Twincam

[quote name='HowieBass' timestamp='1453070979' post='2956203'] I'm pretty much thinking the same thing... I wonder if setting the relief from lack of fret buzz along a neck is really the best way to do it? I always go for the conventional gap under a fretted string method so maybe the rattle PaulWarning has is because the neck's a bit too straight? [/quote] Some basses are funny to set up. I will say that unless a bass is in front of me then it can be hard to diagnose the issue if indeed there is one. You can set up a bass many ways but by far the best method is to do it in a standard fashion. Nut height, neck relief generally 0.8-0.15 and then height typically 2-4mm and intonation remembering large changes to intonation causes string height to change and vice versa. If after this there still buzzing first fret work should be inspected with a proper fret rocker,then check neck angle some basses have shims in from the factory that are actually not needed, this can cause much angle which is annoying and make a basses hard to setup, a shim is only needed if you run out of thread on a saddle or if the neck pocket had a weird angle which hardly ever happens on any modern bass. After that then does the bass neck have a typical ski jump?. Then again some players do need a high action ie the famous story about will lee and sadowsky. But even then at 4mm no way should you have fret buzz anywhere never mind all over.

[quote name='AndyTravis' timestamp='1453069722' post='2956185'] Tim Allen of scratch-it is a legend, has done some mega parts for me. He's my first port of call. [/quote] Looked on the scratch it site they don't have a mustang pattern although you can send them a trace (my gf wouldn't want to send off the plate) and I'm not sure they do standard pearl designs etc?

My gf bought my mustang reissue. But hates the scratch plate, where can they be purchased I only found wd music and there 30-50 odd quid and a four week wait. Any help appreciated.

[quote name='PaulWarning' timestamp='1453027114' post='2955588'] just been messing about with the action on a Squier VM Jazz I've just bought, now I play with a pick and give it some welly but the bottom E is still rattling somewhat with the action at 4mm on the 12 fret. What height do other pick players have to set their height at? I read somewhere the likes of Dee Dee Ramone had their heights very high, wonder how high very high is? [/quote] At 4mm action nothing should rattle no matter how hard the string is hit, something is wrong!

Yes I always listen to the lyrics and think deeply on the meanings. Some give there meaning up easily. Some take a while to figure out. Others are not meant to be figured out. I'm still talking about lyrics, and not women btw haha. Music to me is like a little book with pretty tunes behind the words, giving the story texture and emotion.

[quote name='RhysP' timestamp='1452857931' post='2954108'] You probably would have just decided you didn't like the bass in a weeks time anyway..... [/quote] That is a possibility. I find it hard too gel with an instrument. Been playing 2 years 8 months and had a lot of personal instruments. Only 4 of them I've truly liked a mim jazz bass now has a broken truss rod, a mim p bass special passive version recently sold on here (stupid of me), a bronco bass and a peavey millennium the last two didn't have a great range in sound but fantastic players. I'm trying to only buy local now so I can actually try basses or bass equipment before hand to at least get an idea if I will like it. [quote name='RAY AGAINST THE MACHINE' timestamp='1452858795' post='2954124'] The 'good' thing was that you never got ripped off in a deal .No cash lost, no dodgy bass. Was it a gumtree deal? I only ask as I hear of so many incidents from people on here who had unpleasant experiences on gumtree . Put me off of considering gumtree for anything . If not gumtree , what site was it ? [/quote] Gumtree Anyhow I'm cool with it now.

[quote name='blue' timestamp='1452823126' post='2953889'] I think this was a fluke and in the future if your really sold and know there is no history if electrical or neck repair or damage just offer to buy it on the spot. Blue [/quote] I did offer to buy it on the spot! But he said he out on wed and Thursday. And a suitable time would be Saturday so that was arranged we agreed on 1pm he gave me his address etc. I told him I wanted it etc I said I would pay his asking price. We also arranged for Friday but something came up and he wasn't available at that time fair enough. But can see why I feel messed about I will be honest I've had to pull out of deals myself as a buyer, but I've not had as solid of plans in place to do the deal I best sleep

[quote name='Wonky2' timestamp='1452821488' post='2953879'] You snooze, you loose is the expression.... If your really keen but cant make a fairly immediate arrangment to go, then offer a deposit...? Two Days of negotiating must have meant you wernt offering what he was asking? Maybe someone else was ? I know its harsh, and feel,your pain... But experience tells me that two day deal negotiations usually mean some kind of compromise on either party, but typically the seller... I dont know the facts granted, but unless you offered him the cash asking price, or secured a deal with a deposit..... Well, you havent at that point bought anything and in his eyes its most certainly still for sale. There will be others... Keep looking [/quote] I was offering him the asking price. He give me his home address etc we had reached a sold date and time. This is what annoys me, I was first in line. If I give someone my address and arranged a day and date. I would let them know that the item was for sale elsewhere or others are interested. And if it could be sold elsewhere I certainly wouldn't make arrangements for someone to around my house or give them my address etc. Anyhow I'm over it..... Ah no I'm not lol. Actually I'm ok I'm ok

