thebrig

At the age of fifteen I borrowed £15 from my older (working) sister to buy a Burns Sonic bass, at the time I was in a band which we formed whilst still at school.

We weren't that good and I didn't really know anybody who could give me a few tips or lessons on how to play bass properly, and there were no YouTube videos to turn to back in the mid-60's, so after about six months, the band disbanded, I swapped my Burns bass for some fishing gear and that was it until I reached the age of 55 when I was asked if I was interested in forming a band just for fun, so I said okay I will play bass but I will only be able to play root notes.

It turned out that the guys I was playing with were actually quite good musicians and they gradually pulled me up to a decent level, and now at the age of 72 (ouch), I can play almost anything I'm asked and feel I could walk into most bands and do a good job.

But, I do regret NOT playing at all between the ages of 15 and 55 because I do wonder that if I had continued, I probably would have succeeded at a much younger age and enjoyed many years of gigging in my youth, maybe creating our own music, and enjoying all the perks that go with it, but all I've really experienced of being in bands and gigging is being in "dad" bands, and knocking out covers of the bands we all enjoyed listening to many year's ago.

5 hours ago, funkgod said:

 

 

ahhh buggernutz, sorry i did not know that, being a windows user,

the only thing apple i have in the studio is an

Imac 27" that is running windows 7 as its os, and runs fantastically would you believe,

i use it to run all my software synths, which it does a great job with no probs whatso ever.

if it broke today i would get another old imac to replace it. you can get them now for £50

a great tool to have just for that job.

 

For anyone looking to get a cheap machine to run say an older version of cubase or like me all your software synths, to use as a stand alone system just to do a specific job these old imacs are a very good option over a lap top due to allot of reasons, size of screen for one and the speed of them, you can get windows 7 on them quite easy, youtube is your friend here, just look for the ones with the dvd/cd drive on the right hand side of the screen otherwise its a real pain loading windows in using an external drive ! again youtube is your friend here as well, if you want more info just shout.

 

 

 

 

 

 

That's interesting, I was a Windows 7 fan when I had a PC but I'm a bit restricted for space nowadays, which is why I have to use a laptop.

This is my home practise rig, it's a Warwick Gnome I Pro 280w Pocket Bass Amp going into a Barefaced One10, as you can see, it takes up very little room, it sounds great at low volume, it has a USB port so you can play along with tracks, it also has a headphone socket for quiet practising, and if I do need to play live in public, then unless it's an extremely loud gig, this should more than handle most situations.

On 21/12/2023 at 22:31, funkgod said:

owen, try this its a stand alone system, you dont have to connect it to any daw, just chuck your mp3, or better a wav file in to it, then pick a style from a big list, and let it do its stuff while you sit back and have a brew.

one thing... put your original file in its own folder on your desk top then do it, then all the stuff it does will be saved to the same file.

its free for doing files for up to 3 and a half mins or 4, or something like that, and will only use 4 multiband compressors, but good enough to give you an idea,

plus its got some VERY handy tools you can use.

try it if you like, ya good to go, if not its cost you nothing.

i know people who are charging using this as a mastering service.

cheeky buggers

enjoy

 

https://www.curioza.com/index.php/audio-mastering

I mess around with home recording purely for fun on my Mac and would have been very interested in trying this, but unfortunately, it's Windows based only.😒

I only use P basses which are usually my own builds and I always check them over before leaving home, and providing you treat them well and don't knock them around, what can go wrong with a P bass?

I always carry a small holdall packed with spare "used" strings, a spare small amp head, a DI pedal, leads, straps, 9v batteries for my Boss tuner, spare clip-on tuner, tool kit, etc.. but I have never needed to use any of them myself, but the guitarists in the band do appreciate my "spares" bag because they never seem to check over their gear before leaving home, or have much in the way of spares themselves.

Great video's Bart, can I ask what software do you use to create the on-screen tabs?

Thanks

2 minutes ago, Supernaut said:

That sunburst P looks amazing. Great spec. 

Thanks, I'm so pleased with them.

I have recently built two P basses with Fender bodies and Fender necks, so can I actually call them "Fenders" because the Fender decals were applied by Fender, and the bodies have Fender stamped on the back under the neck plate, again applied by Fender, and one even has a Fender Custom Shop ‘62 Precision Pickup fitted?

Seriously though, I would never try to pull the wool over anybodies eyes if I was to sell them, and to be quite honest, these two are the best playing, and best sounding basses I have ever owned, and I've had a few over the years (at least 25), so I can't see myself selling these until I stop playing completely, I'm a P bass fan and the 38mm J necks just make them a perfect fit for me.😏

Here's the specs:

Sunburst/Maple

Fender P-Bass Body in Brown Sunburst 

Fender Roasted Maple Jazz Bass Neck

Fender Custom Shop ‘62 Precision Pickup

Schaller BM 4L NI Bass Tuners

Ki0gon P-Bass Wiring Harness CTS Pots/0.047 Cap

D'Addario EXL165 Bass Guitar Strings

Arctic White/Maple

Fender P-Bass Body in Arctic White 

Fender Roasted Maple Jazz Bass Neck

Nordstrand NP4 Precision Bass Pickup

Schaller BM 4L NI Bass Tuners

Ki0gon P-Bass Wiring Harness CTS Pots/0.047 Cap

La Bella Low Tension Flexible Flats 42-100 Bass Guitar Strings

11 hours ago, MichaelDean said:

It should be the same. They don't shape the neck and then roast it. It is roasted as a neck blank (or maybe even earlier in the process) before shaping. 

