Fat Rich

[quote name='musophilr' timestamp='1328714324' post='1531553'] depends on if the neck is strong enough and the truss rod can be set accordingly. consult your tech. [/quote] Probably find there's slightly less tension in the neck strung BEAD, shouldn't be a problem. My Precision had 5 strings on it when I got it, they'd been on for about 20 years and the neck was fine. It's a 4 string again now, still no problems. I like having the extra low notes on a 5 string, I don't often sit on them for long as it can sound like the bottom has dropped out of the song unless you've got lots of overtones. Great for passing notes here and there and for songs that have been arranged to suit the lower range. Buy a low B, string your bass BEAD and see how you get on!

Much as I like John Bonham's drumming he was into all sorts of music including funkier stuff, most of it didn't work with Led Zep in my opinion. James Brown thought they were taking the p!$$ with "The Crunge" but apparently it was meant as some sort of tribute

I've recently started learning to use a pick, Bobby Vega was a real eye opener and made me realise I could play my usual funky lines with a different sound. I dug out all my funk and slap bass books and got stuck in with a pick. It quickly got me string skipping and thinking about where to use upstrokes and downstrokes, plus was much more fun than the usual regimented approach (although you'll probably benefit from some of that too). For me it was important to get all the muted ghost notes right with a pick for that funky Bobby Vega sound, something you might not find in the technique books.

First band I was in the guitarist refused to use a capo. We'd go off and learn the songs, meet up at rehearsal and the guitarist would play in a completely different key to the record on a few tracks. The drummer and the vocalist (who couldn't hit the notes whatever key we were in) had no idea or interest in what key things were in, as far as they were concerned I'd learned the songs wrong and was trying to blame the guitarist As it was the guitarist's band and I was up for a challenge I avoided open strings so I could transpose everything without too much trouble as I didn't know which songs were originally recorded with a capo or not

My '78 has screws, my late 80s Japs all have allen keys... I think they're metric too but I might be wrong (plus it's possible my bridges aren't genuine, they were all second hand basses). I know the US Fender bridges I've encountered have needed different sized allen keys, pretty sure they've always been on 80s or later. I'm by no means an expert but most of the 70s bridges I've seen have had quite a rough chrome finish, even when polished they don't seem to have a mirrored surface. It might be age but I'm pretty sure they're worse than 60s ones. Basically if your 70s bridge looks like a quality item I'd be suspicious.

[quote name='binky_bass' timestamp='1328573563' post='1529528'] So... Maybe the key is to find a cheap but good luthier to make you an exact copy of a fodera for a third of the price and name it a fauxdera It'll be like those Chinese cars that look exactly like an Audi or BMW but cost about £10,000 instead of £30,000. So, who wants one of my fauxderas? It'll be mostly made of Lego though... [/quote] No thanks! [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P38IXZkhL1A"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P38IXZkhL1A[/url]

Most disappointing sequel ever!

[quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1328443890' post='1526917'] Don't forget the bridge (re)tuner too! As soon as you can quickly and accurately retune all your strings on the fly it opens up a lot more musical possibilities as anyone who has spent time composing with open drone strings and harmonics will know. OTOH if you've seen the other video of this where he takes as long to set up the bass to play in tune in all the different tuning combinations as it does to actually play the piece you may wonder if it's really worthwhile... [/quote] 7 minutes of tuning up, although there are some amusing comments especially at about 4 minutes: [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LWPHrRwQqVE&feature=related"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LWPHrRwQqVE&feature=related[/url]

[quote name='grimbeaver' timestamp='1328091022' post='1521520'] Just been told. [url="http://www.marseilleonline.co.uk/"]http://www.marseilleonline.co.uk/[/url] [media]http://youtu.be/zOgjX0nBAP4[/media] [/quote] After all that, I've never heard of 'em. Or him. Congratulations though, looks like a good gig!

Highway One series are nitro, the bodies are a matte finish which some people don't like. However after playing a HW1 Strat for a few months it's started to shine up in places, you could probably polish them too but I haven't tried. It's a pretty thin finish apparently so you'd have to be careful not to go through.

There's this thread: [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/87338-aria-pro2-sbs/page__hl__sb"]http://basschat.co.uk/topic/87338-aria-pro2-sbs/page__hl__sb[/url] don't think yours is in there but you might want to double check.

[quote name='Johnston' timestamp='1327527711' post='1513040'] Stick it into a Pedal enclosure with a true by pass switch and trial it with each bass without having to mod any of them [/quote] I was going to suggest wiring a lead and plug to the input of the preamp, and a socket to the output and try each bass and see what you like best before fitting to a bass.

[quote name='leftyhook' timestamp='1327672428' post='1515148'] Could someone please give me a brief pointer on the mid 90's squiers that were made in the Cort factory? I read on another forum that they can vary dramatically, while someone said they are very close to a MIA build. I am looking for another project bass to possible install better pups. So, a mid 90's Korean P bass...yes? no? cheers [/quote] I've a vague recollection they were variable and generally nothing special, so yes, very close to a mid 90s MIA Fender build I'd be wary of buying one blind, need to try it first.

