JamesBass

[quote name='Steve Browning' timestamp='1493821718' post='3290965'] Don't discount a Japanese Fender. The US derivations have alder bodies and US pickups. Probably less than the MIM and a bit cheaper too. [/quote] Sound advice from a man who knows his Jap Fenders VERY well!

Quite a lot is different, the necks are compound radius and compound shape. They have a truss wheel adjustment for the necks now. And they received a very good new pickup and a new preamp. The neck is lovely, very nice feel in the hands and the QC is faultless. Price has gone up over the past 12 months, new fender uk pricing and currency flutacions have led to that.

Go to here - http://basschat.co.uk/topic/254344-the-official-maruszczyk-club/

[quote name='Chiliwailer' timestamp='1490545814' post='3265856'] My old Lull P4 had a great neck, wide 60's style nut with a gorgeous shallow depth so to my taste was easily the nicest wide nut bass I've owned. Plus Lull's have the high end access and modern bridge. Only sold it to get a PJ4, but that's in blooming Chelsea blue rather than Gooner red. [/quote] [quote name='Chiliwailer' timestamp='1490545923' post='3265857'] Just realised that we have the same bass in our avatars, I remember our previous chat about it [/quote] I did consider Lull, but going custom in the UK works out cheaper and I have full spec control with the guys on the other end of the phone whilst I'm awake! Haha, yes that 66 P is the bass that started my GAS! I ended up buying a MIM P as a stop gap and she's done well enough, but she's not ideal neck wise plus I feel she'd have a great rounds P tone! Now though I've had enough of the GAS and I'm playing much more that I can afford to get what I want, within some reason anyway!

[quote name='warwickhunt' timestamp='1490563918' post='3266060'] Mackie SRM350's for £350 or less. [/quote] The college I'm the technician at uses them and I must say, I think they are horrid!

[quote name='Chrismanbass' timestamp='1490552324' post='3265916'] Hi James narrowing down a budget makes things a lot easier but if budget is truly open ended then have a look at the Yamaha DSR series of speakers I've used them on countless gigs with one of the sound companies i work for they're awesome and pretty indestructible the 15's have enough balls to handle most things inc kick drum and bass and they sound good out of the box without having to do much tweaking (which is my main bug bear with a lot of active speakers) [url="https://www.thomann.de/gb/yamaha_dsr_115.htm?ref=search_prv_6"]https://www.thomann.de/gb/yamaha_dsr_115.htm?ref=search_prv_6 [/url] on the other end of the budget scale (slightly) I've also used the yamaha dsr stuff and its great for what it is ( not as good as the DSR boxes but its a fraction of the price) its a plastic box which imo don't sound as nice and not as easy to neaten up as wood (black sharpie works a charm) but for what they are they're good and they won't break the bank too much [url="https://www.thomann.de/gb/yamaha_dxr_15.htm?ref=search_rslt_yamaha+dxr_276909_0"]https://www.thomann....ha+dxr_276909_0[/url] I've attached thomann links so you can see the speakers I'm talking about I'm a sound engineer for a fairly famous jazz club so feel free to give me a shout on here if you have any questions cheers chris edit: i clearly didn't read the rest of the thread before commenting but yeah what everyone else said edit 2: .....,,,..,.,..,.,.,..,..,.., (heres all the punctuation I should have used think of me as the ikea of commenters) [/quote] Hi Chris, Thanks for this buddy! The DSR range would most likely be out of the price range, purely because of time constraints on upgrading the gear! I'm looking at £1500ish, £2K is a push but possible if I can convince the band to stick a bit more in each. Desk wise we have opted for the Behringer XR18 desk, which is the one I use at work a lot as it's rugged, portable, and sounds great! Plus the iPad app is really stable and user friendly! The problem is the desk often runs through the house amp and passive GAE speakers! And if we run active speakers we use some horrible mackie SRM's.

I'm on a similar path as yourself right now, except I'm being even fussier, I want a vintage 60s style P neck, wide and shallow, but with a compound radius, a modern bridge, modern/better access to the higher frets, as well as a vintage sound, in a rather fetching Sunderland AFC red! I promise I'm not too demanding! 😂 My search has taken me to custom built for sure!

