Balcro

[quote name='BigRedX' post='894778' date='Jul 14 2010, 03:25 PM']But then it would no longer be a Thunderbird.[/quote] But it could be Thunderbird Mk111 or Thunderbird 2011. As your picture shows small changes can make a big difference. It wouldn't necessarily mean that you lose the essence of what is a Thunderbird. Balcro.

It may have many plus points, but for me it just had too many problems. I auditioned an Epi Thunderbird Pro just over 4 months ago and I wanted it to work. I knew about the neck-dive and went in expecting it. The problem is the fundamental inbalance is they way it hangs on your body ( I used my own strap). The top horn is so short and faces upward (wrong) that the whole centre of gravity is offset to the player's left side. In addition, the arrangement of where the neck meets the body is offset lengthwise compared with that other manufacturer. The body is biased to length rather than depth. I tried the forearm on the body as per the Entwistle pics; slipped off several times. With the right forearm in place I couldn't reach the first fret! I shortened the strap and lengthened the strap. It didn't work. I hung it to the left and pushed it back to the right (fingers placed over the neck pick-up). Still couldn't get a reasonable fit or balance. I pushed it far to the right and tipped it up. Just managed to reach the first fret with my hand above head height!!. At that point I gave up. The point is you shouldn't have to make these silly positional compromises just to make the instrument vaguely comfortable to hold. It looks great, the finish was excellent, there's nothing wrong with the sound, placement of controls etc,. The ergonomic arrangement As the Americans say, " sucks". Shame. Keep the same overall configuration: make the body a little deeper. Inset the neck deeper into the body and consequently move the bridge closer to the edge of the body. Extend the top horn about 4-5" and point the strap pin at the 9th fret. Simples. Where's my pencil? Balcro.

Hi Clarky, When recently searching out for new strings I found reference to [u]Alloy 52[/u] being "more magnetic" than conventional strings. It could be that the old spare flat was an alloy 52 and the Pyramids were plain stainless or softened with an unknown quantity of nickel? If you cross match any of these to the type of magnet in the pole-pieces, you could have anything between optimum and incompatible. That might account for a difference. Try swapping the "D" to see if there is any difference. Balcro.

Hi there, I'm interested in the DDr and DDR2 memory. Can you post a list or send a pm with what you have. cheers, Balcro.

I had this on my shortlist a few months ago. It has terrific showroom appeal and the finish is very very good. Unfortunately I tried the 'pro after playing a CV60's Jazz and a Schecter of some description. I'd never thought about measuring a bass for length before, but when I put it on (using my own strap) I could barely reach the 1st fret and the headstock was above my head! No amount of adjustment or repositioning would make it work. Shame. Balcro.

Interesting post,as the EDB's don't get much air-time on here. maybe you could check out "*Root*" on the next page of this sub-forum and give him the benefit of your hands-on experience. Balcro

....and a good morning to ya, the morning after the afternoon (groan) before. Really enjoyed my first bash! An excellent community of basschatters. I must have more volume next time. Many thanks to all the organisers for their graft. My faves were Molan's "Performance" bass with the gold hardware and oggys EB-0. Looking forward to the next one. Balcro.

[quote name='*RooT*' post='878694' date='Jun 27 2010, 10:43 AM']Is this bass any good, would it be suitable for a mixture of styles i.e. Metal and funk.... what sort of range is it..... thanks a lot.[/quote] Presumably you're looking at the 2009 model in walnut finish etc,.. I wouldn't have thought with 2 jazz-style pickups it would be a natural for metal, but funk might be OK. Go to thomann.de and find the page for the 5 string version the 555. There's a short sound clip on there (no sound clip for the 550). Try to ignore the low B. Balcro. PS You might also find sound clips on youtube or wikizic.

