simon1964

I've had an EMG LJ Jazz pickup sitting around waiting to be fitted to my Precision. I discovered on Saturday that my 1 year old whippet, Alfie, had attacked the box and chewed through half of the wires (although thankfully not the pickup itself). Having calmed down, I emailed EMG UK, explaining my dilema, and have just had this fantastic reply from their MD: [i]Re Dog food Your cry for help has been duly passed to MB Music who handle our direct EMG spares sales. We have that cable available in chicken rabbit or beef flavours.....[/i]

[quote name='Currrls' post='341485' date='Nov 30 2008, 10:33 PM']so that means you gotta get out there and play basses?[/quote] +1. Reviews, and opinions on here, are helpful, but what one person finds feels and sounds just right may not be for you. I love the chunkier necks on my Warwicks, but can't get on at all with Jazz necks or the skinny neck on my son's Ibanez SR - its not that the Warwicks are better, its just that so much is subjective. I suspect I'm not alone on here in gasing for a particular bass for ages, buying it, then being completely underwhelmed. I love the look of Stingrays, but when I finally got one, i didn't get on with it at all. Lovely basses, but just not for me. my advice would be to play as many basses as you can, for as long as you can before you part with your cash (if only I always followed that advice myself!)

[quote name='OldGit' post='340102' date='Nov 28 2008, 10:07 PM']Is that unusual then?[/quote] I found the same with my 'ray. I loved the look, and it had a fantastic neck, but I found it got lost in the mix, which really surprised me. Coincidentally, I was using an Ashdown at the time - perhaps it was that!

[quote name='thisnameistaken' post='340093' date='Nov 28 2008, 09:58 PM']IMHO as a bassist very much still in love with the sound of his old Warwick Thumb, the sound it makes is more of a purr. I know that the Thumb and the word "growl" became inextricably linked at some hazy point in bass history but they actually purr. I swear.[/quote] Have you been stroking it?! I know what you mean - I love the sound of my Thumb, and ''growl'' means different things to different people. I do know my Thumb sits in the mix better than any other bass I've owned.

[quote name='jake_tenfloors' post='339665' date='Nov 28 2008, 02:48 PM']Buy a warwick thumb [/quote] That was going to be my advice! Otherwise, I think it depends what you mean by growl. If you're after an aggressive crunch type tone, I would have a look at the Ashdown J Lomenzo hyperdrive pedal (or whatever its called!). Fantastic value, and gives some really good tones - everything from a crunchy aggresive growl, to full on overdrive.

Interesting question this. I was asked to play at a Charity thing in Nottingham recently, and With or Without You was one of the songs in the set. The key to playing it well is actually to keep things simple, but to really lock in with the feel of the song. I was very tempted to throw in some improvised bits (well the odd fifth and octave!), but it wouldn't have worked. Another good example, which my covers band plays, is She Sells Sancutary. The bass line is all of four notes, but locked in with the drums, it really drives the song. I have tried to throw in a few more fancy bits, but again it doesn't work. It doesn't have to be flash or technically difficult to be a good bassline. Anyway - if I could do fancy improvisation, I'd be a g**tarist

[quote name='waynepunkdude' post='338419' date='Nov 27 2008, 02:05 PM']You guys are going to hate me for what I'm about to do to a sunburst with tort P-bass.[/quote] Not very punk, I admit!

[quote name='budget bassist' post='338406' date='Nov 27 2008, 01:58 PM']Awesome, i assume you'll be dragging luke along with you again? [/quote] Yes. And hopefully the Shuker will be done by then, so I'll drag that along too!

Stunning! Sunburst, tort, block inlays - perfect combination!

[quote name='budget bassist' post='338391' date='Nov 27 2008, 01:42 PM']We had it at the grosvenor last time, seemed like it was well chosen, nice and big, not too grotty and decent beer![/quote] I'm up for it! And the Grosvenor was a pretty good venue last time.

[quote name='thedontcarebear' post='299996' date='Oct 5 2008, 04:27 PM']Just saw the render, so thought I'd post it in this build thread, it kinda makes it look like there is a black accent line there and maple core, but it's a maple accent and wenge core.[/quote] Very nice. My singlecut Shuker (due to be completed soon, I hope!) has a striped ebony top over a walnut body, with a birdseye maple board. So interesting to see these pics!

[quote name='MB1' post='334809' date='Nov 23 2008, 12:13 PM']MB1. Buyer collects? Have you ever been chased through the countryside by a man in a mask weilding a chainsaw? [/quote] Here's the link. Not the best at DIY is he?! [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/HOHNER-JACK-BASS-PROJECT-NEEDS-REBUILD-HEADLESS_W0QQitemZ320319914760QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV?hash=item320319914760&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1301%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/HOHNER-JACK-BASS-PRO...A1%7C240%3A1318[/url]

Fantastic looking bass. I played an identical one a while back and loved it. Nice buy!

