hamfist

THanks for the pics Paul S !

[quote name='Paul S' timestamp='1379603400' post='2214729'] Also a Pantera deluxe II X790. That wasn't cheap, mind you. [/quote] Ooooooo, a Pantera bass. I'd like one of those ! Pics if you have 'em !!!

[quote name='BetaFunk' timestamp='1379582119' post='2214338'] There's a reserve on this so unless you know what the reserve how do you know it will go for a pittance? [/quote] Because all Westones do go for very little, these days ! They are all hugely undervalued IMO. The fact that you can buy a used THunder 1A for the same price as a used Squier Affinity is just laughable IMO. The quality is in different universes. And, yes, your point is still valid, I do not know this seller's reserve but my guess is that it's not exactly a fortune.

[quote name='Kiwi' timestamp='1379574605' post='2214251'] If you expect a mirror finish though, that smoothness is important. [/quote] THis is the absolute and utter key, as I am learning ! Like any decorating, it's all in the preparation !

[quote name='Annoying Twit' timestamp='1379503054' post='2213370'] I'm very interested to hear how your Yamaha compares to your Westones. Particularly in terms of feel and playability. I presume that the Yamaha is made in Indonesia. Is it? If not, where? How would they compare? We have another thread being very complimentary about Squier CV basses, which I think are made in Indonesia. Is Indonesia, or at least some factories there, caught up to pretty much the best in the world in what they can produce. (I mean the best stuff, not the stuff built to a limited budget). [/quote] The TRBX504 is made in Indonesia, yes. As for a comparison with the Westones, that is a very hard thing to do, they are such different beasts and, of course, I did not see the Westones from new, as they are all nearly 30 yrs old. Tonally, I'd say the Yamaha is slightly more consistent across (and up and down) the whole fretboard than my Westones. The Westones have a bit more "weight" to them and this gives the impression of "quality" which is perhaps not fair on the Yamaha, as it is such a light thing and yet I have no quality complaints whatsoever with it. Everything is superb on it. The finish is perfect, the neck pocket fits like a glove. The fret edges could be smoother if I was being picky. It's a high quality instrument for sure. In fact I'd say that tonally right up the fretboard it is far more consistent than any other bass I've played under £1000.

Heads up. This will go for a pittance ! The best Matsumoku build quality, same pickup as the later Aria SB's. The necks on these are as stable as Everest. Thoroughly recommended. I have the exact same model, so not for me. Someone grab it ! http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/WESTONE-SPECTRUM-DX-BASS-GUITAR-MATSUMOKU-JAPANESE-MANUFACTURE-/300968589849?pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item4613203a19

[quote name='thisnameistaken' timestamp='1379543276' post='2214136'] Is that any passive pickup? And through what length of cable with what sort of capacitance? Because of course that makes a massive difference to the sound of a passive bass whereas it doesn't so much with an active. And what amp gives you the most natural sound, after it's been decayed the perfect amount by the perfect length of ideal cable? I guess you've worked that out or you wouldn't be so serious about having to have passive electronics on the bass. Honestly I've never heard so much nonsense written by otherwise seemingly-rational adults. It's amusing that you brought hi-fi into the discussion in the same post. [/quote] It 's true. A lot of folks have posted about electronic stuff that they absolutely know nothing about (and I don't claim to be a genius in this regard, but feel that I do know my limitations). As I understand it the only real difference between playing through a passive pickup into an electric amp (of any sort) and playing an active bass is ..... - that the wire between the pickup and the buffer stages is longer in the passive bass. - you need battery power on your bass on the active bass (some people don't like this) - you get more EQ control at your actual fingertips with an active bass. (some people do like this) Using a passive bass, you STILL use buffers and you STILL have EQ control on your amp (whether a passive or active system on the amp is neither here not there IMO). The ONLY difference to the tone is the length of wire between the pickup and the buffer(s) turning the signal into a low impedance one. The length of that wire being variable as to the length of your cable and having tonal effects relative to that length. I'd love to hear a rebuff of my comments from someone who knows electronics. I have had no formal electronic education but have built amps etc so have a lot of experience and have read pretty widely. Oh, I'll use passive or actives, if they sound good !

