Kiwi

[quote name='warwickhunt' post='357317' date='Dec 17 2008, 08:41 PM']You may well be right Peter... again I keep searching for something that is going to knock my socks off in comparison to my Streamer and/or Infinette[/quote] FWIW, if I purchased any bass with that expectation, I would probably be setting myself up for disappointment. In terms of playability there's probably not a lot in it between the two IMO. In terms of sound, the Spectors are probably more aggressive sounding. Whether thats a good or a bad thing probably depends on the context. Its probably best to view the bass as a tool with a certain tonal character. What you do with that tool obviously is up to you.

I've just installed a set of titanium alloy strings by Olympia with some interesting first impressions. The strings do appear to be a little lighter in mass and more supple than stainless steel equivalents by D'Addario. I like this, and I'd imagine its a slappers dream. The only difference tonally is that the fret clatter is at a slightly lower frequency and has slightly less sparkle. Nothing necessarily bad with that at all unless I was looking to do a Marcus Miller impersonation. Lets see how long they last for...

[quote name='niceguyhomer' post='356628' date='Dec 17 2008, 08:26 AM']Thanks for that Steve, also considering an ACG 02 but, being a complete technophobe, I find them a bit complex to use. Gonna try Greene King's ACG loaded posse on Friday before our Kendal gig - I'll make my mind up then. [/quote] I think having some extra control with a midrange sweep of some kind is definitely a good thing. I haven't tried the AGC 02 myself but I'm quite happy with the U-retro.

[quote name='niceguyhomer' post='356171' date='Dec 16 2008, 05:01 PM']I'm probably gonna stick the EMG BQC system in my Euro LX after reading the"Tone Dump" thread on Talkbass - some good sound clips on there too.[/quote] Al, I had one in a Warwick Rock Bass and found the bass boost was lacking a little. That might say more about the pickups and bass more than the circuit but I thought I'd just chuck it into the mix. [quote name='dub_junkie' post='356173' date='Dec 16 2008, 05:02 PM']Anyone able to compare an Aguilar against the Tonepump in a EURO? ( I believe some of the Euros shipped with Aguilar preamps) I like the OBP1 in one of my other basses and wonder how it sounds with EMGs compared to the spector preamp[/quote] The Aguilar OBP-1 and 3 I have had in my jazz basses sounds a little scooped, it might work quite well with taming the Spector's rawness but I couldn't speculate whether it would be an improvement to my ears.

[quote name='Josh' post='356141' date='Dec 16 2008, 04:40 PM']Hmm, well hold on, both me and Steve play/played High-End Boutique basses, and you yourself have a few GB's, Steve played Ken Smiths and I play an MTD, all which have a very Hi-Fi and crisp tone. So really, I'd just like to be able to have a bass of cheaper value but sounds almost as Hi-Fi.[/quote] I think the Spector I have is a better live bass than the Smiths (both the 5 and 6 I had). The Spector has more midrange thanks to all that maple in the neck and that makes it easier to sit the bass within the overall mix onstage. That also means I can hear myself without turning the amp up so far. Having said that, the sound man misses the chest thumping bass that the Smith produced. (I guess we can't have everything with an all maple necked instrument). [quote name='Mike Brooks' post='356145' date='Dec 16 2008, 04:41 PM']I was pulling your legs.......[/quote] I know mate.

[quote name='Josh' post='356125' date='Dec 16 2008, 04:29 PM']I'm kind of with Steve on this one. Whilst the core tone of my Spector is great, I personally would like to have a more Hi-Fi esque edge to the treble whereas I find the treble as it is quite harsh, also, I'd like to be able to control the overall mids and have just one master volume. I am seriously considering a EMG BQC system to see if that helps, maybe you should look into it as well Steve?[/quote] Yeaaah, thing is I have installed a u retro in my Euro 6 already. Of course because its transparent, it hasn't really changed the character of the pickups that significantly. When I have some spare cash, I'm half tempted to email Reinhardt at Delano and see if they can pop some SBC coils into soapbar covers but it's not a high priority on my list at the moment though. When I play live, the u-retro does a good enough job of taming the gnarliness with its sweep control set to cut and dialled in. Blimey I had to play an extremely dark stage last night and got lost on the first 8 bars of the first song of the first set! Some neck LED's would have been realllllly useful at that point! :blush:

[quote name='Mike Brooks' post='356009' date='Dec 16 2008, 02:30 PM']He's never happy you know.....[/quote] Hmmm, maybe. I look at the maple neck on my Spector and think to myself that there's not a lot of difference there between a Spector and some Foderas. Plus if you listen to Jon Shuker's website samples, I can't really tell the difference between a EMG'd Shuker and an EMG'd Spector if I play exactly the same basslines. Like I said before, I don't think the EMG's do the Spectors justice in some respects.

[quote name='Ant' post='355918' date='Dec 16 2008, 01:27 PM']If you drop by can you have a look out for mine? it should be black and a funny shape!!! it's getting darkstars and a light sensitive noise thing in it. i just want to know what it looks like![/quote] Jon generally doesn't encourage people to take photos of other basses under construction so I'm only going to be able to give you a verbal description I'm afraid. He was answering his mobile this morning so it might be worth giving him a call perhaps?

Hmmmmm, I'm still not a fan of the EMG's in mine. The sound doesn't do the maple neck justice I think. The EMG's have a very distinctive flavour which is fine for live playing when I get the EQ scooped gently but for solo noodling at home I wish my pickups in which had a slightly sweeter treble. Ideally a pair of Delano SBC's would do the trick but they're a different shape to the EMG soapbars.

