EssentialTension

[quote name='Shaggy' timestamp='1420376507' post='2648514'] Been a few good music programmes on BBC4 this Xmas / New Year - particularly enjoyed The Clash 1977 New Year gig documentary (being the year I started on bass as a young punk.......) One of my "guilty pleasures" has always been the Carpenters, so caught "Carpenters at the BBC" the other night on BBC4, think it's on again late tonight I was struck by the bass playing (Wes Jacobs as far as I can tell via Google?) - very simple, but melodic and beautifully complementing the music - often not easy in bands where the keyboard is so dominant. Anyone who saw it know what bass he was playing? - a thinline semi-acoustic that looked like a Gretsch of some sort. Really nice tone. [/quote] No need for guilt and it's definitely a Gretsch.

Same here, everyone must agree happily or the song is forgotten. The same goes for originals as well as covers; we don't treat them differently. The only time I would expect any different to this is if there was a band leader and we were all doing as we were told ... and if you don't like it you can leave.

http://youtu.be/pdcccPlz_Xo

[quote name='Geek99' timestamp='1420357305' post='2648307'] Think that's Bob Babbitt actually [/quote] ... or maybe Tony Newton actually.

[quote name='Dan Dare' timestamp='1420321258' post='2648126'] Tears of a Clown was the one that did it for me. Genius. [/quote] In the case of Tears of a Clown, there has been some dispute as to who played bass. There is also more than one version of that song. Whether this is correct I don't know but it's often said that: First version, LP version which became UK single is Tony Newton on bass. Second version, which became US single is Bob Babbitt on bass. Either way it's great.

[quote name='cybertect' timestamp='1420148793' post='2646195'] ... Stills shot for a Swedish TV show on Wikipedia appears to be the same [url="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b7/Mud_-_TopPop_February_1974_04.png"]http://upload.wikime...ary_1974_04.png[/url] [/quote] That one looks like a different bass - as said above, it has a pre-1969 headstock logo.

Here's a better view of the string spacing with regard to pole-piece spacing. I have seen worse, although the string spacing does not appear even. The bridge looks like a Bass VI replacement bridge.

The VT Bass unit is very good and I use one myself but story has it that at Motown the bass and guitars were recorded direct to the desk via a valve preamp. Amplifiers were not used. [url="http://soulfuldetroit.com/archives/1/541.html?1020196543"]http://soulfuldetroit.com/archives/1/541.html?1020196543[/url] [url="http://www.talkbass.com/threads/the-real-james-jamerson-amp.854013/"]http://www.talkbass.com/threads/the-real-james-jamerson-amp.854013/[/url]

[quote name='Prime_BASS' timestamp='1420297346' post='2647737'] Just had a look, looks like a squier jaguar bass which has been modded to be 6 strings. [/quote] You can see where the headstock has been filled.

[quote name='Sibob' timestamp='1420294858' post='2647665'] Aren't they tuned B-B in the guitar register? If so, you'll need an octave pedal, if so, you're replacing a bass with a slightly lower guitar + a pedal to do the job of a bass? Lol Si [/quote] Standard tuning is E A D G B E in bass guitar register.

There is already a thread on this topic but I cannot find it while on iphone.

Given the introduction made here, the tone of some posts in the other thread was somewhat unfottunate to say the least.

Not all semis are constructed the same; some sre more hollow than others but they are all quiet. But if you are looking for volume theres a reason the double bass is the size it is.

Also guy in Soft Machine in early 70s. It can be done.

Jack Bruce used a Bass VI in early days of Cream.

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1420051909' post='2645264'] Thanks for posting, I'll watch this later when everyone's gone to bed. [/quote] I've started but I'll be finishing it later too.

http://youtu.be/-SjGAPWgHUc

IN: Zero OUT: Michael Kelly Acoustic.

[quote name='SubsonicSimpleton' timestamp='1419784391' post='2642679'] ... Personally if I wanted an inexpensive J or P backup I would go play a bunch of Squiers and pick a good one rather than blind order from china. [/quote] Exactly. There are perfectly good legitimate instruments available at similar prices to these.

The sunburst does not appear on the rear of the bass, where it is straight black. This is often because it is a piece of plywood ... and I do mean plywood not laminations of walnut and maple.

[quote name='spacey' timestamp='1419772562' post='2642569'] Repaired a jaguar that the strap button would not stay in no matter what screw was used, even a 3 inch chipboard screw would not stay in. The wood looked to have been tampered to give it a hard finish, but underneath it was like balsa wood and it had to be honed out and filled with epoxy wood resin and then drilled to get the strap button to stay. Most unusual circumstance. I guess in China anything goes as long as it looks good. My personal opinion added to this is putting Fender on Chinese made instruments has lowered the brand to budget instrument from what once was Kudos instrument status. [/quote] I've seen exactly that problem on a USA Fender. It needed a coach screw and Araldite.

So-called TV logo dates from 1969 and later. So bass is after that date. Tugbar moved to finger-rest above the E string from 1974. So bass is before that date. Being Fender these dates need to be taken with a pinch of salt.

It looks like someone is shouting.

Is it this one? http://youtu.be/kvU2GSy85hA