invicta59

If it's a rental bass and you can't modify it, you could get any of the pickups mentioned above. Rather than try and modify the bridge wing gap, which will almost certainly be too narrow (in my experience I have had to widen the slot on every bridge I have owned), you could attached the pickup to the bridge leg, either with Gaffer tape or a modellers 1" or 2" G-clamp. It wont look pretty but it will produce a sound. Behringer make a cheapish pre-amp that would do something to help. So potentially, A J-tone pickup @ £30, a G clamp @ £2, and a Pre-amp @ £25 = £57.

Going to try make something this weekend. I'm interested to hear yours, it looks great!

Should I look forward to seeing the Tex Speed Combo doing Goody Two Shoes?

More than 10 fingers?

I've been searching for a Burns Barracuda for what seems an eternity, and finally managed to snag one! Not had chance for a proper amplified noodle yet, but really impressed with it so far. Maybe not a popular choice for many, but most definitely a unique sounding bass.

Just curious.. I only just noticed that the neck pickup on mine is tilted towards the nut. I'm not sure whether it's supposed to do this, or if it needs adjusting, so can anyone tell me if theirs is the same? It certainly gives a decent enough tone, so possibly only a cosmetic adjustment?

[quote name='geoffbyrne' timestamp='1379847455' post='2217303'] Found this, but not much traffic since 2010!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! [url="http://www.bassxi.org"]http://www.bassxi.org[/url] G. [/quote] It's a sad fact that lots of forums have declined dramatically since most of them set up a facebook page. A real shame as Facebook is murder to search for answers to specific questions.. Lots of good info on that site though - even if it is 'old'

[quote name='BetaFunk' timestamp='1379782247' post='2216743'] Have you joined the 'Bass VI Players' Facebook page yet? Loads of interesting tips and info for all things Bass VI on there! [/quote] Yep, joined up recently... theres a guy on there selling some aftermarket pickguards.. I'm tempted by the black pearl

[quote name='geoffbyrne' timestamp='1379770657' post='2216610'] Try putting yon silicon tape that plumbers use round the base. Do you need it anyway? G. [/quote] After taking advice from a friend who has a VM Jazzmaster, it turned out that the trem needs a pretty hefty push before it clicks into place. Once I had done that, the trem arm remains nicely in the chosen position. I will probably be using it to play 60's style surf/instro stuff so yes, I intend to use it regularly enough - along with a huge dollop of reverb

Finally got to have a fiddle with it at 8pm last night.. a bit late for using an amp (for the neighbours, not me), but really pleased with it so far. The finish is far better than I expected for the money, and the nut is much tidier than most that I have seen and nicely spaced. The only thing that mystifies me is how to get the trem arm to remain in one position - being a press in type it seems to loosen off and swing downwards after one or two presses. Having no real experience of them, I assumed that they were a screw in affair but it just pushes in. Maybe it needs a harder press! If anyone is interested, it fits quite nicely into a Hiscox STD-EBS case

Some good news... after initially being told delivery would be end of October, just been told mine will be delivered tomorrow. Best start figuring out how to sneak it into the house then!

Another alternative... got a Welcome mat outside the door? Be temporarily unwelcoming and take said mat to gig, then no need to drag wet muddy thing back into the house and upset the misuse.. err.. missus, just throw it back in front of the doorstep post-gig and get brownie points for having clean shoes on the way back in

[quote name='Happy Jack' timestamp='1379339044' post='2211418'] Good grief chaps, try to keep it simple: [url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/170855100285?lpid=54&device=c&adtype=pla&crdt=0&ff3=1&ff11=ICEP3.0.0&ff12=67&ff13=80&ff14=54&ff19=0"]http://www.ebay.co.u...&ff14=54&ff19=0[/url] [/quote] People sell cameltoes on eBay?? Can't see that going down well with the missus!! Why not just call in the local timber yard and get an offcut of ply? You'd probably end up with enough to make 2 dozen "anti-sink bass stands".

