Johnny Wishbone

[quote name='Funky Dunky' timestamp='1486115679' post='3229307'] although it's a long, long time since I watched Funky Monks, I don't remember seeing Flea with a Wal during any of the recording footage (not saying he wasn't - just saying I don't remember noticing). [/quote] Looks like it's time you watched it again - the Wal is featured prominently! IIRC it only shows the 5-sting 'Ray when he's tracking "Funky Monks".

[quote name='PaulGibsonBass' timestamp='1486113922' post='3229279'] I always thought that Flea was using a very subtle envelope filter on everything, not enough to colour the sound but just enough to give that slightly 'squelchy' attach, but listening to this it's just his 'natural' tone I think. [/quote] There is of course the "Mu-Tron with dying battery" tone on Sir Psycho Sexy. I'd never heard anything like it at the time!

Found this on YouTube a while back. I pretty much learned to play bass by working my way through this album, so all these years later it's great to hear Flea's masterpiece in isolation, and also interesting to pick out some things I'd never noticed. The octaver on "If You Have To Ask" was a particular surprise!

Three pages in and no mention of "Lady In Red" by Chris De Burgh? You should be ashamed of yourselves!

[quote name='Crawford13' timestamp='1484255873' post='3214169'] Blood Sugar Sex Magik - Red Hot Chili Peppers [/quote] Yep, this. Without a doubt.

Can't remember where I got the idea but I use the standard Tortex ones with a hole punched through the middle (use a heavy duty office hole-punch - standard flimsy ones will just bend!). You wouldn't believe the difference it makes to the grip! A mate of mine once caught one of Dave Grohl's guitar pics at a gig and his was also a standard Tortex, but the grip area had been scored with a knife/sharp implement in a criss-cross pattern. I've tried both methods they improved grip considerably - I just find the hole-punching less time-consuming. YMMV of course.

Geezer Butler, Billy Gould, Jason Newsted, Justin Chancellor, Tim Commerford, MCA, Andy Fraser, Rex Brown, Eric Avery, Ben Shepherd. In no particular order.

My T47.

[quote name='ColinB' timestamp='1478699385' post='3171022'] The SHO only crackles when you set the level, apart from that I like it on bass. FuzzDog's [url="http://shop.pedalparts.co.uk/Quiet_Boost/p847124_11255314.aspx"]Quiet Boost[/url] is a SHO without the crackle. If you look at the instruction pdf then there's a circuit diagram for it. [/quote] Ah right, that'll teach me to read things properly! So only crackles when you move the pot? Sweet, that sounds like a winner - I'll be "setting and forgetting" the level anyway. Thanks!

I'm wanting to add a clean boost to my board (both my Warwick basses have extremely low output compared to my Fenders/Spector so I want switch a booster in when using them). Any recommendations? Just a one-pot job that'll fit into a 1590A if possible? I did do an EHX LPB-1 clone a while back but seem to remember that flips the phase. The ZVex SHO looks simple enough but I understand there's an audible crackle from it? Tried building the Catalinbread Poblano Picoso twice but got a ridiculous amount of hiss when the effect is on. Is there anything else you guys could recommend?

[quote name='Norris' timestamp='1478206470' post='3167621'] Most of the ones that I have tried have been crap. However I was quite impressed with the Ampeg BA-108 that I recently got for my lad. It handles the low B on his 5 string admirably, seems full & tight when quiet, but has more to give if you need it. I'm tempted to get myself one now that he's taken it off to uni [/quote] Got one of these a while back and can't fault it. Aux input, headphone out, decent 3-band EQ, plenty of volume if you need it but also full-sounding at low volume, and handles a 5-string without issue. Fantastic little amp for just over a ton.

Got the Guma Drive as a birthday gift a few weeks back. Not tackled it yet as I've got a few others to finish off first. As per above, I'm not looking forward to the enclosure! That said, the drilling template does look pretty good.

I've built both the Afterlife and the Engineer's Thumb. Both great but a bit too vintage-sounding for what I was looking for.

[quote name='thodrik' timestamp='1475778834' post='3148750'] Personally yes, I prefer a stainless steel string to a nickel, but with the massive difference in price when it comes to buying single strings, I'm happy to buy the balanced tension nickel set at £18 or so. If D'addario made a Prosteel 120-50 set I would buy them. They are fantastic value for money and in my opinion are far better suited to the lower tunings than more expensive sets apparently optimised for lower tunings (DR DDT and the Dunlop equivalent). Again, that is just my personal opinion. [/quote] +1

Signed. Seen too many good places close down because of this.

