Doctor J

I'll tell the postie to get his skates on

[quote name='soopercrip' post='536332' date='Jul 9 2009, 12:05 PM']Without trying to hijack the thread I'm following this with great interest, as I'm about to start a build project and am contemplating which pre-amp to go for. Using a single Nordstrand mm5.2 pup Was wondering wether to match it to a Nordstrand pre or go for the ACG Was hoping someone would comment on the Nordstrand Pre's Any takers??? Andy[/quote] I've got a 55.2 in a Godlyke Disciple 5, I'm waiting on a Bartolini NTMB to arrive for it. I'll let you know how I get on. I had a Sadowsky with the VTC, very nice, couldn't fault it. I've another J with a Noll TCM3 (vol, blend, bass mid treble cut & boost plus a passive push/pull with a passive tone all on a 3 knob Jazz control plate) which is very flexible but the low boost is a little muddy and three stack knobs is a little crowded. I had another bass with an Aguilar OBP1 in it, which was ok, preferred the Sadowsky tone to it. My favourite, however, is a Bacchus with a Bart XTCT in it. The low end is warm but defined, the high is clear without being harsh and it's impossible to get a bad tone out of it no matter what way you set it, which is why I'm going with the Bart to pair with the 55.2

I don't think basses are setup when you get them from a shop either, in my experience, so I don't believe it's worth the extra money at all. Internet for the win. Buy a good bass, no a [i]good[/i] bass, and you don't need to worry about getting a lemon and, if you know where to get it, you can get a hand made work of art for the price of a MIM in your local shop.

What about the Big Al Yankovich?

I haven't used the EQ on my amp in a few years now. Take a great sounding bass, make it loud and use your hands and onboard controls, whatever they may be, to do the fine adjustments.

Definitely in favour. It doesn't get in the way like a J bridge cover and with a set of Elixirs on you won't need to take it off for a good while.

[quote name='niceguyhomer' post='497347' date='May 25 2009, 04:07 PM']It doesn't make any difference whether they're 'parts basses' - I think the end justifies the means. Your car is made up of parts from different manufacturers [/quote] Agreed. It doesn't matter how they're made once the end result is good enough. Besides, I defy anyone to hear the difference in a body routed by a robot holding the router and a human holding the router.

I used to have a 4003 with a similar issue. Have you tried a set of Dean Markley SR2000 strings? They're all tapered and while they didn't get rid of the problem entirely they certainly improved it on my one.

[quote name='artisan' post='492564' date='May 19 2009, 06:07 PM']infact my brother (he's a guitarist by the way--sorry) is an avid Fender collector but after seeing my jazz is now wanting a Bacchus strat' & a tele'.[/quote] It's the smartest thing he'll ever do, here's my other two By the way sorry for putting up guitar pics, I do feel rather dirty right now

[quote name='CHRISDABASS' post='490583' date='May 17 2009, 03:11 PM']so any info, opinions, [b]photo's[/b] etc are very welcome[/quote] Here are some of mine and I've included a pic of some of the guitars, although mods feel free to remove it this pic offends folks

I'm a convert. I took a chance and picked up a battered Standard 5 from the ubox a few years back and it blew me away. I have a Woodline P Classic too which is everything a good P should be. I've also got four Bacchus guitars too, I've pretty much been selling off my existing gear to get the Bacchus version for the last couple of years (and this has meant American Fenders and Gibsons, even a Sadowsky Metro getting moved on). They're pretty straightforward instruments, you can get exotic woods if you really want but their stock in trade is traditionally inspired instruments that are just really well made from very good woods. The pickups in particular are superb. They tend to be refined designs, the classics you know just tweaked a little and built to a higher standard than the big names are doing. Every time the glow in the dark side dots on my P light up, it brings a smile to my face, so simple but very clever all the same. There are some cool videos on their site of some of their building processes, not a CNC machine in sight [url="http://www.deviser.co.jp/modules/documents/index.php?cat_id=8"]http://www.deviser.co.jp/modules/documents...ex.php?cat_id=8[/url]

Why restrict yourself to Fender? A US Standard P is mass produced to meet a specific price point. There are builders out there who are trying to build the best P possible, they're the ones who'll more likely give you your dream bass.

[quote name='jakesbass' post='488614' date='May 15 2009, 10:35 AM']Someone made the point that skills had improved in instrument. I'm not sure I agree, I think standards in all mass production have steadily declined since the concept first appeared and Fender are certainly no exception to that, obviously specialised manufacturers have improved....[/quote]T'was me and, don't worry, I wasn't referring to FMIC

[quote name='Paul_C' post='488401' date='May 15 2009, 12:16 AM']So is there any substance to the belief that vintage is best ? Or are you just as likely to buy something modern that would be indistinguishable when it comes to sound ?[/quote] I find it hard to believe that in every other aspect mankind has improved and progressed apart from the ability to shape wood into a bass/guitar and wrap copper wire around a magnet. I think the best guitars ever made will be made this year and next years guitars will be even better. We've now got people with decades of electric instrument manufacturing experience, something we didn't have in the 50's and 60's. Are we really saying that these people got worse as their knowledge and skils were honed? FWIW, I used to have a 77 Jazz. Not a bad bass, but a long, long way away from what I'd call a great bass. There's also a vintage instrument shop not to far from here with prices that would make your eyes bleed. Some nice instruments, but nothing special I've got some modern basses which are just so much better in every aspect which still cost substantially less than what that bass would be worth today. Yes, there is a coolness factor to old equipment and maybe that acts as a placebo to some who buy into the concept, but I think it's hot air to suggest that as a rule old=good, to be honest. Yes, there are some great old instruments but there are more bad than good, in my experience.

I've put a Nordstrand J5 and MM2 into a 5 string and I'm hugely impressed. Really, really nice tone out of them.

Bacchus - they just seem to fit me in a way no other brand does.

There are low end Shukers?

[quote]Our Price: £499.00 RRP: £499.00 [b]You Save[/b]: £0.00 ([b]0%[/b])[/quote] That'll be the recession then

Momose are part of the Deviser family, which includes Bacchus and Headway hand made ranges. That's top end stuff right there. I've never played one but I'm properly ghey for Bacchus. [url="http://www.deviser.co.jp/"]http://www.deviser.co.jp/[/url] Send a mail to aki-shiokawa (at) deviser (dot) co (dot) jp, he's a gent and will tell you whatever you need to know. Basschatter FunkyDario is Bacchus' man in Europe, he might be able to help with Momose too.

Just completed a trade with eubassix and he's a credit to basschat, an absolute gent in every aspect.

That had me going for a while

I've got a Standard 5 and a Woodline P Classic, plus a couple of Bacchus guitars too. Everything I've played from them has been wonderful, their pickups especially are just bang on the money. To be honest I prefer my Bacchus' to anything else I've ever played... as the classifieds are testament to There are a couple of sites in Japan who deal in US dollars, so you can pick them up at very reasonable prices if you know where to look.