dave_bass5

[quote name='Musicman20' post='902583' date='Jul 22 2010, 11:49 PM']Ah yes, I agree, always best to check. Its definitely one of the minor gripes Ive seen.If you notice the length of the other frets, they are all even, and the slight 'filler' is not as packed on that fret.[/quote] Yeah, and i took a straight edge to them and they are all level. I wonder how hard it will be to fill the gaps. Probably not worth me messing with it just yet though.

[quote name='Musicman20' post='902563' date='Jul 22 2010, 11:36 PM']Dave Ive checked on this issue before, both rosewood AND maple boards. Ive seen it on Fenders of all ages, and as you can see on your bass, its actually just the filler at that end that isnt 'as full' as the other ones. As much as I moan about QC, Ive seen this on a hell of a lot of basses (even non-Fender) and I came to conclusion as long as the neck feels great and the frets are level and smooth, then Im ok with it. Its one thing I wont actually get too beat up about as its literally just a case of not as much filler at the bottom of the fret.[/quote] Cheers Gareth. yes, its a minor issue and while ill see if i can get something out of the retailer ill not be sending it back. The main reason i started this thread was to see how common it was. I almost got a Sandberg a few years ago but it had loads of frets with gaps. I was told the neck was a bit twisted. I was just worried that this might be the cause of my problem but the neck looks fine.

Cheers Rich. Well i do have some Chromes that will go on at some point, but not just yet. Im happy with the tone. And once i get the Sadowsky pre going im sure i wont notice any difference, just a great tone. The bass is lovely but over the past hour ive noticed two frets have a small gap under them. It seems its where the slot has been cut a bit too long. Not a big deal but ill see what the retailer says tomorrow. Ive already got a thread going about them here [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=96087&pid=902458&st=0&#entry902458"]QC issues[/url] Im also finding the fret ends are rubbing the base of my fretting finger but thats probably because of bad technique and being used to the vintage frets no the CVJ. I think if this si all that wrong with it then ill keep it. its always a gamble when ordering on line and i really do need this bass so i dont want to send yet another one back. I've already sent two basses back this week. Ive got a black pickguard coming, once thats on ill post some pics. No point posting just stock ones.

[quote name='ThomBassmonkey' post='902496' date='Jul 22 2010, 11:02 PM']Isn't maple a soft wood? Hence why you don't see maple fretlesses very often.[/quote] You could be right. Maybe its because its got a gloss coating that's makeing it feel harder. Or maybe its just me being silly :-)

[quote name='Clarky' post='902453' date='Jul 22 2010, 10:35 PM']Aha (said Alan Partridge). I misunderstood your OP and assumed you could see daylight between the frets and the board! The pics actually don't look so bad. The frets are seated properly and its just the holes, as walbassist, said that are drilled a little too deep. Tougher call that - probably easier to keep the bass, if it plays well, although if you can get the retiler to pay the Gallery to put a little filler in each gap to tidy it up it would be the best result.[/quote] Yeah, sorry i should have posted the pics to start with. Im might try and get a discount off the cost, that would then go towards getting the Gallery to fix it i guess. I'll let you know what they say tomorrow. Ive emailed the MD of the company as he has been helping me out with the order so im sure ill get a good result. End of the day, it plays so well i really dont want to risk getting one that has different issues.

[quote name='walbassist' post='902444' date='Jul 22 2010, 10:30 PM']It's just that the slots were cut too deep for the fret; a not uncommon problem on a mass produced instrument. If you like the bass, it plays well, and the frets are seated properly, I'd just fill the holes (or ask the seller to do it for you at no cost to you) and forget about it...[/quote] Yeah, im inclined to go this route. I did get it on line so it would involve me sending it back (at their cost of course) to be rectified. If it doesn't cause a playability issue im probably happy to live with it but i have emailed the retailer with the pics and ill see what they say. They are a great company to deal with though so i dont see any real problems if i wanted to send it back.

Cheers Clarky. Yeah poor QC no doubt. I still dont think it will affect playability though but who knows what might happen a few months down the line. It looks to me like the grooves are cut too deep rather than the frets sitting proud. I think i will email the pics to the retailer and see what they say. I think they will be cool about me swapping it over but i know they dont have any in stock. These are the offending frets (only 2) [attachment=54843:Thu_22_J...010_2088.jpg] [attachment=54844:Thu_22_J...010_2087.jpg]

Ive just got a new MIA jazz and it plays really well.Everything about it seems spot on. The only issue i can find is a few of the upper frets have a slight gap underneath them. They dont seem raised as im not getting any fret buzz. Should i be worried? Im inclined to just live with it as its not affecting playability and i could end up with a bass thats got more faults. Cheers.