[quote name='noelk27' post='334359' date='Nov 22 2008, 12:39 PM']Also, listening to the very early Style Council singles highlights that Weller was a good bass player in his own right - which, given that Foxton was a guitarist before converting to bass with The Jam, makes you wonder if they wouldn't have been happier switching instruments.[/quote] Interesting post. I didn't realise Weller payed bass on the early Style Counsel stuff - I'll have to have another listen. Did I read soemwhere that when the Jam first formed Weller did indeed play bass, and Foxton guitar? I think they switched intruments someitme before they started to record. As it happens, I'm seeing Paul Weller at the Nottingham Arena tonight - I'm hoping a couple of the old Jam numbers will make their way into the set!

Incidentally, it always surprises me that Foxton doesn't get a writing credit on songs like Town Called Malice, Tube Station, Eton Rifles etc. Those songs are, in essence, the bassline.

[quote name='Thunderthumbs' post='334304' date='Nov 22 2008, 11:28 AM']When I was younger, Bruce Foxton was God....the reason I play bass.[/quote] And me. I saw From the Jam in Nottingham last year, and his playing is as great as ever. So many of the Jam's songs have great basslines. I actually played on a Jam set at a Charity gig on Wednesday (I even got to ''sing'' on Tube Station!), and the songs still get an amazing reception - even if most of the appreciation is 40+ year old blokes!

Isn't the headstock logo a 60s transition Jazz logo? Certainly doesn't look like a Precision logo.

[quote name='wateroftyne' post='334238' date='Nov 22 2008, 08:10 AM']Hi all We played at new venue that's just opened up in my home village. We decided to do a charity gig to raise money for [url="http://www.journallive.co.uk/north-east-news/newcastle-campaigns/seaton-delaval-hall/"]this National Trust appeal[/url]. It's a 150 seater, and I'm happy to say we sold it out! Apparently there was enough demand to justify a second night. Maybe next time, though... We raised over £1000, which was nice. The North East's top PA company very kindly offered their services, so it sounded great. They haven't had a band on at the hall yet, so it was a bit of a shock for them when we rolled the flightcases in. ha ha. I also borrowed Mr. Warwickhunt's Aggie DB112 cabs. They sounded bloody marvellous...[/quote] Fantastic pictures!

[quote name='yorks5stringer' post='333548' date='Nov 20 2008, 11:39 PM']I've no idea, go to B&Q for mine.....[/quote] I would have said that's about right for a Bongo. If anything, slightly at the top end in the current market.

[quote name='Mr Fudge' post='333675' date='Nov 21 2008, 10:24 AM']Very usefull reply Simon, cheers. How did you find your mighty mite? I see allparts and warmouth about too. The warmouth stuff just looked in another league, although I have no experience of any. Are they all US imports? Would my standard Fender tuners fit all three. cheers.[/quote] I like the Mighty Mite neck. Seems good quality, and good fit. I would have said its pretty much equivalent quality to a Fender standard neck. I've never used Allparts or Warmouth so can't really compare. You might want to have a look at a US ebay store called, I think, Stratosphere. I can't post the link as ebay is blocked at work, but he has a huge range of genuine Fender necks at reasonable prices. I've bought a couple of things from him in the past, with no hassle. Tuners can be a problem, but really only on vintage spec models - I think the current models are all the same size (although do check - I could well be wrong on that!).

[quote name='Mr Fudge' post='333654' date='Nov 21 2008, 09:46 AM']Hello all, I have some knowledge and have done some research but still unsure about a few things. In a nutshell I love the skinny '70's fender necks (as on my Marcus sig). I have a '97 standard jazz and have thought about picking up a similar neck for her. There look to be some crackers on warmouth, although pricey. Obviously I know there are 3 bolts and 4 bolts. I am a bit confused about the radius of the neck. My marcus is 7 1/4" and standard 10". I have no clue how these measurements are made but obviously my marcus is skinnier. Would the Marcus be the same as a Geddy or '75 reissue neck? Can these Jazz necks be bolted onto precision bodies without any major hassle???? Would my standard tuners fit any lic Fender necks. cheers. mr f.[/quote] As far as I'm aware, all Fender neck sockets are the same size. With the exception of the three bolt necks, they should all be pretty much interchangeable. My Mex Precision Body has had a Fender P neck, a Fender J neck, a Squier neck, and now a fretless Fender licensed Mighty Mite neck on it. All have fitted fine. As long as its a standard sized Fender neck, it should fit, irrespective of whether its a P or J neck. Obviously, it would have to be the corrrect scale length - you couldn't fit a short scale Mustang neck to a Jazz body without making mods. As to radius, they do vary a lot. I've never played the Geddy Lee, but from comments on here it is a lot skinnier than other Jazz necks.