MoJoKe

My first 5 string was an Ibanez Ergodyne EDA905. Some kind of plastic I think. Interesting sound as had fishman pickup on the bridge, so sounded quite piano-y a challenge to look at too, but light and very playable!

Never really been a fan of Ricks, but apart from that, if I was planning on spendng that amount of money on a bass I'd have to see it in the flesh, but to get my interest in the first place some better, clearer, pictures!

[quote name='Doddy' post='1312001' date='Jul 21 2011, 08:10 PM']I know how to string up an instrument...[/quote] I'm sure [i]you [/i]do, but my comment wasn't made or meant as a personal insult! Like me you may have been playing for many years, but there are many people here, and I know a few of them, who haven't, and we are [i][b]all [/b][/i]still learning. I'm sure you have also seen pics of peoples prized basses of all ages, values and makes, some of which are for sale, which looked like they were strung by a three year old! We're none of us too old for good advice, from young and old, so please take my comments as meant, and not personally please! I like and get on with elixirs. Others don't, thats fine, but like you I am simply sharing my personal experience....

[quote name='Doddy' post='1311529' date='Jul 21 2011, 01:53 PM']I had a bad experience with Elixir strings. I put a set on my 5 string Jazz when I was doing panto in December,and the coating started to peel over the back pickup and around the 5th-7th frets in under a week.To make matters worse,some of it got under my nail causing my finger to get infected and i had to use a pick for the next week or so.[/quote] I certainly had problems in the early days of using them where pulling them roughly through the bridge damaged the coatings, and caused them to peel, so you really do have to be VERY careful when re-stringing, but now my strings last 6-12 months. My Wal has had the same set on for about two and a half years, I gigged it again at the weekend and they were still nice and slippery and bright sounding... Regarding finger infections, its a polymer coating which is impervious, so don't see how this could have been a cause?

I use Elixirs on all my basses. Wal fretless, Fender, Laklands, and spectors. I wouldn't use anything else. I don't agree with the lack of character comments! Don't use a pick, be extra careful threading them through the bridge/body so as not to damage the coatings and they will last for ages, well worth the extra investment and so much smoother/easier to play than uncoated strings. The only challenge I have had is getting the extra long scale ones at a good price as these are needed for the laklands. I now buy all my strings from Bass Merchant, as definitely the cheapest and best service... I'm happy to be an endorsee if you're reading this Elixir!!

[quote name='Len_derby' post='1308309' date='Jul 18 2011, 07:40 PM']From the way I read your post I presume this was at the same venue. In which case the common fatctors were probably the soundman and the PA. I wonder if he just dialled-up the bass sound that he liked or thought sounded 'right', irrespective of the bass played. As said above, 'it makes you think'![/quote] +1 that, think its been said earler in the thread but not as succinctly.... We all have our favourite "sound" why should the engineer be any different? not sure it should qualify him to ride roughshod over our carefully hewn tones though!!

Actually, thinking about it, the reality here is this debate is more about build quality and feel, and less about tone. Tone can be altered by amps/cabs/ the player/active electronics/pedals/the list is endless..... I do know that if I get GAS and go shopping I generally exclude a bass by its feel, weight and balance way before I think of plugging it in or looking at the price ticket. I've been through quite a few basses (not as many as a few here though!), and have been drawn to things by their "feel" which I would never have picked up by just looking at or hearing someone else play. on the flipside I picked up and tried out a lakland at the Mansons guitar show a few years back, and its setup felt horrible and unbalanced. I recently got a bad case of GAS, reluctantly tried a 55-02 again, and I now own two of them...

[quote name='BottomE' post='1304799' date='Jul 15 2011, 03:11 PM']What indie gig are you referring to?[/quote] Oops, Sorry, misread your original post , I certainly wasn't commenting on your taste/style! Not that it changes much, whatever the music style, a live gig isn't the best place to do a comparison on two basses as there are so many other considerations to allow for, not least a. the amount and EQ of bass in the FOH, being at the mercy of the sound guy, and b. where the bass sits in the rest of the mix. Put the two into a quiet, non reflective room and play through the same amp, but even then the levels will need to be adjusted to reflect the Squeir is passive and that the Wal will take your head off at the same gain, which will also colour the perceived sound. As said, not necessarily better, just different. I'm not being a bass snob, I love my Squeir and would never be parted from it.

