Blackbird88

Hi guys, I recently bought a p bass and I'm having a technical issue with it. The volume seems to randomly cut in and out, and I don't know enough about electronics to understand why. I've figured out that it's definitely the bass, the first time it happened I was at band practice through my full setup and pedalboard (thankfully I had another bass with me). Since then I've found it still happening through my practice amp at home with a different cable. It also seems to happen regardless of pot positions, I've had it with tone full on, off or somewhere between and with the volume full on or halfway. It also happens regardless of if I'm playing hard or soft, fingers or what passes for slap and pop in my case. I've had the pick guard off and can't see any obvious issues (wires loose, etc), but I'm not really an expert. For reference it's a Fender Ltd Sandblasted Precision, they're American made with standard American passive electronics. I don't want to have to return it to the shop as it's not local, and for the sake (and cost) of travel, plus I guess they'd probably return it to Fender for repair and then I'd have to go back to pick it up, so I'm hoping it might be easier/cheaper to have it done by a tech locally, especially if I can isolate the issue first. Any help is hugely appreciated.

I've seen pictures of the yellow and the red, and I played the green one Mark had at Bass Direct shortly before the London Bass Show, Sheldon loaned it to him to go on his stand there, playability was everything you'd expect from a Dingwall, and there's a wide range of tones available, esp. with that EQ. I would say bear in mind that the pictures do not do that green one justice, it is a much brighter colour than it looks in photos, really striking, so I'd assume the blue is the same. I'm still trying to decide if I want one of these or not, I'm tempted to continue saving further and go the same way as Dood, the AB1 is awesome and that pickup configuration has so many tonal options available. Plus they look damn sexy.

It's not a problem if there's a variant in the UK you can test drive, but when there are almost none of an entire model in the UK shops it becomes a real pain in the ass. Which is less common but still happens. For example, I believe there's no Warwick dealer left in the UK as it stands, only the rockbass instruments are available new I believe. Fortunately in that case there's a plethora of s/h instruments available for trying and buying.

I've experienced this with Ibanez myself (I'm certain they aren't the only ones however), at one time I was looking for an Ibanez SRA555 which was never marketed over here, could only find them in American shops or eBay from America, and I think there was also an SRZ model in addition to the SRs and SRXs which was also US only. The SRA had the higher output of the SRX, a slightly slimmer neck much like the normal SRs and an arched top to the body, real meaty looking beast. Not sure why the marketing strategy is the way it is, only that it's extremely annoying when it happens. I'd suggest it's to do with potential loss of profits. It's much less impactive to ship say 5 in 100 to the US, when the sheer size of the country means they shift a hell of a lot more models. Or maybe it's used as a trial period for something they aren't sure of, but they find it not profitable enough to ship it here. Not sure I explained myself very well there, but at least I tried, haha.

Bought a beautiful Ibanez AGB 200 from Mike on Sunday, seemed like a great guy, left me to try it out with no pressure and afterwards he tried to talk my ear off! Pleasure to deal with, couldn't be happier.

I bought one exactly the same as you mention only a few weeks back, it's a great bass for the money, I'm with Mornats though, it could do with a new pickup. I find it kind of wooly sounding, but I'm unintentionally comparing it to my SBMM Ray 34, which is stunning. A good alternative to one of the SBMM Sub Ray 4s I reckon. Great thin, fast neck, really playable, and comfortable to play too.

I'm in the middle of this search myself at the moment, I've got an Ibanez BTB 775, which sounds great tonally but gives me left hand cramps when I play for a decent amount of time, and it's never been remotely comfortable, so I'm looking to sell it on in favour of something slimmer. I've found the Yamaha RBX 375 has a great comfortable neck, as do the Ibanez SR 5s, the Rockbass Streamer 5 I didn't like, didn't like the MIM Fender Jazz V Deluxe either. I tried some ESP/LTD thing as well which just generally felt, sounded and looked horrible. The numbers suggest the Yamaha TRBX 505 should be pretty good but I can't find one anywhere (I think GAK had one, but Brighton is a long drive from here), and I emailed the UK distribution centre for Dean Guitars recently for the neck width on the Hillsboro 5 (after playing the 4 string w/ MM p'up 2 weeks ago in Nevada Music, and loving it, and then going back and buying it Saturday), they said nut width was 45mm, 12th fret width 61.5mm, last fret width 68mm, so all in all not far off the Soundgear necks, and you can get them under £400 as well, the 4 I got is a cracking bass for the £300 I paid. A little rough paintwork round the truss rod access (it's on the body at the base of the neck, not covered over), but it's got a lovely maple neck and fretboard on it, punchy pickup and feels pretty solid, and I've no reason to believe the 5 is any different. Based on owning an Ibanez EDB 550 I imagine the 5 string Ergodyne basses should be pretty slim necked, the 4 I have is comparable to the Soundgears which seem to pretty much be the standard for slim necks. I'll be looking for an EDB 555 in the near future to compliment my 4, once I can afford it. They're just hard to find because they're discontinued.

