Leaderboard

DR Hi Beams or Fat Beams - they meet all your requirements. Easily the best strings I've ever played.

This. That fat, smooth, juicy sound we like in isolation is often completely wrong when playing live. I like to check, either using wireless or a long lead, by going for a wander out front to listen how the bass sounds in the mix. Often, I find I need to thin the low end to remove the mud and boost the mids and top to make it sit right. The resultant sound can be none too pleasant when I'm stood next to the rig, but if it's what works in the room, I'll put up with it.

Finished the first coil of the humbucker this afternoon, did 7000 winds in total and then wired it up to test the output. Works well. Managed to keep it looking quite neat, very pleased. Will make the bobbin for the second coil tomorrow and possibly get started on the winds if I have time. Managed to get a good technique going clockwise, will be strange doing a counter clockwise wind now. 😆

From where I'm sat on the sofa I can see thirteen, and this is the room that supposed to be kept relatively bass tidy, ie not littered with them. There's lots more in other rooms but, as I can't see them at the moment, they don't count.

Not just the drums that will bury you, but the bottom end of the guitar will fill your sonic space. The other big difference is how bass sounds out in the audience compared to how it sounds on stage. Don't get too worried if it doesn't sound great when you stand next to the cab, it's what the punters hear that really counts.

I've owned one since the mid/late 80s, and have used it extensively live and recording. There really are few parts, and generally from Tom Lieber directly. The basses are probably some of the most neck-heavy made - it is impossible, with the strap on the provided pins, to play without holding up a significant weight. Waaay back when I got it, I crafted a three point strap, the third part going from the main strap, with a d-ring that goes around a tuner. Completely eliminates the problem, so I can tell you how it actually plays - which is terrific. It's a short scale, and super fun. Weirdly thin body - crazy thin. It's unlikely there's any mainstream instrument with a body as thin or light as this, which is a major reason for the neck dive. A crisp tone with a fair amount of variation due to phase selection between the pickups. It has a characteristic of cutting through a mix with clarity, without needing to be cranked up. It sings nicely. I don't find it at all suitable for slap. But for most other uses, it's always a pleasure. But it won't do what some more modern basses can. For example, my EB MM 5 string does what those do, and the Spellbinder can't even approximate those tones. The Spellbinder is hella fun to solo on for the tone and short scale. It will never produce Fender-like tones (which is just fine - why would you with this instrument?) - it has its own distinct character. It's so not for every player - maybe not for most - but it has something I haven't felt/heard in other basses, and I've been playing consistently for almost 50 years, and have been a serious collector, and gone through a lot of instruments.

I've been putting this project off for years... I purchased the neck and electronics in lockdown with the intention of making a body... Never happened. But I snagged a pre made body on ebay, that I plan to heavily modify for upper fret access and or reshape generally. Neck is from a Polish luthier i beleive...All norsdtrand electronics, Nordy MM in the bridge, nordy Jazz at the neck, Babicz bridge. Ash body. The plan is to stain/oil the bass only because i like the fifuring in the wood. ill try and source a small pieve of ebony yo make a controll plate. Ill be using laser scanning, 3D printing and my CAD design skills to help finnish this, so its likley that it will exist in the virtual domain long before the real one. Wish me luck 🙏

Thanks for all the replies above guys, good to hear that unlike some other territories, buying from Japan appears to be a consistently positive experience 👍

The Bucket - Kings of Leon

Well it's between 7 and 8 basses each, but I think we should all spare a thought for @Mykesbass who apparently owns -66. For tax purposes, presumably.

I'm surprised you say the bridge is terrible. Sure, it's an inexpensive vintage-style affair and not exactly a hipshot or hi-mass babicz or omega. But I would expect a Wilkinson bridge to be more than adequate.

I see all your puny 2 or 3 bass bands... And raise you 11!

D'addario pro steels.

I use stainless steel Elixirs. They’re not as bright as uncoated steels (think week old steels sort of sound) but I get almost a year out of them.

Thanks. There is one in decent looking condition for sale for £140 on Gumtree, I reckon that is about as cheap as I'll be able to find a reasonably decent Bass so am going to go for it.

