Cosmo Valdemar

[quote name='dc2009' post='1283628' date='Jun 27 2011, 05:20 AM']@ Cosmo Valdemar, one or two posts of former owners also repeated the exact problem you had, which some reckon was caused by a 4 string pup being put in to do the 5 string, and the A being the string that missed out on the J.[/quote] I'm sure it was that. I remember now the guy in the shop telling me this was normal practice in bass manufacture and that it couldn't be helped. He also convinced me that the P pickup (which had no issues) was the only one you really needed for my kind of music (at that age I probably had a Fear Factory shirt on). Being utterly naive, and already in love with the bass, I took it. First person to guess which reputable London bass trader that was wins a peanut.

When I was at school, there was a little guitar shop up the road where we would frequently 'miss' chosen lessons to go and look round. They had a very early Wal in there, single pickup, scratchplate, wide headstock and everything. It was about £350 and it hung on the wall for years. Yes, I regret that one.

Do Fender still make the Mexican 50s Precision? AFAIK they are the same as the Roadworns but 'pre-beating'. A lot cheaper too. I would happily say that the one I played was the best-feeling P bass I have had the pleasure to hold. The neck is the stuff of dreams.

[quote name='danweb22' post='1280616' date='Jun 24 2011, 10:15 AM']Ah I was hoping someone was able to do that! lol[/quote] I can't see anything other than 'WB'...

I enjoyed that. Any chance of 'Dyer's Eve'?

[quote name='chrisd24' post='1274206' date='Jun 18 2011, 10:27 PM']I used interparcel a little while ago as had the same issue sending an accordion to ireland and was getting ridiculous quotes elsewhere. there site is [url="http://www.interparcel.com/?gclid=CPXdo5mywKkCFQEY4Qod8AH4EA"]here[/url] You can get an easy quote while choosing what service you use,and insurance on your item is vastly cheaper than what royal mail will charge,and they will pick the item up from you saving the hassle of even leaving the house![/quote] That's who I use. I usually go for the TNT option.

I don't know why the term 'self-indulgent' has become so derogatory - as far as I am concerned, the finest music is self-indulgent, i.e. composed for self satisfaction and for the sheer joy of it, rather than for a target audience. When I shut myself away and start working on ideas, I'm not thinking of anybody but myself.

Sounds like my ideal band! Shame I'm a bit far away.

[quote name='Maverick' post='1274201' date='Jun 18 2011, 10:21 PM']Completely unimportant point, but he's back to the Marcus Miller in their latest live vids. I'm kind of glad, thinking that Mendez's bass looked really cool is how I first discovered Marcus Miller [/quote] From Opeth to Marcus Miller in one move. So he's back with the Fenders then. To be honest the last time I saw them was at High Voltage almost a year ago, and he used Sandbergs throughout - I think it was the J style one with the MM pickup at the bridge. Although, true to Opeth form, you could hardly hear the bass!

[quote name='dc2009' post='1274198' date='Jun 18 2011, 10:19 PM']You dismantled it? o.O I just checked, and my A string is perfectly even with both pickups soloed and when mixed, sound like you just had a bit of a duff magnet, which is a shame. Mine sounds pretty nice, though the J pup is a bit weak as I said before. And thanks for the kind words merello, I do love the look of it too.[/quote] The close string spacing was always a bit much for me, I had the idea of turning it into a 'Fenderbird' with an old Encore P-style neck I had knocking around. Turns out the necks were the same width, so Epiphone clearly just squeezed an extra string onto a standard sized neck. Never got round to completeing it and sold the parts on Ebay, doubtless to another Fenderbird enthusiast. Sounds like I must have had a duff pickup then!

The only 'metal' bands that would give a toss about the appearance of the bass would be the trendy-arse, whiney emo metal - and that's only jumped up production line pop music anyway. Any metal band worth their salt wouldn't give a monkey's. This whole thing about all metal bassists playing black basses (or worse, blood-splattered) is a cliche at best. Examples - Opeth's bass player used Fender Marcus Miller basses for years, now plays Sandberg. The guy from Fear Factory played modified Roscoe Beck basses. And this: [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SSCduKrF5Zc&feature=related"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SSCduKrF5Zc...feature=related[/url]

Veeeeeery nice... Very Fear Factory If the recent quality of Squiers is anything to go by it should be a killer.

[quote name='dc2009' post='1272954' date='Jun 17 2011, 05:01 PM']Here are some pics I've just taken, apologies for the pisspoor light.[/quote] That takes me back. Wish I had never dismantled it now! Can you check to see if the A string is particularly quiet with the J pickup solo'd? Mine was, I would be interested to know if mine was iffy or if it was an inherent design flaw.

The most impressive thing by far is that your mum is a stand up comedian.

Another shout for the Line 6 Lowdown110. I have one and it is wonderful. Wouldn't fancy it's chances against a drummer but for bedroom practice and recording it's fantastic.

[quote name='stingrayPete1977' post='1268713' date='Jun 14 2011, 03:05 PM']Not really going to help the OP though is it?[/quote] If I had paid for a brand new bass of that calibre and it had some wiring errors ilke the OPs had I would definitely post on the manufacturer's forum, to see if anyone else had the issue and also to see if it was something of a common problem. Of course I would also contact the shop I bought it from.

I like them. Fender trying something a little different. I reckon the P/P Jazz would be a monster, always liked that pickup combination.

I still don't understand how a high action helps the string vibrate better... Surely the string isn't aware of how far away it is from the neck? If it's vibrating freely between the bridge and nut it should be the same regardless of action.

[quote name='dave.c' post='1265839' date='Jun 12 2011, 11:09 AM']I have to say these new ones are great, I've not changed the setup from the factory and it plays brilliantly, pickups are strong and give THE sound (I have in my head anyway) and the neck is one of the best 4001/4003 necks I have tried, actually, probably the best! The whole bass feels really solid, I think maybe they are doing something different with the neck now as it has a 'stiffness' that I have found a bit lacking in some older Rickenbackers.[/quote] My experience exactly. Chris, you are always more than welcome to try my new 4003 if you are ever in my neck of the woods.