Jondeeman

It depends what you want...

If you're looking to upgrade the bass then move on to a new instrument in a couple of months, save your cash and buy a better bass. You'll never get the money that you put in, back out. If you're looking to make a lacklustre instrument sound better at relatively low cost, then go ahead. You'll learn a lot about the instrument you're playing very quickly and make it sound better as well.

First step would to bet yourself informed as to what is available and what it could / would do for the instrument you have. If you have a Fender bass (you don't say) then look here:

[url="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Fender-Bass-Manual-Maintain-Guitar/dp/1844258173/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1306849884&sr=1-1"]Haynes Manual[/url]

Hey Dougal,

Stew Mac will still deliver to UK! Don't necessarily give up on them as a source, especially for the tools.

[quote name='Lozz196' post='1244156' date='May 25 2011, 12:41 PM']Interesting comments about the sound - usually I find the bass inaudible, will have to check out the repeat on Fri.[/quote]

It sounds like you may have to sort out the TV.

I don't watch much telly, but I take a feed out of the Freeview box and chuck it into my Fatman amp (with a valve front end). The thing is that, while TV is, in the main, cobblers, if it's music I'm listening to, it may as well sound good... mind Nathaniel Rateliff still comes across as an "okay for Earls Court" busking Stoner.

[quote name='Mr Fudge' post='1243869' date='May 25 2011, 08:54 AM']Interestingly I thought a lot of the basses on the show last night soun ded great. More to the point they could be heard. Whoever did the sound mix to come through my TV should be commended. The 50's P bass sounded exceptionally good IMO[/quote]

+1

Great sounds from Yuck.

[quote name='BigRedX' post='1241254' date='May 23 2011, 09:50 AM']There is no car that is as brilliant as even the most crappy of my basses.[/quote]

Amen to that!

A short time ago, I asked fellow Basschatters for some assistance. A bad experience with a less than robust, but extremely useful Tascam BT-CD1 had left me in a quandary. The usefulness of a bass trainer on the one hand, versus reliability and value… what to do?

[topic="127459"]Bass Trainers[/topic]

Well, a question here helped put my concerns to rest. Tascam were reliable and deserved a second chance. The only debate was whether to go with the robust and loved MP-BT1 or move onto the newer GB-10, which nobody seemed that’ve tried yet. I opted for the GB-10, with a promise to review in these here very pages once I’d got my head around it.

The good news is that the GB-10 arrived for the princely sum of £120, from Fair Deal Music (via Amazon) a day after ordering. The unit comes with a2GB SD card and a set of AA batteries, but without the required power adaptor (which had to be ordered separately). It can also be powered via the USB socket.

[url="http://tascam.com/product/gb-10/"]Tascam GB-10[/url]

The GB-10 is compact and robust with a large enough monochrome display to read and understand. Battery life is excellent – my rechargeable AA batteries seem to give me 3 hours minimum usage from a charge. Overall, the unit is 6 inches by 3 inches, and around an inch thick, so small enough for the front pocket of a gig bag, or inside a hard case. The screen can be read outside in bright sunlight (I now play whilst drinking coffee on the patio in the morning).

The battery compartment is also home to the SD card, which can either be left in situ to upload music to the GB-10, or removed and placed into a card reader (as per any digital camera). The 2GB card holds a lot of stuff, and should be enough for anyone, though it can be replaced with something larger – the GB-10 taking care of formatting. The files can be arranged in separate folders as required). My only issue in adding files was that the GB-10 only recognises MP-3 and WAV formats. Several of my tracks had been uploaded as WMA files, and these needed converting as they weren’t compatible.

The bass is plugged into the GB-10 through a jack socket on the right-hand side. Next to the input is an input level control. This only goes up to 10. ;-) The mix can be adjusted, using the balance control; the lower the balance, the quieter the track playback is. Balance seems to go up to 20. Finally, the output to the headphones can be adjusted via the two output buttons. Easy enough for even me to understand!

Tuning is done via the tuner button. The screen is clear and easy to read, and is a great little digital tuner. The unit will also send an auditory tuning note via the headphones if you prefer to tune that way.

Playback is simple, achieved via the push buttons below the screen and the larger cursor control to select tracks. Tracks can be adjusted for tempo and key, as well as being looped and repeated at will. I’ve put my playlist in suitable order, and enjoy whizzing around the tracks. In summary, I love it!

The metronome is also handy and pretty self explanatory. As someone used to a mechanical metronome with a bell, nothing will ever beat the swaying “tick, tock” but the GB-10 is easier to carry, and harder to break.

The effects incorporated into the GB-10 are, to my view, extremely poor and ineffective. I’m not a huge user of effects anyway, but these are either ineffective, or sound thin, electronic and horrid.

As ever, there are certain things that I haven’t used extensively, yet. The recording function seems rather useful, but has not been any more than a toy so far. Tracks can be overdubbed and files can be recorded and then uploaded into a PC. Empty, the 2GB card will record over 3 hours of playback.

Overall, I love my GB-10. I can play anywhere, it gives me the flexibility I was looking for and I can keep myself to myself when practising (much to the kids’ relief). It’s robust (yes, it has hit the deck) and it can carry a load of music. Whether it’s better than the MP-BT1, I can’t say. It certainly ticks the boxes for me.

If you have any questions, please feel free to give me a yell.

As it says on the tin gents...

One rather old and worn copy of Lemmy's best. Read, enjoyed and ready to pass on.

As ever, Lemmy pulls no punches, says it as he sees it and rips it up. It's not Charles Dickens, but then Dickens never got as far as Lemmy with the ladies.

PM me if you're interested.

In the '80s I would guess that these had that kind of value... seems a little high now (unless you're looking to do Bon Jovi covers with it ). Are the p'ups original? I thought these were EMG... is it definitely a US build?

