mcnach

RATS!!!!! I went to refresh the DV247 page that I had opened for a few days, and it now displays "not available, discontinued" All I could find locally was the "babysick" one, at Guitar Guitar, and I haven't even managed to go and check that one out in person as I am currently out of the country. I checked a few other online shops, and alarmingly, a few say "not in stock, expected soon". So, I just went and ordered one online from GAK, not only without trying the actual bass, but without trying the actual model! I have been caught before thinking about a particular item and just seeing it disappear in front of my eyes as it became "discontinued"... and I don't want to risk it this time. It's not how I wanted to buy this one, but... we'll see!!!

[quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1413800995' post='2581952'] Actually a well-designed tripod is more stable, once you introduce a 4th point of contact all of them have to level in order for the stand not to wobble. Also with a tripod design the back leg can be tucked into a space between two amps getting majority of the stand and the instrument it is holding safely out of the way. TBH I am looking at it from my own personal needs where stands are used to hold spare guitars basses at gigs and need to be placed somewhere out of the "performance" area, but still close enough so a replacement instrument can be got at easily and quickly. The less room a stand takes up the more options you have for its placement. Plus nearly all my instruments are too asymmetrical in body shape for this stand to support them securely. [/quote] I get that, that's why there's a range of designs available... regarding the tripod comments above: the BND design is essentially a tripod, isn't it? The bottom part is bendable, and the back is round to prove one point of contact... or it could be made to be that way, couldn't it? At least that's the way I say it, although looking at some pictures, they do look like the bottom part is all flat on the floor. However, being bendable, I would add a bend to it. As for the back leg fitting between amps... My Hercules one can't be used that way. The leg will fit but the bass is tilted back, so the neck would hit the amp... the stand has to be moved forward so that the neck clears the wall/amps etc... Clearly your stand is not like mine, I guess yours holds the bass more vertically. I think the BND would be an improvement over my tiny Hercules, and I like that. But I understand it's not the answer for every situation. Actually, I keep thinking we should get a multi stand so that we can all leave our instruments (need at least 4)... the trouble is when we have small stages, it's easier to distribute guitars around than having one place for all... and being an 8-piece, nearly every stage is a small stage

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1413743669' post='2581489'] I had one of those for a while, and the stability is excellent, as is the portability and ease of use... but in the end I moved it on because the angle at which you are obliged to have your bass is too flat, i.e. not upright enough. Which is a shame. [/quote] That's right. It's the stand I use at the moment, but the angle at which the bass is held means you have to watch out you leave enough room behind it. I think the BND one might actually require less space when you consider that.

[quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1413739543' post='2581417'] Some good ideas and some bits they clearly haven't considered at all. I notice in the video there are no guitars with even a vaguely off-set shape on those stands, also I think the footprint is too big. Tripod stands like the Hercules can be fit fitted into all sorts of tricky places whereas these require a lot more room. More R&D required I think. [/quote] I think the footprint looks good: more stable! I only have my bass on a stand when I am not playing it, so I don't see space as a problem. I like the idea a lot.

The CV60 Precision is a fantastic bass. For me that would be the one to go for. Or the Matt Freeman one, is maple fingerboard is preferred, as they appear to be made to the same specs.

[quote name='Annoying Twit' timestamp='1413673505' post='2580884'] Are you sure you could tell the difference if your baby had actually been made by a different body wood? [/quote] ha!

[quote name='uncle psychosis' timestamp='1413673745' post='2580885'] Some impressive trust in authority on display in this thread. Customs and Border Control can do pretty much whatever they want for whatever reason they want and just because your papers are in order doesn't mean they're going to let you in. No idea what the full story is here but the assumption that UK customs are nice chaps who always apply the rules correctly is quite amusing. [/quote] what he said!

thank you all! "wide and not too deep" sounds very promising. Can't wait to try it! The first thing that made me think of this model was that when I find videos featuring a beautiful sounding Precision, it's often a Classic 50. In addition, it looks just right to me

[quote name='Jono Bolton' timestamp='1413553834' post='2579483'] Squier Matt Freeman? They're very good. [/quote] It was a contender! I used to own a Squier CV60, in fiesta red, of course, that I let go in a moment of madness to acquire my G&L L2000. It was a lovely bass. The neck was probably the slimmest I ever tried on a Precision, but not in a bad way, it was really nice. If it's anything like the CV60, it would be a great bass. But I have a thing for red I have recently bought some red shoes and a red car, and I even got a red Korg Pitchblack tuner... if I buy a Precision it's got to be red

[quote name='sblueplanet' timestamp='1413569710' post='2579758'] I have a lefty in two-tone burst. Nice and light, thewide neck will give your hand a good workout in an unashamed manner. [/quote] is it really noticeably wider than most Precisions or modern Stingrays? It seems it's about 2-3mm wider at the nut -which I consider a good thing-, and providing it's not crazy clubby, it might just be my kind of neck. I would play anything, but I tend to prefer P/Stingray to Jazz, and on 5-string basses a wide string spacing is a must for me, as long as the cross-section is not ridiculous. I know, I know, I'll have to try it to judge, but I wonder how you'd say it compares.

[quote name='theyellowcar' timestamp='1413547380' post='2579382'] Hmmm. I'm just going to leave this here. [url="http://www.dv247.com/guitars/jandd-pb-vintage-1963-4-string-bass-guitar-fiesta-red--208552"]http://www.dv247.com...sta-red--208552[/url] [/quote] crucially, it's got a rosewood fingerboard... I already have TWO cheap precisions with rosewood fingerboard: a Sue Ryder one with a Wizard Thumper pickup, and a Squier Mike Dirnt signature. And I enjoy them, but I want something a little better... and MAPLE. It's got to be maple... oh yes.