Certainly don't need to take it back to wood. Just fill any holes and deeper scratches and then sand back to a smooth surface. I very much doubt you will need to go back to wood except maybe in small areas. It's a huge amount of effort to remove a finish completely also. Simply no need for it.

Sold a Yamaha bass to Mark. Sent it via courier. Throughout, he was easy to deal with, with excellent communication, very prompt payment, and he got back to me promptly to let me know it had arrived safely. Thoroughly easy gent to deal with. Thanks mate !

So, lojo, did you buy molan's Delanos ? I see they are sold.

[url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/216960-delano-pj-mvc-4-pickups-humcancelling-as-new/"]http://basschat.co.uk/topic/216960-delano-pj-mvc-4-pickups-humcancelling-as-new/[/url] Not mine I will add.

I think it literally is the weight of them. These days folks will not pay big money for average yet heavy gear, when there is so much lightweight stuff on the market. There will obviously still be a specialist market for the SVT type tube amps which will continue to be heavy but in the more budget levels there's no need to give yourself a hernia. Just look at the 500W Genz contour amps that have been available for the same money as the Peavey. very similar spec and at only 22Kg. And yet they have hardly been flying out the door. I'm sure those Peaveys will only deliver 600W with an extension cab BTW. So in reality they are a 300W combo

[quote name='cocco' timestamp='1379172511' post='2209474'] They're all Japanese built, 80s, high quality instruments! The Washburn especially I think, seems to have di marzio pickups in it. A fine armoury to inherit sir! They won't fetch a huge amount if you sell them, but they will serve you well if you keep them. [/quote] The Magna series pro II's are actually Korean built. Not quite as well built and definitely not as desirable as the earlier Japanese-built Arias. Having said that, many of the Korean ProII's are still cracking basses.

As you know, no one specific pickup choice or combination is perfect for every bass, or player. Personally, I'd always go for a hum-cancelling J pickup. Many of them are so good these days that there is no need to put up with single coil hum anymore , all IMO etc etc. I really, really like the Dimarzio DP149 ultra Jazz in the bridge position of a PJ. Although I've never really got on with any of their P offerings. The DP149 matches very, very nicely with any "vintage-output" P pickup in the neck. Something like a Duncan SPB-1 or a Fender original P. I suspect you will get a lot of recommendations for the Fender orig P pickup. I have tried two, and never liked them. I have found the string-sensing area to be particularly sensitive on this pickup, and bending strings out of that area will reduce their volume noticeably. Nordstrand pickups are well worth considering and are like Fender pickups but "better", so an NP4, NJ4SV combination should be superb. Delano pickups are another of my favourite makes, especially their FE/M2 range. So a PMVC 4 FE/M2 and JMVC 4 FE/M2 combination would be absolutely superb, with a bit more bite and clarity than a traditional Fender-type pickup.

[quote name='Mornats' timestamp='1379095061' post='2208695'] Quick update. I tried a Yamaha TRBX 504 and lurrrrrrved it. [/quote] refer to post #4. Told you so !!!!!!!! Lol.

budget ?

Played a Stargazer once. It was probably almost as characterless as an Ibby SR300.

[quote name='thisnameistaken' timestamp='1379020263' post='2207944'] One thing to try before you gig it: Plug into the tuner and then out of the tuner into your amp, using the cables you're planning to use live. Now take the guitar cable out of the tuner input and plug it straight into your amp. If you can't really notice any difference then you're good to go. Otherwise consider using shorter cables. [/quote] Yes, do this. I will echo the battery and other comments on the pitchblack. An excellent tuner. However, be careful with passive basses and long cable runs with no buffers. Also consider something like a redeemer circuit if you have issues with tone loss on passive basses with long cable runs. They really work !