Conan

[quote name='Phil Adams' timestamp='1378706994' post='2203328'] My bass sits on my belly, well away from my belt buckle. [/quote] Shirt buttons can cause "buckle rash" too - especially metal ones. Plastic ones do it too. T-shirts shouldn't, but then you look like a tramp...

[quote name='Cosmo Valdemar' timestamp='1378671703' post='2203146'] My favourite Rush album, and IMHO Geddy's best bass sound - in studio at least. The Rick just blows my mind every time I listen. It's also a good example of the differences in tone between his Rick and Jazz, they are clearly distinguishable on here. [/quote] Didn't he use the Steinberger too on Signals? I lose track of his choices in the eighties!

[quote name='Dad3353' timestamp='1378720540' post='2203532'] ...but if an 'artist' decided to give his wares away for free, is that a bad thing..? [/quote] No, of course it isn't - although fellow artists might have something to say about it as it puts a pressure on them to do the same. I know a few artists, and few of them would give anything away for nothing unless it was to friends or family, or unless it would somehow benefit them in the longer term. But then a lot of bands/musicians are like this too. How many of us would perform for free at a family party? And if we would, why is that perceived as different? It's an interesting subject!

[quote name='Dad3353' timestamp='1378720540' post='2203532'] I don't think many are saying that musicians are [i]expected [/i]to play for free, but they're certainly entitled to, if that's their choice. If one doesn't want to perform free, it's easily settled: one asks to be paid. If that works, fine. What's the problem..? [/quote] I never said there was a problem. I just think there is an expectation (among certain punters and venue owners) that because bands enjoy what they do, and the audience enjoy themselves, then the enjoyment alone should be enough and that asking to be paid is somehow crass. This is not a view I share, but I am aware of it's existence. Shame the venue owners don't get into the spirit of things by giving drinks away for free too...

[quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1378713770' post='2203415'] All the more reason to buy one of those 20-30 piece sets. All the metric and imperial allen keys you will ever need and probably cheaper than buying them individually! [/quote] I have a set of twelve - but they are all metric. They've worked for everything else I have needed them for, just not stupid instruments made in America!!

[quote name='JTUK' timestamp='1378666733' post='2203024'] Things is, people know there is a labour of love element in it, so if you don't value yourself ...then don't be surprised if others don't tend to. [/quote] It's funny isn't it... even though most artists love what they do, nobody would expect an artist to give their art away for free. So why are musicians expected to do so?

[quote name='lojo' timestamp='1378545717' post='2201599'] Either, Niether or both , totally depends on your desires and situation [/quote] This. That is all really.

Fender?

[quote name='hubrad' timestamp='1366287290' post='2050504'] Something else to bear in mind is that American made gear will be imperial sizes, Mexican probably the same but possibly metric on some parts; most of the rest of the world uses metric sizes. [/quote] Ah. That might explain why I am struggling to adjust the truss rod and bridge saddles on a Mexican J!! It's rather frustrating that none of my METRIC allen keys do the job. Off to the local hardware shop I think! Anyone know the specific sizes for these two jobs?

[quote name='wateroftyne' timestamp='1378578928' post='2202135'] Swing by on the way back... Bring him along! [/quote] Just might do that!

Bugger. My son is playing rugby tomorrow at Corbridge and kickoff is at 11am. Have a great time tomorrow folks I'll try to make the next one... Edit - just re-read the times, and I might be able to make it along after lunch

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1378577236' post='2202091'] [color=#000000]Even the black Geddy Lee I own has no guard on it right now and looks very cool IMO. BUT since Fender changed manufacturing plants from Japan to Mexico you will notice that there is now a CNC under the guard. I also had a '62 Jazz that was CIJ and that had no holes/routes. Japanese manufacturing plants seem very concerned with aesthetic detail IMO. I noticed their sunburst finishes always seem perfect. Again IMHO.'[/color] [/quote] Aha! I missed this post whilst I was typing! So now I know! I know to look out for another CIJ Geddy, that is! Although, that said - if the Japanese plant can manage it, why can't the US and Mexican ones?

