OldGit

[quote name='jakesbass' post='171425' date='Apr 7 2008, 01:54 PM']To a certain extent I'm with you that the machinery of business often compromises and erodes the soul of products, especially when they are art based, although as I've got older I have swum more with the tide having seen some really great talent get nowhere for various reasons (often attitude) or because they were unable to allow their product be moulded into something that makes corporate investment viable, which lets face it, is what record companies are, corporate investors.[/quote] Sure.. No argument from me... I like the way that the interweb has the potential to enable a good band to get on and get noticed. When bob Harris plays an unsigned band and gives out their website or myspace address they get a serious fillip. The relative ease of recording and making CD's and the various shops and websites that stock unsigned band's stuff is great as well ...

[quote name='jakesbass' post='171425' date='Apr 7 2008, 01:54 PM'][I] am in no way denigrating the hundreds of 50 plus musicians that have a good time playing. All power to their collective elbow.[/quote] Ha ha That's me .. Thank goodness I don't depend on playing to pay the rent ...

[quote name='BigRedX' post='171415' date='Apr 7 2008, 01:45 PM']Who did you order your Stagg EUB from? Last time I looked most of the cheaper on-line dealers were out of stock.[/quote] [url="http://www.zingsmusic.com/product_info.php?products_id=5176"]http://www.zingsmusic.com/product_info.php?products_id=5176[/url] Fingers crossed ... OG

[quote name='jakesbass' post='171388' date='Apr 7 2008, 01:23 PM']It's about clout, and to that extent I suppose your comments about the corporate nature of it all are valid. You have to remember (like it or not) that all TV/Radio/media in general are at the same time vying for ratings, so they want the biggest selling, most popular, most hip, most celebritised etc etc[/quote] Sure, you mentioned you'd read some of my stuff before so you'll know I know this. I appreciate the reality of it and why people like JT (no Q!) George Michael and Annie Lennox get massive publicity when they release an album (relative to their less salable contemporaries). I know how business works and spend a lot of time on here reminding people of the need to play the game to get on. But, behind the pragmatism and acceptance of the situation sometime I just wish it was a little different. Mind you Seth Lakeman got a whole programme to himself on Sunday so I guess all is not lost ... [url="http://www.sethlakeman.co.uk/"]http://www.sethlakeman.co.uk/[/url] And yes I realise the fact that he's drop dead gorgeous (according to Mrs oldGit) has something to do with it but you can't deny the passion.. Nice laid back upright bass playing too from Ben Nicholls (?)

[quote name='jakesbass' post='171266' date='Apr 7 2008, 11:33 AM']I have to spring to James' defence a little there, you have a point about the shinyness, but I saw his one man band tour last year and he is everything but corporate IMO, he is just a guy who likes to play his music to people, again IMO. When it comes to TV as publicity, we have to shake hands with the devil to a certain extent in this business, I have worked closely on the management side with some very large concerns in British TV and its as simple as (and this relates to some of your earlier posts on self promo) if you don't do it (promote) you won't pay the bills. It's exactly what you say to young bands but on a national or international scale.[/quote] I am sure he is fine in concert where he has type one audience and can relax a bit more ... Sure, I appreciate the marketing angle too but with the very limited availability of air time for anyone at all, James getting [i]so much[/i] BBC time at the expense of some edgy upstarts just seems excessive, especially when its on Jools .. BTW, I'm very happy for him to be on Jonothan Ross TV and Radio 4's front row and Radio 2 etc etc and I love hearing his stuff ..

'Cantdosleepy' said It's the same reason I'm happy to see Pete Wentz playing stadium shows with a Squier (regardless of whether the insides are turbocharged). Kids in the audience can have that exact instrument (again, if his is upgraded, they'll only think this, but they'll be thinking it nonetheless) for a couple of hundred dollars. That's ace. ---------- Reminds me of an article I read recently when Francis Rossie of Status Quo mentioned that a few of his Marshall cabs were actually shells with AC30s in them I bet Jim Marshall loved reading that in a national newspaper... ---------------------------- Cantdosleepy also said: General question to the assembled: Do you think the show would be better if everybody on it was a consummate musician with X years of session work on their back? I'd be interested to hear your responses. ---------------------------------------- No. For my money James Taylor was the worst thing on there. Let me explain. He has been a hero of mine since 1803 when Fire and Rain first moved me to tears, How Sweet It Is got my hips shaking and You've Got a Friend left me reassured. But the guy is now corperate America, 150 years old and is polished up beyond gleaming. I like the hairy troubled folkie he used to be. This slick media savvy guy is someone else. His management and publicist also have him all over the BBC like a rash right now - enough, already. I don't go much for the tech bass playing, and interchangeability, of dance groove performers. Jools is the last bastion of real live played music and I want to see some obvious passion, not choreographed dance moves more suited to kids' telly. So, for me Adele won on a fairly poor show. At least she looked like she meant it, was passionate about it, wasn't trooping out the old greatest hits for the thousandth time, the cloned product of some corporate money makers' idea of what the kids might buy or out to try to scratch a pension after a wasted decade when they finally realised they might not "die before they got old"

