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Special showing for 'lefties' ...

Here’s my solution. A bit of both 😏

Having lines and dots doesn't challenge enough to start using your ear - at least this is how I feel. One of the reasons I bought the double bass was to develop my ear, as my, nomen omen, precision bass made me too lazy. I developed thinking about notes as patterns on my fingerboard rather than sounds I need to listen to. I know it might be just me, but it still seems like a common side effect of playing on a fretted instrument. Considering the above, the choice should be dictated by the intention behind the fretless. If it's the sound or comfort, lined will do, but if it's general musical development and taking it outside ones comfort zone, I'd say go for as plain a fingerboard as possible. I'm not an authority on that though, just my own reflections on the matter. There's also a valuable lesson in the training wheels metaphor. Children struggle so much when the wheels are finally removed, because they need to get rid of all the bad habits they developed. I'm sure motorcyclists know what 'counter steering' is, but in general, after removing the wheels (or transitioning from the tricycle to bicycle) you literally need to start pushing the handlebars to the opposite direction than you used to. The conclusion is all cyclists make poor basists, or something, I don't know

I think manufacturers should just stop being lazy and finish the basses properly. Put frets in the neck and that would do away with all this stupid arguing 😄😉

You can always have an unlined fretboard and draw lines with a pencil, erase them as you learn and get more confident with it, as a removable easy guide.

Is it because Antoria might sue them?

On behalf of myself, Michael G and our Product Engineer Simon Austen, just putting a marker down that your friendly neighbourhood Basschat sponsor Gillett Guitars will be there on stand A0. We'll have our Contour Bass range, a couple of Ashdown amps (UK manufacturers only on our stand ), our bass buddy Freddie Draper, and an itinerant keyboard player to make it all feel like the cocktail lounge on the QE2. Very much looking forward to meeting fellow members of the Basschat gang over the weekend! Scrumpymike, aka Gillett Guitars Sales & Marketing Manager

Just realised...it's NEXT WEEKEND!!

Disappointed to see that being over 60 leads to warnings about falling over.

We are all different so we should do it whichever way feels most productive, no one way is best for everyone.

Another reason I like P basses... as said above, they are very simple but instantly give you 'that' sound in a mix. So you can forget all about the 'tonequest', forget about GAS and get on with the business of actually playing the bloody thing. Which is why I don't much care for on-board preamps, active basses* and over-complicated amps - too much of a distraction. *Spectors excepted, obvs.

I won two tickets for the London Bass Guitar show next weekend, so I have an extra one I am happy to give away. I am thinking of going on Saturday. Hit me up!

Can't believe one of these is on eBay. Paul's Grandson must be stony broke If you don't know the Tutmarc Bass Fiddle story here's a link but bottom line is Paul Tutmarc invented the electric bass decades before St Leo http://www.vintageguitar.com/1782/audiovox-736/ eBay link https://www.ebay.com/itm/232677254563?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649

So i got the behringer thingy! First impressions are that its great, does what i want and as a bonus, makes Netflix sound a lot better!

Why can't Fender release anything that looks this cool?

I thought the med. helicores were a bit like spiro mittels , maybe a touch less tension , pretty bright string , zyex medium are a lot lower tension , possibly one of the lowest tension metal strings? I like zyex on one of my basses, they have some of the sustain of metal core strings but are a little bit thumpier and easier to get moving

I entered a stock version of a Gear4Music L.A. Precision bass into a blind head to head challenge test at a Herts Bass Bash. @Lozz196 would know where the link is to the results, but my L.A. came 4th, above some USA Fenders. The body of mine was a little heavier than the current versions though.

The Zoom comps are good-to-go IMO. Two things where Zoom has missed the boat (For a long time) are: WET/DRY blend, and LEVEL meters for viewing gain reduction. That said, though the comps are a bit touchy an tricky to dial in, I find them to be satisfactory vs. many garden-variety dedicated comps, but with a few exceptions. For example, the TC SpectraComp (and other comps with computer interface that also implement the TONE PRINT feature) allows you to use a computer for extremely deep editing, since it is a true 3-band multi-comp, with each band having a full complement of parameters. It is really, REALLY deep in terms of features. This is hard to beat at this price point, but you really need a thorough understanding of multi-band compression or it's very easy to get lost.

S'not a warning; just a premonition, almost a certainty.

A hassle free purchase of a cable from Mark. Nothing but good things to say about the experience. Shop here with confidence, peeps.

I've been a fan since I saw them on the telly doing Live Aid. In fact the main reason I play bass is because of Queen

Just got back from the gig,great night,second gig with Black dog,first time up this pub everyone loved the band and wot can I say about my AH350 SMX,it sounds the nuts even with the Markbass cabs which are 4x10 and 2x10 800 Watts each cab,think I’ll sell my Markbass Head ,

You can hear it here :

I use the Trend fast track sharpener when I’m re honing my chisels (or my Tourek sharpener when I take a chunk out of the edge) then a jap wetsone to polish the edge by eye but then I always put a micro bevel on them too!!... My Marples lose their edge quickly but my Ashley Iles chisel keep their edge for a long time even after I use them on the likes of Oak and Wych Elm!!

