Kongo

I've seen many Ibanez Amps but noone seems to review them / use them so I cannot tell whay they sound like...nor have I tried one. I have asked about them before elsewhere and someone said "Well noone uses them...that should be enough"...no not really I want to know what they are like LOL!

[quote name='Machines' post='483805' date='May 9 2009, 04:15 PM']My Corvette is lighter than my Jazz/Precision and RBX (I reckon it's about 8lbs)[/quote] Whoa lighter than an RBX? They are WAAAAAAY too light for me! Jazz basses are quite heavy on the body and my P-bass is heavier now it has HipShot tuners on it LOL!

[quote name='6stringbassist' post='483822' date='May 9 2009, 04:32 PM']They're a great idea, but apart from Ibanez who fit them to the Gary Willis basses I don't know of any other manufacturers who fit them. I have one on my Sei bass and it really does help stop you from getting your fingers stuck under the strings when venturing away from playing over the pickups. I don't see why you can't have one made to fit on any bass.[/quote] Yeah exactly, and on moddels that have J-pups it's hard to get all fingers to land on it. I use 3 fingers also and in order to land them all on to get an even attack I have to shake my hand from side to side which takes some concentration sometimes and I'd rather that be used for time. I'm using Ibanez basses at the moment though that could change (and often does until I find what I want).

First off, not sure where to put this so if it's in the wrong section, sorry. I've heard alot about these and after some research have not only found out what they do but also found that they would help my playing ALOT! I never noticed it before but the reason I keep my thumb so welded to the pickup isn't to do with possition as much as I thought but passively I have been using this the same as a ramp: To stop digging in and overshoot / undershoot. Can these be fit on any bass from say, a Fender Jazz right up to Overwater Progress etc? Also, how do you get about getting one? I imagine you have to take into consideration action height and neck camber for the shape? Who makes them and how do you fit one? I'd love to have one on all my basses so I can get the same feel to the strings and not have to stay on either the bridge or neck pickup...there are other tones to be had but I don't like my fingers to fly into no-mans land if you get me? Thanks people!

[quote name='LeftyJ' post='469572' date='Apr 22 2009, 01:24 PM']I've had two Ibanez guitars in the past (an RG470 and an amazing RG550 that I wish I never sold).[/quote] My friend has an Ibanez RG550 and he does not put it down. He also owns an Ibanez JEM BSB and JEM Floral and he STILL prefere's the RG550. It has aged well...the maple figerboard is now more orange than white LOL! Myself I have 2 Ibanez basses (so far)...I fought against getting one for years but they really do play well, sound well and are built extremely well for the price. I have: [b]Ibanez BTB405QM[/b] in Trans Red. 2nd hand and was used quite a bit. Serial number half worn unfortunatly... [b]Ibanez BTB556QM[/b] in Natural...An awesome 6-string bass which I've used for some time...Not one raised fret or fret edge showing...Not a problem with the electronics and when I took it appart even the neck join was sanded to smooth perfection...Most companies just rush this part as it's never seen...Not Ibanez...not even any left over dust Nothing amazingly collectable. The BTB405 is a few years old not and long discontinued, my BTB556 the same but younger. Might get an SRX next money and banks providing. Oh and I missed out on an Ibanez Musician at a Cash Generator not too long ago....Yeah what a place to pop up...Not sure on the year but well worth having!!!

[quote name='Machines' post='483787' date='May 9 2009, 03:55 PM'][b]Sadowsky[/b]: For Fender fans with too much cash .[/quote]

[quote name='Eight' post='483740' date='May 9 2009, 02:53 PM']I have a Cort Curbow (tiny body, modern materials etc.) which apparently weighs in at 7lbs (which seems pretty light to me). My Vampyre is about 9lbs (or so the web says) and I can't say I really notice the difference. Any hoo... Warwick - growl! Fender - yawn. Headless - Bill & Ted[/quote] 1lb is a very small difference to weight so 2 will be un noticable. The Curbow is that 27 fret model isn't it? Very strange one.

[quote name='skankdelvar' post='483705' date='May 9 2009, 02:03 PM']3/4"! By all that's holy! [/quote] Really is for scale warm up play ONLY though LOL! It feels like...walking on a bouncy castle...you know, how the ground goes down before you actually land and then kicks back up when you lift up? It's like that but with fingers. Flamenco players are renowned for having silly high action...I wonder if it's true and how high?

