Greggo

Yeah that may be a plan. Its a bass I acquired over 10 years ago and not seen any info about them, other than a very few ads that pop up that say there were made in Taiwan in the 90's.The condition is fair, its got 20 odd years worth of little knocks but nothing major. The truss rod needs adjusting though as there is a considerable bow to the neck even with 50 - 110 strings on. The adjustment isnt an allen key like most basses but some kind of socket screw down where the neck meets the body. Dont suppose anyone with an old Yammy knows what tool is needed for this adjustment?

When I decided I wanted a new bass about a year ago, I wish I had done more research rather than going in to a guitar shop and putting down a deposit on a Vintage musicman copy which was first nice looks looking bass I saw. Although I've got this bass sounding better now thanks to a preamp upgrade and have set the guitar up how I like, when I have read threads about the Ibanez SR range it particular the lovely looking orange Sr300 I now am gassing for this model. Listening to clips on you tube it sounds lovely and has a lot of tones built in. Does anyone know how much I could get for am original Yamaha RBX5 from early nineties? Can hardly find anything about these basses only the newer models! If I can get a good price certainly think I may fund my GAS!!

[quote name='iamtheelvy' timestamp='1366886753' post='2058482'] I do remember reading an article on a bass player (cannot remember who it was), who was raving about a Fender 60's reissue bass that he had 'modified'. Went something like this: 'I changed the tuners, the bridge, the pickups and the electronics! I even replaced the body...!' Now, correct me if I'm wrong here, but is that really the same bass anymore...? [/quote] Haha, that really is a triggers broom. Sounds like it was the neck that was only thing to survive. Must have been an amazing neck

I think the term customised is probably more accurate, the term upgrade must definitely be in the eye of the beholder. I've 'customised' a £200 Vintage EST96 bass (stingray copy) with a £40 preamp, which is a 2 band eq clone of a pre-EB stingray preamp. Its definitely an upgrade for me over the stock configuration, but Im under no illusions that the bass is worth any more if I were to sell it, as its the name on the headstock that sells as opposed to whats been changed under the hood. Modified or customised cars rarely sell for the true value of their parts, I guess an instrument is no different.

Changed link should now work!

http://db.tt/LLQor8mR I've modified my vintage est 96 bass with a clone pre EB stingray clone preamp and am pretty happy with the tones from it now. Would be interested to hear from stingray players as to how close it actually is in tone to the real thing now. They aren't the easiest sound to get but I don't think it's too far off now. Pickup is stock Wilkinson and is wired parallel. Bass was recorded straight in your recorder and song is a new one in my band but no vox as yet. Bass line not final take as was just a rough for guide so a few little errors!

I just got mine today and same as you said they are exactly what I'm after too. I play slightly better with a plectrum but prefer a fingers sound so this is good compromise! Definitely need a volume boost but notes are very articulate I find!

[quote name='xroads' timestamp='1366038407' post='2047563'] Oh ok then. Is it more like a clicking sound? If so, maybe you push the lower string accidentally to touch the frets. It might be your best option to observe closely what you are doing, and where the strange sound comes from.... [/quote] Haha, thats another issue I have which I guess must be related- if I fret two notes and play the higher one, the other fretted note clicks. This definitely decreases when raising the action. [quote name='artisan' timestamp='1366038530' post='2047569'] Just a thought have you checked the neck relief ? When my new Esh arrived it was doing pretty much what you describe,when i checked it over the neck did not have enough forward curve so i slackened the truss rod of a tad & it is now spot on. [/quote] Did you get the thuddy notes yes? I'll check the neck over, I do recall checking it after putting the strings on and it is pretty straight so maybe a little more relief?

[quote name='xroads' timestamp='1366034979' post='2047498'] Some players put their thumb on the next lower string when plucking in order to dampen the sound that would occur from the plucking finger. E.g. if you play the A-string, and your thumb is resting on the E-string, your plucking finger touching the E-string does not produce a noticeable sound any more. [/quote] to be honest I do do that, i use the floating thumb where my thumb is on string below one im plucking, but as im plucking my finger is hitting the muted string and this seems to create the sound. its not always noticeable, but its certainly there and is not something I've recalled when playing previous basses. I guess its partly technique but Im thinking there must be something else thats making it worse / more noticeable and was thinking that it may be my technique of stringing perhaps. The action is on the low side (as low as can go without fret buzz), but then when increasing action it does lower the noise a bit, but then makes the bass harder to play. The strings are Ernie Ball Cobalts on one bass and D'Addario EXL160's on the other. More noticeable on Cobalts with a pretty hot humbucker.

Just had a thought about this issue and starting to wonder if its something I've done incorrectly in re-stringing these basses, as I dont remember it on older strings, but then this is probably 2nd - 3rd time Ive ever restrung a bass ( in 10 years playing which I know is pretty shocking!) When i restrung I cut the string about two tuning pegs past the one i was tuning, popped the string into the hole in the peg and then pulled it a quarter of the way around the post and brought to tension. But i've read that you need to have a maximum break angle to pull string tight over the nut, which im not 100% sure if I've achieved or not. Would stringing issues excacerbate overtones when my plucking finger is following through and touch the muted string below which is what I realised Im doing (following another post in this thead I realised thats exactly what I was doing)

As topic, anyone used these wedgie rubber picks? I saw a video of a guy comparing tone of finger style v wedgie pick, and there was little difference. In my opinion the wedgie sounded a bit better. I've got 3 5mm mediums non order from fleabay so can give them a bash.

Thanks for replies. Good to know I'm not only one. I think what it must be in my case is technique in combination with very unforgiving strings! This is first change of strings for a long time so dead strings must mask any noises!

No, the pickups on musicman style bass are set low and on my yamaha (which I must admit it affects to a lesser extent) there is plenty of clearance.

I posted a similar query in technical but I'm wondering if this is normal. I've got fresh round wounds on two basses and when playing finger style I get a lot of thudding noises when playing. Eg if I play an A my finger naturally comes into contact with E (5 string by the way so narrower string spacing). Even when playing light there's still a little contact. But this contact seems to create a bit of noise which can be heard acoustically and when amplified can be heard as a "thud". This thud can't be heard when playing with plectrum so sounds find that way. Can anyone confirm anything similar? I don't play lots so the strings not broken in yet, don't know if this would reduce if so. I don't remember it on previous set which were older.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tjj1WOOMdVo&feature=youtube_gdata_player Gig to support youth club from a couple of years ago. I'm mostly off camera haha

Sorry to resurrect and old thread but this guy is a superb bass player and in my mind could put and end to the real bass players don't play with a pick argument!

Must admit I've never has a real setup done and all my guitars/basses are mostly sub £500 so maybe were not always at the best from factory. Certainly this bass has some sharp frets that could do with being sorted but I'm guessing that comes under a separate job to a regular set up. How much is a typical set up anyway?

There is a place near me that I believe does set ups, not sure how much they are but starting to think that may be worth doing. Cheers

Don't get with a plectrum no. I think of may have gotten closer to cause for both issues and it may lie with technique and set up alike. I think when I am plucking a note my finger is hitting the other string (although only lightly) below like what mcnach suggested. However what is happening is that I'm tapping the other string into the frets causing the click on higher strings and weird boom on lower strings! I tried on another bass and this isn't an issue when I lightly touch other strings. Not too sure what I can do about this one, as string spacing on bass makes it hard not to touch strings when plucking? It might be worth adding that there may be a bit too much relief in neck would neck bright straighter help?

No it was brand new, the strings sit on top of grooves and not fully in. All saddle grooves seem to be same size, but then it don't know if that's normal or not for this type of bridge.