Conan

[quote name='The Admiral' timestamp='1421705836' post='2664227'] I remember an article about gear, and he was talking about basses and amps - and had moved to Dynacord BS412 I think, and the quote was "they have really saved my life....". [/quote] If only they had...

[quote name='JTUK' timestamp='1421844694' post='2665606'] My take is that it is proficient but there is just no music in it. Very successful over the years, no doubt. [/quote] Geddy and the boys will be stung by your criticism of course - until they look at their bank balances. [url="http://www.celebritynetworth.com/richest-celebrities/rock-stars/geddy-lee-net-worth/"]http://www.celebritynetworth.com/richest-celebrities/rock-stars/geddy-lee-net-worth/[/url][url="http://www.celebritynetworth.com/richest-celebrities/rock-stars/geddy-lee-net-worth/"]http://www.celebritynetworth.com/richest-celebrities/rock-stars/geddy-lee-net-worth/[/url] They may feel the same about your band... assuming they've [b][i]heard[/i][/b] of you that is

Well... we have our first proper band practice with our new drummer this evening (as last week was his audition). We found him online, through a local musicians' site. The process [i][b]can[/b][/i] work, but a lot of it is down to luck. Band needing drummer at the same time as there are drummers looking for a band. I'm just pleased and relieved to be playing again after four months off!

[quote name='xilddx' timestamp='1421832178' post='2665389'] I can't really say. I'm a Rush head. I love the song, the power, the dynamics, Alex's chords, how much they seem to be in the moment, that undefinable magic. Why? [/quote] Yeah. If you love Rush (as I do) then that particular period really seems to capture what makes them what they are (in our eyes). Exemplar material, if you like. Not sure that really answers the original question mind - but how do you actually describe why you like a certain band/genre/style or piece of music?

[quote name='notable9' timestamp='1421668322' post='2663700'] Geddy Lees J has amost no action at all and to me it just sounds clanky and grindy which I know appeals to some but it does'nt really sound like a good solid bass tone to me. [/quote] Horses for courses. Geddy plays in a three-piece rock band so he has a rather large "sonic space" in which to work. If he was having to compete with two guitars and keyboards, then even he might find that his current tone might need adjusting slightly... It works for him, in his band. Problem is, loads of other players then use his tone in other bands...

[quote name='handman' timestamp='1421612722' post='2663317'] there is still a very loud hum when the bass is not being grounded by me, [/quote] You will always get that to a certain extent with single-coil pickups - but the extent will depend on the quality of the pickups themselves, your settings (reducing treble will reduce hum), the wiring, the shielding within the control cavity and so on. All are fixable to a certain degree, but there comes a point where simply buying a better quality bass becomes a more sensible option (unless you are far handier with a soldering iron than I am!) Squier pickups are notorious for hum and a generally weak sound, so pretty much anything you replace them with should be an improvement. Even a set from a Fender MIM J! (which I did with my fretless). Entwistles have a good rep on here at the moment, and are priced [b][i]very[/i][/b] competitively. I've not used them myself so I would be interested to hear your thoughts when they are installed... Watch out for the sizes though, as a number of people have reported that they are very tall...

Are the MM five strings still made in the US? The fours are now MIM aren't they? (after being made in Japan for several years...). An interesting decision from a pricing and marketing point of view.

[quote name='FinnDave' timestamp='1421593035' post='2663008'] If you set the strings too low, the magnetic field of the pickup(s) can have a damping effect on them. [/quote] Depends on the pickups. EMGs, for example, have a very weak magnetic field and you can set the pickup height as close to the strings as you like (within reason!) without the field effect you describe. In fact, EMG recommend that you do so!

[quote name='HowieBass' timestamp='1421625492' post='2663482'] You can use a length of old roundwound string as a makeshift file to deepen a nut slot. [/quote] What an excellent idea! I never would have thought of that...

[quote name='lowdown' timestamp='1421610688' post='2663287'] Blimey, they've got expensive. [/quote] They have indeed! It always surprises me that they don't come with a set of MM's signature DR strings on though... Fat Bass I think they are called.

Aha! [url="http://www.ebay.com/itm/Roland-G-88-Philip-Lynott-Bass-Guitar-Synthesizer-Controller-/321630979768?pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item4ae2b346b8"]http://www.ebay.com/itm/Roland-G-88-Philip-Lynott-Bass-Guitar-Synthesizer-Controller-/321630979768?pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item4ae2b346b8[/url]

[quote name='FlatEric' timestamp='1421657651' post='2663556'] From what I can see, it looks like his Roland - Based on a Greco GOB.[/quote] Interesting.... did he actually use its synthesiser capabilities, or just play it as a "standard" bass?

