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Showing content with the highest reputation on 25/05/19 in Posts

  1. Well, this has been quite a project. A little over two years ago I bought my first Precision. I wanted a shoreline gold one, but since those only came in unaffordable price brackets, I bought a Mexican P with the foolish idea of refinishing it myself. Having had prior experience with utterly destroying a guitar’s resale value, the one good idea I had was deciding to build my own body (with help) and finish that instead. So far, it’s already had a pretty rough gigging life, but it’s my absolute favourite guitar ever. After swapping out pretty much everything else, I decided to purchase a lovely carbon-reinforced neck from a builder in the south of Holland. So, after an agonising period of waiting and having to miss my favourite bass - at long last - here’s the result. On the right is the old bass, and on the left is what resulted from changing pretty much everything about it to my personal preferences. It’s frighteningly resonant and it has ridiculous, Tufnel-esque sustain - even if it turned out a bit heavier than I imagined... Anyway, there are many P’s out there, but this one is mine. Now all I have to do is figure out what to do with the old one.
    7 points
  2. Guys, Genuinely in turmoil about the thought of selling this bass as it’s everything I’ve ever wanted to own since I was a teenager and I’m now 48 !! However, it was purchased not to sit in a ‘glass case’ but to play live and play in the context of a RHCP tribute band (which it has for the last year or so) regrettably as I have Hands like shovels the slim neck causes me to ‘scuff up’ rather too much as it’s just too cramped for my ‘Incredible Hulk Hands’ !! The proportions of a MM Stingray suit me much better and I just have to accept it ! I had the bass professionally appraised prior to purchase so the comments below are not just my suppositions or guesses they are based on my knowledge of the instrument from the seller and the insights of one of the UK’s foremost Fender experts. I know everyone will want to know the weight.... it’s a lovely light weight Jazz.... I’m sure you may want to know the exact weight which I’ll get for seriously interested parties. What this bass is.... It’s a 1962 Slab board Jazz, absolutely THE most resonant instrument I’ve ever held in my hand. It’s got more tones in this than any passive bass I’ve heard. From deep dubby thump to growl and grind.... Jaco / Miller / Geddy it’s all in there.... woody earthy organic but also bright punchy and very present in the band mix. The neck is straight and true and unlike many Pre CBS Jazz basses sets up like a dream, the truss rod works perfectly and the action goes as low as you like and it plays clean as a whistle... The Slap sound from this thing is incredible, the finger style barks with a lovely mid bite underpinned with such a big fundamental with both pickups on full ! There’s absolutely no dead spots... it’s a very ‘even’ sounding bass right across the strings and up and down the neck.... What it isn’t.... It’s not all original or it would be 3 x the price !! Try finding a Pre CBS Jazz these days... they barely exist even through the major dealers they are a rarity and the 62 vintage holds major cudos.... At £4750 it’s a bargain!! Bass Direct had a 61 In recently at £16k (albeit pretty much all original) The likes of Andy Baxter haven’t offered for sale a Pre CBS Jazz for ages (or if they’ve had one it’s gone straight to clients and not been offered to the public) The body was refinned many many years ago and as far as I know the wear is genuine play road wear.... the bass was retired from professional live duty a decade ago needing a refret. The bass was owned by a pro player with some celebrity credits (I’ll tell the buyer about it... it’s interesting but not the sort of history that adds any value) The Finish on the neck is to die for and feels like an ‘old pair of slippers’ The refret was done not by a ‘repair man’ but a ‘master luthier’ and it’s utterly superb visually and in terms of how it plays... I seriously had to beg and plead for him to do the work as he’s so busy building.... I gave him a brief of ‘cost no object’ make it the best it can possibly be (this is a slab board pre CBS Jazz after all) I wasn’t disappointed!!! Other things of note... The bass has been a working instrument all its life and had been played / gigged / recorded extensively. It has that playability / tone and vibe that really only comes with tens of thousands of hours of ‘singing’ as an instrument! As FLEA said about his own Jazz Bass ‘this bass stopped being a tree a long time ago’ The Machine heads are the original reverse tuners as you’d expect and work freely and hold tune perfectly ! The bridge is all original apart from the 2 G string height adjustment screws look to be a