Green Alsatian

Could it be sequenced bass from workstation keyboards on some of them? Most workstations have an array of sampled bass guitars, which sound like bass, but are a bit lifeless when played.

That's a great tale, Steve! Funnily enough, I was thinking about it being Phil's birthday today, earler on. Phil had already left us by the time my mate got me into Thin Lizzy in 1989 and it was mainly Thin Lizzy and Iron Maiden songs I'd play along to when I was learning to play bass. He went too early, and it's a great pity he didn't live to finish his third solo album after Grand Slam were dissolved. Maybe Phil and Gary are blasting this out together with Cozy, to celebrate!

It'd be rude not to!

[quote name='mentalextra' post='1342441' date='Aug 16 2011, 09:35 PM']Oh, OK. Other than a learning aid, any advantage where tone or playability is concerned. Looks like a half way between finger and plectrum?[/quote] Someone already beat me to it - they're very difficult to drop! As for other advantages, it's all down to your preferred right-hand technique. You can still hold it like a normal plec, but it allows you to play using only your thumb (as demonstrated with The Knack's bassman), but with more attack than using the thumb alone. You can also get them in plastic.

It's probably a thumb plectrum - I used one for a bit years ago when I was learning: Nice bass tone on the vid.

I had one for a bit and it's a very versatile bass with its pickup configurations - I was really impressed with the sound. The neck was a little thinner than a P, but not Jazz-thin and it seemed longer than its 34" scale due to the enormous cutaways. However, I wasn't in love with the shape/size of the body - didn't feel particularly comfortable, so I let it go. I'd have loved to have transplanted its electronics into another bass! Here's a really crap demo I knocked up for the auction - clippy and sloppy, but it gives you an idea of how each of the pickup configurations sounded. You'll hear, in order: Wild Dog A - bridge pickup Wild Dog B - bridge and middle pickup (Jazz Bass-ish) Treble A - bridge pickup Treble B - bridge and middle pickup (Precision Bass-ish) Bass A - neck pickup (my fave) Bass B - neck and middle pickup (another goodie) Split A - neck and treble pickup Split B - all three pickups 'Wild Dog' and 'Treble' sound similar in mode A, but different in mode B - I think they're a series/parallel effort.

Just the three of us - a mate on guitar/vocals, another on keys/vocals (a cheap n nasty 90s Yamaha Portatone with built-in drums - part of our sound!) and myself on bass and occasional backing vocals when the line's simple. I did a stint on synths with the band when we reformed as a four-piece and we used to swap instruments for some songs.

Nobody doing Ghost Town?

I actually don't mind GAS - it drives me to try out new instruments and it keeps things interesting for me. I like the feel of different instruments, different sounds. I'd rather have first-hand experience with an instrument than watch all the YouTube clips, read all the forums and listen to all the word-of-mouth. Most of my purchases have been through curiosity. It's never got in the way of playing though - I've never thought "I can't do this, until I own that". It's certainly helped me identify 'keepers' - what works for me and what did nothing for me. I used to joke with my bandmates that I'll never bring the same bass twice to practice!

[quote name='wateroftyne' post='1337813' date='Aug 12 2011, 03:54 PM']I'm fairly immune to neck profiles..[/quote] Same here. That said, I do like 'em chunky as I learned on a cheap P-copy with a telegraph pole for a neck and anything thinner is just a pleasant change.

Likewise, I've bought several parts from CH Guitars and have had excellent service each time - recommended. I bought a Jazz body a couple of years ago and it was a lovely piece of wood - was going to buy a neck from them, but spotted a bargain Mighty Mite neck, which fit perfectly on the body.

Would it not be possible to transpose/learn the lines on your 5-string? When I used to jam with a mate and we did Eb tuning on some Thin Lizzy songs, my Jazz would buzz to buggery as I was using light strings. I started bringing a 5-string and transposed, playing from the Eb on the B-string.

Seeing that Strings Direct had them in stock, I gave into temptation and put a set of TI flats on my G&L L2000 Tribute tonight, to replace the ProSteels. I couldn't stop playing it! They've mellowed out the G&L a bit, but without losing its character - still bright enough with the treble on full, but delicious when rolled off a little. I thought it sounded great with the rounds, but have to say, I prefer it with the flats. It's only my modified Peavey Millenium BXP 5-string that has rounds now.

Rics originally came with flats. In the last year of owning my 4001, I had a set of Rotosound flats on it and I thought it sounded great. A bit of muting and you're in instant mid-late 60s McCartney territory. If I still had it, I'd definitely pop a set of TI flats on there. Give it a try - you might like it!

