Prosebass

[quote name='spychal' post='216116' date='Jun 10 2008, 01:06 PM'][url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=300230135118&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT&ih=020"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...A:IT&ih=020[/url]

What do you guys think of this. The guy also has it for sale on gumtree, and I'm probably going to go try it out this evening. He is selling it on gumtree for £230 which seems very cheap, raising my suspicions somewhat.

It seems like he's modified it with an s-switch and a bad ass bridge.... any tell tale signs to look out for?[/quote]

If its a genuine Mexican then its a bargain, if you try it out and you like it and it sounds right then buy it.
It could possibly be a Mexican neck on a non Mexican body but even if it is the price is fine, especially with the S switch and badass bridge.
How it feels and sounds to you is what matters and I would not be too bothered about authenticity at that price.
Plus its a Fender so you will probably want to put better pickups on it anyway......

[quote name='Jonny Walker' post='207928' date='May 28 2008, 11:36 AM']I have never understood why people buy copy fenders.... not that i am a huge fan but it seems to me (outsider) that Fender came up with their perfect bass and every other luthier copied the plan to get some sales.... and everyones buying into it... surely if you want a fender buy a fender?

If you want a different sound shove some better pups in...

And if its the expense, theres always the Squires... not that there anything special but surely its better to keep it in the family...[/quote]

Many reasons, with people in top bands currently and over the years endorsing Fenders, many kids starting out want to emulate their heroes be it Jean Jacques Brunel or Gordon Moakes. Having no experience of playing a lot of basses and not having an informed opinion they go with their heroes. Many bassists starting out cannot afford a Fender indeed many of us in later life still either cannot or will not wish to afford a Fender.
The copies (unless its some Matsumoko offering from the 70's or 80's rarely sound like a Fender, but they look like them which is the main reason for buying them.
My first "production model" for my bass company is a Jazz style body with a maple /maple Jazz style neck. Why ? its a safe bet as its recognized and I am more likely to sell those than a model of my own design. Its a matter of the market. I will be selling my own designs but need the "bread and butter" models to give me an income to develop my own designs and I think its similar for larger manufacturers. Squires are not very good, nothing wrong with the wood just the hardware, and it will always be a Squier , the poor relation.There are some £99.00 copies better than them.
I was watching my friends sons band (god I'm getting old) and his son is bassist/ vocalist. "Why do you play a Squier Precision" I asked "Because its white and looks like Paul Simonons" was the reply, he wasn't too interested in an authentic sound just looks. My second production model looks like it will be a white Precision style model.
If I had offered him a through neck (5 laminate) mahogany bodied with maple top bass that I make I know what his answer would of been.

We forget that for every 1 of us on this forum with our hand-built bubinga / wenge / fretless spalted topped badass bridged twelfty stringed Pedzon Jayker Droder Special there are 10 kids out there emulating their hero's on whatever they can afford.

£769.00 for an American Standard Jazz you must be on Glue !!!!! you can buy a good car for that much. lol

£150.00 is way too much I have just sold one on here for £135.00 and it looks barely several years old , with everything as it should be. A few come up on ebay which is where I got mine a few years ago. £90-£110 should get a good one £140 a cracker and £175-£200 one that looks like its not been out of the case.
Everybody raves about these basses (with good reason) but nobody seems prepared to pay good money for them ?
A good Spectrum LX can be had for £70-£80 or the Thunder 1 without the active for about £20.00 less than the active.
The Thunder 3A with the through neck is worth more with the last one I saw on ebay going for £250.00
If you buy any of the Westone basses you won't be disappointed, they are excellent for the money.

Heres a good site for technical info [url="http://www.westone.info/indexbasses.html"]Westone Bass Specificatons[/url]

[quote name='Grand Puba' post='215212' date='Jun 9 2008, 08:20 AM']Dear All

I was at the concert at the Jazz Cafe in London on 22-05-2008. What was the name of the tune he opened the concert with before "Lopsy Lu". It is driving me mad as the riff seems very familiar. Anyone in the community know?[/quote]

If you want another angle on it watch this [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sm1jdhiwoZs"]Joni Jaco[/url]

Its only for a minute or so before Jaco goes into his schizo solo mode.