Thirteen is unlucky for some. I think you should buy another just to be on the safe side.

William Is Really Nothing ～ The Smiths

Dumpstaphunk. . . .

Since I’ve been on my bass amp journey to find my ideal band sound I’ve really discovered the major difference between the isolated bass sound compared to the playing with band sound. At rehearsals last night I found that having a far brighter tone ( pick playing ) really made the notes stand out in the mix which was good as I like to be heard !! As a guitar, drum, bass, vocals band playing rock it’s crucial I don’t disappear into the background ( buried by the drums ) The CTM100 valve amp is definitely making a difference in the sound, a lovely tone for sure and just enough snarl to make it fit. I can now really see why certain genres the picked PBass with a valve amp is the perfect fit.

All amp manufacturers - PUT THE POWER BUTTON ON THE FRONT WHERE WE CAN FIND IT!!!

Down In The Hole - Tom Waits

String manufacturers. Pick a string winding colour, or ball end design, that is unique to the string and brand. That will allow string spotters to identify what type of string is on their bass, by simply referring to the inevitable Bass Chat Field Guide to bass strings. Or not....

We are the 1% that owns 99% of the world's basses.

Ahh, I"m going to be at work that day and it's too heavy for me to carry into the office. I *may* be able to fish it out and drop it in during the next few days. Leave it with me and I'll let you guys know a plan. Whatever happens, it's yours .

Simultaneously too many and not enough.

Vindaloo - Fat Les (C'mon England...)

I used Elixirs for years on all of my basses until I discovered the Markbass Longevo steels. The coatings are incredibly thin and still super durable, without the gumminess and then shredding you get with Elixir, and they stay bright for easily as long as Elixir... they have a full tone across the fingerboard - no scoop in the mids.... If you can find them (Gary at Promenade Music will order you some, or Bass Direct), they're definitely with a go! https://www.markbass.it/product/longevo-series-nano-film-shielded-strings-long-lived-stainless/

I hadn't come across him before but wow groove and tone, and the usual Scary Pockets production sorry I still can't embed YouTube vids, don't know why, PC using Edge, doesn't work for me, copy, link, code... YouTube link

Fair enough if you're not impressed but if I was your student I'd be super happy with a bass which feels as good as the HB. When I was learning cheap basses were really just that - cheap and poor quality, terrible intonation and often quite difficult to set up correctly. I have encountered none of this with this admittedly new bass. Time will tell. Now onto other considerations... Will I change out the electronics? Maybe as I'd quite like some Bartolini's or some other brad I may happen to prefere but I'll be gigging it this Friday and Saturday and I'm really looking forward to it.

Some people have far too much self control 😀

That's a point, I don't know/want to know how many have passed through the revolving doors here. Probably well on my way to 50.

Bill Is Dead - The Fall

I’m in Bristol Monday morning, so could pick it up for @BreadBin if you’re around during the day? Or if you work in Bristol centre?

Drilling Holes - Marillion

I entered a fancy dress competition yesterday dressed as a giraffe. I didn't win, but at least I can hold my head up high...

Few updates. The 42 AWG wire arrived on Saturday, had a couple of hours free over the weekend so made the first pickup bobbin and then this afternoon started the wind by hand... got to 40 winds and snap... start again... managed just over 100 winds and snap again. Realised that my skin was too rough and the wire kept snagging on it, so asked the wife for some moisturiser and started over. Success Managed to do 4000 winds before having to stop for the day, but the moisturiser is working great, getting the right amount of tension in the wire and it flows through the fingers easily. I have also been varnishing the winds at certain intervals, getting plenty on and letting it soak in and then turning the bobbin and doing the same from the other side before continuing the winds, shouldn't be any need for wax potting at the end. Had a few deliveries today as well - Fretboard, double action truss rod and some walnut boards. The walnut boards are only 100mm wide, so there will be a bit of work getting a seamless join on the wings, but I like a challenge... which is why I decided to go with Leadwood for the Fretboard. Harder than Ebony and apparently very difficult to work, sharp tools are essential 😆 Pretty sure I planned on this build being lightweight, I was told Leadwood was on the heavy side... too damn right it is!!!! Looking forward to this.