The Burpster

I guess something could / may be amiss here.... My batts last for ages in the PRSs but they do sound better for about 2 weeks straight after new batts are put in. That new Peak of fresh batts definatell gives the pre-amp a boost.

Schnoz, if you were a bit nearer I would loan you my Baritone (tuned down to A) to give you an idea what you might have as a crossover...... I pick it up and try to play it when I feel like I'd like to tw4t about with a 6 string for a while and it quickly sorts me out!!!!!

My thoughts are that as the neck hasnt gone pop, that the strings were crushed. IME srtings start to do odd things when they have considerable flatspots on them, (form an intonation point of view) especially roundwounds...! I would be pretty confident stating that the neck hasnt bent as the pressure wasnt applied for long enough, although it is possible it may have bet the trussrod , however you would have noticed the action would had changed considerably..... I hope its nowt serious, and keep us updated please. Must have been a week for that kind of incident as my mates nephew ran over my golf clubs and bag in the cart that he was drving for his grandad. None of my clubs appear bent, but in fairness they were never in tune in the first place so they play better with the intonation all ove rthe shop...

[url="http://www.stringsdirect.co.uk/products/4489-optima_gold_plated_bass_strings_medium_scale_"]http://www.stringsdirect.co.uk/products/44...s_medium_scale_[/url] Enjoy.....

I think I understand that tone you're after. My suggestion would be the Ibanez. Mainly because its fitted with Barts which will produce that tone when used with flat wounds. To help that tone along you should really use a amp with with a valve pre-amp stage, or a valve (I guess you call them tubes over there ) pre-amp pedal, but you may have this covered. That's not a million miles away from the set up I have, the tone I use is a 'wound back' version of what you seek.

Tried lots and settled with D'addario chromes 105s they just work and sound better as they age.

Mesa valves are Russian sourced and some are selected. [url="http://mesa.stores.yahoo.net/spax7.html"]http://mesa.stores.yahoo.net/spax7.html[/url] These are genuinely worth the extra. But you are indeed correct that Mesa tubes have the brand name printed on them. The ENGL tubes you have in that pic are not Mesa ones and I would complain to the supplier if I were you. I have used std Mesa 12ax7s EH and the selected SPAX7 that is the above listing and these provide by far the nicest tone of those I've used. I only get mine from reputable dealers in case I have issues as you have. PYMTYC.

Instead of flat shiny magnet tops they have screw heads like this..... [url="http://bass-pickups.com/hp135071/Bass-Humbucker.htm?ITServ=CY3fb0fa84X12975f44133XY672f"]http://bass-pickups.com/hp135071/Bass-Humb...975f44133XY672f[/url]

More important is the strings relationship to the neck and frets. If the string is not perfectly in the middle of the exposed magnet poles it won't make a huge difference unless they are adjustable.

[quote name='beardybass' post='877912' date='Jun 26 2010, 04:52 AM']This. Just because you specialise in one, doesn't mean the other one will disappear from your life, I went to college and Uni with lots of people who played more than one instrument, the emphasis in any course should be on being a MUSICIAN not a bass or guitar holder. I think you're getting yourself wound up over nowt to be honest with you. Pick the one you think you'll do best at.[/quote] That is really good advice.

[quote name='Musicman20' post='877813' date='Jun 25 2010, 10:00 PM']Thanks for the input. Anyway, for me, it would have to stay simple...as originally designed. No extras, no fancy wood, (other than a lovely birdseye neck with rosewood board maybe) just a really well made Precision with the best pickup known to man. Im probably much better off sticking with what Ive got, as the next step is a LOT more money and might not offer that much more. Custom Shop Fender would be my next stop I think, (I havent heard one non-Fender that sound EXACTLY how I like a Precision to sound....yet.....and the Fender 'feel' is right for me).[/quote] From my experience you have hit the nail on the head. You could get a CS fender but the reality is that it could be no better than your current 2. The Std P (if you get a good one) is a very good instrument and really only minor details can be improved, so whilst a Sadowsky or lakland or NASH may have more knobs and whsitles (if you know what I mean) a P will still be a P. It is a fact that the P is respected, and universally loved for. My preferance is to slap a Bartolini pup in there, and at very least a HM bridge or BA (the BBOT bridge whilst functional is not nice) but other than that it is a cracking design.

