tegs07

13 minutes ago, ezbass said:

I blagged a bottle (250ml?) with a guitar purchase sometime in the last century. It’s still about half full and has to be shaken occasionally to stop the components separating.

250ml!
 

It can be passed down the family like an heirloom. I can’t see how any damage can be done if the instructions “use sparingly” are followed. Incidentally any one use Ernie Ball wonder wipes on their Rays? They work nicely and have to be used sparingly as they are about £60 each. OK a (slight) exaggeration.

7 minutes ago, TheGreek said:

I use Lemon oil (how long have I had the same bottle??) on dark wood fretboards ONLY when I change strings and clean the fretboard (together) or if the fretboard looks/ feels dry.

I've had basses that really benefitted from being oiled - never known one to have any negative outcome by being oiled.

This. I’ve had the same 59ml bottle of lemon oil for nearly 16 years. It’s half full. No problem with any of my rosewood boards. 

Joni Mitchell is one. Don’t know why.

13 hours ago, skidder652003 said:

All bands will always be judged on the ability or not of their LEAD singer. It took me 10 years to realise this with the addition of our female lead singer whoi can sing her donkey off, Before this we had muddled along with our guitarist taking lead duties. OK we got asked back but it was always the elephant in the room. You can be the greatest rhytmn section ever, the greatest guitarist since Hendrix, but if the singer 'aint cutting it live, forget it; you'll always be that band who would be great if they got a decent vocalist. Walk now..

True but strange you should mention Hendrix who was a pretty poor singer. I would say the same for Dylan, REM, The Fall, The Cure, Crazy Horse you get the picture.. is there something unique and captivating about their voice or are just rubbish?

Its like Crosby, Stills and Nash. I only really like them when Young is added to the mix and he sounds like Kermit the frog.

I bought these in black if you can’t get any others. Fit the Geezers fine and are pretty well made:Deal: ACCOCO 4pcs Gloden Guitar Knob Aluminum Alloy Potentiometer Control Knob Volume Audio Electric Guitar Bass Screw Type 20 x 15.5mm, with Allen Keys https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B08HLYKH6L/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_1JMTBQ6GQE88FAQDSHNH?psc=1

Link is to the Gold ones.

9 minutes ago, Nail Soup said:

I probably would get a buzz from owning, say, Dee Dee Ramone's bass.

But it would be for the connection not anything to do with instrument quality. And I wouldn't be willing to pay the required cash for it.

But if someone offered me a choice of two gifts - A Dee Dee Ramone bass, or to choose a high-end bass with equivalent-cash-value. That's because I don't care much about high level gear, but am a big Dee Dee fan

 

 

Or if you were decorating the offices of your corporate HQ and needed various artefacts to impress your clients. Nice investment wrapped up in a tax write off. Not being cynical but I expect that’s how most of this stuff works.

16 minutes ago, LeftyJ said:

Yes, but that's not the point. That's just comparing the products, not the means of production. A better comparison would be if a paintbrush that was held by Da Vinci at some point would be worth more than one that was used by someone who just finished a paint-by-numbers set for the first time. 

I personally wouldn't pay more for an instrument used by someone famous. I'm just a regular bloke making a bit of music in my spare time and having fun with a few mates in a band. I will happily play whatever I can lay my hands on as long as it sounds good and plays nicely. A guitar owned by Jimi Hendrix wouldn't suddenly make me able to play or sound like him, and I likely wouldn't even dare taking it out. 

What always baffles me most are people asking more for a used guitar or bass because it was autographed by someone famous. If anything, to me it just becomes less valuable when someone has scribbled their name on a guitar with a sharpie! I can't stand it. 

A paint brush used by DaVinci would be worth more yes. If it was used to paint a know picture even more so. If DaVinci had a time machine and scribbled on the paint by numbers set it would be worth more than your house.

People collect stuff and have a fascination with fame and history that’s it really.

1 minute ago, Dan Dare said:

Yep. With a few exceptions, they play instruments that are just like everyone else's, too. I've never understood the nonsense that means a mass produced, factory-built instrument that has passed through the hands of someone famous suddenly acquires mythic status and a grossly inflated price tag. 

No doubt someone will be along shortly to rave about JP's Bass of Doom. Here's the thing. He would have achieved what he did regardless of the instrument he used. It came from him, not the tools he used.

I agree to an extent but can see the appeal of why a serious collector or the Hard Rock Cafe etc would pay big bucks for memorabilia. If you have so much cash that your dithering over whether to buy that next bottle of vintage Pomerol, your next super car or Hendrix’s strat why not go for the strat it would look nice in the hall next to the Warhol?

4 minutes ago, MacDaddy said:

Regarding gear that used to belong to someone 'famous', I've always thought if it's no longer good enough for them, it's not good enough for me.

Obviously this would not apply if they were dead.

Or been declared bankrupt, gone to rehab, been sponsored by a new maker with exclusivity clauses, got bored, traded up, got divorced, sick etc 

Famous people are just like everyone else.