[quote name='Eight' post='483742' date='May 9 2009, 02:58 PM']I can't believe I actually took a file to my newly acquired Warwick. But I did - and managed to escape without serious incident. So I've just put BEAD (.060 - 130) strings on and tuned to C and everything seems pretty good. I came across a post on the Warwick forum which suggested that using a 130B set keeps the pressure on the neck reasonably close to using .045-100 in E. It also suggested a .055 on the Eb (G string) would be even better.[/quote] Ryan Martinie used Warwicks de-tuned and had no probs...in fact his tone cut through the mix TOO MUCH! Well...not really but lets say he was clear as day with lots of clarity but growl too...Awesome! Guess it can only be his warwick thumb that allowed this. But he also hadded a Low-G# as his thumb was a 5-string. Later he would use the same gauge but higher, so a .135 can be used as a C....But I have a .150 as a Low-b on my 5-string BTB at the mo (the only string I had left!) and it's too tight...the notes die quickly and I wonder if it'd be the same in C with a .130? Still, let me how it sounds. [quote name='SammyDamacy' post='482423' date='May 7 2009, 08:48 PM']I completely agreed with you there until recently.....bought a 5 string to play with for the band......we only have a couple of drop tuned songs, but trying to play them in standard on a 5 proved a hell of a lot harder than playing it in drop tuning. So I still agree with you, but when your trying to follow your guitarists lightning fast drop tuned riffs it's just easier to tune drop tune [/quote] I've not been in drop for a few years. My recent band is in Drop B and I used a few tunings. At first, C# standard add low-G# so I could get under them...but I find bass guitars don't work properly when de-tuned to the likes of that and went back to B-standard 5 and 6-string... I find with practise you can do everything they do BUT on top of that, because of the practise needed sometimes it forces you to find a bassline and NOT follow them...so you have 2 options...hell, why not do both! Of course, I'm all for de-tuning, it's a good thing to do as 4-string basses sound beefy in C# standard I find and it can lead to some different song wiriting ideas. You could play a bassline / slap line in E standard...de-tune and play it in C# standard and find it sounds better / has the desired effect. I just never got Drop-B...or maybe I just don't want to loose too much range LOL! Tapping as well...Thick strings are horrible to tap with not only for the weay they react but again, the notes ain't as clear and tend to be muddy. Anyways..here's some tunings I've used / still use for fun: 4-string BADG (ages ago when I only had one bass) C# F# B E A D G C A D G Bb 5-string G# C# F# B E Bb Eb Ab Db Gb A D G C F (koRn tuning...guess this is kinda drop) 6-string F# B E A D G - used a Conlkin .190 for the F#. 35" scale Have fun...

[quote name='BottomEndian' post='483717' date='May 9 2009, 02:14 PM']That explains your love for the BTBs![/quote] Yeah, although my 6-string is lighter than my 5-string...

[quote name='warwickhunt' post='483690' date='May 9 2009, 01:46 PM']Odd that 2 people have commented on the weight of Warwick basses and yet with my latest obsession in bass weight loss I've only found ONE bass that is lighter than either my SSI or SSII (yes the 2nd one is Afzelia which can be heavy)! I'm not here to stand up and defend all Warwick basses (regardless of the fact that I have 3 for sale ) and I've no idea what model the references were aimed at but I do know that the OP stated Warwick = heavy but would love to try a Spector; I've owned 2 Spector Euros and recently have tried 2 USA Spectors... ALL of the Spectors weighed more than EITHER of my Streamers! Not entirely different basses Warwick/Spector but it is amusing to see how prejudices can be formed Hmmm [/quote] I always thought weight to be a good thing anyways.

Only cheaper basses seem to do a Precission copy. There are high end P-basses out there by other companies but they look like P-basses. If you want the P-bass tone what's wrong with the look? As as the BB series was based on Fender shapes to begin with they ain't much different cept the fast the P-bass body will be slightly smaller w/scratchplate. Only thing I could suggest is a MIM P-bass for that money...sounds and looks like a P-bass of course.