I'm ideally looking to go for powered speakers so I can spend more on speakers and not have to factor an amp in! Also an easier load in without amp. I was looking at the Yamaha DXR series, I've heard great things about the Yammy speakers, and my experiences with their desks has always been great!

I'm looking to upgrade my bands PA currently I've sorted a nice new desk, but I'm still debating speakers, are there any particular recommendations that I should definitely look at? I'm currently debating between some 15inch Alto TS215's and some Yamaha speakers, budget is open ended currently.

Done, keep us updated with the progress!

[quote name='drTStingray' timestamp='1489017274' post='3253841'] Noted - but how about actually turning down the kick - in fact the whole kit - it seems to have only been in recent years that drums have been mixed louder generally. I don't understand why the drums are mixed as three or four 'instruments' and given equal prominence in a mix because it clearly ends up overpowering the music - rather like having four guitars or keyboards. Listen to disco mixes of the late 70s on original 12 in singles - they somehow manage to have prominent bass drum, bass guitar and everything else mixed so that it plays its part. I'm guessing there was no 'fill the entire sonic range by pressing a button' and auto EQ ing - basically losing separation. [/quote] I never have them loud, they are there to give the rhythmic pulse, not to swamp the band! Studio recordings are a different kettle of fish! But the same principles are largely transferable, with levels anyway!

[quote name='la bam' timestamp='1488983707' post='3253487'] as above - that's the way I do it when mixing our bands. Bit, a genuine question, how do you do it for the singer (eq wise as stated) when they're the last to be added to the mix? - genuine question - do you then go back down and eq everything else once happy with the singer? [/quote] It depends on what time I have. I know where a singer is most likely to need a bit of a cut or even sometimes a bit of a boost within the frequency range, typically between 800-1500Hz so that's often a go to area. I personally would rather I hear everything than feel it so most members of the band get a bass cut as standard. I find you just open the mix up a bit by removing some of the overbearing low frequencies. Especially on the kick.

[quote name='spectoremg' timestamp='1488920801' post='3252986'] Saw The Musical Box at Pompey Guildhall last year and the bass player's Rick was clear as hell across it's whole range. I wonder if the crew try for a '70's mix.' And while I'm on it (climbing onto soapbox), all this kick drum nonsense has led to pub drummers insisting on it being amplified however small the venue is. [/quote] Of all the venues in that area, I'm including Soton, they have the best sound. I've worked there and gigged there and I've never had a horrific sound there. The best sound I've ever heard was from the Dome in Brighton. A very balanced sound and a good engineer! As far as the bad sound engineer goes, I tend to agree with most people, excuses don't wash with me, not in today's world of modern gear with digital, saveable settings. When I engineer I always start with drums first, then bass, then guitar, then anything else, then vocals. Then I insist no matter what that we have a full band run through to get accurate settings. I ALWAYS EQ to suit the singer, everything else is just backing - that is a sweeping generalisation I am aware, but 99% of the time you have to favour the vocalist as they sing the melody, and in western music melody is number 1.

[quote name='Funky Dunky' timestamp='1487584045' post='3240837'] How much do these differ in feel and playability from the outgoing Deluxe models? I played an Elite Series Jazz on Saturday and was blown away - it just played so effortlessly. Granted, my experience of high-end basses is somewhat limited, but it smoked my Am Standard Jazz, and creamed the Spector Euro I tried before it. Pricey? Yeah. Worth it? Maybe, actually. The reason I ask if there's a big difference between Elite and Deluxe is - Deluxes are still kicking around, and can be had for a bargain price. If they're close to the Elites at all, I can already hear my bank manager's distant sobs. [/quote] If you can afford the Elite, then get the Elite. Like Gisser I tried both Deluxe and Elite side by side. The neck on the Elite blew the Deluxe out the water. Tonally they are similar in passive, but in active the Elite is better than the Deluxe. But you should play both, side by side if you can.

[quote name='Wolverinebass' timestamp='1488743391' post='3251483'] Finally, I got my hands on one. I tried a Hellwood at the Darkglass stand. I quite liked it, but for the nut width being too thin. Will Adrian alter that if you ask? I'd want it changed to 42 or 43mm as the standard 40 is just too thin for me and feels odd in my hands. Where is the price listing for all of the models? I don't seem to be able to see a price for anything except on the stock basses. [/quote] Adrian will do literally anything you ask. If you email him, he'll give you the price.

