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cloudburst

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Posts posted by cloudburst

    Rickenbacker customer service

    in Bass Guitars

    Posted

    Given the raging debate surrounding the suitability of John Hall to run the Rickenbacker (or any) company, I wondered if any of you had read this.

    It's a real eye-opener if you read the chain of correspondence all the way through. Not to mention some of the subsequently posted personal experiences of a couple of folk who happen to know John Hall and his wife.

    http://www.thezookeepers.com/ricklet.htm

    CB

    NOTE to John Hall: The above is not the opinion of cloudburst or of Basschat. It is merely a reference to a customer service incident which has previously been published elsewhere on the Internet. This post is free of Rickenbacker porn and Rickenbacker copy porn.

    WITHDRAWN: Steinberger XL-2A (Immaculate Condition)

    in Basses For Sale

    Posted

    Today, that equates to £2136. It's a little high I'd say.

    That XL on eBay is now reduced from £2250 to £2100. It's advertised as mint, but looking at the photos, my opinion is that it's in average, rather than mint, condition.

    Assuming you're a lefty who really wants an XL-2, then, given the rarity of a lefty XL, if this one in Belgium is in mint condition, my advice would be to buy it.

    CB

    The History of the Eagles - new DVD

    in General Discussion

    Posted · Edited by cloudburst

    Just watched the DVDs and I have to say I thought Frey and Henley came over really well and, contrary to some of you lot, I'd be more than happy to play in a band with them.

    Joe Walsh seems a really great guy and I'm pleased that he's back on track.

    I saw the Eagles in Northern Ireland on their Hell Freezes Over tour and loved it. Joe was wearing Yellow and Khaki camouflage trousers and a yellow body warmer. Nutter :-) His performance of Pretty Maids All In A Row was sublime.

    There's a track I love on the Long Road Out Of Eden album - Waiting In The Weeds.

    I'm not sure why so many folk knock the Eagles. Sure, the music isn't to everyone's taste. But NO music is to everyone's taste. If I ever end up in a band that has a fraction of their professionalism and success, I'll be more than happy.

    CB

    EBMM Stingray 4 battery question

    in Bass Guitars

    Posted

    [quote name='stingrayPete1977' timestamp='1369420276' post='2089167']
    I have had the odd battery that was tighter than a nuns chuff for the EBMM holders too, also it might be worth extracting the whole thing carefully and bend the little tabs back up if they have become stuck in a position where they are not pressing against the battery terminals properly, give them a good clean and look for any loose connections at the same time obviously.
    [/quote]

    A similar approach can be taken for the nun's chuff, if not used regularly.

    CB

    WITHDRAWN: Steinberger XL-2A (Immaculate Condition)

    in Basses For Sale

    Posted · Edited by cloudburst

    Whilst it's useful to have a back-up for the bass I normally play, and to have a bass that feels familiar in both of my practice locations, it's really a bit much to retain two Steinberger XLs. So I'm going to keep my white XL-2 (due to its rarity value) and offer to trade the black XL-2A.

    Although the white XL is in fabulous condition, this black one is better.

    There are no chips anywhere, very few little marks at all, and minimal fretwear - quite amazing, given that it was made in 1988.

    Being an XL-2A, it's got active controls as well as the powered pickups.

    Where the XL-2 has: Volume (neck), Volume (bridge), Tone
    ...the XL-2A instead has: Master Volume, Pickup Pan, Bass/Treble Boost/Cut.

    I find the active controls are much easier to use. The only reason I've not swapped the electronics, is that my basses are declared to the Steinberger serial number database, and I think it's important to keep rare instruments totally original.

    One benefit of having two basses the same is that I've been able to set them up identically - down to a fraction of a mm. This means that I can assure the new owner that their XL and its bridge, neck, headstock etc is totally consistent.

    I have found that the necks in these all-graphite instruments never vary with the weather (there's no truss rod anyway). Given this, the overall size, and the fact that (due to tuner design and placement) they don't go out of tune - they are a great instrument to travel with.

    If you've never heard the tone of an XL - take a look on the web - the common view seems to be that these basses are about as fat and punchy as it gets.

    I'm confident you will not find one in better condition.

