Fat Rich

[quote name='barneyg42' timestamp='1341901372' post='1725729'] +1 on this, just buy a headless Status and all your problems are solved [/quote] The headed ones have the extra strap button too, just lean them against something and they'll be fine. Don't know why more manufacturers don't do that, it's a cheap and simple solution. [IMG]http://i751.photobucket.com/albums/xx159/richardmatthews_photos/forum%20stuff/Blackstripe2.jpg[/IMG]

[quote name='christhammer666' timestamp='1343905760' post='1757065'] ...... the music/project direction im in at the moment is doom metal type i suppose that dont help my mood i was listening to transatlantic on the way to work this morning with petes bass ringing in my ears i have been humming the songs all morning i never do that maybe its time for a change [/quote] Playing basslines from different genres will really expand your musical possibilities, some things I used to do when I was primarily a rock bass player: Soul, Disco and Funk lines - there's a thread on Basschat listing some top grooves, they're often challenging but more importantly fun to play Play Slap and funk lines, but with a pick - all those octaves really improve your string skipping Reggae and Ska - again, great fun to play The more diverse the music you listen to and play, the quicker you'll find your own voice on the instrument.

I'm a lazy, unmotivated old git but I try really hard to keep my promises and meet my deadlines. If I'm left to my on devices I achieve little, I really need some outside motivation to make me work. So maybe getting some lessons would help purely from a motivational point of view? And getting involved in another band in addition to what you're doing now as has been said already. Also I find making lists can help, write down what you want to achieve and when you need to achieve it. Crossing completed tasks off a list will probably make you feel better, even if you're only making small steps towards a bigger goal. Good luck!

[quote name='Ou7shined' timestamp='1343772310' post='1755154'] Maybe this is art too? [/quote] Since most drummers are barely house trained I think this could lead to all sorts of confusion.

Depends what sound you're after, my MIJ 62 reissue had active EMGs when I got it, sounded more refined and hifi, but a bit sterile... sounding more like a Super Jazz. It's now got Fender Original Vintage in and it's got that traditional agricultural Fender sound back, and with plenty of ooomph... but that might not be what you're after.

[quote name='lojo' timestamp='1343806467' post='1755366'] If they do, state your case, even plead if you love the project, but if no success save your yourself the trouble and find a new band [/quote] I wouldn't quit anytime soon, seems like this guy is going to annoy the other band member whether you're in the band or not. I reckon he won't last long, I would calmly say why you don't like him because the more reasonable you are about it all the more likely the band will keep you in preference to him.

[quote name='molan' timestamp='1343767282' post='1755010'] Is this real or a photoshop bodge? Looks awful and, probably, unplayable [/quote] You think that's unplayable, pity the poor viola player with a P bass body with viola neck wedged under their chin.

[quote name='KiOgon' timestamp='1343753106' post='1754668'] To me - not cool at all! Looks a Feckin mess, neck is totally wrong & far too wide, (at the heel at least) complete abortion of fitting a P-bass pup, how the hell can it be cool? Sort of thing I wouldn't give a Fiver for at a boot sale, must be the most unbalanced POS ever. YHMV John [/quote] I also think is 'orrible. Which probably means it [i]is[/i] cool.

B and C. I usually try to play fairly flat to the fingerboard to help with muting, particularly on 5 and 6 string. I barre quite a lot too, usually with the joints of my fingers. Anything to get some speed and economy of motion.

Wow, this is as surprising to me as when Grand Wazoo defected to Dingwall! You seemed to be a total fan of the more innovative 80s designs like Status and Kubicki, I'm amazed to see you playing a 50 year old design. Nice choice of bass though, I always keep my Status basses but I'm just as happy playing my Fenders. [IMG]http://i751.photobucket.com/albums/xx159/richardmatthews_photos/forum%20stuff/Fretless.jpg[/IMG]

Very nice playing, sounds clean and you have a nice economical style with your fingers... no waggling! Good stuff!

Love the sound of fresh Rotos, but I seem to kill a set stone dead after about 10 hours playing. They feel quite "grabby" under the fingers, but don't most stainless steel strings? Back in the late 80s / early 90s their quality control was terrible, lots of dead strings straight out of the packet and breakages. Didn't have any problems with the sets I bought recently but I won't using them again because they don't last. These days I use DR Highbeams for clangyness, EB Slinkys for when I want a smoother sound, and Status Hotwires if I want a zingy top end but with lots of bassy fundamental ooomph.

[quote name='mcnach' timestamp='1343554144' post='1751909'] My liking maple/natural/black has nothing to do with Mr. Miller, who is a great bass player although I'm not a big fan (and I don't like his beer either ) Just check out my Stingray (see the avatar), G&L L2000, Cort GB74, Squier CV50, Fender Precision fretless, Squier VMJ... you may notice a recurrent theme there [/quote] As long as you don't mind explaining that to every bass player you meet

[quote name='mcnach' timestamp='1343555722' post='1751943'] That's another thing: truss rod access at the body end. Madness!!! [/quote] I suspect when the Fender bass was conceived, no one expected bass players to change their strings often for fresh ones or want super low action. Upright bass players leave the same strings on for years and have to have the instrument properly set up usually by professional, Leo was probably trying for a fairly dead thumpy sound from flatwound strings (this was before roundwounds were popular) and foam mutes. So, like Jamerson you kept the same set of strings for the whole of your career. Which meant you didn't need to remove the ashtray covers, take the old strings off, put the new ones on, take them off and remove the neck, adjust the truss rod, put the neck and the strings back on, then off and adjust, back on, set the action (nice and high), the intonation and finally put the ashtray covers back on. There's a guy here on Basschat with a very nice 70s Mocha Fender who hasn't changed the strings yet, and probably hasn't needed to adjust anything either. It was when people like John Entwhistle made the zingier roundwound sound popular, and Anthony Jackson put fresh strings on not just for every session but for every take, that you needed to get to the gubbins regularly to make the adjustments. [quote name='mcnach' timestamp='1343555722' post='1751943'] Sorry for the offtopic rant... I hate having to undo the neck to mess with the truss rod, especially when the screws are simple wood screws, not exactly designed for repeated screwing/unscrewing. [/quote] It's your thread, you can do what you like!