[quote name='bubinga5' post='876732' date='Jun 24 2010, 07:02 PM']IMO it doesnt matter how much you wash your hands, your hands will sweat[/quote] Agreed however sweat on clean fingers and a shiny neck is like a natural lube. On unclean hands and a neck that hasnt been polished for a while, the sweat seems to make like a grinding paste and fingers just seems to stick. Although its not an exact science.

[quote name='OutToPlayJazz' post='876584' date='Jun 24 2010, 04:49 PM']Always wash your hands thoroughly before you play. There's actually nothing wrong with the neck, just your sweaty hands [/quote] Agreed 100% I really love a highly polished neck. If my hand starts to stick, I give the neck another polish, and makes sure my hands are dry before I play = problem solved.

Well having just got a DHA VT-1, I might suggest that you check out Daves wares. I'm pretty impressed thus far. You can talk to the chap and he's always local (in the UK at least) if it doesnt work as itshould. I'm happy to recommend his kit!

[quote name='Musicman20' post='870180' date='Jun 17 2010, 08:13 PM']The best overall value lightweight amp, for me, is the Markbass LM2/3. £560 ish new, prices vary secondhand Clear, warm and articulate is how I would describe MB. Great kit.[/quote] I'd agree wit that. I wanted a LM for my little practice box. As it truned out these fetch silly money 2nd hand and therefore I went for a PJB D-200. I'm impressed with that and its smaller than the LM but way down on power (in forness I was only after the LM250). Markbass kit is very good quality, clear hi-fi solid state tone.

[quote name='janmaat' post='869643' date='Jun 17 2010, 08:12 AM']How about the nut? I don't like the nut on mine (I believe it is not original neither).[/quote] You will find its a std width and a Graph-tech is easy enough to source to replace it. [quote name='Rayman' post='870080' date='Jun 17 2010, 06:13 PM']I reckon if you slapped a couple of Wizard pickups into it, you'd have a superb instrument.[/quote] Any 'named' aftermarket pups are a hike to its performance. Certainly the SD 1/4lb ers made it into a monster. The stock ones are OK but if you are after a particular tone then the basdic instrument will carry it off with the pups in that aim to achieve that tone.

Indeed, I do like your hills and lakes very much...... It was dead easy to re-wire. I bought the 2 SD quarterpounders, and just used their wiring diagram from the SD resource page..... [url="http://www.seymourduncan.com/support/wiring-diagrams/schematics.php?schematic=std_p_j_bass"]http://www.seymourduncan.com/support/wirin...ic=std_p_j_bass[/url] It doesn't get any easier than that! I'm pretty sure I used CTS pots from either Allparts or Axes r us, and wire from the same supplier. 2x 250k linear for Vol 1x 250k audio for Tone. Switchcraft jack socket, and Bob's your proverbial mums brother!

Dave, I was guessing a more senior model to mine would have the facility to mix in the MP3. It was more of a wish list, than a must have. It does exactly what I wanted it for so I'm a happy bunny. My guitarist loves the whacky colour scheme too so a real bonus.

ead, Been there and done it. It was my first venture into pimping. (I have moved on quite a bit since then!) I replaced everything except the knobs ( I'm not sure why!) the body neck and neckplate. Everything else was ditched. Mine was Wilkinson bridge and tuners, which were not expensive (and IIRC I got them off gleebay) but a huge improvement on the nasty pressed tin OEM ones. A complete rewire V/V/T (although you could get away with a small Bart pre amp if you really needed to - without re routing) and doesnt need a harness it is very easy to do, if you have any skill with wire cutters and a soldering iron. And then SD pups and left passive. It turned it into a monster, and was well worth the effort.... ! Below are some pics (prior to the SD's going into it) just before its final incarnation. Its a shame you are a fair way away, if you got the bits you wanted to do it with I could put it together for you in an afternoon.

[quote name='Mr. Foxen' post='866366' date='Jun 13 2010, 08:20 PM']If you want people to think you suck when you screw up play guitar. If you want people to think your whole band sucks when you screw up, play bass.........[/quote] ......... or drums! Actually very point, a band with a shonky g'tard or singer would attract a comment like 'Oh dear that ....... is pretty lame!" A band with a shonky rythm section better have protective eyewear and helmets to avoid the flying bottles !