Bass Lady

[quote name='stingrayPete1977' timestamp='1363448813' post='2012875'] It would make a great Jam night bass for the cocky barsteward that always turns up last thing with no instrument as if the whole evening was a warm up ready for their arrival! [/quote] LOL! I like it.

[quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1363444168' post='2012813'] OK. It's all clear now. Because it's fretless it really doesn't matter, other than you've effectively increased the scale length by the extra length of the neck. Allow for this and use a [url="http://www.stewmac.com/freeinfo/Fretting/i-fretcalc.html"]fret position calculator[/url] to work out the new position for the side dots. Your new scale length should be 34" plus the extra 10mm = 874mm. Put in 21 as the number of frets and then use the resulting positions of 3, 5, 7, 9, 12, 15, 17, 19 and 21 to position the new dots. [/quote] Again, a big Thank You. Had no idea a fret position calculator even existed, I was going to add the dots by using harmonics and using my ears like I do when teaching beginner cellists and double bassists. Had a play of it a little earlier and it really is nice to play, ignoring the dots of course.

[quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1363437208' post='2012673'] So the neck is the right length and it's just the dots that are in the wrong place? [/quote] Well, the neck is definitely longer by 1cm from nut to end of neck. And the dots are in the place they would be on a fretted if I line the two nuts up. If I line up the two end of necks, the fretted dots seem to line up where the intonation is correct. Confused? Well I am now!! LOL

[quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1363432756' post='2012613'] So not only is the new neck longer from nut to the end of the fingerboard, but the dots are also in-between the "frets" rather than on them? [/quote] Yes! Just compared the new neck to the original Squier and yes, the dots match up with the fretted dots, then compared the Squier neck with my Warwick fretless and could see the difference in the dot placing and pretty much concluded that the difference in the placing is the difference with the intonation............ arghhhh confused. LOL I did know about the difference of the placing of the markers between fretted / fretless but without having compared them it was difficult to see. Now I can see clearly the problem. The neck was advertised as 34" scale so even with measuring I wouldn't have been able to tell there would be a difference but as the neck was so cheap I knew I would be taking a risk. Lesson certainly learnt, however I am still quite happy to go with this neck for now until I can find a suitable one to replace it. As I have never tried "modding" a bass before the idea was to see if I could do it and the process has taught me a lot. As I often swap between cello and double bass the difference in note playing on the fretless doesn't bother me, after all there are no dots or markers on those, all purely played by ear but I will have a go at moving the markers on the neck just so the wrong ones don't annoy me too much. Apologies if my posts seem slightly confusing. If it is any consolation, I have had several rows off hubby for being my normal "illogical" self.

Thank You for all advice given, I've learnt lots so far. Well, it looks like it has the "extra fret" when I compare it to the original neck. From the nut, the markers on both necks match up perfectly which at least explains the intonation difference. So first lesson learnt as I had no idea about the different lengths apart from the obvious short / medium / long scales. I think at least for now I'll move the side markers to see how I get on and keep an eye for a neck. So at this point I probably need to actually measure the old one to see what would be suitable. Here is a (poor) pic of the new beast.

[quote name='The Bass Doc' timestamp='1363386897' post='2012312'] Well you could certainly compensate by your technique but my answer would be to let the neck in slightly i.e. lengthen the neck pocket so that you achieve nearer 34.25 spacing nut to bridge. This is taken as the approximate measurement to the D and A string as the G is more like 34" and the E sring closer to 34.5 when the 'slope' is taken into account. You may need a tech to do this but it shouldn't cost much. The holes in the neck may need plugging and re-drilling to suit. [/quote] Hi Doc, sorry was posting when your reply came in. Thanks for the advice, I hear what you are saying completely. I would rather not touch the body if at all possible as I may well "upgrade" the neck in the future and this could then cause the problem of the neck being "to short" I *think*?? Plus, as the neck was so cheap and the body is a fab colour the body would be my priority to keep original. Am I making sense, sorry it has been a very long week. Can I do this? ps. Pleasure to have met you, I have read your name on many other helpful posts but not had the pleasure of your advice until now.