[quote name='mcnach' timestamp='1343502364' post='1751543'] I have one already (on another bass, but it fits!), however... black/natural is slightly more delicious, so I am getting our good Bass Doc to copy the white one I have in glorious dark menacing black. [/quote] Excellent! Makes my white one even more exclusive Good luck trying to sound like Marcus Miller!

I've got 3 bolts on my 74 and 78, the micro tilt seems to be seized solid on both although I'm sure they could be freed up with some WD40. The neck is rock solid on the 74 because it has good neck joint routing, the 78 isn't so stable because the neck joint is a joke, the routing is not even neck shaped. The screws into the neck have been over tightened in the past to compensate and feel like they'll strip any minute, although it can probably be fixed with some plugging and re-drilling. I prefer the 4 bolt system, but only where there is access to the truss rod without removing the neck. Older instruments without truss rod access need to be treated with care or the threads in neck get sloppy if the neck bolts are over tightened.

[quote name='Roland Rock' timestamp='1343473169' post='1751198'] You need diamond side dots on your Sue Ryder [/quote] Spending the money on the male equivalent of a vagazzle seems a bit frivolous.

[quote name='Mr Fretbuzz' timestamp='1343461004' post='1751025'] I'm thinking of getting my first set of new strings. Thought I might experiment with my squire P Bass and leave my Fender P as it is for a while...... Might get elixirs for that ( good choice ? ). As a newbie I press the strings fairly hard and sometimes I slip off the edge of the G string so I thought I might try heavy guage. Thought maybe custom slinkies...... All strings except the E are thicker...... What do you think or maybe rotosound in a heavy guage........ Will I get a deeper sound out of heavy guage on all strings? [/quote] Elixirs are coated and sound fresh for ages, I had a few earthing issues when I used them but no one else on here seems to! Rotosounds are fairly cheap and sound great when they're fresh, but I find they go dead quite quickly. Ernie Ball Slinkys are OK, maybe not the longest lasting string but fairly cheap and give a good all round tone. I like DR strings, they're pricey but they seem to sound fresh for quite a long time I sometimes use Status Hotwires, fairly cheap and have lots of bottom end, plus some top end zing. All the D'addario I've ever tried have been on the bright side, they seem pretty good Heavier strings will mean more tension, generally a punchier sound with more definition in the lower note. You'll probably need to adjust the truss rod in your bass or it'll go banana shaped, only make small adjustments though, maybe a quarter turn and look at the effect.

[quote name='Spike Vincent' timestamp='1343422525' post='1750714'] Damn...I was hovering over the Buy it Now button until I realised it had a rosewood fretboard.. [/quote] You could probably get someone to put a maple board on it for a few hundred quid.

[quote name='andydye' timestamp='1343402662' post='1750281'] Don't forget the fretless too! [/quote] Silly me! Now, where's my credit card?

Find one bass that works fairly well and stick with it. Learn it's idiosyncrasies, work round it limitations and focus on the music. Although of course you'll need a backup bass. And a decent five string. And maybe you'll treat yourself to something a bit special when you hit 30, 40, 50 or 60 years old. But apart from that, you're on the right track.

[quote name='BOD2' timestamp='1343398629' post='1750184'] The saddles have possibly been replaced at some point in the past. Perhaps the owner preferred that type and swapped them ? As for the bridge position, it's possible that the owner has relocated the bridge at some point, moving it backwards. Perhaps there was an intonation issue with a particular guage or string type and this was his solution ? You could easily check this by removing the bridge and checking to see if there is another row of screw holes underneath. If the bridge was moved backwards then any original holes would be covered by the new bridge position. [/quote] That was what i was thinking, but the saddles and the backplate don't look original, the saddles looking 60s and the backplate 80s or later. All very odd. There's only one set of holes and no evidence of another type of bridge ever being on it. The bridge position is as it left the factory, I've seen other 72 and 73 Jazzes that are the same. I'm wondering if they had a jig at the factory that was set out from the bridge pickup position, when they moved the pickup back in the 70s the bridge went with it, with longer intonation screws to compensate. This seems to be fixed by the transition period of 74. All a bit of a mystery!

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1343301603' post='1748494'] Yooouuuuurrrrrr'eee welcome, and have a nice day! Edit: You could try sending a PM to ikay - he may even still have some. [/quote] ikay has put some in the post for me, what a gent! Thanks again to everyone for their help on this, I'd still be fumbling around on ebay trying to track these things down.

It's possible they both came up with it separately. Fender used to fit a tug bar to their basses, you'd hook your fingers under it and play the strings with your thumb. It's not such a big step to slap the strings occasionally, particularly since players have been doing it on upright basses for years.

I kept looking at the white pickguard on my 74, then I decided I don't really want to look like another Marcus Miller clone. You might find the white one grows on you