redstriper

How does the weight affect the sound ? Or is that another thread ?

[quote name='buff' post='655921' date='Nov 16 2009, 01:15 PM']Picked up two in my local guitar shop and i recon they varied by a couple of pounds in weight.[/quote] That's a big variation and I'm surprised on a mass produced instrument - I wonder what other differences there are in raw materials.

Whaddya mean no deadspots - that can't be right, all my basses have deadspots. mmmmmm................. You can buy a Squier CV jazz, CV 60s precision and a VM fretless jazz and get all 3 for less than the price of one American Standard Fender and you might even get a CV 50s precision thrown in ! mmmmmmmmm............................

Thanks for the review. I'm seriously conidering one of the CV basses and will try them as soon as I can. Just a couple of questions please - How much does the CV weigh compared to the American Fender. Also, are there any dead spots ? Thanks again, Steve.

I had exactly the same experience recently with a used passive corvette standard in my local shop. I'd never tried one for the same preconceptions you describe, so I wasn't expecting much when I had a go on it. But I loved it - couldn't put it down and even thought of buying it except it's £50 more than a new one! Great deep, fat sound and a joy to play - like a jazz but clearer and more direct. Fit some fat flats and it's the perfect dub bass. On the subject of blowing stereotypes - my main fretless is now a tanglewood rebel that I got from ebay for £23 delivered. It sounds amazing strung with TI flats (which cost more than the bass) and is lovely to play after a good set up. Moral - you can't judge a book by the cover.

If it's still available, I'll definately have it - been looking for one for my mag115 for a while.

[quote name='BigBeatNut' post='648736' date='Nov 8 2009, 01:25 PM']@wot - import charges: already noted. Last time I looked at importing labella tape-wounds, the postage alone looked set to double the cost. Okay .... is there any flat that comes [b]close[/b] to labellas .... e.g. fender, picato, pyramid, GHS .... whatever ? Andy[/quote] I've never tried labellas so not really qualified to answer, but I will anyway - I use GHS flats on my 4 string jazz bass after trying, Fender E. Ball, Rotosound, TIs and DRs before settling on the GHS precisions. They are the smoothest sounding and feeling that I have tried with a medium tension and ideal for old skool reggae or motown styles and like all flats, they improve with age. I also like the TIs for my fretless, but they're not deep enough for dub. I buy mine on ebay from [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/GHS-Precision-Flatwound-Bass-Guitar-5-String-Set-45-126_W0QQitemZ370170933299QQcmdZViewItemQQptZGuitar_Accessories?hash=item562fe83033"]this guy[/url] in the States and I have never been charged VAT or customs handling. They usually arrive in about a week and they strings cost almost double in the UK even including shipping and the more you order, the cheaper the shipping. Soirry for sounding like an advert and hope this helps. Steve.

They could be GHS precision flatwounds - my personal favourites for old school smoothness which just gets better with age.

[quote name='lanark' post='569971' date='Aug 15 2009, 03:07 PM']Are flatwounds the way to go? Will they make a drastic difference?[/quote] Yes to both questions - you will love flats and never go back to rounds IMO. I prefer the feel of the ordinary flats to the black nylon ones and my favourites for a smooth db type sound are GHS precisions. You can get them from the US on ebay for about £20 including delivery.

Excellent review.

This post makes me sad - it's a sign of the times that we are all spoilt with too much money and choice. You will never be happy so long as you are trapped in the cycle of spending money on tools rather than getting down to the job in hand, (playing bass in this case). My advice is this - get a bass you can live with and keep it for years, learn to deal with it despite it's shortcomings, show it who's boss, master it and get what you want from it instead of wasting time buying and selling basses because they're not quite right. Certainly get it set up and adjusted to suit you, but don't just give up on it because you can - your perfect bass will find you when you stop looking and it will be right under your nose. "Bass players call from all over, wanting to know what type of equipment I use, what type of bass, what kind of strings-- things like that. I'll tell them, but that's not what's important; it's the feel. The strings don't make the sound, it's the feel. It's all in here, in the heart." - James Jamerson, 1979 I've posted this vid twice before, but it's as relavent to this post as any other -

[quote name='Mr.T' post='562408' date='Aug 6 2009, 11:46 PM']One advantage of having a bigger glass than is needed (half full), is that more can be added.... = Headroom. On the subject of perfection... I am sure that a Honda (In the eyes + mind of an engineer) is closer to 'perfection' than the Custom bike in my avatar, but guess what....!!![/quote] Nicely put Mr T.

[quote name='jakesbass' post='558773' date='Aug 2 2009, 09:53 PM']Everyone always says to me "lovely feel"[/quote] blimey.

