Huge Hands

[quote name='andyjingram' post='387322' date='Jan 21 2009, 11:29 AM']I hear everything you're saying there. For the record I own a £600 bass and a bass that must have cost £800 when new- but the bass I grab for all but gigs where I need the 5-strings cost me £100 [i]including[/i] a new pickup! And I'm sort of proud of that fact. I'm sure that as you say, a bass that cost a grand will be 'better' but I would be far less happy to drag it 'round London, exposing it to all matter of temperature and humidity changes, other peoples food, drink and flailing limbs, and the occasional low/narrow doorway. I guess I'm still having trouble getting my head around the fact that a bass that cost £1000 barely registers on some peoples scale of useability, when £600 is the most I [i]ever[/i] spent on an electric, but thanks for your answers- it gives me bit more to chew over whilst weighing up all the other size/weight/fragility issues![/quote] I am waiting for a PM from the original poster RE: meeting up at our workshop one evening in Canary Wharf for him to have a blast on it. I'd be happy for another attendee if you want to pop along as well. Just send me a PM.

[quote name='artisan' post='386373' date='Jan 20 2009, 04:37 PM']....Dennis was a total arrogant prick.[/quote] I have worked with them as a FOH soundman a couple of times and found him to be very difficult. Not particularly towards me, but seemed to have the Liam/Noel Gallagher "f**k you I'm too cool" type "atitood". Ok on stage, but not with the crew IMO.

[quote name='andyjingram' post='384089' date='Jan 18 2009, 03:53 PM']Hi Huge Hands, Can I ask which bass you bought? I am currently looking to buy a double bass, but have been surprised by the huge cost of them compared to electrics and complete slating of 'cheap' intruments all over the place! I was hoping the 111BR from Thomann would be worth a shot ( [url="http://www.thomann.de/gb/thomann_kontrabass_111.htm"]http://www.thomann.de/gb/thomann_kontrabass_111.htm[/url] ) but I'm starting to lose hope that it is even worth bothering. I do hope it is just bass-snobbery that's going on, but you are one of the very few I've seen sticking up for a cheap bass. Do you gig or record with yours, or is it just for learning and enjoying? Cheers, Andy[/quote] Andy, Please understand that I am not doubting that a £1000+ bass will be better than mine. What I am saying is, if you just fancy a shot at upright, without worry every time you knock it off a doorway (and believe me you will!) then these may be worth a look. I bought the Gear4Music 3/4 about 4 years ago for about £375. Warning - the "hard case" is massive!!! I put mine in the loft and use the "gig bag" it also came with instead. It came unstrung with the bridge off (was actually missing and had to get them to send another) so it won't play straight out of the case. I have had to mess about quite a bit to get a decent action on the strings and had to glue the side seam back together when it split after 2 years (I think someone knocked it over and didn't tell me). No problem though, as I wasn't worried about luthiers I used wood glue not hide glue - messing about with it to me is half the fun. I originally wanted to get an acoustic bass guitar because I wanted something I could just pick up if a good tune came on the telly, but was heavily into Jamerson at the time and thought that if I could play an upright, it would help my electric playing no end. I believe it has, although I have a long way to go! I consider myself a bassist who owns an upright, rather than an upright bass player! Knowing it was cheap meant I didn't mind Tippex-ing fret dots onto it! I have gigged it a few times, but it has been a nightmare. I attribute this more to our loud band/drummer refusing to turn down and the fact that I've never had the chance to set up my pickup preamp EQ/gain stucture properly rather blaming than the bass itself. One day..... I have taken it to 2 demo recording sessions with the intention of recording electric with the band and then ovedubbing the upright but unfortunately in both cases we ran out of time for the overdub. I have spoken to Merton about taking it to the next SE bash as I mentioned on this thread, and I'm also considering having a visit to the homeland to tie in with Warwickhunt/Wot's NE one on 1st March. I could take it there too so that people can make their own minds up as to what they think of them rather than assume or take my word for it. I realise £375 is still a lot of money to most of us. I play Squier basses, not Fender ones, and I'm happy to display that on the headstocks!