[quote name='MoJoKe' post='1291149' date='Jul 3 2011, 04:28 PM']I'm planning to get the cover off one of them this evening and see if I can find anything obvious, thanks for this![/quote] Not quite as quickly as I'd hoped, but checked both 55-02 electronics today. my Std Ash one is perfect (and this battery has been fine anyway!), but my DLX, while appearing to be wired the same has got copious green gunge on all the contacts on the socket and also on the copper-y foil where all earths are soldered.... not right at all.... This is one for Lakland unless anyone else has any ideas? Also, interestingly the Std has its pre-amp loose in the cavity but with the back covered in insulting tape (dip switches facing down), and the DLX pre is screw mounted on an angled bracket with dip switches facing up. They are about 6 months in manufacture apart, and I would expect out of the same production line, so why different?

[quote name='Chris2112' post='1303147' date='Jul 14 2011, 03:29 AM']Put them in a studio though and it will soon become clear that one is an el-crappo P bass and the other is a Wal.[/quote] Ish! I have both, though my squier is an '81 JV (Fender by Squier), with a seymour duncan pickup, so a little unfair from this comparison. However, they both do different things, and IMHO are both valued for that reason. I struggle to make my Wal sound precision-y (but then why would I want to?), and the other way round I haven't a prayer as the Wal is a Wal! Now, on the other hand, 2 years ago I wanted a cheapo 5 string backup, so bought a black Squier Jazz, and that IS a heap of sh*te!! Regarding them sounding the same live, that doesn't surprise me too much with all the other racket going on at an indie gig!! Not really the place for fair comparison!!

no lack of ideas there then!! all different! Good luck!

[quote name='mike_zimmerman' post='1291121' date='Jul 3 2011, 04:10 PM']I had a problem with one of my 55-01s, and I've heard of others with the same problem, where the shielding in the control cavity (or on the cover?) made contact with the jack and grounded it, which ends up having the same effect as having a cable plugged in. That caused the battery to drain just like you're describing. Unfortunately, it's been quite a few years ago, so I don't remember the details of diagnosing and fixing it, but I'd double-check the shielding to make sure it's not making contact where it shouldn't[/quote] I'm planning to get the cover off one of them this evening and see if I can find anything obvious, thanks for this!

Currently in my gigging case:- 2 x Planet waves - the ones with "ordinary" jacks, one is the new silent cutout type ( shiny black chrome rightangled plug with a push switch), which I have twice managed to switch off while gigging! I have to say I have always been impressed, they work well, and when my first, 5 year old cable gave up the ghost it was replaced free of charge, without any quibble, along with a nice teeshirt! 2 x OBBM - mainly as spares. By no means OBBM's fault at all, but I rather lost faith with two he made for me with Neutrix silent jacks (the red ones with the brass collar), both of which failed so I replaced with standard jacks. good quality, thin and very flexible. 1 x Elixir. This one should have permanently gone into my studio lead trunk a while ago! It really [b][i]is [/i][/b]a fantastic lead, I always use it when recording, well worth the money, but totally useless live. Its so stiff its like being attached to your amp by a small sapling!!! These are all [b]coiled properly [/b]after every gig, like you would with rope on a boat. That way they'll last for years. If you're a "folder", you can spent as much on leads as you like but you'll get what you deserve and your money will have been wasted!!

[quote name='chris_b' post='1288656' date='Jul 1 2011, 09:44 AM']It's not an insult to the OP, but when you're troubleshooting you always start with the obvious.[/quote] Not offended in the slightest, there are many beginners on here who'll be reading this too. Yes been playing active basses for a while, I bought a pair of Wal's in 1986 when fully pro, still have one, its current battery is probably 4 years old! This reminds me of a situation I had in a previous band. It was a soul band, and the trumpet player, who was a very "interesting " character! We used to hire PA for bigger gigs, but at smaller ones we used our own, and I mixed on stage. He always complained he couldn't hear himself in the mix, but he used to play sooo 'effin loud that he was usually turned right down in the FOH mix. This went on for several years, when he would kick off every now and again, complaining that playing with band always made his lips too sore. One night he was having another moan during the soundcheck, and our recently new sax player helpfully suggested he might check the battery in his radio mic, to which he replied "what battery?" Now I thought it was us bass players who were suposed to wear the "stupid" crown!

Lakland 44-01 through to 55-02, depending on 4 or 5 stings and pickup config - simple, does everything. you'll find a nice secondhand one here if you keep a look out.

I'm very new to the Lakland owners club, having recently acquired two 55-02's (and love 'em!), but is it just me or is there a consensus they seem to be hungry buggers, needing a new battery every other week, or less if gigging hard? (I've owned active basses since 1986 so am comparing with [b][i]plenty [/i][/b]of alternatives!)