Just a quick update. My new MIA has arrived and ive had a quick play. The bass is very well set up. Very low action. I'll probably need to put a bit of relief in the neck, just to stop some buzzing down at the nut end but other thna that, perfect. The neck feels very fast. it seems a bit strange having a harder surface to fret on (or is that my imagination?) but im sure after 30mins or so ill get used to it. Tone wise i feel its a bit thinner than the RW was, but this is really just from memory. Certainly, i cant hear anything that cant be EQ'ed and it does seem to have a clearer tone. Not sure how this will translate on stage at gigs but im confident it will make hearing myself a bit easier. I expect ill try and tame the top end and try and get back to the warmer tone i had before but im hoping ill get a nice middle ground. So thanks for all the relies, they really helped prepare me, made me a bit worried, and a bit excited. Job done. look out for it in the classifieds around Christmas time lol.

[quote name='jakowelshy' post='901641' date='Jul 22 2010, 09:32 AM']yh it is, shame. thanks for the heads up though[/quote] No problem. To be honest i feel its almost complete as it is so not really worth spending too much on as there is no need IMHO. Good luck with the search.

[quote name='Smash' post='900654' date='Jul 21 2010, 12:45 AM']Ok I now have it, it took a while to get a note out of the headphones with all leads plugged into the relevant ports. My passive bass seems very low output and using the free lead amp (via download) I had to turn the gain and volume up to 9 each, possibly an active bass may suit better. It works as it should now and seems good fun to play with, the tuner and metronome are handy features as with the preset function. I just need to download the next stage which is a hard one as I want the bass amp and chorus but may in future want the other pedals but also I have an ipad and would like to have the same program for that but wish not to pay the full amount twice. But all in all it's good, more of a handy ideas pad but the recording feature is the big thing that is missing.[/quote] Ive not used an ipad so it may be different but i can share all my apps with my son by just authorising his ipod touch to use my account. If you own both devices then i cant see a problem. Not sure if thats legal or not but it works ok. Whats the latency like? Im looking to get one soon but still cant decide if its going to be better than my Korg Pandora for messing about.

There is a Black Ray34 on here going for around £400 ono that already has a Nordy MM4.2 in it. Probably a bit more than the budget allows though.

When i sold my JV P bass to the bass centre a few years ago all the hardware had bee updated to gold Schaller hardware (well it was the 80's when i did it). The pup had been changed as well. They told me its the neck thats the important bit.

Cheers for the offer John. As it happens we are playing a wedding in Kent on sat, but I'll have my new jazz by then (as long as there isn't any faults with it) so the worst thing I could do would be to play something better.

[quote name='Mr Fudge' post='900874' date='Jul 21 2010, 12:26 PM']I have both and love both equally. My maple seems a bit zingier and has a better slap tone. Both have wizzard pups but the RW is string through. There are tonal differences which I have put down perhaps more to the high density top feeding Gotoh bridge on the maple. I don't know why but the strings on my maple seem to need changing more often. [/quote] I also have a set of Wizard 74's that i may try in the Jazz at some point. As ill be selling the CVJ anyway i might put it back to stock and keep the Wizards. I do like the stock USA pups though. Even the small playing time i had last night with the black MIA it sounded very full and nicer than the CVJ ever did, Wizards or not.