[quote name='Maxcat' post='385132' date='Jan 19 2009, 04:35 PM']The only thing that works for me is to know the song inside out on the bass so that I dont have to think about what Im playing, then I can concentrate on the vocals.[/quote] +1 from me. Still haven't fully got the hang of it on most of our songs (only backing vocals!)

Been having a nice PM chat with Mr S as he is the man who sold me my Squier JV Jazz as a wide eyed teenager in his house in Harlough Green about 17 years ago. I can confirm no pokery went on that day!

[quote name='Hoppo75' post='384396' date='Jan 18 2009, 09:41 PM']At the risk of being hated and shunned.......Graeme Clarke, Wet Wet Wet's bass player is hugely underated, I reckon anyway.[/quote] I'm with you on that one.

If it's on a weekend, I might be tempted to turn it into a voyage to the homeland and see the family etc. Depends on date, circumstance and cash of course.....

I will never sell the Squier JV Jazz I have had since I was 14. Now, even with 4 basses, an upright and a g**tar, I still marvel at it. If my DIY skills were good enough, I'd frame it on the wall! It was my second bass, and the only one I owned for 12 years. It has been my trusty companion as I have moved around the country. It would break my heart (or for me to be in severe financial difficulties) before it would go.

[quote name='Merton' post='383375' date='Jan 17 2009, 05:08 PM']Stew preferred the LG1000 and I think is quite tempted [/quote] Ha ha, always tempted! I agree that there wasn't much in in it between the amps, but in terms of portability, and flat sound without adjustment, I think I'd have gone for the Ashdown. TBH, I think the Ashdown with Alex's Big One (oo-er) would be a lovely lttle (very light) rig. Mucho impressed Mr Claber. Would love to hear that cab at full tilt, without worrying about Merton's neighbours! If only I had some spare cash! Thanks again Merton for your hospitality, cups of tea, and the chance to try out some nice quality top end gear. Loved your all black Status, enjoyed playing the fretless, and was having a major trouser moment at the colour scheme on OBBM's Statusray! Thoroughly enjoyable way to spend a Saturday afternoon. Cheers! Stew

[quote name='wateroftyne' post='383206' date='Jan 17 2009, 01:17 PM']It's on top of the lacquer, which is correct for the era.[/quote] Ta WoT, I had a feeling I'd be wrong

[quote name='mathewsanchez' post='383192' date='Jan 17 2009, 01:03 PM']I think he's tring to copy [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Fender-USA-Custom-Shop-61-NOS-Precision-Bass-RARE_W0QQitemZ130278481452QQihZ003QQcategoryZ4713QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem"]this beauty[/url].[/quote] That is a beaut, but perhaps dumb question here? Why can I see the edges of the Fender logo decal? I thought even custom shop jobs would have relaquered etc to get it blended in? I'm not an expert by any means, just interested.

[quote name='spiltmilk_2000' post='382147' date='Jan 16 2009, 11:13 AM']Jakebass / huge hands... I'll PM you if i can figure out how! Cheers all! Russ[/quote] Russ, PM received and replied to.

Oh dear. I should be liking this (iPlayer from Ronnie Scotts) as it's my kind of music, but only got to the second track as the drummers insistence of drum-roll fills was starting to p*** me off. Maybe it's because as an ex-drummer I'm jealous of his skills at incessantly doing that and not getting lost, but I think it was because it got boring very quickly. This always happens when I watch Jeff Beck gigs. Can't deny the man's got talent, but there's just something about the whole thing that sends me to sleep. Quickly. Just my own personal opinion of course, not trying to force it on anyone else.

[quote name='Ou7shined' post='380438' date='Jan 14 2009, 04:59 PM']THIS IS AN UNWANTED CHRISTMAS PRESENT - HENCE THE AUCTION[/quote] It's not tBBC is it?

