mcnach

There haven't been different versions, technically, but there's been at least three different kinds with regards to the glue and/or tolex used to finish the cabs.

My first Maruszczyk was just a stock Jake P/JJ where I only specified the neck dimensions/profile and finish. It was a couple of months until I realised I could pull the tone control to split the JJ

I had no interest in its passive mode, initially, other than as a safety option, and I never thought there would be any kind of passive tone control included. I spent a loooong time trying to learn how the two controls in the active EQ interacted, but didn't bother much with passive. What a pleasant surprise

People join bands without knowing the other members very well, perhaps? There's only so much you can learn during an 'audition'. What sounds like an ok idea to start with, may not be so after some time. We all have different musical tastes, it's not black or white, but a variety of greys.

Still in love with my VM4 And I've made a 'discovery' this week. I've not been crazy about the 2-band preamp and prefer its passive sound, so my plan (soon) is to properly turn it into a passive beast. I'm taking the Tonestyler from my Precision and will put it here, together with a pot to control the depth of it, plus blend and volume as standard. I've got all the bits, I just need to sit down and do it. Meanwhile, I took off its original Sandberg strings. I didn't like them when new, but they seemed to dull pretty rapidly and I enjoyed its sound more that way... then dragged my feet to replace them. Finally I did that, putting a set of DR Pure Blues in it. I really like these strings. Very flexible roundcore, I use a 45-100 set. They're not very bright, which is great, probably the only roundwound string that I am happy with from day one (usually I just 'endure' them, and after a while they lose the excess zing and I start liking them). Now, my discovery... when I bought the bass I had not noticed references to its treble control acting like a passive tone when in passive mode. And when I tried it the strings were too dull. I could notice a very mild effect. But with new strings, it is a lot more noticeable. It's not the kind of range I want, so I'm still going fully passive with a new circuit entirely, but this is pretty cool. Since I restrung it and 'discovered' the passive tone control, I've not engaged the preamp at all. Such a great sounding bass, I find this preamp fails to do it justice. I wonder how many people have failed to notice the passive tone control on their bass, like me. The nickel DR Pure Blues are great for the VM4. They're a bit thinner on the low end compared to other strings I like, but not terribly so and it's easy to compensate for. The low mids are brilliant, and I love how they don't go crazy bright. Let's see how they age (it's my first set, I normally use DR Fat Beams or Sunbeams).

That's why it helps to form bands with people who have similar goals to start with. If you get 5 different characters with 5 different ideas and want to run everything by agreeing using simple majority... it won't work.

if they want a band where one member can hold everyone else hostage... I think you're better off elsewhere.

Surely that's personal taste?

Not sure about the Affinity (definitely try first, they're very variable) but 100% second hand. Last year my girlfriend got an older Squier Standard for £90 at a Cash Convertors type of shop. It's really light, very nice neck, sounds good... the only reason I don't steal it is that it has a rosewood, not maple, fingerboard

I had a J&D Jazz and it was very good, but it did need a little work: nut and a few sharp fret ends. If you're looking at that little money, I'd be checking your local Gumtree and just try everything that looks right until you find a decent one.

I've used a couple of types, mostly just the Schaller ones, for years. But then I realised that the humble rubber washer was doing the job better for me, actually. The Schaller ones sometimes they'd work out loose. Not a big deal if you check regularly, but between that and the rattle etc... I was not a huge fan. The rubber washers are quick to fit and work very very very well.

even my little valve overdrive pedal glows... not super strongly but it does.

+1 When we play the longer sets, the place is still full but you can clearly notice some newer arrivals that stay until later, while many of the ones that were there the first hour don't make it till the end. Personally, I don't remember the last time I stayed to watch a band for 2x45' (only when my girlfriend insists, really), and other gigs I go to, as much as I may like the band I'm ready to go before they finish.

One Hot Minute is a great album

I enjoyed the demo Not all of us are in the Bass Taliban, and I'm perfectly capable to skip a post/video when it doesn't meet my stringent criteria Thank you for posting it!

Thanks I just wanted to make sure I understood what you meant. I don't see Fender pickups as being anything different from whatever-make pickups... when I've bought them I didn't buy them because they were Fender, but because I was hoping they'd give me the sound I was wanting. They make so many different types that I don't even know what a Fender sound is! I'm in the process of choosing a pickup for a Squier Precision I've got. I have a Fender Original in it at the moment. I'm not a fan of its high mids bark and I was considering a CS62 as it seems it may be a bit more what I'm after (I don't need big bass, but want low mids and tame higher mids). Then I find out there's a Vintage 63 whose description looks much like what I want. Oh, and then there's teh EMG GZR that while obviously not a Fender, it's based on a Fender sound... Argh!!! what is a Fender sound then? All of them???

I wonder how many Stingrays Flea has sold while playing other basses...

eh?

Ouch. But that would probably mean there will be a new album soon The guy alone could release 4 albums a year!

It seems that John and Josh do a lot of stuff together, in fact it's how Josh got the gig in the first place. So I can't imagine a real "sacking" but lately I have been seeing a lot of Frusciante with Flea, Frusciante with Chad... I guess they've come closer again for whatever reason and the thought of playing together again must have been present. It must be hard to be in Josh's shoes. He's been with the RHCP for some time now, but he's still generally seen as 'the new guy', and now the generalised cheer to welcome John back... must sting a bit. Josh is good, but he has a style that I don't think is very well suited to RHCP. Dave Navarro was very different, but he made it work. Josh... not so much. Looking forward to hearing what they come up with now. Frusciante brings in a lot of the writing that I like in this band, not just his guitar style and beautiful vocals.

I actually like that album a lot. If instead of a double album they had just released the best of the lot, it would be one of their best (IMO).

Uffff... finances are tight now, which is fortunate, because I really would like a nice Precision style bass and this one ticks all the boxes and a few bonus ones too.

Very nice! Your Precisions are going to get jealous now!

Never had any issues with DR... I hope I don't start now! It took me a long time to find *my* strings 😕

It bothers me that OCD is not in alphabetical order...