Beedster

I've been there a lot in the last two years (having sold three big Ampeg rigs). Sell it mate. I bought a very nice preamp (REDDI) that I run either into the PA or the desk. Tube heft/grunt/tone is lovely but it ain't the be all and end all.

Funny how good a Precision with J-PUPs looks, especially when compared to a Jazz with a P-PUP, which just looks wrong. That's a very elegant looking bass. I've always been convinced that a significant part of the P-Bass tone is in the neck (having played Precision neck on Jazz bodies and vice-versa), so I'm looking forward to hearing your views on how that sounds compared to a 'proper' Jazz. Either way, lovely looking bass, good work.

[quote name='Beedster' timestamp='1470602258' post='3107069'] I remember it as THE low point in a 25 year bass playing journey. [/quote] And just to clarify, that low point is up against my early 80's hair-do catching fire whilst doing a Taylor on stage at City Poly in 1982, and pulling over an entire Trace rig (2 x cabs + head) at an audition

I gigged it once, as a dep at a dinner event, and having noticed that I wasn't 'jazzing' it enough, the singer/keys guys shouted "walk man, walk". I remember it as THE low point in a 25 year bass playing journey. It's a great song as it stands, but it seems to have a very odd effect on a certain type of musician....

[quote name='gary mac' timestamp='1470559635' post='3106654'] "People will talk about it for a long time" [/quote] At least with the PUPs where they are they'll be able to hear what each other are saying? What a clown for building that, not hard to guess why he's selling it....?

There are worse addictions mate, and generally GAS if done sensibly is a zero sum game

[quote name='Chiliwailer' timestamp='1470242905' post='3104442'] I hear you there, so I guess that's one reason why the fun has run out for me too?! [/quote] Ha ha, fair point I think you have the terminology wrong however Dan, GAS = Gear [i]Addiction [/i]Syndrome

[quote name='wishface' timestamp='1470485948' post='3106337'] . That doesn't appear to be the case and given the divergence of at times contradictory views, offered st times with prejudice, how do I know an expert from a person with an opinion? [/quote] The best way of identifying expertise is by consensus and reputation. There are some luthiers/technicians about whom you will simply not hear a bad work spoken, Martin Simms springs to mind, although I've no idea how far away you are from him. However, it sounds like your issue is one of not fully understanding simple human nature - that there is a variety of opinion on everything - and the associated need to seek all perspectives and then work it out for yourself, as opposed to not understanding bass setup per se, so I doubt this post will help much either

Crikey, this is like a Monty Python sketch? [url="http://s80.photobucket.com/user/Beedster/media/argument-clinic_zps2wlyr6et.gif.html"][/url]

[quote name='JoeEvans' timestamp='1470415774' post='3105893'] Yes - if it was near me I would have gone and had a look at it but not for £1400+. It's definitely interesting although the grain on the front is a bit rustic, and there's a bit scar on the back that needs examination. For a while I thought that I could buy a good bass fairly cheap on eBay by very carefully shopping around the older basses that come up, but it's amazing how much people seem to be prepared to pay for something as complicated as a double bass without seeing it in person. When I bought my current bass I ended up going to Ben's place in Hildenborough (www.thedoublebassroom.com) just because that's about the only place the country where you can try a dozen or more basses that are very much the real thing. [/quote] Again, the shill bidding doesn't help does it I don't think spending more than £200 on a bass you haven't seen in person is wise, no matter how promising it looks in photos. This is especially the case if the seller is clearly not a musician (and for some reason about 50% of DBs appear to be listed by the low end antiques/house-clearance/"was my dad's" type). But people still do. Go figure...?

ah, there's history to this thread I see

Setting up a bass is generally quite easy as long as there are no pre-existing issues, manufactured or acquired. A setup by a good professional often beats what an average amateur can do, whilst a good amateur can often beat what an average professional can do. In short, there is absolutely no straight answer to your question, just opinion. I would suggest that if you are struggling to get the setup you want however, that you take it to a [i]good [/i]professional to ensure that there are no issues.

