such

Hi Jon I've done some repairs to my basses in the past, I'll take a look at your bass next time I see you, unless you'll get it sorted before. If it's not twisted very badly, a bit of fret levelling can help, in worse cases a complete refret (plus extra levelling) or defretting, sanding down the fretboard and refretting again. All of the above I have done in the past. But yeah, Mighty Mite necks are quite decent, licensed by Fender, and at their price (usually less than 100 pounds for a finished neck) it may not be worth the effort. Plus, the marketplace here is even better for choice and prices.

A little bit off-topic, but my criticism on the Bassically Speaking feature (or rather on what some/most interviewees have to say) got some responses, so I feel like defending my point: Yes, young players should be enthusiastic, and we should encourage them. In fact, I give bass lessons for free, to do just that. They should also be as left-wing (musically) as possible. I just think that an attitude like:[i] "I'll better play eight note root-fifth riffs on my four string p-bass with flats through an overdriven ampeg, because any other feel/technique/bass/string count/amp is for show-offs"[/i] is really as conservative as it gets. Their grandads were more radical in their time. It's not my insecurities, I might not be financially succesful as a musician (although it pays for gear and even some holidays), but other jobs compensate for it. I've gigged, toured, recorded, met and befriended some of my bass-playing gurus, taught. I just remember that when I started playing bass (rather late, I was 18, played guitar and drums before), I wanted to try everything. Rock, metal, funk, jazz, Bach, folk, reggae, fretless, 6-string, 8-string, P-bass, upright, slap, tap, pick, bow, flanger, octaver, synth, sight reading, 3/4, 7/8, 15/16. And to make it all clear, I don't actually dislike the feature. I would just like to see more of those girls and guys who actually do something unusual, have something [i]else[/i] to say. Not 5 "new" indie-rock p-bass player every issue. Show me someone who plays a one-string bass with a chicken leg Or, I don't know, at least a 5-string fretless in a folk band?

Hi Joel, it's great that you're here. I stopped buying BGM because of some obvious bs that was included in articles. I won't quote everything now, couldn't even if I wanted to, as I gave all BGMs to a friend. But what I remember: in the review of a Yamaha BB1024x it was stated that it weighs 12kg. I'll never believe it. Of course there is some variation in wood, but not enough to make one entire bass weigh 3 times as much as other ones in the same model. Some time later, review of a Yamaha BB424. It was stated that there is no way to adjust the height of the bridge pickup (which is NOT true), and that because of that strings have to be raised on the bridge so they don't hit the pickup when played, and that makes the bass much less playable. Now, who would buy the bass after reading that? Does someone not like Yamaha...? I remember that some time ago there was a Limited Edition Warwick reviewed, costing about 2.5k. It was a model with coil switching pickups, passive/active options etc. It was stated that it is an extremely versatile and good sounding instruments, but it's a lot of money, so why not look elsewhere. Few pages further another bass is reviewed (I don't remember what) in the same pricepoint, and the conclusion is like, ok, maybe it is expensive and has its limitations, but it's a professional instrument, so if you look for a professional instrument, please at least consider one of these. Of course I am aware that you haven't been the Editor for long, and it all happened before. Just pointing out things to avoid. Also, when it comes to reviews, why not concentrate on what sets the particular piece of gear apart, rather than describing the features that it has in common with all the others. When I read a review of an amp, I really don't need to read that turning the "bass" knob clockwise boosts low frequencies. Or, in a review of a jazz-style bass, what general difference panning between pickups or rolling the tones makes. Rather than that, I'd like to know what specific difference is there between this amp or bass and other amps and basses. And yes, the reviews sometimes really lack this, especially with the more traditional designs. Other than that, I quite like the magazine - interview (although the feature on young "alternative" bassists are annoying, when all of them just say that 5-string basses, or slapping, or practicing, or theory, or effects, or being in tune, are for w***ers, so they don't do it, because they are real musicians with soul), woodshed thing, quality of pictures, lessons (Gwizdała and Marks especially).

Hey, they are MAKING those bridges, pickups, etc, so obviously they don't have to pay the retail price for them when they use them in Rockbasses. What's weird about it?