[quote name='budget bassist' post='214519' date='Jun 7 2008, 06:04 PM']I wouldn't say it makes it the rarest ever, i've tried searching for some things on google and come up with absolutely nothing.[/quote]

I,m only encouraging debate and trying to find out if there are still some out there. What have you searched for and been unable to find ? I know of more 51 Precisions than my Hofner !

[quote name='Bassassin' post='214469' date='Jun 7 2008, 04:50 PM']£135 is a very fair price for the active version - if no-one here takes it (and there have been one or two folk asking about them in the last few months) you should get that on the Bay, no sweat.

According to the guide at the [url="http://www.westone.info"]http://www.westone.info[/url] site, yours is 1983 (1st digit is the year) and from the pics it looks in lovely condition.

Jon.[/quote]

Thanks for the encouragement it is indeed a 83 model and considering it is 25 years old is in excellent condition with very little wear and just a few nicks and a bit of a buckle mark on the back.

For anyone just starting out this would be an excellent choice as it would probably cost in the region of £300 - £400 these days for the quality that the early westones had. I just sold a Spectrum LX bass to a friend for £80 and it wasn't in the same league as the Thunder.

I will keep it here till the end of the weekend then its off to ebay. The offers over £135.00 includes the shipping.

[quote name='BigRedX' post='214391' date='Jun 7 2008, 02:45 PM']The fingerboard is bare wood which is why it's got flats on it. Actually they sound great with the Lightwave pickup system, so doubt I'll be trying anything else on it soon.

To get back to the original post...

Personally I don't like basses with light-coloured fingerboards unless the body is a similar light coloured wood. My three favourite basses all have ebony fingerboards.[/quote]

I think it depends on the combination of body, neck and hardware and the sound you are after, heres a few examples

[attachment=9390:Maple_Ebanol.jpg]
[attachment=9391:Maple02.jpg]

Top one is a mighty mite maple / ebanol
Lower is my own specification far east maple /maple

[quote name='BigRedX' post='214382' date='Jun 7 2008, 02:27 PM']Thanks!

However the fretless neck has had nothing more abrasive than D'Addario half -rounds on it since it's been in my possession. It's currently strung with TI Jazz Flats which are the only flats I really like.[/quote]

Thats what I am worried about, the wear rate. Is the fretboard lacquered or is it bare wood ? I may experiment with some high tech coatings to see if they stand up to roundwounds.

Anyway back to the original thread ..... I think rosewood fingerboards must outnumber maple by at least 10 to 1 so is probably why most people only ever experience rosewood, ebony or ebanol.
Unless its a conscious decision to have a maple board it probably never even registers with most people.

[quote name='BigRedX' post='214353' date='Jun 7 2008, 02:05 PM']Like this?

There's someone on this forum with a maple board Fender too.[/quote]

Phew !!!! thanks for that I've just received 2 fretless necks in maple/ maple from my supplier for building up, I have no experience of using maple for a fretboard so its god to know there are some out there.
Cool looking bass

[quote name='BigRedX' post='214350' date='Jun 7 2008, 02:02 PM']I tried the guitar version of that in the late 70s in a German music shop.

Would have bought it if I'd had the cash...[/quote]

They were expensive at the time I seem to remember having to take a loan on the bass ,it cost about 4 weeks wages...
Mind you I ripped the frets out after about 2 months and have never adjusted the neck in 25 years, quality wood.
The electronics have packed in on it and even though I am an electrical engineer by trade I cannot repair it.
Still works fine passively and the coil tap and phase switches still work fine, sounds more Jaco than Jaco....

[quote name='MB1' post='214332' date='Jun 7 2008, 01:37 PM']MB1.
Paul always easier if you put a price or...... Offers in the region of! [/quote]

pm'd

Thanks for the advice have modified ad to offers over £135.00

cheers....eastwind

[quote name='Exile252' post='214336' date='Jun 7 2008, 01:46 PM']They all have rosewood fretboards, infact I've never owned an instrument with-out a rosewood fretboard. Just found this slightly odd hehe.
Anyone else done this type of thing without thinking?[/quote]

Good point....all the basses I have ever owned have had rosewood fingerboards !!! so why has the first production bass I am making got a maple fingerboard ?

