NancyJohnson

I know the song, never played bass along with it or anything, but I do have a little snippet of something that might help. First, a disclaimer. I should point out that I'm a big fan of those first four albums and the following is not intended to be in detriment of those. Some time back I downloaded some multitrack files of songs from Sheer Heart Attack. One thing that became quite apparent (and I'm currently listening to the Killer Queen bass right now to make sure my memory isn't clouded), is that the bass is quite out of tune and or intonated very poorly. Tonally it's very woolly almost fretless in quality (I think JD used to put foam under the strings as well). It's quite excrutiating in parts and sounds like someone who hasn't been playing that long. With this in mind, perhaps the notes you think he's playing, aren't what he's playing. I'm listening to Now I'm Here now...equally as messy and littered with bum notes.

This is an interesting and well timed thread. I borrowed a Mark Bass 2x10 off a mate last night just to see what the fuss was all about. I had a quick noodle last night and it does sound incredibly phat compared to my Hartke Hydrive 410. More side by side nonsense will continue today.

Thing of beauty. Having spent several thousand on a Lull in the last few days, I would fear for my testicles is that arrived.

[quote name='Billy Apple' timestamp='1434831444' post='2803213'] Very nice, congrats! What wood is it made from? [/quote] Haven't got a clue...I really don't know my woods. I sometimes wonder whether it actually makes that much difference to be honest...it doesn't really matter what I play, they always end up sounding fairly similar! I'm assuming it's just a painted up version of the natural finish one (whatever that is): Anyone?

'I remember what it was like the first time I went to a gig.' Beyond that just tell the drunken pass around to stop shouting.

New bass arrived 19/6/15. It's a satin black Mike Lull JaxT4 (the stock Jeff Ament/Pearl Jam model). The satin finish is almost finishing/fine-grit wet and dry paper to touch, not unpleasant at all. All the chrome is nice (for a change). Dunlop Straploks as standard. Neck is nice...profile comparison is between a Jazz and Precision, but more Jazz. No idea of the radius. (*edit #1 here: the reverse headstock is going to take some getting used to. After 30+ years of playing, the instinction of going for the top of the headstock to tune will never go away.) Comes in a nice orange hard case, Lull certification and a bag of picks. It balances nicely on the strap (don't ask) and sounds very nice direct or through a battery of Sansamps. Edits: Despite the general all round loveliness, there's an ongoing issue with the bridge pickup; Lull sent out a replacement (which hasn't solved the problem!), so at present the bass is up with Mark at Bass Direct to resolve. I'm a pretty patient person and despite having ownership for nearly a month now, I've not actually used the bass in anger. I should have it back shortly and hopefully fixed. Anyhow, to the photos. Get your tissues out. That's it! P The bass itself: The back...the tummy cut is generous and really comfortable: Headstock view. I'm so used to the Gibson Thunderbird's slab body, the chamfer on the right forearm bout is very nice to play around, almost sharkfin-esque (no more bruises!): Give the body is supposed to be 20% larger than a Gibson, a side by side was necessary: And another (even though the photo doesn't look like it, I lined up the two basses at the nut):

Pics will be up on the porn page shortly. P

Well, it's arrived at home (via Bass Direct) and I'm sitting in my office until 5.00pm. Groan. I'll put some pictures up today or tomorrow and include some side by side shots against one of my Gibson Thunderbirds for 20% bigger size comparison purposes. P

Just out of curiosity are the pots the same ones that were on my NR that I sent you? You know all about my woes there. Maybe they were just cock.

Well, as it's a bolt-on if the neck is toast you should be able to get a new neck from them. Keep us posted.

[quote name='obbm' timestamp='1434291006' post='2798325'] I paid good money for this on the basis that it was a 1973. I think I've been conned. [/quote] [quote name='obbm' timestamp='1434294511' post='2798364'] Thanks guys. I can relax and just enjoy its great tone with a new set of Rotosounds. [/quote] Dave, I read through this and I'm happy that there's a decent outcome and you weren't sold a dud. That said (look, I want to be the voice of reason here), from first post ('conned') to final ('relax and enjoy it's great tone') took barely 25 hours. Did it not have great tone yesterday or does the knowing it's of the determined vintage as sold make you like it more so?

I've seen a guy iron the neck to get the fretboard off. Not for the fainthearted. Is it a through-neck or bolt on?

If the neck was set up for 'thicker' strings and you're now set with a lighter gauge, then yes, it's possible the truss rod might need adjusting. How straight is the neck generally (front bow, back bow, level), with the strings tuned up? How is the fret buzz near the neck and higher up the neck towards the bridge? It's feasible that with the truss rod too tight, you might have some back bow on the neck which will cause the neck to arch away from the midway point; so somewhere around your 8th fret. The graphic below is pretty succinct. If you're doing this yourself, detune, turn the truss rod a quarter turn anti-clockwise and tune up :: lefty loosey, righty tighty :: repeat if necessary.

There's (at the time of posting) eight short videos posted by Crimson Guitars on how to make a decentish guitar from an £80 kit one. While I find Ben's delivery a tad on the condescending side, they're a really good watch. The first eight are pretty much woodworking-based. Here's the first one...you'll find the rest of the videos easily enough. P [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EJzvQFWwO9w[/media]

[quote name='pete.young' timestamp='1433942640' post='2795305'] And you only have to punch the information into them once :-) [/quote] Yay!

Belter.

[quote name='project_c' timestamp='1433703781' post='2793266'] Really nice! Where did you find it? [/quote] This is what I was wondering when I was reading this. Tell more!

Posted elsewhere. I have a JAXT4 arriving imminently.

Nah, not in my nature. It'll be here soon enough. When it's here, we'll sort out a nerdy evening thing at mine. P

I'll just chip in here. I have a Lull incoming and have been dealing with Mark via email for a couple of months and phone for the last week or two. Correspondence has always been quick and concise ...there's been no steerage towards a different bass. The only thing I would say is that I am feeling a little like a kid before Christmas at the moment; the Lull apparently just needed bolting together and would be available 'in two weeks', but at the moment I don't know whether the bass is even en route from the US (in theory we're looking at delivery next week). It's a minor thing I know, but I don't want to feel like I'm hassling BD unnecessarily.

Lovely, lovely, lovely.

I think my only misgiving with the mounting system would be whether the adhesive backing fails at some future date. I'm not a big stamper and think the 'solution', is pretty nice. [quote name='FretNoMore' timestamp='1433228067' post='2788988'] Sorry to be "that guy", but ... I like everything about these boards - except for their mounting system which I think is an overengineered solution for a problem that doesn't really exist. Nothing "quick release" about going under the board to move or replace a pedal, expensive to buy plates for all pedals, restrictive in terms of exact placement on a packed board, and can a pedal be used separately on the floor with the mounting plate attached? I do like the looks and the patch panels and I would use this board, but I'd skip the mounting plates and use plain old Velcro instead. [/quote]