dave_bass5

[quote name='Mr Fudge' post='900874' date='Jul 21 2010, 12:26 PM']I have both and love both equally. My maple seems a bit zingier and has a better slap tone. Both have wizzard pups but the RW is string through. There are tonal differences which I have put down perhaps more to the high density top feeding Gotoh bridge on the maple. I don't know why but the strings on my maple seem to need changing more often. [/quote] I also have a set of Wizard 74's that i may try in the Jazz at some point. As ill be selling the CVJ anyway i might put it back to stock and keep the Wizards. I do like the stock USA pups though. Even the small playing time i had last night with the black MIA it sounded very full and nicer than the CVJ ever did, Wizards or not.

[quote name='JTUK' post='900856' date='Jul 21 2010, 12:04 PM']hmmm ...massive difference for me with my 2... Same pre, different pups. RW is woodier and has a great spike, IMO..and if ever something is going to make you change strings often, it is this bass...[/quote] Plus point for maple then. This appeals to me. Ive always had this feeling that note wise i dont have quite the definition i would like, especially after a few gigs with the same strings. I do like a woody tone sometimes but my thinking is a bit more attack would certainly come in handy. [quote name='JTUK' post='900856' date='Jul 21 2010, 12:04 PM']Maple... this bass underpins anything..but again, when it needs to jump out the mix for a little flashy type fill..this really jumps. There is no way you will not hear it.[/quote] Im hoping this will work for me. I dont do anything flash and dont slap but its nice to know i can get a bit more help cutting through the mix if i need it. I do find some higher notes get lost a bit on my CVJ. [quote name='JTUK' post='900856' date='Jul 21 2010, 12:04 PM']If I was buying again... hmm...I would probably go for Sunburst, RW with blocks, if passive, for the woodier sound. Thankfully, I am so pleased with the sound, I will not have this decision. Comestically, I always favoured maple...but a block and bound RW would probably swing it.[/quote] All my recent (past 5 years) basses have been RW and while i have read about the differences, its not something i have ever worried about when buying a bass before. The basses i've liked just seem to come with RW and i like the look of them. If i was buying a P i would definitely get a Black and maple, without a second thought. Block and RW would also be my ideal look. Thats why i originally went for the 70's classic. Ive always liked the look of maple but have been too lazy to try it. Now ive found a bass that im happy playing now is a good time to see what maple can offer me (as well as my first 3TSB). End of the day, its going to sound like a Jazz and thats all i ask.

Thanks again all. I think ive made the right choice. After all, its still a jazz and thats the tone im after.

Cheers guys. Some good replies, and i found gjones's link very interesting, but also a bit worrying. I played a RW Jazz today (its going back for the maple version) and loved the tone, it was brighter, had more punch and depth than my CVJ ever did. But i normally find my tone gets a bit woolly as the strings get older. Im wondering/hoping a maple FB will keep the upper mids a bit longer, but also provide a bit more note definition. I play with a pick around 99% of the time so i get a lot of cut through anyway. I can see that a lot of other factors effect the tone, and its been mentioned that a string or pup change can be just as, or more dramatic so maybe ill need to change string bran if its too much of an increase in top end. Neil. Thats the one im getting. Its my first Sunburst and i really like how its not too bright and yellowy.

Ive never played one before but i have always fancied one so i have a MIA 2009 Fender standard on its way. I've read a lot about the tone differences between a RW and maple FB but will it really make that much of a difference? I play all sorts of music, Motown, Stones etc up to present day stuff. Ive found that in the past my basses have sounded warm, with a nice low end but maybe a bit wooly sometimes. All have been RW. Now the Maple FB is supposed to have a bit more bite and attack but im wondering how much and if i can EQ it out to some extent when i need a warm, mellow tone. Or is the difference really not so noticeable? Probably silly questions but i thought i might as well ask. Cheers.

The first time i ever heard fo Lakland was when i was out shopping in the Bass Centre for a 5 string about 6 years ago. They had 7 55-01's. All black but with maple or RW fingerboards. I played every one and the were all spot on, absolutely no difference other than a slightly brighter tone on the Maple ones. It does seem like Laklands Qc has gone done recently, as Gareth said. Out of all the 5 strings they had, and money was not a real issue that day, i got a 55-01 with RW neck. Took it of to the gig the very next day. It was so easy to play and sounded fantastic. About 4 or 5 months later i did feel it was a bit flat sounding so i put a better pre amp in. It didnt make much difference to my ears so i would say its the pups that are the weak point. But they are still very usable. I guess i had it for about 2 years before i sold it. I did around 60 gigs with it and it never let me down. Like the others, i say go and get one, you wont be disappointed.

[quote name='EssentialTension' post='899723' date='Jul 20 2010, 09:17 AM']All the evidence says D'Addario now.[/quote] Yeah, but not XLs though. This is where the confusion crept in.

[quote name='EssentialTension' post='899613' date='Jul 20 2010, 12:01 AM']I thought mine were D'Addario XLs but I've read that D'Addario are now making Fender's strings which might completely explain why they are D'Addarios on a Squier.[/quote] Yeah, thats what i read. I think in the beginning it wasn't clear and people were basing it on the coloured ball ends.

Can anyone confirm the stock strings are XL's? I know they look like them but there is a lot fo talk about this on TB and the general feeling is they are Fenders. To my fingers they didnt feel like XLs but there are also a gauge down from what im used to so maybe that was it. For what its worth my MIA jazz should be here tomorrow and im really looking forward to comparing it to my CVJ.

