Conan

[quote name='bakerster135' timestamp='1403683004' post='2485156'] You're missing the point. Why bring it up then? [/quote] What point am I missing exactly? Please clarify. And I brought it up because this is a bass forum where people discuss subjects relating to bass. Is that OK? Some people get on their high horses about "fake" vintage Fenders on sites like Ebay and Gumtree - whereas on this thread some of those same people seem to have no problem with a range of basses that are trying very hard to look like vintage Fenders, but aren't. I think there is a bit of irony there. Maybe you don't - but that's cool.

[quote name='bakerster135' timestamp='1403620105' post='2484587'] He's not trying to make anyone believe that it's actually a Fender bass. [/quote] Apart from the Fender decal on the headstock! Don't get me wrong - I'm not particularly bothered, and they mostly look fantastic (especially that Burgundy Mist J on the website! ). I just find it a bit odd that people are turning a blind eye to the fact that they are (to a certain extent) leading people to believe that they are Fenders. Not many audience members (or even fellow bass players) look at the [i][b]back[/b][/i] of the headstock...

I'm confused... (it doesn't take much, I realise!). Is that a Fender, relicked by Limelight or a Limelight J bass with a snidey Fender decal? If it is the latter, isn't that a tiny bit naughty?

[quote name='JTUK' timestamp='1403539961' post='2483716'] If you like the band or are a big fan, you'll think he/they are great and that is fine. [/quote] Not sure what point you are trying to make here. I like lots of bands. Some have great bass players, some don't. Some have bass players that I like/appreciate, some don't. The (perceived) quality of the bass player is not one of my most important factors in deciding whether I like a band or not. I like Queen. I am not a massive fan, but I enjoy their music. JD's bass playing (and writing) is an important factor in why they sound like they do. End of story for me. I'm not trying to big him up, but I am quite saddened that you seem to make it your mission to denigrate him without reason. It is all very negative.

[quote name='tonybassplayer' timestamp='1403563554' post='2484054'] I sometimes wonder what a band has to do to impress some people !! [/quote] I wonder which people you can [b][i]possibly[/i][/b] be referring to?

"The boy asked paramedics if he could just be bandaged up and "rave on"..." [url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sv49jlyX-co"]http://www.youtube....h?v=sv49jlyX-co[/url]

I saw him on Saturday and he is OK. But he was laid low for a while with a virus and may still be working his way through a backlog... I think you could expect a PG for around £30.... depends really!

[quote name='JTUK' timestamp='1403531732' post='2483596'] the one thing those 3 all have, IMO, is that they took the bass REALLY somewhere else at the time and that is why the 'deserve' their place. [/quote] Eh? Nobody here is comparing JD to any other bass players - just saying that he has/had great taste and really added to the overall sound of one of the greatest rock/pop bands of all time (as judged by sales if nothing else). Why is that so hard to understand?

[quote name='JTUK' timestamp='1403525980' post='2483519']I just don't think there is anything special to listen to and he was lucky to be part of a successful band... the right place etc, and not discounting band chemistry etc .. Good luck to the guy...[/quote] Well of course! Isn't that the same with most, if not all successful/famous/iconic bass players? A lot of it [b][i]is[/i][/b] down to luck - meeting the right people at the right time, making the right note choices, having a musical/compositional talent in the first place... Still - he wrote (or co-wrote) and played on some of the biggest tunes in recent musical history. Not too shabby in my book

[quote name='planer' timestamp='1403039996' post='2479236'] I joined this forum to learn stuff, mostly what I've learnt is...I don't actually want to be here. [/quote] And yet you keep popping back to tell us this? Admit it, you love us really!

Is that the stock colour? I love it! If you refinned it yourself, what paint did you use? Looks very like Fender "surf green" to my eyes...

How have I never heard of Nova?! What a great track! Good call on Byron Miller too - his playing really makes the Reach for it album for me (although the other musicians are no slouches too, obviously!).

[quote name='TheGreek' timestamp='1403020060' post='2478928'] I played a Sterling at the LBGS and was surprised how good it was [/quote] [quote name='dannybuoy' timestamp='1403022477' post='2478967'] The Sterling, made by Music Man, is a slightly smaller more agressive sounding Stingray. [/quote] [quote name='Iain' timestamp='1403028075' post='2479049'] I've got a Sterling and I played it back to back with a Stingray. Necks seemed very similar i.e. excellent. Body is smaller and lighter than the Stingray but it's not a light bass by any stretch. It's got seriously hyped actives. Mine's the 4H - single noise cancelling Humbucker with a 3-way switch for various modes. Pretty flexible tone between the pickup selector and the 3-way tone. I generally play with them in middle position, just rolling back treble if the room is very bright. The bass-boost is huge. I absolutely love it and the red body with black scratch looks great. [/quote] [quote name='Musicman20' timestamp='1403084051' post='2479513']USA Stingray vs USA Sterling - Stingray has the classic tone, slightly bigger neck (not so much P bass but almost), chrome control plate due to front loaded electronics, etc. USA Sterling is smaller, sleeker, Jazz-type neck but IMO better than a Jazz, the pickups are in the same spot but the magnet is ceramic, so it sounds more aggressive in the mids...they really do bark and cut through the mix like crazy! Similar EQ's.[/quote] [quote name='bubinga5' timestamp='1403115427' post='2479983'] i love the USA MM Sterling. superb aggressive tone. lovely neck.. just a wonderful instrument. i just prefer the look of a jazz bass. [/quote] I've never been able to get on with the chunky neck of the 'Rays, but I[b][i] loved [/i][/b]the neck on my Sterling! Very comfortable and just so [i][b]playable[/b][/i]. A great bass which I only moved on because it's rather assertive tone (which I love) didn't quite fit with my requirements in my current band. The other option was to change bands - which I seriously considered! Highly recommended, and you should be able to pick up a good used one on here for around £750.

