Buzz

[quote name='OutToPlayJazz' post='782842' date='Mar 22 2010, 10:23 PM']+1 on Doddy's comments - The biggest problem I find with tablature is the fact that there is no indication of fingering or positioning, so it just creates generation after generation of lazy-arsed players with bad technique and no reading ability. And it's usually my job to try and sort them out. *Sigh*[/quote] Look at it this way, it's at least keeping you in the job

Go have a look in the Repairs forum, lots of threads on that topic. Also check build diaries, quite a few defretting attempts in there showing you how it's done.

Don't chuck it around like a madman. That's for starters, as you'll certainly get a worn look, but it will not look like playing wear, it'll look like you've chucked it about because while some of the roadworn instruments may have a large number of dents, they're normally quite small, and there's certainly never and big chunks missing for the most part. Go hunt some images on the forum of actual older basses, 60's and 70's precisions, not any of the re-issues or the like, so you can see what playing wear actually looks like. Then start sanding gently with fine grit in places, and don't forget you don't need to go down to the wood all the time.

Yes, those two (or 4) screws around the pups will be for adjusting height of the pups. There's no real set distance between them as it depends on the strength of the pup, too far and it'll sound quiet, too close and you start to affect the vibration characteristics of the string and can induce "wolf notes" and some clattering as well, but obviously the output goes up. Anywhere inbetween the min and max is fine. You can also adjust one side to tilt the pickup if the output across the strings isn't balanced. Normally you wouldn't touch them when you alter the action unless you've gone from being able to fit a bus under the strings to a much much lower action. Basically, if it's fine as it is, leave it as it is and have fun playing it.

[quote name='dos dedos' post='767303' date='Mar 7 2010, 09:01 PM']There goes my self-esteem... I'll have you know I'm five foot eight AND A HALF! [/quote] Then with my 5'11" height I shall tower over you and look down upon your shortness from my lofty position! Muwahaha! (waits for the 7' Predator known as dood to come along and return the favour) In regards to that neoprene strap, actually that looks awesome, and it's also wider and rather grippy due to neoprene being a rubber-like substance rather than slippy. It would be perfect.

You are a tiny person. That p-bass looks massive. I'd go firmly with the camp of it due to being a Squier, normally they do use lighter woods like basswood (obviously, depends on model) and that will make a difference to the balance. As to solving it, yes, wider leather strap instead of the thin nylon will make a massive difference and keep it where it should be. Go do that. There's also the DIY method of duct tape and metal/brick to add some weight if you really want to go that way. Buy a strap first though.

18 years old...could be a number of things, might be the capacitors, they've got a finite lifespan, could also be a dry joint somewhere etc.... Give it to a tech if you're not electrically minded.

In a twist from the usual fair, I quite liked that.

[quote name='Mrs Tinman' post='766344' date='Mar 6 2010, 06:58 PM']Perhaps an over the counter cream from your local pharmacist would help with this? [/quote] Oddly enough Terri, for a completely different itch on my left leg that may not be a bad idea

[quote name='paul h' post='766328' date='Mar 6 2010, 06:43 PM']Yeah, wouldn't be the first time I have felt like this. I gave it up altogether for a couple of years in my late teens. That's why I recently got rid of my Fender alikes and went all short scale, hoping to feel inspired a bit. It worked for about a week. I have started to pick up my tele a lot more though. I might well switch to the darkside for a spell.[/quote] Which is exactly what I've done. Although, since Christmas time I've been feeling the itch again. It's all swings and roundabouts.

Every bassist goes through phases where you don't want to pick one up, let alone play it. Happens with pretty much all musicians.

[quote name='hagguy' post='764178' date='Mar 4 2010, 05:16 PM']i've never took it apart, but think i'll take the neck off to see if there is a serial number somewhere. any suggestions on how to strip it?[/quote] Go do a search for "refinishing" and "stripping" in the Repairs and Technical subforum, there's tonnes of threads about stripping and refinishing. Your best bet will be sanding it with a lot of love and care methinks though.

Crikey, who ever repainted that and repositioned the tuners was a mong.

