RhysP

Wow!

[quote name='MoJo' timestamp='1479035523' post='3173399'] I've seen one of Robert Fripp's Gibsons at a local luthiers shop. It was this one. It was, so I'm told, the one that Robert used on the King Crimson recordings and the luthier in question slept with it under his bed while it was in his care because of the iconic / sentimental value of the instrument. [/quote] I would have slept with it IN the bed.

[quote name='niagra' timestamp='1479024672' post='3173316'] I was hoping to get one that he could use at home and also take to his rock school nights, is that going to be a compromise too far? Perhaps I should go for a nice home use one then, there's a nice 1 watt valve amp by Blackstar: [url="https://www.andertons.co.uk/p/HT1R/combo-amps/blackstar-ht-1r-1w-1x8-tube-guitar-amp-with-reverb"]https://www.anderton...amp-with-reverb[/url] [/quote] I'd go for an amp he can do both things with. I've had guitar combos ranging from 5 watts to 100 watts over the years & I've used them quietly at home with no problems. They do have volume controls you know.

[quote name='Beer of the Bass' timestamp='1479035253' post='3173397'] I find it often helps to scuff up a small area on the back of the pot with fine sandpaper immediately before soldering, then it will take the solder much more easily. IMO the old style tin/lead solder is much friendlier too. [/quote] This. The newer solders are a swine to work with compared to the old tin/lead ones.

I love my Japanese Jazzmaster, it's a brilliant guitar. The J Mascis models get really good reviews, great guitar for the money.

[quote name='Andyjr1515' timestamp='1478971753' post='3173076'] Also I think it must have been a different design originally on the bass - Stuart's is three screws at the front and two at the back. This one is two at the front and three at the back. Very grateful for the info, though. I now know that there is nothing wrong elsewhere. I am also pretty certain I am going to be able to get hold of the spacers for the Schaller - and it seems a well put together piece of kit. I've checked on the Schaller site again and am pretty sure they won't sell direct to us in the UK but they do say their designated retail outlets (touchstone tonewoods) have access to their complete range. So, although the spares are showing out of stock, I think touchstone will be obliged to order them for me - I've dropped them an email. If the worst comes to the worst, Stuart would be able to order them from Sri Lanka! (Just think how much more complicated this is all going to get post Brexit!!!!) I therefore probably won't be following up the US bridge opportunity, RhysP, but I'm very grateful indeed for the info and research! [/quote] No problem. Funnily enough the guy I was talking to replaced the original bridge on one of his NJ basses with a Schaller roller bridge & used spacers on it, so it should work OK.

[quote name='Andyjr1515' timestamp='1478969229' post='3173054'] That's very interesting, RhysP ...the base plate answers the question! ...and yes - VERY interested in the bridge your contact has for sale! Very, very interested! [/quote] Here's the pictures of the bridge (on a rather lovely NJ Wave bass): [URL=http://s86.photobucket.com/user/RhysP/media/NJ%20bass%20bridge%201_zps7lualads.jpg.html][IMG]http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k120/RhysP/NJ%20bass%20bridge%201_zps7lualads.jpg[/IMG][/URL] [URL=http://s86.photobucket.com/user/RhysP/media/NJ%20bass%20bridge%202_zpsjhjsjnvc.jpg.html][IMG]http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k120/RhysP/NJ%20bass%20bridge%202_zpsjhjsjnvc.jpg[/IMG][/URL]

Been asking around the BC Rich collectors I know & I've found somebody in the USA who has an original bridge for one of these NJ Mocks that he's selling for $25 + shipping if you're interested. The base plate isn't massively thick but the saddles are really chunky & I think that's what makes up the height difference. He's going to send me a photo of the bridge later on, I'll post it on here when I get it.

[quote name='gjones' timestamp='1478964880' post='3173023'] A great songwriter can make the simplest, off the shelf, chord structure, into a great song. [/quote] This. When I'm listening to songs I love I'm not even aware of the chord structure. I'm always surprised by just how simple lots of my favourite songs are when I try & learn them on guitar.