Sold some gear and mentioned the possibility of a stick bass joining the guitars here and Mrs OldGit said - "that sounds like a good idea". Stunned, I ordered a black Stagg stick straight away before she recovered I've been popping in to this bit of basschat for a few months whilst thinking about this so the thing I'll do is get some lessons. Fortunately I know a cool and trendy bass tutor who plays an NS (in a rocky folk band a bit like mine) as well as a doghouse and bass guitars so he'll understand OG

[quote name='budget bassist' post='171053' date='Apr 6 2008, 11:08 PM']Quick question, are the necks on the SX jazzes gloss or satin finishes?[/quote] Gloss but a swift application of 800 grit soon sorts that out ... [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?s=&showtopic=11331&view=findpost&p=153000"]http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?s=&sho...st&p=153000[/url]

[quote name='jakesbass' post='171037' date='Apr 6 2008, 10:37 PM']It takes strength to reconsider ones position, and even more to say so. Cheers[/quote] +1

[quote name='jono b' post='170655' date='Apr 6 2008, 12:40 PM']A quick question about the SX 5s: Rondo describes them as 4+1, is that just a reference to the headstock layout or is it because it's a 4 string neck with 5 strings on it? The necks look pretty skinny. [url="http://www.rondomusic.com/sjb75c41ash.html"]Link[/url] to a 5 string 75-style SX Jazz bass[/quote] I have the 4 string version of this neck on my P and it looks nicer than the very tanned ones..

[quote name='BigBeefChief' post='169292' date='Apr 3 2008, 05:14 PM']Never understood loopers. Why not get a band?[/quote] Cheaper (mostly, Steve Lawson's probably aren't), more controllable, drink less beer, turn up on time, don't argue, play the right notes, no ego, don't stand in front of the bass player etc etc etc

As Al from the Gallery is reading this (and, no doubt, the other threads on shops vs net and how customer service is worth paying for) I hope the voice of the bass buying public is heard and that the Gallery continues to offer great customer service. It will stay in business if it does that.

[quote name='dr1' post='169440' date='Apr 3 2008, 09:04 PM']they feels and sounds OK ( especially with new pups and strings ) but they are USUALLY ( saying "usually" to stop some angry perfect SX owner from ambush me ) constructed badly with lousy hardware, so in the end, you have to change EVERYTHING and to adjust that neck every couple of weeks in order to have decent bass. and you better keep it,as you'll never get money you invested back once you want to sell it.[/quote] No ambush here. They are cheap basses, no question and no argument. The woods are Ok though and my one's neck is stable (but I use light strings). Not heard of anyone else needed to do neck tweaks regularly ....

[quote name='budget bassist' post='169355' date='Apr 3 2008, 07:25 PM']Sweet, i'd rather like one of those SX jazzes with the flame tops and gold hardware, a guy on here said it didn't sound fantastic but i'm sure if i slapped some SD basslines or barts or something in it it would have a bit more thump [/quote] Read the small print too 'cos some of the bling ones say "actual bass has chrome rather than gold hardware" or whatever ..

[quote name='budget bassist' post='169363' date='Apr 3 2008, 07:31 PM']And this is including postage, VAT, import tax or whatever and customs and all that crap? Because if so i'm fairly interested...[/quote] Yup

[quote name='WarPig' post='170329' date='Apr 5 2008, 05:02 PM']Nearly done modding mine Just need the gold strings The bandmates have coined it 'the bling bass' [/quote] A guy on US eBay does a gold knob plate and covers if you really want to go that way .. Item number: 260220532978

[quote name='Huge Hands' post='169752' date='Apr 4 2008, 01:02 PM']Looks like Neil_B was right all along - I musn't have asked the question clearly. Please see further correspondence with Kurt below: [i]----- Original Message ----- To: 'Kurt' Sent: Friday, April 04, 2008 5:38 AM Thanks for the speedy reply and info Kurt. I am actually interested in the P body shape, rather than the pickups themselves. I notice that Squier do a 5 string P–bodied bass, but it has two jazz style pickups, instead of a P and a J. Do SX do anything like that? From: Kurt [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: 04 April 2008 12:42 The 5 string P is a standard SX model - sold now hope to have back by later spring [url="http://www.rondomusic.com/spb61413ts.html"]http://www.rondomusic.com/spb61413ts.html[/url] Kurt[/i] I think I may hold off for one of these - unless something comes along in the meantime![/quote] Yeah Changing the plate and front pup to a P pup would be possible if you can use a router As Kev says though, the standard necks are very orange ...