little different and slightly less aged ! Pickups are the original units and have been recently hand rebuilt to original specs by a master of this craft. They have been rewound exactly as original using period correct equipment, wire and wax. Pole pieces have been re magnetised and the difference this made to the instrument was incredible ! There is no question they would pass as totally original but again I’m just being 100% honest here.... The pots were RS replacements when I got the bass, I’ve had them replaced with correct CTS / Vintage wiring..the output Jack and Cap are original. The Bell Plate is original but has had the 3 holes countersunk to accept countersunk screws. There’s some debate as to whether the scratch plate is original or not (really how would you know for sure) it’s old for definite but maybe later 60’s... I’m just being as honest here as I possibly can. Assume it’s old (and valuable in itself) but not original and if it is well I’ve underpriced the bass and you’ve got a bonus !! Thumb rest / covers / pick guard screws again all very old.... can I guarantee originality ? ofcourse I can’t.... they might well be nobody really can say for sure....We think the thumb rest is certainly 60’s We think the covers are Fender but later versions or maybe repro ? The strap buttons on the body and the back of the headstock appear to be original. I’m sure there may be stuff I’ve missed or questions to answer before a deal is done however please may I respectfully request the following : 1. The price is firm because it’s very fair... I’m not interested in entertaining the ‘what’s your best price’ brigade.... I don’t need to sell it financially so I’ll probably not respond if that’s your opening gambit ! 2. I’m not looking for swaps or trades, I’m probably going to buy an Alembic at some point and the cash is going towards that. Maybe if you have a MK Sig or Series Bass we could talk but it would need to be ‘classic taper’ beyond that no trades thanks. 3. I’ve been really honest with the description please no pm’s pointing out it’s not all original.... 4. Given currency I’d expect some interest from abroad.... I’d much rather the buyer had this bass in their hands and played it before purchase but I’ll work with any serious buyer who wants to use this bass as it was intended..... But buyer pays shipping and it’s going nowhere without being fully insured ! 5. If the bass has to be shipped I have a Hiscox lite flite case that it can go in. Please read my my feedback for your assurance of excellent service and trustworthiness PM’s please kind Regards Mark
    6 points
  3. Drill and grime are as close as we can get to a modern day version of punk. It’s made by angry kids, often from poor areas, with no musical training, and on a low budget. Old people hate it and ridicule it, and they don’t get it. Just like punk, it’s a generational thing. Rock music for the most part sounds tired and full of cheesy clichès, and it reminds most people of fat old guys in leather. Doesn’t mean it’s dead, but it’s definitely boring and lifeless compared to music that’s made by angry 19 year olds. Ultimately it really doesn’t matter, if you’re in a rock band and you have fans, don’t worry about it. I play jazz, which is the deadest genre ever, but it’s not dead to me, I like it. Whether it has social relevance is another argument, but if you’re a 58 year old guy in a classic rock pub band, social relevance is not going to be high on your list of priorities anyway. Enjoy playing the music you like and let the kids invent their own entertainment.
    6 points
  4. This just arrived today, bought on here from Ovi. My gawd it’s epic!!!!
    5 points
  5. 5 points
  6. This one had been withdrawn, but is now up for sale again! Lovely vintage '78 Yamaha BB1000 This bass dates from 1978 according to the serial number. Of course this '78 BB looks great with its natural finish and black pickguard. It has a nice (presumably) macassar ebony fretboard and classy inlays. This bass plays and sounds just great. It has a fat neck profile which will not be anyone's taste, though it's lovely if you like it. In its 40 years of existence, this BB has been well used. There are a lot of user marks to be found. It has some fretwear, but the neck can be played with low action. Technically the bass is all fine, the neck is straight and well adjustable. As you can see from the pictures, the screw on the E tuner is not original. It's now fitted with rotosound rounds. The original hardcase is included in the sale. I bought this bass not too long ago from another BC member, as a bit of an impulsive purchase because it looks so damn fine. This really is a great bass, but I do not actually need it. Price €675 The bass is located in the Netherlands. I am happy to ship within Europe/UK at buyers risk and expense. Costs will be from €35 on, depending on location and insurance.
