dave_bass5

Just bringing this thread back to life as ive got a new HW-one and seem to have the same issue. No idea whats going on as the CV Jazz seem ok now. Maybe its the strings after all. I got the HW on friday and it sounded fine at home but at the gig notes on the D string were very faint. I put it down to the slightly boomy room and while it was a pain i figured it was a one off. This was with the stock Fender strings so again, i figure dit could be a bad string. At home yesterday i used the input meter check again and i found i could get it to peak with all strings other than the D. In fact the G was very loud. So ive got some new strings on their way but it seems funny that im having this issue again. Ive gone through 3 MIA's this month and none of them had this issue so i dont think its anything im doing wrong with my EQ.

Ill also vote for a CV, seeing as i own one. I never felt the VM looked as nice as the CV, and i much prefer to have a better bridge and smaller frets. The neck on my CV Jazz is one of the best (or most comfortable) ive ever played. Build quality is better than three MIA jazz basses i had during August.

I would also suggest getting them on line. Stringsdierct are the place i use and the strings normally come next day. Saying that, i get the feeling that while you may be able to re string them you may also need to do a set up. Especially if you get strings that are a different tension or gauge. In this case i would go to the Gallery (call them first though) and get them to do a basic setup at the same time as they put the new strings on. Evne if you get the strings on line it might be worth getting a set up done if this is the first time you've changed strings on it. You might end up with a much nicer playing bass. IMHO of course.

I wish they had put a cab sim bypass on the VTBass like they did with the second gen pedals.

They are a good option but i still find a shaped gig bag to be easier to travel with on the tubes/busses as i can put it between my legs when seated. I was very tempted to get the SKB one over the Gator. I went for the Gator as it has a full length shoulder strap rather than back pack type straps that i never use. unfortunately its a bit impractical to carry wit hot over one shoulder. I look forward to your views on the SKB.

[quote name='lowdown' post='938316' date='Aug 27 2010, 06:08 PM']Just been having a listen on you tube to some Jimmy Nail... and he has down some good stuff. Garry[/quote] Yeah, i liked the stuff he did. I also like his vocals on The flame still burns in Still crazy, very moving.

As above.

That's a good solution for monitoring but I would hate to have my cab up that high as I need to run it loud enough to get out in to the audience. I think I would go deaf ifnihas it blasting in my ear at that volume.

I had simms make the one on my old DJ5 and very nice it was to. I did get a quote from them to make me a MIA one but they wanted £45. I felt that was a bit much so got mine from WD music for £15. I do have a HW one specific coming from WDM for £19. The MIA one fits but its out very slightly by the control plate. Michael, i would be quite happy with the white one on mine, and will probably swap them around when the mood takes me but for now i think im trying to re create the look i had with my DJ5. I like the black mad max sort of look and the flat black finish makes it look more rugged IMO. Ive been messing about a bit more with the set up and while it plays well i still cant get rid of the severe fret buzz at the body end. The last two frets are fine but its the two before them, on all strings that the problem. Still, i wont be playing any of those notes so ill live with it for now and maybe get a pro set up done at some point. It might be raised frets or something to do with the shim.

Funny enough so am i. when i put the white PG back on the black MIA i felt it looked quite nice. The white PG that came on the HW seems to be a slightly off white and looks nicer than the normal shiny white PGs that come on most basses IMO.

Cheers Gareth. A MIA in the future is not out of the question, i really loved the look of the 3TSB/maple and want one again but for now, i have a good workhorse bass and money left over to put towards a Canon 60D ;-)

Right'o. I've managed to get the neck pretty flat and have a nice low action. There is quite a bit of fret buzz up at the last few frets (body end) but as i have no right being there ill leave it as it is. I also shimmed the neck. I intend to put a set of Fender 8250's on and the E has a tapper. The saddle is pretty close to as low as it will go already so i guess i would have to do this anyway. I also like to see an even string height around the 12th fret so shimming works well. Sooo, im happy for now. The neck pup is ever so slightly out but thats cool, its much better than the MIA's. First gig tomorrow and im quite looking forward to it. I think ill put the Wizards in during the week but for now ill leave the stock pups in. Its funny how each jazz bass sounds quite a bit different form the others. I would say this i a bit closer to my DJ5 than the MIA but that could well be down to the stings. Ive settled on a black PG, mainly because it fits better than the tort but thought i would post a shot of each. The PG is a MIA but i have a proper HW-one PG on its way. Cheers. And finally........

I must admit I love that version no have the album but haven't listened to it for years. I never realised it was guy playing though, I'll have to dig it out.

Well I think I have it sussed. I took the pick guard off and used a proper Allen key. Problem solved for now. Seems like the tool wasn't going in properly. The big issue still remains, what pick guard to put on. Black looks great but so does the tort off my CVJ. I'll up some pics of each later. I'm just waiting for the neck to settle down before I put a PG on.

IME you could do worse than to get a Behringer BDI21 to start with if your not 100% These cost around £25 and by all accounts sound pretty similar. Ive had one for a few years now but have only just started using it properly. I had a VT bass but felt it was a bit more than i needed and didn't really want an all out Ampeg tone.

Well, i guess i spoke to soon. Ive tried to adjust the trussrod and i cant. Using the tool that came with the bass its slipping in the nut. Im going to try a better allen key when i get home but im a bit worried about this. I would prefer to fix this myself rather than send the bass back. Im sure i can. My main worry is stripping the nut and not being able to do any adjustments. Im going to try and find a new trussrod nut, just in case i mess this one up. Ive seen the sticky about fixing a maxed out truss rod so might give that ago, the only problem is i dont have many tools so cant alter any nuts i already have. Anyone know the dimensions of a nut that will fit?

