Lfalex v1.1

Sorry to hear about your finger woes! +1 on both the Ibanez and Jazzes of all flavours (Squier, MIM, MIJ, MIA) Assuming that you're looking for a 4-string, you may find Yamahas pretty okay; BB414 BB614 & various RBXs. Got a bigger budget? Musicman Sterling Vigiers (Passion, Arpege or Excess) Custom...

[quote name='lwtait' post='80169' date='Oct 27 2007, 04:56 PM'][url="http://www.thomann.de/gb/guild-dearmond_ashbory.htm"]"unusual bass with rubber strings, sounds like a double bass"[/url] hmmm... how does this work then? wheres the pickup?[/quote] 'Tis a piezo bridge, hence is not reliant on magnetic strings. It's fretless. 22" Scale. Apparently you dust the strings with talcum powder...

[quote name='Archetype' post='79546' date='Oct 25 2007, 08:28 PM']Thanks for all the input, I think the powersoft is... well... lets just say out of my price range. [/quote] Fair enough, but I'd say (from costly experience) that a second-hand power amp is a false economy. They perform a heavyweight role, and who knows what a used power amp has been subjected to. My second hand QSC PLX1202 died about a month after I got it. File second-hand power amps along with part-worn tyres, alloys from write-offs, and used child car seats. Avoid like the plague. (At least with heads & combos, they're only likely to be connected in a simple fashion to cabinets that present a relatively straightforward load. Power amps can be used for all sorts of applications)

[quote name='MB1' post='79446' date='Oct 25 2007, 04:47 PM'][quote name='Sibob' post='78861' date='Oct 24 2007, 02:39 PM'] Weren't the Ergodynes made from Luthite? Remember picking a couple up a few years ago and them being far from light!? Si MB1. Is luthite not used for kitchen unit tops?[/quote] [/quote] That'd be [i]Medite[/i]! (which is similar to MDF) Luthite is a plastic not a million miles removed from the resin from which bowling balls are manufactured. Yup, it's quite hefty for its size, but the balance is good, and it sounds good but "different". Like it's been put through a mixing desk before it actually has... Very "Hifi" but a bit sterile. A set of DR FatBeams fixed the lack of character! I can't help but think a graphite-necked one would be killer, if a bit extreme!

CK's definitely on the right track with his thoughts on the Vigiers (I own one, too, y'know!) I also agree with the comments about Hard Maple necks on Alder or Ash bodies. These are common choices on many production instruments. It goes further still though; Maple Body (longitudinal 2 piece) / Wenge Neck (Warwick Streamer LX 6 - Bolt on) Zebrano Body (horizontal 2 piece. chambered) / Ovangkol neck (Warwick Infinity 4 - Glued Neck) Maple Body (3 piece) / Hard Maple Neck (Squier 70's VMJ - Bolt on) Are all great. My latest acquisition is an Ibanez Ergodyne. That has a one piece body in PLASTIC. (Maple neck, Rosewood fretboard) It lacks the warmth of a wooden instrument, but has excellent tonal definition. It does sound oddly strangled above about the 14th fret on the E and A strings, though. Chuck in a good pair of pick-ups and a good EQ (which they did), and the result is a super instrument for what they used to cost (about £350) I got mine 2nd-hand for £80. Would be brutal with a Graphite neck/Phenolic board! Similarly, the Infinity would be Hardcore personified with a Wenge neck in place of the Ovangkol one!

[quote name='Crazykiwi' post='78638' date='Oct 24 2007, 07:54 AM']I thought the first post said ONE pearl of wisdom each? [/quote] That [i]was[/i] the plan! Good stuff, though! Keep it coming...

