Geek99

[quote name='KevB' post='286660' date='Sep 18 2008, 03:09 PM']I've not been there yet but Music Scene in Mansfield are now dealers for Ernie Ball so if it's a stingray you're after I guess that's the place; [url="http://www.music-scene.co.uk/guitars.htm"]http://www.music-scene.co.uk/guitars.htm[/url] Nottingham's gone downhill, unless they've perked up a bit I wouldn't bother with the miserable old cow that runs Music Inn frankly.[/quote] Its okay as a shop. They had a black cutlass on the wall, also an "earthquake-damaged" no-name jazz bass. Lady at Music Scene has always been very nice to me, maybe you caught her on an off-day? There's a good but small shop in Nottingham off mansfield road across teh top of the forest (near the fancy dress shop)

[quote name='machinehead' post='286341' date='Sep 17 2008, 11:44 PM']Depending on the logo on the headstock, your Tokai strat should be worth up to £400, maybe a little more. Bear that value in mind if you're trading. Frank[/quote] Its listed on ebay now, perhaps you can advise (item 280266854105). I saw a mint one of similar vintage in black go for £230 last week and that one [i]was [/i]mint. As far as I can recall, I paid about £239 in 1989. Mine isnt mint, or totally original. There are 17 watchers though, so its attracting a lot of interest even with 4 days to go. Swapper hasnt got back to me yet.

[quote name='joe_bass' post='286146' date='Sep 17 2008, 06:53 PM'][url="http://www.warwickrockbass.com/rbspecs.pdf"]http://www.warwickrockbass.com/rbspecs.pdf[/url] Hope that helps mate ^ Regarding your hands I'm willing to bet they are bigger than mine & I got on fine with my streamer.[/quote] Thanks Joe, much appreciated. He hasnt replied and sent a pic yet or told me what specific model/year, so we'll see.

my Strat is a 20 year old (japanese) Tokai in tobacco sunburst with active electronics. I'm happy to trade but dont want another bass with a chubby neck as I have smallish hands. I was going to buy a Squier VMJ with the Ebay proceeds from the Strat for this reason. Anyone have an opinion on the Warwick neck dimensions? Other [i]minor [/i]issue is the swapper lives in Essex and I only go there occasionally but thats not insoluble.

I'd like a jazz bass (mainly for the thin neck) but been offered one of these instead as a swap for a Strat. Not sure what model, but it has active mec JB-style pickups apparently. any opinons/thoughts/experiences to share?

yes sorry, was typing from memory (thanks to Buzz also for the feedback)

sure, that would be cheaper than the petrol to get there, however I wouldnt get to check I like playing it, or that the neck suits me, that it has nice grain, or whether its a two or three piece body (which a poster said was important to the tone on another jazz bass thread) Apols for the Cheap S post - I was having a spazzy moment and hit Enter too soon.

I've noticed that they have very cheap Squier VMJs advertised - does anyone have any experiences with Reidys? Its a bit of a journey for me so I want to be sure they're alright to deal with. On another note, does anyone know if the Greasebucket tone circuit in the Highway one is avaiable/can be retrofitted to a VMJ? (or advise against it)

[quote name='uptonmark' post='278639' date='Sep 6 2008, 03:17 PM']short arms................. you got deep pockets too get a jazz bass, nice thin necks on `em[/quote] no, normal job, partner, child, dog, cats etc usual demands on income. Hobbies are less important. My partner tends to notice if I like something and secretly buy it so I try not to make special trips to look at things. Its a Stingray copy by Vintage (£140 or so), not a [i]real[/i] Stingray. Look for "Vintage®EST96Series" [url="http://www.jhs.co.uk/vintagebass.html"]here[/url] although mine is yellow like the one in the link below it. I have always hankered after a Jazz bass but never played one. I just like the look - I will try one now since you mentioned the thin necks (which might reduce the stubby finger effect) although no music shops near me seem to stock them, either genuine or imitation.

you can get solid foam roof insulation called "selotex", we're using it in a bungalow renovation. It comes in big sheets that are easy to cut to size and can be fixed with screws. Get it from builders merchants. alternatively you can buy polystyrene sheets although they are flimsier.

