tom.android

15 minutes ago, BassApprentice said:

I feel these I.R.A, PLEK and aging treatments may not necessarily sound "better" but give the bass that worn or played feel (a bit of given for ageing)

 

Yes, a new bass feels and plays nicely - but I've found a bass feels better the longer you keep it and get used to it. This processes take the shiny new age off it and make it feel a bit more broken in.

 

As with everything, some like it, some don't and some don't notice.

 

 

PLEK is more like a computer-assisted fret levelling and nut cutting tool. 
 

I’d really like to play a BB434, 734 and P34 back to back to directly compare. I think the main difference is going to be in playing feel rather than sound. I’ve done this with 434 & 734 quite a few times and in a lot of ways I prefer the 434.

Ander sold me a Yamaha THR30 amp. Absolutely perfect all round. Cheers!

Tom

Raising the bridge pickup closer to the strings or lowering the other two should help level out the volumes a bit?

As an avid/pathological watcher of the used bass market I’ve been wondering: Why am I seeing BB615s for sale all the time but almost never BB415s? Did not many sell when they were new or is everyone who has one just holding into it? Thoughts on a postcard 

1 hour ago, BassApprentice said:

I've been eyeing that BB414 with the gold-y bits for a good few weeks, but then that 1024X appeared 

 

With not much in the prices, for those who have tried both - which comes out on top?

1024x has a thicker neck profile front to back. Slightly classier finish but it’s quite marginal. Fantastic alnico pickups.

Like Andy, the 414 is the one I still own. 
 

2 hours ago, lee650 said:

Ive decided to get back into the Yamaha camp. Ive had a very large cull of gear recently, and after selling my sire 5s, i was without a 5 string. Im mostly a 4 string player, but like to have a decent 5, as ive owned BB 424/425 and 1024/1025x Yamaha was an obvious choice, so i decided to try the newer BB435

 

Really surprised how light it is and how slim/flat the neck is, so easy to play, i love the painted headstock and the V/V/T controls. Im not sure on the tone, theyre supposed to be brighter than the originals, but sound quite muffled, although ive nit tried it with my rig yet.

 

A slight issue im having is this particular bass while bought used had pretty much been untouched. The action is far too low, and due to wrist issues ivehad to go to 125- 40 gauge, but the neck is straight and the truss rod maxxed, so i cant raise the action (the saddles are also very high) ive ordered a heavier gauge string, so hopefully will put a bit more bow in the neck. 

I think once i can sort it, itll he a lovely bass (a tort guard will be on the works too)

Sounds like you want to loosen the truss rod, no? If it’s maxed it’s tightened fully, usually. Loosen it to allow the strings to pull it forward slightly more.

Just bought Lee’s Octamizer. All was smooth and speedy. Cheers!

Cool and unusual. What’s the neck like? No mention of nut width or profile on the ACG website. 
 

Cheers

You say you switched strings from flats to rounds - but which ones? There’s a huge variance in tone from different string types and brands. 
 

Loads of punch and growl? Give good old Roto 66s a go.

2 hours ago, chris_b said:

 

When you play festivals you get what you get. You can have a good sound or a bad sound, it's in the lap of the gods. You won't sort out any FOH issues with your equipment.

 

If your P bass sounds "perfect" through your rig, you don't need to do anything. For the situations where you might want something your bass can't give, try a preamp.

True and wise.

Something else to consider might be a preamp feeding some IEMs so you can get some clarity in your ears without changing sound to FOH.

Strings, strings, strings. 
 

Still want flats but less boomy-y with loads more mids and upper mids? - TI jazz flats. 

Then there’s rounds but heaps of difference here. My favourite ‘dark’ sounding ones are GHS Blanced Nickles. 
 

Or go all the way up to steels and discover that your tone knob actually does something. Steel wounds on a P works for Lee Sklar, right? 
 

I’m really into the idea of matching the right bass / pickups combination with the right strings. 
 

Getting your low end under control onstage is another part of the equation, mind.

As others have said, Sadowsky Metroline sounds like what you’re after. Possibly a Will Lee if you like skinnier necks. 
 

Also Maruszczyk are probably worth a look. Excellent value used.

Bacchus, too.

31 minutes ago, bassintheface said:

any love for the Yammy BB 235?

Absolutely superb. Bit lighter than the ‘posher’ models and the ceramic pickups sound great. Can’t go wrong.

Catching up on some Glastonbury sets on iPlayer and spotted Fat White Family’s bass player on a black BB414

Hi there,

Looks like a good bitsa. Where are you based? 
 

