Jono Bolton

Some of you may baulk at the idea that a bassist wouldn't want to play bass, but recently I've found that other than a couple of minutes plunking away, I have no desire or motivation to actually do so. My Jazz has been in the back of my wardrobe since I moved into my flat in December, my bass amp is out on loan with a mate (has been since last September, except for a month or two when I had it back before re-loaning it again), and my Precision sits in the corner of the living room between the wall and my CD tower. Once, or maybe twice a day I'll pick it up, play a couple of bass lines and then put it back again, and that's about it. I can't pinpoint the reason why I don't want to play, and it's the first time since I first picked up a bass in primary school where I really can't be arsed playing. Up until a few months ago, all I did was play, all day, every day. I've even put my Precision up for sale on Gumtree. Has anyone else been through a period of ambivalence like this?

It's ok, I've been offered a loan of a resonator which I've always wanted to try, so I'm looking forward to that. Thanks for all confirming what I thought would be the case, I'm glad I didn' try it and ruin a mate's guitar now!

Is this doable? I'm looking for a small steel strung acoustic and a mate of mine has kindly offered me a nylon-strung classical guitar, which he says needs to be restrung anyway, so what are the potential pit-falls of putting steel strings on it? My main concern is that the guitar won't cope with the increased tension.

[quote name='casapete' timestamp='1369902637' post='2094048'] Mmmm... as I thought - not a lorra love for the humble Dano on here? [/quote] I like some Danelectros but I reckon not a lot of folk will have one. I had a Danelectro U2 back in second year of high school, so approx 2000/01, I sold it to a pal of my brother for £60, I wish I still had it.

[quote name='Twigman' timestamp='1369749023' post='2092270'] the scratchplate looks very close to the bottom edge, particularly on the lower horn, is that supposed to be like that? [/quote] Is it not just the lining of the case that obscures part of the bottom edge?

I don't agree that it's a Chic rip off when it's Nile Rodgers playing, if it was anyone else then yeah, maybe, but I do think that because NR's guitar style is so distinctive it doesn't really sound like Daft Punk. More so with Pharrell singing too.

So if someone had one of these copyright-infringing basses that they wanted to sell, would they prohibted from posting a listing completely, or is it ok as long as it doesn't include any pics? Eg: "I have a bass for sale, which has a distinctive, recognisable body shape, headstock and truss rod cover. John Hall doesn't want you to buy it. I do. PM me for details and pictures."

[quote name='cocco' timestamp='1366648459' post='2055452'] The more I look at it the more I like it! [/quote] Agree with that. There's still a few things I'm not too keen on, such as the bridge (although I don't know what would be a more suitable replacement) and the pickup styling as I think they look a little out of place with what's otherwise a really nice looking new design. I think I'd like the pots to follow the shape of the body/pickguard a little more, and the pickups should definitely be in chrome casing with a black surround. If it had elephant ear tuners as well instead of the sealed type then it wouldn't look out of place with some of the 70s Gibson basses.

[quote name='Gust0o' timestamp='1369044866' post='2084120'] Squier have improved no end, since their roots, and were seen to be worrying Fender in terms of quality. I'll echo Neep's comments above. The Mustang will be the better all-rounder... But there's just something about the Gibson! [/quote] Surely Squiers have dropped in quality since their beginnings? The original JV Squiers are far superior to the modern day equivalents. Actually, that should read: "They started off with incredible quality, the quality dropped significantly over the next few years, but has picked up again recently, although there are some decent instruments in amongst them." I'd ignore brand and where the bass was made, ultimately it's about how it plays and sounds, and whether it's right for you or not. That said, there's no accounting for taste, and if it's the Gibson that floats your boat, then if you come away with the Squier then you may always regret not getting the SG. If I was going to spend that amount on a bass then I'd want to make sure it was 100% right, there's nothing worse than dropping a large sum on a bass and then having a few niggling issues that may be expensive to correct. a bass like that shouldn't really have any QC issues.

[quote name='Painy' timestamp='1368367584' post='2076130'] As for worst bass I've played- my mates P shape Rockwood by Hohner. Plywood body, half inch thick gloss varnish on the fingerboard, pickguard seemingly made from old margarine tubs, a bridge that would lacerate your hand if you played with a pick and best of all a tone so dead it sounded like a xylophone! [/quote] I learned to play on one of those. I don't remember how it played as I was 8 at the time but it was the first bass I'd ever played, owned by my primary school, along with a wee Park bass combo, and it was enough to have me hooked.

On a Jazz Bass, yes. On a Precision, no thanks. Also, it depends on the colour for me as well. Black matching headstocks just look wrong IMO, so you can guess how I feel about something like this: [url="http://hotrf.eu/userfiles/productimages/product_2736.jpg"]http://hotrf.eu/userfiles/productimages/product_2736.jpg[/url]

[quote name='Conan' timestamp='1368800361' post='2081717'] Ah. Proper [i]man's[/i] strings [/quote] Yep, I like to feel like I've earned every note I play I'm never usually picky about strings, I normally pick up whatever cheap sets are for sale on here and use them but my preference would be for 50-110s, so you can imagine how stoked I was when Lozz was selling a set on here for a bargain price. Lighter gauges feel too flimsy and don't sound right to my ears, and that'll be a big part it the unplugged sound I get with my P.

