Wil

200ft? That's only about a car length anyway.

[quote name='Wil' post='994632' date='Oct 20 2010, 12:00 PM']It's as far back as it will go, and it's not quite perfect, but it's good enough up to around the 7th fret. Sounds immense though! After reading that thread you linked, it sounds like my action is very high! It can't be that bad, I'll try and measure it later.[/quote] Ok, turns out I'm awful at estimating distance. 3mm at the 3rd, 5mm at the 12th and 5mm at the 17th. Around 1/2mm relief, hard to tell with a tape measure. So maybe my action isnt as high as I think it is?

Warmoth make amazing parts. No idea what the quality of SIMS custom is like though.

[quote name='Lozz196' post='994885' date='Oct 20 2010, 02:51 PM']I`m much the same, as I play with a pick, and tend to hit rather hard - due to playing for years thru an underpowered amp - ultra low action doesn`t work for me. I recently had my bass set up properly, and the action was really low, but luckily the luthier had used reg gauge strings. As soon as I put heavies on, it went to the exact right height for me.[/quote] Interesting that you mention playing for years through an underpowered amp. When I started I must have played for a good 5 years with no amp at all, and then maybe another few years with low powered amps before I could afford a decent rig. It's probably why it's ingrained in me to dig in so hard.

It looks terrible to me. I'm sure it took a lot of hard work and skill to create, but it's about as tasteful as Victor's wardrobe. The body shape is quite nice so it's just a matter of that 'orrible, tacky Yin Yang and the inlays.

It's as far back as it will go, and it's not quite perfect, but it's good enough up to around the 7th fret. Sounds immense though! After reading that thread you linked, it sounds like my action is very high! It can't be that bad, I'll try and measure it later.

David Bowie - Scary Monsters. The intro track is so great.

I probably have about 10-15mm on the B at the 12th fret, and a good 2mm of neck relief. I do it by feel so not 100% sure, but I'd call it high. Notes ring out clear, I get almost no fret clatter at all (I'm a hard hitter) and it gives you excellent control over string sustain. Love it! I may try lowering a few mm to see what I can get away with now I've added more neck relief though, just to give my left hand a break.

To be fair to PMT, the Stingray I tried was well set up for a very low action (although the pickup seemed a touch high). Not to my taste but I guess the majority of players prefer a lower action. Great idea for someone to offer to adjust the action to my liking though. It'd only take a minute and could make the difference between a bass feeling awful or fantastic.

I think there's a groundswell of feeling that you should use the bottom 4 strings from a 5 string set - all you need to do is file the nut a touch and give it a setup, and you'll be away. I use a 4 string strung BEAD on occasion and it works a bloody treat.

[quote name='Doddy' post='992554' date='Oct 18 2010, 06:12 PM']The height of the string has no bearing on its tension.[/quote] I realise this is technically correct, but it does [i]feel[/i] stiffer on fretted notes, no idea why. Certainly gives more room for the strings to flop about at any rate, which is a boon in low tunings if you want to avoid clack. Sounds to me though like using a proper B string (.125 guage for instance) would help.

Instead of lowering your pickups, why not try raising your action? I can't abide a low action, far too little tension on the B string for my heavy right hand technique.

I prefer Stanley Unwin's remarkibold way of slappoping the streels.

I'm the same, fairly high action and plenty of neck relief. I don't do the whole slapping thing, and find I get a far fuller fingerstyle and pick tone this way. It was hard on the hands for a few days, but now I find it really comfortable.

I went down to PMT in Bristol today. Had a good play on a 5 string Stingray, which is something I've aspired to own for a long time. It was a very nice bass, lovely neck, plenty of punch, and very comfy. It didn't quite feel as well finished or as lively as the Status S2 I used to own, which considering the similar price tag suprised me, but it was still a very fine instrument. When I got home though I picked up my Korean built Spector and to me it feels just as good to play, slightly more comfortable, and although the tone is of course different, I wouldnt say it was worse. In fact I think I prefer the midrange and sustain of the Spector. So, I've now come to the conclusion that I'm best off sticking with what I have - there would be no real benefit in upgrading when my Korean "cheapie" is so damn good! I found the experience of visiting a bass shop and coming away with all GAS removed strange enough to post about - it doesnt happen often!

The guitarist/main vocalist, who is a good friend of mine, writes the song outlines, main vocal line and lyrics (very good at it he is too). I tend to contribute my bass part, maybe the odd middle 8 or suggestion for a chord change/key change, and vocal harmonies. Suits me fine, as although I enjoy arranging my own compositions and recording them I find it a struggle to find inspiration a lot of the time.

I use a Crown XS 700. Not the lightest power amp in the world but does 700 watts at 4ohm (1900 watts bridged - I don't use it this way as I found it had a tendancy to cut out a lot when pushed). At 700 watts it's loud as thunder and I dont have any clipping issues. With a Sansamp RBI it's the best rig I've had so far, the only thing I'd change would be the weight.

I occasionaly miss my Status S2 and my ATK. The S2 wasnt quite the sound for me but I've yet to play a bass that was as easy to play. I'll probably stop lamenting the ATK when I get myself a real Stingray.

One of the chaps who works in Intersound in Dursley (near Gloucester) builds mellotrons - no idea where you're based but I reckon he'd be worth a punt (if you can build a mellotron, I'd wager fixing up a wurlitzer should be a cake walk!)

I have always had a soft spot for Streamer Stage 2s and Thumb basses. My next bass is either going to be a Stingray, Sterling, or a Thumb. I can't decide which

Very different tonally. For want of better ways of describing it, Warwicks tend to have a fat, earthy bottom end and smooth highs, where the Spectors tend to have a tight, focused low and and glassy highs. Spectors sound more "modern" I suppose. Fit and finish wise, I can only comment on what I've owned, a Streamer Jazzman and currently a lower end Spector - the QC is better on the cheaper Spector than it was on the Warwick in terms of hardware and finish. The Warwick sounded better, though. Apples and oranges really and a lot of it comes down to personal preference, if I were buying a new bass and had to pick between them I'd probably go for the Euro over a Streamer LX - I tend to think the nicest streamers are the neck through Stage 1 and Stage 2 models.

It invokes the soundtrack to Castlevania IV, particularly Needling Seamaw. This is a good thing.

I really dont think it has much noticable difference on sound (I've got a maple fingerboard P bass and it's the darkest sounding bass I've ever owned!) but that's up for debate. I'm not sure which I prefer looks wise, I was very much a maple person, but rosewood is starting to win me over again.