[quote name='Big Bass Man' timestamp='1413547372' post='2579381'] Oh yes! I had the exact same one - you will not be disappointed, they are absolute quality basses! I sold mine on to get my Lakland 55-02, but I am seriously condidering getting another (in the sunburst colour though ....) They are so light and easy to play - I hope you manage to get one soon mate - I'd best get saving then! [/quote] Interesting, as I may be selling my Lakland 5502 if I buy this

[quote name='Cosmo Valdemar' timestamp='1413546748' post='2579366'] Oh and be aware, the neck is fairly massive. But brilliant. [/quote] It's one of the things I think I will like. I'm hoping to try this bass soon! Ha! Baby sick colour... I like that colour a lot, with a white/mint pickguard probably. But I'm at a red period in my life, so...

You are... not... helping...

I feel this very strong urge to get one of those, in fiesta red, of course... And I thought I was free of GAS... [color=#ff0000][b]EDIT 23/10/14: got one... and it's AWESOME![/b][/color]

[quote name='icastle' timestamp='1413497295' post='2579041'] Neutrik plugs and Klotz or Van Damme cable for me every time. I've always made my own up but I seem to have a vague recollection that there might be someone here called OBBM who could do that for you if needed... [/quote] :thumbsup: OBBM and Award-Session Cleartone range use Neutrik and Klotz/Van Damme cable, so for those who don't want to make their own, those two suppliers seem to be the ones to go to.

[quote name='jassbass' timestamp='1413383124' post='2577740'] So are these j&d jazz's good enough to gig? I do love the green one [/quote] yup! Used mine a few times completely stock.

[quote name='uncle psychosis' timestamp='1413383917' post='2577749'] Doing a gig next week, the promoter assures us that the backline is being provided by one of the other bands. Lets hope he's OK'd it with them first [/quote] Where?

[quote name='Protium' timestamp='1413367331' post='2577503'] Bad experiences with amps in particular always means a no, except in the rare circumstance it is a friend. Top tip, I am still going to say no even if your fat guitarist squares up to me shouting "why the f*** not, how are we supposed to perform?" [/quote] ESpecially if your fat guitarist... etc. Really? That happened?

[quote name='Annoying Twit' timestamp='1413186844' post='2575506'] There could still be a correlation between basswood and basses that aren't wonderful. Simply because basswood is cheap and therefore gets used for cheap instruments, and also high end instrument buyers don't like it, so high end bass makers may avoid it for marketing purposes. But, correlation does not imply causation. [/quote] this

[quote name='hamfist' timestamp='1413180593' post='2575463'] I'm sure basswood construction can be done right. I am aware that Bongo's are made from Basswood for example. But the whole instrument will have been designed from the ground up with that in mind I expect, and a lot of care gone into the whole construction. Cheaper basses just seem to use standard designs and yet make the bodies from basswood. Doesn't work IMO. [/quote] I very much doubt that they designed the Bongo thinking of the properties of basswood. I think it's more likely that basswood may be cheap(er) in some places, so it's used on cheap(er) instruments, and the lack of "inspiration" is merely a reflection of an instrument made cheaply, cutting corners. Leo Fender didn't choose alder or ash because of their "tonewood" qualities exactly. Plenty of decent guitars are made of basswood and got nothing to be ashamed of. The whole classic "metal" Ibanez RG550 guitars were fantastic (once you removed the meh V7/V8 pickups), and made of basswood. Incidentally I had an RG548, which was the same design but with a natural finish, and the body being ash (for prettiness)... it didn't sound any better than a miriad of basswood RG550s I came across. But... I know, we'll just have to agree to disagree

[quote name='chris_b' timestamp='1413022096' post='2574202'] Where do you draw the line when you're trying to polish a turd? If the exercise is to mess about modding a bass then fine, but i didn't get that impression from the OP, so IMO there comes a time when a better instrument is what you need. If the OP changes the neck, pickups etc he's going in the direction of Triggers broom . Just sayin. [/quote] If he likes how the bass feels but it's a matter of the sound, we're talking well under <£100 (possibly more around £50, if going second hand) for a simple experiment with a different pickup. That doesn't seem crazy to me. In fact, if I liked how a bass feels but I wasn't entirely happy with the sound, I'd probably buy 2-3 different pickups that on paper look promising, and test them all to see whether one of them do the trick, then sell the rest.

[quote name='chris_b' timestamp='1412812470' post='2572429'] From what you've said, it sounds like you've reached the limitations of this instrument. You should be looking for a better quality bass. [/quote] I'm not sure that the problem described has anything to do with the general quality of the instrument in this case. I think the pickup the OP is using is probably not the best suited for the sound he's after. I would try a Wizard Thumper if you find one, or anything that's more "traditional", and don't forget the strings. I have a cheapest of the cheap Sue Ryder P-bass with a Thumper and Rotosound rounds, and it's got the loveliest Precision sound, well balanced and punchy.

[quote name='leschirons' timestamp='1412712937' post='2571327'] Not sure this applies to just bassists and guitarists. Any highly technical performance that is brought into the spotlight will have its critics. Look at the recent Dirty loops thread. Obviously Henrik Linder's musical performance is highly technical but I seem to remember both he and the keyboard / vocalist came under fire along with the arrangements. People just like to moan about stuff they can't do themselves. How many times have we heard that Marcus Miller can "only slap in E" or that Victor Wooten is "good I guess, but not very melodic with his phrasing" Maybe they're right, maybe they're wrong, the thing is, the critics can't usually do it any better or don't understand what's going on. [/quote] There's often a bit of that, I am sure!