WHUFC BASS

Mate, if its a Jap EB you're after try and locate a Greco or Burny model from the 80s. They are just as good as the Epis. And just as good as some of the Gibsons if not better as far as construction goes. Here's an example of a Burny....

Its possible, that B string will add some extra tension to the neck.

[quote name='mrcrow' post='370192' date='Jan 4 2009, 06:33 PM']leo fender first bass..precision next..jazz next...mm next g+l for me there is a sort of progression there... having owned a jazz an precision special..P.J...i would say with all dimensional traits aside the jazz wins out for versatility and breadth of tonality and i suspect leo thought a bit of pickup combining gave us the MM and the subsequent g+l variation[/quote] I agree. I've owned serveral of each (apart from a G&L) and have to say that from all of them I prefer the Jazz. More versitile imo as well as easier to play. The Precision and Musicman both have very distinct sounds which you can recognise instantly. The Jazz has a more generic tone which can be beefed up for rockier stuff.

Bit of a dilema here... I'm trying to decide which to buy - a Traban Chaos Core 5 or Ibanez SR505. I've tried the SR505, very nice, light quite comfortable. Not tried the Traban though. Price is very similar, but not sure which is better. Musical style would be heavy rock, metal, punk etc. using both pick and fingerstyle. Can't find a dealer in the UK that carries the Traban to try out unfortunately. Anyone got any recommendations?

Blimey, wish my missus got me something like that... mind you she calls my guitar playing "twanging"...

Just PM'd you mate.

Nice one. No GAS for a Markbass rig then??

Cheers mate. I've heard of your band, seen them advertised gigs etc. I think I may have even been to a few gigs where you did the support but I've never actually heard or seen your band live or on record before. Just had a listen. Mate, I'm really impressed and believe me, when it comes to punk I am one of the hardest people to please as there seems to be a never ending supply of punk bands that sound like a bag ladies period.

Check out the clips on YouTube of Traben basses. They seem to have a massive sound indeed - damn! I was all set to get myself an Ibanez Sr505 - now this lot come along!!.

Of course you're right Bassassin! I meant the Fujigen Gakki, not Matsumoko. I have a Jazz Bass, that I think is Cimar (Ibanez) that has this MADE IN JAPAN neckplate. and if I remember correctly it was you that told me that it was made by Fujigen Gakki. In fact this Jazz bass isn't that bad. Its under my bed in bits at the moment and has been so for ages. I'm seriously considering selling it. I'm digging your knowledge of all the lawsuit stuff. I'm really fascinated by it too, having owned two Burny Les Pauls, an Orville Thunderbird, Westone Thunder 1A, Aria B900 and Greco precision in the past.

I tried the SR505 out again today.. really nice bass. Very impressed with its playability.

I'd go for specialist baritone strings - the heavier gauge the better.

Yeah, i used to have an ESP Viper Baritone. They're great for down tuning. I got mine down to low A and it sound like something from hell. Mine had EMG Zakk Wylde pickups in them and they are monstrous. Make sure you use thick gauge strings for an even bigger tone. Most of the time I used to tune down a whole step to D. That is every string tuned down a tone. I did the same for C and A as well and just used conventional fretting. There's also many other ways to tune down: Dropped B: B-F♯-B-E-G♯-C♯ Dropped C: C-G-C-F-A-D Dropped A: A-D-G-C-E-A

Don't get me wrong Bassassin, I know how good some of the 80s Jap stuff was, especially makes like Burny, Ibanez and Greco (of which I have owned various guitars and basses) who did really good copies of the classic US guitars (in some cases better than the US). I know that these makes can command a relatively high price and in most cases are well worth it. However, there are some makes (Hondo being the prime example) which were utter gash back then, yet somehow people seem to think that now they are somehow great. If you're a collector, then fine, but if you're a player, then you can get much better quality instruments for the same price.

I'm after an SR505 if anyone is selling one... I've played one in the bass shop in Denmark Street and it was really comfortable. The neck is really nice indeed.

I think with the "Made In Japan" plate on the back it was made in the Matsumoko Factory in Japan. This is where the Westones and Aria guitars were made as well as Greco. Could well be an early Greco model.

as far as I remember from the 80s all Hondo stuff was pony. I remember their strats appearing in the Freemans catalogue. The Hondos I played in the 80s were always crap - don't know why there is so much interest in them now. Once a crap bass, always a crap bass in my opinion.

I didn't realise that Aria were doing re-issues of their SB range. I had an original SB900 and sold it on here many moons ago...