[quote name='ahpook' timestamp='1452820701' post='2953875'] Well, to be fair if the vendor's got someone in front of them with the asking price in their hand they're not going to say no are they ? He's also emailed you to let you know it's sold. I know it's annoying, but I don't think the vendor's done anything wrong. /shrug/ [/quote] At 11pm, When He said he wasn't in tonight? Not angry at the loss of the bass or that he sold it to another. Just the fact I pre arranged a meet up for me to buy it. Feeling messed about that's all you don't arrange something like that to sell it too another.

Pretty angry about this sort of thing. Just been arranging to go have a look at a bass locally, I told the guy I was keen on it etc, and I've been trying too buy it for 2 days now. Exchanged a fair few messages etc. Finally we arrange a time I can go see it on Saturday so I change my plans so I can go buy this bass. Just seen my email at 11 or so pm he messages me saying oh I've sold the bass. Says it was advertised elsewhere so how has he sold it that late it wasn't on eBay, he claims he was not at home tonight either. Maybe someone is going for it tomorrow in which case that's just not cricket! Ok it's his to sell in whatever way he wants and too whoever I have no issue with this. But DONT mess me around making arrangements for me to come over etc then just to message at 11pm saying it's sold. Wtf... If you think I'm being harsh then whatever. I wouldn't dare make arrangements with someone then sell the thing without giving them a hint it's advertised elsewhere so it could fall through. I could have bought something else in the meantime etc etc. I hope it's not someone on here lol.

I'm having some good success slightly boosting the upper mids and slightly cutting the highs and I've slightly cut the 50hz. I think I'm just getting used to the as said "baked in tone". It's definitely different I can see why it might be a bit unfashionable but it's still good. Oh my is it loud! Tho. I know it's only 200w through its inbuilt speaker, certainly louder than any other 200w amp I've ever heard which is impressive especially given its age. I don't normally go for the certain watts are louder but there is something in the "trace watts" theory, I guess they are or should I say were fairly conservatively rated.

[quote name='FinnDave' timestamp='1452800270' post='2953671'] Great thread. I can't really compete with the OP, but back in 197something, I used to hang out with a group of people who'd get together for a friday evening jam in someones house. Many substances were consumed and others changed hands. One friday while we were playing amidst the mass of stoned and tripped out bodies, there was suddenly a frantic banging on the door. Several of us went to investigate, and found our regular drummer (no surprise there then!) with wild eyes gibbering about being followed by the police. As one or two people left rapidly by the back door, we tried to reason with him (and suggest that leading them to us might not have been the smartest move). I was trying to think what to do but kept asking the people in the house to turn the bloody music off as it was getting a bit weird and hypnotic and starting to freak me out. They looked a bit worried when I said that, and finally someone told me to look at my hands (shades of a Castenda dream) and I found that the only music playing was my bass. Never really lived that one down! [/quote] Haha I approve of this experience.

[quote name='ballstomonty' timestamp='1452794446' post='2953603'] To be honest I hope that's what happened, after I stopped shitting myself later on I felt sorry for the guy. I just remembered that he also offered to make a joint, and then proceeded to pull random bits of fluff and detritus off the sofa cushions and putting them in a cigarette paper so that when he lit it it immediately turned in a flaming torch of acrid sofa grit. He then took a huge drag coughed violently and immediately passed to me. I can categorically state on that occasion I DID NOT INHALE! [/quote] LMAO! I would have been genuinely genuinely frightened at that point. And I have honestly been in some frightening situations myself but yours is a good one haha. Also reminds me of the time someone crawled out from under a car.... knocked on my cousins door and kept asking in a shrill frightened voice "what has happened to the population?" The nutters are out there. And I'm not being disrespectful as mental health issues are not funny but some folk probably shouldn't be let loose in public.

