loweringthetone

Thanks Felix. That's a great lead. Hell, they even look like G&L pickups ! Thank you. Clearly I need to do a bit more research - I saw your v. useful Talkbass post on the same bass . I'll get diggin'. Thanks again.

GAS took hold and I have acquired a very pretty bass from a super Basschatter. It was the usual seductive combination of good looks (of the bass rather than the Basschatter), the super-playable neck and the incredible lightness at 3.8kg.. Yes I know its PINK but I like it ! This is the Lakland Tetsuya Skyline model and whilst it's really resonant acoustically, the electric sound to my ears, lets it down. It seems muffled and I suspect the culprit is those 'Duncan designed' budget pickups and the associated circuitry. My friend had a USA Lakland with the same configuration and the sound still seemed 'soft'. I'd like to achieve more clarity, definition and punch (I'm used to playing a G&L 2500 - thunderous but now too heavy) Any suggestions of replacement pickups/circuitry that would 'drop in' ? Any ideas/experiences/ thoughts would be much appreciated. Pics below

I drove down to the W Mids to meet Mikan today, and I bought his Lakland Tetsuya Bass. It was in excellent condition, and exactly as he had described it. The transaction went smoothly and I'm delighted with the bass. I found Mikan to be an easy, honest and open guy, very easy company, and a real pleasure to meet. Thanks once again Mikan, I do hope we meet again sometime

[i]'Why spend extra money in a bid to convince the world that you're a barbarian who shouldn't be entrusted with a bass'[/i] Excellent ! .....the relic concept in a nutshell.

[quote name='Bassassin' timestamp='1473935696' post='3134267'] It just looks disgusting. I really don't get it - can someone who likes this please help me understand the appeal of filth and squalor? [/quote] Well there's a pub I visit regularly.......but with respect to instruments I totally agree. A bass should be a thing of beauty. Thanks to everyone for the high entertainment value in this thread.......really cheered me up on a dismal Sunday evening. Clearly Im not alone in misunderstanding the attraction of relicization.

[quote name='RhysP' timestamp='1473786404' post='3133139'] That is the first relic job I've ever seen that I've liked. [/quote] What !!!??????? OK, well maybe its me, I just don't have the taste for relics.....

Another [size=2]sanding machine massacre, but this time with the timeless quote " Anything remotely like this from Fender would be a couple of grand and its rarity will ensure it keeps its value.'' ....Yup, the value will remain low.......... [size=2] [/size][/size] [size=2][url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Left-handed-Fender-Squier-Telecaster-1968-bass-P-J-bass-vintage-precision-relic-/272372181208?hash=item3f6aa5a8d8:g:a4sAAOSwFV9X1Rt6"]http://www.ebay.co.u...4sAAOSwFV9X1Rt6[/url][/size]

SLinger do a double strap, which I didnt find that good because it's only 2 inch wide either side. Another solution is their hip strap - but that requires you to put an extra strap button on the bottom horn of your precious bass. [url="http://www.slingerstraps.com/"]http://www.slingerstraps.com/[/url]

You could use a stand..... no need for a strap at all ...... [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/280971-playing-bass-with-a-neck-shoulder-or-back-problem-a-simple-design-for-a-strapless-bass-stand/page__p__3025584__hl__bass%20stand__fromsearch__1#entry3025584"]http://basschat.co.u..._1#entry3025584[/url] If you dont want to build your own, the M-brace is pretty good, if you can get one.

[quote name='Paul S' timestamp='1458306159' post='3006421'] You can get one off the peg - mbrace stand. [url="http://www.mbracestand.com/"]http://www.mbracestand.com/[/url] [/quote] Excellent Paul. I thought someone must have done this. I just couldn't find one. Ill pass these details onto my guitarist who has the same problem. Nothing new under the sun eh ? C

[b]The Slinger Hip strap - another solution ? [/b] http://www.slingerstraps.com/ This strap supports the weight of the guitar/bass on the hips, rather than the shoulder If it works for you, its going to be a bit more portable than the idea above. I'll get one and report back

