Bassassin

Blimey - can't do five easily. No way could I limit it to 5 current favourites, but I'll try early influences whose playing I still love: Geddy Dennis Dunaway Jean Jacques Burnel Mark King John Entwhiste - and a cast of thousands... Jon.

[quote name='Russ' post='11919' date='Jun 4 2007, 04:36 PM']These ones... [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ih=010&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT&viewitem=&item=200116205993&rd=1&rd=1"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...p;rd=1&rd=1[/url][/quote] Yep. Picked one up last summer, we were considering doing some "unplugged" stuff & busking (never happened, drummer freaked at the idea of not having a proper kit to hide behind. ) and it was surprisingly OK. Unrepentant bin-diving gyppo that I am, I bought it as "damaged/repairable" off Fleabay for a tenner! Mine was a fretless, and the "damage" was a neck with a pronounced back curve just before the nut, meaning that it was quite buzzy (but not unplayably so) at the first position marker. Otherwise it played very nicely. Sounded pleasant too, both unplugged, and particularly amplified. The downside of the medium-scale & small body is that it's not very loud, & struggles against an acoustic guitar when not plugged in. However, for just mucking about at home it's fine. Plugged in is much better - the preamp & EQ was very useable and it really sounded impressive for the cash. Have to say, I didn't try it at high volume, so I don't know how prone to feedback or other resonant nastiness it would have been in a gig scenario. It was also very solidly built - no idea what sort of woods used (mine was a natural finish) but it was pretty well put together, as far as I could see. One suitably tacky detail was the decorative soundhole rosette - it was actually one of those glittery holographic transfers! Somehow it suits it! Anyway - not having a real use for it, and not having room to justify keeping it, (and of course being a bit of a gyppo) - I put it back on the Bay & sold it for considerably more than I paid. But really, if I had acoustic GAS, I'd definitely consider another one, if (and I realise it's a pretty big "if") mine was anything to go on. Can't go too far wrong for £59 - or only £53 for this one: [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Electro-Acoustic-Bass-Guitar-new-43in-Pink-Pink-Pink_W0QQitemZ200116205995QQihZ010QQcategoryZ4713QQcmdZViewItem"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Electro-Acoustic-Bas...3QQcmdZViewItem[/url] Man enough? Jon.

[quote name='Bloodaxe' post='12734' date='Jun 5 2007, 11:02 PM']On the possible bargain front is [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ARIA-PRO-II-2-BASS-SUPERB-QUALITY-VINTAGE-AND-RARE_W0QQitemZ220118549443QQihZ012QQcategoryZ112668QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem"]this oddity[/url] - looks like a hybrid Aria/Vantage. Certainly in need of a bit of TLC, be interesting to see what it ends up at. Pete.[/quote] Been GASing in that thing's general direction myself - it doesn't appear in any of the Aria catalogues or listings on Matsumoku.org - but I have seen one before. Back in the 80s I was big into a band called The Armoury Show - their bassist, Russell Webb, played the exact same thing. Sounded great, too. Just did a bit of digging & found a pic: [attachment=468:armouryshowbass.jpg] Jon.

[quote name='Sercet' post='11920' date='Jun 4 2007, 04:37 PM'][url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=120116534644"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...em=120116534644[/url][/quote] Thanks for finding that. Lovely bass - is it the same, & how much was the one you saw, Mart? J.

This is actually bugging me intensely - one of these (or at least, sounding like the description) appeared on Fleabay maybe about a month ago. I watched it until the price went over what I was prepared to pay & then I deleted it. The listing won't have expired yet, but I can't find it! The bass itself was neck through, symmetrical body, single pup, not a copy of anything, but quite Alembic-ish, like many MIJ basses from the era. It was Japanese - had a black /gold MIJ sticker on the back of the head, & "Lincoln" on the front. If I find the listing, I'll link it here. Jon.

[quote name='TheRev' post='10610' date='Jun 1 2007, 03:42 PM']Was the 4005 the semi acoustic one? I seem to remember Mani's splattered one had a slash shaped soundhole.[/quote] Yep - that'd be a 4005 - rare as rocking-horse poo, them. Going to contradict myself, too - that's a 3000 Mani's playing in the pic - medium scale version of the 3001. And I think that's what the Arctics geezer's playing, as well. J.

Go back with a camera! Jon.

[quote name='nick' post='11224' date='Jun 2 2007, 11:11 PM']Here we go, this is more like it. Was tempted to this one myself, but probably have enough for the moment. Interesting brand name. Maybe Bassassin could shed some light.. [url="http://cgi.ebay.fr/Basse-Stephenson-rare_W0QQitemZ160121889317QQihZ006QQcategoryZ92204QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem"]http://cgi.ebay.fr/Basse-Stephenson-rare_W...1QQcmdZViewItem[/url][/quote] Can't really tell too much from the pics - looks like a generic neck-through (you can see the central stringer down the middle of the body) MIJ 4001 copy, probably the same as Shaftesbury Rickalikes. Not sure who built these, but they're similar to some Arias, so it might be Matsumoku, but they have hardware like some El Maya pics I've seen - so it could've been them. That's the problem with copies - all look alike... Stephenson will have been the importer's brand name, so no real clue there. It's currently at Eur241, or £163 - which is OK, but it still has 4 days left. J.

