Bridgehouse

I’ve just ordered another one - this time it’s a special build to go into the Shuker fretless - he’s a genius.

You have options with Helix, depending on the impedance of the piezo.. If it’s passive then either use an fx return input or DI box into the DI. If it’s active then depending on the amp type, either the aux in, or the fx return will again work very well, as will the DI option. I’d avoid the guitar input as you’ll find it affects tone a lot.

There’s a big difference between hiscox and the rest (including skb) - the lining is bonded to the case throughout and forms part of the structural rigidity of the case. Day to day, this makes little difference, but in a major incident situation it means that the hiscox will offer a significant degree more strength and survivability - and ultimately protection for the contents.

It’s a bit generic “samey” looking, isn’t it? 😁

I can see a photo spree coming on...

Ahh so that’s where the broken screw came in then... Annoying, that’s what that is. Niiiiice, that’s what that bass is.

Yeah - I know. For the same money I can have some pretty special fretless action.

@bassbiscuits - possibly. I won’t lose money on it.. but you’re right, they may well keep going up. Realistically it’s probably worth 2.5k these days, which is honestly a bit mad for what they are, but that’s the market.

No, but that’s fine.. there’s so many other custom fretless basses knocking around that appeal - and there’s value in the 74 that could be used for it...

Pretty much... which is just all a bit too tempting.

Had some people round this weekend and we had a nice Jam in our music room. Drums, bass and a couple of guitars. Decided to use the 74 tongove it a workout and see how I feel about it. Towards the end I whipped out the ACG instead and there was no contest. It’s a fab bass but I don’t know whether it’s doing it for me. I actually think I’d rather have another fretless. Hmmm

Yeah. I know. Which is why it isn’t getting played...

Serious? That’s really kind of you. In return I can “look after” that £2k for you as well

But unlike the Murphy’s - he’s not bitter

I could get a really top spec Ric for the money I’d get for the 74P Or I could buy a decent bass instead. Like another fretless or something...

50/50 on the "keep" or "sell" poll... You lot are no bloody help at all! 😁

It's a long long story... So it has two pickup solutions - an under fingerboard mag (jazz style) and the ghost piezo saddles... the ghost saddles were run through a ghost acoustiphonic preamp. Well, the acoustiphonic preamp gave up the "ghost" lol. Farty noise followed by no piezo output. The preamp is kaput. I also swapped out the mag pickup for a Nordstrand, and it highlighted the fact that the (now 10 years old) preamp for the mag is, in fact, a bit rubbish.. either that or it's also kaput. So - all innards ripped out. Now, as the rest of the bass excluding the electronics is frankly just about the best instrument I have ever played.. I wanted a solution that would do the bass justice. No more crappy graph tech preamps for me. I'm going to keep the graph tech ghost piezo saddles, and they are now rewired to a single "hot" and "ground" connection, ready for a new solution.. Having sampled his delights before, I decided to approach John East - mainly as I honestly think he does the very best stuff. John embraced the project with gusto, and rather than cobbling something together, he's properly adapting a UP-4 to accommodate a piezo and mag input, with a single volume and blend, a piezo HF roll off tone control, a mid with mid sweep stacked, and a treble/bass stacked, with pull bright and all the trimmings, including an active/passive switch so I can amp the piezos off bass if I want, and a mute switch to kill everything (something I wish every bass had). It's now at the "he's making it" stage. He's a busy chap (for good reason) and so it's taken a little while to get to this point. But, ultimately, I should end up with the electronics that the bass actually deserves - a Nordstrand noiseless Jazz and piezo saddles going into a custom John East preamp system..

In fact - my Shuker Fretless means more to me and has more significance than the 74, even tho at the moment it's broked.

I bought it as a YOB and tbh it feels like it should be more special to me than it actually is...

And you are right, I’m not But the thing is, I’m not sure why I’m not...

You know, I’ve never regretted any bass I’ve moved on. Life is too short for that sort of thing. If it was something I regularly gigged or recorded with then it would probably be different. Well, maybe. But this one hasn’t got that special connection.

I thought I’d get a mix of opinions To be honest, it’s pretty much surplus to requirements. But it’s also a lovely thing to have as well. Which means I’m torn between keeping it for what it is, and swapping it for something more useful..

I get the feeling early 70s fenders are going up in price at the mo. But then again it’s difficult to tell.

I think I’m going through that “I don’t use it, but what if I miss it when I sell it/trade it?” thing. Yeah, I know I know, first world problems huh?

So I have this Olympic white 74 Precision. All original, pretty roadworn, but looks the biz. Thing is, it hangs on my wall and pretty much doesn’t get played. If I want a P with some old vibe to it, I use the 64. It’s a YOB bass, so it’s sort of special, but I don’t have much history with it. I’ve never gigged it or recorded with it. So I’m kinda thinking I should swap it out for another fretless or something else that would actually get used. Ugh. I just don’t know. Anyone else have those decision-making-paralysis moments?