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[quote name='henry norton' post='1118782' date='Feb 7 2011, 12:20 PM']I 'discovered' The Lovely Eggs and Anna Calvi over the weekend and thought they were both brilliant! This got me thinking about all the bands I never really got into in the past because they 'didn't have a bass player'. Blurt and Jon Spencer Blues Explosion come to mind but there must be loads more bands who simply don't do low frequencies.[/quote] We shared a dressing room with Anna Calvi and her band last year. She was quiet as a mouse and wouldn't really engage in any conversation. Her drummer was a really nice guy though had a decent chat with him.

Low end now liberated

[quote name='Cygnus x-1' post='1118724' date='Feb 7 2011, 11:31 AM']Having skimmed the 4 pages of this thread, I think IMO some people are unfair on Parcel Force. Probably most couriers have horror story's and I guess most couriers will have a very similar percentages of parcels that get to their destiations undamaged. I have a mate who is a PF driver and on countless occasions I have chatted with him while he's loading/unloading the van, never once have I seen him treat a parcel in a way that I would be unhappy about if it was my (bass) in the parcel. I have sent and received probably 12 to 15 basses by PF any never had a hint of a problem. As an aside, I once received a (cheapish) bass won on ebay, can't remember the courier as it was 4 or 5 years ago and it was just wrapped in one layer of bubble wrap and a couple of black bin bags over it, luckily that survived unscaithed!! Just my two penneth.[/quote] Dude, I hear you, but you are missing the point, and it's also only your unique personal experience of your mate. It has nothing to do with the humans involved in the process. It's the machinery they use to sort the parcels, they can be pretty brutal.

[quote name='waynepunkdude' post='1118649' date='Feb 7 2011, 10:02 AM']This is how you ship a bass. [/quote] No, that's a Sicilian message. It means Moya Green sleeps with the fishes.

[quote name='thisnameistaken' post='1118493' date='Feb 7 2011, 01:02 AM']Strong opinions aren't welcome on forums - any forums. You either muddle along with the accepted wisdom of the forum or you're a troll. If you're unlucky enough to be contrary and you also happen to be better at expressing yourself in text than most of the people you're disagreeing with, then you're entirely f***ed, as Jeff Berlin has apparently discovered. It's unusual in this case because it happened to someone who's an expert in his field, whereas it's usually anonymous people who it happens to. And usually because they are faced down by an army of sycophants or people with other interests at stake. - Kev, known troll.[/quote] Glad you're back, mate How's tricks?

[quote name='Stuee' post='1118151' date='Feb 6 2011, 07:48 PM']Seriously? I thought we were better than that here, or did I accidentally sign in to TalkBass? He might be using the thumb tape for extra attack. And that isn't a mullet, it's just long hair tucked under his headphones, as if that's relevant to anything. Rant over Kinda strange they used these clips on the site though, they were recorded in 1997 and I dare say the basses have changed at least a little since then. Wojtek's bass didn't have a Nemo carved into it, either! [b]Unfortunately I couldn't read the whole introduction on the website. After the 4th time they used that dreadful American habit of referring to people as things (artists [i]that[/i]..., players [i]that[/i]..., people [i]that[/i]...) I gave up. Objects are [i]that[/i]s, people are [i]who[/i]s, if that's OK with you, America. [/b][/quote] Ahh good! Someone else who hates that horrible affectation.

[quote name='JTUK' post='1118034' date='Feb 6 2011, 06:36 PM']I wouldn't touch it until I had played it in for a few months... A John East is a good idea at some point, IMV but I'd explore the sonic possibilities fully first. I like basses that grow on you so providing you have everything in place and only feel tweaks are in order cosmetically, this all sounds very good to me...[/quote] I agree mate, I spent about four hours with it yesterday, playing it and tweaking some existing POD patches I had created for the Warwick. I A/Bed it direct too. This is all with music on to see how it behaves in the mix. It's a fantastic sound but it does lack some low end, but the tone control backed off about halfway and the level up a little allows the low end to kick out more. I think you're bang on, I need to get used to using a passive bass for a bit. Weird how the sweet spot thing works on the Vols too! With the front pup up full there's a 2mm range on the back pup Vol that makes a very big difference to the upper mids. The difference between it punching through the mix, and not. I'm just about to spend an hour creating some patches for it. A total EQ from scratch exercise once I've found an amp model and boost/comp box that complements it. I really don't want to make it an active, it would detract from its personality. I have to say I am seriously taken with this bass, it's a wonderful player, has real character and I can really dig in, my fingers are f***ed today, I haven't played for that long at home for many years.

