Sharkfinger

It seems incredible to me that amp manufacturers don't build tuners right into their amps. It seems like such an obvious thing to do. Now, I hear that one manufacturer does, I think they're called something like IA amps or something. Does anyone know of any others? ATM, I'm wasting 1U rack space just for the conveniene of not having to mess around with leads.

[quote name='Rhys' post='40754' date='Aug 3 2007, 08:36 AM']I've emailed Ishibashi about finding me a P Bass and they've found me a PB57-60. I was just wondering what the difference is between a STD PB and the 57 reissues? Is there a notable difference? Do they make Standards in Japan?[/quote] Not sure what you mean by STD PD. A "standard" P bass? Not even sure there is such a thing. Experts? If you're going to go for a '57 re-issue, you might as well go the whole hog and get one with a different body wood. The one that was suggested is basswood and while there's nothing wrong with that IMO, this one has a more "authentic" alder one. [url="http://www.excite.co.jp/world/english/web/?wb_url=http%3A%2F%2Fishibashi.co.jp%2Fwebshop%2Fguitar%2Ffender-j%2Fpb5770us.htm&wb_lp=JAEN&wb_dis=2"]http://www.excite.co.jp/world/english/web/...EN&wb_dis=2[/url] I guess one of the biggest differences between the '57 and the other copied Fender P, the '62, is the fingerboard material. In the '62 it's rosewood, which gives it a warmer, fuller tone, I'm told. I only have a '62 RI so I can't compare. Here's a '62 on ishibashi: [url="http://www.excite.co.jp/world/english/web/?wb_url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ishibashi.co.jp%2Fwebshop%2Fguitar%2Ffender-j%2Fpb6270us.htm&wb_lp=JAEN&wb_dis=2"]http://www.excite.co.jp/world/english/web/...EN&wb_dis=2[/url]

[quote name='cockbongo' post='40476' date='Aug 2 2007, 03:27 PM']...just wondered if anyone had any experience with them and can let me know how good/bad/average they find them? Anything I should be wary of or anything to keep an eye out for? It's my first Warwick, y'see - i'm quite excited...![/quote] Wouldn't the right time to have asked this question be [u]before[/u] you bought it?

Excellent! Any closer with that playability comparison? I'd be very interested in that....

[quote name='OutToPlayJazz' post='40333' date='Aug 2 2007, 09:26 AM']Just wondered if anyone has experience of Thomann delivery times via the free UPS service. My Geddy Lee jazz was dispatched on Tuesday pm & I was wondering when to expect it? Yours impatiently, etc...[/quote] I've found that it usually between 3-5 working days. Waiting on a bunch of stuff, myself.

[quote name='lwtait' post='39730' date='Jul 31 2007, 09:12 PM']Definatley! And the whole "relic" look (whether intentional or not) along with the EMGs just make it a gorgeous looking bass, and the EMGs probably sound good as well. I'm willing to bet it plays well, too.[/quote] Although it came out of the factory with "aged" dark stain laquer on the neck, the body has naturally discoloured and gained a couple of dings and chips. The EMGs give it a slightly more contemporary sound (in terms of response and range), it lets the tone of the bass itself shine through and tone is definately "all that jazz", baby. Much more so than the original pups (which I still have, just in case). It's got a fantastic set-up with .45 nickel strings and plays like a dream. I've only played a (new) US jazz in the shop and maybe the Squier's setup / pickups / mojo give it the edge but this bass was by far the superior instrument.

[quote name='TPJ' post='39433' date='Jul 31 2007, 11:30 AM']I was looking at one [b][url="http://www.thebasscompany.com/4stringguitars/ap400m.html"]of these basses[/url][/b] a while ago but they didn't ship internationally. There was a bit of company history with making instruments in the USA only, then setting up a branch in China to make more basses more cheaply. Then all that stopped and the chap is back to making them himself and is now able to ship internationally. With the exchange rate today, the price of this MM style bass is roughly: £172 ($350) - price £74 ($150) - shipping, this is purely a guess rounded up £62 - import of 25% £308 - Rough total I'm thinking about this and swapping out the circuitry with the East MM retro which would still come in under £450. It's just the looks....[/quote] Stunning basses and good price. I like the fact that they're sound chambered, making them light. Have just emailed them to see if they have a medium scale option for my girlie hands.

