GT40Graham

[quote name='dave_bass5' post='1337892' date='Aug 12 2011, 04:54 PM']Thats called "doing it in our own style".......apparently [/quote] Yeah, I think that phrase did pop up.

I've recently tried flats for the first time in over 30 years of playing and I was very impressed. I now have roundwounds on my normal 4001's and flats on my 4001V63 - instant 60's sound, wind the mute up and it's "With a Little Help From My Friends" to a tee.

Where possible, I like to stick as closely to the recorded version as I can. Having said that, the band that I'm currently in play some songs differently for many reasons i.e. poor memory, the drummer can't do this etc. When people have been playing a song for many years, no matter how incorrectly, it's almost impossible to get them to change, old dogs and new tricks, you know the thing.

I think that this can vary from bass to bass. My 1979 4001 has had roundwounds on it from new without any problems whatsoever but I know that other people have had issues. As mentioned above, the 4003 was designed specifically for roundwounds as were most of the current "vintage" reissues. I would look at what this 4001 is presently strung with and also check the fretboard for the marks that roundwound strings leave. If it has roundwounds on it then chances are it will be OK. My main advice would be, don't mess with the truss rods on a 4001 unless you really know what you are doing.

Hi, I can live with broken truss rod cover, it's missing a small corner just behind the nut under the E string. It doesn't appear that you can get them easily nowadays. I have a white on black truss rod cover and black scratchplate that I bought many years ago from the UK importer, I had to send them my original to prove that I had one. I tried these on this bass but they didn't suit the colour. Rickenbacker don't list the truss rod cover as a spare. I've already changed the strap buttons for the Rickenbacker strap-lock types.

Hi All, I thought that you might be interested to see my latest acquisition which I picked up on Easter Monday whilst on a day out at the coast. It's a 1982 Rickenbacker 4001 which has been sanded down from JetGlo (black) to the natural finish that you see here. It has been brush-finished with satin varnish. It has a broken truss rod cover, the knobs are missing the silver tops and the strap buttons are rubbish and in the wrong places, the original holes having been filled in. There is some minor damage to the fingerboard finish at the dusty end of the neck but all in all, it's a nice bass with a low action. Since taking this rather poor quality photo, I've cleaned it up, changed the knobs and strap buttons and gigged it. I don't know whether to keep the natural finish and gloss it properly or have it totally refinished in some unusual colour. The price? Under £900! Regards,

Hi, This is my Thunderbird ProIV with the strap button on the heel as fitted at the factory, this will be the best place to put yours. Do make sure that you drill a proper pilot hole for the screw, don't just poke a hole with a bradawl because if the screw breaks, you will regret it!

[quote name='dmz' post='1178966' date='Mar 27 2011, 11:10 PM']Cool ! [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aTgxYj9f5og&feature=related"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aTgxYj9f5og...feature=related[/url][/quote] I could be wrong but it looks like a different bass altogether. Regards,

I've not seen them since Moving Pictures and I would like to have seen them this time but the ticket prices are OTT.

[quote name='Jobo Pooks' post='1169285' date='Mar 20 2011, 10:48 AM']I have noticed that the cooling fan is a bit noisy; especially for a small axial. Is this common? I'm not talking about screeching noisy, but an annoying whirring when the amp is just sitting. I've seen much bigger fans of this type that are virtually silent....Ie: in bottle fridges etc[/quote] It could be just yours. On both mine, the fan is audible but not intrusive, it makes about the same noise as your average PC fan.

It's not a voltmeter, it also indicates the tuning a la the old Korg Tuners. It works for me!

[quote name='Machines' post='1166652' date='Mar 18 2011, 08:03 AM']Wow ! That's pretty cool, not sure of the point of the VU meter on a tuner though, I suppose it's more visual than practical. I wouldn't bet on the battery lasting that long if the lights are really bright. Be fine in a powered pedalboard though.[/quote] I never, ever use batteries, PSU's all the way. The VU meter is an Ashdown trademark but it is very useful as it has quite a fine movement.You can use the meter or the lights but you certainly can't miss the lights.

OK, it's a tuner rather than an effect. Very sturdily built and you sure know when you're in tune as the central LED becomes a lot brighter, a bit like a death ray, HIGHLY visible. This thing is ideal for dark stages in fact, it could probably replace your lighting rig

I'm currently using the MB4410 with the MBC115 extension cab. Prior to the MB4410 I was using the MB4210 and it definitely needs the extension cab. If you don't get the cab at least stand it on something as it's impossible to see the controls without getting on your hands and knees. I had a major reliability problem with the MB4210 but to be fair, Marshall then upgraded me (FOC) to the MB4410. I'm with Lozz on using the Classic channel but you can also get some nice tones blending the 2 channels.

[quote name='rodl2005' post='1025477' date='Nov 16 2010, 07:45 AM']& What do U think of yours???? [/quote] As with most Epiphones it's superb value for money, the quality of the finish is excellent although the set-up was a bit off and I still haven't managed to get the action as low as I'd like.

I bought a Thunderbird ProIV a few months ago and the strap button was factory-fitted at the bottom of the neck so no neck-dive!

I think you have to put the Sgt.Pepper into perspective, when you consider what went before it in terms of albums and recording techniques, it was and still is an iconic album. Remember that it was done with 4-track tape recorders and is a landmark recording. It's now 43 years old so it's not surprising that today, it's not considered quite as awe-inspiring as it was then, things have moved on, it doesn't have quite the impact with younger generations that it has with some of us oldies. It's not my favourite Beatles album, I prefer Abbey Road and George Martin has said on numerous occasions that issuing Strawberry Fields/Penny Lane as a single and not including them on Sgt. Pepper was one of his biggest regrets/mistakes.

I like the bass line on Old Brown Shoe but it was played by Harrison on a Fender Bass VI I do believe and not McCartney.

[quote name='KevB' post='1016994' date='Nov 8 2010, 10:39 PM']I read somewhere that Harrison didn't like the bassline at all, too fussy, too many notes. I've always thought it a classic myself though.[/quote] Absolutely correct. McCartney, in his own words, was trying do justice to a great song but Harrison wasn't impressed. IMO it is one of his best basslines and fits the song like a glove.

[quote name='Jean-Luc Pickguard' post='1005295' date='Oct 29 2010, 02:13 PM']We have 'paint it black' in the setlist for tonight. What a stupid song with a stupid bassline. Punters seem to like it though.[/quote] Hate that repeated slide up at the end. I dread anything by The Doors (I know it was keyboard on the records) and Status Quo. I like a lot of Quo songs but the bass lines are just mind-numbing (and finger-numbing).

[quote name='jakesbass' post='1013806' date='Nov 5 2010, 10:13 PM']Due to a recent listening spree by my son and daughter I'm just listening to a load of Beatles stuff again. I listened loads when I was a kid and absorbed loads of vocal stuff especially harmony singing but never really paid a huge amount of attention to the bass, so it's a bit of a revelation to me (I know it's not to loads of you) that McCartney is actually a dynamite player. Very grounded, very solid and groovy but also fantastically creative.[/quote] Couldn't agree more. My first bass was a Hofner Violin Bass copy!