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[quote name='Bottle' post='1021493' date='Nov 12 2010, 02:40 PM']Hey Nigel If you'd like, I can have a look at the circuit wiring for you. How have you wired the humbucker? This might help (although it's for a DiMarzio HB pickup, the process should be the same). You'll need to identify which wire is which from the MEC HB. HTH, Ian[/quote] Hello Ian, swapped the hot and cold on the HB and it works beautifully! With both pups on centered blend, it has a really throaty mid scooped sound with no loss of bass or volume. Superb! Again, thanks for the offer man! Daz, triple neck?? You are seriously off your napper mate I had a white headless Steinberger double neck until recently, mrs silddx nearly left me saying she couldn't tolerate that level of sheer ugliness in our home. I thought it looked beautiful

[quote name='Bottle' post='1021493' date='Nov 12 2010, 02:40 PM']Hey Nigel If you'd like, I can have a look at the circuit wiring for you. How have you wired the humbucker? This might help (although it's for a DiMarzio HB pickup, the process should be the same). You'll need to identify which wire is which from the MEC HB. HTH, Ian[/quote] Hey thanks Ian. I have it sorted though. It's solderless and I know wires to swap. There's no useful info on the MEC wire colours but I know which is which now. Thanks anyway, greatly appreciated mate.

John East got back to me and he also suggested that one of the pups is out of phase and to swap the hot and cold (or what I thought were hot and cold) around which may well solve the problem.

Wow!!!

[quote name='Conan' post='1021273' date='Nov 12 2010, 12:26 PM']Joking aside, it's a serious point. This is turning into a version of the old "master's staff room" in here. Pipe and slippers anyone? Pass the brandy Colonel![/quote] It might be in "The Local" but it's always been pretty much like that really, from what I remember. If you go to some of the other more specialist threads everything seems cool. I think this bit it for certain types of personalities. Often for those who don't mind a cage fight and others who like to referee or break up the fight hang about here. I have been wondering where Sarah and Zoe are though. As for the Avatarts ..

[quote name='Doctor J' post='1021296' date='Nov 12 2010, 12:38 PM']Silk Road vs something good, sure. Do you reckon you could hear the difference between two high quality cables though?[/quote] What lengths

[quote name='Doctor J' post='1021282' date='Nov 12 2010, 12:32 PM'] Steve Vai has a signature cable, you know. Can't get that tone without it. I hear he's got signature solder on the way. [/quote] Um I would posit that your cable makes more of a difference to your tone than paint ever could.

[quote name='chris_b' post='1021195' date='Nov 12 2010, 11:35 AM']A lot of the early, experienced, interesting posters have stopped contributing. Probably for the same reasons.[/quote] Like who, Chris?

Warwick seem to be so taken for granted these days. I think they have destryed any mystique they may have had with their carpet bomb approach to publicity. What you get for you money on the standard German models is absolutely stunning. They have taken Leo's principles of simplicity, usability and good design to a much, much higher level. Almost everything on their basses is so well thought out, from the ergonomics to the top nut. They are the easiest basses to get set up to your needs, and quality control and construction is exemplary. Some of them look hideous, some are utterly beautiful. But some people have a problem with them. German efficiency producing what they think is a souless instrument? Who knows? I just know mine are lovely to play, sound great, and they have never let me down.

[quote name='Captain Bass' post='1020408' date='Nov 11 2010, 05:08 PM']With these particular ideas I was focusing on my background being a bass player within the metal scene for 8 years. I had met a lot of brilliant players along the road who were in bands that were at a similar level to my band (cry for silence). Something I found was the way that the bass players (although very good) were often turned down in the mix both live and on record. I understand that Metal music is the Guitarists area but when I saw guitarists using 7 or 8 string guitars I felt that was stepping on our territory even more. I set out with these song ideas to create a sound where the guitar is the rythm instrument and the bass is the lead instrument, and where the rythms are interesting. But like I said before I was never thinking of creating a whole album like this as I had a feeling it would not be everyones cup of tea. I guess the guys who listen to metal bands like Meshuggah, Dillinger, Dream Theatre, Periphery, Sikth may appreciate this but that is a small majority in the whole music spectrum. And I do wanna appeal to a broad audience of Bass players and hopefully get my name past around as a decent player and to inspire young bass players. Oh and extra cash selling CDs and Lessons as I am soo skint atm![/quote] That's interesting man. I think you've got a perfectly valid approach to making your music, but it would seem to me that you need a singer, good lyrics and real musicians if you want to give your album a broad appeal and validate your approach to the bass being melodic instrument. In fact, I would say that it is one of the few ways that a bass could work as one of the focal points of a band. You certainl;y have the sound, style and chops to pull that off. And if you do it well, I think it will tick most of your objectives boxes. BUT, at the moment, it kind of sounds like a skint great bassist putting together some tracks in his home studio to highlight his compositional and bass playing skills. I totally think you need to up that a few levels. What you should possibly think about is doing an ep instead of an album and getting a band together to do it. The songs themselves need to stand up to the competition and prove that a great metal band with up front melodic solo bass is viable as anything else. Now all you need are some people and some cash.

