Linus27

Just want to say thanks for all the info. When I get the money, I will go for one. Look forward to getting it.

Thanks Jase, thats great.

[quote name='dave_bass5' post='567007' date='Aug 12 2009, 05:26 PM']I cant get my head around how much the USA Laklands cost. I know they use better wood etc but if the skylines are near perfect i find it hard to imagine the USA ones are worth almost three times the cost..[/quote] I am wondering if Lakland are being very clever with this. The Skyline range is made of superb wood from Korea (I think) and then sent to the USA for the electrics, assembled and set up by hand. To me wood is wood and makes no difference where it comes from. So being assembled, set up, quality checked etc in the USA makes this pretty much an American bass to me. So this competes with the USA Fender range which is I guess their main competitor. However, Lakland also have what they call the USA Laklands which are no different to the Skylines in terms of electrics, assembly and setup apart from the wood used. Like I say, to me wood is wood and the Skyline range already uses superb wood so the wood used on the USA makes no difference to me. However, those who are rich enough to afford the real deal (pro players, collectors, hard-core fans and rich people) will buy the USA range and I imagine Lakland are making a nice profit on those sold. The quantity is small but the profit is great and if the Skyline range is selling well which is seems to be and competing with Fender, then they will be laughing all the way to the bank. They also seem to have a lot of artists on their books who play Laklands so they must be doing pretty well.

[quote name='Clarky' post='566855' date='Aug 12 2009, 03:33 PM']I love the look of the Fender Pino and - as I will never be able to afford a new one - wondered how much it would cost to have a Fender P re-sprayed in aged Fiesta red. To-respray a polyurethane painted P bass I was quoted £235 by a custom shop, which is just about bearable. But to re-spray a nitrocellulose painted Highway 1 P bass I was quoted £500-600 by a very well-known London bass shop. Thats just incredible. You can buy a bl**dy good bass for that money or even two![/quote] I was told a rather expensive price to get a 51 re-issue resprayed. Something like £400 which put me off doing it.

[quote name='Beedster' post='566734' date='Aug 12 2009, 01:27 PM']Yes, Clarky's correct, sorry for the confusion Having thought about it a while, I think that if I were going to buy a fretless Jazz at the moment I'd be buying the Warmoth that (I think) is still on here at a ludicrously low price. I've played the MIJ, MIA and Custom Shop Jaco basses and, on reflection, all of them seem a little tame. Perhaps I was expecting too much from them but I guess there's something a bit off about a bass who's USP is that it looks like another bass Chris[/quote] Thanks again Chris. It has to be a Fender I am afraid as thats the make thats missing from my collection and the only place left to fill is my fretless.

[quote name='Clarky' post='566714' date='Aug 12 2009, 01:13 PM']The amp is probably the same Hartke HA2000 that I played there some months back (see earlier post) and is a perfectly decent giging amp - quite loud and with a tube preamp so plenty of tonal range. When I played the cab was an Ampeg 1x15 which was fine, can't imagine an Ampeg 4x10 would be rubbish either. I say save the hassle and use the suppied back line[/quote] Thanks for your help Clarky

Our singer has got us booked in at The Water Rats for the 8th September for a 7pm - 7.30pm show. I can't say I am looking forward to this gig. It says the bass backline is a Hartke 200w head and an Ampeg 4x10. Wondering if I should risk using this on the night. Also nothing about selling tickets in advance. I even questioned this and confirmed, no pre sale of tickets so I wonder if they have had a change of policy.

[quote name='Clarky' post='566684' date='Aug 12 2009, 12:41 PM']I think what Chris is saying is that the neck replicates Jaco's de-fretted neck, so that the side dots are where they would be on a fretted bass ie between the fret lines not on the fret lines. You still play the note on the fret line though, like on a Squier VMJ[/quote] Groovy, thanks Clarky, that would be perfect for me if thats the case.