[quote name='silddx' timestamp='1327530724' post='1513100'] By god I see a lot of this on here. It seems many of us judge the quality of musicians by their chops. I have seen plenty of bassists with great chops, and the articulation and expression of a sedated sloth. Why is this? Are we so deaf to beautifully nuanced simplicity? Are we only focused on the bland displays of the mechanics, demonstrating years of study and practice? Yes yes, some of us vindicate ourselves by slagging off Nigel Clutterbuck, and exalting James Jamerson, and then post a video of 'An Amazing Bass Solo' featuring, you guessed it, some SLAP, supposedly funky, almost always about as interesting as a sheet of toilet paper and with less texture. Why can't we value TASTE over technique? Is it because we think it requires no tangible effort? [/quote] You're barking up the wrong tree. From what I've seen of the music industry these past few years it's all about image and owning a quirky retro instrument. Chops, technique and taste don't count for anything any more! Edit: 45 minutes after I post this we get this thread! [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/166328-so-you-have-to-use-a-thunderbird-or-you-dont-get-the-job/"]http://basschat.co.uk/topic/166328-so-you-have-to-use-a-thunderbird-or-you-dont-get-the-job/[/url] I wasn't being entirely serious with my original post but things are worse than I thought

This is probably worth a look: [url="http://www.fareastguitars.co.uk/usedbasses.htm"]http://www.fareastguitars.co.uk/usedbasses.htm[/url] It's used but looks to be in good shape. Hope someone buys it soon because I'm soooo tempted!

Don't care which as long as I can play bass. They've both got their drawbacks: Fodera - sounds and feels great but can't do that classic Fender sound that people always seem to want. Plus there's a sort of reverse snobbery about expensive instruments these days. Fender - never played a five string Fender that I've liked, I like a low B but can live without it. If I can't sell it or swap and resale value isn't an issue then I don't care, I can get the job done on pretty much anything.

[quote name='mikeh' timestamp='1327579919' post='1513580'] The controls and scratch plate look wrong for a real MM? [/quote] I agree, only three knobs. The MM has four, a mini toggle and the socket moved over as that's where the extra knob has gone. Also no screws seem to be holding the control plate down (fine by me, I'd be putting a stock Fender plate back on anyway so less holes to fill). I wonder what logos are on the headstock?

I've got one of the older preamps and it makes all my cheap old Fenders sound a lot like Sadowskys: [url="http://www.sadowsky.com/media/support/library/pdf_reviews/preamp_3_4_91.pdf"]http://www.sadowsky.com/media/support/library/pdf_reviews/preamp_3_4_91.pdf[/url] I reckon it's a good starting point. You can get onboard ones too if you like to fiddle with your tone during a gig.

You've probably seen it but there's a great analysis of Jamerson's style written by studio legend Anthony Jackson in "Standing in the Shadows of Motown" by Dr Licks. It's the the chapter called "An Appreciation of the Style".

[quote name='fryer' timestamp='1327418999' post='1510900'] Well i've got it back from Joe White ( my friend and luthier ) and it's fine. Really pleased with it. Had to change the truss rod as it was a push - pull type, not just a tightening one. Frets all ok, and it sounds just as it should. Actual scale length is 30.5 ". Pictures would be attached, but I have used over my 30 MB global upload quota. Anyone know how to get over this ? [/quote] Glad it worked out, for a while it really sounded like you were going to ruin a perfectly good bass!

Licks all come from scales (well most do anyway unless you're some kind of octaves only slap fiend), often with a few out of key notes to create tension or to lead to the next chord. A lick could come off a diminished scale or maybe a whole tone scale, they would sound pretty out there on some instruments but you can get away with a lot on bass. And if you go too far and really mess up just give the guitarist a frown and shake your head, everyone will think he messed up. By the end of the song, he'll probably be thinking he messed up. Edit: Clarified the slap comment so as not to start the old slap arguments again

[quote name='SteveK' timestamp='1327412641' post='1510740'] Don't know if it's OK to copy and paste from YT. If not, Mods can delete. This is the quote: "Some bass scales involve notes that wouldnt sound too great playing on the guitar octave. the lower bass octave allows said notes to blend in and become more viable." Absolute tosh! As risingson says, a scale is a scale. [/quote] I don't think the YT poster was saying that scales on bass are any different to scales on any other instrument, just that you can play more exotic scales on bass because of the lower register. If you played some of the notes that Jamerson played on Motown, but with a bright zingy tone or on a brighter instrument people would look at you like you made a mistake. On a bass with a nice fat wooly sound it just creates a bit of passing tension without drawing too much attention to what's causing it.

Status basses generally don't have front markers, maybe because a lot of Status players specify LEDs so their basses light up like a Christmas tree. I like a completely blank fingerboard, it's only a problem when I'm teaching people what notes to play.

[quote name='LukeFRC' timestamp='1327308361' post='1508957'] Same with that musicman game changer thing, if it was called that, they said it a lot in the promo. Give me one bass that sounds amazing, even if only one sound amazing [/quote] Whatever happened to the Gamechanger? 8 million combinations of pickups seemed like a great idea.

I give it 3 months before you get the itch to change something