I have LaBella Deep Talkin' Flats on my Hofner Ignition and Squier VM Amber P-Bass. The Hofner set is 39-56-77-96 and they are a pleasure to play. As for the set on the P-Bass, I thought I'd be intrepid and go for the 'Original Vintage 1954' set which are 52-73-95-110. I haven't used heavy-guage strings since I started playing (I thought heavy-guage strings would last longer back then - built up calluses quickly!) but I don't find these uncomfortable to play in the least. I usually use TI Flats, which although a bit more expensive, are really comfortable to play and sound surprisingly bright to begin with. I had a set on an old P-Bass for four years and they mellowed really well. I'm thinking of putting a set on my G&L L2000 Tribute. On the subject of flats - are D'Addario making strings for Fender now? I bought a set of Fender flats for my old Peavey Zodiac BXP and they looked and felt remarkably like D'Addario Chromes, which I've also found to be a pleasant string in the past.

I started when I was 16 and played along with my records - I'd copy them to tape so I could rewind bits without wrecking my vinyls when learning. After that, I started borrowing tab books from the library, but still mainly from playing along.

On the subject of the JD Jazzes made for Jaco, I've scanned in the 'My Bass Is...' feature from the July 1998 issue of Bassist. [url="http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/143/jacojd1.jpg/"][/url] [url="http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/688/jacojd2.jpg/"][/url]

I've used the Bass Parts Resource for years with no problems - they take Paypal and ship to the UK. [url="http://www.guitarpartsresource.com/middle_bass.htm"]http://www.guitarpartsresource.com/middle_bass.htm[/url]

It's been a year since my last gig as we're on a hiatus (our keyboardist joined the Lancashire Hotpots and the guitarist had a baba with his missus just after our last gig) and I do miss it now. As our driver, I used to get pretty stressed out before a gig (wish I had SatNav back then!), couldn't have a beer during or after, so I couldn't 'relax' as much as I'd have liked. While onstage, great, but the build up to it used to knot my stomach something rotten. The longest stint of gigs we played and was a mini 'tour', playing Stoke, Birmingham, Leeds and our home town Liverpool over a period of five nights, driving back each night as we had nowhere to stay. I'll tell you what, you don't realise how knackered it makes you - I have respect for anyone who plays numerous shows a week!

I don't mind people making an offer unless I've absolutely reached the lowest I'll go for an item (I'll state so in the description) but the ones that get me are "What's the lowest you'll accept for it?". That's not how it works! I usually reply with "Its current price. What's the highest you can afford?". Lowballers get a polite "I wish you luck in finding a <item> for £<their offer>.".

I was at the Manchester gig also - a great show from the fellas, as always. I don't think I've ever left a Maiden gig feeling short-changed. Sadly, I also couldn't make Airbourne out for the most part as the sound was terrible. All I could hear was the bass drum, a guitarry mush and screaming from the singer. A pity, as some of it reminded me of AC/DC.

I've owned the B2 (same as the B2.1u but minus the expression pedal) and in my opinion, it's one of the best 'bang for buck' multiFX out there, especially if you dig in and start tweaking/creating your own sounds. The effects themselves are very good and although I can't comment on the authenticity of the amp modelling in there, they certainly had their uses and sounded good. It's sturdily-built with a solid metal chassis. The built-in drum machine's useful for practicing and is more fun than playing with a metronome. I used to use mine for recording, too. I was toying with the idea of picking up another, but I'm a compulsive stompbox-buyer!

[quote name='dave_bass5' post='1309069' date='Jul 19 2011, 01:01 PM']Wasn't Chase a Synth shop down the side of Euston station, run by an Indian chap?[/quote] Probably the shop mentioned in this SOS article. I had a Crumar Bit One and had wondered why some of them on eBay were labelled 'Chase' until I read the article: [url="http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/aug98/articles/crumar.html"]http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/aug98/articles/crumar.html[/url] I don't know the shop, being a Northerner.

[quote name='NJE' post='1303536' date='Jul 14 2011, 02:02 PM']I wasnt completely imagining it then, phew! I must dig that book out, havent had a good look through in a long time. Custom model would explain it, must READ books and not just look at the pictures in future.[/quote] I've been there, misquoting said tome in a recent thread about Norman Watt Roy's bass and telling 60s Jazzes apart! Must.. read.. words too!

[quote name='NJE' post='1303351' date='Jul 14 2011, 11:43 AM']Does anyone have a copy of 'The Fender Bass an illustrated history'? I have one somehwere and am 99% sure that in there is a 'prodcution' Precision with sunburst body and blocked maple neck. Not saying they made it for long but I think they did make it, whether it was made in the 70's is another thing, i will dig the book out tonight.[/quote] Aye, there is - maple/black blocks. I can't tell if the neck has Jazz dimensions from memory, but it does say Precision Bass on the headstock. The comment nearby states that the bass was likely made for a custom order.