Nick Riffed

[quote name='LukeFRC' timestamp='1382471424' post='2252652'] Buy the bass secondhand off here from someone with a fair few posts and good feedback - you'll probably get a better set up bass than the shop and it will be cheaper. [/quote] Great advice but if you want something new go and try stuff out. Some shops can get a bit snotty but I hear Wunjo's are very good if you fancy a day out in London. I have bought several items from amps and cabs through to basses on the net from Thomann. They have a 30 day no quibble returns policy, their prices are comparable if not cheaper and everything comes with a 3 year warranty. Better than a lot of the manufactures offer and I can't praise them highly enough for their aftersales service.

I have never 'needed' to buy a bass or 'had' to buy a bass for any particular reason. I've been fairly fortunate in that I only buy another bass when I want one. They are not the tools of my trade unlike some of you guys so I tend to look for things that I can afford at that time. If I can afford it my better half doesn't mind too much. That said I will shortly be looking for a new home for my 4x10 and 1x15 cabs as this will been seen as general decluttering which is a good thing apparently.

[quote name='booboo' timestamp='1382443661' post='2252146'] A bit of both probably mate! [/quote] What difference does it make?

Damn! Not quite the post I hoped it would be.

[quote name='Thunderbird' timestamp='1382424549' post='2251842'] I am just going to be "me" and have my sound and just be as good as I can be [/quote] That is it right there!

It seems to be generally held that there are more and more perfectly usable budget basses about and the quality keeps getting better. I have never been influenced by the name on something. I drive a Hyundai!! No names that I hadn't heard of and I suppose their ranges where probably a bit smaller too. I wonder how many of those names are still independent, if they all still exist? I love some of the old Burns basses, they are another 'revived' brand that is making a comeback. I don't know if it's just me but I really like the look of a lot of the old British and European basses and guitars. I seem to have recently developed a liking for the old WEM/Watkins jobs. I have an uncle that used to play semi pro and knew the guys at Grimshaw guitars back in the 50's and 60's. Some of those look really nice and are meant to play well. I also like my basses and guitars to look vaguely guitar shaped. As you may have read somewhere above, the earlier Vox's seem to be ignored and may as well have never existed until the Phantom and the Teardrop came along. Innovative as they may have been, they just don't do it for me. Much like Explorers, I just don't understand the design. All this coming from the owner of a Hohner cricket bat. In it's defence, it makes a great travel bass plus you can lean it against a wall and it will stay there forever. I understand that some of the 70's and 80's farmed out Japanese copies, and originals come to that, can be a much better item than the things they were copying. I have a 1972 ish Shaftesbury Les Paul that I have always said I will actually learn to play one day. Friends and relatives that have played it have always commented on how good it is to the extent that someone once offered to swap a 76's American strat for it!! I think the poor demented lad went on to become a drummer. Knowing what I know now, I should have snapped his arm off.

[quote name='Jazzneck' timestamp='1382435156' post='2252019'] You're not a drummer, are you? [/quote] I can't afford to have the Lobotomy.

I am curious to know what the options were for buying a new or used bass back then. I realise that there had been a ban on American imports which led to people like Vox building amps and guitars in the first place but even when that was lifted I should imagine there was nowhere near the makes and ranges available today? Did you have many options other than the Hofner in your price range? Walk into a large music store now with £500 in your hand and you could be looking at affordable stuff for days.

So great a story that I appear to have replied to it twice!

That is a great story. He must've been there at the bitter end of production as I'm not aware that they were building guitars there for anyone else and around that time Vox shifted guitar production abroad. 20 Woodbines..... Not sure if he was trying to rip you off there. Lol.

[quote name='BetaFunk' timestamp='1382390136' post='2251696'] Originally the headstock would have had VOX written large in light green with 'BASSMASTER' in smaller script and even smaller the JMI logo followed by DARTFORD, KENT all black and in upper case. I'm sure that the Bass Doc on this very forum can make you a new scratchplate as he's made me one for a Bassmaster before. Just out of interest i've seen two Bassmasters with the scratchplate cracked in the same place as they seem to get so brittle with age. [/quote] I have seen the Logo's. this looks like someone has branded it! I'll has to contact the Bass doc. I have seen that he does good stuff and everyone seems very pleased with his work. Bearing in mind that this bass is what it is, was the scratch plate you had made a reasonable price? This ain't no Vintage Fender. Lol.