[quote name='3below' timestamp='1363386115' post='2012299'] Your thoughts seem good, am impressed that you can ignore side markers, they would irritate me. You may have a 22 'fret' fretless neck rather than '21'. Try it and see What are you doing with the previous neck? [/quote] Hi guys, Thanks for the super fast replies. Could well be a 22 fret neck will go check it out in a mo. Would that then affect where the markers should be? Good to have my "theory" at least given a positive reaction. I can ignore the markers as a temporary thing, plan would be to cover over and put new ones on if this is the way to go. It's a maple neck with black dots so should be easy enough. As a first impression, even though it is really cheap (£63 inc p&p) the neck does seem to be sound so it is worth me spending a bit of time and effort to get it playable. For now I intend to keep the original neck just incase things don't plan out and I suppose if I really find this new neck is no good I will look for a more suitable one (ie. correct length) in the future. So far though, the bass has cost me less than £150 and trying to find a purple, fretless precision is harder to find than rocking horse poo!

Hi all, a bit of advice needed please. Easier if I explain from the beginning. I bought a Squier P/J bass a couple of months ago, I bought it because it was purple (I have a real thing going on with the colour) and it was cheap as chips, local pickup - £70. When I got it I was really impressed with the sound and playability BUT I love playing fretless so decided to get a fretless neck to go on it. Asked on here, had a look around the internet, missed out on a really nice vintage neck on Ebay so decided to try a really cheap, new neck straight from China, thinking, well if it doesn't work out it hasn't cost me a fortune. Neck arrived, has been fitted and I strung it up yesterday. Got the action nice and playable then checked for intonation. By 12th fret (remember fretless so side marker) the intonation is very flat but compared to the markers, it is pretty consistently flat from nut, Tried adjusting bridge but at full length the screws aren't making much difference. So, measured from nut to bridge (I believe the measurement should be 34"?), well mine is more like 34.5" which certainly explains the intonation. Am I right in thinking (well in theory anyway) this would be a problem on a fretted neck because tuning would be really affected but on a fretless all I really need to do is reposition the side markers. Playing it, I can ignore the markers and easily compensate by listening and as a double bass player I am more than used to playing different instruments with different "stops" so, is it really as simple as playing by ear and moving the markers just to have that initial mark to check? Am I missing something that is going to make the bass unplayable? I don't really want to move the bridge as this could well change the tone as the pickups will be closer to the bridge. All advice greatly appreciated. Cheers, Rachel

Hi Vinny, long / normal scale, certainly not medium or short. Sorry not 100% sure of the correct term. I also have a short scale Daisy rock which again is a lovely sounding, well made bass but not as comfortable to play but great for teaching little ones in school.

[quote name='charic' timestamp='1361652600' post='1988940'] I've got a tribal planet that I got with my first bass and it's still in pretty much perfect condition after... umm... about 8 years I think Looks like this [/quote] +1 on the Tribal Planet case. I love mine, it is heavy but worth it! Real shame they don't seem to be around any more.

Well here is my cheeky bass. Cost me around about the £100 mark. Fabulous condition, lovely to play and sounds great. It turns way more heads than any of my more expensive basses too! Have to say, have always been been very impressed at the quality of all the Daisy Rock basses that I have played.

...... don't forget to have an encore, just in case....... Good luck BTW.

Looking forward it! Debs, my hubby is coming too, maybe they can get bored together. Lol

A little peak as you pass, nothing wrong with that. ;-)

Pete, can you describe the Nymans to me. Is it shiny and almost brittle at the top? I know in the past, I have been quite brutal, pressing the bow down and dragging it along the edge of the rosin so it starts to round it off a bit. Little bits will flake off but don't worry about that. Also, is the foil wrapping still on it, I never remove it completely, just rip it down enough to use but be careful of sharp bits left sticking up. If all else fails, leave on top of a radiator for a little while just to warm / soften it a little bit, be careful though, don't want it melting. Hope this helps.

Both lovely but oooooh, especially the fretless.

Good to put faces to usernames. See, it can be sunny in Swansea!

Regarding the Nymans, I have used it for years and have always found it sticky. Saying that I haven't bought a new pot for a while so maybe they have changed the formular. The Nymans cello rosin is very powdery but that is how cello or violin rosin should be, but not bass rosin. Once did a masterclass with a bassist (who was the teacher of a fellow BCer) who swore that you should only put rosin on your bow if it was raining that day! Can picture her saying it right now, almost 30 years ago! We were all shocked!!! lol Another little anictdote. Doing an outdoor gig in the middle of a very hot summer, had my rosin (Nymans) in my trouser pocket. After standing in the sun, worrying about my bass in the direct sunlight, for a few hours, didn't realise the rosin had completely melted and run down my leg (through the material of the pocket) eeeewwwww.........