Danuman

My band have a day of recording lined up in a beautiful studio. It’s an amazing opportunity, since we’re an old-school band and we’ll get to experiment with old-school analog recording techniques. (With the luxury of a digital safety net.) Since it’s a proper large recording room, we have asked a couple of (semi) professional videographer friends to come and shoot it as sort of a live studio gig. Here’s the catch though: I really don’t know how to deal with being on camera. As soon as one is pointed at me, I get unbearably self-conscious, I don’t know where to look, I become wooden and I lose the ability to think musically. It takes me right out of the music. I’ve asked my videographer friends for advice, but what I get from them usually amounts to little more than “just act naturally”. Who’s got anything better?

I suppose you have to try it to be sure, but I have an ‘89 MIJ Strat that ended my six-string GAS 7 years ago... Of course, I’m now on Basschat, so you be the judge if there’s any wisdom in that. 😋

After getting home from a gig just before I went on vacation two weeks ago, I found the nut holding the swivel on my StroboClip HD had come off... So I enquired with Peterson what size replacement I should get, and to my surprise they sent me a replacement nut and screw for free (Ireland to Amsterdam), which were waiting for me when I got home ten days later. Small gesture maybe, but it does mean I get to crack straight on with the StroboClip, so I thought i’d share. Cheers!

I believe quality has increased a bit since, but a good 2007 should be as good as a good one now - more or less. I have a 2008 MIM P, and it’s a cracking bass. The pickup was the only thing I thought was a bit poor, but that was easily sorted.

If that’s what my post seems to suggest, I want to stress that’s not what I meant. The cabs IME are very capable, but the WTX just couldn’t deliver. My current amp does have the required power (same wattage), but it doesn’t need to work as hard... To put it very explicitly: I think it’s the amp that’s coming up short, not the cabs.

I think the Terra Nova 501 is the successor to the WTX-500. I owned one (WTX) briefly, but although it was a lovely sounding head with a few nice features, it boasted the weakest 500 watts I’ve ever experienced... I now run an older Eden Traveler through my 112EXT with a 112MNT (which I believe should give me roughly the same power-handling - but please do correct me if I’m wrong) and it goes irresponsibly loud.

I might end up getting a 735 some day if curiosity gets the better of me, but the 435 is absolutely brilliant. I suppose in comparison the 735 might feel a little richer, and the preamp should be a nice bonus, but I doubt there is much to be gained in the way it plays.

Yeah, I doubt it means anything... I was literally wiping sweat off my bass between songs.

Ernie Ball Regular Slinky’s. (45-130) They sounded great, but they’ve already gone a bit dull due to a couple of ridiculously warm rehearsals with a few large groups in rather small studios. I’m guessing they normally have a longer life-span.

There you go - exactly what I was thinking! I thought an anodized guard would look nice and classy, but it might be tricky to get one made...

Minor update: I decided to put some fresh strings on, even though I thought the old ones still had some life left in them. Well, turns out I was wrong! The new strings sound waaay snappier. Good news, I suppose, if old strings like that still sound pretty nice. B is still a little less defined, but very very acceptable. I’m super pleased.

Here it is together with my hand-built P. I’m really impressed that the BB compares the way it does. Getting one of these used is just silly value for money.

Yay, I managed to grab a BB435... will definitely try to get my head around this thread.

Cheers, yes I’ve seen it! Haven’t worked through the whole thing though... The saddles of the 435 aren’t of the reversible kind, unfortunately. I think that’s 735 and up.

Well, NBBW really... And oh dear. I joined the bandwagon. I’d been gassing for a 5-string PJ and some of you recommended a BB. Of course, it was only a matter of time before a BB435 came along and I just couldn’t resist... Initially, I thought the neck and string spacing were too wide, but after a few days getting used to it, it seems like I can play a lot faster... it’s an odd sensation. The overall balance of the strings across the fretboard is OK. I wish the E and B stings were a bit snappier around the middle of the neck, but then I realise this is an entry-level bass. Overall I’m impressed by the quality at this price-point. It’s well-designed, with the right attention to detail. It plays great and the pickups sound brilliant. The bridge is the only thing about it that feels a little underwhelming. It’s not a deal-breaker, but anybody know of any drop-in replacements? Anyway, I didn’t like a few specific things about the 735 - plus there are some big changes happening in my life - so I decided not to go for a more expensive bass. Time will tell if that was the right thing to do. Until then at least it’s a lot of fun to play!

Fender’s target audience just won’t go for new designs, so you can hardly blame them. They seem to do all right. On a side note, I have a pet theory that it was the pickguard that sank the Dimension, but maybe that’s just me.

I have a lot of time for Fender, but that portmanteau makes me feel a bit queasy.

I think it’s worth it, but I agree it’s quite a chunk of cash. A significant amount of my straps, however, were handed down to me through the ineffable workings of the universe... (even a few pretty nice ones!) Incidentally, so were all of my umbrellas.

Mine came in the other day. It’s a Levy’s too, of the padded leather variety... I believe the 2” type. (The bass straps are just too wide and warm.) It seems the ideal adjustment will forever be right in between the available slots, but other than that it’s really nice and comfy. Smells great too.

For accurately adjusting intonation I went with a Peterson strobe clip. I have to say, intonation is now an absolute doddle. Very happy to own it - it’s a terrific tool - but I admit I very nearly decided it was too expensive.

Great idea! How’d you find it? I think I may have just ordered something that suits me alright, but I don’t think I’ve been truly happy with any of my straps before...

Yeah, flats did cross my mind - but even though I like it for that 60s kind of thing, I just never seem to get on with them... much prefer to dampen regular round wounds. Thought about stringing it with a low B as well, but even the E is slightly floppy. I almost regret selling it already, but then do I really need two Precisions? Plus I’d really like to have a fiver... (this is terrible, isn’t it, haha.) I’ll just try to stick to enjoying the new bass and keep around the old one for now since it’s so comfy.

I recently bought one, and I have to say I’m impressed. I’ve not used it a lot yet, but so far it strikes me as solid and even, with a distinctly old school vibe. I prefer a more airy top-end, but then I suppose for most that saves the trouble of having to use a tone pot. Terrific value for money.

Ooohh. That’s gorgeous! I ordered a vintage tint on mine as well, but it came out such a ridiculous shade of orange, it just had to go... Tiny bit sorry about that, but other than that I’m super pleased with how it turned out. I suppose it’ll just have to age naturally. 😊

Well, this has been quite a project. A little over two years ago I bought my first Precision. I wanted a shoreline gold one, but since those only came in unaffordable price brackets, I bought a Mexican P with the foolish idea of refinishing it myself. Having had prior experience with utterly destroying a guitar’s resale value, the one good idea I had was deciding to build my own body (with help) and finish that instead. So far, it’s already had a pretty rough gigging life, but it’s my absolute favourite guitar ever. After swapping out pretty much everything else, I decided to purchase a lovely carbon-reinforced neck from a builder in the south of Holland. So, after an agonising period of waiting and having to miss my favourite bass - at long last - here’s the result. On the right is the old bass, and on the left is what resulted from changing pretty much everything about it to my personal preferences. It’s frighteningly resonant and it has ridiculous, Tufnel-esque sustain - even if it turned out a bit heavier than I imagined... Anyway, there are many P’s out there, but this one is mine. Now all I have to do is figure out what to do with the old one.