Grand Wazoo

[quote name='thebassman' timestamp='1378275520' post='2197896'] Thank for the advice, I will check out parcel2go. Cheers Thebassman [/quote] When you remove the neck you will find a shim, don't ship that, keep it in the same place in the neck pocket so when you get it back it should sit in the same position as before you removed it. I don't expect EBMM to spray the back part of the neck that goes in the pocket otherwise you need to get a thinner shim.

Depends who you use, ParcelForce, Royal Mail, UPS, DHL each have different charges. I recomment Parcel2Go, wrap the neck in a lot of bubble pack stuff it into a large cartograph tube, those which can hold large posters or make one yourself, seal the lot with half a roll of parcel tape and it should arrive in safe condition no matter how they throw it about. Parcel 2 Go should charge you no more than £35 for a neck which is not too heavy nor bulky. [url="http://www.parcel2go.com/"]http://www.parcel2go.com/[/url]

Ashdown CTM-15 15 Watts All Tube Mini Bass Amp Head [url="http://ashdownmusic.com/products/1/Bass-Amplification/1/Valve/13/CTM15/"]http://ashdownmusic....Valve/13/CTM15/[/url]

They are underrated basses in my views, they have a great big sound, and due to the short scale they are easy to play, but not everyone gets on with small scale basses, so try before you buy.

I've only ordered from them stuff that can withstand shipping without risk of being damage, I would hate to have to re-pack a bass to send it back to Germany, I know they are good but I still don't trust or can't be bother the hassle. This is because I bought my Ibanez Promethean Combo from them and when I opened the box the front grille was dented inwards, luckily I removed it placed it on a flat surface and was able to staighten it back to normal and there were no scratches. Goes to show that the gear sent by them does get thrown about in vans or plane cargo holds and nobody cares what's inside even if it says FRAGILE on the box If you are looking for the fact that their prices are good, be adviced that there are uk online dealer that are recently matching their prices or even offering a tad less than them.

[quote name='xilddx' timestamp='1377946978' post='2193907'] Just wondered why you felt the need to vent such boring old sh*t on such a nice thread about such a great band. You seem to hate everything except cameras, Grolsch rubber and Sheldon Dingwall. Try spreading some love once in a while mate, you might cheer the f*** up a bit. [/quote] This sounds a bit like an heavy exchange from your side. I do like a lot of things, and I praise them as and when praise is due. I could suggest you ignore my posts, for your well being and quite life, I am sure there is a button to ignore a person here, but do watch your language, no matter what my comments are on a thread, you are out of order by answering like that to me. I never gave you that friendliness to allow you such exhanges.

Another Trace fan here, this was my fav combo, I only had to let it go because I couldn't lift it anymore, it was just too heavy [URL=http://s144.photobucket.com/user/xt660/media/Trace%20Elliot/DSC014491.jpg.html][IMG]http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r200/xt660/Trace%20Elliot/DSC014491.jpg[/IMG][/URL] [URL=http://s144.photobucket.com/user/xt660/media/Trace%20Elliot/DSC014541.jpg.html][IMG]http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r200/xt660/Trace%20Elliot/DSC014541.jpg[/IMG][/URL] [URL=http://s144.photobucket.com/user/xt660/media/Trace%20Elliot/DSC014551.jpg.html][IMG]http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r200/xt660/Trace%20Elliot/DSC014551.jpg[/IMG][/URL] [URL=http://s144.photobucket.com/user/xt660/media/Trace%20Elliot/DSC014561.jpg.html][IMG]http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r200/xt660/Trace%20Elliot/DSC014561.jpg[/IMG][/URL] [URL=http://s144.photobucket.com/user/xt660/media/Trace%20Elliot/DSC014591.jpg.html][IMG]http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r200/xt660/Trace%20Elliot/DSC014591.jpg[/IMG][/URL] [URL=http://s144.photobucket.com/user/xt660/media/Trace%20Elliot/DSC014511.jpg.html][IMG]http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r200/xt660/Trace%20Elliot/DSC014511.jpg[/IMG][/URL]

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1377943330' post='2193830'] We should organise an event involving the consumption of many bottles of Grolsch. Purely to provide ourselves with strap washers, of course... [/quote] Sadly I can't be in that party as I don't drink any alcohol. I know I don't know what I am missing but hey ho!