[quote name='Andyjr1515' timestamp='1478956590' post='3172947'] Looked into this and the Hipshot equivalent doesn't get anywhere high enough. I think getting hold of the spacers is the key! [/quote] My US Mock has an original Badass on it with the very thick bass plate. They didn't use Badass bridges exclusively but they did use them a lot. I've got some very knowledgable friends both here & in the US who are vintage BC Rich collectors, do you want me to see if I can find out what the original bridge on this would have been?

[quote name='W1_Pro' timestamp='1478935416' post='3172774'] Phwoar. A real US Mock. Always wanted one of those. Beautiful bass Rhys. [/quote] Cheers! Yes, it's a stunning bass, up there with the best basses I've owned. There's more pictures of it, and others, in the BC Rich Porn thread if anyone is interested: http://basschat.co.uk/topic/8544-bcrich-porn/

[quote name='arthurhenry' timestamp='1478953847' post='3172915'] For me, instantly recognising a familiar chord sequence takes away from the effect of the lyrics and melody. If I wrote something which fitted a I, V, VI, IV progression, I'd scrap it, as I couldn't bear to be that predictable. [/quote] Do you have any examples of this wonderfully unique & original music made only by you that you can share with us?

I'd have a look at some of the cheaper Blackstar combos, they get consistantly good write ups. Personally I'd go for a Fender Mustang iii v2, excellent, versatile amps that will seem him right for a good few years. Loads of amp models & built in effects that can be edited via computer if you should want to. I've been seriously impressed with this amp ever since I saw The Handsome Family live a year or so ago. I expected to see the guitarist using an old Fender amp for the bluesy, swampy sounds he was getting, I was stunned to see it was a £235 solid state amp.

Luckily, both for my sanity & my bank balance, I've never been into the whole modding thing. I buy a guitar or bass because I like how it sounds & how it plays. If the first thing I was thinking about was what to replace on it I just wouldn't buy it. I've never got the whole "high mass/endless sustain" bridge thing for basses either, when we seem to spend most of our playing trying to stop notes ringing out for ages.

What sort of sounds is he after, what sort of music does he play?

[quote name='thegummy' timestamp='1478881682' post='3172411'] I've heard a lot of talk online about everyone preferring P's but I was watching the Crossroads DVDs a few days ago and noticed that there are far more J's being played there. [/quote] Yes, Amy Turtle, Meg Richardson & Benny were all well known for their love of Jazz basses.

Wonderful instruments. If you look at my avatar you will see the incredibly sexy neck transition carve of my own 1979 USA Mockingbird Standard bass.

I've never seen Opeth, so I'd like to see them.

Great basses,

Have you had the frets levelled? Sounds like it needs a fret job to me. If you have a fairly heavy handed right hand technique then also you might not be able to get the action as low as you'd like it without it rattling.

[quote name='The-Ox' timestamp='1478737095' post='3171373'] don't want to hijack the thread, but if you were to pick one, who would you say was the 'best' in the band? [/quote] Difficult to say as they all had their strengths. Rick Wright, for instance, was no keyboard wizard like Wakeman or Emerson but his voice and his playing style were very much part of the Floyd sound. For me though I would have to say Gilmour.

Some people are just not suited to being in bands. After playing in various bands over the years & generally finding it to be a pretty miserable experience I can say that I'm one of them. I enjoy playing music with other people sometimes but I have no desire whatsoever to be an "entertainer" - I get nothing from playing in front of an audience other than the feeling that I'd rather be somewhere else.

I used to listen to Floyd all the time when I was younger. These days if I listen to them at all it's either Piper At The Gates Of Dawn or Animals. I really wouldn't care if I never heard "Shine on..." ever again.

Here's Peggy ripping it up on some jigs & reels with Fairport in 1976: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=efg1hgSCqJU

Bass guitar has been being used as an upfront melodic & solo instrument in folk rock music for decades. Check out some of the superb playing by Rick Kemp (Steeleye Span) & Dave Pegg (Fairport Convention) back in the 70s, a good place to start is "Robbery With Violins" from the 1973 Steeleye Span album "Parcel of Rogues", it's basically a 1.47 minute long bass & violin solo with the bass playing lots of lovely distorted wah wah stuff. [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7_BXh6DL4lg[/media]