EssentialTension

[url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Sunburst-Fender-Telecaster-Bass-with-Vintage-Finish_W0QQitemZ190356909186QQcmdZViewItemQQptZGuitar?hash=item2c5227ec82"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Sunburst-Fender-Tele...=item2c5227ec82[/url] Looks nice!

Brand new seller but at a glance it does look like it could be real.

[url="http://cgi.ebay.com/Beautiful-Closet-Fender-Precision-Bass-Guitar_W0QQitemZ250547102771QQcmdZViewItemQQptZGuitar?hash=item3a55c56433"]http://cgi.ebay.com/Beautiful-Closet-Fende...=item3a55c56433[/url] Serial number 1230.

[quote name='fatback' post='681372' date='Dec 11 2009, 02:22 PM']Fretless and flats? What about Mwaah? I've always imagined that round were a big ingredient of mwaah. Am I wrong? fatback[/quote] Flats on my fretless, in fact flats on everything. I haven't been near a round in years. I get as much mwaah as I need.

I almost always play with fingers. I can play with a pick if I need to - which would usually either be when I'm looking for a particular tone or when I have a serious blister situation. I don't slap. I don't listen to other bassists because they use or fingers or pick but because I like how they sound musically. I don't listen to slap.

I used a Jaguar bass a few times last year. Nice bass, I thought, but if I was going to do anything to it then, IMHO, the weakest link was the preamp. However, if you like it don't do anything.

[quote name='wateroftyne' post='679007' date='Dec 9 2009, 12:59 PM']I like it - it's where the bass is.[/quote] +1 I might wander [u][b]UP[/b][/u] the dusty end occasionally but the money is below fret 7 (or I'll allow up to 9) and usually below 5.

Congratulations, Chris, that is lovely.

Is it active? Does it need a new battery?

[quote name='4000' post='675557' date='Dec 6 2009, 11:45 AM']"Frankenstein" was a P Bass he put together from parts of different P basses, FWIW. He always said it had a very distinctive tone.[/quote] The electronics were from a '66 slab P which JE also said had a very distinctive tone. [quote]1965 sunburst (later refinished Fiesta Red/salmon pink) “Frankenstein” Fender Precision Bass with maple neck. * Assembled from various basses, including the chrome pickup cover from a Fender Jazz Bass; the neck pickups and circuitry from two of John’s three “dead” slab basses. * Serial no. 13081 * Used beginning 1967. JE: I put this together in San Francisco on a day off part way through a Who tour. It’s the remains of five smashed basses hence the name ‘Frankenstein’. In the mid 70’s it was retired from stage work so I had it refinished from sunburst into its present pink colour. I used this baby from 1967 onwards through ‘Tommy’ and all the tours up to ‘Quadrophenia’...[b]The neck, pickups and circuitry are from a ‘dead’ slab bass[/b], the tailpiece from a Jazz bass, the pickguard from a black P bass and the machine heads from 2 white P basses...Two hours with a Phillips screwdriver and a soldering iron and I was ranting around my hotel room screaming “It’s alive, it’s alive!” [url="http://www.thewho.net/whotabs/equipment/bass/equip-entwistlegear-67-71.html"](source)[/url][/quote]

I got mine yesterday as well ... but where are my strings?

Very nice. I don't usually go for natural but that is smashing.

I bought a theory book from Mark. He was very patient while I slowly sorted the bank transfer. Good job.

Very happy with mine too.

[quote name='peteb' post='672659' date='Dec 2 2009, 11:25 PM']However the do have faults that many here seem to celebrate for some reason: crap bridge that needs replacing, missing fret, poor access to upper register and not to mention those ridiculous ash tray things that get in the way of your right hand and make changing a string a major chore! For some strange reason there are still some people who insist on keeping these – why??[/quote] crap bridge that needs replacing: answer = seems to me to work fine but replace it if you want to. missing fret: answer = what missing fret? I've never needed another fret. poor access to upper register: answer = I don't go anywhere near the upper register anyway, I leave that to the other instruments. those ridiculous ash tray things that get in the way of your right hand and make changing a string a major chore: answer = put some flats on and then don't change them. Sorted.

[quote name='mikebass78' post='672351' date='Dec 2 2009, 06:20 PM']Any advice or potential pitfalls with stringing up a 4 string (fender P) using 65-135 gauge strings?[/quote] BEAD tension is likely to be lower than EADG so you may need to adjust the truss rod. The nut may need filing but probably not by much. You'll need to set up the neck relief, the action and the intonation. Then, if you are like me, you'll change it all back to EADG.

I remember seeing an interview with Jaco where he says strict index-middle-index-middle plucking is the hardest thing you'll ever have to learn on bass.

[quote name='noirpunk' post='671029' date='Dec 1 2009, 01:25 PM']Hi all, I'll shortly be recieving a short scale bass. Just wondering what the drill is when I have to change strings? Is there any way of modifying standard scale strings for a short scale? Any good value for money short scale sets around?[/quote] How short? 30"?

'This base looks and plays like nothing you have known.'......... probably not that great then.

[quote name='Alun' post='670262' date='Nov 30 2009, 06:37 PM']+1 to the general consensus - as long it sounds good, allows you to do everything you need to, and doesn't harm you then it sounds fine by me.[/quote] +1. But - not only in relation to playing bass but more generally too - standard techniques are standard because they are tried and tested and work effectively. [quote name='Alun' post='670262' date='Nov 30 2009, 06:37 PM']I use various techniques but also play with just one finger a LOT - especially for walking lines. I personally find the tone a lot more consistent with one finger.[/quote] I too have a tendency to play with one finger (index) for evenness of tone. My middle finger never sounds the same, although I'll use it if I need to.

I've seen less basses in a bass shop. Nice job.

Well done Clarky. I must get one of those myself.