Tom

Sold the body of a BBG5 to Mick. Great communication, swift payment. A breeze. Deal with confidence.

Also possibly a worthwhile question: Are you playing sat down or standing? If standing how long is your strap set? Try shortening it to bring the bass a little higher up. Was just trying an exercise like the one you mentioned with a slightly longer strap length and my thumb was having to come around with the rest of my hand when trying to use my little finger on 4th string 15th fret and above. Physics has its limits!
 

Also don’t those Nordstrand Acinonyx basses have narrow string spacing and skinny necks / shorter scale? 

On 24/05/2024 at 10:16, Dood said:

THESEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!! Absolutely BRILLIANT!

 

https://www.daddario.com/products/guitar/bass-guitar/xl-nickel-bass/exl160bt-nickel-wound-balanced-tension-medium-50-120-long-scale/

 

120-90-67-50 

 

 

That 120 is perfect and, I found on my basses I didnt need to adjust my nut to fit the heavier gauge. (Which may just be lucky) 

Tried these myself. Too heavy on the rest of the strings!

I’d do 42 60 80 110 for drop C#/Dflat. Or just try adding a single 105/110 to what you’ve already got.

I really like the D’Addario EXL170BT for a ready made set

10 hours ago, Daveee said:

Bear in mind I've only been playing for less than 3 months. One of the things I'm doing is playing major and minor scales starting at the bottom of the E string going as high as I can and then back down. So if I've got this right and I play, say a D or D# minor scale my little finger is above the 12th fret. 

Ah, I’m familiar with similar technical exercises. The point of doing them is just that, technique. Your bass has a very ‘medium’ neck on it and shouldn’t pose an issue. Focus on wrist position, hand placement etc. I actually wouldn’t really recommend these types of exercises for beginners. One octave scale pattern are probably sufficient for the time being.

Very rarely when playing will you actually need to play 4th string above 12th. Occasionally but rarely.

Hi, what year is this bass from? Is it post-2009 or whenever they returned to the skinny necks?

Thanks

On 16/11/2023 at 11:07, jrixn1 said:

What is "too heavy" and "don't want to spend a lot" in kg/sterling?

 

How about https://www.basschat.co.uk/topic/484191-fs-cort-gb75-jj-5-string-bass-now-just-%C2%A3250/ at £250 and 4.0kg? 

Such a bargain.

4 hours ago, Tjhooker said:

Is the price of BB's going up 🤔 ?

Yes and no. There are still bargains to be had if you keep an eye out. I’d say the newer 3 series are very keenly priced as there’s a lot of them about - with the exception of the 434 which often seems a bit overpriced to me, used. 424/5 prices are definitely creeping up. Getting close to 1024/5 prices so you may as well get one of those if you’re in the market. Same but better everything.

I do hope some BB hyperinflation happens because I have stock in BBs that I’m looking to cash out.

17 hours ago, Al Krow said:

If you're only using the 734A in passive mode, maybe worth also having a think about a 1024, which is purely passive and a bass that a lot of us have loved on here and its 5 string sibling, the 1025.

Chunkier neck profile but overall classier with very special pickups. 
 

Also the BB414 which I personally prefer over the BB734 as a passive p/j.  Similar slim neck profile.

They’re all great, though. 

6 hours ago, TheGreek said:

 

I bought one of these with the intention of using the neck for another project which didn't pan out.

 

They are very similar to the BBG5 model. I had trouble finding any significant difference.

BB404/405/604/605: Access to the upper frets (20-24ish) is significantly improved. The body is more sculpted and more comfortable to play sat down. Bridge has grooves to keep saddles in place which not all of the BBG or BBN range do. 5 string is 18mm at bridge rather than 19mm. They’re all good but different in small ways.

On 08/07/2023 at 12:14, Baloney Balderdash said:

I love the look of these basses, and have only heard great stuff about them.

 

Would wish Yamaha made a short scale version with a reverse orientation P in it, if so I would be 100% certain to buy it as soon as I got the money for it, but I suppose that is likely to remain but a wish unfortunately.

 

They ought to make a short scale BB really though, with how popular short scale basses has become in recent years I am sure it would sell great, and it in that light I think it is odd that Yamaha offers no current production short scale basses at all, seems to me that they are missing out big time on getting a share of that market.

 

I am pretty certain a short scale Yamaha in just about any form would be a hit and sell great.

 

They did a medium scale BB in the past. Bassbros have one for sale at the moment