The Burpster

That finish........ I have a bowling ball that looks like that..... Its kinda cool I like it.....! Keeping it is a wise move....

[quote name='wateroftyne' post='528449' date='Jun 30 2009, 11:10 AM']Hi all Fairly random post, and probably not news to 99.9% of you all, but... In the last couple of years I've taken to doing minor adjustments myself... truss, string height, etc. I've always set my action so it's the lowest it can be without the strings choking or rattling off the frets at the end of the board. As a result, the action on my basses has, over time, lowered to around 2mm (from string to top of fret) at the 12th and the heel end. Recently, I've become increasingly frustrated with my tone, especially at larger gigs. I just haven't sounded round enough, and when I've dug in, the notes have been 'barking'. It can't be the action, I thought. The strings are ringing cleanly... I even thought one of my 'ol sets of Le Bella flats had gone bad. I was about to retire them, when the penny dropped... Of course, when I've been adjusting my basses it's been at plink-plink room volume. At a gig, with more volume and adrenaline... you play harder. Hence the chokes! So, I've upped the action to about 3mm (it feels like a heck of a lot, but you really don't notice at a gig) and all the sudden my notes are ringing big and round, with plenty of growl in reserve when I dig in. Bliss. Why didn't I think of it before?? Don't be afraid to raise tha action a little more than you think, people... you might be suprised at how much difference it makes to your ears, but how little difference it makes to your hands! If this post helps one person, it'll have been worth typing. [/quote] Sooo so spot on.....! I too always strive for the lowest possible action but the realisation slapped me 'round the face..... Bigger strings need slightly more height to work properly..... having gone from 100s to 105s (to make proper use of the D-tuner) trying to get the same 'something' with a low action just didnt work..... raising the action just over .5mm made such a huge differance..... Might not work for everyone but gotta agree with you...... oh and its not just big venues (as I doubt I'll get the call for that), but playing through valves its so noticable.......

Oh my fave subject... pimping... On a J I'd be hankering after a Hipshot bridge (BA are OK but they are not as well engineered as others, they are a pice of pi55 to fit tho') And pups I'd be going for a selection of SD or Bartolini...

Agreed - Maple , good.. Off to tech tho'

It doesnt allow multiple votes..... All five of mine were born in the US of A......

off to techie for you....

I've had a quick noodle on a 4, once you pick it up and cant see its "only its mother would love it looks" it played very nicley, quite hi-fi sound IIRC. Bit of change for you tho' isn't it Marc, cant see that going down well with the blues players, they'd probably spit beer all over the shop when you take it out the bag........?

I say there has been some teddy throwing on this thread hasnt there...... My experience..... I have progressed to a Peterson V-Sam for set ups as they would appear to be the most accurate that you can buy at sensible money...... It is FAR more accurate than several that I have had on teh way through to here. (Including top of the range Roland/Boss which my g-tarist now has!) I have a Korg DT-10 on my pedal board which is sufficient when playing because its quick and simple, and if the instrument (6string or bass) was set up properly when the strings were fitted will (I have found) stay close enough for the human ear until they need replacing, unless something drastic happens to it in the mean time... My contirbution FWIW

thumB rest STRING...... Must get me one of them..... What a twonk......

Shame its so far away, I'd have a pop at that....

Hmmmmmm a clitch in the Matrix...... Agent Bob will merge these 2 topics......

I do not have any experience of these but I cant help feeling that for £140 its going to be pretty shonky somewhere. Unless you are building LOADS and LOADS to keep teh cost down (like Ibanez and yamaha do) they are going to have to cut back on quality somewhere. Of your list that you mention above my order would be 1. Ibanez 2= Yamaha & Vintage. 3. SX if you can get a good one.

Anyone seen a Cambs. based band Aftershock? I saw them last night at a ball, the bassist was the most talented amongst them (very solid, and played just the correct amount)..... IMO.... Just wondered if its 'one of us'......?

Tart....... (athough I have to agree with where you're heading, they are nice...... You still haven't playe any of mine tho' )

[quote name='Delberthot' post='489809' date='May 16 2009, 01:50 PM']I think you should hire me as an adviser. I could then fly to US at your expense and tell you if the Coppolo factory is in NY or California. Afterwards I could take the measurements of what you are looking for shape wise for a bass, number of strings and then go on a carribean cruise with the missus. When I return I will present you with your new bass which will be a no name jazz bass off ebay with a Fender logo applied crookedly for extra mojo By that time you'll have realised that the bass you desire so much, you already own - you're happy and I've got a tan. How does that sound?[/quote] You're not a member of Parliament are you, by any chance.....?

I'd obviously say a private stock PRS EB Grainger V but sadly £4k isnt enough..... So how about an EUB....? An NS CR4M is next on my shopping list. one day

Its a kncaked 6 string bigsby mackled onto a home made body with what looks like an Epiphone neck..... worth about...... 50p (except for sentimantal value for its maker!)

[quote name='fingerz' post='486663' date='May 13 2009, 09:50 AM']Sound wise I really just want a warm, pure tone with jazz growl. They would be J/J config... Any light you could shed on the differences (if any) between these pups I would be really grateful. Thanks alot! JP[/quote] That sounds right in the zone of Bartolini pups. I put a set in a P and they were very warm and gave a great depth of tone. You might also consider getting Wizard pups to wind you custom set.

<---------------------- Avatar says it all.... Although the commercially (used to be) available ones were made at Stevensville every one feels like it was made for you as a one off. VERY VERY VERY good build quality and QC. (Although I do have a very soft spot for Sadowskys and Clovers)

[quote name='Kongo' post='483836' date='May 9 2009, 04:51 PM']Has anyone here made and fit a scratcplate to a bass that doesn't have one? I'm interested in doing this. I think Scratchplates add that bit of contrast to a bass.[/quote] No and I wouldnt dream of putting one on my PRSs...... BUT I do fancy the idea of a scratchplate in the shape of the state of Texas......

I use D'addarios and Fast fret them afer every use. After about a week they are slick and gorgeous sounding.

[b]Paul Reed Smith[/b] - Like the perfect woman, Very hard to find and well worth the wait!

[quote name='allighatt0r' post='482940' date='May 8 2009, 02:01 PM']I have been informed by a reliable source that the black nylon wound rotosounds emit the same sound as someone kicking a cardboard box [/quote] Quite a tuneful cardboard box...... Actually that reminds me - about a year ago in Jersey I saw a pair of street buskers, and one of them was playing essentially a broom handle on a wooden box with baling twine as a string. She pulled back on the broom handle top tighten or slacken the string to cahneg notes. It made a credible bass sound........ So maybe thats where the idea for the Rotos came from.....