    It comes with a Steinberger hard case that is reasonably new and in great condition too.

    I bought my white XL from a fellow basschatter for £1750 so I'm setting the value of the black XL to the same, even though it's in better condition.

    Trade-wise, I'm interested in the following:
    - Rickenbacker 4003 (blue)
    - 1974/75 Precision
    - Wal Mk 1
    - Wal Mk 2 (4 or 5 string)
    - Roland Jupiter 8
    - Roland Jupiter 80
    - Yamaha BB5000

    Thanks for looking.

    CB
































    MUSICMAN PORN THREAD

    in Gear Gallery

    Posted

    [quote name='oli@bass' timestamp='1369072115' post='2084568']
    That's a lovely and unique one! Congratulations on that find!
    [/quote]

    Thanks Oli. I bought it not long after driving up to meet you in Switzerland last year. Very happy with it.
    PS: Also finally got my 2nd M Coupe (all black this time) :-)

    CB

    Matching headstocks

    in Bass Guitars

    Posted

    [quote name='stingrayPete1977' timestamp='1368984847' post='2083691']
    I'm not suggesting anyone put grooves or grip tape on the neck, I'm talking 1200-2000 grade wet and dry.
    [/quote]

    :-) You've just eliminated from my consideration any basses you may happen to advertise on here! :-)

    CB

    Matching headstocks

    in Bass Guitars

    Posted

    [quote name='stingrayPete1977' timestamp='1368977213' post='2083601']
    I think you can get a matte finish to shine to the right amount but a super gloss finish grips unless you flat it off a tad.
    [/quote]

    You know, I was thinking about this the other day. It started because I quite fancied buying Marcus Bell's honeyburst StingRay. But I'd prefer the gloss finish. Then I got thinking "why do people say that the MusicMan satin maple finish is so much faster?"

    And all I could think is that the gloss finish is bad for folks with sweaty hands. This may be why I never had any issue with the gloss neck on my old Jazz or Stingray.

    CB

    Matching headstocks

    in Bass Guitars

    Posted

    [quote name='Dingus' timestamp='1368973246' post='2083552']
    On some basses a painted neck looks great ..... but on a Fender it would look very , very wrong .
    [/quote]
    It would sound wrong too....being a Fender :-) <awaits incoming>

    CB

    Matching headstocks

    in Bass Guitars

    Posted

    [quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1368966643' post='2083442']
    Cool. But why not do the back of the headstock and neck too while you're at it?
    [/quote]

    Totally agree. In this regard my Bongo is well behaved and my Sterling is a naughty child!

    CB

    Would someone in my position benefit from having a teacher?

    in Theory and Technique

    Posted · Edited by cloudburst

    Seeing your response on chords and inversions.....Well, there's an area you should learn. Chords are a bit more varied than you suggest. And inversions are not playing down a scale :-)

    The primary reason for learning chords is not about playing chords on bass - it's about learning to make better note choices in your bassline. You'll rarely play chords on bass.

    Regarding teachers, I've known some who 'wing it' and really aren't good enough as players themselves to set themselves up as teachers. My advice would be to pick a style that you want to 'major' on and find a teacher who plays that style so well that you can't help but smile when they play.

    As well as that (or instead) - it's vital to properly plan a schedule in order to get the best out of each practice session. Keep it varied so as not to get bored. 10 mins on scales, 10 mins on dexterity exercises, 10 mins on a new style, 10 mins on a new bassline you're trying to learn, 10 mins refreshing a few you've already learnt. etc

    Also - use 'dead' time (eg when travelling on public transport) on iPhone apps such as fret-tester to learn the fretboard and 'relative pitch' to train your ear to intervals.

    Always wear earphones when you can. Listen to bass rhythms so much that you live, breathe and sleep them. Listen to them so much that your heart beats the groove.

    I'm not too sure what on earth you're doing playing The Star Spangled Banner and what-not? Are you reading it from a bass clef part? I'd say lose that nonsense and pick some groovy basslines that will teach you more about bass rhythms. If you keep finding basslines so boring, then I'd suggest dropping the bass guitar and picking a different instrument.

    Hope this helps.

    CB

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