EmmettC

No it's wood!

What strings should I use on a red bass? Is this the right place to ask? Don't rely on people to do anything sensible

[quote name='JTUK' timestamp='1456577430' post='2990418'] When did they go to a passive option on the active Deluxe? [/quote] The pickups on the American Deluxe are passive, but there is an active preamp. It's quite common to change the pickups and keep the preamp. Active pickups are less common, EMG being the main one that springs to mind, as far as I know changing EMG pickups to passive would mean changing the rest of the electonics too, but no such problem with your bass. Change the battery, and try it through another amp, in fact try changing everything in the chain before doing anything drastic.

I like browsing all sorts, I only play 5 strings, but I love eyeing up a lot of the 4 strings too. If I'm looking for something in particular I post a wanted ad and search.

I sold a G&L Tribute L2500 thinking they were pretty common and easy to replace, I have never found one as good as the one I sold. I have tried an American one that was as good, but over twice the price.

Another one for the polytune clip, the only clip on the picks up the low B reliably. I have quite a few other clip on tuners around the house but none of the others are as fast or accurate as the tc. I still always use a TU2 for gigs though, I think it looks wierd having a nice instrument with a piece of plastic hanging from it at a gig.

[quote name='Bigwan' timestamp='1456338428' post='2988064'] If you'd consider a 4 string I would highly recommend a nice Ibanez Musician, particularly the MC800. I had the loan of one recently and it sounded fantastic. [/quote] Funny enough I own an 81 Ibanez roadster, which seems to share some DNA with the musician. It's on my list of stuff to upgrade, I think a set of Dimarzios and a John East pre at some stage soon.

Rather than start another topic I thought I'd leave some thoughts here. I bought a Sandberg TM5 a few months ago, and although the bass and pickups are everything I was hoping for, the pre-amp just didn't do it for me at all. The bass boost in particular seemed to to be a low-mid control, and boosting the bass just didn't sound good to me. I have a John East MM pre-amp in my Musicman, and I really like it, so it seemed like an easy choice going for a john East for my Sandberg. I would have liked the Uni Pre, but there just wasn't space in the jazz to fit it, and routing seemed extreme, so I went for the J-retro deluxe. John kindly fitted a third switch to the control plate for my coil tap, o could have done it myself, but it's nice that the switches match. First impressions were great, just as expected, I find some of the passive pan options a bit odd, but I love the eq section. The big surprise for me was the passive tone knob working in active mode,I read it on his site, but didn't give it much thought. I play in a wedding band, and I try as best I can to sound at least a little like the bass on the original tracks, but as a band we tend to leave little or no space between songs, so I can't do much fiddling. That's where th passive tone is so useful, I set the active eq where I like it, leave the tone fully open for more modern stuff, and use the passive tone to roll off the top end as needed. The whole things sounds great, and the same as the John East in my Stingray 5, it has transformed my bass. I think a Sandberg TM5 with a J-retro deluxe might be my bass-for-life, though I still want a VM5 too.

I was born in 78, so a YOB would probably be a musicman, but I don't tend to play 4 string basses anymore either. I don't think there were many 5 strings, in a modern layout by 1978.

[quote name='hiram.k.hackenbacker' timestamp='1456184073' post='2986474'] Good call. One of my options is a YOB '66 Jazz. I just haven't found the right one yet. [/quote] I would hold out for the right year-of-birth Jazz, it would definitely be a keeper, and very appropriate for such an important birthday present. I was born in 78, and I've always got my eye out for a YOB Stingray, I think it would be the only bass from 78 that might be worth having, or be significant. Happy Birthday by the way.

HD350 and 2 cabs, for big and small gigs. Sandberg TM5 for big and small gigs. Stingray 5 because it's too modified to sell, Ibanez Roadster because it's too cheap to sell, Larkin acoustic because it's a custom (people don't buy customs), P bass because it's too nice to sell and Squier Bronco because it's actually my girlfriends. Now I don't know how to justify 4 compressor pedals, 3 drive/distortion pedals and at least a dozen other pedals, but they are useful for distracting my 2 year old when I want to get anything done.