[quote name='xilddx' timestamp='1377945763' post='2193881'] Is this you being an adult, speaking your mind, and not mincing your words? [/quote] What's it to you?

Oh what a disappointment, as I clicked on the link hoping to see some decent Police-Camera-Action videos of car chases across the american highways, police being run over and cars being smashed, instead all I got was an ageing Gordon Sumner obviously run out of money, and bored from saving the rainforest. Sting was and still is a total and utter __________ fill blank with what you like.

Can I say with all my heart that I hate strap locks? I find them an expensive and pointless add on, they add weight to the end of the strap pins and if a strap fitted with a bulky chunk of metal slaps on your bass by error as it often happens at gigs it can seriously scratch, dent and damage you precious bass. So what is the solution? Grolsch washers!! You fit the strap over the pins and then stick a Grolsch washer over it and you can pull, push, try to pry it apart, it'll stay there no matter what and it weighs f/all, and cost you f/all! They won't damage your bass and you can get them [b]free[/b] from your local pub, just ask the barmaid nicely! [url="http://s144.photobucket.com/user/xt660/media/5D3_7876_zps640488bd.jpg.html"][/url] [url="http://s144.photobucket.com/user/xt660/media/5D3_7878_zps2d3e7ec4.jpg.html"][/url]

Please guys hear me out. I stand on the fence here because I happen to know Mark and the way he works. I also know Alex from the Bass Gallery quite a bit back from the days when he worked at the Bass Centre. Both of them get a lot of stick on this forum from time to time, I suppose they might also get it in other forums but I only read this one so I am not aware. Alex usually gets a bad rap because he looks like he has the constant hump and that maybe people are put off by that without getting to know him, before making judgement. I declare that if you forget internet troll talk, and you get to know them, both of these guys are great dudes but don't forget that they are exposed to a lot of tire kickers, people who just call for a quote, and ending up buying online from Thomann or other competitors, or from those pain in the ass kids that walk in the shop pick up a £2'000 bass and slap notes at 220bpm day in day out. leaving marks all over it. I couldn't deal with retail, if I worked in a bass shop I would be sacked on the first day, because I know that I would end up headbutting Slap Joe 40 seconds into his rendition of Country Music by Stuart Hamm. Seriously. Now there is a difference between Mark Stickley and Alex Carter, Alex is an employee of the Bass Gallery, whereas Mark is the owner as well as the seller, in his own shop. Alex at the end of his shift would leave the store having earned the same wage, regardless of how many he sold, whereas Mark has to worry about rent and rates, insurance, stock level, customer orders and all that comes with owning that type of business. Put yourself in his shoes first and then try to sum him up. For what I know there are 100s of people who speak highly of him, myself included, but it is obvious he can't please them all, and if any of you has had a bad experience with him, I think its down to bad luck but I can assure you that I agree with all the positive comments about Bass Direct and I am prone to ignore the negative ones because I tend to look at the wider picture rather than listen to the few who didn't get on with their experience with Mark.

Two of Dave's EUB's are up for sale. [url="https://www.facebook.com/?ref=logo#!/groups/163220610375928/"]https://www.facebook.com/?ref=logo#!/groups/163220610375928/[/url]

[quote name='xilddx' timestamp='1377433420' post='2187404'] Am I alone in feeling entirely confused by this? Did one of the band steal two of your basses? If so why the smiley? What dark side? What's incriminating? [/quote] I've edited the title now.