Funny enough i expect to be selling both my CV Jazz and Sadowsky DI soon if all goes to plan. Not for a couple of weeks though.

Cheers Peter. Glad its taking off. I must admit i haven't got around to getting a iRig yet but its on my list of things to buy. I could have really done with it at the weekend as we had a lot of time sitting around between sets and we decided to work on some new songs. I had to play with my ear stuck to my bass.

[quote name='Musicman20' post='899099' date='Jul 19 2010, 04:23 PM']Ouch haha[/quote] Was that a bit harsh lol. Seriously, you wont have any trouble setting up you basses, as long as there isnt anything wrong with then like twisted neck, raised frets etc. The Mr Gearhead site has the Fender specs and ive always found these to be good starting points.

[quote name='Musicman20' post='899068' date='Jul 19 2010, 03:54 PM']Excellent, thanks for all the contributions. Off to google for some tools now.[/quote] Have a look on TalkBass, plenty of tools there

That sounds like a good plan. Good luck. One thing that i couldn't find anywhere was a ruler that starts off in 1/64's. They all have 1/32 markings for the first inch. If you do find one with 1/64's please let me know. The only thing to watch out for is (and this is just IME) is the Musicman FAQ's seem to be a bit contradictory. I found it very confusing looking for the right specs.

[quote name='velvetkevorkian' post='898906' date='Jul 19 2010, 01:26 PM']I set my basses up to my spec. I couldn't care less what the manufacturer recommends! [/quote] Good for you. Im pleased for ya Im not suggesting you (or anyone should) but sometimes starting with the bass set up for how they were designed is a good idea. Certainly for someone who has never done it before (like Gareth) setting the relief to how the manufacturer designed it to work well will make all other adjustments a bit easier.

[quote name='velvetkevorkian' post='898850' date='Jul 19 2010, 12:51 PM']Honestly, for a basic set up I've never felt the need for anything more than a screwdriver and some allan keys, and I like my action very low. Try reading through some of the guides online (like the Willis or Jerzy Drozd ones), apply it to your bass(es). If you're happy, sorted. If not, you can buy additional tools and resources. It's not voodoo, but the only way to learn is to try it IMO. It's pretty difficult to do any permanent damage unless you're using totally excessive force.[/quote] Agreed. You can get everything you need in Maplins and im sure it will be cheaper than buying a kit. A 6" ruler (and 18" if doing it the Lakland way) cost only a couple of £. A feeler gauge will be helpful if setting the basses up to the manufactures spec. Not sure how much they cost but they arent expensive. All the allen keys should have come with the basses anyway and a couple of screwdrivers are all that needed IME.

As above. Ive just got the Sad and i want to run it off the mains. I can see what type i need but im after some suggestions of what make etc to go for. I am tempted to get a One spot and i know these do work ok but not sure what else is out there. Not looking to pay silly money though, say £30 max. Cheers. EDIT: i dont think ill bother with a PSU at the moment so please disregard this thread.

[quote name='Musicman20' post='898480' date='Jul 18 2010, 11:11 PM']In addition, do I need any more specific tools other than a tape measure, screwdrivers, and the tools that came with the Fenders? Thanks![/quote] The Lakland vidoe changed the way i set all my basses, in a good way. While ive always known the basics, the idea of using a straight edge (and not a string) has really helped. I always struggled to determine if the gap was right, even when using a feel gauge. There was always a bit of leeway. Being able to feel the straight edge rocking has really helped me get it right.

Companies should make Relationship friendly basses, so you can get them all in the same colour if you need to sneak them past the other half. Saying that, mine never notices so im ok.

[quote name='allihts' post='898648' date='Jul 19 2010, 09:28 AM']I'm dying on getting one aswell, just need to find £300 somewhere :/[/quote] These are very nice basses. Ive been gigging mine as my only bass since last month. Done about 12 gigs wih it now. Its probably the nicest bass ive ever played as far as neck and action go. Tone wise im not so sure as it seems a bit uneven note to note. Ive not owned a Basswood bass before and i know they have a warmer tone so maybe that what im hearing. either way, these basses are very, very good. I have a MIA Jazz coming this week hopefully, but it has a lot to live up to. And yes, i will probably be selling the CVJ but ill need to gig the MIA a few times first.

[quote name='goaround' post='898615' date='Jul 19 2010, 08:49 AM']I have also been thinking about getting a small amp, purely as a backup. I've read all the comments here with interest but pricewise the Ashdown LG 350 is available from Thomann delivered with 3 year guarantee for £165. Thats almost half the price of the next cheapest option new that I could find (LMK 250 £291). For an amp that might never get used and for emergencies when it would be more a case of the show must go on rather than getting the ideal sound looks good value. Does anyone have a good opinion of these and are they a option for anyone looking for a budget solution?[/quote] I think the LG is a very good idea. Like you say, it probably wont get used but if it did it would certainly get you through a gig. Dont for get to get a backup for it though ;-) There are people on here who have them i believe, although i cant remember who.

[quote name='Musicman20' post='898532' date='Jul 19 2010, 12:30 AM']They look great![/quote] There is a thread on TB comparing these to the MIA Fenders. looks quite interesting as most prefer the Atlkins. Big gamble for us here in the UK though.

Hey Gareth. Have you considered one of these? They seem to be very well liked over on TB. Obviously it will be hard to try one out first. [url="http://www.atkinsonbasses.com/"]Atkinson basses[/url]