Just been playing (what? [i]AGAIN[/i]!) And thought; "What's the SINGLE best piece of advice you could give to your fellow bassists?" Just one piece. And simple truisms are perfectly valid. Mine would be this: "Having achieved your optimum tone by cutting/boosting whatever frequency (Amp or bass EQ) when playing in isolation, remember that it needs to be just that bit more extreme (more boost or cut) to sound as good in a band setting / against musical backing. The same is true of effects. If you're too subtle tonally, it gets lost in the mix..." Off you go folks! But only one top quality piece of advice! Looking forward to your ideas, and who knows, some of us may have minor epiphanies as the result of a fellow B.C.er's comments!

[quote name='LukeFRC' post='77960' date='Oct 22 2007, 11:50 PM']+1 on the CIJ, awesome. The neck is perfection. and the sound. mmm I got the US model of the 57RI. You see some on denmark st but they tend to be the standard versions they just sell at silly high prices. +1 great guy to deal with. i more or less emailed him what i wanted and got an email back saying he had one in the next batch. Second hand japanese, someone had upgraded the controls and jack socket to "US standard" ones on mine (whatever that means) and put an orange drop cap in (whatever that is, its big and orange and i hardly use it) its getting a anodised aluminium pickguard by the end of the week. Quoted £60 over here £12.50 in the states, the benefit of living with an american (what is the orange drop thing btw?)[/quote] One o' them. Tone control capacitor. It'd be either 22 or 47 microfarads in value on yours at a guess! (more likely 47)

[quote name='MB1' post='77609' date='Oct 22 2007, 01:16 AM']MB1. That list reminded me of the statement...."jack of all trades and master of none"..... impressive?.... does that make me want to buy a bass off them?........er.....NO!.[/quote] I ought to agree. And based on some of their instruments, I'd make you absolutely right. But... TRBs (generally) 614s 414s RBX 374s Attitudes That I've tried tend to suggest otherwise. Especially the Attitude that I bought. It's MIJ, for starters! And the engineering content/construction quality matches all but the best boutique basses out there. It's idiosyncratic, but that's Billy Sheehan's fault!

Plectrum vs. Elixirs = Fuzzy little strings! The coating won't resist the attack of a pick. I tried EMPs on my Infinity, thinking; "Warwick bass... Warwick Strings..." only to discover they were only slightly less evil than Ernie Ball strings (which die instantly at the sight on my corrosive sweat) The Infinity loves Elixirs. I've got DR FatBeams on The Squier (!) and the two Ibanez (SRX700 & EDB600) to good effect. I'm going to move to using DRs on the Yamaha Attitude (which currently uses Elixirs) as they sound too rubbery or plasticky in the upper frequencies on that bass. As far as I'm aware, StringsDirect are still stocking them...

I have a 2004 MIA Jazz. It has its original strap buttons still on it. They are quoted as being straplock compatible (ie Schaller) I have 2 straps which I use across some 10 basses. These have Schaller locks installed and they switch from bass to bass with no trouble, Fender included. AFAIK the Straplock compatible Fender items work fine with Schaller Straplocks...

[quote name='tonyf' post='40050' date='Aug 1 2007, 03:46 PM']...Maybe also look at the fretless 5 string 'Rays. Great sounding and playing, something really graceful about the unlined pau ferro boards and the MM pickup into the series/single coil/parallel EQ give you loads of great tonal choices. All IMHO! ;-) T[/quote] +1 A 1990. Now strung CGDAE.

[quote name='andy67' post='73357' date='Oct 12 2007, 02:25 PM']guys please give me some of your live performance experience of the ibanez basses please? I have had a few and had real issues live with them BTB did not cut at all - real thin and weedy sound Blazer was fantastic in all respects - wish I'd never let it go! atk - loved the body and neck but again no cut nor presence rg/sr/fieldy - didn't work in any respect for me no amp cab issues and I dont use any effects...[/quote] I have an SRX700 and a (luthite) EDB600. The SRX is very good live. Just blasts through everything. It doesn't sound particularly "grown-up". In fact, it's a bit of a party animal! I haven't had occasion to use the Ergodyne yet, but it's got loads of clout and a naturally cutting tone that is readily adjustable with the powerful 3-band EQ. I wouldn't envsage any issues with it. I've seen a few people using SR500s, and they seemed fine from where I was standing. I think they share the EDB's Hardware and electrics...

