Kesh

look at the "Lovers Rock" genre. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lovers_rock

I would also play with pickup height when changing strings. There seems to be a sweet spot where the pickup and string interact perfectly, neither too quiet nor too much.

[quote name='Lozz196' timestamp='1343133953' post='1745778'] Yes, was great. Thought with it being quieter, her voice really shone through. Great guitar & bass-playing too. Whilst I love the album Back to Black, I do think a stripped down version like that would have been great as well. [/quote]check out the many youtube stripped down versions of her back to black songs http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lqSKVv6YO8g http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Tu66NsP6rg&feature=related

[quote name='Root-Note' timestamp='1342977533' post='1743360'] Sweet, cheers guys I expected to have to adjust inotation but fortunately I've done that before on previous instruments so I have some know-how on that, [/quote]Intonation adjustment isn't same as truss rod adjustment, if that's what you are saying. [quote name='heminder' timestamp='1342978514' post='1743371'] Yeah the tension issue is a bit of a pain. I've noticed on my 5 string that the higher strings have good tension but the lower thicker strings tend to flop around a lot more. Alex Calber mentioned this in the one and only issue of Bass Guitar Magazine I picked up. There was a manufacturer that made an evenly balanced set, but he didn't say who it was. [/quote] CircleK http://circlekstrings.com/store/index.html sell balanced sets, and singles, but only in rounds unfortunately.

It varies between brands, but 50 - 100 isn't very balanced. The G will be tight but the E loose. Something like 45, 60, 80, 105 or 50, 65, 85, 110 would be better. Also you will probably have to adjust your truss rod. This isn't as scary as it sounds (unless you have to take the neck off). After that, action and finally intonation will need to be reset. For a warm sound that lasts, maybe try some flatwound. Jamerson never changed his very thick flats ever.

[quote name='wingnutkj' timestamp='1341353327' post='1717749'] The Chain (Fleetwood Mac) [/quote] technically not an intro /pedantry

Sorry if this is obvious to you. But is the bass in a different position the two times you check its tuning? It only takes a small pressure on the neck, say from it leaning against something while you tune it, to change by a few hertz.

I'm looking for some machine heads for a junk shop bass I found, the heads are kind of there, just not the elephant ears needed to turn the shaft. So I need either the ears (does that part have a name? The key?) or full replacement. Ears/keys alone seems unlikely, so I'm thinking a new set of heads, but I'd like them to slot write in to the existing drill holes and shaft and almost no merchants provide tech drawings, and those few that do weren't right. The headstock is a cheap peavey, and the machines are the open "vintage" style. Closest I've seen is Schaller BM style, but that's not quite right. Peavey don't make the bass and don't seem to stock the part anymore. Edit: Ok, I found out it's called the button.

Another shout for Ashdown. Picked up their cheaper MAG series 300W 4x10 combo for £200 and was very pleasantly surprised by how good it was. Imagine the head/cab version is the same sonically. The people at Ashdown came from Trace Elliot apparently.

[quote name='LukeFRC' timestamp='1342103507' post='1729650'] Put it another way Remember the video I stuck up with me switching the pups out my JV squier... from Seymore Duncans to the original, could anyone NOT hear the difference? [/quote]My original issue was any difference between, say, a £40 pup and a £140 one. I definitely believe a big difference is possible over the typical factory pups on low end guitars.

Just wanted to point out, I do believe there are fairly important differences in sound between different pups (though not as important differences as you get from changing amps/cabs or strings). But I'm wondering if spending money is necessary to get that difference. Anyway, as I was looking for a split coil jazz at the bridge, and there are nothing but £100+ versions of this that I can find, I'm going to have a go at winding one myself. Always love a new project.

[quote name='uncle psychosis' timestamp='1342019203' post='1728203'] Depends. I think there is a lot of snake oil and placebo effect in action when it comes to pickups. For some people, its worth it---for others, not so much. [/quote]Yes. If you pay £200+ for a pair of handwound pickups with their associated mystique, you are probably going to subconsciously convince yourself they sound great even if they don't.

Thanks for the tips about Wizards, they look very interesting and good value. My bass sounds fine unplugged. I have some new(ish) flats on it (La Bella). I found it in a junk shop and god knows what it is, somebody's abandoned project I guess. The neck says Peavey, rosewood fretboard and maple neck, but the body I've no idea. Not any Peavey I can see. If I scrape the shielding paint off I might figure out what wood it is. I play in an i dunno, arty band? We have a definite leader and he's pretty much ordered me to go for a Jamerson sound (which I'm more than happy to do). Oh the amp is an Ashdown ABM and sounds great.

[quote name='lettsguitars' timestamp='1342001247' post='1727637'] Scatterwound pickups are worth paying for. As for the general factory runs, I think you know the answer already. [/quote]It's pretty easy to reproduce scatter wounds with a machine. That's what Nordstrand do. [quote name='chris_b' timestamp='1342001246' post='1727636'] Expensive pickups can be worth it if you can hear a difference. To me a tin of Heinz Baked Beans tastes better than Tesco Value Beans but Tesco sells a lot of beans, so what do I know? [/quote]Agree with the first comment. But I know how much we are influenced by what we hope for and expect. Musical placebo effect. As for the beans, with the pickups I'm considering, the ingredients and recipe are pretty much the same.

Am replacing my pickups (P/J configuration) and electrics on a bass that is very playable, but has a lacklustre sound to it. Am going for passive circuit and vintage sound. It seems I can pay anywhere from £40 (say a wilkinson set) to £230 (Nordstrand or Fralin). Can you really get that much more value out of what is just copper wire and alnico magnets? Or is it like when they blind tasted wine with some wine experts and they couldn't tell cheap from expensive? Before I part with my money I'd be interested to know your thoughts. And hello (it's my first post).