Either way it's still [i]significantly[/i] more expensive getting singles in the same gauges if you prefer steels. A few quid more I would have expected, but £12 on an equivalent set of 4? I would have thought steel strings make up a decent share of the market (correct me if I'm wrong of course) so why offer something as great an idea as the balanced tension sets in one material but not the other? Especially given the increasing market for heavier gauges now that down-tuning is so common?

[quote name='Lw.' timestamp='1475756360' post='3148487'] so long as you pay it off in full by the end of the period. [/quote] That's always the problem though, isn't it? The annoying thing is that the pics on the shop websites aren't always accurate - they seem to use a generic stock pic for different basses of the same range (i.e. one I was looking at has gold hardware *shudder* listed in the spec but has black in the picture). Thanks for the input and again, sorry for the hijack of the OP's thread.

[quote name='Bassbadger' timestamp='1475751632' post='3148421'] How about the new Volante? Fenderesque with P+J pickups, series/parallel switching and a high-mass bridge. [/quote] That is nice, and I do like Jazzes (I already own one, and a Jaguar which is of course P/J). I'm more of a 24-fret guy though, just due to years of playing Warwicks. Nice price though, and the aesthetics are certainly very appealing (block inlays, tort guard).

[quote name='Lw.' timestamp='1475752504' post='3148434'] @Johnny Wishbone - have you tried any yet? Despite one of their models sharing a body-design Warwick's & Spectors have completely different tones so I find it a little odd that you'd be considering both - definitely worth trying before you buy as what you like about one might not necessarily be there in the other. [/quote] True - I have played a Corvette before, and have just borrowed a Spector off a mate to see how I get on with it. I guess as I already play Warwicks I'm probably going to end up with the Corvette, but I have always liked Spectors so I really want to give one a proper tryout, rather than just 10-15 mins in a shop through a random amp! For the money they look hard to beat.

[quote name='Paulhauser' timestamp='1475747433' post='3148357'] In my experience every Spector is very good at their price level and the Legend Custom is no exception. I dare to say you get more bass for the money as with many other brands. Since the Customs are discontinued I assume you are looking at buying used, right? [/quote] No I'm looking at buying new. I know I'd get a better deal used but I'm probably going to have to get it on finance as having just bought a house I can't be dropping a substantial amount in one go. Still in stock here: [url="http://www.gear4music.com/Guitar-and-Bass/Spector-Bass-Legend-4-Custom-Bass-Guitar-Slate-Grey/JKY"]http://www.gear4musi...-Slate-Grey/JKY[/url] but presumably the price drop mentioned is due to them being discontinued? If that's the case I may have to look at what they're replacing them with, if anything. The "Classic" looks a bit too budget for me, whilst the Euro is a bit pricey for something that's not going to be my main instrument. The Warwick Rockbass Corvette $$ also looks interesting.

[quote name='cetera' timestamp='1475699999' post='3148149'] This. You can't beat a Spector for rock music [/quote] Sorry for the slight hijack but I'm also looking at a Spector as a possible option, albeit on a lower budget. How would you rate the Legend 4 Custom? I normally play Warwicks but the prices are just ridiculous these days (that said I'm also considering a Rockbass Streamer LX but the finishes on the Spectors look a bit less "cheap"). I'm looking for something half-decent to keep strung BEAD.

[quote name='charic' timestamp='1475676488' post='3147872'] Might need to look into that, although I expect singles will work out pricey.... *goes to look [/quote] Yep, more than 50% more expensive (£30.46 vs. £18.40). Plus I can't see a .67 so would have to be a .70 (I accept that's a VERY minor point).

[quote name='dood' timestamp='1475671705' post='3147795'] It's ok, I think it'd be possible to have a Pro Steel set made up with similar gauges! Maybe D'Addario will be along to chime in shortly [/quote] I await this response with interest! I still prefer the sound of the Pro Steels but the tension on these is so good I've been prepared to make the sacrifice for now. A steel version would be a win/win for me!

[quote name='dood' timestamp='1475609301' post='3147402'] ABSOLUTELY these for a four stringer: [url="http://daddario.com/DADProductDetail.Page?ActiveID=3769&productid=380&productname=EXL160BT_Nickel_Wound__Balanced_Tension_Medium__50_120"]http://daddario.com/..._Medium__50_120[/url] They are gauged 50-67-90-120 There's the added tension to allow the A, D and G string to be dropped a semitone and the 120 works very well for the C#, giving you a nice solid feel to the low notes. No need to buy specialist sets or leave strings off. Oh and they're D'addario. [/quote] Yes, these. Will even handle going down to Bb if that's your bag.

Gah! I've been perfectly happy with my Small Stone for about 10 years, and now feel like I must have this instead!