I run the same signal into the two inputs of my power amp. One channel drives an 8 Ohm cab, the other a 4 Ohm cab. A year later, still no problems.

[quote name='thedontcarebear' post='37912' date='Jul 27 2007, 05:44 PM']I literally only got back 30 minutes ago, I want to clean the 2 new (to me) ones up a bit then I'll compare properly, the JV has a badass on it too, and I noticed with the JV that the tuners go the other way (strings are strung correctly though), but on the back of them the spiral bit thingy (that's a technical term) is the other way round to most basses I've played.[/quote] By the looks of it, you have one of the very first JV Squiers: big Fender logo, with little "Squier series" logo. Collector's item. Well done! I'm pretty certain that the maple board makes it a '57 re-issue, rather than a '62 like mine. Would also be interested in how much it cost and how they compare (I don't have a "modern" P).

[quote name='paul, the' post='37753' date='Jul 27 2007, 12:02 PM']The best porn ever, makes the Swedish lesbian special look like a Leper retirement home. Get some covers on that P! Best looking bass that has ever existed the sb P, tort pg and rw fb w/covers. a to the g with the f c b.[/quote] I have no idea what you just said The Pickguard has screw holes above and below the pups, so I could stick a cover there (but where would I rest my thumb?). The are no holes around the bridge, however, and I don't want to start drilling any, in case I want to sell it in "original" condition. However, those screws are very grimy; I must get round to cleaning them. Any tips? I'm thinking metal/chrome polish.

[quote name='silverfoxnik' post='37592' date='Jul 27 2007, 12:16 AM']Definitely is "Porn" material! Two great basses I used to have a beautiful 1983 JV P-bass - it was a fantastic sounding instrument. One of the ones I wish I'd never sold... Nik[/quote] Why on Earth would you sell that??? I don't use my P much, I must admint, but I wouldn't sell it. Why sell it to buy something that won't be much better but that will decrease in value? The JV will at least hold it's monetary value and probably increase. Having said that, I'll now be using it more in my covers band as it weighs much less than my Jazz that sometimes feels like a mill stone about my neck!

[quote name='bassboy115' post='37655' date='Jul 27 2007, 08:36 AM']What style of music do you play? are the Pups more of a thin sound or can get they get a gritty?(if you know what i mean) better suited to jazz or rock lol Yeah i bought mine in wine red and a few months later realised i liked white owell still love mine![/quote] Actually, I found the original pups a bit weedy. The output of the EMGs is higher and there is more "oomph" but not so much that I now have to use the "active" input in my preamp. I used this bass for my originals rock band (alt/goth/darkwave) before we downtuned a semi-tone and now use the Spector (also has EMG's). The jazz I now use all the time for my "working" covers band. We do rock covers from the 60/70's to now. It's got that full, deep growl that just goes with anything. Grittier that sandwiches on a beach. Like I said, though, the valve preamp goes a long way toward that but as they say "rubbish in, rubbish out". The EMGs in my Spector also bring out the sound of that bass but beef it up: a cutting, middy snarl. That has the EMG BTQ preamp in it as well but I find I don't use it much: no need at all.

[quote name='Bernmeister' post='37566' date='Jul 26 2007, 10:58 PM']Ooh just realised Sharkfinger, what good taste you have you have a similar bass rig to me as well i use swr too with an 800w poweramp on my larger gigs[/quote] Well, I only have an SWR 2x10 left! The 1x18 sadly had to go in favor of a more handleable Mesa 1x15, which is a great cab but no "Big Ben". [quote name='umcoo' post='37508' date='Jul 26 2007, 08:12 PM']I've heard that the Squier JV series are great instruments, and often overlooked because of their name. Nice collection you have [/quote] That's true. Haven't played a lot of the later Squiers, which are reputedly nowhere near as good. Also haven't played the modern "vintage modified" stuff so couldn't say how it compares. Only played US Fenders in the shop but to ears and hands, there wasn't a enormous difference between those and mine.

