Cellar/Centre are both easy targets, thats why threads like this are so long.

[quote name='markstuk' post='1071238' date='Dec 28 2010, 08:28 PM']As a bass salesman would you ignore people as they came into your shop - preferring to facebook on the computer instead? I suppose you would if you hated money and people? (not you specifically of course).. Mark[/quote] I much prefer to be left alone when i go in to a shop so i can look around without any hassle. If i want some help i can go and ask.

[quote name='Pete Academy' post='1071230' date='Dec 28 2010, 08:23 PM']I've not contributed to this thread before, but as a bass salesman, is this shop as bad as it's really made out? [/quote] Ive had a couple of funny experiences over the years but i have been happy to buy gear from them and the last time i was in there, just under a year ago, the guy couldn't do enough for me, even though he was busy.

Just seen her on The Graham Norton show. Fantastic legs.

[quote name='BurritoBass' post='1070314' date='Dec 27 2010, 05:57 PM']I agree that a different set of strings can make the world of difference. It's the first thing I do these days is take the stock strings off and put some heavy flatwounds on... but that's just my tastes. A decent / different string will make a lot more difference to the tone compared to considering whether a fretboard is made of maple or rosewood. Depending on how great your musical ear is most bass players can't hear anything more than the subtlest of differences (if any) to the tone when comparing fretboards[/quote] Agreed. When i had the 3 MIA's the first two had maple and the third as rosewood. I personally couldn't hear a difference. I didnt A-B them, its just from playing at home and one gig each. I did like the strings on all 3 and they seemed to be the same. I also found that when i had DR Neons on my HW-one it became a different bass. It felt awkward to play and the tone was a bit mellower.

[quote name='Jspindle' post='1070156' date='Dec 27 2010, 02:57 PM']I've been doing some research on youtube. As good as the CV Jazz is, I most definitely prefer the HW-one. Amazing tone! And I think it would cut through well in the heavier parts of the music that I want to make. Unfortunately the HW-one is too expensive for me..... it'd be great if I could find a similar bass with that kind of tone and growl. It's the best so far though..... and if I can't find an alternative, then I'd just consider getting it anyway (once I've got a bit more money).[/quote] I think your right about all that. The CVJ is more mellow, although it does cut through enough for me, just not as much as the HW. I really dont have enough experience with Jazz basses to say what else will get you the tone. Certainly both my HW1 and HW-0ne have had this tone, and my CV Jazz and DJ5 didnt. Im not sure why. I also had a MIM 70's classic and 3 2008 MIA Jazz basses this year but still preferred the HW-one tone. Mine does have a set of Wizard 74's in it but i also had these in the CV Jazz and the tone was still not the same.

[quote name='Jspindle' post='1069671' date='Dec 26 2010, 04:46 PM']Hello! I am a new member of this site.... and looking for some advice.[/quote] If on a budget you cant really go wrong with a Squier CV Jazz. Saying that my HW-one cuts through a lot more. To my ears the CV Jazz is warm and deep, whereas my HW-one is more growly and defined. Both sound like a Jazz though and both have had exactly the same set of pups on them so its more just the pups. I will add that since i started using my BDDI both have really opened up tone wise. I disagree with the post above about the strings. I love Fender strings and the stock strings sound find, unless you dont like them of course. Each to his/her own but they are not crap stings in general (and although they arent D'Addario's they are made in the same factory). Could you fill in some location details in your profile. It might help if you do go in to the classified section, plus, if your close by your welcome to come and have a play on mine. I might even sell it. Cheers.

I had one of the original HW-1 Jazz bases sand although hi fell out with Jazz basses about a year after getting it i recently got one of the newer HW-one Jazz basses and love it. The HW1 and HW-One are different. The HW-one is the post 2006 model, with the BAII and graphite reinforced necks, plus the grease bucket tone circuit. There is talk over on TB about the HW-one being discontinued but some people seem to think its more the fact that Fender make these in large batches and then wait for supplies to go down before making any more. No idea if thats true. Whatever, these are (IMO) fantastic basses. I love the finish although they do relic very quickly IME. Here are mine (posting because im bored ) My original HW1. I upgraded the bridge to a BAII. My Much loved my sorely missed HW-one P (not convinced about the tort on this). I really do want to get another next year. And my current HW-one.

[quote name='Lord Sausage' post='1067815' date='Dec 23 2010, 02:36 PM']I recently found all the music i recorded at music college back in the 1990's. Unfortunately its all on DAT. I'm looking to buy a DAt player (possibly portable) on the cheap. Anyone got one or know where to get one.[/quote] Ive got a old Sony portable DAT recorder. If i can find the PSU for it your welcome to borrow i for a while. I know it definitely doesn't work without the PSU as the battery gave up years ago. Ill have a look over the next few days and let you know what the score is.

I think mine is around 9lbs. Its very slightly heavier than my CVP and thats 8.5lbs.

[quote name='redstriper' post='1067266' date='Dec 22 2010, 10:00 PM']Dave, I just read your thread about the MIA jazz bass problems and it put me right off buying one, (not that I can really afford one anyway). I'm looking for a new jazz bass to replace my old heavy one that has been my only bass for 30 years. I want it to be as light as possible, with thin frets, low action and fast rosewood board. I'm not looking for growl or zing, just smooth deep bass from the neck pup which is the only one I normally use. I don't mind where it was made and the cheaper the better. From what you have said, it sounds like the Squier CV might be my best bet, or possibly the MIM classic 60s. Would you agree ? Steve.[/quote] That sounds exactly like the CV Jazz.

