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Mister RLP

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    To Flea or not to Flea.

    in Bass Guitars

    Posted · Edited by Mister RLP

    7 hours ago, Mickeyboro said:

    It’s strange. The Flea made an impression on me when I tried it in Andertons in 2016 and when I had a chance to buy in 2023 it was as good a player as I remembered. 
    The big pluses are the neck (non roadworn) and pickups. I am not bothered either way by the battle scars. 

     

    Snap! I tried a Flea in Andertons in August 2017 just to see what it was like - might have even been the same one! I was  looking for something else at the time not a road worn jazz bass. It blew me away. It felt right. Was passing through Guildford a couple of weeks later and tried it again. Same feeling. So I put deposit on it so it could be put to one side. Staff were surprised that I wanted the display model and not a boxed one from their warehouse. When I finally went to collect the bass after raising the funds I did try a couple of other Fleas from the warehouse but they didn't feel the same for some reason. 

     

    So what do I like about it? Well I always liked the look/sound of Herbie Flowers' jazz bass so I have some tape wounds on my one. The neck - back and 7.5 radius. Pickups - according to non-bassist musicians I know they sound great. The nitro finish is lovely and thin with the wood of the bass appearing through on the front body contour. It just feels great to hold and play. It feels 'organic; as opposed to some of my other basses if this doesn't sound too daft. I think this is the appeal of the road worn basses for me - they feel 'right'. Not too bothered about the 'damage' as that's not why I got it. 

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    • Like 2

    Headphones - a very specific requirement

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    59 minutes ago, Maude said:

    I realise this doesn't answer your question but it might be an alternative, or suitable for others. 

    I've recently bought a Nux Mighty Plug and it is now my go to practice tool as it's just so convenient. 

    Plug it into my bass, short headphone lead plugged into it and I'm completely untethered. You can bluetooth your music source to it and there's an app to set up presets containing amp, cab and effects sims. USB rechargeable and lasts a good amount of time. 

    As I said, not the answer to your question but possibly a cheap alternative. 

     

    This it, bass, Nux, headphones. Can't wait for summer garden noodling. 🙂👍

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    Mine arrived on Tuesday and it’s a game changer. Rehearsing for school spring concert - Back to the 70s! Ideally I’d have liked the Boss Waza Air thingy but not at that price. Previously been using a Zoom B4. Good but lots of wires and guitar leads etc. spent more time setting it up than practicing. Keeping it though. 

    Its a journey..

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    First - Epiphone Violia bass

    Second -Rickenbacker 4001

    Third - Squier Matt Freeman P-Bass (still have)

    Fourth - Fender fretless Jazz

    Fifth - Squier fretless P-Bass

    Sixth - Fender Flea Jazz (still have) 

    Seventh - Bass Collection Betsy Bass (still have) 

    Eighth- Squier fretless Jazz (still have) 

    Ninth - Squier FSR Mustang blue (still have)

     

    Music you've done a 180 turn on since your teens/formative years

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    On 03/03/2023 at 01:37, Nebadon2000 said:

    Depeche Mode

    How true. In the 80s I was into mainly 60s and 70s music - well out of step with my school and college friends. Had heated arguments how band like Depeche and Madness were rubbish, etc. Finally got into them when Violator came out and I was at uni. One of my friends was into electronica  and played in a band which I joined. Lucky to see them four times so far and off to see them at Twickenham this year. Also did a U-Turn on Madness and go to see them every other year with my daughter who knows more of the words than I do! Also like a lot more of the 80s stuff than I did then. I think I am a bit contrary. Another friend was a huge Rush fan and I tried, I really did. By the time of their last UK tour I got them and I am glad I went. Maybe I just take a while to get some things? Get their in the end though…

    • Like 1

    Squier Mustang Bass Noisy Philips Screw

    in Repairs and Technical

    Posted · Edited by Mister RLP

    12 hours ago, Norris said:

