Bass-Driver

[quote name='John Cellario' timestamp='1364051717' post='2021390'] Guy Pratts auto biography...played with Pink Floyd etc....extremely funny. [/quote] This. My Bass and Other Animals. Highly recommended, and I mean very highly.

No, not a Warwick! If you want your bass to have any sound, steer right clear of those morbidly overpriced soundless pieces of badly seasoned furniture wood. In general - this is tricky... Try more Laklands, they're usually quite good. I'd recommend a used Alembic (like my Essence - it has an absolutely killer B string, and the sound is even all across the strings AND the fingerboard)) but scoring one for less than two grand might be rather hard. Maybe a custom job? There are many great luthiers out there. But if I were you, I'd just get a Status, I really like those things. Rhino and Chris Wolstenholme play them so they are good for rock.

[quote name='Clarky72' timestamp='1367782476' post='2069449'] My SB700. [url="http://instagram.com/p/Y8KNkUh9IT/"]http://instagram.com/p/Y8KNkUh9IT/[/url] [/quote] I sooo would.

I think I came looking at the pics above...

[quote name='Bobby K' timestamp='1367580670' post='2067153'] Just wondering what you mean by "off"- do you mean out of tune, or just doesn't sound right? [/quote] They sounded different than E and A strings. As English isn't my native language I don't know how to explain it better. It was like they had a different character - E and A were quite punchy while D and G sounded weak and hollow. I get the same impression while listening to the absolutely wonderful Rocco Prestia on his signature P-bass with a reversed pickup. His playing is always phenomenal but the bass just doesn't sound right to me.

This is most of what I have atm (minus a 1x15 cab I use on small gigs): [IMG]http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y51/Basstard79/Gear/Sprz1190t2013b_zps49fbe3ce.jpg[/IMG] L-R: '84 Ibanez Roadstar II fretless, Alembic Essence 5, Fender Geddy Lee Jazz Bass, Malinek Fretless 5, Carvin R600 head, SWR Henry the 8x8 cab. And here's my small gig gear: the Alembic, the Ibanez and the Carvin head (plus my Polytune tuner) with the DMNF 1x15 cab: [IMG]http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y51/Basstard79/Gear/WZMgear2013b_zps62f9959c.jpg[/IMG] That's all at the moment.

Personally, I love some of the 80s style - especially the basses

I used to have 2 BBs: a BBG5S (years ago) and a BB 615 (summer 2011 - spring 2012). Both were great for the money, especially the BB 615. I would keep it if finances allowed - unfortunately I had to partially finance a "new" ('97) car so, as the only bass that wasn't an absolute must-have for me (I mostly used it as a backup for my Alembic), it had to go. If I were on a market for a great value-for-money bass at the moment, I'd definitely consider a Yamaha BB again. They're really good basses. Here are the pics: [quote name='chrismuzz' timestamp='1299800095' post='1157443'] And hey what's wrong with rosewood? [/quote] It's boring. But I admit it goes well with alder. [quote name='BB2000' timestamp='1299946043' post='1159453'] I think they made a mistake in not using a reversed pickup in the bridge position on the BB2024. It makes a huge difference for players that slap. [/quote] No, definitely not. I'm glad they made it the right way - I tried several "reverse-P" basses and I disliked every single one of them. D and G strings were off, you could hear it especially well while playing octaves (which I do quite frequently). Classic P layout is perfect for octaves. [quote name='Sean' timestamp='1300025422' post='1160481'] Maybe but it was designed as "no compromise" bass for [i]rock[/i] players. Subjective, I know And, if that P was reversed it wouldn't do an authentic P sound thereby alienating many. At this end of the market (£2k+) some options (like MusicMan do) would be good, like maple board, reversed P, P in the bridge position, mudbucker in the Billy Sheehan position etc. [/quote] + 1 on all statements.

$3500 for a bass with a body made of plastic (with a small amount of wood as a core) and a Warmoth neck. Good luck.

