Doctor J

When I got my first Bacchus, an oil finished Standard 5 model, I was stunned by how well it projected sound unplugged. I've picked up a few more Bacchus' (Bacchii?) since, a mix of nitro or oil finished guitars and basses, and to my ears at least they definitely have something extra compared to a lot of the more established and popular brands I've owned. That being said, it's not just the lack of a poly coat which shapes the tone of an instrument, everything has an influence but it is funny when people bang on about maple fretboard vs rosewood fretboard that the effect of the thick poly coating on the maple is rarely taken into consideration. And then there's graphite... If you think of the sound of a P bass and the sound of a Stingray though, can you hear the character of the fretboard wood or do you hear the pickup? And I'd really like to meet the man who can hear the difference between a wooden pickup cover and a plastic one.

Now - football on Five live Next - Atheist's new album Jupiter

Really nice work there, looks very nicely put together!

I'm fortunate in that I couldn't be arsed about pedals or effects and my old ABM head works and, as long as it does, I won't be investigating potential ampage. I've got an ABM 2x10 and 1x15 which I can't see me ever getting rid of so I don't share your pain on a lot of this stuff. On the bass side, things are different. I want a BB2024X and a Wal MkII and I justify this to myself because they're not similar to stuff I already have. Though I have nine basses now, since I picked up the SR1300PM last week, I have no problem adding these two beauties to the family... it won't happen until I magic up some money, though, so that's how I control GAS. Prior to getting the SR, it had been 17 months since I bought or sold a bass. Good luck holding out for a year, it's a noble pursuit, but as long as you look at FS sections you'll find it hard. I pretty much stopped looking ad the FS sections and gumtree and the likes. It was when I did that I saw the SR and my resolve crumbled

The Lomenzo Yamaha is quite tasty, wish they'd put that into production

I expect it'll go for a hell of a lot more. Given that he died in '65, that's a hell of a lot of wear for five years, unless someone else has been playing it all this time.

Nice bass. Very 80's... I mean that in a good way

[quote name='warwickhunt' post='1017998' date='Nov 9 2010, 07:19 PM']As to what to listen to; if you like your pop rock a bit rawer,[/quote] Yes I do. [quote name='warwickhunt' post='1017998' date='Nov 9 2010, 07:19 PM']I'd suggest the first album (the 77 self titled album not the 90's one) or for the definitive Cheap Trick try 'In Color' or 'Heaven Tonight'. I'm sure that you could get that pairing of albums on a nice price deal in HMV.[/quote] Nice one. I will pick that up at some point.

[quote name='risingson' post='1017878' date='Nov 9 2010, 05:56 PM']I think most jazz funk is pretty awful, minus a lot of Herbie Hancock and maybe a few others. I love playing playing funk, but the term itself is a buzzword amongst musicians and particularly bass players, most likely because most funk tunes have a prominent bass line and drum part. Realistically I find the fusion of jazz and funk most of the time pretty annoying. Just my 2p though.[/quote] This. To me it lacks testosterone, no balls, no... oooomph. It's like plain wallpaper. It's takes the blandest parts of both genres and mixes it together to get something... bland. It's not crotch-thrusting enough to really be good funk and it doesn't have the edge that is great jazz. So that's a no from me then.

Interesting. Looks good, though I wouldn't be a Bongo fan in any way. Just make sure there are no sharp edges, cut yourself on that and you'll be getting tetanus shots for months

I've never really gotten into them but, to be honest, I haven't tried too hard. As someone who can't get enough classic rock these days, where should I start with these guys?

I believe the Japanese version doesn't have the 70's bridge pickup placement, though it does have US Vintage pickups IIRC.

I'm not one to gloat, but thanks anyway Very sound of him to mail you with the answer, it must be said.

[quote name='paul h' post='1017522' date='Nov 9 2010, 01:52 PM']All good salient points but I still need an answer! Does your bass/sound affect your feel? Apparently not. Apparently it's nothing to do with gear. So if I give you a P bass through an SVT you will play that with exactly the same feel as an MTD through an EBS?[/quote] I tell my fingers what to do, not the other way around.

Just remember: pop and slap over everything ≠ funk

Practicing scales and techniques repeatedly just sucks the fun out of it for me. I'm in it for the music, so I just work out by ear and play along to other people's songs, especially those which might be different to my own style. I've a playing level I'm comfortable with and once I can play along to a few specific tunes I'm content I can do all I need to do if required.

Just see how it goes first. These guys might put in on energetic and engaging show which will make all your worries vanish.

Off the top of my head... Spiral Architect - Black Sabbath Good Times - Chic Ether Song - Turin Brakes Bless Those (Annies Song) - Living Colour Carry On Wayward Son - Kansas Peaches En Regalia - Zappa More Than A Feeling - Boston Eighty-eight Days In My Veins - Esbjorn Svensson Trio Rise - Public Image Ltd How Could I - Cynic

What are you having done?

Damned firewall in work is blocking the pics Can't wait to see this.

It's the list of instruments I have an unaxplainable desire to own... Gear Aquisition Syndrome

Sound. I tried a 1024 at a recent expo here... it just confirmed the 2024 is top of the GAS list and no mistake!

Not sure what I feel about Dingwalls but you seem delighted so good stuff. Might be a stupid question, but would one of those also benefit from the likes of compensated nut, true tempered fret placement, etc? How far can man take the fretted instrument?

Once it stops being fun, get out. It doesn't sound like you're in an enjoyable position at all.

Bought a number of instruments from Japan. If it's shipped through a courier like FedEx, etc, they will charge you VAT and Import Duty and a surcharge for processing this on your behalf. You will not receive the instrument unless you pay the money. I've never had somethign come in through a courier like that which didn't get taxed. If it goes through EMS, the Japanese state mail company, it will end up with Royal Mail on your end and, sometimes, they don't apply the customs charges (mistakenly, it must be said) they should. Everything coming in from outside the EU should have VAT and Import Duty (over here it's 4.3%) applied to it, some do slip though the net though. Do the maths before you commit to buying and be prepared to pay. You might get lucky, you might not.