Beedster

[quote name='cameltoe' timestamp='1384026300' post='2272145'] My brother in law has a 4001, I've used it a lot. I find it very comfortable to play and can get the action crazy-low, however I can never get a sound I like from it. It's either wooly, or twangy. It doesn't seem to be able to do that right in the mix, kick-drum frequency that you get from a P bass. [/quote] Have you tried flats?

Buy a Fullerton 57 RI from the early 80s for between £1200 and £1400 on eBay. You'd be very lucky to get a contemporary CS or Bravewood anything like as good plus it will hold its value

[quote name='iconic' timestamp='1383774708' post='2269087'] This old tone thing....i'm no expert but it seems that basically a 60s p bass aint that much different to a new fender (or westfield for that matter) but amps sure are, and i'm a firm believer that the amp makes the biggest difference. in my humble opinion... [/quote] Mmm, my '64 sounded about as good as it gets though a B-15 of similar vintage. Of course, all of these things are subjective, if you want crisp highs and deep lows, modern amps are better, but then you probably wouldn't be playing a vintage '64 or an MIJ '64 RI with heavy flats if you were after that tone either. If your tone is retro inspired, the old gear, or modern versions of the old gear, do the job at a fraction of the price, both now (e.g., what a '64 Precision or Ampeg B-15 is worth today) or then (e.g., what a '64 Precision or Ampeg B-15 cost new in '64). Having learned this I was able to sell a 50 year old bass, and with the proceeds buy a pretty much identical bass, a lovely DB, and to all intents an entire recording studio with a couple of grand of change. 64's are for antique collectors and traders. There's nothing they can do sonically that a new instrument can't. That doesn't change their value as rare, collectible or antique instruments one iota of course, and I'd never question that. It does however mean that folk like me five years back who think they'll find something magical in a 50 year old bass will be either deluded or disillusioned when they buy one.

[quote name='Stan_da_man' timestamp='1383696478' post='2267981'] How do you get that 60's P sound in a modern P? Swap the pups and put on dead strings! *ducks* [/quote] Not so far from the truth. My '64 Precision was, when I first picked it up, without doubt the best bass I'd ever played. But I knew it was a '64, and that helps. My current and, by my standards, long standing main bass is a well played-in mid 90's MIJ '62 RI strung with La Bella Jamersons and with a Lollar PUP, and it's quite simply the equal of the '64 in every sense. One cost £8000, the other £350. IMO there's nothing an old bass can do that a new one, with some attention to detail, can't do.

[quote name='JohnFitzgerald' timestamp='1383734268' post='2268208'] Who is out there that's doing something different to the guys above ? [/quote] You. Do your own thing, that way it's be different to the guys above. I like all of the above players but tend not to like it when I hear obvious references to them at gigs or recordings (especially in Jaco's case as it's just been done to death). Fretless bass is an instrument on which it's very easy to sound cliched because even the most left-field musician soon becomes widely copied. Just play what sounds right to you. I was once told that my fretless bass sounde like a trombone. The guy said it was a compliment, I'm not sure I took it that way, but to my mind it did at least indicate that I wasn't copying Jaco or Pino. Given the names of the two most famous proponents and innovators of fretless, perhaps you should also consider a name change to 'Jono'

[quote name='toneknob' timestamp='1383732037' post='2268179'] I know people who are massive prog rock fans who say Rush "isn't prog". [/quote] I guess that would answer the question Does strike me as odd that so many folks who do not otherwise listen to whatever Rush's type of music is actually called who do listen to Rush? Anyway, as you say, a bit OT.

Can anyone explain why so many people who do not like prog rock - or even rock - of any sort appear to love Rush (me for example)?

Funnily enough I was listening to a Rush compilation a mate did for me today and thinking what a great band they are. The mate in question's a folkie and I never quite understood why he's such a massive Rush fan. I found myself liking them to Jethro Tull today (!!!!), so perhaps can start to see the link? Either way, great band, and great bass playing on pretty much every track

I'd like to know who that guy is, massively overpriced, based in the UK but prices everything in US dollars. He had a couple of old Fender parts (tuners) I was after and despite many messages he never replied, which makes me suspect they're all fakes. Like you say, there's someone out there who'll buy it

I've recently invested in a decent bow. I played violin, then viola then cello as a kid, so have some experience. The first time I played the DB with a bow it felt extremely natural. The same couldn't be said for the sound. Whilst my bow control seemed pretty good (e.g., coordination between left and right hands on scales, arpeggios), the quality of the note varied hugely, even with relatively little change in pressure. The main problem I'm finding is that of hitting 8ve harmonics all over the place, , especially on the start of notes. It's actually quite a pleasing tone which would be quite lot more pleasing were I actually trying to do it! I'm not sure whether as it's a new bow I might have underdone (or overdone) the rosin, whether I need sticker or less sticky Rosin (Pirstro Evah/Oliv, not DB specific AFAIK), whether the strings aren't especially bow friendly (E/A Spiro Weich, D/G Obligato), whether I simply need to work on my technique, or whether it's something else. Any thoughts welcome Chris

[quote name='joncaulfield72' timestamp='1383409790' post='2264201'] Hi Beedster, I can collect Sunday or Monday if nobody has picked it up from you. Cheers Jon [/quote] I should know tomorrow Jon so will let you know Chris

[quote name='Shaggy' timestamp='1383400109' post='2264058'] Blimey, this is hell of a deal for someone!!! Driver is a near new Eminence (Kappa I think), cab is UK made; proper ply construction - rats fur covering a tad scruffy (or was!) but I spent a long afternoon once hammerite-ing the grille. Very lightweight for size. Anyone wants the original Scorpion driver they can have it for postage, but it'll need a re-cone Really fancying that Bassman rig of your Chris if you still have it..... [/quote] Hello mate, good to hear from you. I really like this cab t be honest but have an Ampeg 1x15 and a BF 69er so am a little cabbed out at present! And yes, not only does it sound very pleasing but it weighs nothing! A guy I know who has a studio is probably going to have it, if not and you fancy it back, let me know Cheers C