AndyTravis

Much prefer it.

It’s the same headstock as the older ones. They’ve been doing reissues recently - it’s no looker, but I prefer it to the regular one.

I really liked that. i do feel some of his online stuff is just like “the grand tour” for bass players and has worn a bit thin, so I generally avoid his videos now. The playing from all participants is brilliant, that overwater sounds ace. Some neat ideas with “accidental” notes and to be fair if that’s on Spotify it’s going on my commute playlist. It’s jazz type music with pop/rock structure - not noodling or spiralling overwhanking. He is a very “complete” player. I admire that.

MM plays the Ash one so that seems to make sense. Did you keep all the alder ones out of interest?

@bigsmokebass walks in “did I ever tell you about those MFD.....” 🤦🏻‍♂️

It’s only grown in coastal regions though 😉 Fingerboards do affect sound too - to a more subtle degree. I agree there, should’ve said that too.

@Cuzzie knows what he’s on about too (we posted at the same time give or take - I’m bit slow on the trigger today because I’m playing hide/peep with my one year old and typing)

Not to get into the can of worms...but. Generally speaking, in my experience, others may dismiss etc...(although I’m bob on right - had lots of rainy afternoons in a guitar shop to figure this out, 12 years worth...also, don’t start me on how weather changes them) Alder/Rosewood - ‘Warmer’ sounding, lovely softer edge to the sound - notes ‘bloom’. Great for fingerstyle and such. Ash/Maple - Punchy, snappy, very solid fundamental note - direct sounding. Great for Slap bass, Hard funky fingerstyle. (edit - this is a generalisation, you can do any style you wish on any bass, whether it sounds ‘right’ or not is down to your ears/preference either way) Someone will come along later and say something along the lines of “it makes no odds, it’s down to pickup choice, pickup placement, and tone is in the fingers...” Yes they’re all contributing factors, but the way notes travel through a dense bit of ash, through the strings and into the pickups has some effect. Anyhow, not getting into too much detail - literally choose one and play it. If it’s made of moon rock or Blackpool rock, as long as you’re enjoying it...it doesn’t matter. I know with Sire it won’t be easy as some because they’re mainly available online. See if any local Basschatter can help? I’ve never played one, although I wouldn’t mind a go...just to see what the fuss is about.

Er. Parts bin special? A medley of greatest (s)hits?

For now sugartits

Story of my life 😉

I’m on a bb diet. It’s an attitude problem I’ve developed since reconnecting with @bigsmokebass The house purchase has slowed my progress and impeded the growth of my collection. a bb414wr and a bb714bs will be in the collection before Christmas. so that would only leave a 3000 in metallic red and a 1600 in gunmetal to source.

Waiting to hear back from a slight diversion to the original post. More information may follow.

A full Trav at the minute is a mere 3. If I get my way on a certain bass, it will actually only be 2. But then I still need that 414 in wine red...or a bb3000

Ah yes. Vintage strings - you need to find some.

Played a Fylde acoustic made from whiskey barrels. Smelled lovely. Didn’t sound lovely, and I think it was the thick end of £3000...

I’ve seen tweed fenders reliced up. thing is you don’t walk around carrying your amp do you, so the aesthetic is secondary.

Wasn’t hidden 😂 It was heavy, and a bit lifeless. Too much going on to get much feedback into the hand. The same with Alembics and a few others I’ve played. Not a connected experience. For me. Preferred the NE-1 to the NE-2. I wanted one and the other was “oh, nice...”

I’ve played the original Nathan East model with the flamed top while setting one up (nice instrument) and then played a V2 at the Milton Keynes HQ and again at a trade show in Germany. I was at the launch for the bb2024/25/x and wasn’t actually bowled over, set all of them up on the stand while discussing features and then the punters got to play them. Also was sorting a dicky pot on an at2 in Lava Red while BS wandered past. Was angling for a job with Yamaha at the time, they were clueless/couldn’t be a*sed - a real shame. I’ve owned a TRB5Pii, which was remarkably similar bass in over all feel to the bbne2 There’s something about smaller bodied neck through basses, it just doesn’t work for me. obviously works for others - Spector seem to sell a lot. But I’ve owned warwicks and spectors which I’ve sold as they don’t work for me. Ibanez never get a look in with me - I’ve sold 1000’s and I get why they’re popular. But I’ve owned 1, and I got that in a trade.

@Al Krow could you not just shove a preamp in this?

“Better” is subjective. How do you quantify “better” - I could certainly spot the difference blindfolded. The decay of the notes, the feel of the harmonic ring, loads of ways to spot the difference. What’s “better” for you might be “absolutely useless” to me. Hence the fact I only use passive basses and you seem to favour active ones, for example. I’d have the 3000 for a different job to the 1024 or 414 - my modded 414 does things differently to my 1024, so they both come along...and there are 3 tracks I always use the 414 for, and in some instances it does the other tunes when I can’t be bothered swapping between the two. I was talking to a mate the other day about eq and fx, compression etc - I really don’t apply much thought to it. He labours over it. And he plays predominantly at home. Makes no sense to me. But it seemingly matters to him. Does that make him “better” or “worse” than me? Nah - just different. Worries me when music or instruments are turned into objects of sport - “not for me” is my favourite phrase with gear.

Jack from the Smashing Pumpkins has a white one 🤷🏻‍♂️ The new ones do nowt for me at all, thought I wanted a 434 for a while, but that notion soon passed. I started 22 years ago on an old one, think the 414-424/1024/2024 era suits me. Then again, the attitude bug has a hold. We’ll see...the 1024x might be sacrificial lamb for the 2nd attitude or bb714bs

There’s also a variety of shapes and sizes of pickguard, even for a fender jazz, there can be all sorts of differences between region and era of manufacture. So modifying the existing one to change the aesthetic...makes a lot of sense.

They’re a different thing, I’d have the 3000 and the 1024, I’d never own a 2024 and a 1024. The 3000 is neck through for starters. The 3000 is what a lot of BB “purists” aim for. for a grand? Debating speaking to the guy and offering my 1024 and some cash.