EssentialTension

[quote name='gjones' timestamp='1329676517' post='1545734'] In my opinion a large proportion of the people who post on basschat regularly have a smidgeon of bass guitar related aspergers in their psychological makeup. That probably includes me too. I think the neck and pickups contribute most to the sound of a bass - I've learned this from experience, having swopped a lot of necks and pickups in my time. And of course there's the famous video of the guy on talkbass who swopped the body of his alder Jazz Bass with a plank he found in his shed, then recorded a demo with the original bass and one with the body replaced with the plank. Could anybody tell the difference? I'm not telling! Go find the video on Talkbass for yourself. [/quote] Here's the TB thread: Alder versus Plank: [url="http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f8/scrap-lumber-bass-vs-alder-bass-can-you-tell-difference-743932/"]http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f8/scrap-lumber-bass-vs-alder-bass-can-you-tell-difference-743932/[/url]

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1329675780' post='1545716'] I though we already decided that the type of timbre doesn't make much difference? [/quote] Confusing eh?

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1329674108' post='1545682'] What discussion? What a bass is made out of makes little or no difference to its tone. We decided that ages ago. I'm just here for the lulz. [/quote] I knew that.

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1329673724' post='1545672'] Wow! I've got a certificate for swimming a width and the Mrs Joyful prize for rafia work. [/quote] Best you keep out of this discussion then, you're not qualified.

[quote name='Max Normal' timestamp='1329669305' post='1545574'] [size=4]... We know that different tonewoods and bass guitar construction materials affect tone[/size] ... [/quote] My guess is that you'll find this claim is going to be heavily disputed.

I wonder how long this thread will last before the big argument. Just for the record I'm on the 'wood doesn't matter much' side of things; fingers, strings, pickup, electronics, amp, speakers, all play a much bigger role in how I sound. I'm certainly unconvinced by the concept of 'tonewoods'. Anyway, just in case, IBTL.

Boss TU2 tuner (essential - well not totally essential because I do have ears) and Tech 21 VT Bass (not essential at all). That's it.

There's lots of good advice here but it is quite simple really - you are testing the bass out, not the shop testing out your bassist skills. Playing songs/tunes is the very last thing I'd do. Inspect the bass: finish, fretwork, tuners, etc. does it tune ok? Play every note on every string and listen to it acoustically, are there any dead spots? Does it intonate satisfactorily? If the bass passes so far then plug it in, an amp of your choice, with controls flat. Repeat the every note, every string trick. If you're still happy maybe play some tunes, in different styles, maybe adjusting the tone. Play with right hand near bridge, over pickup, near fretboard. Are you going to need different strings? That needs to be factored into the cost. Etc., etc.

[quote name='Happy Jack' timestamp='1329505034' post='1543642'] [i]"It has flatwounds so bass players can feel right at home .[/i].." [/quote] Excellent.

[quote name='essexbasscat' timestamp='1329562277' post='1544218'] Never played above fret 19 on a gig. Not once. [/quote] I played 17 once, on the G string, apparently it's a C note, but I didn't like it. Not been back since, I let the guitarist play up there.

[quote name='paul_c2' timestamp='1329588350' post='1544660'] But that doesn't fit, because you don't need frets to create some higher notes, just know where the harmonics are. My 4 string, 20 fret Jazz copy can achieve 5 octaves, for example, the same as my 24 fret fretless. [/quote] Well, I think it does fit because a 21 fret 4-string neck does cover three octaves in the normal and straightforward sense. Although I'll accept that a range of harmonics (and bends) are also available.

I understand why one might call a 24 fret neck a two octave neck but surely of more interest is how many octaves are available across the instrument. So for a 21 fret 4-string neck that would be three octaves.

Sorry to hear this Clarky, but something else will come up.

[quote name='paul_5' timestamp='1329523213' post='1543965'] You pay the bills with the first five frets, anything else is a bonus. [/quote] Yes, it's worth writing the word 'MONEY' along the neck next to the first five frets.

Like everyone says, it depends on what you are playing. I don't think I've ever been higher than fret 15, and mostly not above 9.

[quote name='bassace' timestamp='1329484937' post='1543170'] ... My basses are characterised by small scratches on the top of the body just off the fingerboard where sometimes my thumbnail lands after the e is plucked. [/quote] I've discovered that my right-arm shirt cuff button can make similar scratches.

I don't know for sure that they are the same but I'd be extremely surprised if they were different. Try asking at the [url="http://www.laklandowners.com"]Lakland Owners Group[/url] if you don't get a definite answer here, or Lakland are usually quick to reply to an email.

[quote name='goingdownslow' timestamp='1329087079' post='1537118'] Just watched a clip from the programme advert of him doing Theme From An Imaginary Western, what a song and what a voice the man still has. [url="http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p00nrcfb"]BBC Artworks[/url] [/quote] Very good, thanks for the link.

[quote name='S9_S12_Bass' timestamp='1329155808' post='1538069'] Just shows how ignorant people are towards music - Peoples brains just get filled with the sh*t from X factor and Britains got talent and just think the people who 'sing' on the shows are everything and filled with talent. I think it's pretty disgusting that Macca isn't known considering what he has accomplished as a musician. Ok you may not like him but at least know who the f*** he is! [/quote] McCartney on X Factor: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iwutfEne6sI

Very nice, Michael. Is it wearing the Lakland strings?

[quote name='Oopsdabassist' timestamp='1329155895' post='1538072'] Seth who? [/quote] I already asked that twice but no one seems to know.

[quote name='ojplaysbass' timestamp='1329155546' post='1538062'] I'm not so much concerned with whether or not they know who Paul McCartney is because he's a bassist - rather because he's got to be one of the most recognisable faces in the world and, if they don't know who he is, what other massive gaps in people's general knowledge are there? not everyone's gonna be on mastermind but you've gotta wonder..... [/quote] Most people know a very limited range of stuff. It's normal. Anyway who is Seth Horan?

[quote name='ojplaysbass' timestamp='1329154729' post='1538029'] just thought i'd bring this to people's attention if they haven't seen it already - i picked it up from Seth Horan's Facebook post [url="http://www.buzzfeed.com/mjs538/who-is-paul-mccartney"]http://www.buzzfeed....-paul-mccartney[/url] ( [url="http://web.me.com/sethhoran/Seth_Horan/sethhoran.com.html"]http://web.me.com/se...hhoran.com.html[/url] ) i don't know if i should be angered, amused or baffled by this whole thing :/ [/quote] It's fairly normal and common I'd say. Anyway who is Seth Horan?

Dynamics.

[quote name='Jayben' timestamp='1329134480' post='1537511'] Would it really be a Les Paul if those problems WERE fixed? [/quote] Would it be a PRS?