Tune Basses

[bnt]

Anyone here have any experience of the Tune basses? I mentioned in [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=4796"]another thread[/url] (on Narucho from Casiopea) that I was thinking of buying one, but I've just found an ex-demo model on a German site, [url="http://www.musik-schmidt.de/osc-schmidt/catalog/tune-hotsuns-twb43-showroom-modell-p-11491.html"]here[/url]. It's nearly double the dosh [url="http://waltons.ie/waltonsshop/product_info.php?cPath=60_62&products_id=10780"]here[/url] in Dublin.

It's the model I want - the TWB-43 - though I'm not so keen on the Bubinga, and would prefer the Maple. I could do with less headstock, but I'm really wondering about the sound, more than anything else. Any thoughts? Ta.

Edited August 28, 2007 by bnt

[The Burpster]

Stock sound shouldnt really stand in the way of your GAS. If you have that stirring in your loins that only one kind of bass can give then, get it you must.

Sorting the sound out later with different pups/ electrics is almost a National Sport on here! Its neither masively expensive or difficult, and now (it appears) we have a pet custom Pup producer should be pretty darn easy!

B.

[Rich]

These things are gorgeous in every way. It's a very modern sound (well, of its time anyway) from what I remember, slap tone to die for. Buy it buy it buy it buy it buy it, ooooh you know you want to. That German price is a steal.

[bnt]

Well, that's torn it! Now I know you guys are interested, I've got to jump on it, haven't I, or else one of you might Gazump me?... order placed a few minutes ago, ought to be here next week (or sooner).

First thing I'll do is replace those knobs, I think. If this doesn't work, I'm going to sue Basschat for Aiding and Abetting GAS.

[Hamster]

[quote name='bnt' post='52137' date='Aug 29 2007, 08:40 AM']If this doesn't work, I'm going to sue Basschat for Aiding and Abetting GAS. [/quote]

That's been tried before - Ped and CrazyKiwi just turned up at court with their underpants on their heads and pencils up their noses. They answered every question by saying "wibble." Case dismissed

Hamster

[Sibob]

Looks nice, a guy i knew a few years ago had one of Tunes lower passive models, that was pretty good for the dosh!

The problem i'd have with this particular bass i think is the size of the pickups, or length rather. Because i anchor my thumb on the pickup to play my E, on this the pickup looks a long way from the E string compared to my jazz, or any other bass i've seen tbh

Let us know what its like!

Si

[bnt]

[quote name='Sibob' post='52195' date='Aug 29 2007, 10:14 AM']The problem i'd have with this particular bass i think is the size of the pickups, or length rather. Because i anchor my thumb on the pickup to play my E, on this the pickup looks a long way from the E string compared to my jazz, or any other bass i've seen tbh[/quote]

Looks to me like they use the same pups on the 4- and 5-strings. I've been playing 5-string almost exclusively, and used to rest my thumb on the B-string, but I've had no real problems since I switched to High-C tuning. So I think I'll be OK there. I'm a bit more concerned about balance etc - I'm a fairly tall chap (5' 11-1/2"), and this is a small-bodied instrument. (It looks big on Narucho, but he's quite short.)

[charic]

Purty bass

[lee4]

[quote name='Sibob' post='52195' date='Aug 29 2007, 10:14 AM']Looks nice, a guy i knew a few years ago had one of Tunes lower passive models, that was pretty good for the dosh!

The problem i'd have with this particular bass i think is the size of the pickups, or length rather. Because i anchor my thumb on the pickup to play my E, on this the pickup looks a long way from the E string compared to my jazz, or any other bass i've seen tbh

Let us know what its like!

Si[/quote]
Glad to see I'm not the only one who plays like this.

[Sibob]

[quote name='lee4' post='52514' date='Aug 29 2007, 09:17 PM']Glad to see I'm not the only one who plays like this.[/quote]

I'm sure 99% of finger players play like this

Heres pictures of the 4 string and the 5 string pickups side by side:

[url="http://imageshack.us"][/url] [url="http://imageshack.us"][/url]

You're right in that the pickups look the same size on the 4 and 5, but my point is that because theres more space on the 4 string (ie one less string) the overal distance between the top of the pickup where you might anchor your thumb at the E string is quite large.
I played an Ibanez Ergodyne a few years ago that had the same problem, felt really weird and basically unplayable to me cos i'm used to the Jazz distance between Pickup and E.
Having said that, if you just play with a Pick, u can ignore all that!