[quote name='Muppet' post='278091' date='Sep 5 2008, 06:08 PM']I have short arms and stubby fingers! I found the thumb in the back of the neck was actually easier in the long run but you do have to be a little more precise with finger placement. I play precisions and have had a Stingray in the past and prefer wide necks in general. I have found three things of help. The first is to get the guitar at the right position for you, not too high up under your chin and not too low so that it's swinging round your knees. The best position will feel comfortable for both hands. The second is to ensure the guitar is set up properly. This ensures your fretting hand is not working harder than it needs to in fretting the strings. The third is as has been said, perhaps try a 1,2,4 finger combination for starters.[/quote] thanks, by 124, does everyone mean "dont use the third finger?"

[quote name='budget bassist' post='277948' date='Sep 5 2008, 03:52 PM']I found that sitting position like in the above post easier to play when i was just starting out, but i moved it over to my right leg once i got used to it. It's just about practice really, keep practicing long enough and your reach will get better etc. There isn't really a correct way to play, it's just how you're comfortable. and FWIW i play with my thumb on the back of the neck and over the top depending what i'm playing.[/quote] thanks for that, I've gone back to basics to fix my timing and some technique issues so I'm determined to correct my hand positioning too. I'm currently torturing myself with exercises to make my third and fourth fingers work properly under control instead of doing permanent hammer-ons. I will bear in mind the idea of moving the block over to my right leg though, thats an interesting idea.

[quote name='OldGit' post='277839' date='Sep 5 2008, 02:13 PM']Try practicing sitting down and putting your bass on your left thigh with your foot raised like a classical guitarist, at least to start with. That makes the "correct" hand position easier. Then you can move on once you've got the hang of it. You may not want to use this technique on stage [/quote] Being a handy sort, I've made a foot raising platform from four blocks of wood that I happened to have lying around. I'll report back. Thanks for the tip.

I'm struggling with the "thumb in the back of the neck" thing as trying also to do one finger per fret is killing my forearms (the part of them which is facing the floor) when I practise. Does everyone go through this or should I go for the easier "thumb over" copout? btw I have a a Vintage Stingray copy, in case neck dimensions are significant here. I dont really want to go short scale if it can be avoided. I also have fairly stubby fingers (although I'm working on stretching their spread), I notivced in another thread that someone else with the same short fingers foudn a jazz bass easier.

[quote name='silverfoxnik' post='109166' date='Dec 25 2007, 12:25 AM']Not quite the whole song but the bass line in 'Alright Now' is so brilliant when it's in the higher register, it kind of makes the song for me..[/quote] It was seeing some video of this, and hearing it that made me want a bass

no joe_bass, because if anyone plays his work (presumably fairly obviously derived from the two originals) then the owners are entitled to payment for use or performance of their intellectual property. If he only played his work at home (ie not in public, no audience) then he doesnt need permission because you get rights to do that when you buy the recording. Definitely get advice from the PRS or MCPS before proceeding.

a no-name white/maple P Bass copy for me. I painted it black, then the pickguard was painted black (I didnt know you could buy them) then it went white, then I added a J pickup but with both pickups going though the one volume because I didnt know any better. I honestly dont know what happened to it. Then I bought a red shop-damaged Aria Magna 5 string which got an EMG treble/bass preamp which I sold on Ebay for £100. I now have a Vintage Stringray copy and hanker after a 70style jazz.

"stuff good bass players should know" (Glenn Letsch, publ. Hal Leonard, around £13 with cd) I bought this at Meadowhell and its really good. Informative with small chunks of well-chosen info organised alphabetically. Has a good section on scales, modes and arpeggios (attention Sarah ). The CD examples are quite clear. One downside, and its minor one - its a bit american in style, he mentions "studio cats", I presume he doesnt mean some tabby hiding under the mixing desk.

not really, the law here is pretty strict. If you had bought the book, even secondhand, I'd be comfortable with the technical infringement - I see that as "fair use", I dont think photocopies are in the right ball-park, sorry but someone else may be able to help you.

as long as someone /bought/ the book (so the author was paid), I dont have a big problem with it. Faithless, have you bought the book, or been given it by someone who did? If you're working off photocopies, I cant assist you in this. The CDs arent much help without the book.

you want Mp3 format? I'll try and email it to you if you PM me an address but beware that your inbox may only accept a certain size of file

[shudder]

[quote name='The Funk' post='267138' date='Aug 21 2008, 03:35 PM']If you're waiting to hear the beep or click before you start trying to play the note on your bass, then you'll never be in time. If you hear four beeps or clicks and then know when the beats are going to beep or click, then you'll be able to play in time.[/quote] I think I can do the clicks, thanks, its the drum sounds that are muddying the water, but I am interested in Jase's idea of an ad - I hadnt considered that.