[quote name='stingrayPete1977' timestamp='1470416493' post='3105900'] I think this is the problem with talking online, it's easy to get the wrong end of the stick, you should come along too the bash and eat sandwiches, drink coffee and look at bass stuff [/quote] Agreed, if I can make it I will Pete. There's a couple of characters from down this way I was planning to drive up, so I feel I'd be letting them down if I didn't to be honest. I will however spend the entire day in silent contemplation of double basses and will scowl at anyone using any form of amplification

[quote name='stingrayPete1977' timestamp='1470410980' post='3105854'] I've no idea how we got here, shame. [/quote] Likewise Pete, my apologies if I've caused offence, it was really not my intention, but to be really honest, I've got no real idea why people have reacted the way they have to what was a very simple statement of fact from my POV (frankly had the PM this morning been a little more constructive we probably wouldn't be here but c'est la vie). C

[quote name='neilp' timestamp='1470407490' post='3105816'] If you want to walk round in silence trying people's basses, come and do it. I certainly wouldn't want to stop you, and nor I suspect would anyone else. If you don't want to come, don't come, but why try to rubbish the whole thing. I'm busy, I've got classical gigs and electric bass gigs to prepare and practice for, but I regard this sort of get-together as part of the fun of being a bass player, even if it's not going to revolve around my needs. I'm driving from West Sussex to do it, and I'm looking forward to it [/quote] [quote name='stingrayPete1977' timestamp='1470408735' post='3105834'] I'm not saying you need to chat for hours in minute detail, but I think at least an exchange of friendliness would be polite before grabbing an expensive bass before playing it. I find this whole situation strange right from your first arsey post I've quoted and quoted from already,why do you feel so special that you needed to be privately consulted about this bash? It's been in the db section for ages as an open discussion regarding plans different to last time before dates were confirmed. Telling us what you would of brought with you is frankly, childish. [/quote] Guys, I've not really 'rubbished' this event or wanted to be 'treated specially' (and any of you who've actually met me know that I certainly would not be walking around silently, which by the way was your suggestion Pete, not mine), I simply stated that, like many others apparently, I would need a bit more reassurance about the quality of this event if I were to make the effort of a whole day's journey. And, thanks, I now have all the reassurance I need. Apologies of my apparent rudeness put noses out of joint, I suspect they were waiting to be. Chris

Just a shame about the shill bidding. Might not be, but everytime I've seen that pattern it has turned out to be. I used to like testing it by bidding it up and waiting for the second chance offer from the seller about 15 minutes after the auctions closed. Sellers can be really creative about the reasons for the 'high bidder' deciding to not pay, but it's always amusing that, when they relist the item, they allow the same bidder to keep bidding it up again!

[quote name='stingrayPete1977' timestamp='1470392484' post='3105667'] You've already said you don't want to talk about preamps or anything else for that matter so what are you proposing, walk around in silence trying each others basses then leave? [/quote] And frankly why not, I'd be happy anyone else to do the same? Also, I've three DBs and a very interesting EUB, plus about 15 pre-amps I could have brought for others to try, adding to the whole thing. I don't see why my reasons for attending are somehow flawed because they're not yours?

[quote name='Happy Jack' timestamp='1470401899' post='3105763'] Does that mean that there are sixteen people attending, or eight people attending twice? [/quote] I will be not attending twice Jack if that helps! Bassace/Owen, go for it and make it a good event. Frankly you should be canvassing, an event like this needs a snowball effect. You don't need to use the Inner Sanctum (looks like your memberships have expired anyway), just PM a few likely folks and get them to indicate their attendance and therefore get some momentum and more interest, leading to more momentum and more interest. I've been keeping an eye on this thread since April, and it's plodded along like a Coldplay b-side. Given that many people will have to commit the whole day, and will need to book it in advance with wives, bands, work etc, you need to get onto it chaps.

[quote name='stingrayPete1977' timestamp='1470392484' post='3105667'] There was another thread started ages ago where all of your points were raised and an open invitation to anyone offering suitable services was made, suggestions of a luthier giving basic services on site were made for example, I didn't realise there was an inner sanctum that needed private consultation regarding a bash? You've already said you don't want to talk about preamps or anything else for that matter so what are you proposing, walk around in silence trying each others basses then leave? Lol [/quote] Well given all these consultations have resulted in a grand attendance of six over a thread of four months (that's recruiting about at about one member every two weeks), it was clearly not very effective. I will travel if I see value. I don't. I'm guessing many others feel the same. Organisers, organise it. Answer questions publicly not by PM, put on an event via on-going consultation and respond publicly to comments, don't just hire a room and cross your fingers. And Pete, there is an inner sanctum mate, there shouldn't be, but there is.