Maybe they've made a first batch in Sweden or something? I've had a Kustom DE300 head for trial from one of the big german retailers a few years back, and it said "made in USA" on the back. I was curious, as press reviews stated it being made in China. Contacted both the retailer and Kustom, and both confirmed that there was a batch of several hundred amps that was made in the States and went for sale in Europe. Might be some sort of similar case here (which I kinda hope).

Bought a Digitech Bass Synth Wah from Paul last week. He posted quickly and packed it well and safely. Finally had a chance to test it in last two days, and everything's ok. Good transaction without any problems, good communication and fast proceedings, thanks Paul

+1 to what the guys above have said about the gain/needle thing. Also, different amps have different ways of delivering power via the master volume potentiometer. If I'd have a choice between an amp that [i]"I never go past 10 0'clock"[/i] and an amp that [i]"I never go past 2 o'clock"[/i], I would choose the latter anytime. It still gives me more power that I need and more usable (and precisely adjustable) range.

Starters pack... well, James Jamerson used one of those tuck'n'roll rigs. I've had a Kustom Groove 210 combo - google image search brought my own pic that was included in my review on a Polish bassists' forum few years ago: http://basoofka.net/files/KustomGroove210c1.jpg Hadn't even heard about the company before, but one of the German online sellers had an awesome offer on those - something like 250 quid (rrp was closed to 850) with free shipping to the EU. It was crazy loud, and a bit generic sounding. Nothing wrong, just very clean, very wide frequency response. I liked the EQ very much, both the graphic (with my favourite choice of freqs: 100Hz, 200, 400, 800 etc) and the bass/mid/treble knobs with switchable freq centers. Some time later I upgraded to Groove 1200 head and matching 410 cab. I was planning to add a 215 cab as well, but it wasn't really needed, the 410 was more than loud enough. Very heavy, too, heaviest 410 cab I've ever encountered. The Groove series is sadly discontinued. I've tried the DE300 head with matching 410 and 115 cabs later, we got them for a two week trial when they first appeared on the market (2009 I think). I compared them with an Ashdown MAG rig that I was using at the moment, and liked the Kustom better. Both heads sounded better through Kustom cabs than through MAGs.

I used to own a GB94 a few years back. It's very similar, but has no pickguard, has spalted maple veneer (too thin to call it a "top") and upgraded pickups/preamp: Seymour Duncan SMB4D and QuarterPound Jazz plus Duncan Designed preamp. I recall it being very light, and I was getting a lot of compliments on its tone, especially from bandmates (they knew the difference, as I was bringing other basses to the rehearsals as well, including few different Warwicks). The Cort was by far they favourite of my basses. And yes, there was a fretless version (not sure if it's still available anywhere). There was a limited edition called GB74P-Dao (or 75, as there was a 5-string version as well), never appeared on Cort's website, but I've seen it in a few internet stores. Had a dao wood (whatever that is) veneer and piezo in the bridge. Bound/blocked rosewood board on fretted, plain rosewood on fretless. found some net pics, looks like fretless board is also bound: [url="http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/802/img0156zg.jpg/"]http://imageshack.us.../img0156zg.jpg/[/url] [url="http://www.woodbrass.com/images/woodbrass/GB75PFLBBS.JPG"]http://www.woodbrass.../GB75PFLBBS.JPG[/url] quite sexy.

It may be exactly what I'm after, my dream synthy sound is one in the chorus of Jamiroquai's "She's A Fast Persuader"

does anyone has any experience with Tech21 Red Ripper? Some fragments of youtube clips sound very promising, but mostly they concentrate on the fuzz/distortion aspect of the pedal...

I don't know what the core is made of, but as I've said, I never experienced any problems caused by washing the strings. I don't do it anymore, just can't be bothered to take them off and then put on again. That's actually what I think might cause breakages (near the tuners). Now I just slide a sheet of plastic between strings and the bass, wipe them with a cloth damped with meths generously, brush a bit with a little brush (with brittle fine but firm), wipe again, let dry, remove the plastic. I'm usually good for half a year, until it's time for new ones.