[quote name='bassboy115' post='37557' date='Jul 26 2007, 10:12 PM']that jazz looks lovely! I love white and tort pickguards on jazz's How are them EMGs?[/quote] The white has discoloured nicely and it has enough superficial mark to give it character. The EMGs are superb. Like the guy at the Bass Center who installed them said: "more of everything, really, and no hum". I find the sound quite transparent; they let me hear how the bass itself sounds, which is VERY heavy plank of wood. I often get complimented on the tone. I've recently thought about adding the U-Retro preamp, to give it a bit more "warmth" but as I play though a valve preamp, that seems quite redundant. Besides which, I'm toying with the Idea of switching to a medium scale bass so might not be using these puppies live much. No; they won't be for sale

Not sure if you'll all agree that it's "Porn" material but I think they're lovely.

[quote name='bass_in_ya_face' post='36314' date='Jul 24 2007, 11:57 AM']Well here we go. I kept a list when I asked some while back of all the shortscale basses that were available and here is the reply.....happy researching Here's a stab at the list with scale lengths: Fender Mustang 30" Fender Bass IV 30" Musicmaster 30" Fender Urge 1 32" ...................[/quote] Wow, the mother lode of scale lengths! Will have a good dig around. [quote name='bass_in_ya_face']To be honest, i paniced when i first got a 34" scale bass because I'm a 6ft bloke with girls hands! I swapped in my first Ibanez gsr200 and traded it in for a short scale bass and it felt horrible, more like playing a toy or a six string. I was told not to worry that with various hand stretching excercises I would be able to play ok so I sold the short scale and now have two 34" scale basses and i can easily span across 4 frets even with my girlie hands So what i'm trying to say is to carry on with the large basses because if I can play them, anyone can[/quote] Well, I've been playing a good few years now. I just want to see if it will make things easier, rather than struggle on with something when there seems to be another way around.

[quote name='Sibob' post='34064' date='Jul 19 2007, 11:51 AM']I was thinking the other day, that fundamentally i'm not particually fussed about having active EQ's on my basses, but for some projects, mostly live, i like the extra grunt and output they afford. Would it be possible to take a passive bass, and have someone custom wind some pickups really hot so as to get a similar output to an active bass?? Cheers Si[/quote] Does you amp have an input level? Turning it up might go some way to curing your "oomph" problem but if you have your heart set on new pickups then that's only a half-way house, really.

[quote name='fullrangebass' post='34241' date='Jul 19 2007, 05:49 PM']A good bass of 32" scale is the Warwick Jonas Hellborg bass. The bass sound fantastic (esp for a 32" one) and has a high price tag too from what I know[/quote] Nearly £3400? Ouch!

[quote name='paul, the' post='34155' date='Jul 19 2007, 03:09 PM']Aria Pro II Cardinal Series The [url="http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Electric+Bass/product/Aria+Pro+II/CBS-380+Cardinal+Series/10/1"]CSB-380[/url] being my favourtie [url="http://clanesb.free.fr/bass/fichiers/190420061741574f381a1ff4ffd4c3885de761cbb3b80a.mp3"]http://clanesb.free.fr/bass/fichiers/19042...761cbb3b80a.mp3[/url][/quote] Might be tough finding one of those. There's a short scale Aria on eBay that looks good, i.e. doesn't look "wrong" because of the short neck. Let's see how much that goes for. Having said that, the one for sale on eBay you posted on here didn't actually sell, so I've contacted the seller to see if he still has it. I have an Aria Pro II and I know they're superb instruments for the money. [quote name='P-T-P']£365 from Thomann new [url="http://www.thomann.de/gb/epiphone_allen_woody_rumble_kat.htm"]http://www.thomann.de/gb/epiphone_allen_woody_rumble_kat.htm[/url][/quote] It's short scale but looks nice. Will see if I can pick one up second hand. I take it it didn't suffer sound-wise being short scale?

