gjones

Of course the sound of my old pots could also have had something to do with my shocking soldering skills. The new wiring loom required no soldering.

I recently changed the pots on my Jazz and it's brought it back to life. I tend to chop and change pickups, necks, body, hardware etc on my Jazzes. Recently I bought a set of dimarzio model J pickups and fitted them to one of my Jazzes, which had just a bog standard Japanese control plate and electronics from a 1994 Squier. I hated the sound, which was muddy and indistinct, so I sold them and bought a set of Wizard 64s......which also sounded muddy and indistinct. Putting 2 and 2 together I assumed that it must be the electronics which were affecting the sound, so bought a cheap set of Chinese pots on a ready made control plate from ebay AND (you guessed it) The pickups STILL sounded rotten and lifeless. On the advice of another basschatter I bought a set of CTS pots on a solderless wiring loom from KiOgon, on basschat, and what an AMAZING difference they made to the sound of the pickups. They now sound punchy as hell with the neck pickup sounding round, fat and precisionlike and the bridge pickup sounding pokey and jacolike with a lovely warmth to it with the tone turned down. I never realised that a simple upgrade to a bass's electronics could make such a difference to the sound. I'm a very happy bunny and I've never had such a great sound from a passive Jazz.

[quote name='Ou7shined' timestamp='1344102472' post='1759879'] You could load a couple of carrots in it and they's sound good with a J-Retro. [/quote] This is very true. I have a J retro in a Jazz fitted with 18 year old Jap Squier pickups, which are not exactly the best pickups money can buy but even so they sound great with the retro. I also have a Jazz fitted with Wizard 64s which are great pickups and would sound [b]FANTABULOUS [/b]with a J retro.

About a year ago, after coming off stage at venue I was playing at, I had to break off a conversation I was having to go and check out the bassist of the band on after us after hearing just a few notes played at the line check. He had the best sound I've ever heard from a bass. I'd never seen that type of bass before and was told it was a Wal mk III. Is it worth £3000? If you've got the money in the bank maybe it is?.

I have a MiBass 550 and a barefaced compact. Very light and sound great together.

One of John's excellent Jazz bass wiring loom bought. I never knew that decent pots (and soldering) could make such a difference to the sound of a bass. It sounds great! Make sure your control plate is made for the larger CTS pots. Mine wasn't so I needed to get the old file out. Gareth

This guy looks like he has a good CV. He's up here in Edinburgh. [url="http://www.mcintyreguitars.com/about-mcintyre-guitars.html"]http://www.mcintyreguitars.com/about-mcintyre-guitars.html[/url]

At least 50 a year for 20 years? Yeah must be about 1000. I'm starting to get the hang of it now.

[quote name='hairyhaw' timestamp='1344195282' post='1761112'] My bold - Victor Morris. Really really dodgy shop - the PA/music gear was all second hand (i.e probably stolen and sold on). In fact the only new stuff they stocked was the knives and crossbows. WTF would you need a crossbow for in the centre of Glasgow? Dealing with the grey squirrels in Kelvingrove Park - I remain unconvinced. Was quite pleased when they closed, but then realised that they were just consolidating their dodgy gear in the Guitar Store just up the street, which they also owned - Doh! [/quote] Along with the Huge Knives and replica AK47s they also used to sell coshes (ie heavy leather things to beat people unconscious with).. Maybe they still sell them? They also sold accordians. [url="http://www.theglaswegian.co.uk/glasgow-news/news/2010/01/21/controversial-victor-morris-gun-store-to-close-after-62-years-102692-21984060/"]http://www.theglaswegian.co.uk/glasgow-news/news/2010/01/21/controversial-victor-morris-gun-store-to-close-after-62-years-102692-21984060/[/url]

The thing I noticed when I played through my Ashdown MIBass 550 and my new compact for the first time at an outdoor gig was, even though I was really pushing the amp, how deep, clear and defined the bass sounded. It gave the impression that it could take a lot more than the MiBass was putting through it.

