Lfalex v1.1

Dingwall Combustion Series ticks a lot of your boxes...

In addition to the already good info posted; Pick-up wise, Barts were quite common (I've seen EMGs, but they might be retro-fits, but MECs have replaced nearly all the other manufacturers. The only exception being 6 strings, which it seems MEC don't make. The pick-ups are then either Duncans or Bartolini. My ('97)Streamer LX has Duncan soapbars, and they're just fine. +1 on the comment on MEC pick-ups vs. MEC pre-amps. My ('04) Infinity SN4 has MECs in the J/TwinJ configuration with an MEC (NOT Duncan as specified) Pre-amp on 9v electrics, and I wouldn't change a thing. Otherwise, I do feel some are hamstrung by the MEC preamps. The inclusion of a sweepable mid would be nice!!!. I don't know exactly when they went over to the two-piece bridges from the single piece units they used before (Schaller 3D?) I believe it to be about 1990. Not that it makes much odds. Both are good quality units. With regard to necks, I think Broadnecks came in as an option on 5 & 6 strings around 2006/2007. Just-a-nut III replaced Just-a-nut II around 2002. Many prefer the II as it's less prone to breakage / cutting your hands. Also, the strings are individually adjustable for height, whereas the III just tilts on 2 grub screws.

[quote name='RichardFoggo' post='1020534' date='Nov 11 2010, 06:53 PM']i like the NT corvette, the rest are . . . meh![/quote] +1 Looks like a $$ neck-thru with 2xMEC JJs instead of 2xMMHB. And blocks on a Maple 'board. Nice. But even better if they'd move the bridge pick-up closer to the bridge as on the Infinities and Dolphins. Gives a nice "tight" edge to the tone.

Yes, I saw them twice just recently on two other forums, LuteChat and TalkLute I don't know how well they'd hold up against the gut strings I'm going to have to use... I'll have a look over on ViolinBanter. They had a thread on the effects of covering your Stradivarius in creosote, too.

That's odd. Of my favourite few basses, 3 are fully painted and have phenolic fretboards. One of them has NO wood in it at all. Of course, being a Status... [i]What's the expression?[/i].... Every note is ugliness! Fortunately, my Warwick can save me! I'd just love to know what alternative materials this guy uses for frets, truss rod (!) and so on. That does raise an interesting issue- Is it possible to make a bass that is totally devoid of metal? That might be one for someone to try when they've got some (considerable) time to kill. I wonder how it migh sound (apart from likely being fretless, of course)

Quadruple post! Is that some sort of a record?!

[quote name='AttitudeCastle' post='1016715' date='Nov 8 2010, 06:48 PM']Haha! Listed three of my favourite shapes LOL! A vampyre with the Corvette $$ pickups would be almost my perfect bass, (if it were a 5 or 6 string it would be even closer!) I really love the Double buck tone, but i don't really get on with the body shape as i dislike the uppr horn =/ Do warwick do soapbars? Or Is it the Corvette (normal one) with soapbars? BTW also agree, the Clayton is horrible, with soapbars and the normal stryker body and it might look alright, Looking forward to trying out a rockbass series![/quote] Haha! Indeed! Sorry 'bout that! They do a Streamer $$ as well, you know. Soapbars only really appear on the 6 strings (Thumbs, Streamers & Corvettes) and used to be Barts or Duncans, simply because MEC didn't make anything that'd do the job. Don't know if that's changed, though.

[quote name='AttitudeCastle' post='1016715' date='Nov 8 2010, 06:48 PM']Haha! Listed three of my favourite shapes LOL! A vampyre with the Corvette $$ pickups would be almost my perfect bass, (if it were a 5 or 6 string it would be even closer!) I really love the Double buck tone, but i don't really get on with the body shape as i dislike the uppr horn =/ Do warwick do soapbars? Or Is it the Corvette (normal one) with soapbars? BTW also agree, the Clayton is horrible, with soapbars and the normal stryker body and it might look alright, Looking forward to trying out a rockbass series![/quote] Haha! Indeed! Sorry 'bout that! They do a Streamer $$ as well, you know. Soapbars only really appear on the 6 strings (Thumbs, Streamers & Corvettes) and used to be Barts or Duncans, simply because MEC didn't make anything that'd do the job. Don't know if that's changed, though.