    3 points
  7. From the Jam were playing last night at a Festival close to mac towers Had the pleasure of listening from my garden. His playing and tone sounded so good. Sounded like a Ric, although I think these days he plays a P bass. Anyway, it was a great sound, every note could be heard perfectly and I could enjoy a cuppa sat in a comfy chair, just the way music should be enjoyed
    3 points
  8. For sale immaculate Enfield Lionheart Custom 4 string, mahogany body, and neck, Honduras rosewood facing and fingerboard, high gloss finish inc on board, 3 band Glock preamp, 2 Sims Super Quad pickups, 9lbs 18.5mm spacing, Hipshot detuner, Collection welcome from Berkshire NO TRADES thank you. NOW £2100
    3 points
  9. This is definitely true, but there are still many artists - especially grime artists - getting relatively rich through music. The difference is they're not doing it solely through the established route of gigs and record sales, they're getting paid through social media, licensing, guest appearances and cameos etc. They're having to work harder and have a more consistent output for less cash than the old bands, which also explains why the music - especially grime - is made and recorded using the most basic equipment, usually by 2 people rather than a whole band in an expensive studio full of engineers followed by pressing plants / managers etc - and released for no cost in next to no time, but still attracting an audience of millions in a matter of days. Basically to make money in the current environment, you have to have minimum personnel, simple equipment that gives you instant results, zero production cost, zero manufacturing costs and endless confidence, energy and enthusiasm. Genres like grime fit into that format perfectly.
    3 points
  10. More of my wood basses, these are the ones I bought. Naked. A piece of wood that's a bit more special (sandblasted, way before Fender invented it!). Even though it's painted the grain is very clearly visible (and feel able). Wood underneath a burst or clear colour.
    3 points
  11. . . . . plus getting from Surrey to Milwaukee.. . . and back again! I was meaning for me!!!
    3 points
  12. The first side dried pretty quickly so I bent the second side. No splits! Minor miracle!!
    3 points
  13. What about 'The Bubinga Five'? If the other band members are not on BC, then they'll never know!
    3 points
  14. Just bought a fretless. As I was en-route to a gig it came with me. He'd a playful noodle in the sound check. Sounded gorgeous so I went for it. Half time break and only a couple of dodgy moments and only a handful of gratuitous sliding into the final note. I'm loving this
    2 points
  15. I like the way you've gone into so much detail about the pros and cons of the bass. Too often we see ads with "62 Jazz" (or whatever), and the description is optimistic at best, with very little detail about the "non-62" parts. Wish more sellers were like you.👍 GLWTS.
    2 points
  16. Superb. Can't beat a white bass. Goes with any outfit Dave (70's Glam Rock covers .....that's my excuse anyway
    2 points
  17. Oh oh oh oh oh oh, You don't have to go, oh oh oh oh oh You don't have to go, oh oh oh oh oh You don't have to go
    2 points
  18. It's hard not to concede the point for having nothing more to say, though. ...*puts on best Basil Rathbone voice*... Get yer rocks off, get yer rocks off, honey Shake 'em, now-now, get 'em off downtown Get yer rocks off, get yer rocks off, honey Shake 'em now-now, get 'em off downtown. Now that's the finest pondering of the human condition right there.