[quote name='planer' timestamp='1403014999' post='2478855'] Err, I think this started as a happy thread, sadly ruined by argumentative pendants. [/quote] Ruined?! How is it ruined? I've learned a lot by reading this thread - a lot more than I would have learned from a twee "Isn't Herbie Flowers a top gent" thread. (Not that I'm suggesting that he [i][b]isn't[/b][/i] a top gent of course!)

[quote name='Beer of the Bass' timestamp='1402919368' post='2477830'] Could it be that you like the scooped-mid voicing of the LH500 less than the sound of other amps? You could try running the LH500 with the midrange turned to full and the bass and treble around 1, which should bring the EQ somewhere close to flat. [/quote] I always do that. The 2,10,2 setting is supposed to be approximately "flat", but I find it still a bit mid-poor and bass-heavy. There are times when I cut the bass control completely in order to get more mid-range. Of course, using a J bass with both pickups on full most of the time doesn't help...

[quote name='Myke' timestamp='1402695851' post='2476178'] I don't know if it's because it's not a valve amp which the Hartke is...[/quote] Actually, the Hartke only has one valve - in the preamp stage. It is really a solid state amp with a "bit" of valve warmth thrown in. The trouble is that there are so many variables here. I did a similar thing at my band's rehearsal last week. We are practicing for an upcoming "quiet" gig so in an effort to minimise the carry-in I used my Ashdown Perfect 10 (30W) combo instead of my usual LH500 and Barefaced Big One. I really liked the sound - even though (or maybe [b][i]because[/i][/b]) the Ashdown was running flat out! I couldn't (and wouldn't) use it for a full-on rehearsal or gig, but a lower volumes it actually sounded pretty good!

[quote name='JohnSC' timestamp='1402865769' post='2477440'] Which amp would you suggest for a funk player? I really like sounds like this one: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wZJj70B2IJc [/quote] What you are hearing there is the sound of the bass and, more importantly, the player - not the amp itself. If you are in the US, then Carvin would be a great place to start looking. But what is your speaker? When you say "DIY" do you mean that you built the cabinet yourself? If so, no offence, but how competent are you? Did you use a top-spec driver or a cheap one? It all matters...

[quote name='planer' timestamp='1402501871' post='2474199'] Interesting that you've decided matching headstocks because YOU like them, not all your customers will agree.[/quote] Maybe - but I [color=#FF0000][size=8][i][b]LOVE[/b][/i][/size] [/color]them!!

[quote name='JTUK' timestamp='1402582183' post='2475012']I'd never call him a great bass player[/quote] Depends what your definition of a "great bass player" is, doesn't it? [quote name='JD1' timestamp='1179534358' post='1981']Awesome. For me, what bass playing is all about. [/quote] For me too. So many of the so-called "greats" are all about technique and using ten notes when one will do. Deacon is/was the antithesis of that approach. Not that he couldn't play a complex line mind... but it would tend to be complex from a melody point of view rather than just being "difficult to play". For example: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TJU-E-Etop8

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1402489737' post='2474050'] My Barefaced Big One was £400 second hand on here and it's brilliant.[/quote] Yep. Mine was a tad more than that but involved a trade... you can certainly pick up a used gen2 Compact for £400 or less. They are certainly loud enough for your needs and so light and portable that it is laughable!

P - 1.75 nut - CAR - dots (ideally on maple) - tort guard J - 1.50 nut - Surf Green - blocks 'n' binding on maple - tort guard In fact, my J option is virtually covered by Jack and Danny already!

[quote name='Marc S' timestamp='1402485948' post='2473981'] I wouldn't worry whether it's Chinese, Japanese, Mexican, or USA, Fender or Squier; Just try before buying really..... make sure you get the bass you want, and don't be seduced into something that's more expensive just because you want the "right" badge[/quote] Can't fault this logic at all

Another glowing report following my deal with Woody! I bought his set of EMG pickups and they arrived extremely quickly, beautifully packaged and exactly as described in his advert. A completely smooth and hassle-free transaction from start to finish. Highly recommended!

Some pickups (particularly active EMGs) benefit from being very close to the strings.... not sure about the ones (Barts aren't they?) in the Elrick though...