lonestar

On reflection I really liked everything about theSadowsky, apart from the noisy pickups. Looking at the huge price hike from these to the Japanese or German built models (If you can find them) I think I’m planning to get a Tesco Express, when funds allow and if I find that they’re an issue fit a set of hum cancelling pickups: Dimarzio ultra J 5 seem a good match, and possibly a VTC retrofit. The aforementioned Sadowsky NYC owning chap at Guitarguitar reckoned that the ME was worth adding about £200 of upgrades. I may be flogging my Peavey TL5 but no idea what it’s worth, but I digress.

True, though I would have thought a shop selling them would have a 'well the first batch were rubbish but they are sorting things out now and the batch we have hanging on the wall are really good,' rather than a 'the partnership hasn't worked and the new RSD ones don't feel like Sadowskys' view that was given to me. The guy in Glasgow pretty much said that. They sent the first batch back because they were pretty crap complained (to Sadowsky or Warwick I guess). The new ones are miles better and much more consistent quality. he owns a NYC and while they don’t really compare, his opinion is they’re still very good. He actually preempted my question and flagged up the noisy pickup issue to me.

Aye and if ye kid see yer way clear tae lend us a coupla bob am expecting ma giro on Thursday

I’d love to but my budget wouldn’t stretch to that unfortunately. just to muddy the waters I tried a Sandberg TT4Elektra, which was also lovely and probably better quality. The guy in the shop said you didn’t hear this from me but they’re likely to be bringing out a 5 string version, possibly in November. Not sure I could wait and no idea how much it’ll be. I also tried the new Charvel: nice but didn’t like the thin C type neck, gold hardware or loud B string

Thanks yes. They didn’t have any in stock at Edinburgh

Curiosity got the better of me. we’re up in Edinburgh for the fringe so I took couple of hours out to head over to Guitarguitar in Glasgow. I tried a JJ metro express 5, one of the newer batch, and immediately loved it. Great set up out of the box, nice finish, Ok the chrome was that very shiny Far Eastern finish but frets, neck, controls etc were fine. It had a really nice even tone with a great B string balance. I really like the Sadowsky preamp tone. I was lucky enough to try it through a Markbass CMD102p, so same amp as mine however one hiccup: yep those noisy pickups! As soon as you move the balance knob either way off the centre detent it gets a bit noisy. I’m not sure that it’s a deal breaker for me though as I really like everything else on this bass. Bearing in mind that I was very happy to use it centred, I don’t think I’ve ever moved the one on my Peavey TL5 off centre, and even maybe later fitting a set of noiseless DiMarzios, about £130, would still make this an good bass for the money ? So do I pull the trigger ? Help I don’t know what to do! Incidentally Kyle at Guitarguitar was really helpful and knowledgeable and pointed out that they had sent most of the first batch back and that the newer ones are much better and more consistent.

I just tried and was very impressed by a Sandberg TT4 Elektra. Anyone know if there is a 5 string version coming out ?

£300? No thanks. However I had one of these; it was fairly decent. I swapped it about 25 years ago for some guitar lessons, about 50 quids worth which was a fair price. My guitar teacher was a brilliant luthier He drilled some big holes in it to make it lighter added a Seymour Duncan pickup and de fretted and refinished the no name jazz neck that I’d fitted to it in the late ‘70s. Made it into a really nice bass.

If I were a Carpenter - Tim Hardin

Don’t Eat the Yellow Snow Frank Zappa

Refugee- Tom Petty (From Damn the Torpedoes album).

I heard that he was inebriated during this session. Anyone know what he was drinking and is bourbon better than whisky for Motown ?

And with humour.

Who’s Next on Sky arts right now

That looks great Andertons are showing 10 in stock for the package

That looks good, and portable.

Yes it’s a Behringer USB interface so should work with both. It also means that when using as a practice headphone device you get the pure sound of your bass while playing along to tracks on your pc if required. Which is nice. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Behringer-UMC22-Computer-Audio-Interface/dp/B00FFIGZF6/ref=asc_df_B00FFIGZF6/?tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=310822982624&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=11334457621489608738&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=1007041&hvtargid=pla-406164524073&psc=1&th=1&psc=1 they do a slightly cheaper one but for the sake of a few quid this one is much better.

I’ve got through a couple of Amplugs too. I’ve just resoldered the headphone socket on mine, so now I just use this plugged into my Mac, which I originally bought for about 30 quid for recording.

I can highly recommend Aldi’s rum & raisin chocolate. It’s my favourite fruit.

I can’t remember if it was Guy Pratt or another celeb bassist who lost the will to live and gave up on Basschat after a previously heated debate on here about compressors. I recall several weekend warriors telling a pro at the top of his game that he was doing it wrong. Why is the use of an effects pedal so contentious? perhap we should stick to less controversial issues like religion, politics or pick V fingers.

That’s pretty much why I like my Spectracomp pedal. Usually on the default setting with the knob between a quarter and halfway up. I kind of understand compression and the parameters, using the stock compression plugins on Logic Pro extensively, but I’ve never felt the need to faff around with these on my Spectracomp when playing.

That looks pretty good. Depending on your budget and how this auction goes I’d also recommend the Squier VM Jazz fretless if you can find a s/h one

Love Lee Sklar’s videos Check out his play alongs with James Taylor snd Carol King. Perfect examples of playing to serve the song.