[quote name='TommyK' post='935972' date='Aug 25 2010, 02:05 PM']Lets get Retarded/Started - Blackeyed peas. I reckon it is near perfect, Bass wise. I absolutely love playing along to it. Just wish i could get my band to be brave enough to have a bash at it!![/quote] Same here. Im always playing this bass line at sound checks and while the drummer joins in the other two dont really want to know. We will never play it live. Real shame.

[quote name='Linus27' post='938020' date='Aug 27 2010, 12:39 PM']I've gone back to a Precision after all these years and loving it. I also play my Stingray lots. In fact the only Jazz I have is being made a fretless [/quote] I will definitely go back to P next year but not sure if i will give up the Jazz. The plan has always been to get a good jazz with a nice neck, and hang on to the neck for any other basses that come along. This is what i did before. Hopefully ill get a Allparts P body after Christmas and take my time to put a P together. A Fralin or thumper will be on the cards, as will a Gotoh 201 i expect. All in it should cost less than £400. I can then use my CV Jazz neck (probably wont get a de fret now) to go on the HW-one jazz. Any news on your neck?

Pics tonight. ill take a couple as it came but hoping my black PG will fit so ill get some of those as well. I might even put a tort on it if ti fits. I had one of these on my old black HW-one P and it looked pretty good. I do think this bass looks more robust than the MIA. The lack of gloss might help but ti looks very road worthy. Jazz basses eh? who'd have thought i would go back to these after the past few years of not liking them. Then again, im already thinking of a P body for this neck, but thats next year sometime. Oh, and another coincidence. I was also using my Behringer BDI21 last NYE. After not using ti for a while and getting a Sadowsky DI recently im now getting rid of that and going back to the BD21 (hopefully a BDDI). so, in effect i had my ideal tone last NYE and its taken me money and 7 months to realise that.

Well it looks like this saga might be coming to a close. The Highway-one just turned up and i must say its seems much better put together. Pups are where they should be, routing if fine, no gaps under any frets and it seems a bit lighter than the MIA (i will weigh it on our postage scales today, just for reference). The neck pocket is also spot no but so were the MIA's. The finish if good although there are one or two very, very light surface scratches. Im not in the slightest bothered about this as after the first gig im sure it will have a few more. I loved the shiny finish on the MIA but i do like this flat back finish as well. It looks very rock and roll. Ive not plugged it in yet, and the action is a bit high due partly to too much relief but thats all easily sorted. So, its been a trying 4 weeks but i think i got there. And considering my original budget was £500 im very happy to have only just gone over that, rather than double it. This all started because i was a bit unhappy with my CVJ and wanted a MIM 70's classic, mainly for the blocked neck, but due to these MIA issues ive been forced to play it more and im back in love with it, although the HW is going to be my main bass from now on (fingers crossed) Cheers for reading and letting me share my experience. Oh, and a big thumbs up to Reidys (especially John and Paul), the shop thats been dealing with all this. These guys have had to put up with me sending 3 MIA's back and not once did they try and get out of it, they have paid all the postage both ways and been very helpful. I will definitely use them again and will be my first port of call for my next bass. Funny thing. I started this year playing my vastly under used HW1, then got rid of it and had my first experience with a MM (Sub, and then Ray34), first time with a maple necked Jazz but i expect ill go out playing a HW-one (i know, there is still time to go through a few more basses before NYE)

Thanks very much for that explanation. It does help but it also makes me realise how much more is involved. I think ill wait a while before doing anything now. I do have an ohm meter so when i open the bass up ill have a check, just so i know whats what. In general i do find that my tone knobs dont do a great deal until almost off, especially on Fender basses but then again, i hardly use the tone knob and when i do its more or less turned all the way off anyway so im sure it wont matter.

[quote name='ikay' post='937381' date='Aug 26 2010, 06:07 PM']Orange drop is fine as is CTS 250k pot but the one in your link is 'audio taper' whereas 'linear taper' is more normal for tone (audo taper for vol). I'm not sure that it makes that much difference but some more info on audio/linear tapers here - [url="http://music-electronics-forum.com/t1049/"]http://music-electronics-forum.com/t1049/[/url][/quote] Thanks for the link. Ill have a proper read of it later but i must admit im confused. I read quite a few threads on Talkbass where everyone agreed a audio taper is standard for a jazz bass tone control. Im in no position to argue with anyone but i think i need to look in to this a bit more first. It does seem like you can use either. This thread sounds quite interesting as well. [url="http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=671456&highlight=pot+shootout"]Tone pot shoot out.[/url]

Cheers guys. I will definitely give the bass a go first. I get it tomorrow and have gigs tomorrow and sat so i have no choice. Ive not actually heard one yet, my old HW1 didnt have this but i did like the way it goes when the tone is all the way off. Saying that, i hardly use the tone knob anyway so maybe it wont be a problem. As i said, ive never had ot do anything like this before so can you check this is the right cap. They also have the ceramic one. [url="http://www.wdmusic.co.uk/product/Sprague_%27Orange_Drop%27_0.047_Capacitor_.047CAP-OD"]Orange Drop[/url] Also, it might be easier if i replaced the tone pot. That way its less messy. Anyone know if this is ok? [url="http://www.wdmusic.co.uk/product/Premium_250k_Solid_Shaft_Pot_10%25_Tolerance_CTS250SS"]CTS pot[/url] Thanks again for any help.