On a similar point has anyone ever had a maple fingerboard fretless ? could be a first.

cheers.....eastwind

In 1983 I bough a Hofner S7B professional in preference to a Wal, it was £20.00 cheaper than the Wal at £229.00 sounded and played better.
I can only find reference to 1 other in existence [url="http://www.vintagehofner.co.uk/hofner/basses/bas26.html"]Hofner S7B[/url]
Does this make it the rarest production bass ever ? or are there more out there ?

[quote name='Candybassed' post='213981' date='Jun 6 2008, 05:23 PM']Hi eveyone,

Just signed up today and its great to see so many lowenders out there!

I've been playing for 22yrs now, having grown up on gospel, soul, reggae, blues, funk and latterly jazz, latin and afro rhythms. I've played in bands covering all of the above plus bluegrass, pop and indie rock.

Looking forward to in depth chat with the guys and gals who share the best seat in the house.

Candybassed [/quote]

Hi Candybassed

as a fellow newbie let me say hello and welcome, the folks here seem very friendly, very knowledgeable and good fun , enjoy.

eastwind.....

It is with regret (again) that I am selling another of my collection.
Here is an original (except strings and battery for the purists) unmolested Westone Thunder 1A
No issues, everything as it should be, has the wonderful Westone growl , a very underrated bass.
All electronics fine.
Looking for offers over £135.00 including insured courier postage within UK ,will ship worldwide.
Somebody please give it a good home or it goes on ebay !!!!!



If you need more pictures or info just ask...

cheers Paul

[quote name='Paul Cooke' post='212081' date='Jun 3 2008, 08:53 PM']it's not a Fender though... your listing is confusing if not downright misleading...[/quote]


steady on.....no misrepresentation intended, the ad states Squier in the Make field and I state its a Squier in the listing and also on this site.
It is a Fender , its made by Fender its just at the cheaper end of their range hence the "Squier by Fender" tag.
If you put a Mighty Mite or other Licensed neck on a Fender is it less of a Fender than a Squier ???? dunno you tell me.
What about a Mexican or a Japanese Fender, they are all Fenders but not made in America, where do you draw the line ?.

And what do we have at the bottom of the Squire Homepage......
Copyright © 06.03.2008 Fender Musical Instruments Corporation. All rights reserved.

I think a response such as "nice bass but you may confuse a few people with the wording" would of been friendlier.
All unintentional "misleading wording" has been rectified

regards....Paul

[quote name='squire5' post='211841' date='Jun 3 2008, 03:10 PM']I'm basically looking for something that's light to carry,but sounds reasonable.[/quote]

Hi

if thats your criteria you can't go wrong with this....[url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Trace-Elliot-Boxer-30_W0QQitemZ130227160456QQihZ003QQcategoryZ58719QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem"]Trace Elliot Boxer 30[/url]

I have owned the 15 and the 30 and they are excellent small amps and as you already know Trace Elliot is pretty good throughout the range.

[quote name='4 candles' post='209785' date='May 30 2008, 06:09 PM']I'm looking to try my hand at 5 string so if anyone knows of anyone selling a quality 5 string(overwater,sadowsky,sei,fodera!!!) for around £1000 then please let me know.

regards mark[/quote]

Hi Mark from a fellow newbie looks fun in here, seriously though what did you have in mind spec wise for the 5 string I,m sure either me or my contacts can put a very nice one together for you for a lot less than £1000. If you IM me we can see what we can do....

have fun......Paul

Hi

heres one of my basses I pimped up a few weeks ago.

[url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Fender-Jazz-Modified-East-J-Retro_W0QQitemZ230258298585QQihZ013QQcategoryZ4713QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem"]Ebay Squier Jazz Custom[/url]

Sounds excellent, very bright, good harmonics and for chord work.

Selling to finance my my new business venture of bass manufacturing.
If it doesn't sell it will be offered here at a lower price.
Also got a Westone Thunder 1A in excellent condition that I will be selling.