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1378578022' post='2202111'] That's cocaine residue. The workers are given vast amounts of it to keep them going. I knew there was something weird about that bloke. [/quote] Just stop it!

[quote name='Jack Cahalane' timestamp='1378575845' post='2202061']I'm not sure if it's common practice or what but it looks to me like they've routed out a pair of mystery holes on the body and neck socket, Surely they're not all like this?[/quote] I currently have a Mex J bass on loan from the guitarist in my band. It felt and played like a dog so I took it to pieces this morning... There was one of those "mystery holes" between the neck pickup and the bottom horn. But that was not all! There was a lot of strange waxy whitish powdery stuff between the scratchplate and the body, and also in the routed cavities. I assume it to be some sort of buffing compound or maybe very fine sawdust from the final finishing. Whatever it was, I don't think it should have been left there but cleaned off before final assembly. There was also a lot of another waxy compound on the four screws holding the neck into the body. As I withdrew the screws, little bits of this wax were falling off all over the place. I had to be careful, when re-assembling, not to get any bits between the neck plate and the body so that it would still fit snugly. Again, I am unsure why this stuff was there and why it was present in such quantity. I was rather disappointed to notice that the control cavity rout and the neck pickup rout were joined together. Obviously this saves time and makes manufacture easier, but it means that the bass can't be played with the scratchplate off. That is a bloody shame, as I really like that look . My CIJ Geddy Lee did not have this "body canal" and therefore I did play it without the plate. It looked very cool indeed (IMO). The bridge seems a bit naff, and the E and G strings seem a long way in from the edge of the fretboard. Obviously you don't want them hanging off the edge, but to far in is not great either. Also, the E and G strings do not seem to quite align properly with the pole pieces of the pickups. It is almost as if the bridge was designed for a different bass! Not massive problems, but taken all together they just make the bass feel a bit shonky. It is dated at 2009 on the neck and pocket (in case this is at all relevant!). I am yet to plug it in, as today has been a bit of a "spring-cleaning" day after the school holidays . Did manage to put a brand new set of RS66LDs on it though... clang-tastic!

Fish - A feast of consequences

He forgot to add "play bass like a man"

[quote name='neepheid' timestamp='1378464189' post='2200631'] I'm saying it's pointless speculation[/quote] Of course it is! This is an internet forum, after all.

[quote name='SteveK' timestamp='1378463814' post='2200626'] There I was, happily perusing this delightful thread, when suddenly I'm confronted with this nonsense... I mean, really![/quote] Why is it nonsense? I ask purely for information...

Throw away old strings. They sound sh*te.

[quote name='Matt P' timestamp='1378464577' post='2200641'] personally i'll be using the Redheugh bridge and along the tyne on the south side. [/quote] Or the A19 and Tyne Tunnel.

Don't eat yellow snow.

[quote name='Paul S' timestamp='1378454776' post='2200414'] I enjoyed your thread title very much [/quote] Me too!

Wise words - but not exactly news to our ears.... is it?

[quote name='Coilte' timestamp='1378458578' post='2200483'] For more or less the same money, a G&L Tribute beats any MIM Fender hands down anytime. [/quote] Possibly.... horrible headstocks though!

Hmmmm. I can't help feeling that there might be a smidgeon of racial superiority in some of the comparisons made between Mex, US and Jap Fenders. Maybe some people have a rather stereotypical image of Mexicans in mind when judging an MIM bass? Not only is this view insulting and racist in some cases, but it is ignorant as how many of us actually know the make-up of the staff in Fenders US factories? How many of the staff might be Hispanic or Mexican? Controversial maybe - but possibly a small part of the truth? Speaking from (my limited) experience, I have played a couple of good Mex basses and one terrible one (which ironically I currently have on loan and am having to sort out!). I have never played a US made Fender bass (although I have played a few US strats and teles - all were pretty good but nothing exceptional). The CIJ Geddy Lee jazz I used to own ( ) was outstanding in terms of its playability, tone and finish quality. Wish I still had it!