4 minutes ago, uk_lefty said:

I think the argument put forward is if they are both identical spec stats why would Jimi's be worth more than Smith's? 

I wouldn't go out of my way to buy something with provenance myself. But I'm from Yorkshire and I'm tight. I can understand why people do and fair play to them. However, I'd much prefer if having a coffee with Paul McCartney and he offered me a go on his Hofner bass I would be delighted to, but even if I had the Euro millions winnings to buy it I don't think I would. 

It’s a bit like asking what is the point of museums or art galleries?

Historical significance, scarcity, value… the more well known and culturally significant the artist is / was the greater all of the above become. Why do people flock to look at the Mona Lisa and walk past many other equally well painted pictures?

People with the cash to buy a guitar like Hendix’s don’t have a lack of funds.

5 hours ago, NancyJohnson said:

Anyone care to explain what the fascination is?

Owning a guitar played by someone 'famous' (*subjective) isn't going to rub off on anyone.

So you are saying that if Jimi Hendrix’s strat was hanging on a wall next to an identical one owned by Mr Smith a retired dentist from Surbiton you would wander of with Mr Smiths?

7 minutes ago, TheGreek said:

The Clash

Worthy nomination just for the first 2 notes of the bass line to London Calling alone.

Link not to The Clash though…

11 minutes ago, Sonic_Groove said:

This Young Chap used to be on here occasionally

 

I remember watching that and buying the record not long after “How much is the fish” WTF

Utter lunacy. They were great.

14 hours ago, Frank Blank said:

 

I was lucky enough to see NMA with Morrow a couple of times (including the one below thirty-nine years ago), what a unique player.

Ah memories of Klub Foot and some fairly fun and chaotic Pyschobilly gigs.

2 minutes ago, toneknob said:

Thanks for your insight. Any idea about that Ukrainian guy's bass though?

I tried watching Jethro Tull meets Pricilla Queen of the Desert blended with Frozen on acid to identify said bass but it was too traumatic.

Just now, BigRedX said:

Big clunky body and big clunky neck, no grace or refinement.

Everything I love about them. Like an early Toyota Landcruiser. Does what it was built to do, no pretensions or BS and won’t let you down.

7 minutes ago, [email protected] said:

Hi. I continue to be plagued by basses with one weak string. By weak I mean under powered, plays at a lower level. On my Ric 4003 it’s the E (I know of the documented issue there) in my US Precision it’s the A and in my new Gibson DC LP jnr trib it’s the A again. 
it’s not strings because it repeats to the next set. It sounds equal acoustically but becomes apparent when playing with the band. 
Any ideas on this anyone?

thanks!

For the P buy the 50’s pup with the raised A pole. Someone has one on sale here. 
 

Not sure about the other 2 basses. I think I have solved the weak G on my Stingray by taking the pickup out and pushing down the poles on EAD and pushing up the G pole.

East 2 band and genuine Ray pickup which was a bargain until I paid the import taxes!

Ta. Yep found a Stingray neck and had to get a home for it. Finding Musicman parts is tricky and a bit costly… 

15 minutes ago, Woodwind said:

Absolutely love the look of your bass!

Did you make the body yourself or did you buy it?

If so may I ask where you got it?

 

Cheers. The body was made by a luthier. I just had to do the tru-oil slurry thing and fit the bridge.

 I can find the details if you want… have to say though there is a nice Rosewood Ray body on eBay for £160

1 minute ago, oldslapper said:

That’s a lovely bass @tegs07 😎

I’ve not tried the signature bass, but I have had a G&L SB2 bass that doesn’t have a tone dial and it was great, but does have 2 pickups that helps with getting some tonal choices. 
My op was a silly observation on “tones in the fingers” v passive v active v flats v rounds v the world 😊

Cheers… I like a bit of grain. The commentary in the video was a load of twaddle. I do like a G&L but the only one I have actually played was an L2000 which was too complicated for my level of incompetence hence the interest in a single control, I have been idly looking at the SB2s … is it just volume/volume?

His signature bass did inspire me to make a Bitsa. I don’t know much about him as a player though. I did weaken in the end though and went active with a John East EQ so more of a Ray/G&L combo. 
 

Has anyone tried a Joe Dart. I like the idea of a single control?

1 minute ago, Killed_by_Death said:

 

I don't even like drumming that much, bongos are good for about 7 minutes of joy.

 

Move next door to someone you dislike. It will bring instant joy.

5 minutes ago, Stub Mandrel said:

Would JJ Burnell and Tina Weymouth count?

'New Wave' kind of means anything late seventies that wasn't disco or heavy rock...

Late 70’s early ‘80’s?

I always liked the way both  Simon Gallop and Peter Hook played… 

I’ve always seen Rickenbackers as the Harley Davidsons of the bass world. Over priced and covered in excess chrome, but kind of cool and everyone secretly wants one or at least is tempted to try one out.