Gazza 2905

Like you, I have just bought my first Jazz (from here on Basschat), & I'm delighted with mine too! [quote name='Big_Stu' timestamp='1349904049' post='1832186'] If I had a bass I was so chuffed with I'd play it to death for quite a few weeks before I decided what - if anything - needed changing on it. [/quote] [quote name='risingson' timestamp='1349963077' post='1832784'] Definitely this. There's no point looking to change stuff when in all likelihood the bass is absolutely fine. As long as you're happy with it! [/quote] The boys are spot on! Change the pickguard if you want to change something. You could buy a few over time, & 'ring the changes' every now & again as mr zed has suggested.

[quote name='bennyblu' timestamp='1349282218' post='1824276'] I really struggle keeping my little finger low to the fret board when playing. [/quote] A very common problem, and quite a tough nut to crack! But luckily there are a couple of things you can do: - Try to relax when you're playing. Tension leads to rigid, stiff, straight fingers which 'salute' away from the fretboard. - When you're playing, try to keep your fingers like a bunch of bananas. ie. if you're not actually fretting a note with your little finger, bring it in next to your ring finger, then it won't stick out. - And you could try an exercise (on your bass) called isometrics. It's quite difficult to explain, but it helps develop finger strength & independence. I'll try to explain it briefly, but if it doesn't make sense; PM me & I can post you a copy of the page of the book I got it from. Start by placing your 4 fingers on the [b]G[/b] string at frets 9, 10 , 11 & 12. Press down on all 4 strings. - In a way it's a variant on a 1 finger per fret exercise. Now, place finger 1 on the 9th fret of the [b]D[/b] string, and place finger 2 on the 10th fret of the [b]D[/b] string. Now alternate playing between the B (at the 9th fret) & the C (at the 10th fret) on the D string. Pick up finger 1 when playing with finger 2. Pick up each finger just enough to clear the string. [b][i]Meanwhile, keep fingers 3 & 4 in position pressed down on the 11th & 12th frets of the G string respectively.[/i][/b] This is your template for the remainging exercises. Basically, you alternate between a combination of any 2 fingers on the D string, whilst keeping the other 2 fingers pressed down on the G string. Some combinations are really tricky. In fact some fingers will refuse to move initially! But eventually, you'll get there... Practice it slowly, it's not a speed exercise. And you only need to do it 5 minutes a day. Hope this helps you.

Recently bought a Fender Geddy Lee Jazz bass from John, he's a top bloke for sure! Very friendly and very knowledgable, an absolute pleasure to deal with. Bass was posted to me in double quick time too. If you ever get the opportunity to buy from John, - do it. You won't find anyone better on here, or anywhere else, for that matter. As good as it gets! Thanks for a brilliant deal John. All the best, Gary.

Killswitch Engage

[quote name='DarkHeart' timestamp='1348934324' post='1819932'] must remember to put a dremmel on my next xmas list! [/quote] Then you can scallop out between the frets ala Billy Sheehan.

Nice one Clarky, what a top bloke! I must admit, I've bought a number of basses over the last couple of years, I have chronic GAS, - but that's another story! Sometimes the seller is upgrading, or just getting rid of something he no longer wants. But on a couple of occasions I have bought basses off guys who I felt really didn't want to sell, but had to sell, for financial reasons; - and that always makes me feel a little uncomfortable. So I have said to the seller that if they think they've made a big mistake, change their mind about selling, or come into money again; just get back in touch, & you can buy it back. Call it Gear Pawn, if you like! No one ever has got back in touch as yet, but I would honour my word; & I'm sure many other Basschatters would do the same. In fact, I would imagine there have been quite a number of 'buy-backs' on this forum over the years. Not meant to be an egotistical post by me, by the way,- not intended that way at all.

