The Bass Doc

[quote name='wateroftyne' post='1081837' date='Jan 8 2011, 10:02 AM']The more I look at it, the more it looks like a cut'n'shut... ah, well.[/quote] Some people use the expression cut'n'shunt but, given your propensity to spoonerisms, I fully understand.

Got a pair in my spares from a 2008 MIA Jazz that read 7.0 and 7.35 for neck and bridge respectively.

All of the guys mentioned must have great recording studios built in to their houses because apparently fretless bass playing is something you can only do at home.

Just completed a deal with Matthew very sucessfully - splendid chap.

Fender Heavy - the big triangle one.

I'm quite supportive of the 'own interpretation' stance as long as it's not wildly outside the context of the song. Bear in mind that when you go to see a live show by a band you like, the chances are they aren't going to be playing note for note the version on the recording you have of them.

I really enjoyed the Compact. Thought I might revert to the 2x15 at some point but ended up using the little fella for the full two sets. I would like to have two if only for the benefit of getting my sound nearer 'lug-height'. So if Alex can do a promotion on the lines of 'Two for the price of one' I reckon he would have a deal. Cheers, Michael (try not to get a death grip on the '62).

[quote name='warwickhunt' post='1055987' date='Dec 12 2010, 01:24 PM']Do you know or are 'you' stumped? [/quote] I'm thinking Gretsch but would like a second opinion.

Rumer has it. OK, what's the bass at 0.45?

[quote name='wateroftyne' post='1049620' date='Dec 6 2010, 05:27 PM']Ha ha ha You are Jeff Armstrong in a cuddly puppy suit. Do I win a prize? [/quote] I actually wrote the book of insults often quoted by JA. I'm paricularly proud of my latest paperback, published in time for Christmas, entitled '101 Insults to Drummers...and Jeff Armstrong'. H.

Hardly surprising you had a big riser. Apparently the blonde on the end loves bass players .......but Brendan said he would still put a good word in for you.

And as a result of inflation it's now called threelip wood.

[quote name='Mr. Foxen' post='1046495' date='Dec 3 2010, 04:09 PM']Tulipwood is poplar isn't it?[/quote] Wiki notes the similarity, but no.

[quote name='EssentialTension' post='1046397' date='Dec 3 2010, 02:39 PM']1967, at the Marquee, Entwistle plays a slab Precision. See it clearly at 1.27: [/quote] Not a great sound on that occasion IMO. That has a good chance to be the Slab I bought - sold by Cassmusic of Eastbourne and actually advertised in Melody Maker as ex-JE. £165.00 if I remember correctly. Interesting to note Mr. Townsend expressing his frustration at not being able to play the guitar very well.

[quote name='warwickhunt' post='1045356' date='Dec 2 2010, 05:06 PM']You must have a try of this PRS some time Howie and see if it is the same tone that you describe.[/quote] Thanks, I'd like to try that PRS of yours sometime - don't worry too much about the cost - I charge quite a reasonable fee for hiring out my fingers on someone else's bass. As i' 'appens, guys and gals, I've got three more tulip wood body blanks left over from a batch I got a while back from my good friend Jim Cairnes.........might just have to make myself a Precision out of one of them.

[quote name='EddieG' post='1044016' date='Dec 1 2010, 04:50 PM']I'd love to know exactly what's different about the electronics on the slab Precisions compared to the regular models, and whether anybody has tried to emulate this circuit with measurements and multimeter readings taken from a slab Fender.[/quote] I can safely say the electronics were fairly well standard - 250K pots for volume and tone, 0.05 capacitor. I've checked my records and found the pickup was slightly hotter at around 11.5K so there might be something in that. John Entwhistle's mention of the 'blue veins' showing through has prompted me to think back to the wood used for the body - mine was stripped down at one stage and I remember seeing a green/purply area in the grain which leads me to think that tulip wood (also called magnolia) may have been used. The bass was quite light for a slab so this may have been a conscious decision by Fender to keep the weight down compared to using ash.

I've previously owned two of these blighters (one in particular has to be listed under the 'ones you should never have sold' thread). I can vouch for the fact that the lack of body contour makes them a tad uncomfortable for the 'fuller' figure. But oh the sound......my opinion as to why they sounded so different was more to do with the neck construction - maple on maple (no skunk stripe) but the fingerboard was 'rolled' as in almost a veneer on to the already cambered neck. The result was a very 'springy' sound - not that it lacked bass tone, but the top end would cut through with a clank that was remiscent of a Rick in full flight. I kind of proved the neck was the main contributor by swapping it onto my '62 Jazz bass for a while and, sure enough, the 'springy' sound tranferred to that bass too. If anyone on the forum knows of a 6-string player lucky enough to own a '66 Telecaster with this type of neck construction I think you'll find the same sort of extra top-end will exist when compared to either rosewood or the solid maple versions. The Youtube of Ace Kefford in The Move is an example that illustrates the tone very well. I'm prepared to be shot down in holding the opinion that a neck can be such a factor in determining tone, but I know what I heard at the time! BTW, both of mine had black scratchplates, but I was aware that tortoiseshell was used on other examples. Full alloy screening plates were also present.

[quote name='warwickhunt' post='1042336' date='Nov 30 2010, 01:34 PM']I spy the Bass Doc looking at your post and he'll have done 100's of such jobs... plus if he posts he gets to make rude jokes about tightening nuts etc! [/quote] OK, ok, It's correct to say I've handled lots of bass players nuts over the years but Clarky would have to live a bit closer for me to have a 'feel' for what the problem might be. Thanks for this oportunity WH.

[quote name='Soloshchenko' post='1033073' date='Nov 22 2010, 07:14 PM']Anyone know of anyone who manufactors affordable (as in cheaper than SD) 50s style single coil precision pickups? I suppose the title was fine on it's own really. I'm doing up a cheap project and don't wanna stretch to paying SD prices. Seems the world and his mother make P Bass 2 part hb pickups but nobody does the vintage single coil style.[/quote] Depends what you call 'cheap'. I've got a single coil which came out of a Japanese Fender in favour of an SD and, because it was then damaged, it's been re-wound to a hotter spec. It would have to go at the re-wind cost - £30.00. PM if interested.

Most Mex bridges I've encountered adjust with a 1/16th - perhaps your grub screws have been worn by use of the wrong allen key in the first place?