[quote name='Lynottfan' timestamp='1421443086' post='2661435'] I do miss the smooth warm sound that Phil had, a lot of rock players seem to just have loads of "clank" and no note definition, but not Phil. I do miss the man. [/quote] Tone-master indeed! Speaking of which, which bass is he using here? Looks like some kind of Status (or at least graphite) Fender-type neck... [url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TqRJtUorPMg"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TqRJtUorPMg[/url]

I recently bought one of these [url="http://www.gak.co.uk/en/ibanez-sr705-tk-transparent-black/18673"]http://www.gak.co.uk...ent-black/18673[/url] for my 17 year old son, who is in exactly the same position as you. It's actually a great bass and plays really well. Plenty of tonal variation from the 3-band EQ and a nice slim, shallow neck. I bought it used (on here) for less than half of the new price! I know you said that you want to buy new, but there are some excellent bargains to be had on here - and it really is a buyer's market at the moment! For example: [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/252230-ibanez-sr905/page__p__2660301__hl__ibanez__fromsearch__1#entry2660301"]http://basschat.co.uk/topic/252230-ibanez-sr905/page__p__2660301__hl__ibanez__fromsearch__1#entry2660301[/url]

[quote name='cocco' timestamp='1421346716' post='2660250'] I wonder how the new Geddy will stack up against the old Jap one, its definately less attractive. [/quote] Over twice the price! Interesting that they talk about a more chunky neck profile too... surely the most attractive feature of the Geddy sigs is the slim neck? Also, that's now [i][b]three[/b][/i] Geddies in the range - MIM (that used to be CIJ - the "original"), the custom shop version and now this one! It just smacks of change for the sake of change. That said, I like the pearl blocks on the maple board - classy!

[quote name='RhysP' timestamp='1421335533' post='2660051'] That surf green Jazzmaster is pretty damn sexy. [/quote] Maybe they've got their pictures mixed up, but it looks more like Sonic or Daphne Blue to my eyes... [url="http://www.dawsons.co.uk/fender-classic-series-60s-jazzmaster-lacquer-guitar-surf-green"]http://www.dawsons.co.uk/fender-classic-series-60s-jazzmaster-lacquer-guitar-surf-green[/url]

[quote name='wateroftyne' timestamp='1421333129' post='2660000'] The pearloid guard on the Geddy is sooooo tacky, IMO. [/quote] Maybe... but at least it ensures my lightning fast licks can be executed with speed and accuracy. Which the proof-reader could have done with!

[quote name='luckman67' timestamp='1421327384' post='2659866'] ...hopefully after 27 years break my GAS habit.[/quote] And yet you still come on Basschat? Bad choice my man! Lovely set-up there BTW

[quote name='ubit' timestamp='1421308732' post='2659550']I do confess to having severe GAS for one of those Teddy Lee basses. Anyone got any info on how much? [/quote] I could bearly afford one... They will tend to Polarice opinion.

And don't forget his incredible portrayal of Parson Nathaniel in Jeff Wayne's original musical version of the War of the Worlds... Herbie Flowers on bass and Phil Lynott on vocals. It doesn't get much better than that!

[quote name='KevB' timestamp='1421101042' post='2657257'] I was playing a compilation of his non-Lizzy stuff in the car the other week and I'd forgotten he'd written this, most people probably know the Corrs version better. [url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d2OcIqwmSaY"]https://www.youtube....h?v=d2OcIqwmSaY[/url] [/quote] What a great track! I'd never heard that before - even the Corrs version. Thanks for posting. Some truly gorgeous key changes in there - real heart-wrenching stuff, especially in the spirit of this thread. As a result I've just been on Amazon and bought a copy of it on a Phil compilation entitled "Yellow Pearl"

[quote name='Truckstop' timestamp='1421174501' post='2658069'] Surprisingly the prices were really good! The BB425 was £269, USA P £650, Mexican Jazz (70's) £520. [/quote] I would have thought that most bass players can do a basic set-up? If the prices are good, you could offer to buy the bass, but insist that they chuck in a new set of strings (as you'd have to buy some anyway). For the sake of a set of strings that would have cost them a tenner (ish) they will have a sale, and you will have a well-priced bass that you could clean up with an e-cloth, set up with your own fair hand and put the new strings on... Everyone's a winner! Then, when they replenish their sold stock, there will be more new basses in decent condition so they will sell more.... and so on. Well that's business sorted. Next week I'll turn my mind to World peace.

[quote name='Cairobill' timestamp='1421072539' post='2656794'] I'm still searching for the perfect J…and I will find it one day... [/quote] Didn't Lou Reed write a song about that?

[quote name='Beedster' timestamp='1421072076' post='2656788'] after all, we're not a very faithful bynch when it comes to basses? [/quote] Speak for yourself! I've always thought of myself as a very faithful bynch...