neepheid

Not sure if contrary opinions are welcome in here but the neck on every Jazz bass I've tried has felt wrong. Too thin and strings too close together. I read that some people have switched from p basses and I'm struggling to understand why! But if you like 'em then you go right on ahead and play the Hell out of that Jazz bass

[quote name='Austin7' timestamp='1325770560' post='1487371'] Gibson basses are actually my favorite. For quite some time, I couldn't even tolerate Fender. A lot of this had to do with the fact that many years ago I had no choice but to use a Fender Precision at a gig. I didn't like it at all; I especially didn't like the neck which seemed really cumbersome to me. In recent years, I've come to like Fender better, but still prefer the deep, rich sound of a Gibson bass. Nevertheless, I see no reason to sugar-coat things. Gibson does have problems and I feel they view their basses as secondary to their guitars. The quality control that I mentioned also seems to be a big problem. In addition, although I do actually like the "muddy" sound even of EB-O basses, I recognize that many others don't. I think Gibson bass players will always be in a minority. Of course, that's fine with me. I just play what I like to play and like what I like rather than trying to win any popularity contests. Based on my record, though, it's highly likely that Gibson basses will always be my first choice. [/quote] I'm not arguing with you. I'm not one to sugar coat things either - I've already mentioned my disappointment with Gibson's recent output. Gibson's main problem last century was persistently swimming against the tide, but at least it provided us with a plethora of different basses to play. I agree that they seem to care principally about keeping those Les Paul and SG guitars flowing, bass just isn't their focus, and I don't blame them for that. More people play guitar than bass. Look in any (non bass specific) music shop and count the number of guitars on the wall versus basses. Fender probably care more about their guitars than basses also - look at the latest output (the Select models) - it's 5:2 in favour of guitars. I hardly think that this phenomenon is limited to Gibson, it will inform the output of any instrument manufacturer who makes both guitars and basses. (This is aimed at the world at large, not you btw) Speaking of minorities, I don't see why I should tolerate half-baked BS based upon regurgitated stereotypes and prejudices. I don't get a lot of Jock jokes said to my face (or even online come to think of it) for being Scottish, so why all the "if you sneeze near a Gibson, the headstock falls off"? It hasn't happened to any of mine. I'm bloody tired of hearing it. So you don't like Gibson basses. You may actually have played a few to form this opinion. Well done, I respect your right to that opinion. That doesn't give you the right to present that opinion as fact, crack jokes and be a dick about it. (This is aimed at you, not the world at large btw) Out of interest, which Gibsons do you have, or have played/owned in the past?

Gigging is the whole point of it all for me. Noodling away to yourself gets pretty old, lessons are intriguing and challenging but dry and clinical, practice/rehearsals are better, but usually carried out in a boxy room and there's no feedback except the (band) self congratulations when you get something working well. Only at gigs do I get the rush of adrenaline of knowing there's nowhere to hide if I mess up, to see the reaction of the audience, to interact, and to have a beer or two for my effort In the list you provided, probably 1 & 2. Next gig is on the 14th and I'm getting excited already.

[quote name='Austin7' timestamp='1325762475' post='1487136'] I don't know what their reasons are, but it does appear they have little interest in even trying to sell basses in mass quantities like, for example, the way Fender does. [/quote] You say that like it's a bad thing.

[quote name='leftyhook' timestamp='1325722435' post='1486812'] Hard to grasp. How can Gibson make some beautiful guitars like the Les Paul ( Iv'e tried some custom shop jobs, play like heaven and immense build quality) yet the basses....? It's like they have no passion for bass. A token gesture? [/quote] I've bit through my tongue. No passion for bass? A token gesture? Get right out of here. Gibson have come up with far more unique models of bass than Fender ever have. Go on, list them. I wouldn't be surprised if the ratio is in excess of 2:1. You can't accuse them of having no passion for bass, given the number of attempts they have made to try and compete with Fender. The 70s were a particularly fruitful time for Gibson at least in terms of variety. I will grant you that they haven't come up with many models interesting to me this century (yet) - they seem to have stagnated into an almost Fenderish regurgitating/rehashing old ideas habit - but companies with no passion for bass do not come up with the RD Artist.

No chance here, but good luck with your search.

Ach, dunno - it's all vague maybes and possibilities rather than outright wants. A physically smaller amp head maybe A bass made of some synthetic materials (maybe something with a luthite body or a ebonol fingerboard just to see what it's like) But if it doesn't happen then I won't be too bothered.