[quote name='Beedster' post='566658' date='Aug 12 2009, 12:05 PM']I've played a lot but I'm certainly no expert so don't make any decisions based on this I picked up a CIJ Jaco in a trade, I wasn't really looking for one but I thought it would be a useful back-up to my '73 fretless. As with all MIJs the build quality was great and tone was good, but I just couldn't get as sweet a tone out of it as from my '73, either with the stock (USA) PUPs or with a set of Fralin split coils. Perhaps that quality tone only comes fom old, played-in basses, but having said that my old MIJ '62 reissue Precision was awesome, so I guess the Jaco wasn't quite in that league. I also don't like fretless necks on which the dots aren't at the fretline - whether that's where Jaco had them or not - as I find it bloody hard to switch from bass to bass I ended up selling it quite cheaply. If I was going to buy another I'd probably go to Ishibashi. Hope that helps Chris[/quote] Thanks Chris for the info. Overall, it sounds like a good bass especially for what I want it for. One question though, you said you don't like fretless necks on which the dots aren't at the fretline. So are you saying that on the Jaco you play in the centre between the fretliners to get the correct note? The Squire VMJ you play up to the fretline to play the correct note.

At some point, I would like to get a Fender Japan 1962 Re-issue Fretless Jazz Bass as seen in the below picture. Basically the fretless Jaco copy bass that Fender Japan make. I got the Squire VMJ to keep me going but I would sell this as I would really like a Fender in my collection. Does anyone have one or had one and can share their thoughts on the bass. Many thanks.

[quote name='BigRedX' post='566559' date='Aug 12 2009, 10:09 AM']Unfortunately that doesn't really seem to have happened, and most bass players are trapped in a time-warp, and nearly all the innovative designs and developments are marginalised in expensive custom instruments instead of being in the mainstream where they rightly belong.[/quote] Not sure I agree with you on that. I can have any bass I want. I had the opportunity to pick any bass I want when I got my first advance from the record company and the two I settled on were a Stingray and a 1977 Fender Precision because they suited me, my playing style and the tone. I tried tons of basses but these are the two I chose. After an 8 year break, I found myself in the same situation and I settled on my Lakland DJ (Jazz copy), Stingray and ESP Jazz (62 Jazz copy) because they suited me. Plus, I am sure all the professional bass players around the world who choose Fender or the copies don't choose them because they are trapped in a time warp, but because they feel comfortable and are happy playing that bass. Just remember, Fender make a work horse type of bass, not an exotic instrument. You drink your dairly tea out of a mug, not out of a bone china cup and saucer everyday.

[quote name='nobody's prefect' post='565877' date='Aug 11 2009, 01:34 PM']Oh, if you're anything like the typical brit there's one word of warning I'll need to give you: the Swedes are absolutely hysteric about consumption of alcohol in public places. They charge you about 5 quid for 4/5ths of a pint of 3,7% abv piss lager, to boot! Oh and you can't get buy any alcohol before 11 am, either from a bar or a store. So you'd better bring your own... The Swedish lager couldn't fight it's way out of a wet paper bag. The locals will expect you to like it, though, and comment on how 'one can really taste the drink and not just the alcohol when it's not so strong!' I tell you, if it weren't for the blondes, I'd not have made it out alive the last time. FFS, making a man last until practically noon without a drop of drink![/quote] HAHAHA no not typically like a Brit that can't cope for 5 mins without going into a pub for a beer like some kind of proving my manhood ritual I actually drink Guinness so hopefully they can't tamper with that. Strangely enough, when I was in Finland, I was expecting the beer to be expensive but it was actually the same price as the UK. By the way, Mölkky rocks. Loved playing that. Great fun although my wife beat all the Fins every time. I think it was all the years she played netball that perfected her throwing technique :)

[quote name='nobody's prefect' post='565835' date='Aug 11 2009, 12:32 PM']Ah yes. Would've been a little like saying 'English girls are yummy, like the lead vocalist of Corrs' or summat. Swedish girls are great if you're into blondes. I usually salivate uncontrollably when I'm over in Stockholm![/quote] I so need to go to Stockholm

I am just wondering if gigs are worth doing these days, or not as many as the old days. Just seems to be less of of scene these days for original bands. Do you think thats because of the recession, lack of money, health and safety shutting places down, lack of venues, to many bands and not enough places to play etc??