[quote name='ahpook' post='878442' date='Jun 26 2010, 09:43 PM']01. Essexbasscat 02. Aero , I'll bring:- Status Fretless Neck Jazz /Fender Aerodyne Jazz- David Eden WT800-Eden 210XST and XLT - Eden 115 - H&K BassBase 600 03. Jerry_B - Peavey T-40, MIJ Fender Jazz fretless 04. Stingray5 - Selected basses from my signature pic below; Trace Elliot GP12 SMX 1x15 + 2x10 rig; Boss GT-6B; (donuts...? smile.gif ) 05. Bloodaxe - A couple of Aria SBs, Ashdown Superfly, Epifani UL-110. Possibly a couple of other bits & bobs if I can blag a lift. Oh, and a tenner. 06. silddx - my Warwicks 07. Waynepunkdude - Fender Jazz, VMJ with Wizard 84's, Ampeg SVT 5 Pro, Ampeg 410 and DHA DI/EQ 08. Netballman - Ibanez GWB35 fretless (FOR SALE...), Spector Legend Classic 5, Markbass Jeff Berlin combo 09. Molan - 4 x Alleva Coppolos - KPB4, Signature 4, Ltd 4, Walnut 5, Celinder J update 4, Sadowsky Will Lee, Performance Louis Johnson, TC Electronics RH450 + a couple of Bag End cabs, Maybe more basses if I can fit any in the car, lol 10. Bottle - Stuff in siggie, basically smile.gif. Squier P-Special, EBS rig, GK head, some extra cabs and widdly stuff 11. Fat Rich - Status S2 Classic bolt-on 5, Status Series 1 Fretless 6, Line 6 Studio 110 12. Walman - Wal Pro1/Custom, G&L L2500 US fretted & fretless, Markbass CMS121H, Epifani 1x12 cab, possibly the BOD xT Pro & floorboard & Marshall Superbass 100 13. JackLondon - Simnett MK6, my rig and Boss GT10B, some stuff for sale and some bits for raffle! 14. Currrls - American Fender Jazz, Crafter BA400EQ (FOR SALE!), ehx bass micro synth, ehx small stone, bbe optostomp, behringer BDI21, mxr bass blowtorch, girlfriend 15. ahpook. musicman sabre, a box of pedals and anything else that there's space for in the car. 16. Balcro. Cort GB74. Ashdown 5-15. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. 23. 24. 25.[/quote]

[quote name='DreadAlert' post='875477' date='Jun 23 2010, 02:53 PM']Thanks for that. :) I've heard good things about those bartolini pups in the SR500/600. The EQ is good from what I've heard too..? I really dig the shape and feel of the SR600, aswell as how light it was! I seem to have a love for black bridges. I just love the black matte finish. So am I right in thinking that the SR500 and SR600 are exactly the same except for Body Wood? Thanks.[/quote] I agree. It does look nice in natural. As I said above, I think they're identical apart from the body wood and the hardware cosmetics. I tried an Sr500 some months ago. Amazingly light and easy to handle. Presumably the SR600 will be even lighter. I didn't buy one, but only because it didn't do the jazz-like sound I was looking for. I would guess that the ash body would bring out a slightly cleaner tone to the sound in general and maybe to the leading edge of the sound. Try an Sr500 - widely stocked - and go from there. Balcro.

[quote name='DreadAlert' post='873702' date='Jun 21 2010, 06:11 PM']Hey guys. Been looking at some of Ibanez's Soungear basses. I've come across an SR600 at a store, and I'm not really sure if I should get it over the SR500. I can find barely anything about the SR600 on the internet. What are the differences between the two and which do you prefer if you've tried both? I prefer the looks of the SR600, but I can't compare any sound yet. Thanks. -DreadAlert-[/quote] I think you can have a look at it on Ibanez's American (US) web-site. Go to ibanez.com and select the US "country frame". From what I remember the main difference is the body wood. Ash instead of mahogany. Electronically identical. Balcro. PS. From my checks about 3 months ago, I was under the impression that the SR600 was only ever intended for the North American market. It wasn't listed anywhere near in Europe.