Sorry Gibson, I still don't like any of your bass output this century so far. The 80s Explorer had the wedge bridge, like a Schaller 3D but with an opposing wedge mechanism for string height instead of grub screws. Now we get the three point bridge? Gibson, I would ask why you don't come over to my house and urinate in my cornflakes, kick my cat and leave a turd on my doormat as you leave, but then I realise that there would be no need as none of that trumps the three point bridge. I know you're not going to read this, Gibson but please, please stop using it, especially when you're reissuing basses which never had it in the first place! Aaaaaand, breathe

I must be lucky - I get along very well with my drummer, both musically and personally. This is the second band I've been in with him. When I managed to secure his services for the band I am currently in it was a happy day for me. He's not flashy, he's solid and we lock in well together. We practice stuff that's giving us aggro together, just bass and drums until we get it right. If he has a fault he's far too modest and pessimistic when it comes to his playing ("I've forgotten it, I'll just wing it" - it always sounds good to me )

Reason? They're not Fenders.

Loosen one of the strings in question to the point where you can move it out of the way. Then see how the saddle works. It looks to me to be some kind of locking saddle so in order to move it you'll have to loosen a screw then move it by hand to the desired position.

[quote name='baddpark' timestamp='1324977602' post='1478801'] Hi, has anyone got any ideas as where to get a tuning head for a peavey cirrus (preferably somewhere in the south). My sons broke his when he was re-stringing it. Cheers [/quote] Why not post up a pic of the front and back of the headstock and show us what you need?

One of the venues in Aberdeen does request that you don't play in Aberdeen for a week either side of your appearance. Fair enough, fits in with my work ethic

I slightly miss my Epiphone Les Paul (not so) Standard bass (which I don't mind boring people yet again with the details - 2x EMG-HB pickups, EMG-BQC 3 band EQ with mid sweep, John East knobs, selector switch added in the usual Les Paul location). Then I look at my RD Artist and everything's OK again

Get your head down? I don't think that cheat sheets would be unacceptable at this short notice. Don't worry about simplifying down any parts that you can't get sorted in the timeframe, as long as the groove keeps coming then you'll be fine - people tend to get well oiled at these corporate dos so as long as they recognise the tunes then everything'll be OK. I did ska covers for my first proper gig - it was a birthday party and I criminally simplified some of the songs but got lots of people up dancing so it all worked out fine in the end.

Ahh, I see what the problem is here. You have installed iTunes (I realise you have little choice in the matter, but for me that's just another reason why I hate iTunes so much - remove it and reinstall it?)

[quote name='icastle' timestamp='1324328649' post='1473154'] I have to admit that I'm really not a fan of the Gibson headstock design. The sheer number of head snaps experienced by end users is pretty indicative of [s]a poor piece of design[/s] user error. [/quote] Fixed that for you

I purchased a Zoot 4x10 cab from Richard way back in October. The reason it's taken so long for me to write this is because the ham-fisted couriers managed to break it during the delivery - the corners of the tweeter had shattered and it was hanging loose in the mounting hole. There was no localised damage to the outer packaging (which was double-walled) so I can only assume that it got an almighty jolt somehow in transit and the shock shattered the plastic of the tweeter horn. This is where I have nothing but praise for Richard - he doggedly went after them for compensation and persisted despite initially getting the brush off. Finally they caved in, but still took their sweet time to pay up - 6 weeks, the cads! There was excellent communication during the sale and the subsequent problems, I confidently predict that you will have no problems dealing with this gentleman. Thanks Richard, the cab's an absolute gem, and it has been a pleasure trading with you.

I play Gibson basses, I'm surprised I don't get bricks thrown at me

Absolutely yes, another Yamaha BB fan here. I obtained a BB614 at a most agreeable price which I intended to be a bass I could permanently station at work for lunchtime noodling/practice. What I found (once all the kinks were ironed out) was a most pleasant instrument to play which sounds good and looks great. I would have no qualms about gigging it. I'm about to take mine home for Christmas holidays and I think I might just wheel it out at my next gig in January It's not the same as my other basses, but that's not the point is it? It's like a comfy jumper which maybe has a hole or two in it that you only wear at home or around close family/friends. Or in situations where you don't mind if it gets in a mess

[quote name='mart' timestamp='1324291293' post='1472509'] One of my basses has LEDs installed in the neck as the side fretmarkers. There are three 9v batteries used to power these, and I've been wondering why it needs so many - there are only 12 LEDs in total, and they don't use much power, do they? The other odd thing about this bass is that although it's a fretless, the fretmarkers on the fingerboard (and the LEDs on the side) are in the position they'd be on a fretted bass, i.e., between where the fretlines would be rather than at the fret position itself. This bugs me slightly, but I have no idea what to do about it. Would it be possible to get the markers (and the side LEDs) moved, or is that going to cost an arm and a leg? Or could I get the bass fretted so that the markers and LEDS are in the right positions? (Or are there going to be wires running up the fingerboard that would get sliced if I put frets in the board). Any other suggestions? [/quote] Do a bunch of LEDs really need 27V? Is the bass active anyway and some of the batteries are used to power the preamp (say 2 for the preamp and 1 for the LEDs)? Until you trace the wires, you won't know what the scoop is. Regarding the surgery, sounds expensive and invasive to me any way you slice it (pardon the pun). I'd guess that it would definitely be cheaper to fret it than move the LEDs based upon the amount of faffing around I'd say is involved.