Your E string snaps and the bridge makes a break for freedom, launches itself into the audience and hits a bloke on the forehead. Bad enough? Nope... the shameful walk of retrieval that ensues..... let me tell you, that 20 foot walk was the longest I ever took... Truth

Try your local luthier - he/she may know of some local ones, or even be able to supply a decent new one. I've had a Zeller bass for about 8 years now - in all that time all I've done is put a new bridge on it. The luthier reckoned that one like mine (a 3/4 solid wood) was about £1200 brand new. If you chose that route, you'd probably get a real good setup done on it too.

I've had one ordered for 4 weeks and was told end of October at that time. I was led to believe the delay is down to unexpected demand, if that is the same as 'production problems'. Ah well, I've wanted a Fender VI for 30 years, so another 2-3 months isn't going to hurt... much..

[quote name='TheRev' timestamp='1370885064' post='2106898'] Given our stage show I'm suprised that it hasn't happened before. We'd also dressed the chap in question up in a badger suit and told him to go mental so we have to take some responsibility. In fact, if I hadn't been distracted by the delightful young lady in the front row who had just dropped her dungarees I might have seen the badger coming. [/quote] Good job you didn't dress him up as a beaver!

That's the right place! Being slightly paranoic about dropping my soundpost ever since it fell down and I spent 30 minutes on my back in the hallway looking some abstract version of a Mutant Nija Turtle trying to retrieve the soundpost, I never take more than two string off at a time

I started out playing e-bass, but could never quite get the sound I wanted. Then, one time, while watching the Rock Around the Clock movie, it all became clear how the sound was made... [media]http://youtu.be/gYIE5lkjXAo[/media] Marshall Lytle - a great guy and a great bass player - the upright bass world is poorer without him. [url="http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2013/may/26/marshall-lytle-bass-player-comets-and-jodimars-die/#axzz2Vp0o1g2x"]http://www.lasvegass.../#axzz2Vp0o1g2x[/url]

Yep, keep an eye on the bridge while tuning up - particularly if you're changing sets of strings. The bridge top will gradually pull towards the nut. If you see any gap whatsoever, gently pull the bridge downwards to get the feet back into place. Don't give it a karate chop - if you have wound strings on and they are tight in the bridge slots, theres a good chance you'll break the windings and ruin the strings. The bridge should be in line with the indents on the F holes. Anywhere else, you'll be missing the soundpost and won't have as good a response from the bass. Hope your soundpost didn't drop as well, as the hour you spent putting the bridge and strings back on will pale into insignificance compared to that job!

Instant lightweight bass cabinet... [url="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Einhell-Folding-Truck-90kg-Capacity/dp/B001GU6FYI/ref=sr_1_1?s=diy&ie=UTF8&qid=1369392135&sr=1-1&keywords=Einhell+Folding"]http://www.amazon.co.uk/Einhell-Folding-Truck-90kg-Capacity/dp/B001GU6FYI/ref=sr_1_1?s=diy&ie=UTF8&qid=1369392135&sr=1-1&keywords=Einhell+Folding[/url] You can get these cheaper - Lidl were selling them a couple of weeks ago for 15 quid. Our guitarist was co-erced (threatened) into buying one as we were fed up of humping his bloody heavy Fender Twin Reverb amp around - that thing ways nearly twice as much as my bass gear!!

Have you thought of having a word with a local luthier? He may have knowledge of good second hand basse, or even be able to supply a decent one himself, and would probably throw a setup in with the cost... I'd also budget for new strings. The ones your bass will come with will inevitably be the cheapest set of steel cheesecutters you ever encounter. Innovation make some really good strings and they can be found for about £75 - £80 online. I use Silver slaps currently, and they are a nice low tension string with a decent bit of sustain.

[u][b]Lincolnshire, Lincoln[/b][/u] Steep Hill Strings - Andrew Sutherland [size=4][size=4][size=4]Studio 3 [/size] Harding House Steep Hill Lincoln LN2 1LT[/size][/size] [url="http://www.sutherlandviolin.com/"]http://www.sutherlandviolin.com/[/url]

No problem... I'll ask anyone else I can think of that uses steels. We're back at the Harlequin this saturday, if you're in the vicinity.

I use a rackmount Behringer.. works great for me. It's sometimes a little slow picking up the signal in a noisy room, but as long as I get it in the gaps between songs, I don't mind.