Right, pictures. The guy I got it from had advertised it as a Custom Vox. I am certain that it is a bog standard Bassmaster that someone has taken a tin of paint stripper to and painted "Vox" on the headstock. The knobs, tuners and the nut all seem to have been replaced at some point and there is a crack in the scratch plate. The hardest fix will be to get proper knobs. I'm sure someone on Basschat will be able to sort a replacement scratch plate. Luckily the the stamped pups and the bridge plate are all there. The thing that has surprised me the most is the case, definitely period if not original. I haven't seen one before which is surprising seeing whole well constructed and solidly built it is . Lol. I don't think it's worth thinking about repainting. You would loose all the wonderful detail of the plywood, or should that be laminate, body. .........and no, that isn't my hand bag. [url="https://skydrive.live.com/?cid=a44a5e0ec7e53205&id=A44A5E0EC7E53205%21134&path=/Emailing%20IMG%5E_7690%5EJ%20IMG%5E_7691%5EJ%20IMG%5E_7692%5EJ%20IMG%5E_7693%5EJ%20IMG%5E_7694%5EJ%20IMG%5E_7695%5EJ%20IMG%5E_7696%5EJ%20IMG%5E_7697%5EJ%20IMG%5E_7698%5EJ%20IMG%5E_7699%5EJ%20IMG%5E_7700%5EJ%20IMG%5E_7701%5EJ%20IMG%5E_7702%5EJ%20IMG%5E_7703%5EJ%20IMG%5E_7704%5EJ%20IMG%5E_7705%5EJ%20IMG%5E_7706%5EJ%20IMG%5E_7707&Bsrc=Photomail&Bpub=SDX.Photos&authkey=!ANA0of93LNkPV2M#cid=A44A5E0EC7E53205&id=A44A5E0EC7E53205%21149&authkey=%21ANA0of93LNkPV2M&v=3"]https://skydrive.live.com/?cid=a44a5e0ec7e53205&id=A44A5E0EC7E53205%21134&path=/Emailing%20IMG%5E_7690%5EJ%20IMG%5E_7691%5EJ%20IMG%5E_7692%5EJ%20IMG%5E_7693%5EJ%20IMG%5E_7694%5EJ%20IMG%5E_7695%5EJ%20IMG%5E_7696%5EJ%20IMG%5E_7697%5EJ%20IMG%5E_7698%5EJ%20IMG%5E_7699%5EJ%20IMG%5E_7700%5EJ%20IMG%5E_7701%5EJ%20IMG%5E_7702%5EJ%20IMG%5E_7703%5EJ%20IMG%5E_7704%5EJ%20IMG%5E_7705%5EJ%20IMG%5E_7706%5EJ%20IMG%5E_7707&Bsrc=Photomail&Bpub=SDX.Photos&authkey=!ANA0of93LNkPV2M#cid=A44A5E0EC7E53205&id=A44A5E0EC7E53205%21149&authkey=%21ANA0of93LNkPV2M&v=3[/url]

[quote name='peteb' timestamp='1382359716' post='2251094'] Why? Do you think that women are more likely to be able to help this chap find out when old Fender necks were made?? [/quote] No, but they may take his mind off thinking about it.

My Mrs doesn't stop me. Lack of finances stops me.

I have an Ashdown ABM evo II 300 115 Combo for your average pubs/clubs and an Ashdown ABM evo II 500 head that I run thru a Behringer Ultrabass 4x10 and 1x15 with ali cones for the bigger venues. They D.I. straight out the front and have been super reliable for about 7 years. The cabs may change but the amp ain't going nowhere.

I was asked to help out with a Punk band that was reforming after many years minus the original singer, who was sadly deceased, and, obviously, the bass player, who wasn't up for it. I had never been into Punk, luckily it ain't really rocket science, a list of 30 songs and 2 weeks later, I meet the band, including the new singer who had a great voice and, like myself, had done his homework. Sadly the rest of the band hadn't. Me and the singer were the only ones that had a Clue. They seemed to think that somehow it would all just come back to them. Some people live in a dream world. I found a band full. Hopefully you just have the one. I suggest you select a few of the more obscure songs out of that 200 and ask him to show you how the solo goes.

[quote name='blamelouis' timestamp='1381051578' post='2233664'] Sounds like he wants 200 guitar solos. [/quote] B affraid. Be very affraid.

Oooh, you have an old sonic. They were a year or 2 behind the Bassmaster and the Clubman. Haven't they just started to make a "Copy" of the original? I wonder what that will be like?