[quote name='Old Horse Murphy' timestamp='1349375034' post='1825521'] Definitely rosewood Andy. Jazz basses don't look right with maple necks IMHO (Luddite that I am) Nice contrast with the Natural body too. [/quote] I respectfully yet definitely disagree. Rosewood is boring. BORING. All the cheapest basses get rw boards. It's a silver Golf of fingerboard woods - everybody seems to have one. and they all look like sleeping pills. Rw is only good in P-basses (with flats!) and fretless basses. [quote name='phsycoandy' timestamp='1349430711' post='1826147'] Sherwood green is catching my eye atm I used to have a Lakland DPLE1 in Sherwood metallic. Obviously it would be 5 string, would a matching head stock on RW board make it look too dark? [/quote] That's a beautiful colour! [quote name='phsycoandy' timestamp='1367333883' post='2064352'] Just in from Kevin at Sadowsky HQ, note they have dropped "Guitars" from the head stock it now just says NYC. Can't wait for delivery now, and i'm pleased with my colour choice and that I chose the tort guard rather than standard black one: [url="http://s79.photobucket.com/user/phsycoandy/media/stuff/more%20gear/DSC_3107.jpg.html"][/url] [url="http://s79.photobucket.com/user/phsycoandy/media/stuff/more%20gear/DSC_3106.jpg.html"][/url] [url="http://s79.photobucket.com/user/phsycoandy/media/stuff/more%20gear/DSC_3108.jpeg.html"][/url] [/quote] So you went for maple in the end - wise choice! Looks great with natural finish. And ash + maple is one funky combo!

Caramel brown. Goes really nicely with rosewood board. Black + rosewood = boring. These are seriously nice basses - share some photos when you get it!

It actually depends on what you need/want/feel comfortable with. I have 4 basses - 2 5s and 2 4s, one fretted and one fretless of each. And I use them all - just for different stuff. I found that many "conservative" 4-stringers are horribly biased against ERBs - I have no idea why. Does it kill them, does it threaten them or what? I think a 4-string bass is a beautiful thing but when you need to go below E without sacrificing the higher register you and hate detuning (and I mean totally hate), like I do - what's the solution? A fiver, of course. And since I make use of the sub-E range quite frequently, it's my Alembic Essence 5 that gets the most playing time. On the other hand, songs that don't need those low notes are more comfortable to play on a 4 string - and that's where my Fender Geddy Lee Jazz comes in handy. As for my fretlesses - it's basically the same thing, however I bought the 4 (an '84 Ibanez Roadstar) mostly because I'm very much into the 80s stuff atm. But it also gets to be played quite frequently - actually, more than my Malinek fretless 5.

Oh, I forgot. A Warwick Mosfet head and 1x15 cab in one rehearsal place... I'd just say that their amplification is even worse than their basses. No matter what bass I plugged into that steaming pile of cr4p, no matter how long I tried to dial in any usable tone, it all sounded the same - a massive cloud of dark, muddy BOOOOOOOOOO. I don't even want to imagine how a Warwick bass would sound when plugged into that abomination - my brain could implode from the horror. Yes, I hate most things Warwick, sorry.

[quote name='Dingus' timestamp='1365439389' post='2039662'] Why all this stuff about Mrs Thatcher today ? Has something happened I should know about ? [/quote] How to say it... Her earthly contract was terminated today.

That's a nice feature. I remember the night when I had to leave my cab - an SWR Henry 8x8 - in my car for a night (I had a Citroen ZX then) because I simply couldn't haul it to my flat by myself... It was nerve-wrecking! I covered it with a large blanket but was still very nervous. Luckily, nothing happened. Wow, we strayed quite far away from the original topic...

KevB - when I was helping my mother choose a car for her, I tried out a Note. I loved how comfortable the "drivers workplace" was, it also drove quite nicely. I guess it could also swallow quite a lot of gear but it wasn't a criterium. She ended up choosing a Suzuki SX4 4WD, which is a perfect car for her (a middle-aged lady whose kids have long since "flown out of the nest") - a really nice, very reliable car (no problems whatsoever!) with loads of passenger space - but the load carrying capability is pathethic and the suspension is too firm (drives nicely though). If I were to choose between the two, I'd take the Note, even though the Suzuki looks much nicer and the road clearance is very good for Polish "roads". My little Mazda 323 can swallow more gear than the SX4...