[quote name='escholl' post='869618' date='Jun 17 2010, 04:13 AM']Here's a silly question for when you've fitted them -- do yours fit your bass? Mine are clearly longer than a 34" scale, and would indeed wrap the body of the E string around the tuning peg several times if I put them on. So I haven't. I ordered 34" strings (I think...it said 34" anyways), but I'm just trying to figure out if they've sent me what I actually ordered, or not, or what's gone wrong here. The outer pack says M3075, which are the right ones, but the individual string packets all say 38" scale. Argh. :rolleyes: Just to say, I didn't get them from stringsdirect, so if it is a mistake on the part of the seller, I don't want to inadvertently tarnish their good name. :)[/quote] I've just tried one string ( the '84 for A). Generous length but I would say a perfect fit. Overall length extends 4" beyond the end of the headstock. String winding is perhaps 30mm short of the tuning peg. This would suggest they would do for a 36" scale bass. Lots of excess on the silk so you'll need pliers. Balcro.

[quote name='CraigPlaysBass' post='867814' date='Jun 15 2010, 10:24 AM']Saw the thread so, here you go.... My Ibanez SRX08ltd. Meant to be one of their special edition ones or something (if anyone can shed any more light on that I'd be grateful). I've actually got it up for sale, but only because I prefer my yamaha's p +j pickups.[/quote] Checked these out some months ago. They're basically a 2008 model to the same spec as the SRX360/430 with gold hardware and beautiful body etching. Limited distribution, but I think Nevada Music in Portsmouth were stocking them. Balcro.

Coupla questions! Do you have times for access/ start and finish etc? Do we have access to a number of rooms or will we just be in the hall? Balcro.

Well, now that I've arranged to borrow a trolley it looks like I'll be there too. Hoping to find shadows behind others who feel they're numpties. Should be an experience though. Balcro.

[quote name='escholl' post='868475' date='Jun 15 2010, 09:43 PM']Always good to hear positive things :) Incidentally I've actually just ordered a set for myself, waiting on the post to get them here, what do you think of them? I tried them on a bit of a whim instead of flats, went with mediums but don't really know what to expect.[/quote] I haven't fitted them yet, lots of domestic stuff going on at the moment, but I'll do it soon and mail you back. The bass came fitted with D'addario EXL165's so that will be the comparison. Balcro.

I'd spent days looking for just the strings I think will go best with my new bass. Thought I'd give GHS Brite Flats (ML Medium) a try. Nice tone in youtube video and with just a slight edge to balance the restrained pups. Light and heavies everywhere, except you know who in Germany. Even google proved inadequate. Suppliers either didn't stock them or had the wrong guage. Ok let's try "contact us". Clicked the button at 10.35pm on the 6th. E-mail reply at 10am on the 7th. "We can get them in 5-7 days". Link set up to place an order in the e-commerce part of the web-site. Cool. E-mail confirm arrival of strings. E-mail re postage out first class. Arrived this morning at 11am. That's nine days inclusing the Sunday night and last weekend. Top marks to stringsdirect.co.uk. Balcro.

Hi there, Re-wiring jobs are not for me, but this following link which might prove useful, gives you the schematics for the GB75. - [url="http://www.cortguitars.com/downloads/pdfs/GB75.pdf"]http://www.cortguitars.com/downloads/pdfs/GB75.pdf[/url] Balcro.

[quote name='SignsOfDelirium_bassist' post='867429' date='Jun 14 2010, 08:54 PM']So yes, I wanted to get your advice! Because I know diddly-squat about basses, even less about anything remotely fender related...Basically, there's a few aesthetic requirements, I know what pups/bridge/tuners I want (I was also looking at those warwick just-a-nut I's, the brass ones, they looked pretty cool!)...So basically, I want either a nice Ash body (not sure how much this'd cost me) for a natural finish, or I could settle for a basswood finish an paint it yellow an get all black hardware. I also want a block&bound neck, cos it looks killer! I guess I would prefer a 5string, string it E-C, but I'm going to settle for a 4string for this band, it's all I need after all...It'll take some getting used to again! Thanks for any/all advice![/quote] Another option for you. Check out the pics on this thread - [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=89009"]http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=89009[/url] Also available as a 5 string. It has a bound jazz neck and an ash body with a jazz pick-up configuration (bridge pick-up is switchable). Weighs in the region of 8lbs. New or second-hand. Best prices from new are in France. Balcro.