[topic="74654"]Charvel[/topic]

A bump for the wonderful acer dissectum... hope you sell soon.

If only the timing were better I'd take the 410.

Thanks for all the kind words, gents. Onto the next project now!

First time with a piccy of one of me own...

[attachment=79002:DSCF1274.JPG]

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It's been 2 years in the making, but this is my mashed up Jazz. Basically, an Ebay sourced Alder body, with a Mighty Mite Jazz neck, Fender '62 vintage p'ups, a Varitone control from rawsound2003 (also on Ebay) and other bits and pieces from here and there and the spare parts bin. The Varitone is great (don't know if anyone else has tried one).

Went for a vintage white look with mirror pickguard to make it look froody. Sounds great for a Jazz. Honestly, it may not be the greatest bass ever made, but I've learned a load and it was very satisfying.

Have you looked here.... this'd suit you grand and give you some to play with for an amp.

[topic="133585"]Tobias Toby 5[/topic]

So here's the thing.... bought this for the young 'un and he really isn't that into it and wants a six stringed funny shaped thing instead... KIDS!!!!!!!

It's a Gibson Tobias Toby 5. A 5 year old Korean made bolt on, in a transparent bright red colour. It's an active 5 stringer, with jazz style pickups (Gibson made.... have they no shame!!!!!!) and has a "no expense spared" Tobias gigbag

I don't know an enormous amount about these basses. It plays fine and looks fine. It'd be a great place to start out, or suit someone on a tight budget looking for a fiver.

Condition.... excellent, never gigged, rarely played. The strings definitely need a replace.

Looking for a ton to seal the deal, or £100 to a pal.

[attachment=78490:__KGrHqF..._3w___12.jpg]

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[quote name='purpleblob' post='1200738' date='Apr 15 2011, 02:30 PM']I see no links and cannot watch youtube vids in my currently location, but I have an awful feeling it's going to be a disappointment when I finally see this bass - unless it's a banana shaped bass [/quote]

I've had a bass neck shaped like a banana.... believe me, that wasn't too impressive.

Isn't that a Gibson Ripper?

[url="http://www2.gibson.com/Products/Electric-Guitars/Bass/Gibson-USA/Ripper-II-Bass.aspx"]Gibson Ripper 2[/url]

I had a Moyer Standard 5, which I really liked (it wasn't called "Havoc" by Traben). I also had a Chaos 5, which was good, but unbalanced and rather heavy. I agree that they suited to hardcore / rock and offered fantastic value for money. Hate the new decals...

Not sure it's ever possible to switch branding without doing harm to one or both brands.

[quote name='icastle' post='1189985' date='Apr 6 2011, 01:28 AM']Is it just me or do others find that the satin finish becomes a gloss one after a couple of months?
I've had two satin finish necks and they both look like they're gloss laquered with the exception of the back of the headstock.[/quote]

This can happen... effectively you're polishing the paint with your hands and it'll revert to type (ie gloss). In the past, I've sanded mine lightly with a P3000 paper to bring the matte back a little.

[quote name='BigRedX' post='1198456' date='Apr 13 2011, 05:29 PM'][url="http://www.simscustom.com/html/00sprayshop_chrome.htm"]Sims Custom Chrome[/url][/quote]

Sims do some great work - respect to them, but I'd like to DIY

It's also not really what I was looking for... what I'm after is an metal coating somewhere between gilding and foiling - a perfect mirror finish isn't what I'm after. Matt Bellamy has had Manson make a few "aged metal" guitars for him, and Ritter do some stuff (with platinum and gold!!!!!) that sort of hint to the effect. I'd probably be looking to airbrush onto the metal too for a shaded/aged look.

I expect the foil to come out at around 40 quid, and the lacquer to be about the same... and hoping that the laquer holds it all down and in-place. Not sure that it'll get played too much!!!!

There were some links... also Rockfield pickups. Not sure if it's one company with "brands" or several companies that work together.

I've had an idea.... a cunning plan to foil a project bass and make it metal.

Question is, has anyone done this before?

I plan to use a product called Bare Metal Foil:

[url="http://www.bare-metal.com/bare-metal-foil.html"]BMF[/url]

and to subsequently 2K clearcoat the bass. The idea is not to get a perfect "shiny chrome" finish, but to achieve something more realistic.

Are there any things to watch or look out for? What do I need to know?

Does anyone know what's happening at Traben? Some of their models are being rebranded as BC Rich (The Moyer Havoc, for one). Has Traben had it's day, and being integrated into the BC Rich brand?

I've had a couple of Trabens... nice basses, excellent value for money. I'll be sad if they disappear!

Super cool Mike... thanks for the advice.

Guys, thanks for all the help.

After going through the details, I've decided to see what the GB-10 offers and give TASCAM a second shot... I was swung on the AA battery and SD card. The footpedal is another £50, so I've decided to live without (for a while, at least). If anyone is interested, I'd be more than happy to review.

[quote name='Geddys nose' post='1164724' date='Mar 16 2011, 06:11 PM']The BT1 is still sold but they have brought a new player out-

[url="http://tascam.com/product/gb-10/"]http://tascam.com/product/gb-10/[/url]

Never tried this one but it does both Guitar & bass and it records- Hmm will have to have one of these.[/quote]
I'd seen the GB-10, but there don't seem to be many reviews around. It's only around 20 quid more than a MP-BT1... and now I'm not sure if it's worth the difference - dilemmas!!!!!!

[quote name='dood' post='1167695' date='Mar 18 2011, 09:49 PM']These lovelies are actually mine!



Just Dood It...[/quote]
I just seem to keep putting my foot in it!!!!!

Where can I get a pair????