[quote name='dlloyd' post='483694' date='May 9 2009, 01:49 PM']Not as such... Fender own Squier. Because Fender didn't actively pursue copyright infringement when they should have.[/quote] There's loads of them out there too...Oh well, I'm not one to pass it on as a Fender like some folk do. But saying that is the same between Warwick and Rockbass why are people getting so petty over the Logo? It really proves that people care on stage about a logo more than actual tone. Warwick W is now on there...it's there to stay.

[quote name='ARGH' post='483159' date='May 8 2009, 05:41 PM']You didnt come across as such,it might be a generational thing...grunge killed alot of this type of rock music off,and Im pleased to see it back,at last the solo will return and techniques and afterward boundaries will be pushed...... Grunge,bar Jeff Ament,didnt throw up many Bass heros,and most of the laughably bad musicians did the decent thing and dont seem to be in music any more (Cobain did the right thing IMHO)...... Can I just add,and Ive seen it on other threads the dislike of anything called 'Progressive'...May I say to the anti-'capable' musicians here you have the same problem too...its just called 'Post.....'[/quote] Whoa hold on man...I was in school with the entire Grunge and Nu-metal scene and I've always liked this. It's not a generation thing man, I guess it's taste. I hated Grunge but I still listen to some Nu-Metal bands. I'm not even bothered that SHeehan is a scientologist...it's his choice it makes him no less a person just like if he was Christian or Muslim. But yeah, it's one persons oppinion, not generation.

[quote name='dlloyd' post='483605' date='May 9 2009, 10:35 AM']Musicman have 'always' done that with their budget ranges. The Japanese EX series (if you can find one) and SUBs both had fairly standard logos. OLP was the property of a different company that paid a licence fee for the headstock shape.[/quote] +1 like Squier. Although blank headstocks are also Fender shape...why doesn't this break patent laws?

[b]Fender[/b] - Old and dated and still think they are in the 60's...but are ultra comfy and sound awesome: P-bass = Simple, single pickup, one tone...but it's all you want when you play one. Ultra beef and consistant sound from amp to amp. J-bass = "Liquid steel" tone. From clarity to beef and respond well to differing neck and bridge pickup heights. [b]Ibanez[/b] - Modern concepts, known for metal bands but can be used anywhere. The Super Fender company: SR = The RG of the bass guitar. Tried and tested, contoured, range of tones, 34" scale for trad bassists. SRX = As above but have a stronger, meatier tone and are aimed at heavier play bassists. Slightly cheaper too. BTB = The Jazz section of Ibanez. Huge bodies, Huge string spacing...HUGE necks, pickups based on Dynamics not tone but with an all out Active EQ for shaping. 35" for articulation but may be too big for some to play. [b]Yamaha[/b] - Make great basses from entry to high end. Bassists who play them are often only known by bassist bassists. RBX = Cheap and cheerful. Great for starting. PJ pickups, 24 frets...you've got everything you need to take over the world here! Great string spacing. TRB = 35" scale and a lot "More like it". Great string spacing. BB = Yamaha's golden oldie. As with alot of things Jap, it's bassed on American concepts to help sales. [b]Musicman[/b] - Make great but EXPENSIVE basses...Suck at making cheaper ranges (SUB and OLP died) and make life hell for anyone who wants a proper Stringray...Then wonder why Fender are more successful. Stringray = Such a legend...Such BEEF from a single pickup and feel in between a P-bass and J-bass. Bongo = Erm these are very odd...However they just made a 6-string! Also forced a 2 pickup option on the Stingray. [b]G&L[/b] - Take Fender comfort and Musicman electronics and put them together. Awesome basses made by an old but still visionary man who started it all. ASAT = Finally...A Telebass...with pickups to blow up the rehearsal room! L-2000 / 2500 = 4 and 5-string versions of an UBER P-bass and Stingray put together. 3 dials and 3 switches = 100's of tone options!!! I must own! [b]Overwater[/b] = Excellent basses made in my homeland...What more could you want? Do any scale length you could want! Not played enough to say about models but I'll have one some day. [b]Status[/b] = Reminds me of Mark King ALOT! Have modern features and Graphite necks but also smell very retro. That'll do for now.