As everyone else has said, go for it. However, you need to see it as a long-term evolution from a certain starting point. [i]"Once you start down the upgrade path, forever will it dominate your destiny..."[/i] I can't see any of us building a first bass from parts and being able to resist tinkering with it to make it better! It's hard enough to resist modding a good MIA! I did, and bought a Squier 70's VM Jazz to mess with instead, adding a BadAss II, DR FatBeams and nicer control knobs. With good results, too. For a first go, either get a bass with a good body and neck and start by changing the hardware and electronics. Failing that, try buying a [i]finished[/i] body and neck from the suppliers you named, (add Warmoth to that list, too.) then sort out some pick-ups and so on. There's certainly no need to buy Fender or licensed parts. Some of the aftermarket replacements are just as good. Or better.

I live within travelling distance of the warehouse. If I'm up that way, I drop in (they had a small shop, which has now expanded to include "Holiday Music") The service in-person is as good as you guys are getting via mail. They frequently let me into the stock room to have a look at strings and stuff. They're quite knowledgeable, but are (predictably) better with guitar advice. They do, however, admit the limits of their knowledge when it comes to products they're not that familiar with AND will listen to their customers' experiences. So... A +1 from me, too! If the amp/instrument retail side goes the same way, they could indeed be very good for things besides strings!

Second-hand. The world is your oyster, then! Opens up low/midrange Warwicks, Musicman (just about), really good Yamaha and Ibanez models (TRB 5s and just about every 5er that Ibanez has ever made!) The (American) Fender items may still be beyond your budget, but it's worth a look! Consider also G&L (Tributes) Lakland Skylines, Sandbergs... You name it!

[Crocodile Dundee voice] That's not a BS sig 10th Anniversary. THIS is a BS sig 10th Anniversary.... [/Crocodile Dundee voice] The 10th Anniversary models were a run of 300. Available in two colours. Purple with metallic flakes (as above), and Black with metallic flakes. The black models have a black phenolic fretboard with white transfers of Billy's paw prints on. Methinks the vendor dost not know the difference between her [i]Gluteus Maximus [/i]and the pointy joint in the middle of her arm. Is it not just an Attitude II as currently available in Black or Seafoam Green with a maple 'board. (Apologies to Andy for having had the Yamaha forced upon him twice in one day!)

Assuming I'm in a guitar shoppe, I'll just follow whoever's playing guitar's lead... On Saturday, I was waiting to collect my car and decided to roadtest a few basses at my local store. There was a young man and his family that somewhat invaded my personal (and sonic) space whilst trying guitars, but I was playing gently- I was bass testing, not amp melting! He bashed out a few Nirvana tunes which I played along to, then a bit of (Black era) Metallica. I just shadowed what he was doing, playing the appropriate lines [i]sotto voce[/i], as it were. I did this mainly to avoid us clashing horribly whilst we were both trying instruments. This was not really received in the spirit in which it was intended, and when he started on "Know Your Enemy" (appropriately) by Rage Against The Machine, I cut loose. I know the tune quite well, so no issues there. I kept time with my foot to avoid any nasty lapses, and bought the place to a standstill. Without turning anything up or adjusting any controls. My thoughts; play along with any guitarists you can find. They may even appreciate it...

[quote name='ARGH' post='71145' date='Oct 8 2007, 06:03 PM']When was that? The Bassist had a headless german fretless and a Trace rig (I think) back in 02....when I saw them. Naff band,and they aint even that fit![/quote] Let me see... about 12 years ago, so 1995! Maybe they were fit then! I bought the amp in a local (music) shop, then traded it in against my current rig. I got more in P/X than I paid for it! (Must've been because it smelt so nice by then!)

