Trueno

I played a Zootbass Chaser in a 60s style band. Almost all of my gigs playing classic rock were with fretless Warwicks. Now I'm passive, short-scale and fretted.

I think I was spoilt for fingerboard finishes with the Tigerstripe ebony on my fretless Warwicks. Good luck with finding your bass... it's a neverending quest.

I took a punt on the pau ferro, it actually has some very nice figuring on it. I'm not that analytical to notice differences in feel and tone between the two... maple... yes. I've had MIA, MIM, CIJ and Squiers. To me, the difference in quality (and materials) has generally been commensurate with the price. My MIA Jazz was fantastic quality... but I was moving on to short scale for various reasons. I'm currently very happy with Squier and MIM and there is always to option to swap out electronics and pickups... if the basic quality is worth it.

I wouldn't have done it on my MIA Jazz with maple board (and didn't need to). Done it on MIM Pau Ferro board and Squier Rosewood.

How do they sound? Probably cheap and easy to replace the pickup covers if the visual mismatch bothers you. The bridge pickup looks a bit more up-market, but appearances can be deceptive.

No... it really is easy to do it yourself and not with that silly rolling a pen up and down thing... as long as the neck isn't finished in any way. Just sand it down lightly with a very fine wet and dry block... over the fret ends as well and it it polishes them off as well. Polish with some fine wire wool and give the fretboard some lemon oil for good measure. I've done it with my current two basses... they've both got a lovely smoothed finish.

Just received a stash of Designacables... ready for a return to rehearsals/gigging... sometime.

If I can do it, anyone can do it. My tips... just set everything out neatly first and make sure you follow the instructions (sorry for stating the bleedin' obvious). Make sure you slide the connectors in the right way round... they have a tiny arrow on the top, but not easy to spot. I fitted it all neatly into a Squier Jag SS plate... took a bit of orienting but no problem. You might have an issue if you have an edge mounted jack which is usually documented in reviews. It's a great upgrade.

The Gigink scratchplates are cheap and very basic. If you're happy with that, then go ahead. No ply, no bevels... just a straight-edged piece of plastic. If you get a design, like pearloid for example, it's clear plastic with the design printed on the back. Probably all right from a distance but too nasty to put on my fave bass.

So... I decided to get some bulletproof cables ready for the post-apocalyptic gigging season... whenever that is likely to be. Thanks to this thread I've just ordered some designacables via Amazon... neutrik connectors and Van Damme cables, and a new mic cable for good luck. I already have neutrik loaded patch cables on my modest pedal board. Now I have plenty of spares, plus my fancy Fender braided cable for home use. Cheers for the advice!

Silly me... I bought a Pedaltrain Nano so my EBS Microbass II and Boss Tuner would just fit nicely on it... now there's no room for a compressor.

I'm a big fan of the Geezers, Mr Cetera...

I've been recording some bass lines for the band. Experimenting with the EQ curve on Garageband has given me a new appreciation of EQ... mostly cutting rather than boosting... now I've been adjusting all the settings on my amps. Maybe compression next...

I thought I was doing OK... but I'm having very unreasonable GAS for a Wilcock short scale bass.

I've overgigged in the past... even considered giving up the day job (as a sax player). But I haven't gigged for ten years... then I recently joined an olde f@rtz band. We were really getting things going for our first gig. But... I still think I've got off lightly in the grand scheme of things... we'll be up and ready to go when the time comes.... after re-rehearsing everything.

... and if you fit a J at the bridge a set of EMG Geezer pickups will go a treat... if you like classic rock. They come with their own pots and loom too...

I stuck a Gotoh and Schaller bridge on my Squier Jag SS and MIM Mustang. Exact measurements are on their websites. Gotoh will fit straight into a Squier/Fender 5 hole... Schaller will require some new holes and it helps if you make sure it's dead straight.

Is that a very large pair of inflatable pliers?

I usually change my strings on 29 February.

Quite simply... high mass bridges look much better. I hate the look of the bbot bridge. I like Gotoh bridges, but never heard any discernible difference... still worth it just for the looks. But.. recently put a Schaller 3D on my Mustang and I can actually hear an increase in focus and sustain... I was quite surprised. Not that bothered because it looks waaaay cool... and easy to adjust, getting intonation spot-on was a doddle.

Congratulations on that one... it looks fantastic. I think the EMG pickups are the icing on the cake (in my humble opinion).

... I am hugely impressed with my EMG Geezers... rocky and punchy!

I don't normally go for relic'ing, but I'm warming to this one...

Purely short scale for me: - Spector Bantam (must be red) - maybe a Chowney... details to be decided - maybe a short scale Corvette... Rockbass would suffice.

I've just had a cheeky look on Thomann... hasn't helped my GAS at all.