funkypenguin

Warwicks dont really do it for me (something about the necks...), but i tried a $$ 5 string and some of the tones that thing threw out were shattering. one of the best sounding B strings (going through a BIG trace rig) ive ever heard (others being my own axe and the H/H bongo). if you find them playable and you see one going secondhand, go for it. im interested in trying a 6 string $$ just to see whats what.

Hey! I tried one a while back. 4 string in silver. I found it sounded a little sterile (IMHO). Similar sort of core tonal quality to some or the all-graphite status basses. If you're after an 'organic' sound look elsewhere. i have heard a few rumours about suspect build quality... On the upside, it certainly projected across the whole fretboard with no deadspots. the EQ is excellent and the slapswitch is a real bonus if your usual sound is very bassy. It has a very clear (glassy might be a good word?) sound, due to the luthite and composite Fretboard (i think?). i never tried it in a band setting but i would image it would cut through with minimal effort. not really the sort of thing i go for but the specs are solid and if you like it go for it!

Is it the thru-neck grind? i tried a 4 and a 6 string a while back. great bass for the money! it might want the frets filing a little but if you're into the passive sound and want a thru-neck, look no further. The slap cutaway is a useful little feature too and i found it very playable! hope this helps!

alternatively if you can find songs with simple bass lines, you could always find the TAB and jam along to them?

Bongo. The sound is out of this world and its something other than the classic shape alot of builders use. Specially a 6 string H/H. first real GAS ive had in quite a while.

Thats a toughie......probably John Myung's Musicman bongo 6 string (preferably H/H but i'd take H/SC ) That said i am quite partial to the Doodle.....

You shouldn't have too much of a problem tuning BEAD. many 5 and 6 string basses with a low B are "34". all you might find is that the pitch definition of your very low notes may be less than that of a "35" bass. As has already been mentioned, some truss rod and nut (and possibly bridge) adjustments may be necessary. alternatively you could splash out on an octave pedal and play standard B? Hope this helps

If anyone is going through/from the Bradford/Leeds area and has room in their car, a lift would be very much appreciated. id gladly pay half the petrol costs (and if theres space in the car i would be able to bring my trace head and 4x10 half stack). PM me if this is feasible Cheers

Hey there! ive been puzzling over how to get this type of sound for some time. Something with a similar pickup configuration is a good starting point. Stingray H/H (no idea if its available in 4 string) might be one? try some of the Warwick $$ basses, corvette and streamer. Also try basses with similar style pickups, such as EMG DC's. I'm having a pair put in my bass as i type this and they have fantastic depth and bite. another alternative is to get a set of MM style pups retrofitted into your existing bass (if the circuit will fit). hope this helps!

I'd quite like a Bongo 6 with the H/H config. instead of the H or H/SC that Myung's been using. They sound amazing regardless of how they look

Hey Nik! welcome to the forum! if you're looking to overhaul your rig, the gear forums should have everything you need. what are you using at present? Ben

30th looks good since i'm getting the train from bradford i'l just be bringing my 6 string IB606. Looking forward to it! p.s dood please tell me you'l be bringing doodle along????

[quote name='notable9' post='98814' date='Dec 4 2007, 01:44 PM']Hi R they smooth or coarse? Im looking for a nice set of rounds which feel nice on the fingers. Note[/quote] When the strings are brand new on the bass they do feel quite coarse on the fingers but once theyve been broken in a little they feel fine. And the sound amazing! my advice is go for them and see what you make of them! Hope this helps! Ben

wow.... i'm impressed with what vintage are producing these days. these will be very attractive to student bassists. A few months back i was lucky enough to see and try out a prototype 6 string they developed. Would make a fantastic flagship instrument if they end up producing it... Good review!

Hey everyone This is my first time using Prosteel strings, since ive used nickel coated more or less since i started playing so i thought i'd pop a review on here in case anyone is thinking of experimenting with/changing their strings. Many thanks to my bass teacher for sourcing these at a cheaper price! Im using a 6 string Set with gauges .130 B, .100 E, .80 A, .65 D, .45 G, .30 C# Right Anyone whos used D'Addario before will know about the quality but if not, you can buy their strings in the knowledge that you're buying a quality product. Out of all the major string manufacturers ive tried (EB, Rotosound, Elite, Warwick and D'Addario) i would say they're certainly among the best (in my humble opinion). Ive never had a 'dead' string out of the box and they dont seem to fade as fast as some other makes of string. Sound wise i love them. They seem to work very well with my double coil pickups to give a naturally bright, punchy sound but they maintain clarity and depth at the same time. It certainly makes a difference moving into the basses upper register. Nothing feels weak or strangled and they have an even tone right across the range. Depends on personal taste but they are quite a 'pingy' type of string. Their sound is ideal for metal, rock, funk and slap playing but they will fit in with anything if you tweak you EQ These are the brightest strings in the D'Addario range and are availlable in the standard range of guages so you're bound to find a set to suit you if you like the sound of them. just a word of warning, these strings can be quite hard on the fingers if you really hammer your bass when you play. So take it easy All the Best!

[quote name='Kinder' post='83850' date='Nov 5 2007, 09:05 AM']Thanks for the advice guys. I did go out shopping on Sunday but picked the wrong day cos everyone and their basses were at Music Live at the NEC! I played a Schecter Custom 4 though and absolutely loved it, the neck felt beautiful. Anyone got any thoughts on these?[/quote] If its got the EMG pups like the one i tried then go for it. specially if you like the feel of the neck. Every bit as good as a spector or a warwick.

