skej21

[quote name='SlapbassSteve' timestamp='1366308370' post='2050925'] Just seen the actual song will be released tonight at some point! [url="http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1705910/daft-punk-get-lucky-release.jhtml"]http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1705910/daft-punk-get-lucky-release.jhtml[/url] -anyone know what time 12:01am ET is for those of us on this side of the pond? Can't wait... [/quote] 5am tomorrow, I think.

There are rumours that digital village won't last the year and that fender/gretsch had removed their dealership... Dunno how true they are but they came from a reliable source who deals directly with stocking. Don't want to name in case it gets someone in trouble! I also imagine that they are selling through existing stock but won't be able to purchase or order new stock. It'd be a shame if they go under but it's tough for everyone at the moment, especially if they're losing big dealerships!

[quote name='iiipopes' timestamp='1365688945' post='2042956'] It sounds to me like he bought the wrong set. [/quote] All of the BT sets significantly reduce/increase tension on strings in order to balance the tension (as shown in the diagrams on their website - http://www.daddario.com/balanced_tension.page) so some alteration would be needed I suspect.

Status streamline. Never owned it but borrowed it from a friend as a true emergency bass for three gigs and it was a horrid experience. Couldn't get a tone I liked from it, aesthetics were way off what I'm used to and it drew far too much attention for my liking... They're obviously great instruments but so far away from my pigeon-holed Jazz bass comfort zone that i spent most of those gigs wishing I was somewhere else... I still have flashbacks!

[quote name='such' timestamp='1365387518' post='2038917'] I've seen a rumour on talkbass about the MIM Classic '50s P being finished in nitro from now on (with a *new* price, which can only mean one thing). Also, supposedly it will only be available in black (?) Apparently some user there was told all that by a well informed Fender rep. [/quote] Isn't that just the new '63 American Vintage Precision model?

[quote name='dood' timestamp='1365380417' post='2038900'] I'm a bit mystified about the comment about making string bending easier. I'd not expect that to be the case, but rather the tension between strings being more even and thus the amount of effort required to bend a string being more even across the set from string to string. Technically if the tension went up instead of down then naturally it'd actually been harder to bend. I've not actually seen or heard that advice in your context so expect that was a misquote or wrong info. If your mate had gone for a heavier set of strings ( or just higher tension than his usual set) then yes i'd expect a floating trem to need readjusting. I've done a few myself and a total set up would be a rip off unless of course he was switching from 9's to 12's! I hope he didn't pay any more than the price of a coffee for it! Totally unnecessary, unless there was a problem with the guitar to begin with. If it helps him any, i really do not think that changing a single string of a similar gauge will mean another complete set up either, he'll be just fine and not to worry. It won't effect playability. If he's worried, then grabbing a few sets to keep in the case as spares, prepared has gotta be the way forward, whatever his choice of brand. Hope that helps [/quote] When I have access to it, I'll quote the email that our D'Addario rep sent us about making bending easier. I think he meant it makes the tension more even and is therefore a more universal approach to string bends (ie strings bends should be as easy/difficult on all strings, rather than the expected easier bending on thinner strings)... I think this may have been a misunderstanding of the official blurb 'Even effort while bending, strumming, plucking and slapping delivers improved dynamic control' or maybe got mixed up as his email was initially rushed as he tried to get the trial packs out to us and give us a speedy summary of the advantages. As for the set-up, it was definitely necessary and my mate did the set up himself as he is a guitar repair technician and does repairs/set-ups all day. The evening out of the tension hugely affected the way his guitar was set up, as it was not set to accommodate the reduction in tension across the middle strings. Normally, his D and A were around 17lbs tension and his G and low E were about 14lbs. With the BT set, this brought the tension of the low E, A, D and G down below 13lbs and a setup was needed to ensure this reduction didn't affect the playability of the guitar.

Nissan Micra. Can get my entire rig in (with cab and head in flight cases and two basses in Fender SKB hard cases) without putting the backseat down. Summary; Bass gear is more compact and therefore more car friendly?

Got a complimentary set from D'Addario which I put on my Geddy. Didn't really notice much of an advantage to having the balanced tension. D'Addario claim it makes strings easier to bend but I didn't notice any real difference. My friend slapped a guitar set on his USA Deluxe Strat and has had nothing but problems. The guitar needed a complete set-up and the balanced tension really through off the way he had set his micro-tilt neck. This would be fine as a one off but as he rightly pointed out, if an emergency string change was needed before a gig and he couldn't get hold of a BT set, he have to set the guitar up again from scratch which would be hugely time consuming. We both agreed the BT sets were not for us.

What do you mean by cheap? I've tried one of these and for pure power, they're pretty good. £350 AND most importantly, the amp itself is removable from the speaker and can be used seperately. http://www.gear4music.com/Guitar-and-Bass/RedSub-BT5110-500W-Bass-Amp/C61

The facts are simple but apparently not obvious to Rickenbacker... Even IF their petty pursuit of every fake is successful and they rid the world of copies, does it mean that people will want to buy the real thing? it appears that their answer to fakes is 'if we remove them, people will HAVE to buy the real thing'... I dont think theyve considered people choosing not to as a result of, what is essentially, bullying of secondhand sellers. even after that, they'll probably turnaway because they'll either be put off by the price, the lack of QC or the behaviour of the brand when dealing with competition.

I had the money in my bank to buy my first Rickenbacker about 2 weeks before they started their pathetic policing of this forum and others. Needless to say that money went elsewhere and they will never, ever get my money. They should put their energy into making instruments and a brand that people value and feel is worth buying and marketing them properly so that people put faith into their brand and heritage over a copy. Next they'll be shutting down Fender and Gibson for having 4 string basses that might offer competition... Truly pathetic, childish and downright petty behaviour IMO.

