DirkThrust

To hear some really good Jazz you should listen to the early stuff that was played in the clubs of New Orleans and Chicago in the 1920s by people like Jelly Roll Morton. If you're not impressed with that then you probably haven't got a pulse.

Hmm OK. If it's nothing to worry about then that answers my question. Thanks for your replies.

[quote name='sgt-pluck' post='325260' date='Nov 9 2008, 01:31 PM']Adjusting the neck relief is only a part of the action story. You don't get full adjustment of string height through truss rod/neck relief only. There's a really good thread going on at the moment about neck shims. Edit - [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=29444"]here[/url] it is. Pluck[/quote] Sure, I understand the relationship between trussrod and bridge saddle adjustment. I'm just worried that I'm having to adjust it so much this early in the bass's life. The trussrod's head is already disappearing into the neck end. My understanding (maybe wrong) is that the trussrod is something that needs tweaking over time to counteract the effects of ageing on the neck relief. If I've already run out of adjustment on the bridge saddles it's kinda limiting my options in the future. I've been reading that thread. Very interesting and I've learnt a lot from it but it doesn't answer my particular worry.

[quote name='The Burpster' post='325239' date='Nov 9 2008, 12:39 PM']Does that help?[/quote] Kinda yes and kinda no I'm slightly confused now. Surely reducing the neck relief using the truss rod will have the side effect of lowering the action? Tightening the trussrod flattens the neck therefore reducing the action. My main worry is that having to make the amount of adjustment that I've had to is an indicator that the neck is faulty. If there is no more adjustment on the bridge saddles to lower the strings then how do I get the action lower, bearing in mind that I like it quite high anyway, I'm not trying to get it unrealistically low.

I've got a 2008 US Precision which is now about 6 months old. I like a fairly high action but from new it was higher than I liked so I've lowered the bridge saddles so that the E and G string saddles have no more adjustment left, they are resting on the bridge baseplate, and I've screwed the trussrod in probably by a full turn but the action is still quite high. I took it back to the shop I bought it from for a set up under warranty. When I mentioned the high action to the tech He said something along the lines of that if you take off the neck plate there is an adjuster underneath to angle the neck which would sort out the high action. Now correct me if I'm wrong but he must be thinking of the Fender Microtilt system, which Fender haven't fitted since the 1970s and never on the Precision. This doesn't really fill me with confidence that he knows what he is talking about. My question is, surely a new Fender shouldn't need this much adjustment to get the action down. I've owned various Precisions and never done more than a bit of tweaking to adjust the neck to my liking. Presumably once he discovers that there is no neck angle adjuster fitted he will have to shim the neck. So is it normal to have to do this on a nearly new bass? I thought it was something that was done once all the trussrod adjustment had been used up on an older bass.

[quote name='thegallery' post='323562' date='Nov 6 2008, 04:57 PM']there goes our brownie points[/quote] You've got enough already

[quote name='coasterbass' post='291938' date='Sep 25 2008, 03:21 PM']The component that is most likely to fail is the screws fixing to the wall, rather than the hanger itself. I'd always disregard any fixings they provide you with and get down to B&Q. If you use some heavy duty fixings (especially if you have hollow plasterboard walls) and upgrade the screws to some of a decent length and thickness, then you will be fine.[/quote] Absolutely. The screws that are supplied are useless. I use Hercules hangers and the first time I fixed it up the screws just pulled out of the wall when I hung a bass on it. They are barely long enough to penetrate the brickwork through the plaster. I use screws that are at least 2" long and I also fill the hole I've drilled with PVA glue before putting in the rawlplug, especially if the brickwork is a bit dry and dusty, and then leave it for a couple of days to dry before hanging anything on it.

I would mostly agree with the views already expressed that if you divide the duties between band members, doing it yourselves is probably the best option. My only experience with a manager was overwhelmingly negative. Back when I used to play in originals bands, I was recruited by this guy (Dave Ambrose was his name, so if you ever meet him, run like the wind) to play in this band he was getting back together. The best word to describe him would be flaky, but he talked the talk and he hooked me into his fantasy world. The singer/songwriter who was the main creative force in the band was a very talented guy and came up with some good songs, but was rather young and naive and believed all this manager's flannel about how we'd get a record contract within x number of months. We used to hear snippets of information from other sources about this guy from time to time, one of which was that his precious "contact" in the music business actually worked in the post room at some tinpot label, but although the alarm bells were ringing we still let him get on with it. Obviously the record contract never happened (this was before file sharing on the internet when a record contract was seen as the holy grail for any band) and one day the "manager" just disappeared along with all the band's money and demos. None of us ever heard from him again although somehow I don't think he's living the high life somewhere with the pittance we made. Anyway, all of this waffle brings me to a point I think, which is that anyone can call themselves a manager and bullshit you about what he can do for you, and you stand a good chance of ending up with a fantasist who likes the idea of managing a band but doesn't actually have a realistic grasp of what is involved. Unless you actually know someone who you trust to do it I would avoid getting a stranger in. It'll be another mouth to feed and could cause more problems than he solves. At the stage you're at I would think your main aim would be to build a fanbase and the only way to do that is by getting out and gigging. I've done my fair share of chasing promoters to give us gigs in the trendy venues whilst holdind down a full time job. There's no great secret about what to do. You've just got to be persistant and thick skinned, make contacts and avoid winding too many people up, like our twat used to do.