Si

[Russ]

Very nice basses. Always wanted one with the CAT tremolo. My first exposure to them was seeing Claypool using one (a 6-string fretless) in Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey (there's about 20 seconds of Primus playing towards the end).

There is just something mysterious and alluring about these esoteric, high-end Japanese instruments - Tune, Atlansia, etc. I'd love to go to a musical instrument shop in Japan and try some out.

[Rich]

Ever played an [url="http://www.atlansia.jp/SOLITAIRE.ARS.JPG"]Atlansia Solitaire[/url]?

Man, there is some weird stuff on their site [url="http://www.atlansia.jp/"]http://www.atlansia.jp/[/url]

[bnt]

[quote name='Russ' post='52593' date='Aug 30 2007, 03:37 AM']There is just something mysterious and alluring about these esoteric, high-end Japanese instruments - Tune, Atlansia, etc. I'd love to go to a musical instrument shop in Japan and try some out.[/quote]
So would I... the one I'm buying is made in Korea. (Like I'm going to get one of those Japanese ones for a bit over £300? I wish! )

Edited August 30, 2007 by bnt

[dub_junkie]

I had a Tune Bass Maniac around 15 years ago.It was a great sounding and playing instrument..I had to get rid of it tho cos it was bubblegum pink!

DJ

[bnt]

Quick update: it's on its way to me OK. Dealing with that store was a bit strange...
- I pay with MasterCard SecureCode - so my ID is doubly verified
- they say "cool, we're packing it now, will ship it today (Wednesday)"
- later, I email and ask for the tracking number
- salesman's response: "I need a photocopy of your ID and credit card, before I give you the tracking number"
- my response: "I paid with MasterCard SecureCode, so my ID is verified. Sending copies of ID is a risk of identity theft. Get Bent".
- them: "Upps! Sorry, here's the tracking number"
- all the next day (Thu): UPS does not recognise the tracking number - I waited in case it took time to get through their systems
- By today I'm suspicious, thinking they might not want me to have the number, in case it showed they were lying about shipping the bass. I get back to them by email.
- "Upps again! Here's the correct number." (one digit off)
Turns out they did ship it when they said they did, so they're not dodgy... just confused. But I do not allow my IDs to be copied if I can help it - what does that achieve, other than exposing me to ID theft?

PS: that headstock, based on the photos, still looks "a bit much" for my taste, but it might not be as bad in the flesh, er, wood. If it's OTT, I may be hitting the Warmoth website at some point.

[ped]

Will be interested to see ho wyou like it. I think the headstock is great, nice and different.

FWIW last time I had a DHL package sent to me the tracking number didn't work at any stage, but it arrived before I could complain!

[bnt]

Well, it's here - and it would have been with me yesterday, had UPS actually bothered to update their site to tell me it was [b]in the bloody country[/b]. They allegedly tried to deliver it to me, and I was at home, but I live in a building with a secured front door. It wasn't always secure, the lock was added because of some mail thefts... so the buzzers are [i]behind[/i] the locked door. I'm not going to say any more, lest it lead me in to yet another rant about the way thing are done here in Ireland.

So I'm told to expect delivery at roughly the same time (3:30)... nothing. By 4:30 I've called to give them directions, in case the driver can't find the building. By 5:30 I'm out on the road watching for the UPS van, as a van from a digital imaging company drives in behind me, with what looks like groceries in the back, though I didn't look to closely, being occupied watching for the UPS van. The van pulls out, and my flatmate calls to tell me he's taken delivery of the bass. Good thing he was in... but I never want to deal with UPS again, ever. Muppets.

Definitely ex-demo... packed OK (strings loosened, plenty of bubble wrap), in a Cort box, inside a Fender box. A little dusty, and a couple of belt scratches on the back if I look closely, but the top is excellent - thick Bubinga on Mahogany, oil finish, a bit Warwick-like.

Neck over-tightened a bit, visible "hump" at normal tension, so I've taken nearly a turn off, and it's looking a lot better. I need to lower the strings, though, and I have to find my 1mm Allen key for that, or buy a new one. As it is, the string response is uneven, E string is a bit dead, so it means new strings too, tomorrow. The electronics are quiet and powerful, but I won't really be able to say how it sounds until I sort out the setup problems. In other words, the expected ex-Demo condition, no real surprises. I'm not surprised it didn't sell from the store.

Apart from that, I like it: headstock is smaller than it appeared in the photo, because the neck is thinner than I'm used to at the (brass) nut, and the tuners feel solid. I'll post some photos in the Bass Porn section later, but first those cheap knobs have got to go. Gotta have solid knobs in gold, to match the bridge, x5.