You can probably find a Spector rebop 4 or maybe a 2nd or 3rd hand Euro 4 for that money. see what you can find on the warwick $$ front. look for lots of second hand stuff. often much reduced. All the best Ben

Go for it! i would probably build myself a bass if i had the time, money, resources, tools etc. etc. The alembic electronics are pretty sweet, from what ive heard of alembic basses. if its a fender i would recommend you buy a graphite fender replacement neck from Status Graphite. Their workmanship and consistency is first class, and it makes your bass a bit different, while you know that the neck is a good one. An 'ultimate specced up Jazz bass' would be something quite different and funky.

Hey everyone. Thanks for all the input (special thanks to dood for all the techincal info, especially on the pickup front). I dont have the money for a Modulus (although i do like the graphite neck concept) and certainly not for an Alembic (which in my opinion are vastly overpriced for what they are. similar spec to the one below....$7500!!! not including import) Anyway... Here is an updated spec. based on info ive recieved. If i go for one it wont be ordered until after christmas (when i have the relevant money in the bank!) and as such im still completely open to input so feel free to recommend alterations to my design. the sound im going for is powerful with an even response right across the bass neck. I am a fan of the musicman crunch but i need the sound to be versatile. I'm really trying to avoid sitations where i end up fighting the bass to get the desired sound! My price limit is £1500 tops • 6 string deluxe+ • 34 scale • 24 fret • Black hardware. One piece Gotoh/Schaller bridge + Gotoh tuners • 17mm string spacing • Graphite Nut • Low Profile Frets • Tung Wingbass inspired body design • 7 piece thru-neck – maple + ebony/walnut • Deep Neck cutaway - Easy high fret access • Birdseye Maple fretboard • Walnut body • Ebony Veneer • Flame Maple top (going for the 'bleach blonde' look with black hardware • Satin lacquer (15% gloss) • Elbow and tummy contours • Active electronics + E.Q • Shuker mid spec. pre-amp • Volume, Pickup Pan, Bass, Mid, Treble, Slapswitch • Pickups – still not sure. I’m looking at going for 2 double coil pups but EMG or Seymour Duncan? Taking Jon’s (Shuker) advice on that one. I need to be able to remove the crunch without fighting the instrument. here are a few optional/cosmetic bits and bobs il have included in the (unlikely) event i have any money spare! • Recessed Dunlop Straplocks • Ramp • Continuous Wood Backplates • Matching headstock Veneer • Thru-Neck to be invisible from the front • Inlays on 12th and 24th frets See what you guys think All the best! Ben

Hey there! As telebass says you'll soon get back into it. I would recommend checking out Ebay, specially for a bass amp (i bought my whole stack off Ebay for about £800 less than its all worth) and for basses that you like (theres usually a few yamaha basses knocking about if thats the kind of thing you're into). all the best keep it groovy! Ben

Hey everyone im toying with the idea of splashing out on a custom Shuker 6 string bass (deluxe+) im open to ideas. i have a very rough spec. in mind but im open to suggestions, since im looking to spend around £1500 and want it to be as good as possible. [u]Rough Spec.[/u] 6 String (BEADGC) 34 scale 24 fret 16.5 or 17mm string spacing Black Hardware Tung Wingbass inspired body design (see image - bass on the right) 7 piece Thru-neck (maple + ebony) Deep neck cutaway to give easy high fret access (see back of 'doods' 7 string) Im thinking along the lines of a birdseye maple fretboard and either a flame maple or wenge (or a very dark wood) top. Perhaps an ash or walnut body? Natural oil or satin finish Active electronics and E.Q (vol., pickup pan, bass, mid, treb., slapswitch) Areas im really looking for input are fretboard wood (or composite), body wood and pickup make/configuration. Im looking for a fairly bright sound that will come out in a band setting. The sound should have alot of power and clarity to it. I do like the Musicman Bongo setup of 2 seymour duncan pups (H/H) but i want to know if you can take the crunch off the sound with that kind of system. it has to be versatile. Cheers guys Ben

Hey Frank Good to hear you're going for the 6 string! 17mm seems to be the standard spacing on alot of 5 and 6 string basses, only the neck is wider on the 6. I have seen basses with spacing as narrow as 16mm but its all about what makes you comfortable. Scale length, again its about what makes you comfortable. 35" scale is often the standard length for 5 and 6 string basses but you may find the high C string is a little strangled, particularly if you use light strings. On the other hand, you may find the pitch definition on your low B string (unless you E.Q your sound to bring out the higher frequencies) will deteriorate a little on a 34" scale bass. Pickups, im a fan of soapbars myself. But whatever layout gives you the sound you're looking for. on 6 strings they seem to be either soapbars or J pickups. Be sure and try as many basses as you possibly can and see what sounds and feels best for you! hope this helps! Ben

Spector dont finish the Legend series basses in holoflash as far as i know... [url="http://www.spectorbass.com/NewFiles/professionalseries.html"]http://www.spectorbass.com/NewFiles/professionalseries.html[/url] I would recommend looking at Indie Basses (www.indieguitars.com). I find their basses every bit as good as the equivalent spector or warwick models. I would also recommend Cort basses, particularly the GB line if £400 is roughly your budget. As for necks, spector necks (when they're set up properly) i find are a little thicker than fender necks but much more comfortable to play on. As for Warwicks, i find them quite uncomfortable to play full stop. Something about their basses (bar the thumb) just doesnt agree with me. Hope this helps! Ben

Hey there! welcome to the party. 6 string player i see! good man does your band have a website? Ben

Welcome! I dont think they make that model of peavey anymore. a mate of mine has one though. nice bass! As for replacing the hardware on your other bass, i would recommend (providing your willing to spend money) gotoh, schaller or hipshot tuners and a gotoh or perhaps (if you're feeling flash) a kahler bridge (you can have one that takes a trem. bar!) all the best! Ben