[quote name='Chopthebass' timestamp='1488310015' post='3247819'] I just picked up a new one, and whilst it plays great, I cannot lower the G string any more to my desired action. The saddle is as low as it goes and action is still a little high for me. The truss rod/neck is set up nicely. If you have one I'd like to know if you have limited saddle adjustment on the G. Cheers [/quote] I have one, and while I don't like a super low action, my G saddle still has plenty of adjustment left in it, how low have you got it currently?

So 1 or 2 emails have been sent...

[quote name='mcnach' timestamp='1488361291' post='3248161'] Ah, I only have experience with Maruszczyk and I was very happy with that, so I haven't really considered anything else. It's bad enough like that, if I had to consider other builders too then I'd go mad It's called Music Mania Festival or something like that, in Worthing. The following week I'll be back, but this time with my main band, to play at the Boomtown Fair near Winchester (we play the Friday at midnight on that one)... but I'm more likely to bring the Stingray for that. Are those any of the ones you'll be in? Cool, thanks for that, although my gf I don't think she'd be very interested in war stuff. She's Polish and when we're over in Poland she indulges me when I want to see a few things, but I have to make sure I don't overdo it. Sunday 6th of August is also her birthday, so she'll be the boss 100% (as opposed to the usual 75% ). I might bring the bicycles... Thanks! I will PM you for more info/ideas then, if that's ok [/quote] Yeah I'm doing my head looking at other builders and trying to work out why builder X charges £00's more than builder Y! Neither of those, I'm playing some festival down in Bournemouth area that weekend, and then I've got a few others lined up, victorious etc. Should be a good summer! Yeah by all means, PM away!

[quote name='wateroftyne' timestamp='1488274903' post='3247370'] That would be utter folly :-) All this time you're procrastinating, Adrian could already be instructing his Maruzczelves to make your dream a reality... And if it makes you feel better, send me the few grand you're saving by not going to the CS. I'll even give you a receipt. [/quote] Do they really stack up that well against the FCS stuff? And the vintage Fender stuff? Out of curiosity, what's the belly cut away like on these and what's the forearm contour like?

[quote name='mcnach' timestamp='1488273610' post='3247340'] Yeah, you'll wait... I bet you tell that to all the girls You'll be ordering one in less than a month. Once you start looking, you start thinking about your specs and... it's just a matter of (not much) time after that But if you haven't by then, send me a PM reminder in case I don't remember and I bring another one for whatever reason. I've got a gig in Rugby on Saturday night and then I'll be driving towards you for some festival on Sunday morning. Our slot is 3pm-ish, and after that I plan to stay for another day or two with my girlfriend in the area, so any suggestions of places to go/see would be welcome and if very good I might bring two Jakes [/quote] Am I really that easy to read? 😜 I've already got specs in mind, but I'm torn on who to give them to, to make my dream come true, I'm even considering FCS! Oh what Festival is that? I'm gigging quite a few of the local ones this summer, and we have a date for the Saturday at a festival that's a two-dayer. As for suggestions, that depends what you two like. Locally we are steeped in Martime history, Portsmouth has the Histroic dockyard with the Mary Rose and Museum, the Warrior, and the Victory, all of which are interesting! Then further north you have the Royal Armouries museum at Fort Nelson overlooking the entire area on Portsdown Hill. Over towards Southampton you have the Titanic museum, some good shopping at West Quay and Whitely. You have the river Hamble which is a very nice country walk and day out. There's plenty to do down this way, drop me a PM and I'll send over some more bits and pieces of you'd like!

So, has there been an outcome?

[quote name='mcnach' timestamp='1488239103' post='3247213'] I'm pretty far, but I'll be in the area with mine for a gig... if you can wait until the 6th of August [/quote] Oh damn, that is a bit of a wait! I'm pretty set on trying before buying so if no one else has one closer, then yeah I'm happy to wait! Thank you Mcnach

Out of curiosity, are there any Jake owners near-ish Southampton/Portsmouth? I'm fairly interested in ordering one, but I'd like to try one first

Out of curiosity, are there any Jake owners near-ish Southampton/Portsmouth? I'm fairly interested in ordering one, but I'd like to try one first