[quote name='AttitudeCastle' post='1016715' date='Nov 8 2010, 06:48 PM']Haha! Listed three of my favourite shapes LOL! A vampyre with the Corvette $$ pickups would be almost my perfect bass, (if it were a 5 or 6 string it would be even closer!) I really love the Double buck tone, but i don't really get on with the body shape as i dislike the uppr horn =/ Do warwick do soapbars? Or Is it the Corvette (normal one) with soapbars? BTW also agree, the Clayton is horrible, with soapbars and the normal stryker body and it might look alright, Looking forward to trying out a rockbass series![/quote] Haha! Indeed! Sorry 'bout that! They do a Streamer $$ as well, you know. Soapbars only really appear on the 6 strings (Thumbs, Streamers & Corvettes) and used to be Barts or Duncans, simply because MEC didn't make anything that'd do the job. Don't know if that's changed, though.

[quote name='AttitudeCastle' post='1016715' date='Nov 8 2010, 06:48 PM']Haha! Listed three of my favourite shapes LOL! A vampyre with the Corvette $$ pickups would be almost my perfect bass, (if it were a 5 or 6 string it would be even closer!) I really love the Double buck tone, but i don't really get on with the body shape as i dislike the uppr horn =/ Do warwick do soapbars? Or Is it the Corvette (normal one) with soapbars? BTW also agree, the Clayton is horrible, with soapbars and the normal stryker body and it might look alright, Looking forward to trying out a rockbass series![/quote] Haha! Indeed! Sorry 'bout that! They do a Streamer $$ as well, you know. Soapbars only really appear on the 6 strings (Thumbs, Streamers & Corvettes) and used to be Barts or Duncans, simply because MEC didn't make anything that'd do the job. Don't know if that's changed, though.

For that sort of money, the components will want to be absolutely top notch. All the more so when you consider that you're doing the bulk of the labour outside of the neck finishing / fretting. I didn't see much in the way of options, just 4 or 5 string, active or passive. I'd like to think I missed fretless & maple board options etc. Looks easy enough for anyone who's set up a bass before and who has some basic soldering experience. The lengthy bit will be finishing the body, with all the finishing/sanding/finishing/waiting to dry/rubbing back/rinsing/repeating.

I still like some of their designs / configurations (Fortress, Infinity, Dolphin) Some are ergonimcally/sonically fine, but merely "ok" (Thumb, Streamer, Corvette, Jack Bruce SG) Others are a disaster zone (Stryker, Vampyre, Buzzard, Nobby Meidel, That Adam Clayton Monstrosity )

:Waxed:

[quote name='charic' post='985280' date='Oct 12 2010, 07:11 AM']Just realised: Basschat HD (Has Dood) Charic HD (Has Degree) Brilliant [/quote] I'm waiting for Status to jump on this one; "[i]Status HD, leading the way in [b]Headless Design[/b][/i]" And I agree with there being a need to clearly define High definition/ High resolution audio. Had a quick zip through wiki, but as usual, there are multiple standards for varying storage media (primarily SACD and DVD-A)

I played a festival on two curtainsided articulated trailers side by side. The front face was open to the crowd, and the dividing curtains had been pulled back. The roof, ends, and back were still in place. It was played through a Marshall 4x10 renta-stack which we all used (apart from the "name" acts) and we were forbidden to touch the EQ, much less reposition anything! Nothing but In Ear Monitors all round could have saved that one!!!