[quote name='xilddx' timestamp='1377433936' post='2187421'] I wish you'd said that in the first place. How'd Dave get on with it? I found comfort in fan frets within a few seconds. [/quote] the fanned fret was not a problem for him, it's the 5th string he is not used to, but he loved the sound and the feel of the neck, but he did the other 2 sets with the Ibanez as he felt more at home with the 4 strings. He will tell you himself of course, he has a great rig, his amp and cab are really good and both basses sounded very nice.

It was humour. Dave's band, (davebass5 that is) its called blow out, he was playing in a place close where I live, I said to him one of these days you've got to try a Dingwall and this was the chance for him to try it live in the band, the other one was the newest aquisition he also wanted to have a go at. the fan fret thing was the incriminating evidence of him joining the "dark side"

[url="https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.588619687847381.1073741871.446213212088030&type=1"]https://www.facebook...12088030&type=1[/url]

As above but I have a written step by step guide that someone passed to me when I first got my Ex Factor 1) Spin the string's tuner counter-clock to loosen the string. As you do, you'll see that little silver wire dingle rise slowly from the space between the big ratchet wheel and the tuning knob. Loosen the tuner knob all the way until it stops and be SURE not to force it any further. 2) Now put your plucking-hand thumb (dunno if you're right- or left-handed) just behind that little silver wire dingle and give it a gentle push forward (toward the neck). The ratchet wheel pops free of it's cam and spins freely. 3) If whoever sold you the bass had it strung correctly, you'll see that the end of the string was bent at the end through one of the small holes in that ratchet wheel. Pull the old string out and put the new one in making the same bend as you notch the string through that hole. note: DON'T cut your new string yet. On standard bass tuning posts, it's easy to see how much you should snip off: With these, it's not. You MUST have enough string to wrap two to four times around that big ratchet wheel. Better to guess too long at first than too short. 4) Here's the tricky part: You have to put the ball end of the string into the brass 'cup' at the head of the bass and keep it there while you begin to wind up the slack by turning that big ratchet wheel by hand. When you turn your attention to the ratchet wheel, the ball end will want to pop out of the cup. No, really, it WANTS to come out. And it will. If you listen carefully, you'll hear it mock you with a hateful little giggle every time it does. You need a third hand to keep the ball end in place, to keep tension on the string, and to wind the ratchet wheel. You won't get it right the first time. You'll get pissed at it. We all did. You'll figure out a way to make it work. Some of us use hair ties to hold the string down. 5) Now take up the slack in the string. Roll that ratchet wheel all the way until you can't roll it any further by hand. DON'T force the wheel any further than you can turn it by hand. DON'T put an object in the teeth and try to force it a little further: You'll break teeth off the wheel. There should be enough string to go around the wheel two to four times. 6) Now, use the tuning knob to spin the string up to pitch. 7) One more thing: You'll probably get the string to pitch with almost no room left to tighten the knob. Be CAREFUL not to overtorque the knob: You'll trash the whole thing. If you need more tightening on the string, you'll have to back up to step 5 to take up more slack in the string. It SOUNDS like a lot of work, but it really isn't. After you do it once or twice, it gets easy. I know I got flustercated with it at first, but now it's a do-it-in-my-sleep kinda thing

[quote name='megallica' timestamp='1377121814' post='2183782'] Love it, was tempted to bid on this too but a lack of funds meant I had to give it a miss. Great job on the clean up, out of curiousity is the nut width 40mm like the other Roadstars I've played? [/quote] Yes I have just measured it today to add it to my worksheet (see below) The nut is 40mm which is in between a Jazz 38.1mm and a Precision at 41.3mm The body is Basswood and Birch, and it weighs 4.17kg / 9.19lbs which is a comfortable weight, nothing will beat the 7.6lbs that my Dingwall ABZ5 weighs but you really don't notice the difference I've found the spec page on the net at this link: [url="http://www.ibanezrules.com/catalogs/us/1984/roadstar2/p06.jpg"]http://www.ibanezrul...adstar2/p06.jpg[/url] [url="http://s144.photobucket.com/user/xt660/media/BassFactfile_zps1058a18d.jpg.html"][/url]

