leonshelley01

Since modding my MIM Jazz, I have the following parts as spare: Fender 4 string bridge. Fender Standard Jazz Neck Pickup. Fender Standard Jazz Bridge Pickup. If you want them, just PM me and I'll give you my address so you can send me an SAE and they're yours!

I did it to an Ibanez RG470 as the "purple sparkle" was particularly hideous, but rather than varnished I used a coloured beeswax and it turned out great. Tried the same thing on an Aria STB and it looked like a jigsaw puzzle, although I was impressed that using so many parts in a body still constituted it being "solid"!

I'm struggling to picture an uglier bass, although some of the Deans come close.

Likewise I don't see the point of the £1,200+ reviews as I will never be able to afford one! There needs to a better balance in the reviews, maybe try to ensure there is a sub £500, a £500-£1200 and a boutique review each issue, so that all price points are covered.

I had some fret rattle on my Jazz that I noticed a couple of months after I bought it, so I took it into the shop I got it from. They got on the phone to Fender UK who authorised the repair immediately and it was fixed under the warranty at no cost to me. It has in no way put me off Fender products as the after-sale support has been great (unlike Ibanez which was like getting blood from a stone). I suppose I was fortunate that I live within a couple of miles of the store I bought it from, but the retailer has to be the first port of call.

I believe the Ibanez BTB range are also 35" scale which should do the job. Now you've got me thinking about doing the same thing!

[quote name='YouMa' post='429975' date='Mar 9 2009, 11:18 PM']If i buy a bass off anyone here the first thing i will do is change the strings.[/quote] I'll be doing the same!

Yoko Kanno also did the music/sountrack to the Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex anime series. She often utilises different vocalists for tracks.

[quote name='Jamesk86' post='423902' date='Mar 3 2009, 09:39 AM']One other remark I have heard far too often at gigs and from other musicians is that bass players are failed guitarists and any guitar player can play a bass!! arse I say![/quote] I would say most guitarists are failed bass players who can't keep time. As a former guitarist who has now seen the light, it took quite a bit of practice to get the timekeeping precise and to understand that I was more effective when I played what was right for the song rather than being showy all the time.

As a convert from guitar, I started off using a pick but eventually taught myself to play fingerstyle as I prefer the tone on the whole. Some songs however require greater attack and therefore I am more than happy to use a pick for them. The other thing worth mentioning is contingency planning. What do you do if you get a cut or blister on your picking hand? Do you cancel rehearsals, auditions or gigs? The ability to use a pick allows you to continue playing and your band to fulfill commitments. Personally, I can't slap very well, but I shall persevere because it adds another skill set to my playing which ultimately makes me a better player. There is no black and white answer to the initial question of which is the correct way to play, but being able to play more than one way allows us to be more expressive and through that improve the song the song we are playing.

I've got one and love it. Great P-bass tone, lovely neck and a cool colour too! I had gone in to get a MIM P Bass as I like my MIM Jazz so much, but the Squire just felt nicer to play.

As long as I can be (just about) heard, I'm more concerned with getting the notes in the right order at the right time. I used to spend a long time coming up with "great" tones, but playing with a drummer and two guitarists using distortion, they all got swallowed in the mix, so now I just have simplified everything and lo and behold, I now cut through.

I tend to buy new "big" stuff (basses, guitars and amps) from either Coda Music in Luton or Machine Head in Hitchin. New effects have been bought online through either iMuso or Dolphin, and secondhand stuff through ebay.

My setup currently is quite simple Modded Crybaby Wah>E/H Bass Muff Pi>Arion EQ (for volume boost). I sometimes use a Zoom B2 as well, but thats cheating! I will be adding an envelope filter of some sort and an overdrive at some point, as now now I am happy with my basses and amp, I need something to spend the money I don't have on!

I am surprised Fender aren't chasing a Chris Wolstenholme signature Jazz as they would sell well, although I don't think his are modded particularly.

Ibanez basses and guitars are probably pound for pound the best value manufacturer out there. They are well made using decent materials and their quality control is excellent (far better than many other far east factories). I have had a couple of their basses in the past and use a couple of RG guitars regularly at gigs. However, like most things, you must try them first. Not everyone gets on with the very slim (but very stable) necks.

[quote name='Josh' post='414630' date='Feb 19 2009, 07:17 PM']Why can none of you married players seemingly ever put your foot down?[/quote] I did. Since the divorce I can have as many basses as I want. Of course I don't have as much time to play now with the travelling to see the kids...

Let us know Marshall's response. It will probably influence my decision on whether or not to get the cab.

That is really quite bad. I had toyed with the idea of getting the extension cab, but may give it a miss now, as the combo has enough volume for me anyhow. Has anyone actually contacted the Service Department about this, especially as it is not a one-off so they can improve their QC?

[quote name='bremen' post='411856' date='Feb 17 2009, 12:11 PM']Perhaps I'm being silly too, but maybe the guitarists could play a little softer while you're soloing?[/quote] The guitarists always seem to be in the middle of a volume war, so fat chance! My bass also has a couple of volume knobs, just a tad difficult to adjust mid-song without dropping out for a bar or so. I have just been offered an Electro-Harmonix LPB-1 for gratis, so that should resolve the problem anyhow. Thankyou everyone for all the advice though!

[quote name='OutToPlayJazz' post='411739' date='Feb 17 2009, 09:54 AM']I forgot to mention another Ibanez on this thread... BGM rated the SR300 as the best value for money bass out there... Three band eq with style sweeper mid control as well. What more do you want for £230??[/quote] I loved the neck on mine when I got one and I am an Ibanez fan having had a GSR200 in the past and two RG guitars, but I could not get on with those "rounded" top pickups. There was not enough pickup standing proud for me to anchor my thumb on when playing fingerstyle. If you can get over that issue, they are great basses, however I traded mine in for a Squier CV 60's bass which I am more than happy with. On another note, I am constantly impressed at how good a lot of the current "beginner" basses are, be they Squier, Ibanez, Vintage etc. compared to the stuff around when I started (huge necks, plywood bodies etc.).

I, like others, listen to the song quite heavily to learn the structure first. Then I get the tab for it in the Guitar Pro format with drums, guitars, keyboards etc as well as the bass. Using POD farm I dial in an appropriate bass tone on the PC and play along with the Guitar Pro having muted the bass. If necessary, I slow down the tempo at first then build up to "full speed", breaking the song down section by section. Quite often at this point I may start imposing my "style" (or lack of ability!) in order to suit any arrangement changes necessary due to the bands setup or boredom by having to play contant eighth-note root notes!

To quote Bad News, "Our Jimi, Who art in Heaven, Hendrix be thy name!" Great touch and tone, only Stevie Ray came close. In more modern times, Slash and John Petrucci.

That was very poor work on the cab, and full credit to you for finding the fault yourself. If you need to, give Marshall a ring on the number I listed earlier, I'm sure they will be able to help, they've always been helpful to me. But maybe that was just a mixture of my winning smile and animal magnetism!

I've just realised I'm being a bit silly. I have a Zoom B2 MFX as a back-up to plug into the PA in case of amp problems. I can just set two patches up with no effects but differing volumes. Doh! Cheers for all your suggestions though!