[quote name='nick' post='10815' date='Jun 1 2007, 10:16 PM']Horrid Hondo here if anyone's interested [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/HONDO-LAWSUIT-RICKY-BASS_W0QQitemZ110133932684QQihZ001QQcategoryZ41439QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/HONDO-LAWSUIT-RICKY-...1QQcmdZViewItem[/url][/quote] I'd give him the quid that's the current bid... J.

[quote name='Musky' post='10519' date='Jun 1 2007, 01:36 PM']It's a Ricky 3001 - only produced for 10 years or so as a budget model. I think Mani used a 4005.[/quote] It's a 3001: Also seen him with a 4001/4003 so he might play a 4005 too if he just happens to like Ricks. Jon.

[quote name='Tinman' post='10080' date='May 31 2007, 06:45 PM']Sh*t, who let her in?[/quote] J.

Really interesting question - "how good is good enough?", and it's always down to personal standards. For years I got complacent about my bass playing - I spent about 7 years not in a band, I didn't give up music, though, just concentrated on writing & recording - meaning I never really played bass simply for the joy of it during that time. Mainly playing guitar & keyboards, the bass came out when it was time to record a bass line. Getting back into gigging again brought me back into touch with why I was a musician in the first place - I fell in love with the bass all over again. I also realised how much I'd neglected my playing, both technique and development, and for me, there's no such thing as "good enough". That's purely on a personal level - if I could play like Wooten, I'd still be as self-critical as I am now. I read something a long time ago, I think the comment was about guitarists, but it applies equally well to us lot or any musician: Good players either have it in the hands, or in the head - great players have it in both. Personally, I'm pleased with my creative ability as a bassist (as a songwriter I'm less happy - but that's a very different challenge) and I feel my deficiency is mostly in my hands - but that can be worked on and improved. So gaining & honing technique should encourage me to create bass parts which are less limited by what I think I can get away with. As far as specific playing techniques are concerned, I tend to investigate the types of styles that my music [i]doesn't[/i] demand to a certain extent, just to get my head around them. I learned to slap Mark King style in the 80s, as did many players of that era - but it's yet to find a place in my music. I learned the basics of Wooten's double-thumb style, just to understand how it was done, but again, it would sound entirely out of place in the music I write, so it remains undeveloped. I'm presently dabbling with two-handed tapping - I can't see me using it in my music (I don't particularly [i]like[/i] it - that Youtube clip in the first post was technically interesting, but as a composition I found it twee and annoying) but I'm kind of driven to understand the technique, and master the basics of it. In a way for me, "good enough" might well be just to reach the point where I can perform consistently well, to a standard I'm happy with. I'd like to think it's achievable, but still a long way off for me. Jon.

Quite a lot of them pop up on the Bay - some are Japanese, but some, more interestingly, were made in Italy by Eko. There was a guy on BW who picked one up for a song - don't remember who he was, or if he's survived all the migrations, though. J.

Proper pink: That, with maple board & matching pink block inlays. Jon.

[quote name='Bassassin' post='8164' date='May 28 2007, 04:53 PM']I have no real use for a 6er (the low B on my 5 is a very long thumbrest ) but this is tempting even to me: [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Thru-Neck-Active-6-String-Bass-Guitar_W0QQitemZ270122685486QQihZ017QQcategoryZ4713QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Thru-Neck-Active-6-S...1QQcmdZViewItem[/url] Stripey! Runs out in an hour, though. Jon.[/quote] Relisted, only cheaper: [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=270124995992"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...em=270124995992[/url] J.

[quote name='Happy Jack' post='8600' date='May 29 2007, 02:06 PM']Jon, Next time I sell a bass, would you mind endorsing it for me here on BassChat? Within a day of you pointing it out as a bit of a bargain, the price has already reached £785! Just another 5 days to go, then ...[/quote] No probs Jack. 25% standard rate commission OK with you? And - look what's back: [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ih=015&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT&viewitem=&item=250121336637&rd=1&rd=1"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...p;rd=1&rd=1[/url] Doing the rounds of BW/BT/BCers, then. But now with a fake trc. Way to get the auction pulled, with any luck. J.