[color=#676767][font=Georgia,]I got no kick against modern jazz[/font][/color] [color=#676767][font=Georgia,]Unless they try to play it too darn fast[/font][/color] [color=#676767][font=Georgia,]And lose the beauty of the melody[/font][/color] [color=#676767][font=Georgia,]Until it sounds just like a symphony[/font][/color] [color=#676767][font=Georgia,] [/font][/color][color=#676767][font=Georgia,] [/font][/color] [color=#676767][font=Georgia,]Chuck Berry 1957 [/font][/color]

[quote name='JapanAxe' timestamp='1382301989' post='2250487'] We've already had the kitchen and it cost a lot more than that! [/quote] You've got a kitchen? Is that the 5 string?

I have played with people who are very good if they have had sight of something written down but can't jam for sh*t. I have also played with people that can't read a note but can give a damn good account of themselves, having heard a tune just once or quite often never before, and are more than happy to sit in with anyone at any time. There is a place for all methods of learning and playing and if someone can take an idea from his head, transcribe it in such a way that he can pass it on to someone who instantly understands it and can play it straight off, that is a wonderful ability. That still leaves room for the people that can't read music, don't think they know about theory but can be handed a bass down the studio or boozer and jump straight on a tune. Whilst one may be great for a wonderful production of some nature, once I'm in the groove and the vibe is there I know that I don't want gaps appearing because there is no sheet music to hand and without it a "musician" won't take a flyer and just jump in. No one is gonna die if it isn't recording quality. Music is for entertainment. Including that of the performers.

Just found and watched these on Youtube, Vox pop. How Dartford powered the British Beat boom parts 1 and 2. http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=nnDr-90moxc http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=ttwveIDkNiE The whole of the Vox pre Teardrop and Phantom guitars is summed up as follows at about 4 mins into part 2. "A lot of the early Vox guitars were Fender copies, and very poor Fender copies, and they didn't play well." Less than 9 seconds in total and that's from the guy who is writing the new Vox book. That doesn't really bode too well for any more info making its way in this direction and I now look forward to any reply to my email to him with less hope than I'd previously had. Oh well. The search continues. I will be asking the library to try and get hold of a copy of "The Vox Story" as it is quite expensive. Especially if it contains about the same amount of info.

[quote name='alembic63' timestamp='1382267020' post='2249790'] [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]Hi Guys,[/font][/color] [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]I urgently need a bit of info on dating a vintage jazz bass neck .[/font][/color] [color=#000000][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif][font=arial, sans-serif][size=3]The neck is stamped 02 01 40 26 which I have translated to 02 ( jazz bass), 01 ( rosewood) , 40 ( week) , 2 ( year 72) , 6 ( day) [/size][/font][/font][/color] [color=#000000][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif][font=arial, sans-serif][size=3]does this seem correct ?[/size][/font][/font][/color] [color=#000000][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif][font=arial, sans-serif][size=3]chees Ian[/size][/font][/font][/color][color=#000000][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif][font=arial, sans-serif][size=3]s[/size][/font][/font][/color] [/quote] I wouldn't have a clue. Have you tried dating women?

[quote name='BetaFunk' timestamp='1382281829' post='2250026'] I took them to my local guitar shop where they are a lot younger than me and after the laughter had died down the guys in the shop loved them. In fact i'm lending one to one of the guys as he wants to play a gig with it. [/quote] I would love to know the last time that anyone gigged with one of these and I would love to see it happen again. I have asked my Yorkshire chum if he would be so kind as to send me a couple of pics of my bass that is currently stashed at his house. I have seen the guitarprojects site and saw that they had some very similar looking tuners to the originals, I also like the look of some of the Burford effects pedals they build. I'm now trying to be a good boy for Santa.

[quote name='Maude' timestamp='1382275023' post='2249901'] Well there's my solution then . . . . . . . . . . I'm coming to live with you!! Out of the bundle I bought, I will use the Steinberg MI2 interface into my computer and the Behringer (see if that gets past the swear filter) Ms40 monitors out of it. They both have enough ins and outs to make whatever I need doable, if there's any latency issues then my bass can go straight to monitors while the PC pipes in whatever I want to play along with, there's two volumes on the monitors so PC on one and bass on the other to balance the sound. I don't need the PC that came with it so I should easily be able to flog that for £50 (maybe more, it is tower, monitor, mouse and a decent keyboard) and I'm only out of pocket £30 for the interface, monitors and a carrier bag jam packed full of every type of lead I could possibly need. It'll all stay wired up so I can just plug a bass in, which live in a rack next to the PC, whenever I've got some spare time. My Line6 X3 can stay in the rehearsal room with the amp and it all leads to not carrying gear around and setting up all the time. Job jobbed . [/quote] You may have to share a bed with a Greyhound!