Brighter Day - The Jellyfish Jessie - PAW Dear God - XTC Can-utility and the Coastliners - Genesis Excuse me Mister - Ben Harper God's Song - Randy Newman Aenima - Tool Size Queen - Kyuss Not the Red Baron - Tori Amos Room off the Street - Suzanne Vega

It's not at all unusual to have a signal chain having multiple pre-amp (albeit in different locations) stages to modify the overall sound/tone as well as adding gain (and / or boost / drive / distortion, too) For example, at practice, I may well use this set-up; Status Streamline >> MXR M-80 >> 12 channel mixer >> QSC PLX1202 power amp >> Trace 1048h which equates to; Bass/Treble >> Vol, 3Band EQ, OD, Pre-shape >> Gain, Bass, Mid, Treble, level and Master fader >> about 750w into 8ohms >> 4x10" 8ohm cabinet. Lots of tone-shaping options there, and 3 pre-amps! Sounds superb.

After a misunderstanding between myself and another bassist at work (about LEDs/phosphorescent dots/UV sensitive glowing strings etc.) , we "accidentally" hit on the concept of using UV sensitive ink to mark the side dots. All you need do then is have a UV light nearby... I have an unlined fretless V, and that can be kinda scary in dim conditions... Even if you could see, there'd be nothing to see! Other alternatives? Practice in the dark? Use The Force? [i]"Your eyes can deceive you. Don't trust them"[/i]

Try to keep low-level signal and high-level signal cables apart. If they have to cross, try to do it at right-angles. This also applies to anything carrying power to/from transformers and power supplies. A bit of judicious shielding around the low-level wires might be good, too. If you're replacing cables, perhaps try and get some screened ones? Ferrite rings can help suppress RF noise, be it mains-borne or externally induced. I'm no expert in amps, it's just what I've garnered here and there, plus a bit of hi-fi lore.

Reeder is the better bassist for Kyuss, but Olivieri suited the early QOTSA "robot rock" style perfectly. Who's drumming? Brant Bjork or Alfredo Hernandez?

[quote name='Sean' post='786138' date='Mar 25 2010, 06:19 PM']Check [url="http://www.yamaha.co.jp/english/product/guitar/bb/"]this [/url]- all new today from Yamaha[/quote] Yeah, and have a look at what the anonymous person in the top banner is playing. A BB body with Attitude (DiMarzio?) Neck HB, Mid P and.. What's that?.. A [i]Bridge[/i] P? Now you're talking! As an Attitude owner, I find their tone monstrous, but they lack the ability to "sing" like the best. What they need is a bridge pick-up. Preferably either a Fender JJ or MEC JJ as used in the Precision Deluxe or Dolphin Infinity....

Keanu Reeves!!!

You can't beat a real powerhouse of a power amp (>1000Wrms into 4 ohms) to pulverize even the most stubborn cab into doing what it's told. A large damping factor does wonders for cone control. No, it can't undo the laws of physics, but it can deliver the (clean) power to drive your cabinet/s properly, and most cabs will tolerate big transient peaks well above their maximum rating. The only thing you have to listen out for with the killer amp is signs of speaker distress. If you abuse speakers continually, they will ultimately fail!

(Right-handed fingerstyle player) R/hand - short enough to keep the tips of my fingers exposed. Once they reach the same length or longer, it's all over L/hand (fretting) a bit longer than the right hand before it becomes and issue To turn a phrase, "Everyone's Mileage May Vary", esp. the pick players!!

I did it the "wrong" way! I saved and bought an expensive, exotic 5 as my first five string bass. In retrospect, I knew SO little about the instrument it was untrue. But it came out right!! I [u]do[/u] have a good eye for quality engineering, fit and finish and workmanship in general. I went to the (Wapping) BassCentre and tried EVERYTHING, buying a bass that I'd never heard of before that was sitting in the corner getting dusty, simply because it felt good, sounded great and was superbly built. 13 years later, I still own that Vigier. It's still one of the finest instruments I've ever played (let alone owned!) Give it the time buying a new bass deserves, especially if you've £2k to spend. Visit a good bass dealer with plenty of stock, and try anything and everything. I still do it now. You really do have to try before you buy IMHO. A good music shop will allow you the spaec and time you need tho decide if 1) A fiver is for you and 2) If so, which one! Bongos are excellent, BTW!!