I thought that might be the case, but I just wanted to make sure before sanding a couple of millimetres off, the last thing I would want is for the wood to be lighter underneath the surface.

Thanks

I have a Fender roasted maple neck which I would like to make the depth a little shallower, I'm shaved a few necks in the past but not a roasted maple one.

My question is, will the nice light brownish colour of the neck be the same after shaving a few millimetres off it, or will it be lighter?

10 minutes ago, Bassfingers said:

What does the neck pocket measure? 

Neck pocket is Fender P and J dimensions, I fitted a fender neck to the body and it was a perfect fit.

Precision Bass Body (Lightweight and Cheap!)

Sold!

This is the second of two P bass bodies I purchased recently, unfortunately, I abandoned the projects before completing the builds.

It was stained and finished with Tru-Oil by the previous owner, and would make a great project, or a nice cheap and lightweight bass.

The neck pocket is "standard" Fender P and J Bass dimensions, I fitted a fender neck to the body and it was a perfect fit.

It weighs just 2.7lbs.

Precision Bass Body (ONLY)

SOLD!

I purchased this body a few months ago, it was stained and varnished by the previous owner, it looks okay but it does have a few scratches around the bridge area (last photo).

It is extremely light, and the complete bass shown in the photos weighs just 5.88 pounds.

The neck pocket is a perfect fit for Fender P and J necks, and is ideal for a project, or for building a nice cheap and lightweight P bass.

This sale is for the BODY ONLY.

Set of Precision bass parts which were fitted to a "project bass" for a couple days, all the parts were purchased brand new a couple of months ago.

£25 Posted.

Black 10-hole Pickguard and Screws

Black Control Knobs

Black String Tree and Screw

Black (Nut & Washer Only) for Jack Input

Black Bridge (similar to Gotoh 201)

Black Neck Plate and Screws

Black Strap Buttons.

Hipshot Licensed Ultralite® Bass Tuning Machine 1/2″ (Black) Screws Included.

SOLD!

I purchased these brand new a couple of months ago, I fitted them to a project Precision bass I was working on, but a couple of days later I decided to go with a different colour.

I also have a complete set of Precision Bass parts listed in "Accessories & Other Musically Related Items For Sale", they include:

Black 10-hole Pickguard and Screws, Black Control Knobs, Black String Tree and Screw, Black Jack Input Nut & Washer Only, Black Bridge (similar to Gotoh 201), Black Neck Plate and Screws, and Black Strap Buttons.

3 hours ago, mrbacco said:

 

wow, how can you forget to have built such a beauty? 🙂 

After my first build I really caught the bug, and I think that over the years I might have built around fifteen to twenty, I have four basses at the moment and they are all my own builds, but I always regret moving them on, and this one was no exception. 

Wow! I'd forgotten I built that one. 😉

It's currently strung with Ernie Ball Slinky Cobalts Flatwounds, and sounds great!👍

I'm selling my lovely 2012 Ibanez SR1200 Premium which plays and sounds fantastic.

It's in great condition overall, with just a few little marks here and there which are mostly on the back, the front is excellent.

Original Ibanez case included.

I will post to mainland UK at buyers expense and risk.

You are welcome to try it out at my home in Bridgnorth, Shropshire.

Specifications:
Neck type: Atlas-4 5pc Wenge/Bubinga neck w/KTS TITANIUM rods
Body: Ovankol top/Mahogany body
Fretboard: Rosewood fretboard w/Abalone oval inlay
Fret: Medium frets w/Premium fret edge treatment
Number of frets: 24
Bridge: Mono-rail IV bridge
Neck pickup: Nordstrand "Big Single" 4 neck pu
Bridge pickup: Nordstrand "Big Single" 4 bridge pu
Equaliser: EQB-IIISC 3-band eq w/Eq bypass switch & Mid frequency switch
Nut: Black Tusq XL nut
Hardware colour: Gold

Neck Dimensions:
Scale: 864mm/34"
a : Width at Nut: 38mm
b : Width at Last Fret: 62mm
😄 Thickness at 1st: 19.5mm
d : Thickness at 12th: 21.5mm
Radius: 305mmR

35 minutes ago, Rexel Matador said:

No solutions from me I'm afraid but I'm curious - why do Mustangs have worse neck-dive than Precisions? They both seem to have the upper horn strap button roughly in line with the 12th fret and you would think that the shorter neck gave it less torque. Is it because the body is lighter providing less counter-weight?

I would imagine it's because the body of the Mustang is considerably shorter than that of a P bass, meaning it doesn't balance so well.

53 minutes ago, neepheid said:

What kind of strap are you using?

I use a wide leather strap which I've used for years

6 minutes ago, Jono Bolton said:

Being serious though, I've not tried any Fender-style short scales that didn't have a bit of neck dive. I'd probably look at swapping the tuners for lightweight ones to see if it helps balance things out

Yes that might might a difference because the tuners on a Mustang are full size heavy tuners.

I play mainly P basses because they just fit perfectly with the music I play, but I do suffer from back and shoulder problems and have tried a few short scale basses over the years such as Mustangs, but although they were much lighter and easier to play because of their compact size, I just couldn't get on with the neck-dive and felt that I was holding the neck up all the time whilst playing.

So my question is: If I stuck with them, would I eventually get used to them?

Judging by the replies so far, I won't be needing an extension cab then? 😉

Has anyone got the new Fender Rumble 800 Combo?

I purchased one a few months ago but not long after, my band split up so I never got to gig it.

It sounds great playing through it at home at low volume, but I'm interested to know what it sounds like in a live situation, so if anyone has one and has gigged it, what are your thoughts?

Thanks in advance.