gary mac

Sorry, maybe should have put this in the bass guitars section, feel free to move it.

There I was flopped out on the settee last night watching the box, when the good wife suddenly piped up from the other settee, "How do you fancy a Jazz Bass for your birthday?" All in a quandry now, but the sort of quandry to enjoy for a few days. Don't know whether to go for a fretted or fretless, jap, mexican, old or new. Guess I had better find out what the budget is first. Any thoughts on which to avoid? That might help to narrow it down a bit. Cheers, all the best Gary.

Any of you catch Top of the Pops 2 on Dave tonight? Quantum Jump on there and the Wal with the leather (I think) pickguard/scratchplate. Think I remember reading somewhere that that was the first Wal, not sure though. Anyway it looked and sounded good, even though I always thought the record a bit of an iffy one. All the best, Gary.

Same as E man, I've been playing Rio today, just cos I wanted to. Also this afternoon, Hotel California, ready for band practice next week.

Might be worth trying www.trace-elliot.co.uk Good luck. All the best Gary.

In the covers band I'm in, I squeeze in to a very small space behind the keyboard and four/five guitarists, with the drummer to my right.

Hey Matt. Guess it will be dependent on what sort of sound you want, the type of material you play and the venues to be played in, but also the other musicians you are playing with. I mostly use a combo that is fitted with a 15" speaker. Generally I find it makes the sound I want, but on occassions lacks top end definition and sounds a bit rumbley. So, I sometimes add my 2 x 10" cabinet which usually does the trick. It's difficult to describe a sound, as we all perceive these things differently. But, generally 15" speakers will be deeper and more bassier. 10" brighter and carry the treble side of things. I'm sure you will get better replies than this from the more technical on the forum, but hopefully my reply will get things started. All the best Gary.

I've got the same option on my american precision deluxe. I have tried bothover the years and although the general consensus is that through body improves sustain and resonance, I'll be honest and admit that I can't really notice a discernable difference, but I really want to. For the last few years it has been strung through the back of the bridge. I'm about to restring again in the near future, so will go through the body. Will let you know the outcome. All the best Gary.

Not seen it, but would like to. where is it to be found?

Thanks for that, probably give them a call next week and may also have a look over at Machinehead in Hitchin.

Thanks for the replies chaps. Think I will have to try out another one then. Any recomendations for stockists around Herts/Essex?

I've seen so many favourable reviews of this bass in recent times, and thought it might fit the bill for me, for an economical back up bass. So, a couple of days back I went to the local music shop to test drive one. Got to say it was a very disappointing exercise. I understand that this is a budget model but the saddle screws were protruding to such an extent that it was very uncomfortable to play. Yes I know that they can be removed, cut down and refitted. The action was way too high, again, I know it's adjustable. The strings just didn't resonate and I don't know if that would be solvable with a string change. I suspect that the strings were at fault, they looked, felt and sounded awful, but it may have been the nut and or bridge at fault. I pointed this out to the salesperson, who told me that the strings get corroded sometimes during shipping To be fair he offered me a discount, but wasn't willing to change the strings. So I guess I'll never know, unless I risk a purchase and do the mods. So, what do you think; was it just a ropey one or what you would expect from this model. All the best Gary.

NICE.

Welcome. Does that acoustic sound as good as it looks? sorry don't know anything about the GA. Think you got a good deal with the little Trace. All the best Gary

Thanks chaps, much appreciated.

S.F.S. Sweaty Finger Syndrome. I'm one of the unfortunates who suffer with this condition. Not just when I'm playing, even now when my hands actually feel cold they are all claggy and damp. I am always careful to wipe down my bass and strings, but of course the strings very quickly lose their brightness. Now on some numbers it actually sounds good, that jamerson sort of sound (but without the talent). Anyway, these days I have to pay for my strings and a couple of my basses need re stringing in the very near future. So looking for advice on which strings you think will retain that brightness and last the longest. All the best Gary.

Here's a pic of my yamaha at a jaunty angle on the wall

We had a forty five minute set last night, playing as people were arriving and getting their drinks and so on. It's always hard work playing at that stage of the evening and to make matters worse, one of the many guitarists managed to collide with the headstock of my fender. I haven't checked it for damage yet don't want to depress myself this early in the day. The annoying thing is that I've always been so fearful of it getting damaged that I've never gigged with it before, it's lived in it's case for ten years. I finally decided that it really should be played, enjoyed and not hidden away. Perhaps it gets less painful after the first dink. All the best Gary.