A couple more pointers here to add to the CV60's Jazz. Appearance wise this might suit - [url="http://www.cortguitars.com/_webapp_2714982/GB75"]http://www.cortguitars.com/_webapp_2714982/GB75[/url] There are still some otherwise identical 4 strings around. Try woodbrass.com in France. Bridge pickup is 3-way switchable, but distribution and easy access for auditioning is limited. See the Gear Porn forum. Also - [url="http://www.dawsons.co.uk/acatalog/Farida_Bass_Guitars.html"]http://www.dawsons.co.uk/acatalog/Farida_Bass_Guitars.html[/url] FJB6 and 20. Let's just say the quality is probably as good as the CV Jazz. Happy hunting. Balcro

[quote name='bubinga5' post='861352' date='Jun 8 2010, 07:07 PM']Just wondering what everyone thought of pink basses...i have the chance to bag a stunning shell pink custom shop jazz with gold hardwear..its a 62, with the most amazing flame maple neck....do you think it may be easy to sell on if i wanted to..Hope Nic doesnt mind me talking about his bass!!! Any thoughts...[/quote] Just had a look at the pics. under the orangey light/colour cast, it doesn't look particularly pink, it just looks really nice. If all the other ingredients are there, i.e '62 custom shop jazz, flame maple neck, go for it. Balcro.

[quote name='urban Bassman' post='856464' date='Jun 3 2010, 07:43 PM']Me too, starting with Jon Hiseman whom I met on a couple of occasions.....a bit tenuous but hey :) here it is [url="http://labs.echonest.com/SixDegrees/?start=jon+hiseman&end=charles+mingus"]http://labs.echonest.com/SixDegrees/?start...=charles+mingus[/url][/quote] Never thought I would link into this thread, but, I've taken stage-side photos of Jon Hiseman and stepped into his dressing room. So it's a 7+ for me too. Balcro.

"Have you ever seen the rain" Creedence Clearwater... Lovely. The feel induces the feeling, if you know what I mean. I started brain wandering while repeating the slow downward passage and found myself playing the melody from the "The Weight" by the Band. Balcro.

[quote name='Bottle' post='847253' date='May 25 2010, 10:09 AM']Cool, thanks Balcro et al Been GAS'ing for a dual pickup bass like that ever since I saw the Sandbergs - this might be a serious contender. Only thing I would like to see different is the MM pickup switch changed to series-parallel (I guess that would be an easy mod though). Cool beans. Off to have a look for Cort dealers in the area, see if I can't snag one somewhere. Ta, Ian[/quote] Hi Bottle, If you use the following link - [url="http://www.cort.kr/english/products/common/view.asp?product_id=74#;"]http://www.cort.kr/english/products/common...product_id=74#;[/url] ...and click on the second button below the picture, you'll get the circuit diagram. It's a start. Balcro.

[quote name='BassBunny' post='846804' date='May 24 2010, 07:46 PM']Tis a GB74 if i'm not mistaken. The most underrated bass on the planet. They make the G&L Tribute Series, Lakland Skyline, some Ibanez and Fender Guitars and I wouldn't mind betting the make the new Musicman series.[/quote] Yup, your dead right. It's a GB74. Your reference to the G&L - hence my comment about seeing that neck elsewhere. First impressions are that it's very versatile. A wide range of tones from modern Jazz, through Precision to Thunderbird; well almost. The mid-boost toggle is really useful. Cort's Korean web-site has one rather poor sound sample. The better ones are to be found on myspace - GB74 or GB75, and there are maybe a few more on wikizic.org Balcro.