lowlandtrees

13 hours ago, mybass said:

If this noise wasn’t heard with the old f/b then the bass may still be settling in with this new one....the tuners may be vibrating in ‘sympathy’ with one of the strings not quite sitting in the nut comfortably .....but if this is a ‘new’ noise then another setup may be needed?

I don’t think it’s a well built instrument.....can’t remember exactly but I think there was always noises here and there that could be addressed. This one appears to come from the tuning machines or pegs and it’s persistent. I’ve tried everything except disassemble the tuners....this might make it worse

I have this old DB from the sixties(ish!). I love playing it. Had a new fb fitted...fast and slick. The current issue is the vibration noise coming from the tuning machines. I have tightened all the screws and bolts and packed the headstock with foam. Still vibrating noise. Looked into replacement (ouch). Anyone solved this problem?

 My other older (and better quality) bass is as stable as and ....not a peep. Should I dismantle and refit the tuning machines? Or accept that old basses can be noisy and if you don’t get creaks from one part you get them from another.

I would like a look at this. I’m in Edinburgh tomorrow and can drop by during the day. Would it be possible to try it out through your amp?

3 hours ago, tegs07 said:

There was a thread a while back that said the Status graphite ones fit I think?

A genuine Stingray neck definitely doesn’t fit a Sterling Ray34 as I have tried. The neck pocket on the Ray34 is marginally narrower... not sure about the SUB. If it’s a USA one it may fit.

Will Ernie Ball sell a neck separately? I thought they were really strict on making clones/bitsa’s.

It’s a US made SUB from 2007 I think. Sounds great but not a great neck. I looked at the Status ones. They are also around £450+. Not sure about EB. I’m in no hurry, just happened to see someone selling a neck but maybe a little expensive.

Could someone advise me on putting a new neck on my Musicman SUB. The neck that is available is quite expensive(£450) it’s from a Stingray. Don’t want to buy it and find it doesn’t fit or intonation is out or something else. I assume if it’s slightly big then a luthier could fit it.

The bass in question is a back up (bought it on BC years ago). I still play and like it it but would like to upgrade the neck.

Spent the last few days tweaking the JE pre. Starting to come good. Struggled with the E string, A was far too prominent but getting there and loving the tone. Feels good to make progress.

14 hours ago, skelf said:

No problem at all. 

 

Some times I wish I had never gone down the filter route it has made my life more difficult in that I spend a great deal of time explaining how it works. As I said some people it just clicks with I was one of them. The first time I picked up a Wal I fell in love with the pre-amp could not understand why everyone was not using filter pre-amps. But I very quickly realised I was in a minority but I still to this day think it is a great system for bass. Hence spending a lot of money to develop the system with John but some times at shows when I hear myself saying the same thing all day just some times I think passive is the way to go.

I think sound is very high on the agenda for most bassists and I certainly am always looking for ways to improve it. It was one of my lockdown goals in fact, to move my sound forward. That’s the reason I went for this particular bass/pre combination. I first saw it on the Maruszczyk range. 
When you see the demo of someone who knows how to use the pre it’s very impressive and looks intuitive! I will persist and get to know it better...as I said, it’s a hidden art in itself. Thanks for all the feedback....now back to the bedroom noodling and tweaking.

41 minutes ago, Geek99 said:

Probably is.
You don’t clarify exactly how you’re struggling with it 

It’s very bright. Great for funky pop stuff etc. I was hoping to get warmer and rockier tone out of it as well. To be fair my amp / speaker combo is also quite bright..quilter bass block /Greenboy but tried it through my EA micro as well. Maybe asking too much or have to spend more time on it. Just put new Newtone strings on which I love. Maybe they need playing in a bit more.

I have messaged ACG . He reckons it’s perseverance. It’s possibly a skill in itself 

28 minutes ago, Geek99 said:

Why don’t you message John east himself ? He is on here, and when I called the number on his website he himself answered and was very helpful 

He designs them for Alan Cringean. Don’t think it’s built by JE?

Bought a 2007 ACG Recurve with a retro fitted John East designed 02 pre. I think it had the 01 pre earlier, all the work done by John Cringean. I have had it a couple of months but I am struggling with it and am on the fence about punting it. I don’t want to tbh, it’s such a lovely player. Very comfortable, lightweight and best neck I’ve ever played. I am of course used to big standard bass controls and I realise this pre is different. I have followed the set up instructions but still not happy. So much tweaking to get a sound! It is so sensitive, the slightest dial movement totally changes the sound. 

Yes, I’ve had two instruments purchases go missing recently. I put in down to incompetence but this accusation by Joe Lycett takes it to a major criminal accusation. Sorry...don’t watch TV so no idea who Joe is or his credibility.