[quote name='6h5g' post='315053' date='Oct 26 2008, 01:45 PM']hi, i'm harry i joined a couple of months ago, i've been playing for about 4-5 years. I play mostly rock in an unnamed band, play jazz in a jazz band. I've got a Fender MIJ Precision bass...... [/quote] Fender + Ashdown = What more do you need. Welcome to BC

[quote name='PVTele' post='315182' date='Oct 26 2008, 04:46 PM']I'm a lead guitarist who began as a bass player, and now, after many years, considering coming back to the deep end.[/quote] I'm sure you'll be very pleased to discover how far bass gear has advanced both in quality and price since you last played. Unlike the skinny stringed stuff of course, which seems to remain firmly rooted in the 1950s Welcome to BC

[quote name='Merton' post='315528' date='Oct 27 2008, 08:25 AM']Gibson era stuff (1997-2002ish)[/quote] I owned a Gibbo era (I've just learnt) AH400SMX and sure enough, it crapped out on me - blown output trannies so the guy at the Bass Centre told me. It was very disapointing at the time because I thought TE had a reputation for bombproof reliability. I was pretty happy with the sound of it but I preferred the the new AH500 I tried (albeit only in a shop so not a very scientific comparison). I can't imagine why anyone would think the new stuff is rubbish. A mixture of sour grapes and rose tinted specs maybe, or the common misconception that anything old must be better than anything new. I'll definitely be looking at the Trace when I'm next buying a head. It's a bit pricey but around £600 for a 500watt amp isn't unreasonable and I don't mind paying a bit extra for a UK made product. +1 for let your ears decide, they are more reliable than other people's opinions

[quote name='sgt-pluck' post='315108' date='Oct 26 2008, 03:22 PM']Comedy prices! Not only that, but how on earth would a prospective buyer ever work out if they were the real thing? Pluck[/quote] Exactly. Since all this relicking bollocks has become so authentic looking I don't think it is possible to tell the difference. Not only that but the prices these things go for gives plenty of incentive to fake them.

Welcome to BC

Every time I'm tempted to visit that place I just read one of these (all too frequent ) threads. Nothing ever changes down there. What a bunch of arseholes.

[quote name='bass_ferret' post='313392' date='Oct 23 2008, 10:37 PM']sh*t sticks ![/quote] Unfortunately it does, so people will be talking about Ashdown's reliability problems long after they've been sorted.

Bruce Foxton - The Jam James Jamerson - No explanation needed Mike Rutherford - Genesis before they went pop [quote name='kennyrodg' post='313086' date='Oct 23 2008, 04:37 PM']3 marlowe dk [/quote] I don't think you're taking the P This guy is absolutely astonishing. I've only seen him doing covers on you tube but he just nails the groove so well and his technique and timing is an education.

[quote name='Toasted' post='311777' date='Oct 22 2008, 08:46 AM']He didn't say "solely responsible" he said "helping" [/quote] You are absolutely correct But still a rather pointless remark to make in a thread about music

Oh dear. Typical Tune_O_Matic stuff. What an arse. [quote name='Trace_n_bass' post='311731' date='Oct 22 2008, 07:22 AM']Also I love the certificate for outstanding professionalism! Methinks if ebay get hold of his comments that certificate may be his last![/quote] Wouldn't that be good. Unfortunately I think he makes too much money for them to actually do the right thing for a change.

Welcome to BC

[quote name='thisnameistaken' post='311126' date='Oct 21 2008, 10:57 AM']Like helping to spread AIDS in Africa and so on? [/quote] Do you have any facts to back up that statement? Is it that old chestnut about the Catholic church banning the use of condoms. THere are many reasons why HIV is spreading in Africa. You should take the time to do a bit of research before making blanket statements like this.

I don't know what style of music you play but you could consider putting flats on your bass. They have a much smoother feel which may help you till you overcome the injury. Thomastik Infeld flats are very low tension too which may be an advantage. I found they feel too floppy so I changed back to roundwounds but you may find they help matters.

Blimey. Nothing escapes the BC detectives does it

[quote name='flutophilus' post='308502' date='Oct 17 2008, 12:23 PM']Hi, Has anyone out there owned or tried or even seen a Tony Franklin fretted precision? Anyone know a shop in the midlands that has one? I've just about decided on getting a new American Standard but I'm wondering if I should try to get hands on a TF. I know that a single pup precision is good enough for some great players and it's the sound I want, plus it's a really comfortable bass to hold and play, it's simple, strong, passive, no batteries. But will I start geting twitchy if I haven't got another tone option on the bass? When might I need that extra pup? Is there any reason, other than the extra pup, to get the TF? Cheers[/quote] I thought about getting one for a while because I like the option of having the J pup. It's a lot of money to spend just to get a hot rodded P though. I don't know what other bells and whistles Mr Franklin would have specified, so I'll probably get my standard P hot rodded by a decent luthier

[quote name='Tee' post='307031' date='Oct 15 2008, 01:07 PM']But the ad says it's "an awesome player" [/quote] It seems every bass these days "plays and sounds awesome" I've never been quite sure what it means

THe best bass sound I've ever heard was at a band I went to see practise with a view to auditioning for. The bass player was playing a Stingray with a pick through a Peavey 1x15 + 2x10 and the head was a Peavey MKVI I think. Amazing punchy sound. It literally felt like a punch in the stomach