Hi Mark, I don't know if you remember me, but I was the sound engineer and manager in Fredz in Cork and the bass player for Fred. I started reading your diary today, I wasn't surprised to enjoy it as I still recall your articles, but I haven't gotten very far so I don't know where you are now. I've been living in Edinburgh for 14 years now, and I've been making a living playing bass here in a function band, it's great playing gigs for money the major drawback is I can't get involved enough with original music anymore, just the odd dep gig. I still think for function band stuff the UK, and Scotland in particular is the place to be, though a lot of my musician friends are doing really well in Dubai. I don't get hung up on the definition of pro, but I know I would prefer to listen to (early) U2 than a Victor Wooton album, but Victor Wooton is far better than Adam Clayton, they are both pros though. I hope you're doing well wherever you are.

My favourite bit of the forum is the build diaries section, but people seem to take so long. I think they are doing it on purpose, they know I'm really eager to see how it's progressing so they don't do anything. I mean what other reason could it be? It's not like it's hard, or they have other things to do.

[quote name='ras52' timestamp='1456163570' post='2986122'] When I called myself it went straight to voicemail [/quote] I'm smarter than that, I used my mobile to call the house phone. I wasn't home.

When playing in a full band, pretty much any other musician can stop playing, but if the bass stops you notice it's gone, The second verse of Amy Winehouse' version of Valerie is a pretty good example of how it can be used well, or when the bass comes in in Nutbush City Limits. Is it obvious I play in a wedding band

I usually say bass player, but when speaking to other musicians I quite often say bass guitar player, I wouldn't want anyone offering me a gig under the assumption I can play double bass to a professional standard.

[quote name='sunburstjazz1967' timestamp='1456141486' post='2985743'] Id want £800 for a modern usa jazz, must be worth more than that in parts?! [/quote] I'm probably being harsh, but the lack of pickups and the routed body really turn me off. I might fall in love with it if I played it, and I really like Dimarzio pickups, but I would want it for used USA prices rather than all original 60s prices.

[quote name='chris_b' timestamp='1456139945' post='2985709'] Everyone's talking about the routing, but I still think the deal killer to anyone wanting a vintage bass will be the missing pickups and electrics. [/quote] Agreed, it could be a lovely bass to gig with, but I would be thinking around £800 is what I would want to pay.

[quote name='drTStingray' timestamp='1456100288' post='2985465'] I've heard it's very good but not been tempted to swap out the electronics on any of my Stingrays. Which version is it based on - apparently there were several iterations between 1976 and 79 - I think I read somewhere it was based on John East's own Stingray (76 or 77?) [/quote] Hmmm, not sure. Their website says "the original" Stingray preamp. I had a three band Ray and I didn't like the sound of the bass boost, I had a G&L L2500 and I preferred the preamp in that, but I preferred the feel of the stingray. I think I'd have sold the Ray and kept the G&L if I hadn't changed the preamp.

[quote name='chris_b' timestamp='1456099604' post='2985461'] Really, most of the important stuff that makes this a 68 bass is missing. You can buy so much more for £2000. Seriously good basses are well within your grasp. I'd be looking for a much better bass than this one for that money. I'd also be worried about selling it. I think you'll have trouble there. [/quote] I agree, there is a gorgeous '72 Precision for sale here for less than £2K, I know it's not a 60's bass, but it's complete, and will only become more valuable.

I'm based in Edinburgh, and I'm happy to help with set ups and wiring. I don't have the tools for fret dressing, refrets or structural repairs but happy to help with pretty much anything else.

Lovely bass, amazing how you can get exactly what you want for so little money from them. I imagine they must be getting really busy now, just based on the feedback on this site. I'm hoping to have the money for a 5 string Precision soon, I'll definitely be looking at Jake, hopefully with a 70s Fender look to it, or as much as it can with 5 strings.

I just put a J-Retro deluxe in my Sandberg TM5 it is amazing, so much better than the Glockenlang, I have a John East MM pre in my stingray too. I really like them.

[quote name='cana.dan' timestamp='1455914763' post='2983681'] But, you could alway put a J Retro 3 band in it and you'd get the great 2 band sound, but with the ability to change the mids if needed. [/quote] The John East MM pre-amp is amazing, based on the original MM pre-amp, and with the optional sweepable mid control it's just so versatile. That's what I would do, in fact I did.