[quote name='Legion' post='1021072' date='Nov 12 2010, 10:06 AM']I was just browsing this thread and I felt the need to pipe in at this point. I'm not suggesting finish affects tone but wood certainly continues to "breathe" long after the tree is cut down. Moisture content in wood constantly changes with its environment for a very very long time. I would imagine this is what people are referring to when they say that the "wood can breathe". Sealing the wood away from its environment with poly finishes etc means that the wood can no longer "breathe" and its moisture content should stay very stable compared to an unfinished piece of wood. Now from a consistent tone approach surely sealing it and stabilising its characteristics is a good thing?[/quote] Bearing in mind that the wood has been kiln dried or stored and dried naturally for many years. The moisture is minimal and usually it will be natural oils. Try "breathing" through Fullerplast or nitro Some say the extra movement in the wood of an unfinished body compared to the restriction of movement in a finished body affects the tone "positively" in an electric instrument. I would dispute that because there are so many other factors involved.

[quote name='Chris2112' post='1020372' date='Nov 11 2010, 04:44 PM']This guy is obviously one of those old bug bear characters, I was rolling eyes when I got to bit where he said all instruments finished in "modern lacquer" sound crap![/quote] Have you read this [url="http://www.mother-of-tone.com/mother.htm"]http://www.mother-of-tone.com/mother.htm[/url] [b]An extract ..[/b] "But which material has the most pleasing tone ? The answer is simple: Which material do YOU consist of ? Bones and flesh. That's it. The ear, your listening organ, has its own tonal character, according to its construction and the cellular material it consists of. Like any microphone has a tonal character, your ears have too. This is the 'Mother of Tone' character. Would your ears be made of aluminium, they would have a different tonal character. But this is not the point. The point is, that the tonal characteristic of your ear is the yardstick for any sound you are able to perceive, and that sounds are evaluated in a way that corresponds to the distance or strangeness with respect to the Mother-of-Tone character. According to the Law of Attraction (like attracts like), the sound-character of a material that comes close to your own material is pleasing, whereas a sound character starts to hurt, the less the sound emanating material has to do with your own cellular material. This is a simple realization, but you can explain a whole musical world with it. The characteristic construction and material of your ear is the yardstick, and the more a sound comes close to that characteristic, the better you feel and the more you are attracted to that sound. Try for your own. Listen attentively to sounds you like and dislike and see what materials are involved. Okay, how to make use of that ? Since we cannot make hifi-equipment out of flesh and bones, we have to look for a material that is at hand, and is related to our ears characteristic. This material is wood. A cellular plant material. Ideal for the construction of musical instruments, loudspeakers, etc. In fact, our whole body is put together by digesting plant material. Even if we eat a Steak, the cow has been eating plants before. So we are much more related to wood, than we are to ceramics, aluminium, plastics, steel or titanium. This is the reason that ... ... Wood Sounds Good In fact, almost every kind of wood sounds good. "

[quote name='lemmywinks' post='1020330' date='Nov 11 2010, 04:12 PM'][/quote] Only in photographs, I've not actually touched it or played with it. Anyway, it will still be a bit oily.

[quote name='pantherairsoft' post='1020317' date='Nov 11 2010, 04:06 PM'][b]I prefer natural finishes[/b]... That said I like a few painted basses too. Love the stealth look. I tend to be drawn to interesting looking wood grain... but I don't think I'd so no to a georgeous painted bass.[/quote] I know you do I've seen your RIM! When are you off to Nepal?

[quote name='chris_b' post='1020315' date='Nov 11 2010, 04:05 PM']OK. My interpretation was that "vs" was an invitation to compare and discuss preference.[/quote] I think versus means against, doesn't it?

[quote name='chris_b' post='1020306' date='Nov 11 2010, 04:00 PM']I've got both and neither is better than the other because of their finish. Having said that If I ever get another bass, I'll be disappointed if it isn't a 3 tone sunburst with a rosewood finger board![/quote] Oh I'm not disputing what's "better" whatever than means.

[quote name='icastle' post='1020298' date='Nov 11 2010, 03:53 PM']For the same reason I would never let Laurence Llewelyn Bowen through my front door? [/quote] Why not?