[font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif][b]The problem[/b][/font] [font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]I've developed a neck, back and shoulder problem. [/font][font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]I suspect its age, wear and tear, and too much repetitive computing/driving/lifting. [/font] [font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]By January it had become serious : it became too painful to support my bass on a shoulder strap. I had to cancel 6 gigs.....ouch ! I'm waiting on x-rays, doc and physio advice.[/font] [font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]Other forum members clearly suffer bad back neck problems - you see many queries about the weight of basses in the For Sale section, .[/font] [b][font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]A possible solution ?[/font][/b] [font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]I thought I would try to get rid the strap altogether, and design a stand which could : [/font] [font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]- Allow me to play the bass without supporting it on my shoulder[/font] [font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]- Allow the bass to be played in a normal position[/font] [font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]- Can be built easily and.... [/font] [font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]- Out of things we can buy


 in music shops[/font] [font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]Here is my Mk1 design :[/font] [font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif][/font] [font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif][b]What you need to build it[/b][/font] [font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]A. A rather solid 'conductors' type music stand. Mine was made by Stagg. [/font] [font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif][/font] [font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]The [b]key feature[/b] is that when dismantled, the top of the pole should have a sturdy metal ring with a hole in it.[/font] [font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif][/font] [font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif][/font] [font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]B. A Quiklock electric guitar stand


.[/font] [font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif][/font] [font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif][b]Assembly[/b][/font] [font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]

1. Drill a hole in the Quiklock stand

 (in the picture the hole is lower centre )[/font] [font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif][/font] [font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]2. Attach the Quiklock stand to the top of the music stand using a bolt, washers, rubber washers, and ( preferably locking type) nuts. Tighten to taste

.[/font] [font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif][/font] [font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif][/font] [font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif][/font] [font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]3. The assembled stand looks like this [/font] [font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif][/font] [font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]4. I shortened the two back projections of the guitar stand to spare my genitalia, and so I can get in close to the bass. I kept the front projections though - they are useful for attaching things[/font] [font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif][b]Useful features[/b][/font] [font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]5. You can play the bass upright[/font] [font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif][/font] [font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]6. Or, by rotating the Quicklok stand to one side, you can put the bass into a normal position.

[/font] [font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif][/font] [font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif][/font] [font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]7. Different basses have different body shapes and these can [/font][font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]often [/font][font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]be accomodated by adjusting the degree of rotation[/font] [font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif][/font] [font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif][/font] [font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]8. I used a small velcro strap as added security, to keep the stand in the fully rotated position

[/font] [font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif][/font] [font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]9 You can put [/font][font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]any weight [/font][font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]of bass on the stand. Yippee. No problems with late 70s Fenders anymore ![/font] [font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif][b]How did it work in practice ?[/b][/font] [font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]10. I did my first gig for many months a week ago, and it worked a treat. The P bass was surprisingly stable on the stand. At the end of the gig my shoulder was sore, but this was from the movement of my arms in playing. There was none of the dreaded back and shoulder pains[/font] [font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif][b]Possible downsides[/b]

[/font] [font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]11. The Stagg conductors music stand isn't that high. At full extension the whole assembly worked for me (I am 5' 7")but I guess tall people may need a taller stand

[/font] [font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]12. Bass falling off stand = possible neck break= catastrophe = broken foot/ death in the audience. My P bass was remarkably stable on the stand, but even so I took it down during the interval, just in case somebody knocked it. Can't be too careful......[/font] [font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif][b]Unexpected audience surprise [/b]![/font] [font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]13. If you wear black clothing, the audience don't see the stand. It looks like you are wearing the bass.

[/font] [font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]But when you move away .......the bass remains suspended in mid air.......freaky


 ![/font] [font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif][b]FInally [/b][/font] [font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif][b]

[/b]14. If you want to try this at home, it's at your own risk ! I'm not a professional design engineer.

[/font] [font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]15. Maybe someone can design a Mk2 version that dispenses beer, tea and coffee ?


[/font] [font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]16. Glad to answer any questions[/font] [b][font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]I hope this is useful


. Have fun !![/font][/b] Colin [font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]A BIG thanks to the Forum mods Dad3353 and Hazbeen for teaching me how to post good pics ![/font]

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