I'm only in a covers band for the half-time bingo... Do I qualify?

Get an Allen Woody Rumblekat... It's an Epiphone Custom Shop model and it kicks the arse off every other short-scale I've ever played or seen. Less than £300, great mini humbucker pickups, beautiful finish and is the essense of 'vintage vibe'...

My Harvest gig bag has a hanging hook. Amazing gig bag and IMO, as good as Mono cases but better looking

[quote name='mcnach' timestamp='1361130845' post='1981602'] But there isn't anything substantially different between the export/non-export models, right? It's just an "admin decision" by Fender to make certain basses from certain manufacturers available in some areas and not othe rs, isn't it? How does one find out from the serial number? Mine is P001099, CIJ. So I'm guessing that makes it a 2000 model, but other than that, no idea. [/quote] You're right, there are no substantial differences other than the export instruments are basically the ones that the Japanese chose not to keep, so logic would make you think they kept the best examples for themselves. Personally, I've played a number of export Japanese guitars/basses and they were all very good and were a much higher build quality than the US equivalents, whilst using the same components. I think the non-exports tend to have a slightly better build quality and nicer detailing (nicer wood grains for bodies and necks) which is probably again, a result of the Japanese selection the better specimens to keep for themselves! I'd also guess that yours is a non-export model. Fender only export instruments from Japan if there is not a US equivalent (ie, a '62 RI telecaster) and even then, they restrict the units. This is because they don't want the market flooded with cheaper alternatives that offer the consumer a better instrument (to the US equivalent). Therefore, it's unlikely that a '75 RI Jazz such as yours would be an export model as Fender (at the time it was made) offered the MIA '75 RI as a production model. Hope this helps

[quote name='mcnach' timestamp='1361096063' post='1980867'] how do you know what is "non-export"? I bought one that was advertised as "non-export", but have no idea (or care, really, just curious) about it. Mine has the 60s spacing. I paid £650 for it and it had been modified: badass bridge (original gone) and Nordstrand NJ4SE pickups (original, which turned out to be USA pickups) were also included. I don't care about the badass and soon I will replace it. The Nordtrands are great if not very Jazzy, so they stay. I used the original pickups in another bass and they are VERY nice. [/quote] There are a number of indicators that tell you if it's export or non-export. Quickest is usually running the serial number. As for the original pickups being USA, that's correct as Japanese fenders use US parts (ie pickups, bodies, scratchplates, hardware etc).

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1361035148' post='1980159'] +1 for The Bass Doc. If you send him your original pg, he will make a replacement to your specs that will fit perfectly. [/quote] Huge +1. I just picked up a 'plate from Howard on Friday and it fit perfectly. VERY good quality material that he uses too.

I dont know if this will help you but I bought my early (1985) non-export MIJ '75 RI (Ash body, rosewood fingerboard with pearloid block inlays, cream binding, black 'plate & pickup/bridge covers) two months ago and got it for £680 (including P&P).

[quote name='Stacker' timestamp='1360649643' post='1973911'] Let's say you buy something from the Eurozone via ebay and it's not what you thought it was, or that the description wasn't precise. You now want to send this back and notice that the seller will only refund you the basic cost of the item, charging you both for initial shipping and return shipping. Discuss. [/quote] With distance selling you have a short period in which to return the item if it is it unsatisfactory. As for shipping, you paid to have the item shipped and it arrived safely. Why should you be refunded for a service that you HAVE used and had no problem with? Also, most refunds are given on a 'return-to-dealer' basis and therefore it is your responsibility to get the item back it you want your refund and as a result, most companies/individuals will make sure you will be responsible for the costs incurred. Whilst you may feel this is harsh, the seller has probably paid out for PayPal fees and sellers fees for the sale of the item and won't want to pay more to refund your shipping both ways too. I'm not saying I agree with that but I can see why it would happen and unfortunately for you, (unless I've missed it) ebay doesn't require the seller to refund postage costs.

[quote name='The Dark Lord' timestamp='1360488385' post='1971004'] Yeah, but what I'm saying though is that I think it is a bit annoying when people mark their things as "SOLD" and then delete all of the details ..... like the price and the description. As you may have guessed, I didn't actually sell anything - just commenting on other dudes practices. It's quite interesting to see what was up for sale and, although we will never know the exact details of the sale, we can get feel for the market. I think there should be a compulsory penalty of having your bum kicked in by a mod for doing that. [/quote] What happens if you sold something at a stupidly low price because of personal financial issues and feel it would be unfair for that to set a precedent for a similar item and mean that some other dude can't sell his for whats it's worth because the buyer expects it to go for the same amount as the super low price? Surely then you're within your rights as a seller to remove the info and protect the price of an item for future sellers?

Great bass. Mine is amazing and the playability is second to none IMO. However, the one thing I would say is that the pickups aren't like your standard jazz pickups. They tend to be a bit more responsive/geared towards an aggressive attack or playing style, which is perfect for that 'Geddy' tone (particularly at the bridge). Its also great for that classic 'growl' but I find it difficult to get a less defined, bass-heavy tone from mine from just the pickups alone. Luckily my outboard preamp gives me that option but if you dont have one, its something you might want to consider. Definitely get one. Its the ONLY bass ive ever kept and wouldnt get rid of. ive had mine since 2005, done hundreds of gigs with it and its great. Its not going anywhere. They are worth every penny (although all of my experience is with the CIJ models)