[quote name='spongebob' post='1117748' date='Feb 6 2011, 03:11 PM']Classic Vibe.....!!![/quote] Have they got gloss necks? My CV Strat has. They didn't have a CV J in the shop when I was there.

[quote name='Musicman20' post='1117716' date='Feb 6 2011, 02:45 PM']I sold/traded my Jazz bass for more Musicman basses. The quality is night and day, even though the Jazz was pretty nice. I admit I'm snobby with fit and finish...but NOTHING sounds like a proper Fender Jazz unless it's a Fender! I've tried others, and I still want a Fender. Part of me is tempted to get a CV Jazz and upgrade the pups, but to be frank, Im no modder. I like to buy it and stick to it. After Dave_bass had so many problems trying to get an American Standard, I've been worried about trying again. It clearly takes patience to get a nice Fender and I don't have time to keep sending them back until I find a good one. I've tried Lakland but the QC issues just put me right off, and we all know about those! Ideas?! I do not want an active jazz, it has to be stock passive otherwise I'm spending on features I don't want!!! I've tried to get a brilliant Jazz for a long time with no luck...with the one I bought in 2000 ish being absolutely poor. Poor output, bad neck pockets, poor finish. It's getting hard blooming work. If the last one was rosewood I would have kept it.[/quote] Definitely try the CIJ non-exports. If the 10 year old Fuji-Gen limited run one I bought yesterday is anything to go by, you'll have a great chance of getting a winner. I tried a whole range of Fender and Squier Jazzes a few weeks ago, this feels so much nicer than any of them, including the new USA Standards which I rate highly. It's a snarly beast of a Jazz. Great build fit and finish, wonderful neck. I miss the bottom end of my Warwicks but I've been spoiled, it's fantastic for a stone-age passive bass.

I'll add that I shipped a Precision to BC Member Baboom last year in a good quality moulded hardshell case with bubblewrap and padding around the vulnerable areas of the case, and put it in black sacks and taped it up. The manager at the PO said he considered it suitably packaged. I sent it by Parcelfarce fully insured and signed for and the case arrived broken in two places and the tone knob was loose. They refused to compensate for the broken case saying it was not suitably packed. After a bit of a battle they coughed up the £55 I demanded which I was able to pass on to Baboom. Don't assume because your basses have survived airlines that they will survive couriers. Airline baggage handling processes are very different.

[quote name='BottomE' post='1117790' date='Feb 6 2011, 03:56 PM']Yeah when saw that i thought my wife had started posting on Basschat Anyways BC'ers will have to find another thread to release angst as the buyer and i have reached an amicable settlement.[/quote] Yeah, sorry about that mate. Obviously I didn't realise it was you at the time and did post later quoting your nice post saying /thread. I just thought it was another idiot ebayer. To be fair, I wasn't the only one to say something to that effect. But hopefully you won't be posting a bass wrapped like that again Really, you should see what these couriers do to packages as part of the process and you would never do that again. Once again, my apologies if I hurt you in any way.

[quote name='BottomE' post='1117252' date='Feb 6 2011, 12:40 AM']Hi, it seems we meet at last. I am the guy who sold you that lovely bass. Can i say that i totally didn't mean to mislead you with the sale and i might well be an inexperienced seller. I am truly sorry that you are dissapointed with the sale. This was never my intention. I have sold a few basses, posted them in their cases and this has never been an issue before. Perhaps naively i believed that the case was adequate protection. I have been a bit around the world playing bass and must be very lucky as the majority of time my basses have survived well enough in bass cases. That said, i am looking at this completely differently as you are a BC'er and not some idiot trying to rip me off. I am happy to send you £20 towards the cost of a new case. I just bought a new case for a jazz bass off of Thomann and it was £43. How does that sound?[/quote] /thread

[quote name='Protium' post='1116850' date='Feb 5 2011, 07:05 PM']A hard case provides more protection than a cardboard box. The bass has turned up in described condition. I can't see what you want to seek compensation for, other than to try and rip off the seller.[/quote] Sorry but you're wrong. It depends on the case too. Do you know what Parcelfarce's hoppers do to packages? You need a proper box and LOTs of shock absorption, ie. bubble wrap. The seller made a stupid and damn lazy decision to ship the bass like that. The case does not look like it could come close to handling the punishment Parecelforce would mete out to it.

