Conan

Didn't get a chance to do the pics last night as I was rehearsing. And there is a story to tell about that too! As I said, I find the tone a bit "polite" with the EMGs. I took the Geddy to last night's rehearsal, which is in the guitarist's house, up in the converted attic which is now his studio/music room. Electronic drum kit and backline courtesy of small combos. Most of the time with this band I use either the Cort five string or (by preference) my "Fecker" Jazz with Wizard Hammer pickups. I like a tone that is "raunchy/growly/aggressive/etc". Up till now I had been really pleased with my tone and thought it fitted well with the overall band sound. Last night, as I said, I used the Geddy. The band (or at least the two guitarists) were very impressed with the look and the fact that it was a "proper" Fender. They are easily impressed! I struggled to hear myself as the sound is a bit "scooped" with the EMGs. Three songs in though, the ENTIRE band - even the singer - commented on the bass tone. "That is great, it's just the sound of the band!" they enthused. "It is so smooth and clear" they continued... I've never really been complimented on my tone before so this came as some surprise! Anyway, I now find myself with a bit of a dilemma. I had decided to whip out the EMGs and put the Hammers into the Geddy. Now I am not so sure! If you were in a similar position, would you selfishly pursue your own quest for personal tone nirvana; or go along with what appears to work best in a band situation? This also kind of ties in with another thread about the difference between "cutting though" abd "sitting in" a mix. Oh, hopefully I'll get the piucs up this evening!

[quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1331050265' post='1566871'] the same sound as you get with the tone knob on 10 but with just a bit more extra treble. [/quote] So, in effect, it goes up to eleven?

[quote name='Cosmo Valdemar' timestamp='1330888951' post='1564451'] That tone sounds like 'generic modern bass'. Not very impressive IMHO. [/quote] This.

[quote name='JTUK' timestamp='1329204339' post='1538593']Typically..I never get why people want really pokey pickups at the expense of say, character in the sound. If you want more poke, use the amp. Simplistic, admittedly, but a more powerful pickup isn't obviously a better sounding one, far from it, IME [/quote] Wise words! Sometimes though, character and power come together...

Took delivery of my Geddy Lee Jazz Bass yesterday. I am now at least the third Basschatter to own this particular instrument - I bought it from stu_g who apparently got it from the appropriately named Geddys nose! First impressions? Great colour. Black. The only colour for a Ged IMO! Neck is lovely but SO different to my no-name "Fecker Jizz Bass", which feels decidedly bassball bat-like in comparison. Not that I don't like that, but it is just VERY different to the GL neck. The lacquering is just right too - I don't like too much or too little, and this is just what baby bear would have asked for. Quick play through my Ashdown perfect ten combo. Nice. As good as I was hoping? Not quite . However, there could be a number of reasons for this, so a few things to investigate. Very playable though. Nice action. Strings a bit on the light side for me. Strangely though, although the pickup volume pots appear to be doing their job, the tone one seems to have minimal effect!! Give it a quick once-over. Remove the old strings (whatever they are), clean the gunk off the machine heads, remove the bell plate and pickguard just to check all is well. Clean down body with an E cloth.... Replace battery* Re-attach bell plate but decide that I like it better with the PG off! Very "Stealth" Install brand new Newtone Diamond 46-105 strings. Nice. Clang-tastic in acoustic mode. Intonation slightly out now. Typically I can't find the allen key required to do the job. Plug back into the Ashdown. Better, but still not sounding quite as good as my "Fecker". This is quite disconcerting as this Chinese no-name J copy cost me £100!! Maybe it's down to familiarity though? Or maybe the Wizard Hammers?! More (including pics) to follow... *The bass has replacement active EMG pickups.

[quote name='Lozz196' timestamp='1330875744' post='1564183'] I really like that, it`s so wrong, that it`s right. [/quote] I'm with you 50% of the way...

[quote name='Bassmekanik' timestamp='1330995809' post='1566176'] I`m with this. Has to be Black. [/quote] Or very very very very very very very dark grey...

Eek! That's a heck of a premium just because it was owned by a mediocre bassist with a big tongue...

I like to like bands that other people hate. Oh, and Animals is my favourite album too!

[quote name='TRBboy' timestamp='1330849078' post='1563624']Wish there had been an option for "I don't practice a lot, but I'm in a band that plays live, and I get involved in various other live and studio projects, although I don't get time to practice as much as I would like to and I'm too lazy to learn to sightread properly" [/quote] Me too!

DieBass?!

Or a Skoda. I drive a Skoda.

I was quietly impressed with the GFS hot pickup I put in my Squier... certainly plenty of midrange grunt and loads of output. Bloody cheap too! No down-side that I can see... [url="http://www.guitarfetish.com/GFS-PB-Pro-PLUS-OVERWOUND-Alnico-P-Bass-style-VERY-hot_p_334.html"]http://www.guitarfetish.com/GFS-PB-Pro-PLUS-OVERWOUND-Alnico-P-Bass-style-VERY-hot_p_334.html[/url]

That said, I still can't see the point in spending three grand to end up with a bass that looks like you bought it for £200 thirty years ago and dropped it from a moving car...

[quote name='Johnston' timestamp='1330775165' post='1562764']As for the price. Does it not sit around the same price as a Pino Custom Shop Sig? [/quote] Maybe Pino is regarded as being more "upmarket" and therefore worthy of the price tag? Certainly both basses are rather aggressively relicked (sp?) but essentially very simple instruments...

Which album/track was it?

A psychologist would have a field-day with this thread! On finding "the one" must one abandon all others as long as ye shall live?

[quote name='Johnston' timestamp='1330624746' post='1560684'] Having one bass to me is like only having one 10mm spanner in the tool box. some folk can go their entire lives with one 10mm spanner but now and again you need a different one to get the job done. .[/quote] That's just nuts!

[quote name='Truckstop' timestamp='1330571520' post='1559649'] Somebody mentioned Dave Meros but no-one's put any clips up! [/quote] I did! See page one. But not this one... [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aIiUZd-gfXo&feature=related[/media]

[quote name='rednose200' timestamp='1325288201' post='1481917'] I absolutely hate signature guitars. Its only a sales gimmick for dummies who think that by buying a sig bass will make them play like the person its named after. [/quote] Well this dummy is looking forward to the arrival of his Geddy Lee jazz bass!

[quote name='skankdelvar' timestamp='1330531412' post='1558962'] Like many people here, I tend to shy away from buying from low-post count noobs, thus one might contend that an informal system is already in place. [/quote] Me too.... but then I have just sold a bass to a newbie and he turned out to be as honest as the day is long!! Just goes to show.