[quote name='nobody's prefect' post='565762' date='Aug 11 2009, 11:14 AM']Well, at least the guitarist replied 'can't get my work comp to open musepacks, will listen to it at home.' I'd sent the file in .mp3 format! Oh well. =) Anyways, I hope Linus27's comment doesn't speak more about girls in the UK as I've never found local girls particularly yummy, I've seen all kinds... But I guess they do put out for native English speakers quite readily. Mölkky is invented in Tampere. Nuff said.[/quote] We, I was actually going to say Scandinavian girls are yummy, especially Swedish girls but I know what you Fins and Swedes are like. Didn't want to start a war about Sweden and Finland :)

[quote name='Musky' post='565786' date='Aug 11 2009, 11:34 AM']Re the not hearing back from myspace messages, myspace have recently implemented a beta mail system which is giving a of of people grief. I can't send or reply to messages on there with my mac, and I know our drummer has had to reinstall IE to get it to work. If there is an alternative way of contacting them it might be worth trying that.[/quote] Thanks Musky, I never knew that. Will look at other options in contacting the promotors.

[quote name='dave_bass5' post='565765' date='Aug 11 2009, 11:17 AM']Nice one. Back to playing live at last eh? Ive only just seen this thread so not read it all yet but very pleased for you. I'll be working so cant make it but good luck.[/quote] Thanks Dave. Hopefully we will be playing in your neck of the woods soon.

Thanks guys, thats a big help in understanding the situation. Having been out of the scene for 8 years and not really the one to book gigs, i was just wondering if I was doing something wrong. Early next year we plan on releasing a single and video which should get us a bit more exposure so that might help get us some gigs.

[quote name='chris_b' post='455451' date='Apr 6 2009, 02:05 PM']Great news. If you haven't got the gig it's usually no eye contact or chat and all over in 2 numbers. Have they any gigs lined up?[/quote] Just to say, first gigged booked. Wednesday 26th August at the Boileroom in Guildford. Should be a cracking night and hope to see some fellow basschatters there. Really excited as I get to play my new Lakland Darryl Jones and Genz Benz Shuttle 6 rig for the first time ever. If any basschatters do make it down, come and say hi.

The man in the background in the last picture clearly has a drinking problem. he has the whole bottle of wine to himself and looks to have a very firm grip on it Congrats on your first gig.

Bit of a rant here. Trying to book up a bunch of gigs from September through till December. Only around 8 so not lots. Contacted lots of promotors who I know are looking for bands to play, are asking for bands on their webpage/myspace page to play or the venues direct who are asking for band. I contact them, gig them some background on the band, a link to our Myspace page but do any of them get back to you? Like hell they do. Total waste of time. Just finding it very hard to get gigs at the moment and very frustrating. Anyone else have problems with promotors/getting gigs?

Ah a Finnish band. Only been once to watch the WRC but loved the place and the girls are yummy. Remember playing some game with some wooden posts called Molke I think. Great fun. Anyway, good luck and let us know how you get on.

Happy Birthday Leo. What I find amazing is how you designed the guitar/bass yet never played. How could he know what angles, shapes, fret spacing, string spacing, neck widths to use. Amazing it ever got of the ground.

Hey all, the new band I am in, The Fleas will be playing at The Boileroom in Guildford on the 26th August 2009. It should be a great night with some good music. We are on second around 9.15pm and entry is £5. Please come down and support us and say hi. I'll be the bass playing surprisingly enough Here is a link to our myspace page which has some out of date songs on, www.myspace.com/thefleasplease Tickets can also be bought here, [url="http://www.wegottickets.com/event/54465"]http://www.wegottickets.com/event/54465[/url] Let me if you need any other info and would be great to see some of you there.