Rikki_Sixx

[quote name='Naetharu' timestamp='1488284706' post='3247491'] Finally, I would say that when it comes to scales, starting with the major is the right way to go. Basically all scales are just modifications of the major scale. However, I would advise that you think about it in terms of intervals rather than fret-board patterns. This was a tip Mark gave me when I was just starting out and it opened up the fret board for me over night. It'll also pay massive dividends when you come to thinking about different keys, scales and chord tones. [/quote] [quote name='Naetharu' timestamp='1488286897' post='3247519'] [...] by intervals I mean the pitch-differences between notes of the scale. So for the major scale, it goes tone, tone, semi-tone, tone, tone, tone, semi-tone. No matter where you start, if you play notes up in that order you'll produce a major scale. Later on you'll start looking at minor scales and modes, which really are just the same pattern, but starting from a different place. Try playing the major scale in all the different ways you can all the way up and down the strings. All one one string, two notes on each, etc. That will serve you a lot better than learning a 'scale position'. [/quote] I'm so glad I spotted this. I've been wanting to learn scales etc. but I struggle with knowing where to begin sometimes. A lot of usually helpful YouTube channels seem to have 'beginner' scales videos that are still throwing technical terms around. This kind of thought process would really open things up!

[quote name='owen' timestamp='1488120286' post='3245991'] Twin strap buttons on the bottom. Some day all basses will be like this (apart from offset ones, obvioulsy). [/quote] First time I've ever seen twin strap buttons. Is that to prevent forward "lean"? (can't think of a better word for it!)

Do most people just give it a wipe (ooh err)? I used to spray on the stuff my mum used to dust the TV but a guitarist friend bollocked me for that! 😆

When I was in college most players I knew were playing entry level Squiers which were as wonky and cheap-feeling as any Argos special. I came to associate the brand with cheapness for the next few years. When I was looking for new gear two years ago I spent ages reading up on what I could get in my budget and trying things in person. Being from Yorkshire, I research any purchase over £10 for months before committing to buying, and everything kept bringing me back to Squier - particularly the Vintage Modified range. I was blown away; great equipment, well built with good materials at affordable prices. Nothing I found in my budget came close to the Squier VM Jazz 77 that I finally took home. So far I haven't had to modify anything or even give it a thorough set-up. It came ready to go, with a neck better than anything I ever thought I'd play. If the CV P you tried felt as good as you say, give it a go! The only thing I regret are not buying my Squier sooner. You could easily sell it for a good price if you come to regret it in 6 months, but I'd put money on you wanting to keep it!

Oh man, I'm gutted for you. Glad that you're able to get a full refund though. I know what you mean about not having that "spark" with the guitar though; it may be just an instrument but often you can tell right away if you'll get on with something. Luckily I've never bought a guitar/bass where I felt like that, but I've played ones in shops that I just could see myself buying for no tangible reason, even if it was perfectly playable! Got your eye on something else or will you be sticking with your Les Paul's? Epiphone LPs are the absolute business!

[quote name='ricksterphil' timestamp='1487336572' post='3239085'] Just bought one.....couldn't help it [/quote] I bought one too! Had a few emails back & forth with Spamp Man himself and he ran a few tests for me. I have to admit I didn't understand the results, but so far I love it! Around the lower notes on the E string I think it hits a bit of a limit but otherwise it's brilliant. Great for practising in the spare room without waking the neighbours! Sounds great clean and the fuzz is fantastic. I'll put together something more in depth when I've used it a bit more. Edit: Found the Smokey Amp I mentioned in my original post too, so my mate at work put that through it's paces for a bit as well.

Thanks for posting this Anzoid - and to everyone else for the advice - as I've been thinking about this myself for when I eventually upgrade my bridge! I convinced myself it's a massive undertaking and my bass will be only good for firewood if I don't shim it right, so I'm glad I spotted this thread!

That [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]Maruszczyk[/font][/color] is lovely Naetharu! I had no idea they'd build something so custom for that kind of price, it's lower than I expected! I don't know much about [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]Maruszczyk, but that's a gorgeous instrument.[/font][/color]

Woohoo, glad to see this one finished!! It looks great, I bet it was a bugger getting the finish smooth with all that glitter! Sounds like you found a smart way of doing it though! Bet it looks killer in the flesh. You glad to have it finished? Hope the shoulder is on the mend!

I was just playing a mates 335 yesterday in the office, it's a beautiful bit of kit. Much more comfortable than I was expecting. And now you tell me there's a Harley Benton version? Suddenly getting an itchy buying finger... Have you now got your mitts on it? Dying to see some pictures! Oh, and happy NGD / birthday!

Hi Nick! Suffolk is a lovely part of the world, my other half is originally from there. Lovely to head down and spend the odd weekend by the coast! Welcome to the boards!

[quote name='W1_Pro' timestamp='1487166329' post='3237694'] Did this ever get finished? [/quote] Been wondering that myself! Recently re-read this build thread, it's a real drama with lofty highs and crushing lows. We need an end to the story!