I enjoyed it Syed, nice and tight. For personal taste I'd ask him to loosen some of the compression and let the mix breathe a bit more, but I realise that may be the sound you're going for, it's not a complaint. I hope you don't mind, the comparison, but reminded me a bit of Mother Earth, who were one of my favourite bands in the 90's btw. Their bass player Neil Cocoran is now living in Australia and was playing in a funk band with an old keyboard player of ours last time I heard. We're playing at your old haunt Jazz After Dark on Saturday night if you're around. All the best, Stew (Huge Hands)

Where abouts in London are you? I have one of the cheap "sub £500 imports" you mention which are often derided on here, but I was in a similar position to you. Not much cash and worried about spending a fortune on something I might not like or be able to play. I found it much more relaxing to have something I could kick about and not worry about. You are welcome to try and arrange something for you to have a shot on it if you want. I live in Crawley but work in London. PM if you're interested. I'm thinking that next time there is a SE bash, I might bring it along for all you experts to tear to pieces, so you can say "they are definitely s**t", instead of "for that money, I imagine they are s**t". What does everyone reckon?

Damn shame, I have my own gig up in London that night. Would have been good to finally meet up with and introduce myself to a load of the West Sussex Basschat posse! I was also dying to hear Mr Claber's cab in action. Merton, are you keeping it for longer than that? Any other gigs coming up when you'll still have it?

I thought the "stealth" bass looked s**t in the little preview pic and was agreeing with the OLP comments. However, I opened up the image to full size and now I am very aroused. If they do it in a 5 string, and I suddenly end up with a windfall of cash, then I'd be interested..... Happy to be one of the minority!

[quote name='Geek99' post='369801' date='Jan 4 2009, 11:41 AM']....if you dont have huge hands.[/quote] Somebody mention me? I have a Squier Precision 5, which has jazz pups. Work that one out. I love the cricket bat style neck.

The "muting" plugs actually short tip to sleeve. This is fine for the input stage of an amplifier and works really well (I use one). However, you have to be careful where you use them as if you accidentally use one as a speaker lead and short the output stage of your amp, you could cause some damage. EDIT: Just thought I'd add that as the switch is activated by a sprung outer collar that is too wide to fit in your socket and therefore is pushed backwards as the jack is inserted, I have found that on some sockets, the spring is stronger than the grab action of the socket and the plug sometimes manages to eject itself. This has only happened so far on a cheapy Chinese tuner I have, but I thought worth a mention.

[quote name='MoonBassAlpha' post='367768' date='Jan 1 2009, 02:38 PM']I imagine a headphone output would be useful on a travel bass,[/quote] +1. A cracking idea IMHO, much more preferable than adaptor/belt boxes, for the sake of a rout and a battery box during manufacture, surely?

My mate got me a free cable at a trade fair. It was being sold as some sort of "endorsed" super cable apparently RRP was about £30. It uses Klotz cable (good pro audio cable manuf) and a one of those clever leaf switch style plugs that shots tip to sleeve to stop your amp popping and buzzing if you unplug it. Don't use on the output stage!!! It's a great gimmick, and for that reason I love it, but I probably wouldn't have forked out that much out of my own pocket for it. Once a tight b*****d, always a tight b*****d! For years, I used to use microphone cable and Neutrik jacks that I could get for nothing at work. Admittedly, the wrong type of cable, but only really noticeable on passive instruments in really noisy environments.

[quote name='bassmansky' post='371250' date='Jan 5 2009, 06:59 PM']so two good replys for the wizard pups.anyone for the seymour duncan pups?[/quote] My other P5 was purchased with Seymour Duncans already fitted. I did an A-B as I wanted to keep the best and mod the other. The Wizards won hands down for me as the Seymours were too spanky and didn't have as high an output, but it's because I like a fat, "no teeth" sound. I imagine the Seymours would have suited a punk player better and arguably may be more versatile. However, it was Wizards all the way for me. If I ever save up some cash, I'm hoping to get a set of Wizards for my other P5. NB: My 5 string Squiers, although a P shape, use J pickups, not split coils.