[quote name='Fraktal' post='562310' date='Aug 6 2009, 09:56 PM']Actually I used corn oil since it was much slippery than the talc and lasted longer (stinky as hell, though, but you cant use mineral oils with silicone rubber). Did they improve the strings somehow? I never heard of Ashbory strings that didnt need some kind of lubricant.[/quote] There are some new alternative strings available which are quite different to the originals. They are much stronger and don't need lubrication but you can use silicone spray. Read about them on the Ashbory forum [url="http://www.largesound.net/bass/index.php/topic,653.0.html"]here[/url].

[quote name='charic' post='562348' date='Aug 6 2009, 10:37 PM']You wont be as drunk?[/quote] I must admit, that might help - I'll try it now and report back.

But how will smaller glasses help my bass sound ?

Feel is not an intellectual thing for me at all, it's a spiritual vibration. Over the years I have learned to relax and allow it to flow, rather than actively trying to bring it on. It's almost like meditation and when I'm in the zone, the music flows through me like I'm channeling it from a higher place. It was scary when I first found the zone and many musicians back away from it when they feel it because it's beyond their normal way of working. But if a group of musicians allow that feel to grow between them, they can create magic and if the audience picks up on the feel it will be extra special, like a natural mystic flowing through the air. I'm only really interested in music that has that feel and you can't learn or teach it - you just open the door and let it in.

[quote name='51m0n' post='562117' date='Aug 6 2009, 05:51 PM']There is much to be said for a good look at popular opinion though, otherwise you wouldnt be on this forum.[/quote] I'm only here to tell everyone else to ignore each other

The Berg 115 is only the best 115 you can buy if you like it yourself - I don't. I haven't tried a Compact, but I have a lighter 115 that sounds great to me, so I don't need to. Forget the science and popular opinion and use your ears!

The only way to know if a particular amp and speaker(s) suit you is to try them, (preferably at a gig or at least a full band practise). If you are looking to replace something that you are already happy with, then exhaustive side by side comparisons are the best way to find out if you can get your sound from any new kit. A long guitar cable is useful, so you can hear the sound at different distances and angles from the rig. It doesn't matter what the specifications are on paper or what make, weight, size or combination of products you use so long as you are happy with the sound and the logistics of moving and working the gear. This forum is useful to get an idea of other people's experiences and opinions, but there is no substitute for trying stuff for yourself because we all hear and feel differently and have our own undefinable ideas of the perfect tone. This is not science and much as we might want spec sheets to hold all the answers, they don't - as in life, the essence is invisible. I realise I've probably just stated the obvious, but it's surprising how easily we can be seduced by other people's opinions especially when backed up by science. Only when we are happy with our gear can we relax and produce the music in our hearts - who feels it knows it.

[quote name='grumble' post='561629' date='Aug 6 2009, 12:16 AM']are they 'fun' to play ?[/quote] Oh yes and addictive, but they can be infuriating too Beware buying a new one from the states on ebay - I've heard that there are some poor quality ones doing the rounds on there. I would advise buying a new from [url="http://www.largesound.net/"]here[/url] or waiting for a used one to come up.

[quote name='Fraktal' post='561275' date='Aug 5 2009, 04:48 PM']I had an Ashbory and loved its tone, but in the end I had to sell it because I couldnt get used to the extremely short scale. Just a few inches more would have been perfect because intonation is a big concern when playing the tiny bass. Are those wood models commercial? Would be nice to order a custom "XL scale" in case those arent already, cos I see those string knots dont have much string left, at least the Rickenfaker.[/quote] It is hard to intonate accurately on the fretless Ashbory and it really makes you appreciate the effort it must take to play violin. Worth it if you can be bothered to stick with it though, the tone is huge - very deep and smooth despite the size and light weight. Here's another home made longer scale Ashbory, the second clip is with new strings which don't need talc and come in different lengths and gauges, they are the same strings as on the U-Bass in my previous youtube link which is a 21 inch scale available with or without frets. The two Ash's in the original pic were made by Mike Taverner in York and I'm not sure if he makes them to order or not. You can contact him via the Ashbory forum [url="http://www.largesound.net/"]here[/url]. I played an Ashbory exclusively last year at lots of gigs and festivals, but it was hard work especially on a dark stage and I never got over needing to look at the fretboard almost constantly. It was good for me though and I look forward to trying a fretted U-Bass when they arrive in the UK. All the tracks currently on my band's [url="http://myspace.com/redstriper"]myspace[/url] were recorded with the Ashbory.

[quote name='paul h' post='560334' date='Aug 4 2009, 04:25 PM']Want one. U-Bass that is.[/quote] Same here - UK distributor is Sutherland Trading, they should land sometime later this month. Contact [email protected] for more details.