    2 points
  19. Are we marking Blue's homework again?
    2 points
  20. It's Saturday morning - and Saturday is when the bending is going to start So first thing is clamping the bending iron securely to the bench: And let the bend begin: The bending experience was the best yet (although there's still time for me to c**k it up!), probably for a few reasons: I think Black Limba is one of the more forgiving woods for bending I got this properly thin enough. I reckon - although it doesn't want to be any thinner IMHO than 1.8mm - it needs to be thinner than 2mm to bend the sides comfortably. These sides are pretty consistently 1.9mm The supplier's instructions that came with the bending iron - whose dial goes to 6 and then High - says, basically, "Don't go above 3 or 4 or you will burn the elements out". My experience is that "if you don't go above 4 then it really, really, really ain't going to bend!". Forgive me for a little cynicism, but I suspect the supplier is muddling repair-claim exposure with fit-for-purpose objectives This is the fourth acoustic I've tried - I'm beginning to get a feel of how hard to press to avoid splits or cracks And, in well less than an hour: I will leave this side clamped until fully dry before I release the clamps. It probably won't hold all of its form, but should only require some small re-bending work to do so Probably will bend the other side tomorrow. Andy
    2 points
  21. I suggested the name The Angry Gammons to a friend for his new jazz trio. He pointed out they’d probably lose their residency at the local Conservative club.
    2 points
  22. My only rule for band names - nothing you have to spell to people. Because all you'll do is spell it to people when they can't hear it at a busy gig. 'Kyote' being my object lesson. "Coyote ?" "KIng...who ?" etc.
    2 points
  23. Just make sure you don't pop your g-string in public...
    2 points
  24. I have one of these early japanese Yamahas , they are great basses , good luck with the sale,
    2 points
  25. I made one. It's self adhesive strip foam stuck to an ice lolly stick. It works brilliantly. The mute effect is quite strong so I'm going to experiment with different width of foam. Might even angle it so the D and G have less muting. $40 for a Nordy one can sod off. I've got enough foam and sticks to make about 50 of them for about £10
    2 points
  26. Surely it's just turned in for an early night!
    2 points
  27. There used to be some graffiti in Leicester that said "Ish Must Fall". I have no idea who Ish is/was or indeed why he needed to fall, but it would probably make a good band name in the obscure category
    2 points
  28. I think we need to look at what we understand rock to be, looking at some of the comments my frame of reference appears significantly wider than some others. For me it is everything starting from things like Hendrix/Sabbath (or Little Richard/Bill Haley if you want to go back further) into all the genres that evolved from it. How can you say rock is dead when rock has evolved into Metal, Core, Doom, Sludge and what have you. I only need to listen to how bands like QOTSA, Karnivool, Mastodon, Intronaut, Tool, Animals as Leaders, continue to develop and define themselves and I know rock is in good shape. What are seeing is popular culture increasingly being based on “instant satisfaction”, which I believe is why kids will rather pick up a sampler than a guitar and the music industry is stuffing homogenous meaningless autotuned rubbish down their throats, doesn’t help. ....but there are still kids who step away from that and I am certain new quality music will continue to be written and new styles (be it rock, rap etc) will develop. Now some might see the band names above and say, these bands consist of 35-45 year olds..... doesn’t mean they are not evolving with every record they put out. And bands like Code Orange, Birds in Row are in their 20’s and are spearheading the development of Punkcore. So yes, 80’s hair rock is dead..... but other rock based genres are still relevant and evolving.
    2 points
  29. Here are my natural beauties
    2 points
  30. I've been quite lucky to have wielded some impressive wood over the years (fnar) 😂
    2 points
  31. Apart from the Modulus and the Maruszczyk.
    2 points
  32. Maybe rock has nothing more to say for Bobby Gillespie - as a jaded, millionaire rock 'star' whose band (who I have dearly loved) haven't produced anything interesting for quite a while. His statement might have more to do with his lack of relevance than the real state of music. I seem to remember hearing that someone from Decca Records told the Beatles that guitar music was 'on the way out' in the 1960's; that rock had become jaded just before Nirvana and grunge hit the airwaves; that guitar bands were passé, then along came The Arctic Monkeys et al. New types of music will come along, and this is a good thing, but that doesn't mean that styles of the past (jazz, rock, country, classical, disco etc...) die out - they continue to evolve. RAWK RULEZ!
