mentalextra

[quote name='seashell' timestamp='1354039440' post='1881302'] My first port of call is always the Stirchley Music Exchange in Brum because they are a local retailer and the chaps that run it are ace. i got my Fender P from there, and the Ibanez from the drum shop down the road (which they recommended to me). But since they are a small second hand shop, you just take pot luck with what they have in at the time. So if I needed something they didn't have/couldn't get I would happily go anywhere. Even Tescos! [/quote] You lucky, I've had very few 'great' experiences in music shops. I've found the assistants to be a combination of aloof self important snobs or uninterested sarcastic psuedo "box shifters". Handing you a box and being able to work the credit card machine does not amount to good service. Music shops are a lot like golf and fishing tackle shops; you have to be the "right" sort of customers or you get the treatment! If Tesco or Asda have what i'm after at the right price I'll buy it.

Very underrated guitars!

[size=5][sub]I would be interested in buying a Wal of this age and I would expect to find it in original condition. Wear on instruments is like the 'patina' of antiques, totally acceptable [/sub][/size]

Yeah, I was surprised at how deep the frets actually go, and I found that I had to play with the truss rod once it had all settled down. Also, I used a small tube of wood filler from B&Q to fill the slots, which is surprisingly expensive as most DIY stuff is these days! I chose a nice dark colour to match my rosewood! You might end up playing with the "nut" height too. Also, for what its worth, get that neck as smooth as possible and highly polished as possible finish off with 2000 grit at least, it will sound better!

I find this topic fascinating. There have been a number of threads with bassists complaining about "overblown" guitar sounds in rock bands, which got me wondering if there are any more "bass lead" bands like Thin Lizzy or motorhead, even dare I say Mark King. I guess if you play in a "rock" band you have to resign to the fact that it is going to be all about the guitars. Whereas perhaps Reggae, Jazz funk etc the whole sound balance is different. I guess the question Im asking is, "if you play bass in a rock band are you going to be a background instrument" unless its 'your' band! Perhaps the key is whether you write your own material or are a covers band. Dont get me wrong, I love my bass and love playing but I'm just being objective.

[quote name='MiltyG565' timestamp='1353937941' post='1879919'] are bassists the most careless and nonchalant people ever? get well soon mate [/quote] Thanks mate, I dont intend to turn this into a boring back ache thread. But in my years of "falling over" incidents I have had two in the last 12 months that were bad. The last one was finding a wasp nest in my shed and backing out quickly only to stumble and do a backwards roll into my other shed! I was seeing stars after that one. But, this was so fast. I put my fut down and felt it go, next thing I was on my back. didnt even have time to break my fall by landing on my backside. I went straight down on my back flat on the floor. My decking and concrete step helped me break my fall!. Im back to doctors tommorow. I had an awful night and this morning I cant bend or stoop! But, the worst thing is I have bruised my left hand!

I needed something out of the shed just as it started to fall down! Stepped on the deck and went straight down on my back. I hurts everywhere, I can barely walk. I was hoping a couple of diazepam might have done the trick but looks like im off to A&E when my daughters gets in from school!

[quote name='Len_derby' timestamp='1353760766' post='1878161'] Electric guitars in music seem to be like 4WD vehicles on urban roads. Perfectly valid things in their own right, but seem to attract infantile owners. [/quote] Such a cliche analogy! I have a better one. Rock guitarists are like owners of "supercars". All that power and performance that they can never use legally. Driving around in a 200mph rocket ship (in a country with a 70mph speed limit) that has only two seats and doesn't have the space to carry a set of golf clubs! As a 4x4 owner I hear all the rhetoric, but In another few weeks I'll be towing blokes like you out of ditches!

All Yamaha's are great value for money and very underrated!

Watts dont break cabs, distorted watts does!

[quote name='pietruszka' timestamp='1353595749' post='1876402'] Well, I've never been lost in the mix, does that make me a star player?! Yes! I'd love to hear some AD/DC on a fretless! Dan [/quote] As much as I hate to say it, bass players in Rock bands are 2nd class citizens compared to lead and rhythm guitars. My definition of "rock" would be Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, Deep Purple. In this respect I dont think it makes a lot of difference whether you are playing fretted or fretless. I still think the subtlty of the fretless would be lost. Instances where this is not true would be in a band where one member is showcasing their talents. For example, if I bought a Phil Collins album I would expect the drums to be at the forefront, not only in ability but their presence in the mix. You would not expect to buy a Mark King album and have his abilities hidden behind a blare of guitars! There, I've said it so shoot me! [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WvqGxfgQH9I"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WvqGxfgQH9I[/url]

I also think OP needs to define his use of "rock"

[quote name='pietruszka' timestamp='1353582616' post='1876234'] I could be mistaken, but isn't 'Oliver's Army' played on a fretless? It certainly sounds like it on the bridge. As for being 'lost in the mix', I've never had that problem. Is there any particular reason that not having frets would mean you'd be 'lost in the mix'? Dan [/quote] The subtle tones of a fretless would be lost in the AC/DC mix! It is a fact of life that if your bass player is a "star player" he never gets lost in the mix! Its a cruel world!

On my bitza jazz I think the string height is too high at the nut. How high should the strings be sitting above the first fret. Just a 'ball park' figure even? What would be the correct procedure for setting this up? Thanks

[quote name='bertbass' timestamp='1353518043' post='1875543'] I've got a 3 position L/P type on mine, works great. [/quote] How did you wire it?

Just been watching a Tony Franklin video showin his p bass special. He fitted a "strat type" toggle switch for pup switching. Has anyone fitted one to a passive jazz and would it be worth it? Sound like a good idea, and quicking than turning the pups up and down. Or am I missing something obvious

[quote name='Wil' timestamp='1353366952' post='1874402'] I've tried to on a few occasions, with a fretless Warwick Streamer Jazzman and a mongrel Fretless P, but I felt they both lacked the attack of a fretted bass and got lost in the mix[/quote] I agree. Fretless is fine, if it is placed sympathetically in the mix, not fighting for space with everything else!

[u][media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yCohYo5Rd5w[/media][/u]

[quote name='jaydentaku' timestamp='1353013465' post='1870605'] That is his fender. Even the signature model you can buy has the decal partly rubbed off, so it looks just like his. [url="http://www.doctorbass.net/en/producto.asp?id=1000170732&idfam=1000169044"]http://www.doctorbas...dfam=1000169044[/url] [/quote] That explains it, I wondered if he'd stuck a neck on it?

My eye sight isnt what it was, but on the odd close up it looks like the headstock has no brand, is that right? Or did I miss it? [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ahbb9rzMDg&feature=related[/media]