King Tut

Well I just like to have something solid to anchor my thumb on. I've noticed that if I play slightly to the neck side, I can rest on the scratchplate where it meets the pup which may be a way forward. I thought that with a bridge cover - i could vary my tone by playing off either end of it - and you're right, I'd have to get the bridge cover to boot!

[quote name='Delberthot' post='489422' date='May 16 2009, 12:07 AM']I've owned 2 '51 reissues and have built 2 Warmoth single coil P basses and I think that as long as you don't use the pickup as a thumb rest you're ok. They are more exposed but I certainly don't treat my bass any differently to one with a covered pickup. I've heard stories about the top coming off but I think that either comes from a faulty pickup or someone physically trying to wreck their bass. One night i was playing slightly more aggressive than normal and managed to get the E string stuck under the pickup and I don't have the pickup particularly close to the strings but it didn't damage anything. No point in putting a chrome cover over the top as some of the best tones can be had around the pickup. For most of my playing life I've played Stingrays so I naturally play with my right hand over where the Stingray pickup would normally be. Also gets in the way when you go from playing fingerstyle to slapping. These basses have one of the most unique slap tones. Absolutely love it.[/quote] Thanks for your thoughts - unfortunately, [b]I do[/b] use the pickup as a thumb rest, but my thumb isn't touching the windings - maybe some masking tape would be a good idea. I can't get over how unique this bass sounds compared to my others, and I'm not sure quite why. It's almost like it has a delayed attack when whacking the strings hard. Is this the ash body, or maybe - I thought - the fact that the saddles aren't grooved. I think it's quite ironic with all the talk (most of which I've agreed with) about through necks, hi mass bridges against bent bits of tin etc etc etc that this bass which is pretty much as bassic as you can get sounds so agressive with plenty of sustain and more tone than you could shake a stick at!!

I recently bought a Sting Sig from Flanker. First up I gotta say how pleased I am with it - it looks lovely (I can live with Mr Sumner's autograph - he's a fab musician), it's nice and light, no deadspots and sounds the absolute dogs. It's funny how - even unplugged, it seems to have a natural compression to it - which I put down to the ash body - not unlike my standard Corvette. Not sure what the tone is like with the standard pickup as this one has a quarter pounder fitted. Anyroadup - I'm waffling . . . . I've gigged it once and it was fab live. but the pickup innards do seem very exposed where they are - with not much of a cover. I sweat loads when gigging and I'm a bit concerned about sweat getting into the coils and corroding them or otherwise shagging up the pickup. Anyone go any thoughts on - generally the early style of P Bass and; How well the pickups stand up to road use. I have been thinking of putting on a pup cover, but I'm a bit reluctant to start drilling holes in this mint instrument. Your thoughts gentlemen and ladeez please . . . . .

I had a similar bridge problem with a MIM Jazz - ie bridge saddles lowering themselves. This is easily fixed with a tiny dab of loctite on each saddle screw.

I gotta learn to play that song and sing it as well!

[quote name='mcgraham' post='485107' date='May 11 2009, 02:52 PM']I absolutely love Prosteels. I practice a LOT, and these strings are the only ones that sound great, even, crisp and full, even for months of intense playing. I've tried Rotosound and found them to be too abrasive and shortlived. I've tried Warwick Black Label, thin and weedy sounding, also very very abrasive. Fender are alright, nothing remarkable. Elixirs feel like dead strings, and sound half-dead. I've not played a better string than D'addario yet, but I'm open to change. Mark[/quote] +1 for prosteels!

High action for me - around 3 mm at the end of the fingerboard mainly - to stop the clank of the strings on the fingerboard. Can't help but get carried away when playing live!

Bought some strings from here . . [url="http://www.newstrings.co.uk/"]http://www.newstrings.co.uk/[/url] ,3 sets, 2 arrived the next daywith a note saying the third set would be sent in a couple of days. Got an email today advising the third set had been despatched. Good prices and efficient service - nice! ps - I'm not connected in any way (in many senses!!) Col

Looks a good price to me!