[quote name='Bassmonster' post='355159' date='Dec 15 2008, 04:25 PM']the queue starts behind me CK [/quote] Jon dropped me an email last night to say he's finally managed to finish the finishing. He says the bass looks gorgeous. It doesn't sound like he's put it together yet though, I will try to drop by on Friday and see it in the flesh. I'm hoping I can pick it up but I'm not holding my breath.

I'd be willing to place money on us getting our basses at the same time...

Terrible idea, if its worth having then people will be willing to pay for it. By giving it away you gain nothing apart from maybe the appreciation of a few fans who probably already liked you anyway and how much did that cost you? Make people pay for it and they enter into a self imposed obligation to determine whether you represent good value for money. Price it at a point where your existing fans feel comfortable paying for it.

awesome idea wayne, you're a star.

if its not larruping, I'm not interested.

[quote name='NancyJohnson' post='355017' date='Dec 15 2008, 01:51 PM']Heh. Photoshop, five minutes. Now it's worth keeping. P[/quote] LMAO

[quote name='dub_junkie' post='354432' date='Dec 14 2008, 06:27 PM']CK,minor point I know,they were made through to '91. Long time ago I had a 1989 natural finish Sabre fretless with the covered p/ups and the 5 position switch. I also had a pre EB Stingray at the time and in summary I'd agree 100% with your take on the tonal differences between the two. Looks wise I preferred the slimmer outline of the Sabre to the Ray's roundness(like the older G&L L2K before they were changed and given more curves).I'm kind of tempted with this but have plans on one day aquiring another late 80s EB Sabre in trans red/maple or blueburst/maple if I can ever find one[/quote] 91?! Awesome, the later the better! If ever a post-EB sabre with a birdseye neck came up I'd snag it without a second thought, especially if they've improved the design like they did with the Stingrays. Squarepusher used a sabre for a while as well IIRC.

[quote name='Josh' post='354644' date='Dec 14 2008, 10:39 PM']Yet I can seemingly switch between all 3 in one sitting and be comfortable after a few minutes, as you've seen for yourself. Basically I forced myself to get use to them and luckily I have, as mentioned, the best approach is to not feel the need to have to constantly add the low B into your playing, that will easily halt any progress on a 5/6/7 string. You bring it in gradually, using the B as a more flexible anchor is natural, but you do have spend some time noticing how your right hand is fairing.[/quote] I can't add any more to this myself. I've more or less eschewed fives, I don't see much point in playing one if I can get used to a 6 (which I have, after forcing myself to play it exclusively). I've found the additional freedom of that extra string (or strings in the case of a 6) is very liberating. I still play fours but only for traditional or classic flavourings.

get it delivered to work maybe?

congratulations, but now you need a plan so cunning you could put a tail on it, and call it a weasle...

[quote name='alexclaber' post='354197' date='Dec 14 2008, 01:08 PM']f=fundamental frequency L=scale length T=tension m=mass per unit length f=(1/2L)SQRT(T/m) (2fL)^2=T/m m(2fL)^2=T So tension is directly proportional to mass per unit length and also directly proportional to the square of scale length (so longer scales are better at adding tension than heavier strings). Alex[/quote] you crack me up Alex!

[quote name='niceguyhomer' post='354171' date='Dec 14 2008, 12:37 PM']I've told the singer that I'll be looking for something else in the New Year - the spark of enjoyment has gone now and the guitarist is causing problems with his dreadful sound and incompetence (which he won't acknowledge) riding the desk. It's a fantastic band when all is well but time to move on methinks otherwise I'll be hanging my boots up and I don't wanna do that.[/quote] It sounds all too familiar to my situation mate Now the 'manager' has gotten back with his on/off girlfriend/fiance things in our band have settled down again. I still keep having a go (along with the soundman) at our guitarist over his sound. He doesn't use any effects at all when a bit of wah, heavy distortion, delay and chorus might sweeten up his otherwise very harsh sound. I'm half tempted to donate my £100 Mesia valve guitar combo to the band just to put the soundman and I out of our misery. It knocks the Peavey guitar amp he's borrowing off the drummer into a cocked hat. I just try and stay out of the politics thing along with the rest of the guys these days. Its a shame because the band is still cliquey but one day the message may get through to the girls but for now its just the best way until I have better reasons to leave. [quote name='BigRedX' post='354185' date='Dec 14 2008, 12:55 PM']Now seriously hacked-off with the whole thing. The band has only done two gigs this year and one of them was just a 20 minute 4-song set. We've spent 18 months dicking about with replacement lead guitarists and TBH none of them have the same vibe of the original guy. Right now playing music is pretty much the only good thing going on in my life, but I see little point in being in a band that doesn't do any gigs (which is the only time I come out of my rather shy and geeky shell).[/quote] Hang in there mate - how about a solo spot with a bit of MIDI bass?

I've found sellers on Ebay who offer titanium strings under lesser known brands. [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Titanium-Alloy-45100-Electric-Bass-Guitar-Strings_W0QQitemZ270294838685QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Guitar_Accessories?hash=item270294838685&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1301|66%3A2|65%3A12|39%3A1|240%3A1317"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Titanium-Alloy-45100...%3A1|240%3A1317[/url] [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/OSP-HEXTONES-40-4-BASS-GUITAR-STRINGS-TITANIUM-COATED_W0QQitemZ200275862011QQcmdZViewItemQQptZGuitar_Accessories?hash=item200275862011&_trksid=p3286.m63.l1177"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/OSP-HEXTONES-40-4-BA...p3286.m63.l1177[/url] I like the idea of a lower mass string in principle as I have a fairly light touch and hope I might be able to play a little faster with the same volume. Not sure what the tension will be like though.

[quote name='bassace' post='352740' date='Dec 12 2008, 02:32 PM']Actually it's Edwin Lutyens, dear. A bit too posh, perhaps.[/quote] For me? Definitely. I'll stick to my middle class pretentious ways, its what I know best.