Mmmm, oiled necks. I oiled up a Les Paul (copy) neck that I'd sanded the horrible paint job off, I did it with teak oil. It's quite tasty. Helps that I also sanded it down with 1500grit in the end. At least, I think it was Teak oil. Might have been Tung but I'm erring towards the former, certainly wasn't Danish oil or Linseed. Either way, when I finally finish the bloody body and reassemble it (hopfully, it was a poor fit initially and I expect I'll actually need to route both the neck and the pocket square due to rubbish sanding techniques) I know it'll be a slick player.

The bassline in the Journey original is actually pretty good, no shame in learning that, it's a good song intro as well. The Glee version isn't bad either, good thing I like acapella otherwise I think I would go mad hearing their version of the intro again and again in pubs/clubs recently.

I'd also say go and email Ashdown, they've apparently got awesome customer service.

In the Edit Personal Information section from My Controls, there will be box called "Custom Member Title". That's the badger. I'll also point out you don't get the option to edit it until you accrue a certain amount of posts, 250 to be exact, which you're not at yet. Also, searching would have furnished you with answers to this common question, like so: [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=24926&hl=custom+member+title"]http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=...om+member+title[/url]

You sure it wasn't Carol Kaye?

When you were asked if they could use it, you should have said no.

[quote name='gjones' post='755282' date='Feb 23 2010, 06:10 PM']Hmmmmm I played one the other day and the inlays were pearloid (well mother of toilet seat perhaps). The neck is pretty chunky much more so than my Geddy Lee Jazz which is based on a 70's bass. It didn't sound anything like my geddy frankly, even with the rear pickup moved nearer the bridge......but it's still a nice bass though, especially in sunburst.[/quote] To be fair, you can't compare them, while Geddy's was indeed a 70's bass, it's on record that he sanded the neck down on it to make it a fair bit thinner and his sig is based off that neck's dimesions, not standard 70's ones. The Geddy is also the slimmest neck Fender do on their full size basses iirc.

I'd not let punters have a go and friends at gigs will come under that moniker. In my house though, yeah go for it, you'll probably be sober and will just want a sedate twiddle. Saying that, I was a punter at an open mic night, and after they finished I had a quick chat to the bassist as he'd been playing a Chapman Stick alongside his Pedulla. He offered if I wanted a quick go, I actually turned him down as I was well aware I'd sunk a few pints and didn't want to risk it. I don't see why other people are incapable of acknowledging that they're drunk and that instruments have a significant financial value attached to them. Hell, I'd be wary about trying a DB sober considering their cost, I wouldn't dream of it after any alcohol.

Well, if you must ask: Granted, it's not technically in my playlist, but I'm sharing the joy.

Joined. Phwoar!

I should point out that the price of basses generally defines the money spent crafting the thing as well as the profit margin. Cheaper instruments will be built using cheaper parts, cheaper woods and cheaper manufacturing techniques (including QC) and normally dispense of nicities in order to fit within budget and return a profit. More expensive instruments outside of the "budget" range while perhaps seeking a greater % of profit, should also see higher manufacturing costs relating to quality of construction and parts. In other words, you get what you pay for. However, as we know in the real world for instruments, percieved value really does rely on QC, hence why no-one on here to my knowledge has picked up an actual bad Squier VM bass (maybe that extends to the CV as well), yet occasionally you hear of bad MIA Fenders (granted, not as much since early last year when the '09 models came out). With the high QC you find that while the instrument make lack the nicities and extras of the higher specced models, the important parts like parts fit, fret finishes etc... are of a good quality and so allow the instrument to perform to the best it can based on it's design. Personally though, If I was going to spend £900 quid, I wouldn't buy a cheap version with it's cheaper woods and construction and spend the rest to upgrade it in just to reach a similar level of the one that's already at that level and available. Seems like a pointless exercise to do so when the costs are the same. Sound is another matter but it sensible to expect that when you want a bass that is alive acoustically then higher quality woods would offer a greater chance of that happening.

I have no idea what my insperation is. Not the foggiest. However, I do know what my [i]inspiration[/i] is, and that's hearing sublime basslines that work with the song, sometimes subtly, and I want to do that. Hearing bands live always gives me a surge of enthusiasm as well.