Venues cost an arm and a leg to rent during the Festival up here so a free venue is a good deal. Make sure they don't expect you to pay anything if the ticket sales aren't enough to pay for the venue though.

Don't worry basschatters to the rescue. I live 500 miles away but there'll be somebody along soon to help you out I'm sure.

[quote name='Rammstein2012' timestamp='1343842131' post='1756218'] sorry yes i should have said. im looking for something with a bit more punch. if possible a bit more bottom end and a nice punch in the mids [/quote] I have to say I bought a John East J retro for my main Jazz and it could make the worst pickups in the world sound great. You can tweak it until you get exactly the sound you want. About the same price as a pair of Lindy Fralins.

[quote name='redstriper' timestamp='1343836683' post='1756080'] Why do you want to replace the stock pick ups? [/quote] +1 What do you feel they lack. Punch, sizzle, clarity etc. It makes it easier for people to give you advice when they know what you're looking for. I just bought a set of 64 wizards which have a good traditional woody vintage Jazz sound. They replaced a set of DiMarzio model J pickups because they were too dark and bassy for me (sounded very precision like). The best Jazz pickups I've owned were taken from a Japanese nineties Squier and they are now sitting in my other Jazz. They have the best of both worlds with a good balance of bass and mids (I wish I could find another set that sounded like that).

I have both basic bits cables and A barefaced compact. I can no longer blame my tools. If it sounds sh*te.............it must just be me.

Bass Docs Wilkinson Tuners arrived at the speed of light. Great price too. Pleasure to deal with.

Eventually you'll get you cover in the post. This company is well known for taking your cash and taking forever to get your cover made and posted. The guitarist in my band said it took 3 months and threats of physical violence before he received his. Of course in the meantime he'd had to go out and buy one from another company. I recommend Roqsolid.

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1343664276' post='1753347'] I thought that! In any case, so what if it [i]is[/i] genuine? It's just a box. Jamerson's real legacy is the recordings he made. [/quote] We're talking about loony collectors here. The type that think guitars and amps should be stored in bank vaults not played.

What does the amp sound like when it's just you and the drummer? If the sound you want is there but disappears once the guitarists appear in the mix then you have to have a word with them. If it's not there at stage volume then you need to get a new amp. I had the same with a tc electronics classic 450 which just couldn't give me the low mid frequencies I wanted. I switched to an Ashdown ABM and I got the sound I was after (I now use an Ashdown MIBass which is just as good).

I always thought he went through the desk in the studio.

I bought a Fender curly cable and when I finally got to use it (the first one was broken so I got a replacement). I was amazed at how muddy the sound was and have never used it again. I got a couple made up which have high quality components but there's not much difference between them and your average planet waves cables sound wise (although the components are of higher quality and should last longer hopefully).

Creme Brulee! That damn TV show spoiled everything for over the hill, sad, overweight, balding, neverhasbeens who used to be in a band and would get a bit drunk and tell everybody how they came 'this close' to making it...........but didn't (because, in reality, they were a bit sh*t). I was in that band and we were called Bennington Heights. We came 7th in the sony rock and pop challenge in 1984 and I have a framed rejection letter from EMI, which is my most treasured possession. I spit on Creme Brulee's grave!

My go to sound is deep, punchy and defined and variations on that theme. If it's rocky it may be punchier and if it's a slow blues it may be deeper and rounder. It depends on the bass I'm using and the band I'm playing with. Luckily I have a John East retro fitted in my Jazz bass so if I need variation I can get it.

I don't know who played bass on the original but in my opinion this one has a much nicer feel to it. If you're going to be playing it in a band try go with this bassline. The bassist even makes a mistake during the guitar solo - which shows even top line session guys are only human. [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fX5USg8_1gA"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fX5USg8_1gA[/url]

I always associate them with being either woolly or clanky. Something I personally don't look for in a bass tone. And I bet they're bloody heavy too.