EssentialTension

[quote name='Funky Dunky' timestamp='1390846089' post='2350287'] 40-100 gauge - pros and cons please? [/quote] Which make of strings? Gauge means nothing on its own - a 100 Chrome is nothing like a 100 Thomastik, whatever bass it is on.

[quote name='White Cloud' timestamp='1390842038' post='2350187'] My question to Fender is who the f*** is she? Yes, I know she plays with Pink etc and I have seen her face all over BGM over the last few years...but I would describe her as an average player. I grew up aspiring to Jaco, Jeff Berlin, Stan clarke, Geddy Lee etc etc etc...seriously is there anyone on this forum that aspires to play like Eva Gardner? [/quote] No, but I don't aspire to play like the rest of your list either.

I think you're probably correct about not using it. Maybe I do need to sell it.

[quote name='oggiesnr' timestamp='1390774143' post='2349434'] ... "Dr Hook and the Medicine Show" Please note this is NOT the same band as Dr Hook ... [/quote] They are the same band with name changed in mid 1970s but I agree the earlier stuff is excellent.

+1 on Dolly Parton ... and essential is Patsy Cline

[quote name='ML94' timestamp='1390771737' post='2349391'] But that's for when you want to use that certain attack or technique. Also doesn't everyone play dynamically rather than digging in all the time. [/quote] I'm guessing most people play dynamically to a degree, more or less. Sometimes some people also 'dig in'.

[quote name='Legion' timestamp='1390771799' post='2349393'] You think it sounds dark Dave? I tend to link "dark" with flats, muting and thumpiness myself [/quote] By 'dark', I think what I had in mind was being short scale there would be a stronger fundamental but I compared it with the Lakland website long scale sound samples and the difference, I felt, was small. Strangely, I've always thought the mahogany on these does something to the sound - this is odd because I am tonewood-denier so I don't even take it seriously myself. Either way it sounded great but mostly and unsurprisingly really just like a Decade. I've considered asking Lakland to sell me a short scale neck to put on the skyline. On the other hand I've been planning to sell the Decade because I am not using it.

The Louvin Brothers and, more up to date, Old Crow Medicine Show.

[quote name='ML94' timestamp='1390769895' post='2349357'] Why dig in when you can turn your amp up slightly, thats my motto [/quote] Because 'digging in' provides a different kind of attack as well as being louder.

[quote name='Dingus' timestamp='1390745627' post='2348880'] I have never personally encountered any grounding problems with the chrome shells on these pickups, but I do know that Lakland had a manufacturing problem with the Chi humbuckers - a large proportion of them were not usable from new after due to grounding issues after they had been potted in wax and had to be discarded at the factory - so much so that they discontinued those humbuckers in the chrome shells for a while last year . They have, apparently, remedied the problem and are now offering them in the chrome shells again, as well as a new version using anlico magnets as opposed to the neodymium ones used in the standard Chi Sonics. That problem, however, only applies to the humbuckers, whereas the standard Decade uses single coils housed in humbucker shells purely for cosmetic effect. The single coil version in a humbucker shell was not affected by the same problem of shorting out like the humbucking version was, and was never discontinued. I haven't heard about this problem with the hum before now, but I suppose using chrome surrounds you are asking for trouble. Lakland never stopped using chrome shells on the Skyline Decade, but rather offer it , as with the other Chi Sonics, in a plastic shell as an alternative option if the customer prefers it.for whatever reason. A couple of basses with that option were pictured on the internet and some people started to assume that the chrome covers were no longer standard, when in fact they still were . When the Chi humbuckers were discontinued in the chrome shells they were still available in the plastic covers because the problems were specific to the chrome version. [/quote] For a while (around 2010) there was an upcharge for the chromed covers ($100 if I recall correctly) on the Skyline.

[quote name='Legion' timestamp='1390744564' post='2348869'] Currently has DR sunbeams fitted. Bit dead, which is how I like them anyway. Not sure if its my idea of dark as the Chisonics still have that open frequency response. Sounds like a decade to me...I've done you a small clip to demonstrate (might sound like a familiar riff!) This is a DI (no EQ) out of my Puma into a focusrite and then Ableton live with no tweaking at all [url="https://soundcloud.com/sakura-1-1/shorty/s-muOgO"]https://soundcloud.c.../shorty/s-muOgO[/url] Edit: oh yea, its both/bridge/neck in that order [/quote] Very nice. It took a while but I eventually realized the familiarity of the riff.

My preference is 'not too low', and not too much flying about either. The 'not too low' applies yet more strongly if the bass is acoustic or semi-acoustic.

BTW Lakland strings are actually made by GHS

[quote name='Legion' timestamp='1390727067' post='2348559'] [/quote] What strings have you got on that? And does it sound very dark?

[quote name='Legion' timestamp='1390738480' post='2348769'] Agreed. One of my previous decades (the sunburst US one I think) had an attempt at this, but it was done by running a bit of conductive adhesive copper tape from the bottom edge of the pickup surround to a ground soldered on the bottom of the pickup itself. Unfortunately the adhesive had lost its conductive properties and so the grounding failed eventually. Something to look out for. [/quote] Ah, I see what you mean. Thanks Jas.

Great dancing too.

Sounds like a good fix. I think Lakland were aware of this problem and it's why they had alternative pickup covers for the Skyline Decade for a while. So presumably they too have a fix for it now. My 2008 Skyline Decade has no issue at all.

[quote name='MarkW' timestamp='1390689827' post='2348418'] ... I'm kind of curious what flats would sound like on a fretted bass. Crap, probably. Is it worth trying? :-( [/quote] You might think flats will sound crap on a fretted bass and many might agree with you but I'm one of those who uses flats (of one make or another) on all basses. So if you don't try you'll never know.

Don't forget the sexy black nylons.

[quote name='skankdelvar' timestamp='1390321329' post='2344024'] Which leads to an interesting question. Which is more authentic? A re-finished original or a re-finished relic? And is re-finishing a relic less authentic than leaving it as it is? I shall not be able to sleep tonight. [/quote] I too couldn't sleep and so I was wondering what if you had a relic but didn't like the colour scheme so you decided to have it re-finished. Should you re-relic your re-finished relic? Then all of a sudden I fell soundly asleep.

[quote name='dannybuoy' timestamp='1390658851' post='2348016'] I would be most interested in this but the decals put me off. It's nice that she has a tattoo that means something to her and she wants it on her bass, but I don't want it on mine I'm afraid! [/quote] I don't think you'll be alone there. Too personal.