[quote name='Toasted' post='1117274' date='Feb 6 2011, 01:19 AM']You may as well pile the money in a heap and burn it.[/quote] I completely agree. I think the OP just wants a nice interesting meaty project. I designed and built a bass from parts, luckily it turned out pretty much as I expected and it plays, sounds and looks amazing, and it's unique. However, it was supposed to cost me a few hundred quid and ended up costing me nearly £1,100 because of scope creep and the cheap components I was going to use ended up being top drawer parts. Ask yourself why you want to do this. Making a cheap bass into an expensive one is probably what will happen and you may well not get what you want and end up parting it out. Delano MMs are superb though, I had one in a fretless, the harmonic details in the response were really beautiful.

[quote name='Gunsfreddy2003' post='1117560' date='Feb 6 2011, 12:39 PM']Ok so I now have people all saying good things about East preamps, Tone Hammer, Sansamp BDDI, Sadwosky preamp and the Aguilar 924. Can anyone come up with a sensible suggestion as to which one to go for? Can't try them all!![/quote] I have a John East U-Retro in another bass and it's immensely versatile. I love it. I bought a Jazz yesterday, it's sounds fantastic, really snarly and growly, but it does lack that low end power that my active Warwicks had. I am seriously considering a J-Retro now.

[quote name='TheGreek' post='1117508' date='Feb 6 2011, 11:48 AM']The article talks about "esthetics", I like the natural finish and I thought the wood(effect?) pick up covers was a nice touch - yet this is far from the most beautiful bass I've ever seen.. spoilt really by that fish which looks like something a 5year old would draw!! Can't say I'm a great fan of the headstock either. They say "custom" so I'm sure something could be done about these 2 "faults". Despite these, I loved the sound - especially on the slap track. Any idea on prices??[/quote] This is the problem though, aesthetics are highly individual. But very few commercial custom builders can combine their aesthetic with taste and a feel for what the public will accept. Some have very few design skills at all. In almost all cases they 'borrow' from other designs and create their own, often with horrific results. They don't understand the customer and will struggle to get their businesses off the ground. Loads of people know what a sexy car looks like and will spout forth on all the design aspects that make it look beautiful. But ask them to design a sexy car from scratch and they will usually come up with nothing, or something that looks like an E-Type or an old Ferrari. Some are amazing at it, like Ritter. Sometimes the ugliest basses can become aspirational, like Carl Thompson, but it's usually because a few respected players use them and they are very expensive. Someone will love that bass in the OP, but it will be an expensive marketing exercise to find them.

No-one will buy it, it's got a fish on it.

[quote name='Clarky' post='1117003' date='Feb 5 2011, 08:36 PM']BC is full of posts stating this bass, that bass blah blah is a keeper. More often than not the very same bass is for sale months or even weeks later. Unless something has a particular emotional attachment or resonance (year of birth, present from wifey at key date etc) surely the concept of a keeper is plain rubbish. After all it's bits of wood and wire and there are a lot of pretty bits of wood and wire out there. I am as guilty as any, having stated first that my 71 Precision would never be sold, then my Fender Pino ( now back in Legion's hands as I wanted his Tony Franklin fretless just that little bit more than the Pino, even though it was the nicest Precision I had ever played). Agree, disagree?[/quote] I couldn't agree more mate. I used to say it too. It might be true for some people but I think people like you and me like changing basses a lot, the search for the elusive ONE that doesn't exist, and having new pretties to drool on is so much FUN! Sold my $$ the other day which was "definitely a keeper" and got a gorgeous Jap Jazz this afternoon. Worlds apart in terms of tone and feel, and bass principles, but I love it. I couldn't say it's a keeper anymore, but my god it's so much fun to play! I think it's great to change your opinion based on new information and inspirations.

[quote name='bh2' post='1116789' date='Feb 5 2011, 06:15 PM']Yes... a good jazz is all you need I reckon... now get the frets orf and drop in a J-Retro! only kidding! [/quote] J Retro might be a good idea actually! Got a U-R Deluxe in my other bass. I just stripped it, cleaned it up, gave it a gentle fret level, dress and polish. Servisoled the electrics, lemon oiled the board, and shimmed the neck a little bit as the saddles on the Badass had bottomed on the E and G. Loosened the truss rod a little, and strung it with the Black Beauties. Smooth as silk to play now, action is 2.5mm at the 12th, a bit higher than I'd like but I'll get used to it. Lovely, lovely bass!

[quote name='redstriper' post='1116640' date='Feb 5 2011, 03:51 PM']Happy days ![/quote] Yes sir!