[quote name='squire5' post='211279' date='Jun 2 2008, 06:28 PM']I'm wondering if anyone has heard of White Horse bass combos.I was watching one on Ebay recently.it was an 80 watt job which would do me for in a 2-piece folk/country duo.It certainly looks the part,but I was not sure,as I've never heard of them.[/quote]

Hi

Gear for music sell them through Amazon for £88.00 + £10.00 postage but nobody has posted any reviews.
I would surmise that it is a branded product produced in China or Korea maybe and for the money is probably OK. It depends on whether you are bothered about a brand name or not, and bear in mind it may be an 80 watt model but no figures are given for speaker efficiency or distortion levels on the amp.
The Laney RB2 is a few quid cheaper but only 30 watts with a 10" speaker.
Personally for £98 with delivery I would risk it. You can always sell it on if it turns out to be a lemon ,which is unlikely.
For £160 I bought a Peavey 160 watt head and a Hartke Transporter 2 x 10" 150 watt cab, good old ebay !!!
Also depends on budget obviously but you do not need to spend a fortune to get a good sound.

If you buy one let us know what it is like.

This one has stumped me for years...hope someone can help

When I was much younger in about 1979 my wonderful parents bought me the bass amp of my choice for my 16th birthday.
I trundled down to the legendary SAI in Coppull near Chorley and purchased a huge Yamaha setup secondhand for £250 ( a lot of money then)
The cab was about the size of a Marshall 4x12 but deeper, it was grey, had castors on and massive silver metal edging strips.
It was fitted with 3 of Yamaha's own 12" 50 watt 8 ohm bass speakers and also contained the 150 watt into 4 ohms power amp.

The head was a 2 channel pre-amp with sliding 5/6 band equalization controls and 5 pre-set contour buttons.The front was angled. It weighed a ton and was awesome. Being an electrical engineering apprentice after a couple of years I re-wired the speakers to 2 ohms, shook the house to pieces and blew the power amp within a month.

I ended up fitting 2 of the speakers in a cabinet and bought an Orange Valve head, the Yamaha was left in a mates garage and was forgot about in 1982 .I think his dad threw it away.

I have searched the net but can come up with nothing.....any ideas on the model ? I would love another one now.

Thanks to all for the welcomes , I'll soon be posting some of the first builds so you can all tell me what you think.
Just to be getting along heres a little something I put together last week to raise more cash for my venture, also got a couple of Westones but I don't really want to part with them...!

Spec

Indonesian Jazz
Standard neck and body
Dressed and polished frets
Wilkinson passive pickups
High mass "Gotoh" style bridge
John East Jazz Retro Active
Cavities shielded

This thing sings now ....and for a lot less than a Mexican Standard.

[attachment=9280:Jazz003.jpg]
[attachment=9279:IMG_0563.jpg]
[attachment=9278:Jazz002.jpg]

[quote name='neepheid' post='211167' date='Jun 2 2008, 03:43 PM']Welcome to the forum. I'll be keeping tabs on the progress of your enterprise.[/quote]

thanks for the welcome neepheid.....

how do you rate the Artec pre-amps as I import a lot of their stuff at the moment ?

Hi to everyone

my name is Paul Rose and at 45 I have been playing bass on and off for 30 years.
I am in the process of getting a new name into the bass guitar industry that being eastwind-guitars.
Will soon have a web site and ebay shop open for business.
I aim to provide the best value for money basses / spares available anywhere, having a combination of bought in and hand crafted necks and bodies in various price ranges.
I would be more than interested to hear what people want from a bass and any ideas you may have kicking about.
I am a big Jaco fan but never try to emulate him.....go with your own style is what I say. My style has often been described as "strange" . Other influences are Pino Paladino, Stanley Clarke , Doug Wimbish, John Paul Jones, Alphonso Johnson ............
Not in a band, been a bedroom hero for a while , although I played in my earlier days live.
Current crop of basses are my own designed and built ones plus a Hofner S7B from 1981(bought new) and a Westone Thunder 1A.I also use a Peavey Deltabass 160 head and a Hartke Transporter 2 x 10 cab both highly recommended.
Hope to get a banner for my business on this site asap
Feel free to contact me with any technical queries / advice , I am a bit of an anorak when it comes to basses.

cheers......Paul