Wil

Ah, I'll leave it then. I've spotted another likely Roadstar from a UK seller, just waiting to find out if he'll be willing to post it...

Ah, I take it there are a few horror stories then...

Its not a bass, but I was thinking of buying this - [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/1984-IBANEZ-ROADSTAR-II-made-in-JAPAN_W0QQitemZ180183334382QQihZ008QQcategoryZ33043QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/1984-IBANEZ-ROADSTAR...1QQcmdZViewItem[/url] I have a soft spot for them. Unfortunately, its from the dreaded Music-Outlet-Shop and is a little overpriced. I don't mind paying, as its still a bargain in my eyes for what it is, but has anyone been brave enough to actually buy from this guy before? Any horror stories?

Those bodies don't do much for me I must say. The cadbury's mis-shape of basses, IMO

I sing backing on almost every song my band play, and did lead on a few songs when we played a Weezer covers gig, admittidly it was Pink Triangle which is pretty rhythmically straight and El Scorchio, which doesn't have any bass in the verses

All I will say is that when I owned a metal coned Berhinger cab it blew out after 2 rehearsals, and I wasn't driving it hard either. Total waste of money.

I don't think you can really call youself a luthier unless you have an understanding of how to make or repair any stringed instrument you come across, and that would include things like headstocks breaking off and other fun stuff. I feel there is a distinction between someone with the knowledge to deal with anything that crops up on a wooden stringed instrument and someone who builds and sets up basses, hence luthier and builder. Probably not dictionary definitions, and ymmv.

A few things that can cause distortion: flat battery if its an active bass can cause distortion pickup height set incorrectly (pickups too close to the strings) - this isn't likely if the problem has only just started occuring, unless you changed the height of the pickups or lowered your strings Faulty amp/blown speaker I would suggest trying the bass through another amp if you can, to narrow it down. If its a blown speaker in your amp there isn't much you can do besides replacing it. If you were running the volume level high enough to cause the amp to make a "farty" noise during your jam (its only 20watts so most likely would have to, to be heard) then it could well have blown. The golden rule with amps/speakers is if you hear distortion/farting from the speaker, turn down, as it will kill it very quickly.

I'd recommend you play it if you can, and see what shape its in. Some 80s Squiers were considered to be very good, so it may well be on a par with a normal Fender. Doesn't sound like a bad price for a good 'un, but it really depends on what its like in your hands.

[quote name='wotnwhy' post='86050' date='Nov 9 2007, 04:59 PM']wouldn't it be easier to live and let live?[/quote] +1. Congrats on the bass, looks good! How is it tuned/whats the range?

Nice. I've always liked Dolphins. Any pics of it being played standing up would be good, never seen one hanging on a person before!

My P bass currently doesn't even have a volume, it goes straight to the output jack. Admittedly I'm putting an East preamp in it, but as far as passive tone goes I always have the volume and tone nailed anyway.

Think Billy Gould from Faith No More used a Laney all tube head? If so, I'm intrigued, as his tone was awesome.

I saw NOFX last night, which was awesome, and I was very impressed with Fat Mike's bass tone. It had a lovely smooth punch and overdrive that just sat brilliantly. I know he uses an 8x10, and a Danelectro DC bass, but was wondering if anyone knew what head he uses? I'm thinking probably some kind of Ampeg, right?

I've played a Kramer Alu necked guitar, and it was great. Didn't get the chance to plug in but the neck was really nice, some kind of phenolic fingerboard. Felt really solid too.

I recommend boosting the low mids a touch while doing what is suggested above - the P bass has a natural low mid hump.

I thought I did use floating thumb, but where he rests his thumb over the strings I anchor mine on the E or A string, depending on what string I'm playing, then let it float or anchor on a pickup when playing the E. The method he uses in the video where the thumb is never anchored just looks uncomfortable - I dig in a lot with my right hand and cant imagine that method working for me.

Yep. If its anything like my Series 1, which it almost certainly is, then for peanuts you'll have a bass that will blow away almost anything in the sub £1000 price bracket.

[quote name='wateroftyne' post='80844' date='Oct 29 2007, 04:06 PM']I have no experience of the QP's, but I can honestly say that Andy's pickups are fantastic. I can't recommend him enough. [url="http://www.jollybeggars.co.uk/stuff/motwam.mp3"]Here's a clip of my 73P with overwound Wizards.[/url][/quote] Why aye!

I put I thumper in my P project, and as I'm a spanner managed to break one coil as I was fitting it (it dropped from the casing and broke the tiny connecting wire, was unable to repair it). Andy offered to repair it and match it to the other half if I sent it back, but as I'm a lazy swine I used half of my old pickup on the bass side and half the thumper on the treble side. Its still a massive improvement in tone with half a thumper here's a soundclip: [url="http://media.putfile.com/Encore-P-bass-sample-1"]<a href="http://media.putfile.com/Encore-P-bass-sample-1" target="_blank">http://media.putfile.com/Encore-P-bass-sample-1[/url]</a> Obviously, its not hugely accurate as with a complete thumper in it would probably sound totally different That'll teach me to try DIY! From what I've heard of SDs you'll get a better pick tone, if you want a NOFX punk sound for example. The Thumpers are a lot darker sounding.

I got my first bass aged 10. I was learning trumpet at the time but my heart wasn't in it, and my dad got me my first bass for my birthday. I've been hooked on making music for the last 12 years, but if I'd carried on without a bass I doubt I would have continued with the trumpet, and perhaps not been interested in keeping on with music generally. I now play a number of instruments, have played in many bands and have loved every bit of it, and don't know much theory at all. Its not essential.