[quote name='alexclaber' post='34138' date='Jul 19 2007, 02:29 PM']The easiest way to try this out is by using a capo and retuning. A capo at the 1st fret will get you a 32.2" scale length whilst a capo at the 2nd fret will get you 30.3" scale length. Remember to tune all the strings down by one or two semitones to get the right pitches and tension. Alex[/quote] That's an excellent suggestion! Might be a bit confusing at first but I'm sure I'll get my head around it. Thanks. My only concern would be if the distance between the frets would be different on an actual medium scale length bass. [quote name='The Burpster']Or this little sweety..... [url="http://www.daisyrock.com/products/basses/elite_bass.htm"]http://www.daisyrock.com/products/basses/elite_bass.htm[/url][/quote] You take-a the peees? Acutally, if it didn't have such a "girly" colour and name, I'd have been very tempted. I may not be huge bloke but I'm no less manly, thank you very much!

All good suggestions, so far but they seem to be mostly of the 30" (short scale) variety. John, will definately check out Landing basses, thanks.

Thanks for the advice. According to the description, that's a 30" scale as well. Anyone know if there's anything decent by a "major" manufacturer, that's 32"? [quote name='EdwardHimself' post='34106' date='Jul 19 2007, 01:47 PM']if you just want to try it out, everyone (apart from neephied) i've heard from who owns an eb-0 or 3 absolutely hates them. So if you just want to try one out, the ibanez is probz ur best bet, if you did want something more expensive, you could just scroll down a bit and you would have seen this: [url="http://www.thomann.de/gb/fender_65_mustang_bass_fr.htm"]http://www.thomann.de/gb/fender_65_mustang_bass_fr.htm[/url] also in white. By the way, the epi's scale is 30"[/quote]

Not being an especially large chap with small hands, I've been considering getting a bass with a scale length of less than the standard 34". I understand the 30" scale makes a substantial difference in sound so I thought maybe check out something with 32" scale length? Really, I'm after advice from anyone who's made the switch or attempted to. Pros/cons/advice needed. Also, I've had a quick look at basses but the only ones I can see being half-way decent are these: [url="http://www.thomann.de/gb/epiphone_ebo_sgstyle_ebass_sw.htm?sid=a68f3639a59e98a4bc21bb340832408c"]http://www.thomann.de/gb/epiphone_ebo_sgst...c21bb340832408c[/url] [url="http://www.thomann.de/gb/ibanez_gaxb_150_bk.htm?sid=a68f3639a59e98a4bc21bb340832408c"]http://www.thomann.de/gb/ibanez_gaxb_150_b...c21bb340832408c[/url] However, they stink of "cheapness". The other end of the spectrum is getting something custom made which doesn't seem like a good idea just to try it out. Frank

[quote name='Muppet' post='30512' date='Jul 12 2007, 12:12 AM']On the normal Jazz V I think it was post 2004 and the Deluxe switched around 2003 I think...[/quote] If I were to make a guess, I'd say it has something to do with the string tension being to much (or too little?) when there is that much "trailing" string between the nut and the machine head. I remember reading somewhere that this may have been an issue even on 4 strings, which is why LF came up with the 3+1 arrangement for the stingray. Don't know how accurate that story is; it may have been conjecture on the part of the author.

[quote name='paul, the' post='29531' date='Jul 10 2007, 03:23 AM']That looks pretty nuts to me. I've seen [url="http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Electric+Bass/product/Fender/American+Hot+Rodded+P-Bass/10/1"]American hot-rodded Precisions[/url] go for that price. A little rare, but well received.[/quote] Hmmm, good point! Will definately check them out. Have also seen ones with a humbucking J at the bridge, which I like the look of.