I've compared my MIJ Geddy Lee Jazz to several fairly new MIA Jazz Basses... It gave them all run for the money. For half the price I got a bass that - for me - sounds and plays better than most of the current Californian "originals". However, a modified (new pots, Badass bridge and brass nut, pickguard thrown out) '78 MIA Jazz belonging to a friend of mine blew my Geddy out of the water... But then again, it's probably the best sounding bass I've ever held in my hands (yes, even better than my Alembic!). It only proves that it all comes down to finding a right specimen. For me (from my experience) MIA Fenders since mid-80s are nothing special really, and they really differ in terms of sound quality, whereas Japanese Fenders are usually really good (better quality contorl, methinks). Not spectacular - but simply honestly good. Good enough for me. Older Japanese "lawsuit" copies are usually as good or even better - all Grecos, Tokais etc. I've checked out were just great! Older American Fenders are a bit like modern ones - they really differ from specimen to specimen - but contary to the new ones, you can find absolute gems among them (they usually need some tlc). My friend's Jazz is a prime example. What a bass!

[quote name='Kevin Glasgow' timestamp='1365372266' post='2038809'] I'm glad you enjoyed the video! [/quote] Much as I dislike jazz - and "dislike" is a fairly gentle word in my case - you knocked me out with your playing! I wish I could do 25% of what you're doing there... Amazing. You sir are a virtuoso.

I own 4 basses, and only 2 of them get regular playing time. Which doesn't mean I don't play the other two at all - I simply play them *less*. Guilt? What guilt? Don't sell any of your basses unless 1. you're upgrading to sth better, 2. you absolutely have to for financial reasons.

A GK Backline 250 - my first bass head. It was light and easy to move around, it didn't sound too bad for the price either (which doesn't mean it sounded good) but it broke down all the time. I had to have the power section worked on 3 or 4 times... The last time it broke, I simply never picked it up from the shop.

This thread makes me priapic.

I heard a story from a friend of mine (and one of the best studio sound engineers in Poland). A band was to accompany some starlet on a TV show. The guitarist had a great LesPaul copy made by Ibanez in the 70s. This thing was as good as some really nice Gibsons. A sound engineer (not my friend who told me that, of course) complimented the sound, saying "wow, a lovely sounding Gibson", to which the guitarist replied "Actually, it's an Ibanez". "Ah", said the engineer, "yeah, very nice, but not quite as good as the original". Some people "hear" badges...

[quote name='Chris2112' timestamp='1365356649' post='2038477'] I can sing, if I know the song and I can get the words out without thinking about it. I can't talk though. I'm like BB King when I talk and play. One bar of playing, pause to speak and then play again! [/quote] EXACTLY the same thing here. I also can sing if I know the bass line and the words by heart - but neither the bass or the vocals part can't be too difficult... Talking while playing, on the other hand, is out of the question. I'm not good at multitasking in general - sometimes, I can even have troubles talking to a passenger while driving...

Leen2112 - thanks for the feedback! 1. It is a bit Dream Theater-like indeed - both the guitarist and the keyboardist are huge fans. 2. Sticking to Polish may restrict airplay outside Poland... but then again, we don't really count on it. We're a rock band, not too mainstream, and we're on a tiny independent label... That's how the music business works nowadays Besides - our singer's English is rather... well, let's just say it's a tad worse than mine, especially in the pronounciation department 3. We didn't pay a penny for the vid - it was done courtesy of TTG Racing team! Great folks! And the scenes with the band playing were shot... in our rehearsal place

Jazzyvee - I know all that, I've lurked many times But I'm not much of a "community person" nowadays... Anyway - I contacted Mica several times on various occasions (even before I got this beauty) - what a friendly, helpful person she is! I have to admit Alembic's customer support is second to none.