The bass solo in the live version of Big Takeover on Bad Brains' 'The Youth Are Getting Restless' is my pick, not many blistering bass solos in punk and hardcore, but Bad Brains were never one to do things by the book. Another vote for Matt Freeman's solo on Maxwell Murder as well.

[quote name='Adrenochrome' timestamp='1368777652' post='2081274'] In my experience ([i]not[/i] of high end basses), the tone of a solid electric bass when amplified usually is quite different to the acoustic tone and it doesn't always follow that good unplugged equals good amplified, or thin sounding acoustically equals thin/weak when amplified. However the way the note blooms, decays and other things to do with resonance and general feel [i]do[/i] seem very similar unplugged and amplified. [/quote] This was my thinking, the bass has a nice sound when it's not plugged in, but whatever I do with it in terms of EQ or the pickups installed (a Wizard Thumper at the minute) could completely counteract the natural tone of the bass. In all honesty, I've only really notice the acoustic tone since I stuck on a set of 50- 110s a few months back.

[quote name='risingson' timestamp='1368727193' post='2080826'] Reminded me of this a bit http://www.27bslash6.com/f26a.html [/quote] Thank you for introducing me to the best website I have ever seen

I've been fond of Ashdown since I first used an ABM 300 head at a gig about 6/7 years ago. After while of searching I managed to pick one up second hand for not a lot of money as I'd been given some "20% off any ebay purchase" discount code from Paypal. I used it through a MAG410 cab initially, but I sold that and bought an ABM 210 instead. I love the sound of it, I've never found it to be wooly, or muddy, or however the detractors would like to describe it. I've always found it to be a really great, full sound, but that'll be in part to how I have the EQ set, my strings, pickups, playing style etc. All these variables will ultimately affect the sound and therefore how each of us views the brand. Funnily enough, I joined Basschat as I was looking for some information on Ashdown, much the same as this (and many other threads) there were folk who were pro-Ashdown and some who were anti-Ashdown, people were bemoaning the quality of the Far East production, someone said 'chinks' and it all went quickly downhill from there. What an introduction to the forum!

I don't know if the thread title is technically correct, but my P Bass sounds excellent when I don't have it plugged in to the amp, it's loud, resonant and with nice focused lows. So what does this mean? I've heard a lot of people talking about the importance of a bass's accoustic tone, but why is it important? Surely any EQ on the amp would factor against it? Or perhaps I'm missing something?

[quote name='Wilco' timestamp='1368353439' post='2075917'] Here's my latest purchase - a 2012 American Standard Precision - a Factory Short Run model. Very pleased with it & many thanks to Barrie at Bass Gear for his assistance with the purchase. [/quote] That's lovely! What's that finish called? It's certainly unique!

Does it have to be a short scale? I started at the same age but on a full-sized P Bass copy. "Back in my day, blah, blah, blah..."

I've always thought that the Telecaster body shape doesn't work well on bass, IMO it looks far too cumbersome. Also that slab body looks really thick, but it may just be an illusion caused by the binding. And as above, those finishes are far too gaudy for my liking.

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1367872752' post='2070557'] Could it be a Satellite? I'm guessing. [/quote] My guess also.

I know Ernie Ball did a set of strings with lighter gauge top strings and heavier bottom strings, 10-52. I always liked them but I never used them with a Bigsby! Only a fiver if you fancy giving them a try: [url="http://www.google.co.uk/shopping/product/8013646814680956813?q=ernie%20ball%20top%20heavy%20bottom&hl=en&sqi=2&bav=on.2,or.r_qf.&bvm=bv.45960087,d.d2k&biw=1264&bih=494&wrapid=tlif136791438242310&sa=X&ei=37eIUbSUBsPS0QWTgIGwBw&ved=0CE8Q8wIwAA"]http://www.google.co.uk/shopping/product/8013646814680956813?q=ernie%20ball%20top%20heavy%20bottom&hl=en&sqi=2&bav=on.2,or.r_qf.&bvm=bv.45960087,d.d2k&biw=1264&bih=494&wrapid=tlif136791438242310&sa=X&ei=37eIUbSUBsPS0QWTgIGwBw&ved=0CE8Q8wIwAA[/url]

[quote name='geoffbyrne' timestamp='1367698054' post='2068611'] Ibanez Studio ST105. Fender scale, SG-like body - this particular one has a DiMarzio PAF in the neck & a DiMarzio Dual Sound in the neck, both splittable to single coil via push/pull tone pots. G. [/quote] Give you £100 for it Kiddin' on, that's a beaut! That's the sorta guitar I'd be into!