Finally - NAMM Bass blog! See here: https://wp.me/p2ZbyY-Av

I think this statement is a bit of a clichè to be honest. It's a bit like saying 'use your brain' when trying to solve an equation. Great, if your brain already contains the necessary information to solve the problem. Using ears to correct intonation takes years, even decades of focused study. If you have that kind of time available, great. For the rest of us, there's fretlines, so we can get on with the enjoyment of playing a fretless without 35 years of listening to a drone. Just because the lines are there doesn't mean we stare at them all night. They're there to help. We don't stare at fretted basses when we play, but we occasionally check we're in the right place. If I didn't play jazz, I could probably get by without them no problem, but for soloing up the top end I definitely need those lines.

I'm basically a fretless player : sixers for the ego, one of them having 31 positions ("frets") for even greater ego. I'm also playing a 6 strings 3/4 EUB : ego, I told you. They all are unlined and my intonation is always good as I play with ears not eyes as everyone is telling it. In fact, I hate side dots at the fretted position as they are just confusing me when I take a look at the fretboard. The problem with the lines is that, in the beginning, you'll have a tendency to play right on it which will make you sound sharp. You'll also notice that your fretting fingers will not have the same hardness from day to day so you'll have to correct it by ear. There are four tricks for the beginners and others : 1. Use opened strings to check your intonation as they must be perfectly tuned. 2. Play chords from time to time, again to check your intonation : this is unforgiving. 3. Use a very good tuner like the TC Electronic Polytune in strobe mode to check if you are perfectly in tune. 4. When playing a fretted bass, play on the frets to develop your muscle memory. Use your ears, then lined or unlined won't make any difference. And don't forget to have your fretless bass perfectly set up by a real luthier as it's the key to perfect intonation. I would also add to play as often as possible in the higher positions to develop your ear precision.

Final thought. I have 3 fretless basses. The Wal has no lines, the Cort has no lines, and the Squier has lines. I was recording recently with the Squier, because I wanted the woody, hollow Jazz Bass sound. Listening to the tracks back, I realised I was fractionally flat ALL THE TIME. Nobody has complained about my intonation in years, so I was a bit shocked. Ended up playing everything again on the Cort. Came out spot on. The Cort and the Wal are both gigged far more than the Squier. Anyone want a nice VM Jazz with J-Tone active electronics?

I don’t disagree with them, I just have a different experience. I have played lined fretless more than unlined but I still feel happier, more in control and better intonated on unlined. The OP will have to decide for himself.

Basically, how big is your ego? Si

BassChat: The Movie - News Tinseltown reels as Brit-flick provisional cast list leaked: Chris O'Dowd as: Kiwi Zachary Quinto as: Ped Christopher Plummer as: The Bass Doc / Sir Charles Lytton Yul Brynner as: Happy Jack Alan Bennett as: Billy Apple Brian Blessed as: Dad3353 / Prince Michael Bakunin

I'm looking forward to the Line 6 HX mini (MS-60B size) and the Line 6 HXn due (with DI and headphone out and aux in plus additional cab sims) both "due out" early to mid 20XX... I will be very tempted to get both

Had a Supertwelve T and now a Big twin 2. This G3 has a better building quality and finish and a serious front steel plate. The sound is much open and progressive through all the frequencies. The HF filter seems tuned high meening the tweet had brightness and clarity instead of change the tonal response of the 12" as often on other trade. On second hand to smooth the price, it's really a killer cab

Agree with Paul S - I have a gen1 Compact and it's a brilliant thing. I was one of the original guys who had the demo cab which Alex sent around the country, and was / still am blown away with it's quality of sound. If the rest of the range are as good or better it's really a no-brainer, but as cetera says , try before you buy as your personal preferences may not be met. Couldn't see why though ( Disclaimer - I am currently saving up for a BF Super Compact....)

I personally really rate the compressors on the Zoom B3 and MS-60B, and think they are among their strongest features. My personal fave for subtle compression and tonal fattening is the M-Comp model. No significant tonal colouration and it works really great with in the band mix. I've played through a couple of dedicated stomp box compressors that didn't perform half as well as the M-Comp model, IMO, IME etc. The Dyna comp model also sounds great to me and I love the squishy tone from the optical comp model (can't remember what it's called now ). I've had good results with the other models too, the only one that I wasn't too keen on was the Dual-Comp model as it had a massive mid-scoop. It might work well for slap stuff but like you, that's not something I really do either.

I currently own some of that nostalgia GP11 Mk V 4x10 combo

This is my take on vintage and fat. Anywhere near what you're aiming for?

The thread title has given me the name for a new band!

Can't beat this groove IMHO.

Not necessarily IMO. The OP may play with a very heavy hand in which case the frets will buzz even though the luthier may have set the action low yet without buzz to suit most playing styles. I set my own basses up with as low action as possible without buzz. however, if im getting really carried away and really dig in I will get fret buzz.

To me this is almost the perfect rock song. George Lynch is a vastly underrated guitarist and I think this is a beautiful solo, easily matching the famous Zak Wylde in Ozzy’s no more tears. Ray Luzier is a monster drummer and drives the song, rhythm changes etc. dUg kills it with simplicity. KXM - Breakout - I could listen to this everyday and not get bored.

Oh my, that price is better than anticipated. That is highly unfortunate, said my wallet

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With that specification, surely the Thunderbird should have "Gibson" on the headstock. Can't believe that the "budget" brand is selling a potentially more authentic version of the bass than the parent company.

Hope not, the Tbird is supposedly replacing the current Pro 1V, which sells around £350/£400. Certainly not going to pay pushing a grand for an Epi, as good as they can be.