I like the clacking sound. I was brought up on Iron Maiden as a big influence and I always loved this sound Harris had...and so do many bassists now. But sometimes players will lower action because "Someone told them to" then play 8th notes HARD with a pick, moving the fretting hand hardly any or at any speed and will complain that notes fret out / choke / they keep hitting the pole peices on their pickups causeing clipping to happen. I like both but my standard action is medium low. Not too low, not too high. I find that whereas you CAN play fast with ultra low action, really your weakening your hands. You hands will get used to not working hard and will weaken and you will only be able to play that bass your playing. Having it medium low gives you the ability to play faster without too much friction BUT still keeps your hands strong. Also, slapping on ultra low action is rubbish to me for 2 reasons: 1) not enough velocity can be made as the string travels resulting in a weaker attack 2) You need to bounce VERY fast. BTW as posted before here, my finger training bass is a Yamaha RBX170 which has the action set 3/4" of the board. No way you can play any sheehan on that but it keeps the fingers strong. But there is no right or wrong answere. I just think some people are getting obsessive basses and guitars MUST have low action. Every sale and review I see someone says "This bass can get really low action no problem" but I bet if you fret around the 15th fret it acually frets out. It's a feel thing I just with people would try different actions instead of thinking low is the only way to go.

[quote name='12stringbassist' post='482735' date='May 8 2009, 09:49 AM']It just irritates me in the very same way that 'Rockinbetter' copies of Rickenbackers do![/quote] LOL they are ultimately shoving it in their faces with that one! I thought law suit for sure but country laws won't allow it.

[quote name='YouMa' post='482650' date='May 8 2009, 04:38 AM']Im glad im not the only one who thinks it sounds like a poor mans VanHalen with a weak singer,sorry to.[/quote] How can you compare them? Van Halen was just that...But this band has fans from all instruments. Van Halen was all guitar...this is guitar and bass with good rhythm backing it.

[quote name='valentine' post='481173' date='May 6 2009, 04:58 PM']i think its a case of wanting someone whos at a level where i want to get to thats in my genre and show me the path they took and what the quickest way is to get to there level,i practice alot couple of hours at least every day sometimes alot more depending on what im doing,im kinda wary i guess of useing my practice time in the most effective way,as alot of musicians waste years playing stuff that never progress's them or gets them any better at playing,so when i learn im always trying to learn new things,and playing stuff i find difficult or experimenting with my instrument to make sure im makeing best use of my playing time and getting different sounds and not repeating myself i think also id like a tutor just to guide me through the techniqes and the options and see what works best for me and what techniques and exercises i should do at home to work myself up to there level i think my best option might just be to scout the under ground scene or look on myspace for a band in the midlands area with a bassist who has some of the things im looking for to help me progress as ive found tutoring does help you progress 10 times faster than being self taught ( being that its the right tutor respectively) as you often tend to waste many weeks,months and in some cases years learning stuff that at worse can be completely useless and never make you any better i'll keep looking anyway i guess thanks for the advice -rob-[/quote] From this I don't think it's a tutor you seek but a "sparring partner". I used to have an old friend who took up bass when we met again later in life and I used to go round, show em some playing and swap licks and techneques and ideas and he'd do that same...Not so anymore. It is he that pushed me to learn Classical Thump by ear...then we never met again. But people don;t get it. A Jazz tutor won't help you get here. I got held back by that and became something I didn;t like...But it's hard to explain by text. Metal bass is a style and can be taught. Yes there are many metal bassists out there who are widely inspired, so am I, but we DO exist. I used to shun the name too but nowerdays I will happily call myself a metal bassist. if Rock bassists exist that just play rock...why is it that people think Metal ones don't? Rock bass can be and is tought, so can metal. It's a genre that has been threatened but has never died and is a very popular one too. But until bassists step up and realise that...well we'll still have the problems we have here. I don't see metal bass as a "Joke"...in fact, that just sparks me to play more.

[quote name='peteb' post='482561' date='May 7 2009, 11:04 PM']Just got back from a rehearsal - been playing 'Green Tinted 60s Mind', working out the intro and all the vocal harmony parts, etc Great fun and a great song......[/quote] That tap line is still good now...It's confusing on first listens to most but it's simple...It's just damn good!