I grabbed a second hand Small Clone off eBay for next to nothing a while ago, it's got a gorgeous sound. It's not bass specific and is super simple, but just what I wanted. Mr Patrick Hunter does a good demo of it in case anyone is considering one in the future: [url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HlDsL2lKb-g"]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HlDsL2lKb-g[/url]

I'd love to try a DIY kit (or just buy a ton of parts) sometime. I'm not too concerned about the woodworking aspect of it as most of the work is done (to varying degrees of QC!), but it's the electronics I'd be concerned about. I haven't used a soldering iron since high school, and I've forgotten what little I ever learned about circuitry!

[quote name='blablas' timestamp='1486983820' post='3235980'] Seriously? This style of bridge has been on Höfner's for decades. [/quote] Ah thanks it's hard to believe I've overlooked that! I was never a fan of [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif] [/font][/color][color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]öfners (mainly the violin-shaped thingo that McCartney used) so never paid much attention to them until now. Ignorant of me, I know [/font][/color] [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]I do like that bridge though![/font][/color]

That's a real looker, didn't know Gear4Music made their own guitars (I've never looked though). Never seen a bridge like that before, is that quite common on this kind of semi-hollow, fat-bottom shape?

My other half spotted this earlier and it really caught my eye: https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/477969731/the-spamp-guitar-practice-amplifier-and It's probably because I'm a greedy swine, but it also reminds me of an Smokey Amp (I think that's the name - it's a tiny practise amp built into n old cigarette pack) that I bought at a guitar show in London years ago. While the Smokey had no controls at all (it was either on or off, with full distortion at all times), this one seems to have a bit more finesse, especially for a meat-based product! I've no idea if these even work with bass, but I think I'd love to give one a spin. My Smokey used to emit howls of pain when I plugged in my old P bass, and I haven't tried it since I sold my SG years ago. Anyone seen or used anything similar to this? [attachment=237829:spamp.jpg] [attachment=237828:spamp2.jpg]

[quote name='Low End Bee' timestamp='1484921471' post='3219748'] Bleeding Cowboys. That's not the font I would choose for a company... [/quote] Good spot! It makes me laugh how some big American companies go straight for Bleeding Cowboys when they need to knock up some 'edgy' t-shirts or graphics!

Hello and welcome! I hope you'll be posting your various builds and projects in the Build section of the site for us to follow, it's my favourite bit of the site!

An absolute bargain and a real stunner! I've never seen that Danelectro shape before, you're making me miss my Dano '63! It sounds like your eBay seller handles his P&P better than Danelectro themselves. When my '63 arrived (bought new, direct from them) it was in a brown cardboard box, wrapped in a single sheet of that thin foamy packing stuff with the neck supported on polystyrene. The postie dropped something on the box as he was getting it out. Something sharp. It pierced the back of the box (which was upside down) and just nicked the bottom of the bass on the back. The tiniest amount of finish chipped off but the wood was unharmed, but I was still devastated. My first new bass, ruined! Luckily I came to my senses and realised it was no big deal on a <£200 bass. I loved it, and never worried about any future dents and dings. How are you finding it so far? I still miss the sound from those unique pickups! Is it that lightweight frame construction?

I know that Fender headstocks have varied over the years (pre-CBS, etc.), and I was hoping to find some nice hi-res images of the differences! I found a great graphic illustrating the differences in Strats, but wasn't sure if that also applied to the bass ranges! It might be a bit of a strange request, but bear with me for a bit of background! I work at a small design studio and every few months we set ourselves a little design challenge between client projects, hopefully to raise a bit of money for charity. It can be anything from photography, something digital / online, an animation, prints.. Just a creative exercise and a bit of fun. Usually most of us end up doing prints which we [url="https://bml-creative.co.uk/shop/"]sell in our online shop[/url], and all the proceeds (after printing and shipping) go to [url="https://bml-creative.co.uk/blog/bml-donation-to-leeds-homeless-charity/"]local charities[/url] (this year it's Leeds Mind). This month's theme is '[i]Icon[/i]', and I'm toying with the idea of doing something around the iconic Fender shapes. There are so many knowledgable people here that I thought I'd try my luck, as Google is a bit hit-and-miss - maybe I'm looking up the wrong terms! Any information would be really appreciated!

I bet Imgurs problems will be quickly resolved as it's such a popular service (and will want to stay that way), but if you're looking to try something else then Flickr is great. If you're a bit more willing to get your hands dirty then some hosting space as waterofthetyne recommended is worthwhile. You'll have greater control, can add as much as you like at whatever size or file format you like, etc. If you need a hand with anything like that then feel free to drop me a PM!

I had a Boxing Day clear-out and found so much old junk. One was an old (OLD) Wacom Digitizer II drawing tablet which I got 2nd hand during university. I hadn't used it in years but I know it works, so I put it up on Freecycle. I couldn't be bothered with eBaying it as I knew I wouldn't get much, but I'd feel bad throwing it away, so rather see it go to a good home! I'm currently putting together a 'device lab' for testing at work (I'm a web developer) and brought in a few of my old phones. Most didn't work, but at least the ones that do are getting some re-use! Now if only I could bring myself to throw out my barely functional Windows Vista laptop from 2009...

[quote name='Count Bassy' timestamp='1484619822' post='3216940'] Just think of weight being 'Heft', and then it becomes a good thing. [/quote] "Girth"