[quote name='Low End' post='161177' date='Mar 20 2008, 11:52 PM']Old Git, I think I may have seen these in my local B&Q in Ireland , I'll have a butchers for you over the w/e and let you know, you seem pretty hell bent on getting this one. It should be a quest for us all for you to be happy ... ^_^[/quote] Hey LE, Any further sightings? Ta OG

[quote name='dave_bass5' post='169223' date='Apr 3 2008, 03:56 PM']I get the impression that the BS had been winding down for a while before it closed. A year or so ago there was a good selection of basses. Quite a few Laklands even. but last time i went in there i couldn't even find a cheapish P bass. The bad thing with the BS going is (and no offence to Alex at the BG) is there wont be any competition now. The BC could and did under cut the BG on some things and i felt that created a good situation but now things might be different. Could be though that without competition in London the BG might find its in competition with the internet more. Could also be talking out of my bum of course.[/quote] Oh I think the gallery will find there's still plenty of competition. It will just be largely interweb based

[quote name='Jester' post='169229' date='Apr 3 2008, 04:08 PM']In my experience non-musicians generally couldn't care less about flashy technical stuff. If you're often in a position where people want you to 'play something', I think it's a far better idea to spend a few weeks learning to strum through some some old favourites on an acoustic guitar, rather than spending months and months trying to get to grips with U Can't Hold No Groove. As for the 'true potential of the bass', I think it only works properly in a band context. Same with drums - I'd be bored out of my mind watching a solo drummer for any length of time, no matter how good he was.[/quote] I don't think you can compare a drum solo (even Buddy Rich at his peak) with the stuff that Steve Lawson does, as an extreme example, and the bass can play tunes... Solo works for cello can be very moving.

[quote name='Huge Hands' post='168963' date='Apr 3 2008, 11:30 AM']I suppose. I am fairly happy with my Cort C5, but I fancied having a go at building/modding my own bass, on the P or J style, preferably P or PJ because I've always played Jazzes in the past and fancied something different. That is the only reason for being interested in another bass. With a wife and two hungry pussycats to support, the SX's looked like a cheap starting point. Much easier to explain and justify when forking out now and then for bits than to buy something more expensive outright![/quote] I understand Those cats can take a big chunk out of your gear budget Well according to my cheap Chinese micrometer .. Neck width at 15th fret: 60mm (same at the heel side too) from the end of neck to front of socket (by eye ..) 96mm from the back of the neck at the pocket joint to the fingerboard 26.4mm That's all I can do without dismantling stuff...

[quote name='MB1' post='169159' date='Apr 3 2008, 02:37 PM']MB1. Even Maddy prior will tell you what the most popular Steeleye span song is everytime she looks at her bankstatement! whats a Geep? and Who is Rick Kemp?[/quote] Oh sure, the same with Hi Ho Silver lining lining Jeff Beck's Silver hi ho ... Rick Kemp is the bass player on the track I referenced.

[quote name='lukeward2004' post='169062' date='Apr 3 2008, 01:09 PM']Nice, I've had a lot of very good comments about the new addition, and I must say that I am now a proud Vigier owner. Its a cracking bass and delivers pretty much everthing I could ever need from a bass. Kiwi - Love the Cutless 1 (the black one) - so far it is the only MM bass I have been able to play for more than 10 mins without putting it down, its really comfortable to play. Sound wise its very close to a stingray as you would expect, and I would be very happy if I owned one! OldGit - Great to finally meet you and your Shuker Precision is fantastic - just what a 5 string P bass should be like, sounded great, played great, and when I put it through my POD and Dood's Epifani UL610 it sounded MONSTROUS![/quote] Nice of you to say so. It sounded great being played by everyone else - that is such a rare thing to experience, usually it's kids having a go through my practice amp kiwi and 'Nik, yes I came away having forgotten to try about 20 of the basses I intended to... next time I'll just get on with it