Happy Jack

[URL=http://s1128.photobucket.com/user/h4ppyjack/media/Basses%20SOLD/SGC%20Nanyo%20Bass%20Collection%20SB310%20FL%201995%20SOLD/IMG_6517.jpg.html][IMG]http://i1128.photobucket.com/albums/m496/h4ppyjack/Basses%20SOLD/SGC%20Nanyo%20Bass%20Collection%20SB310%20FL%201995%20SOLD/IMG_6517.jpg[/IMG][/URL] [URL=http://s1128.photobucket.com/user/h4ppyjack/media/Basses%20SOLD/SGC%20Nanyo%20Bass%20Collection%20SB315%201988%20SOLD/BCSB325Front1.jpg.html][IMG]http://i1128.photobucket.com/albums/m496/h4ppyjack/Basses%20SOLD/SGC%20Nanyo%20Bass%20Collection%20SB315%201988%20SOLD/BCSB325Front1.jpg[/IMG][/URL] [URL=http://s1128.photobucket.com/user/h4ppyjack/media/Basses%20SOLD/SGC%20Nanyo%20Bass%20Collection%20SB320%201995%20SOLD/DSCF1021.jpg.html][IMG]http://i1128.photobucket.com/albums/m496/h4ppyjack/Basses%20SOLD/SGC%20Nanyo%20Bass%20Collection%20SB320%201995%20SOLD/DSCF1021.jpg[/IMG][/URL] [URL=http://s1128.photobucket.com/user/h4ppyjack/media/Basses%20CURRENT/SGC%20Nanyo%20Bass%20Collection%20SB320%20CURRENT/SGNanyo1_zps113ae55c.jpg.html][IMG]http://i1128.photobucket.com/albums/m496/h4ppyjack/Basses%20CURRENT/SGC%20Nanyo%20Bass%20Collection%20SB320%20CURRENT/SGNanyo1_zps113ae55c.jpg[/IMG][/URL] And CALL!

Just don't be waiting for a sequel ...

Or that he nicked it from his Dad ...

If you're a semi-pro, does that mean that you earn half as much as you've spent on your equipment?

Well now you're just being silly. How can you test the volume properly without a child? Anyone would think you were a guitarist.

Hell, I don't even rate as a good amateur!

[quote name='MacDaddy' timestamp='1452596538' post='2951389'] Yup being a pro just means getting paid. [/quote] Well I get paid for playing the Dog & Duck, but it would never occur to me to describe myself as a 'Pro'.

Louder than most semi-acoustic basses, but obviously nowhere near loud enough to actually play unamplified alongside an acoustic guitar. You could easily practice/rehearse with this bass unplugged while a child slept in the next bedroom.

[quote name='Shabbs' timestamp='1452548798' post='2951146'] Here's my 460, question is, do I upgrade the pickups or pre-amp, and with what? [/quote] Remind me, why do you think you need to?

That's identical to the one I sold to a German guy years ago - definitely on my list of regrets.

Snap! [URL=http://s1128.photobucket.com/user/h4ppyjack/media/Basses%20SOLD/SGC%20Nanyo%20Bass%20Collection%20SB330%20FL%201995%20SOLD/DSCF1437.jpg.html][IMG]http://i1128.photobucket.com/albums/m496/h4ppyjack/Basses%20SOLD/SGC%20Nanyo%20Bass%20Collection%20SB330%20FL%201995%20SOLD/DSCF1437.jpg[/IMG][/URL] But fretless ...

The pin slides straight out, but the 'locking unit' stays put and needs to if you want somewhere to attach a strap. The bass is a big bugger (body wise), so I've ordered a longer strap. Until then, it's lap only. I'll report back. I weighed it yesterday (without the pin) since it feels like it must be far heavier than my other basses. To my amazement, it weighs 9.5lbs. The bulk is very deceptive.

The word gob-smacked hardly begins to describe how I feel right now. I think I'd better go to bed.