When I started playing in mid-90s, I bought a book to learn from, written by Wojtek Pilichowski (I know some people know of him here). He actually gave advice there. It was not to bother with boiling, just use hot tap water and dissolve some washing powder in it. Then put your (curled) strings in it for quarter of an hour, take out, rinse well, dry with a hairdryer. I followed that advice for many years, nothing ever happened and the sound afterwards was always fresher and zingier. I've never changed strings that I've had on a Peavey bass that I bought in 1999 and sold in 2008. Never. Same set of SS Rotos, only washed about three times a year. OK, I defretted the bass after two years, so didn't really care for highs too much. Boiled strings a few times, too, this time with some washing-up liquid added (just a couple of drops). The detergent helps to break the grub down, water only won't help much. As for water damaging the strings - nothing happened to mine, no rust (well, it did on nickel Dean Markleys), no breakages. It's stainless steell ffs, pots, pans and knives are made of it. To be fair, tried meths as well (overnight), and it worked nicely, too. And, I seem to be blessed with hands that don't sweat, and light touch when playing.

where are you based?

to be honest, I'd love them both "reverse" (bass side coil closer to the bridge), just not sure whether those chrome frames can be reversed - seem a bit sharp on the body side edges. That could be sanded down a tad, but I doubt they are so smooth and shiny on the other side, need to look one day. Otherwise, would have to look for someone able to make those.

yeah, I've had many basses with and without bridges that allow that, and it makes a difference, even if only a few times a year. So when I make a swap, that's one of the things I want changed. I'm also planning on adding more/better string retainers on the headstock, those would have to be Hipshot I guess, as here I also expect easy string-changeability There's almost no angle to the E string on the nut, and very little on A and B, I hope the retainer would add a little bit of angle (and tension) here. This and the bridge combined will hopefully make the B string a bit better. If I remember correctly, Sean, you mentioned in your review that the bridge swap actually has helped. Not that it's bad as it is, I'm only slightly dissatisfied while practicing with headphones, it's much better through the amp, but every little helps, right?

a Warwick. I love Warwicks, used to own a couple and will again - not my cup of tea soundwise at the moment though, too modern, and I prefer to invest in other things right now rather than additional basses. I've tried a lot of them, and find that the B strings are really good, and particularly impressive in the following models: Streamer Stage 1 Streamer Stage 2 Thumb NT Thumb Bolt-On Streamer LX.

I've never been much into Lakland basses, but I found myself attracted to the 55-01 lately. I wouldn't buy one right now, but maybe later this year, or whenever. Do they live up to the hype? I mean the quality and clarity of the B string mostly.

An American Vintage '62 Reissue perhaps? I'm by no means a Fender specialist, but I know that model exists and it looks (to my eyes) very much like this one.

I don't think there's an issue with the pickup, it's just as noisy as many single coil pickups, a bit more than some I've tried (like a SD Quarterpounder) and a bit less than some (like stock pickups in my old Peavey Milestone). It it midrange-y and honky, and while it can be good for adding some bite to the P, I just prefer the P on its own. I would just like a wider, fuller sounding bridge pickup that would be really useful on its own. I did own a P+P bass in the past, it was a bit odd (beech wood body, light ash neck, maple fretboard that I later defretted and covered with ebony veneer), but both pickups sounded great soloed. It's not that I want to fix the bass per se, it's just I haven't modify a bass in a while and I have that dream of a great 5 string double P This one seems to be a good base, as I love the P pickup on it and find the J a bit unsatisfying in comparison. And exactly now, the idea just expanded - why not add some serial/parallel switches to both pickups independently (of course, if the wiring makes it at all possible). I've seen the bridge, Sean, looks good. [url="http://www.thomann.de/gb/goeldo_bass_bruecke_5_chrome_hw55c.htm"]Here[/url] is another tempting budget option

I've butchered some basses and guitars in the past This one being so cheap and basic, while still solid and good is in my opinion a perfect modification platform. I've played one with a blend knob and didn't really like it, I felt like the P pickup was somewhat tamed even when soloed. Plus I find this particular J pickup almost useless, as I usually only use either pickup soloed on my basses, don't find myself blending them too often. I do miss having a nice sounding, silent (hum-wise) bridge pickup though. Like Dannybuoy, I'd like to keep the look with those chrome frames, it gives the bass sort of '50s automobile style. And yes Danny, if you decide to swap the pickups for something else, do keep me in mind, I'll buy the stock P from you