[quote name='bh2' post='1116394' date='Feb 5 2011, 12:00 PM']Cor... gold hardware... not normally a fan but I think it'll go well with this. Get the white pearl on as well and post the piccys please.[/quote] Haha! I was just kidding mate It looks beautiful as it is and I doubt I will change anything. To all those who recommended a mint PG, it is already a minty PG and it complements the finish perfectly so it's staying for now. I've just got it home! And by god it's an absolute CRACKER! The finish is as deep and rich as you can imagine, and in superb condition. One thing I was a little concerned about when I first clapped eyes on it at John's place was that it looks to be a six piece alder body, the joints are just visible as the paint has shrunk over time. BUT, on playing it unplugged with the old chin on the horn trick any concerns vanished, it's wonderfully resonant. The emphasis seems to be in the pillowy lower mids, exactly what we want, and it is at the headstock too. It's like it's alive! And boy, it's a real rock machine, growly, snarly, bright, but it's got a good bottom end too which will be good for my dance/pop bands. I reckon it will be a good all rounder, but the emphasis is really on the rock side of things. As soon as I played it I thought of Geddy. The Badass no doubt helps as it seems to have great sustain and unplugged it seems way louder than any bass I've owned, certainly much louder than my Warwicks unplugged. I can really dig in on this bass, it just wants to be played hard, it's that sort of instrument. The neck is just what I'd dreamed it would be. Very shallow, truly lovely to play. Deep dark honey colour gloss over the nicely figured maple, the rosewood is dark, and it looks old. The frets are very thin and there's almost no wear. The edges are nicely rounded. The nut is in great nick too. There's almost no relief and therefore action is a little high to compensate, so I'll loosen the truss rod a 1/4 turn and lower the saddles, that should do the trick I hope. I'll give it a full service while I'm at it and put a fresh set of the new K3 coated DR Black Beauties on. The pickups are Fender USA Vintage SCs and they seem to have a high output and sound bright and detailed. It plays better than any Jazz I've ever played, new, old, vintage. It's incredible. Totally different to my Warwicks. I just want to pick it up and play, it feels that inspiring, even to a lazy bastard like me I don't think I've ever felt this way about a bass. It looks the absolute dogs nadgers! And I'm absolutely delighted! John Blackman is a wonderful bloke to deal with. He's got a great eye for instruments and really knows what he's talking about. I have no doubt you will also be delighted if you purchase an instrument from him. I tried a lovely RI Tele guitar when I was there too, it played like a dream. Cheers all!

[quote name='faceman' post='1115963' date='Feb 4 2011, 10:25 PM']I picked up my new '62 Fiesta Precision from John excellent - top bloke, very helpful and gave me a lift back to Epping tube station! Didn't see this one while I was there, but mine has been top so far![/quote] Hey thanks Face. That's good to know!

[quote name='Plux_the_Duck' post='1115925' date='Feb 4 2011, 09:43 PM']you were the one who bought it. A good friend of mine was after this. Seems you beat him by a matter of hours... if you don't like it, I'll say for him first refusal![/quote] Ahh mate, he'll be second on the list next to Grand Wazoo. I'm really hoping the neck is what I want but John's measurements seem like it will suit me perfectly.

[quote name='amnesia' post='1115526' date='Feb 4 2011, 04:16 PM']Just bought a live-in flightcase for my VBA. I went direct to the adrenaline website, not via ebay. Price is reasonable, although I paid a little extra for the aged copper finish. It was custom made, so it took a few weeks. We had good email contact throughout and Tony's responses we usually the same day. Quality is fine, but the handles are a bit small so if you're not careful you can catch the back of your hands when lifting on and off stacked cabinets. It smells nicely of glue. Which is probably bad for me but I don't care. I would deal with them again no problem.[/quote] very many thanks for that mate. Greatly appreciated!

[quote name='Mike_SuperThursday' post='1110790' date='Feb 1 2011, 11:24 AM']I think it's about time I chimed in on this. I applied for an audition after having seen the add on a different website, and ended up getting the position! I'm now the new Skinny machines bass player and have my first gig tomorrow! It's in Shoreditch at the 93 Fleet East. If anyone fancys coming down/up to it there more than welcome! It's going to be an exciting year for considering iv come straight out of uni, playing with a lot of 'bedroom bands' and people who are not really interested in touring as such, and finally in a band that actually is going to be touring for the majority of the year! Iv got a LOT of songs to learn in such a short amount of time, but I can see it being more than worth it! Plus, despite whats been said on this topic they are really great bunch of guys and it's going to be an absolute pleasure working with them.[/quote] That's fantastic news! Many congratulations! Have a brilliant time, it going to be very busy for you! How did the gig go?