I've got wear on the top bout (from my forearm) and lower back edge just below the control cover (from clothing rubbing) of my Ibanez EDB550. She came second hand to me 2.5 years ago but there wasn't really any noticeable wear there back then, although to be fair I only picked up on it recently. She's got a natural finish though, no poly/lacquer either, just oiled I guess. I was horrified when I first found the wear, but I've kind of come to like it, it feels like I've put something of myself into it through the hours of playing.

My ibanez EDB 550. It was almost my first bass, my actual first bass was a handed down cheap and nasty P clone (shouldn't complain too much, it was free), a week later the same guy who gave me the P sold me my EDB. I was too new to the bass to appreciate how good it was at the time, but in the 2.5 years since then I've tried or bought many basses that haven't even come close to it, picking it up is like reuniting with an old friend. Sonically the only thing is own that compares is my BTB 770, but it's an entirely different animal, the bartolini pup's give it a darker and heavier sound, coupled with the 18V preamp it's much louder too. The EDB just has this great clean tone with just a little growl that I love. Never, ever selling her.

I was doing a little searching for information/reviews on the Ibanez AGB200 4 string, and then I spotted the AGB205 on the Ibanez website. I'm intrigued, it has a 30.3" scale and to my knowledge, with a few expensive exceptions short scale 5 stringers tend to have a pretty muddy B string, so I'm wondering whether it even has a low B or if its strung with a high C. There's nothing on Ibanez website (or anywhere else for that matter) that states one way or the other, so I'd assume its a B, but to get clarity on that short a scale you'd need some serious string tension, therefore thicker strings right? In which case they'd be hard to get hold of I'd guess, 125-135 being standard B string gauge. There seem to be a few places selling them to order but no one online has them in stock as far as I can tell. Has anyone seen, played, owned or even heard anything regarding this bass? I'd consider ordering one to end my curiosity, but if its a high C it'll be pretty useless for me (I rarely use my G string). Link to Ibanez page: http://www.ibanez.co.jp/products/u_eb_page13.php?data_id=221&color=CL01&year=2013&cat_id=2&series_id=117

PM'd. I'll give him a ring nearer the time and inquire about a price, there's no point ringing him this far in advance anyway. Cheers for the advice/help guys, appreciate it.

[quote name='brensabre79' timestamp='1358332270' post='1936997'] Yeah I know its wiers innit? but that red tortie looks cool fella! Be careful ordering those tortie scratchplates though, some are really flat/cheap looking because they are just printed on. [/quote] I've seen those printed on ones when I was trying to find scratchplates for the blacktop, looked pants compared to the real deal, I'll watch out for that, cheers [quote name='jackers' timestamp='1358336309' post='1937105'] is the P-bass pickup in the same place as it is on aerodyne basses? if it is then you could try looking for aerodyne replacement guards too. Also, Howard (The Bass Doc) on here can make you a pickguard if you send him a template. Try dropping him a message and see he can help you out. [/quote] Don't know about the pickup position, when the time comes I'll measure up and check if I have to, it's a good point, hadn't thought of that. I'd assume aerodyne scratchplates would be easier to find as they've been around longer. I'll bear him in mind, any idea how much (ballpark figure) he normally charges?

Interesting. I thought it would look better with the all in one, but somehow I think it loses character without a metal control plate, definitely going to leave as is. I've seen a picture of a blacktop somewhere with a red pickguard and the original control plate, it looked awesome. Found it: http://img207.imageshack.us/img207/2364/cmfbjb.jpg

Thanks, that's good to know, I've never used them before, but I'll keep that in mind. I thought it might be something like that with the control plate, I'll probably just leave it as is, but it was an idea.

I find a nice balance works for me. If I listen to anything to proggy/complex I start to lose myself in the song, but anything too simple I get bored and my mind wanders off. I received that same email, read the article, passed it off as half assed pseudo science crap, and then loaded my car up with a few more rock/metal CDs for good measure.

I'm going to purchase a Blacktop Jazz in the very near future, I jammed one at Andertons Saturday, and loved the feel, the sound and most of the looks, except for the fact theirs was dinged a little, the wonders of display models. The only thing I'm not in love with is the black on black body/scratch plate combo. I'm not interested in the white chrome version of the bass, just to be clear, i like the black body, just not the scratchplate. Problem is, plates for a blacktop jazz seem to be hard to come by, the only place I've found so far is WDMusic.com (strangely their UK site doesn't have them) and I'm not sure if they deliver internationally (I'd guess not because they have a UK site). The only other option would be having one custom made, but I've no idea where to get one or how much it would cost. Basically does anyone know anywhere that might sell them, or know of someone who could make one for me? I'm open to ideas on the colour/design as well, I'm thinking red pearl, I've always liked red on black, but I'm also considering green pearl/tort. Also, out of interest, can the jack plate be replaced with one that matches the pickguard colour? And where might I find a coloured one? Never owned a bass with a scratch plate before, let alone a Fender, I mostly play Ibanez, so this is all new to me. Any tips on replacing it would also be helpful, I'd assume it's straightforward bolt on bolt off, but then I've heard Strat electronics are mounted on the back of the plate so thought I'd ask in case this is the same. Cheers in advance, Rob Edit: had an idea, if I'm having one made for me, is there any reason I can't have one made to cover the jack plate as well, so it's one continuous scratch plate like on a P Bass?