[quote name='JTUK' post='900856' date='Jul 21 2010, 12:04 PM']hmmm ...massive difference for me with my 2... Same pre, different pups. RW is woodier and has a great spike, IMO..and if ever something is going to make you change strings often, it is this bass...[/quote] Plus point for maple then. This appeals to me. Ive always had this feeling that note wise i dont have quite the definition i would like, especially after a few gigs with the same strings. I do like a woody tone sometimes but my thinking is a bit more attack would certainly come in handy. [quote name='JTUK' post='900856' date='Jul 21 2010, 12:04 PM']Maple... this bass underpins anything..but again, when it needs to jump out the mix for a little flashy type fill..this really jumps. There is no way you will not hear it.[/quote] Im hoping this will work for me. I dont do anything flash and dont slap but its nice to know i can get a bit more help cutting through the mix if i need it. I do find some higher notes get lost a bit on my CVJ. [quote name='JTUK' post='900856' date='Jul 21 2010, 12:04 PM']If I was buying again... hmm...I would probably go for Sunburst, RW with blocks, if passive, for the woodier sound. Thankfully, I am so pleased with the sound, I will not have this decision. Comestically, I always favoured maple...but a block and bound RW would probably swing it.[/quote] All my recent (past 5 years) basses have been RW and while i have read about the differences, its not something i have ever worried about when buying a bass before. The basses i've liked just seem to come with RW and i like the look of them. If i was buying a P i would definitely get a Black and maple, without a second thought. Block and RW would also be my ideal look. Thats why i originally went for the 70's classic. Ive always liked the look of maple but have been too lazy to try it. Now ive found a bass that im happy playing now is a good time to see what maple can offer me (as well as my first 3TSB). End of the day, its going to sound like a Jazz and thats all i ask.

Thanks again all. I think ive made the right choice. After all, its still a jazz and thats the tone im after.

Cheers guys. Some good replies, and i found gjones's link very interesting, but also a bit worrying. I played a RW Jazz today (its going back for the maple version) and loved the tone, it was brighter, had more punch and depth than my CVJ ever did. But i normally find my tone gets a bit woolly as the strings get older. Im wondering/hoping a maple FB will keep the upper mids a bit longer, but also provide a bit more note definition. I play with a pick around 99% of the time so i get a lot of cut through anyway. I can see that a lot of other factors effect the tone, and its been mentioned that a string or pup change can be just as, or more dramatic so maybe ill need to change string bran if its too much of an increase in top end. Neil. Thats the one im getting. Its my first Sunburst and i really like how its not too bright and yellowy.

Ive never played one before but i have always fancied one so i have a MIA 2009 Fender standard on its way. I've read a lot about the tone differences between a RW and maple FB but will it really make that much of a difference? I play all sorts of music, Motown, Stones etc up to present day stuff. Ive found that in the past my basses have sounded warm, with a nice low end but maybe a bit wooly sometimes. All have been RW. Now the Maple FB is supposed to have a bit more bite and attack but im wondering how much and if i can EQ it out to some extent when i need a warm, mellow tone. Or is the difference really not so noticeable? Probably silly questions but i thought i might as well ask. Cheers.

The first time i ever heard fo Lakland was when i was out shopping in the Bass Centre for a 5 string about 6 years ago. They had 7 55-01's. All black but with maple or RW fingerboards. I played every one and the were all spot on, absolutely no difference other than a slightly brighter tone on the Maple ones. It does seem like Laklands Qc has gone done recently, as Gareth said. Out of all the 5 strings they had, and money was not a real issue that day, i got a 55-01 with RW neck. Took it of to the gig the very next day. It was so easy to play and sounded fantastic. About 4 or 5 months later i did feel it was a bit flat sounding so i put a better pre amp in. It didnt make much difference to my ears so i would say its the pups that are the weak point. But they are still very usable. I guess i had it for about 2 years before i sold it. I did around 60 gigs with it and it never let me down. Like the others, i say go and get one, you wont be disappointed.

[quote name='EssentialTension' post='899723' date='Jul 20 2010, 09:17 AM']All the evidence says D'Addario now.[/quote] Yeah, but not XLs though. This is where the confusion crept in.

[quote name='EssentialTension' post='899613' date='Jul 20 2010, 12:01 AM']I thought mine were D'Addario XLs but I've read that D'Addario are now making Fender's strings which might completely explain why they are D'Addarios on a Squier.[/quote] Yeah, thats what i read. I think in the beginning it wasn't clear and people were basing it on the coloured ball ends.

Can anyone confirm the stock strings are XL's? I know they look like them but there is a lot fo talk about this on TB and the general feeling is they are Fenders. To my fingers they didnt feel like XLs but there are also a gauge down from what im used to so maybe that was it. For what its worth my MIA jazz should be here tomorrow and im really looking forward to comparing it to my CVJ.

Funny enough i expect to be selling both my CV Jazz and Sadowsky DI soon if all goes to plan. Not for a couple of weeks though.

Cheers Peter. Glad its taking off. I must admit i haven't got around to getting a iRig yet but its on my list of things to buy. I could have really done with it at the weekend as we had a lot of time sitting around between sets and we decided to work on some new songs. I had to play with my ear stuck to my bass.