Check it out! [url="http://www.bassdirect.co.uk/bass_guitar_specialists/Fender_Steve_Harris.html"]http://www.bassdirect.co.uk/bass_guitar_specialists/Fender_Steve_Harris.html[/url]

So... the bass arrived yesterday at work and barely had time to look at it in my lunch break, I could immediately tell that it was a good'n despited the condition it came in which I thought was nothing threathening after I had a go at it, basically it was as if it had never seen a polishing cloth for over 20 years, it had grime all over and especially on the fretboard, where il looked like either sweat or dried up spit was all over it, it came with flatwound strings so my initial hard on excitement made my willy shrink immediately back into dorment position (lol) still I though wait till I get you home.... the bridge was filthy with grime, sweat, gunk, dust and probably pubic hair all over it, the thing was in a real state, why would people keep basses in these condition is beyond me. So I got it home and put on some surgical gloves as I didn't want to touch that sh|te and got to work on it with all my tools and cleaning material. Off came the offending flatwound strings and I removed the bridge, the saddles and soaked the lot in WD40, then brushed it clean. I had to lift the pickups off the body to clean properly around them, removed the scratchplate and cleaned all the cavities, removed the neck and inspected the pocket and cleaned off the grime and gunk from it, removed and refit the machine heads after soaking them in wd40, and about 2 hours later I refitted the bridge, the saddles and everything else, I slapped some proper roundwound strings on it, plugged it in and it sounded huge!, lots of harmonics, deep and warm sound from the P style pickup, not too fond of the J pickup solo but used in combination with the P sounded sweet. The intonation was all over the shop so I have adjusted the saddle intonation, straightened the trussrod and by the time I got to bed that bass sounded and played a million dollars. I love the fact that the neck is more of a Jazz narrow type but at the same time while it's narrow by the nut it is also very chunky and beefy at the back, a very solid neck overall and the trussrod works perfectly. When I got it it looked as it had been fished out from the bottom of a lake so I feared that the trussrod might have been difficult to barge but luckily all worked ok. It's a passive bass and it is well screened so there are no hum nor buzz when plugged it, which goes to show that manufacturing quality of these earlier Japanese basses was second to none, I have cheked on the Ibanez guru website by entering the serial number and the result read the following: [i][b]Your guitar was made at the Terada Plant, Japan March 1984, Production Number: 4111[/b][/i] So here are the pics I just took this morning in daylight, after having cleaned it properly, look how nice it looks now, should have seen it earlier.... [url="http://www.flickr.com/photos/fcamardo_night_time_photography/9558968387/"][/url] [url="http://www.flickr.com/photos/fcamardo_night_time_photography/9558968387/"]Ibanez 1984 Roadster II Bass[/url] by [url="http://www.flickr.com/people/fcamardo_night_time_photography/"]F. Camardo Photography™ © 2013[/url], on Flickr [url="http://www.flickr.com/photos/fcamardo_night_time_photography/9561761278/"][/url] [url="http://www.flickr.com/photos/fcamardo_night_time_photography/9561761278/"]Ibanez 1984 Roadster II Bass[/url] by [url="http://www.flickr.com/people/fcamardo_night_time_photography/"]F. Camardo Photography™ © 2013[/url], on Flickr [url="http://www.flickr.com/photos/fcamardo_night_time_photography/9561763870/"][/url] [url="http://www.flickr.com/photos/fcamardo_night_time_photography/9561763870/"]Ibanez 1984 Roadster II Bass[/url] by [url="http://www.flickr.com/people/fcamardo_night_time_photography/"]F. Camardo Photography™ © 2013[/url], on Flickr [url="http://www.flickr.com/photos/fcamardo_night_time_photography/9558976157/"][/url] [url="http://www.flickr.com/photos/fcamardo_night_time_photography/9558976157/"]Ibanez 1984 Roadster II Bass[/url] by [url="http://www.flickr.com/people/fcamardo_night_time_photography/"]F. Camardo Photography™ © 2013[/url], on Flickr [url="http://www.flickr.com/photos/fcamardo_night_time_photography/9558978663/"][/url] [url="http://www.flickr.com/photos/fcamardo_night_time_photography/9558978663/"]Ibanez 1984 Roadster II Bass[/url] by [url="http://www.flickr.com/people/fcamardo_night_time_photography/"]F. Camardo Photography™ © 2013[/url], on Flickr [url="http://www.flickr.com/photos/fcamardo_night_time_photography/9558981631/"][/url] [url="http://www.flickr.com/photos/fcamardo_night_time_photography/9558981631/"]Ibanez 1984 Roadster II Bass[/url] by [url="http://www.flickr.com/people/fcamardo_night_time_photography/"]F. Camardo Photography™ © 2013[/url], on Flickr [url="http://www.flickr.com/photos/fcamardo_night_time_photography/9558984161/"][/url] [url="http://www.flickr.com/photos/fcamardo_night_time_photography/9558984161/"]Ibanez 1984 Roadster II Bass[/url] by [url="http://www.flickr.com/people/fcamardo_night_time_photography/"]F. Camardo Photography™ © 2013[/url], on Flickr [url="http://www.flickr.com/photos/fcamardo_night_time_photography/9558986865/"][/url] [url="http://www.flickr.com/photos/fcamardo_night_time_photography/9558986865/"]Ibanez 1984 Roadster II Bass[/url] by [url="http://www.flickr.com/people/fcamardo_night_time_photography/"]F. Camardo Photography™ © 2013[/url], on Flickr [url="http://www.flickr.com/photos/fcamardo_night_time_photography/9558989345/"][/url] [url="http://www.flickr.com/photos/fcamardo_night_time_photography/9558989345/"]Ibanez 1984 Roadster II Bass[/url] by [url="http://www.flickr.com/people/fcamardo_night_time_photography/"]F. Camardo Photography™ © 2013[/url], on Flickr