[quote name='stevebasshead' post='71039' date='Oct 8 2007, 01:42 PM']This site might help [url="http://www.ev-b.com/compressors.html"]http://www.ev-b.com/compressors.html[/url]. It doesn't cover all the models you mention but makes for interesting reading anyway.[/quote] Thanks, that link's really good!

[quote name='dub_junkie' post='71388' date='Oct 9 2007, 01:14 AM']lefty loosy righty tighty its the same as when the adjuster is at the headstock end and viewed looking down through the neck towards the body. I believe Warwick may have(had)some rods that worked in the opposite direction DJ[/quote] Warwick did indeed have some 'rods that worked in the opposite direction, ut it was a long time ago IIRC! I own a 1990 SR 5 fretless, and that is a "lefty loosy, righty tighty". Apparently, either digital or "rollover" style clocks have been used for so long in some US schools that a lot of kids don't actually understand the concept of "anti-clockwise" [i]Apparently.[/i]

What's the difference between The DiMarzio Model 1 and the Willpower HB used in the Attitudes? (sonically, that is...) I think I'd avoid the Willpower "P" if I installed a split "P" in a VM tele. It's a bit twangy for me, though perhaps I could fix that with a Tone Pot... Might go for a different DiMarzio model. I wonder if you can get a 1Mohm volume control pot to brighten up a dull "P". I own a Squier 10's VM Jazz, which has 500k pots to brighten the dark-sounding "Duncan Designed" pick-ups. As for a J at the tail, a Twin Jazz with a coil tap would be wicked. It'd give any mixture of; HB, P, HB or HB, P, J This allows for approximations of a P-Bass, a P/J, and an Attitude, too! I don't think I'd do the routing myself, but I reckon I could it done completely for around £500 or less inclusive of buying the bass, 3 pick-ups, a bridge etc, etc. Thanks for the comments on the Attitude! Alex.

Which reminds me; A Venue once had a rig laid on. It was the familiar [b]Hartke[/b] pairing of the [b]HA3500 head[/b] and [b]XL 4.5 Cabinet[/b]. I was using my [b]Warwick Infinity SN4 [/b](strung with Elixirs) Clean, snappy, refined, (From the Hartke) and loads of Growl from the Warwick with a really solid fundamental from that heavy slab of Zebrano... For once complimented by, not sabotaged by the MEC pick-ups and Electrics!

[quote name='andy67' post='71143' date='Oct 8 2007, 06:01 PM']as promised! laflex; a precision bass bridge (proper one that is) works better in my view than a badass.... [/quote] Depends what you want it to do (sonically)! I like the pics! I might definitely "invest" in one. I, too have an "Attitude problem!" (just the one though). I'd feel the urge (except that's Stu Hamm's) to do what you've done with the VM tele, then shove a "P" in the middle as well as the neck HB, and then a J down by the bridge. I sometimes wish the Attitudes had a HB/P/J layout, but there's no way I'm butchering this chap to achieve it:

[quote name='Musky' post='71334' date='Oct 8 2007, 11:01 PM']Not bass related, but Pete Townshend used to swear that there was a synergy between certain guitars/amps that surpassed anything you could get out of them in different combinations, The example he gave wasn't what you'd imagine either, being a Gretsch/Vibrolux (or something along those lines). For bass it'd have to be Precision/Ampeg. Though you all knew that anyway. [/quote] This was the sort of thought that inspired the thread, not that I'd heard Townshend express it in those terms. There are definitely combinations in which the whole exceeds the sum of the parts. I have noticed that the Ampeg pre-amp that I use does sound very good with my MIA Jazz and Stingray 5 fretless. Perhaps they (Ampeg) deliberately "voiced" the pre to sound good with popular home-grown instruments. I suppose if you're in the amp manufacturing business, it does pay to make your designs broadly compatible with popular designs/models. Then more people might buy them!