They are still in business so some people still appear to use them

Watching the above video made me realise that high humidity is as bad as low. We are temporarily renting a damp house (50%). We have used a dehumidifier and a humidifier in various places. Wonder if there is anything out there that does both....I have googled and seen very complex whole system solutions but looking for something cheaper and smaller

Great video. Will def get a pack of Boveda

2 hours ago, Martin Penning said:

Hi Lowlandtrees,

 

Dampits will add unwanted wet areas to your bass which could open up  old cracks

 

I`ve been shipping basses with Boveda packs, they are also useful for daily use if you pack one with your bass in it`s case. It will create a microclimate

My good friend Nick Lloyd demonstrates here how they can be used to stabilise humidity.

Humidity, Boveda packs, and your bass. - YouTube

Best Wishes

Martin

Yes that was always my worry. Will have a look.....only thing is that I never put my bass in a case like most people.

I have a 120 year old DB that I am concerned about. I have been using one of these humidifiers that you wet and hang inside the f-hole. I read that these aren’t great and stopped using it. Noticed last week that the spike hole is now loose and the spike is coming out. Might be coincidence? If these humidifiers are a bit crap (not sure either way) is there something better. I know you get something for guitars. I always thought the ones that hang inside are awkward.... I rarely remember to wet them!

Hi. Jimmy in Scotland here. Do you have any idea of the cost to mail this to the UK. I understand there would be 20% VAT, 3% import duty plus shipping on top of the price? 

Got into my head that I need a Maruszczyk Elwood with Times Square pups. It’s the one. NOTHING else will DO! Bit like the madness when you fall in love. 
well, I can’t find one ...well not at my budget. So I wondered if it would be possible to change the pups on another Elwood?

My concern is that the sound is achieved at the factory when it’s set up with the electronics and changing them post production would fall short of that sound.

The Time Square pups are outrageously expensive but I have seen Elwoods at sensible prices. 
 

I have also considered the possibility that I have developed tunnel vision that excludes other possibilities. Bit like falling in love.

3 hours ago, basexperience said:

Hello all,

I got my diagnosis this week, one day before I turned 50, which was a bit of a plopper. Right now I don't have anything impeding my playing, but I'm living with a sense of dread as I play most styles, including 2-hand tap.

That being said, reading your posts has offered some hope here. Thanks for sharing your information.

I've done some research and there's a promising line of research on something approaching a cure using existing approved anti-arthritis drugs - https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/health/arthritis-drugs-can-cure-hand-deformity-2910754 - I got in touch with Neal Millar, the fella running the study, and there could be some kind of trial in a year. I've volunteered and he said he'd put my details on file and get in touch if/when.

Meantime, I'm eyeing up potential non-surgical interventions (the idea of having the skin on my hand removed is completely out, that's an ancient approach which doesn't work and isn't worth the risk for the result) - needle aponeurectomy with ultrasound guiding appears to work well to free existing constricting fibres. The collagenase injections appear to be risky if used on the fingers themselves as there's a real risk of accidentally dissolving a tendon, which means big surgery afterwards, but use in the palm is a lot less risky. Again, I'd want it guided by ultrasound to avoid breaking down the wrong collagen.

I guess the only plus to this is I have some time to do some research before anything needs doing. Right now I can still get my hands flat. I have a great consultant too, works out of the Dunedin hospital in Reading.

Thanks again and best wishes to all you guys

Andy W

I posted this three years ago.  The contractions on my left hand have definitely got worse on the palm but have not yet affected the fingers. I stopped stretching on consultants advice. I practice more than ever without problem. I have since met people who have had dreadful contortions of their fingers. Here’s hoping

8 minutes ago, Grangur said:

You can do this any way you want. But be careful about what you do around the foot of the neck and the neck pocket. This bass, of course, has a bolt-on neck. so doing it is easy, but when you remove the paint/lacquer it will make the neck slimmer and the neck won't fit as snuggly in the pocket. To some folk, on some basses this will spoil the sound, as the notes get a more fuzzy, less clear/distinct sound. Maybe it doesn't matter on a Sub?

It's just a possible issue to be aware of before you crack on with the Nitromores.

Never thought about this. I was not gonna remove the neck!

2 hours ago, Hellzero said:

According to NS Design, it's fully adjustable : https://thinkns.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/NS-Design-RADIUS-Bass-Series-Feature-Comparison-Guide.pdf

Doesn’t say how though.

8 minutes ago, Hellzero said:

By moving the bridge up and down, but no individual string intonation (use your ears to correct the position). Still have one home. 😉 

The manual is here : https://thinkns.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/CR-Series-Upright-Bass-Instructions.pdf

Apologies...it’s the ns design cr4 radius bass guitar that I am looking at

Thanks. I don’t own one yet. Been looking then came across this comment which put me off a bit.