    2 points
  33. Rock is the zombie of the music world: it's dead but it doesn't know it, its rotting corpse teeters onward still, arms outstretched, reaching hopelessly for the recognition and adulation that it had in life.
    2 points
  34. Good lighting as well for sanding, nothing worse than missing a bit!
    1 point
  35. I don't like white basses. I don't like white basses. I don't like white basses.... 😬 That's a stunner fair play, it's taking all my will power not to start googling white Sandys to see what's on the market!
    1 point
  36. Touché sir. In their defence, that was 73, they didn't hit their stride til late 74... 😬😂
    1 point
  37. I’m not saying it’s dead at all, my point earlier was that it doesn’t matter. Music culture isn’t quite as linear as it used to be prior to the internet. Statistics will tell you that more young people listen to hip-hop / rap than anything else. In the US, amongst young people black ‘urban’ music is way more popular than rock / indie, it’s something like 48% vs 31% (can’t remember exact numbers but google will tell you), which suggests rock is certainly not as popular as it used to be. The difference is that today it doesn’t matter as much as it used to, as long as you find your music and it’s followers, what’s ‘in’ and ‘out’ has no real significance any more.
    1 point
  38. I was so busy drooling I didn’t even realise they were left handed
    1 point
  39. Building them left handed cuts down on would be burglars...😀 I bet you learnt to play leftie for the same reason...😀
    1 point
  40. OI! I resemble that remark. My radio is permanently tuned to Planet Rock on DAB and Radio 4 on FM. I have much gratitude to Planet Rock for bringing things I'd missed to my attention - especially Phil Alexander for introducing me to High Tide and The Monks (60s American one) as well as encouraging me to buy Slade's first two albums. I was going to claim to being bang up to date by liking Muse and Clutch... That said I enjoy house and trance more than sludgy-death-core-djent-trash-gore-metal; but that's because dance music hits some of the same buttons as, say, Space Ritual for me, not because I want to dance to it... The big question for 'rock is/isn't dead' debate is the Greta Van Fleet question. Let's skip over Josh's appalling re-interpretation of hippy fashion; the big issue is that (despite now getting fed up of the consequences and rowing back a bit) they are the first band that has shamelessly established itself as a pure Led Zeppelin pastiche. Yes, back in the 70s lots of bands owed a huge chunk of their sound to LZ, but they were all overtly try hard not to be Zeppelin. GVF have (had) no shame having all the appearance of a tribute band playing the tracks that fell on the cutting room floor. What this means raises some interesting issues: Just what are tribute, pastiche, imitation and inspiration? You could argue that what GVF do to LZ is more original than what SRV did to JH... Does rock music have to innovate to be valid? Are we old farts right to get upset because a new generation are cl;aiming our heritage and serving it up again in their context?
    1 point
  41. I rather like the look of this. Which is odd as I'm not usually a pale fretboard kind of guy. Sorry to hear you're calling it a day, hope someone snaps this up for you soon.
    1 point
  42. I've a few of these in stock
    1 point
  43. I recently re-discovered an embroidered waistcoat of my Mum's, and I teamed it with a black sequinned 'gameshow host' style jacket for our last gig. It's OK though, because I wore them in a spirit of irony. 😝
    1 point
  44. Yeah, Madonna wasn't great on Eurovision, was she?
    1 point
  45. Good advice, thanks 🙂 I tried both last night, and it's a bit easier in D. I think I'll stick with that until we get into the studio.
    1 point
  46. I recently made one as a thumb rest, from ebony, for another BCer. The obvious problem with a 1 screw mount tug bar is it can swivel. So it can't be very long because, as it gets longer, leverage increases. If you want it purely for show, there's no problem at all though.
    1 point
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