[quote name='bluejay' timestamp='1376847567' post='2179902'] Can a kind soul with a smartphone check if this QR code gives the full address and times of the Bass Bash, with no added ads or other cr*p? I'm experimenting with creating codes online but I only own an idiotic-phone that makes calls and sends texts... Thank you [/quote] Could you add a contact phone number in case someone does get lost or cannot find the place?

I am out of this discussion sorry. I regret mentioning my issue, believe me it was a sore subject as I did like the bongo.

[quote name='Gust0o' timestamp='1376861927' post='2180172'] Probably shouldn't have picked such a curiosity-inducing fashion in which to mention it, perhaps Sigh, I shall now have to scrutinise my bass for clues whilst fighting my desire to [b]ASK [u]QUESTIONS[/u] ABOUT IT[/b]. Teasing aside, no worries Fran - I can live with your desire not to talk about it. I've not had any issue with mine, yet, so here's hoping that continues! [/quote] Guys, girls. I would have not got any joy if I had mentioned the issue I discovered to the UK distributors because the parent company in america that also runs the forum about those instruments would have branded me as heretic, locked and deleted any thread, put a life ban on me (which did get eventually) and make a big cover up of it all, just like president obama did when they wasted bin laden (apparently) Also you know of another member of this forum that, when he had trouble with another instrument of the same brand, said distributor gave him the run around until it was discovered (allegedly) that a body was fitted to a different neck or something along those lines. Had I insisted with pointing out my issue which was measured by an indipendent and highly qualified UK luthier with a lazer cad machine and he proved exactly my suspicions with figures, (shaking his head in disbelief) I would have been told by said distributor that it was all in my head or that they would have been prepared to change or refund but never admitted it was a common fault but perhaps a faux pas that only happened to my one. So I thought bllcx to it all and got rid of it, after all it was all in my head, the next owner is still very happy with it. There you go.

[quote name='D.I. Joe' timestamp='1376862135' post='2180174'] I'm just about to start a homebuild project in the style of a Bongo using this lovely root wood body [/quote] Love it! Hahaha!