[quote name='MoonBassAlpha' post='1020200' date='Nov 11 2010, 03:09 PM']Thanks, this is what I was hoping to find out. From other people who had done similar, and that it doesn't make a discernable difference. With basses. [b]It's a good job we're not talking about acoustic guitars or violins.... (only kidding! )[/b][/quote] If we were, there would be no issue, nothing to dicuss

[quote name='Captain Bass' post='1020087' date='Nov 11 2010, 02:13 PM']Maybe if I had tracks that were just bass on its own? or layers of my bass tracked? Im really glad I posted this up as I have got some valuable feedback from you guys![/quote] Why do you want to record an album that features bass as the main instrument? This is meant as a serious question. What are you trying to say with it? For example, as a publicity tool for your skills to get you hired by a big band, making some extra cash touching normal people with your heartfelt and beautiful music, impressing the bass playing fraternity, to get people to ask you for lessons? Sponsorship deals? What?

[quote name='BurritoBass' post='1020084' date='Nov 11 2010, 02:12 PM']Having stripped two basses I don't think the tonal difference was all that noticeable. You gotta love an expert though [/quote] The main moderator on the Warwick forum did the same. And some other Warwick owners were shocked thinking now that Warwick's natural oil finishes are not there for a better sound, The Sound of Wood! They really don't consider that it's purely for aesthetic reasons borne out of cost, time and effort savings.

[quote name='MoonBassAlpha' post='1020065' date='Nov 11 2010, 02:00 PM']That's why I put the last line in my previous post.[/quote] But who really would care anyway, except maybe in a lame attept to prove a pointless point. Given that the fundemental tone of an electric instrument when amplified comes from so many factors. What's really funny to me is when people insist on a natural oiled finish because of the TONE, and then install active electronics Who really gives a toss about micro adjustments to tone of the bass by stripping the paint, when the eq of their amps is in fixed bands and Q, then into a desk with tons of EQ possibilities, the influence of the tonal characteristics of the desk and recording medium, the mastering process, the consumer's equipment, and so on. That's aside from all the other components that go into the core tone of a bass before you f*** it all up with eq and other equipment.

[quote name='MoonBassAlpha' post='1020037' date='Nov 11 2010, 01:40 PM']Seeing as he's an ultra hi-fi boff it doesn't surprise me there's no sound clips on his site , think about it! What would you be listening to those "sound clips" on? Though I would agree, if the difference were that noticable, you might hear it on any old p.o.s. But back to the original point, what I was trying to get at, without explicitly asking, was if anyone has two similar models of bass, one of which had been stripped, and noticed an appreciable difference. Or even a bass that had been stripped and sounded (better, different, worse)?[/quote] Hello mate, Your first point. No bass amp and cab is really HiFi. And none of us listens to music on the same kit he listens to his on, or monitors his recordings on. Second point. The only way to tell is with the same bass, painted, then stripped and compared using lab conditions. The cut of wood on a different bass will make more difference to the timbre of the instrument than the finish, or lack of finish, will in most cases.

Wow, what a trip! And thanks for the insight. I'm so sorry to say I didn't like the soundtrack either, sorry mate. I'm not your target audience though. It sort of came across as lift music for bassists if you see what I mean. I think, for it to work, the compositions need to be of the quality of the last track (which is excellent - see below) on the clip, and all the instruments need to be played by real people who can inject energy, sophistication and personality into the tracks. I can see where you're going, but it needs to appeal to a wider audience if you want success from it. The last track on the clip was really good, a very tasty tune and it held my attention, but I wanted to hear some Lifeson guitar and a vocal on it Seriously good luck though man, you are so talented!

[quote name='thunderbird13' post='1019985' date='Nov 11 2010, 01:03 PM']Why dont I bring it to the SE Bass Bash *, along with a few other bits and pieces and everyone can make their own mind up ! * assuming Mrs Thunderbird doesnt want to go shopping that day [/quote] That will be ace! Thank you! Any news on the job BTW?

[quote name='Bassassin' post='1019973' date='Nov 11 2010, 12:57 PM']I pretty much gave up after he used the scientific term "sounds like sh!t" for about the fifth time, because unfortunately the entire article was sounding to me a little to much like one long, gaseous, loose bowel movement. I hate this pretentious rubbish so much. Pickups, strings, electronics, playing technique, amp, speaker, EQ, room acoustics etc account for 99.9 of what any electric bass or guitar will sound like. I remain unconvinced that even the bridge or nut - unless they're failing to do their job properly - make a discernible difference to what you hear coming out of your loudspeaker. I suppose a specially trained dog might be able detect whatever influence a bit of wood & a couple of microns of shiny coating have, but it wouldn't be able to describe it too well, so what exactly's left? Good, old fashioned self-delusion. Jon.[/quote] And I don't see any evidence of before-and-after sound clips