[quote name='Tinman' post='8511' date='May 29 2007, 10:46 AM']You're probably right but if that's the case then I would need advice on sorting out postage and stuff (I've never sold stuff online before, not even on e-bay)[/quote] Hi Pete, For posting a bass (assuming you're not selling it with a hard case) I use lots of bubble wrap (the sort with the big bubbles) and something rigid to reinforce the package, taped the length of the front & back of the wrapped bass - I've got a bunch of spare laminate flooring boards lying about that do the job. Stick the whole thing in a guitar box (your local guitar shop throws out dozens of them every week - they're only too happy to give 'em away, in my experience) & tape it up thoroughly. A few FRAGILE! stickers for good measure won't do any harm. I know lots of people have had problems with Royal Mail, but so far I've been OK - and having been at courier company depots a good few times (usually to collect things they pretended to try & deliver) the way they treat stuff didn't fill me with particular confidence at using that option. Royal Mail standard parcels rate for a bass - depending on weight, obviously - tends to be less than £10, including a degree of insurance cover. However you choose to send it, it's not as expensive as many Ebay sellers would have you assume. If I sell a bass/guitar on the Bay, I charge £15 P&P. Jon.

I have no real use for a 6er (the low B on my 5 is a very long thumbrest ) but this is tempting even to me: [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Thru-Neck-Active-6-String-Bass-Guitar_W0QQitemZ270122685486QQihZ017QQcategoryZ4713QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Thru-Neck-Active-6-S...1QQcmdZViewItem[/url] Stripey! Runs out in an hour, though. Jon.

I thought it was clearly the reflection of the case lid - and I don't know if a bit of paint off the bottom edge of the back merits a refin on a 27 year old bass. The point was that it's only £200 dearer than a tacky Oriental copy. J.

[quote name='Happy Jack' post='7883' date='May 27 2007, 11:13 PM']... which just went for a slightly astonishing £300![/quote] Nowt so queer as folk... A different Shaftesbury - one of those little 360-style basses: [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Shaftesbury-Bass-Guitar-Rare_W0QQitemZ150126758526QQihZ005QQcategoryZ4713QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Shaftesbury-Bass-Gui...1QQcmdZViewItem[/url] That name has a strange attraction to those Ebayers of little understanding. And for just a little more dosh (comparitively) to a genuine Made In Taiwan "Rockinbetter", you can now have this: [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/1980-Rickenbacker-4001-Bass-Guitar_W0QQitemZ110132022852QQihZ001QQcategoryZ4713QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/1980-Rickenbacker-40...1QQcmdZViewItem[/url] A rather tidy 1980 Rickenbacker 4001, in AzureGlo. 795 BIN to you, sir or madam. Am I missing something? J.

[quote name='Mrs Tinman' post='7241' date='May 26 2007, 06:32 PM']I was forced to watch him exchange two weeks in a five star hotel in Cuba for the Tinnies for (quite bizarrely, I thought) several assorted remnants of wood, some pretty lights and a few metal bits with wires sticking out of them.[/quote] But Terri - it's going to have[i] LEDs on the fretboard[/i]. It's worth it, don't you [i]see[/i]? J.

[quote name='silverfoxnik' post='7066' date='May 26 2007, 11:46 AM']From a tax point of view, there is an offical definition of a 'vintage car' which I think is either 25 or 30 years old. And there's also a definition of a 'classic' car which is approx 20 years old I think, so maybe that gives us a guide for using with basses? When I imported a 25 year old Wal from the States in 2004, I convinced the VAT people that the bass was 'vintage' and they reduced the VAT I had to pay on it from 17.5% to 5%!! ^_^[/quote] Blair & co did away with the whole "vintage" road tax thing - Your vehicle now has to have been registered before (I think) 1975 to qualify as "historic" and get free tax. To car enthusiasts, "vintage" means before 1930 - which is a bit tricky to apply to many basses! Anyway, I think "classic" is a more apt desription of what we're trying to define here - ie iconic & representative of its era. None of which applies to any of my ratty old Japcrap! Anwyay - that point about customs is well worth knowing! Jon.

[quote name='simon73' post='6984' date='May 26 2007, 04:53 AM']Alice Cooper[/quote] Up to & including [i]Muscle Of Love[/i] (1974), AC was actually a band rather than a singer, and the bassist was Dennis Dunaway - massively original & imaginative for the era, very upfront, melodic sound, and very tight, fast & precise plectrum technique. Dunaway insisted that use of a pick rather than fingers were essential to his sound & style. Dunaway & drummer Neal Smith were a unique & pretty unorthodox rhythm section - well worth studying the way they played together. Jon.

I think "classic" is the term we're looking for rather than "vintage" - for example, look at the nostalgic appreciation on here for the old Westone basses - particularly the Thunder 1 model - a budget starter instrument at the time, but becoming more sought-after because it happened to be a damn good instrument. I think many of us would consider it a "classic" of its era, no matter how modest it might have been. It's probably reasonable to generalise & call anything pre-1980s "vintage", much as the term's used for anything pre 1930s by petrolheads. "Classic" doesn't have the same age connotation to me, and could be applied to any bass that's considered iconic, and representative of a particular era. Jon.