[quote name='redstriper' post='1067077' date='Dec 22 2010, 06:55 PM']What was wrong with the 4 jazzes that you sent back and is the Squier better than all of them and the HW One even better again ?[/quote] The Squier is a lovely bass but it doesn't have the growl ive been looking for since i got rid of my HW1. I thought i could get it with a pup change but that didnt work. So i went looking fora bass with a different tone, but still a Jazz. The first was the 70s classic. It had a raised 11th fret. It was pretty bad. I also didnt get on with the neck but thats not why i sent it back. The 3 MIA had QC issues (that no other basses ive owned have had), including gaps under some of the frets. [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=97047&hl="]http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=97047&hl=[/url][url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=97047&hl="]PUP issues[/url] So,knowing that i liked, or rather missed the HW1 tone the obvious choice was a new HW-one. Even that has a raised fret but its so far up the neck that its not a issue for me. It does have that lovely growl though. The Squier CVP was supposed to be a cheap way for me ot get to grips with a P neck but its such a nice bass that im using it as my main bass on some gigs. Compared to some of the higher end bases ive had over the past few years im a lot happier with the ones i now have, and they are all a lot cheaper.

Yeah, i posted that clip a while ago. Good to see it again though. At least its not "that" drummer vid again ;-)

Its just dawned on me that i started this year (NYE gig) playing my old and hardly ever used HW-1 Jazz, mainly because i didn't like any of my other basses at the time (including my Lakalnd DJ5 PJ). This bass hadn't been used for a few years as i didnt "think" i liked it but couldn't be bothered to sell it. I got rid of it not long afterwards for a Sub, then sold it, I got a Lakland Duck Dunn then sold it (a bit too quickly IMO), a SBMM Ray34 then sold it, tried to get a MIA Jazz (had 3 sent 3 back), had a MIM 70's Jazz, sent it back, got a Squier CV Jazz and was happy with that for a while but still ended up buying a HW-one Jazz and i love it. I've also got a CV P and love that just as much and plan on alternating between the two next year when the mood takes me. Ill be using the HW-one at this years NYE gig. Funny old world. I would never had thought i would buy a Jazz again after the DJ5. I guess it just shows its not the bass, but the person, mood, time of the month, GAS etc that dictates these things. Im actually going out of this year happy in the fact that i dont really want anything esle at the moment, at least not bass wise. 2011 will be the year i probably give up my MB SA450 and get something smaller like a TC head. I know there are a few for sale but im skint at the moment and im starting to come to my senses about the difference between "want" and need". I only need one bass, im happy that i now have a good P and a good Jazz, plus i still have the CVJ that i want to get de fretted at some point. I do know i need a new amp head thats smaller than my SA450, but ill probably not make a move on that until i do actually need it (that will be when i get some dep work with my other band, who knows when that will be) or can afford it. Anyway, enough of my ramblings, have a happy Christmas all.

Cheers Guys. JLP. Thanks for that link. I've been looking at some of those and they look ideal. Mog. Gaffa tape isnt really the solution as we tend to re direct the lights on to the dance floor when we arent playing so i think Gaffa might be a bit restricting, depending on the angle etc. Happy Jack. Our new stands dont have any holes in them. We thought about drilling some but its all out of my hands and the guy who looks after them will never get around to it. He cant even re string his guitar before he gets to a gig. But thats another thread all together.

We are about to get this LED PAR can to mount on to the leg of a speaker stand. This will mean we dont need it sitting on the stage. [url="http://www.thomann.de/gb/stairville_led_par_64_10_mm_black_rgb.htm"]LED Par can at Thomanns[/url] We had two floor standing versions but just lost one and cant get another at the same price. The idea is we will attach it to one of the floor legs pointing up at us. I cant get to measure the stands diameter until the next gig (NYE) and thats when we need it. I do know the shaft is 40mm and i have a feeling the legs are the same. I know we need a G clamp of some sort but has any one got any recommendations or advice. I guess something that will fit from 30mm -50mm would be ideal. cheers.

[quote name='greyparrot' post='1060434' date='Dec 16 2010, 11:39 AM']Ps i know my speling is bad, i cant see where the spell check is on here :-([/quote] Your spelling is good enough, but if you right click in the text box you "should" get the option to spell check, depending on what browser you are using.

[quote name='greyparrot' post='1058832' date='Dec 14 2010, 06:56 PM']Scary but i nailed the awesome tone of the bongo. hope you like this close up of me playing to suspitious minds (live version) i re did this so the bass is well, almost too clear ;-O[/quote] Nice playing (as always). I prefer the tone in this clip over the last one, even though that was great. Did you use a different set up this time or is it just more upfront?

Im pretty sure i read that the fans are the same type you get inside a PC so it shouldn't be too hard to replace one unless the controller is faulty. For what its worth ive gigged my SA450 most weekends on 2 hours + gigs and it gets warm but its never shut down.

OBBM could probably make you one up. he has done two for my AKG system.