    The film will not make any difference. It's just there to protect things from scratches until it gets in the grubby hands of the customer 

     

    The screw will be going through the base plate of the pickup. It certainly wouldn't be unusual for a pickup to make a noise when tapped with a screwdriver, and this could also be affected by the screw too. Don't worry, it's all perfectly normal 

     

    Underneath the scratch plate will be a spring that the screw passes through the middle of, and then into the pickup base plate. Be careful if you loosen the screw too much while taking off the film, or it may unscrew completely and you'll need to take off the scratch plate to get it all back together. That's still not a problem though - people fiddle like this for fun

     

    Thanks for getting back. The scratch plate had two films on it - one with the Fender Play sticker on it and another one underneath. I had taken off the first one after I bought it but left the other one on as didn't really notice it was there. It was only when putting some lemon oil on the fretboard that I thought I would take off the other film. I wish I just left alone, now! I think my main concern is that the screw wasn't making this noise before (I've had the bass from new for four months) and now when I rest my thumb on the pickup it makes an unpleasant scratchy noise. I took the scratch plate off last night and couldn't see anything untoward - nothing loose, etc. The good news is that the very dry laurel board now looks much better! 

     

    Squier Mustang Bass Noisy Philips Screw

    in Repairs and Technical

    Posted

    Thought I would take off the film of the pickguard and I tried to raise the Phillips screws so that it would all come off but it just raised/lowered the Mustang pickups. It was when I was tuning up the bass I noticed that the Phillips screw near the E string was very loud like it was part of the pickup.  Especially when tapped with the screwdriver. I hadn’t noticed this before. Is this a thing? Was the film stopping it making this noise? Help!  

     

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    NBD Guy Pratt Betsy

    in Bass Guitars

    Posted · Edited by Mister RLP

    8 hours ago, Wonky2 said:

    My first ever real/proper bass was a 4 string bass collection , it really was an exceptional instrument which I must have played 1000+ gigs with it. 
    i went on to buy a 5 string version of same bass and continued for years with that. 
    gotta be one of the most underrated basses out there. 

    I was blown away by the bass when it arrived. Superb bass in qc, looks and sound. I think also it helps that it is set up really well at the Bass Centre before being shipped. And you can contact them and let them know your preferences too. I called another time about their fretless jazz and they were really chuffed when I used their colour ‘solar flare’, which was great. They are still excited about basses and their products. Always a good sign. I also asked if they were going to do a Herbie Flowers signature…

    • Like 1

    NBD Guy Pratt Betsy

    in Bass Guitars

    Posted

    On 24/01/2023 at 21:30, sebrouxxx said:

    Hie, 

     

    I'm very interested with that Betsy Jazz Bass. To the owners here:

    1/ are the EMG active pickups really noiseless / hum-cancelling? 

    2/ Is a low action adjustment possible? 

    3/ do you change the Bass Centre strings? What is your opinion about that strings (Player ou Stadium). 

     

    Best 4 U, 

     

    Sebastien 

     

    The Betsy is an incredibly well made jazz bass. Still very impressed. 

    1) The EMG pickups are not noisy. 

    2) The action came low and well set up from the Bass Centre where I believe they are set up again before shipping. 

    3) The original strings are still on the bass which is unusual for me as I normally change strings on basses straight away. The Elites are great. 

    • Like 1

    Anyone have arthritis?

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    Thankfully not in hands yet but I have really bad arthritis in one of my big toes. I have had this for about three years or so. (I was sent for a X-ray for this and on my hands which are showing the beginnings of osteoarthritis.) It makes walking painful in normal shoes so I now wear walking shoes to work. I can’t run/jog anymore at all. And can still go for a walk but will really hurt after a while. Several different doctors have suggested the ibuprofen route and said that if I was a professional footballer then I would get treatment but I am not. However I am on medication that is stronger than ibuprofen for these dreadful headaches I get and it is noticeable when I come off it the arthritis gets

    much worse.

    • Like 1
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