[quote name='Prosebass' timestamp='1349113389' post='1822021'] From what I can gather from Tanglewoods specs, the fingerboard features 'compressed ebony' not ebanol. [/quote] My apologies, you're quite right Paul, it is compressed ebony. I've just tried a bit of lemon oil on one part of the fretboard, & it's started to look better; so I'm confident a bit of ebony wood stain, & some more oil, & I should have it looking as good as new again. I'll make a start on it tomorrow night. Sorry about claiming it was ebanol at the start, I don't know where I got that from! Thanks again everyone for your help & advice.

[quote name='Prosebass' timestamp='1349113389' post='1822021'] If you are mearly concerned about cosmetics try some ebony wood stain followed by good old black shoe polish. [/quote] Thanks for the reply Paul. Yes, it's just a cosmetic issue really. Luckily I have a small tin of ebony woodstain that I intended using on a 'fretboard experiment' a while back, but never got round to it. I'll give that a try.

Here's a picture. Looks even ropier now I've taken the strings off!

Thanks, I might try some WD40. [quote name='lozbass' timestamp='1349097018' post='1821688'] A pic of the problem sketched in the OP might be useful? [/quote] I'll try & take a picture when I get home tonight. Just took the opportunity to post a quick question whilst things were quiet at work!

Yeah, as I feared, there doesn't seem to be much you can do to refurbish Ebanol. [quote name='KiOgon' timestamp='1349080713' post='1821339'] Borrowed - [url="http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f18/ebonol-fingerboard-care-837432/"]http://www.talkbass....rd-care-837432/[/url] [/quote] Thanks for the link. Seems to mainly cover the cleaning of Ebanol, but my fretboard isn't dull or dirty, it's as if the ebanol has worn away & has gone see through! The colour (wood?) underneath is like the colour of maple. Very strange and very puzzling

Hi Everyone, bit of advice needed. I have a Tanglewood Canyon 1 bass with an Ebanol fretboard, - it's a little under 2 years old. I've noticed recently that the fretboard appears to need a bit of refurbishing. The black colouring is very thin in places, it's starting to look like a wash for want of a better expression, & I can see what looks like a pale wood colour underneath showing through. Now, I know there are plenty of people who know a lot more about Ebanol than I do; but by my understanding, it's a synthehic polymer, & as such can't be treated with oil or woodstains in the same way you could with a natural wood fretboard. So, my question is, what can I do, or perhaps treat it with, to 'blacken it up' again? All help & advice much appreciated.

I've subscribed! Great stuff. - Keep up the good work!

[quote name='gmtx725' timestamp='1348176276' post='1810595'] ...... I've been trying to diversify and teach myself some fingerstyle technique. So far I've found it incredibly frustrating- it feels like starting all over again! [/quote] I know what you mean! It's the same everytime you try & learn a new technique. But, as always, it's just a case of practice, practice, practice (as has been said so many times before on this forum) Doddy's right, - just practice alternating fingers (middle, index, middle, index etc etc...), then move across one string, & then back again. Then after that, start string skipping (between the E & D string and then the A & G string). It won't be fun; but do this for 10-15 mins a night for a couple of weeks & you'll soon have it cracked.

Absolutely fantastic bass! The best looking bass I have ever seen. Period. In fact, I often wondered what I would buy if I could afford one super deluxe bass. Now I know....one just like yours! You're one lucky fella!

[quote name='EssentialTension' timestamp='1320693413' post='1430177'] I'm checking out the bass not performing for a load of onlookers. [/quote] You're reading far too much into my question. I'm just curious as to what people consider 'cool riffs' I suppose; and thinking of examples of when they might need to play them. Me personally, I'm not in a band, & I'm too shy to play in front of anyone..

Well, I'm surprised that some of you have [i]never[/i] had a friend or a member of your family [i]ever[/i] ask you to play them something! But what about if you go into a shop to try out a new bass then? They'll probably be one or two customers, and the shopkeeper of course. Surely you feel under a little pressure to play something impressive. Or do you just noodle?..