[quote name='KK Jale' timestamp='1452780532' post='2953424'] Can't compete. But... I once worked in a place in Bristol, a very easy-going and fun job with lots of people my age, and one of the guys on my team was a drummer (pattern emerging?) who seemed very friendly and who eventually invited me over for a jam with a mate or two of his. So I went along and we started mucking about with these "pieces" that he had. They were very strange. It was like a kind of math-rock-meets-world-music, but odd and disjointed. The drummer seemed fixated on superimposing odd patterns over certain chord forms while smiling a lot. Eventually the story came out. The drummer was involved with a cult - sorry, "esoteric movement" - called the Emin. The Emin, as far as I could make out, believed in many things, including colour vibrations, numerology, the power of object's shapes, attaining levels of knowledge and light, and some kind of actual space exodus. The drummer was attempting to create, with the movement's local leader, some form of music to illustrate/accompany these beliefs. Hence the clashing time signatures, weirdness, and air of basic unlistenability. I didn't hang around long enough to discover whether the Emin involved some kind of pay-as-you-go system. I suspect it did. [/quote] You sure it wasn't just Free form Jazz? Lol

This was hilarious haha! Must admit I've gotten myself into some weird situations too, not unlike this one and maybe worse, non involving musical instruments however. Just a thought funny if while indeed he did get his gf, and you did one people started showing up for said party. Glad you got out haha.

Sold the bass in question just never felt right in many ways. Thankfully got my money back at least. Still don't know why I never got on with it, had a nice shape, weight and lovely neck. It's tone wasn't bad either. Just never felt right.

To add a few more tips. That's not been said. Some of this may seem obvious but it's worth saying. If the amp makes a buzzing noise with the gain and volume right down then. It's probably the transformer, these can often be tightened up on the base and on the sides to tighten the plates. However it may also need a rebuild or total replacement. I've seen this on a few valve amps now and most of them are able to be tightened and are ok. Use this to haggle the price down just in case it needs replacement if they won't budge walk away. Test all the controls! Buttons, sliders everything. They should feel reasonably firm not loose and they If crackle they will just need a squirt of contact cleaner as long as they work in there full range of motion. Switch the amp on and off several times there should be no Loud Pops! some amps do have some pop on turning on or off but it should only be a little bit. Loud pops are often component failure in an circuit that prevents this. Again to note that some amps naturally do have pops it's worth checking on forums if this is the case before hand or during the test (it's handy having a smart phone) And speaking of which, always check forums for reviews and people posting about particular faults, common or not too the amp. If it's a combo then do also give the speaker a look over if possible. Look for any cracks or repairs. Ask if it's the original speaker. Listen for any cab rattles. Does the tweeter work if it has one, does the tweeter control work if it has one. Don't be afraid to ask questions. Has it been serviced, If so who by and any proof? What's original and what isn't? If it's had any new valves has it been biased? If not then is it self biasing, if not does it have a adjustment pot etc? if no then it will need biasing always re bias a valve amp when replacing any valves, there are a few exceptions to this, so again know your amp. Check basschat, eBay, gumtree for the current prices never assume you know or that the seller knows, unless it's cheaper then great.

[quote name='Ghost_Bass' timestamp='1452616717' post='2951718'] Don't worry, that happens with some passive basses. First i would try to see if you have your bass properly setup, maybe the pickups nedd to be raised a bit, that will give you more signal strenght. I set the gain's maximum level doing a bit of slap and pop, try it if you haven't already. [/quote] Pick ups are setup right. I don't do slap and pop. But ive tried playing as hard as possible. I just think its the low output. Setting the gain 6-9 definitely sounds better now. And im now able to dial in a few different sounds. Getting a nice little bit of growl now too.

[quote name='ahpook' timestamp='1452613368' post='2951659'] Yep, I'd be looking for something community-related. [/quote] The thing is it needs work. Has a lot of noise in the signal, caps I guess and loud pops when turned off again some caps on the power switch need looking at. So I would feel a bit crap trying to give it away not working to something like that, when they would have to spend money to get it "possibly" working.

[quote name='TrevorR' timestamp='1452611386' post='2951636'] +1 for the tip on setting the input level right. The old trick should work of setting the input gain at 0 and then playing as hard as you can whilse increasing the gain knob. Do this until it only just starts to flash the clip light on the loudest notes. Then back off the gain knob a tiny smidge so that the clip light doesn't light and you should have pretty much the optimum match between your guitar signal and the input gain stage of the amp. [/quote] Slight problem my clipping light is not coming on, no matter what. However my mustang bass doesn't have that much poke lol However after reading the manual and other things its common to set the gain 6-9 so that's what I'm doing and the tone certainly seems better. Also noticed a shallow frown no pre shape works well. Compressor still isn't compressing unless its very subtle, it does gain volume and I can hear a slight difference maybe! But its not like other compressors ive used. Maybe its my lowish output bass?

I have an old mk2 te commando 100w amp taking up space. It's tatty and needs some work internally although it does work (so to say) and is the loudest 100w I've ever heard. I'm not sure it's worth much or anything. I could part it out maybe, give it away, try sell it, or convert it into a cab. Seems a waste to take it too the tip. My lass is not happy it's sat there.