Reckon I'll probably write one, but not until I've actually got in some playing time. Meanwhile, here are some first impressions. Please note that I really, really wanted to get this bass, and none of the negative comments below were show-stoppers for me, nor were they surprises. Always do the bad stuff first. Design issues. [list] [*]The end pin. Daft, absolutely pointless, a bloody heavy piece of brass that will never be used and quite likely get lost. I play both DB and EUB and there is no f***ing way that you can play a TB10 as an upright. The idea made some sense when Gibson used it on their first violin bass in the 50s, rather less sense when Gretsch used it on the 6070 in the 60s, and none at all now. [*]No side dots. Why not? Because "real, orchestral musicians" don't need them, or something? This bass is enough of a challenge to play without making intonation just that little bit harder by giving no clue of where you are. I took my bass from Wunjos straight down to Andy Gibson and had side dots inserted. [*]The bridge assembly. Completely fixed, no adjustment of any sort whatsoever. The message is, play it like it is or buy a different bass. There is NO problem with the bridge, and the action is DB high, but it makes no sense to make a £2000 bass without even the possibility of the owner tailoring it to their own taste. [/list] One more bad bit, not a design issue. The nut was an embarrassment, with nearly 3mm of clearance under the strings AT THE NUT! If you're not familiar with DBs, this is every bit as bad on a DB as it would be on an electric bass. Essentially, the bass was damned near unplayable from new. Please note that this is not a pop at Wunjos, I'm looking at you Takamine. Unacceptable on such an expensive bass. This was the only issue which came as a surprise. OK, that's the bad bits done. I've had maybe an hour's playing time so far, much too little but even so it's enough to satisfy me that buyer's blues won't be a problem with this bass. Exactly what I wanted, it's refreshingly different from every other bass I own (and I own FAR too many), it plays beautifully, sounds magnificent, and is very involving. This isn't something you pick up casually to noodle on, pick this bass up and you want to take it seriously. Like a DB, the sheer physicality of this bass makes it a challenge to play but then delivers more satisfaction when you get it right. And yes, if you dig in sufficiently then it really does sound like a DB. Playing it with a light touch delivers a very different result, one which is of limited interest to me. That's all for now, but I'll revisit when I have more to say.

That's what happens when you give a KORG to a giant gorilla.

As always, some idea of budget is always useful. Two years ago I replaced my Sansamp RBI with a Demeter VTBP 201. I like the BDDI tone on tap, but it turned out I didn't like it in "always on" mode ... I generally prefer a scooped, old school tone. The Demeter absolutely hits the spot for me, lush and warm, with real depth to the sound. But of course it doesn't cut through as well, and with some basses can even sound rather bland. Both those rack mount preamps are more than good enough to meet the requirements of most bassists, it's all down to taste. And budget. Budget matters. I bought the RBI new. That really wasn't an option with the Demeter!

Delighted to say I currently own my best-ever rig. Mike Lull Thunderbird T5 --> Matamp GT100 --> Barefaced 69er. Mind you, for most pub gigs I actually play through my most sensible ever rig. Mike Lull Thunderbird T5 --> Aguilar TH350 --> Barefaced Midget.

How do you think he got to be a bigfatcat in the first place?

[quote name='Twincam' timestamp='1452260424' post='2948176'] This one I'm just not bonding with it. I'm not sure why. Its a nice bass all round nothing bad about it. I paid a fair amount of money for it (for me) and feel a bit of pressure to like it. [/quote] I had a very similar experience recently, a beautiful bass bought from a Basschatter I consider to be a friend, others who have played it absolutely raved about it. Me? Nothing. It just didn't "call to me". Whenever I went to pick up a bass, I never reached for it. [color=#b22222][i][Disclaimer: It is possible that I have too many basses. Far too many.][/i][/color] I stuck it out for over two years, thinking that I would be somehow betraying the bass to sell it having played it so little. Finally I bit the bullet and traded it for something really very different, and now I wish I'd done it a long time ago. If it ain't bust, don't fix it. But similarly, if it ain't working for you, don't keep it.

That was [b][i]after[/i][/b] tidying up ...

I can't see any particular difference between that SB401 and the SB301/SB310 ... what am I missing?

Those speed knobs look really alien on that bass.

[quote name='TimR' timestamp='1452252244' post='2948026'] "Oh, yes, sorry about that, he can be a bit intense." [/quote] Not sure that "intense" is actually the right word there ...

If it's a CS bass then it really, [i][b]really [/b][/i]should work properly without needing parts replacing! Boroman, have you owned this bass from new, or did you buy it from someone else?

The original idea came from the Emperor Nero and his serenade on a lyre while he watched from a balcony as Rome burned. Nero gets very little credit for his contribution to World Music, having been swept away by the Goth Revolution while his studio was trashed by Vandals.