MoonBassAlpha

[quote name='budget bassist' post='318481' date='Oct 30 2008, 04:28 PM']Copy? That's a gibson mate

But no, i'd never even buy a thunderbird to begin with, least of all that one![/quote]
Oops! just assumed it was a copy because it looks so tacky! It would look better if the front was continuous Zebrano. That just looks wrong to me. And tacky.

If it were on a specific guitar, I would say check the truss rod has tension on it. I know this may sound a bit daft, but I'm wondering if many top end basses have very stiff necks, what with graphite reinforcing rods etc. so that they don't require much (any?) tension on the rod to produce the required relief. If the rod is loose it does create a nasty sounding resonance.
The reason I mentioned this is I have a bass that does exactly this (the one in my avatar) To stop the rod resonating, the relief has to be set t about nil, even with 45-105 strings on.

Cheers
Jules

[quote name='neepheid' post='317593' date='Oct 29 2008, 02:28 PM']Check the Warwick Streamer in my Zebrano Wideboy 5 build thread. Oh, and the build itself. I *hope* it'll look ok on a nice bespoke bass [/quote]
Actually, yours does look quite nice. I could be converted...

Thanks for all the feedback folks!
As I mentioned before, in a guitar it sounds nice and acoustic-y, and I figured it would add some top-end zing, and air, especially on fretless bass. It's a little way off yet, but the next questions are going to be:

1) recommended types, price etc. or more to the point NON recommended

2) Will a straight buffer amp do, or is some EQ required?

3) A quick scan of eBay brought up this, [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/BASS-BRIDGE-W-BUILT-IN-PIEZO-PICKUP-ACOUSTIC-BLACK-NEW_W0QQitemZ250314000832QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item250314000832&_trksid=p3286.m63.l1177"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/BASS-BRIDGE-W-BUILT-...p3286.m63.l1177[/url]

Which seems reasonable and looks well made. Anyone Tried one of 'em?

Thanks again for your views
Cheers
Jules

I've never really liked the look of Zebrano. I think it looks tacky, especially on a copy. Might look ok on a nice bespoke bass though...

[quote name='martthebass' post='315225' date='Oct 26 2008, 05:32 PM']I love these but hate the way the finish goes shiney with playing.....[/quote]
Fine scotchbrite.

And I think the stealth Bongo looks even MORE like a bog seat (imho, of course )

I'm wondering if it's a worthwhile thing to have.
I have a really decent fretless neck kicking around and am toying with the idea of getting a body made, possibly chambered, with magnetic Pups AND a piezo bridge for more acoustic tone.
I have one on an electric guitar (Godin) and it works nicely for that.
Does anyone have any experience/ comments they'd like to share on this?

Cheers
Jules

I was surprised to fit a case accross the boot of a primera, it didn't fit a Rover 45 hatch!

South Bank Show was from the Album Variations by Lloyd-Webber, people like John Hiseman, Gary Moore, Barbara Thompson Julian Lloyd Webber (cello)etc. Can't remember who played bass, possibly Dill Katz???

Weekend World was a track by the band Mountain, dunno what it was called though.
Cheers
MBA

Back to the OP - the bass looks like it has a touch of Wishbass about it. Can't remember which model though.

[quote name='alembic1989' post='299131' date='Oct 4 2008, 09:14 AM']I think what I'l probably do when the frets are pulled out is not to laquer as I don't like the feel of [size=3][b]shiny laquer [/b][/size]under my fingers...I will do my best to wear out the neck...(.by practising more)..and then get an ebony board put on it at a (much) later stage..when I will hopefully be able to afford it....unless of course I have totally fallen in love with the feel of maple under my fingers....just a thought.[/quote]

By the way, lacquer doesn't have to be shiny! you can knock the shine back to a lovely satin feel using fine scotchbrite or ultrafine wet and dry paper. Worth considering for the best of both worlds...

[quote name='alembic1989' post='299131' date='Oct 4 2008, 09:14 AM']I think what I'l probably do when the frets are pulled out is not to laquer as I don't like the feel of [size=3]shiny laquer [/size]under my fingers...I will do my best to wear out the neck...(.by practising more)..and then get an ebony board put on it at a (much) later stage..when I will hopefully be able to afford it....unless of course I have totally fallen in love with the feel of maple under my fingers....just a thought.[/quote]

By the way, lacquer doesn't have to be shiny! you can knock the shine back to a lovely satin feel using fine scotchbrite or ultrafine wet and dry paper. Worth considering for the best of both worlds...

surely a pickup rewind/wax potting would be the answer - almost certain to make it sound better than it currently does. Rainbow rewinds etc?

I've always used rounds, have elites on a headless defretted with rosewood board for about 5 years as my main bass, and there isn't enough wear to affect the sound/playing in ANY WAY. Sure, you can see little lines but it really doesn't sound. I've now got a fretless neck on one of my U.S. Masters basses with Pao Ferro board. It has marked up straight away, but I don't think audible wear will be an issue for years to be honest, but don't do vibrato as you would on a fretted, as this WILL wear more quickly, and there is just no need to do it like that!

Cheers for the messages folks!
Come and say hello after, it will be good to meet someone who likes to talk about basses!

I like the idea of a bit of a meet-up too! I'm south of Oxford but would come to "the big city" for that!

Cheers
Jules

The New Moon, "Acoustic" duo, guitar and fretless kicking off Klub Kakofanney at 8.30

Roundheels, Mary Bendy Toy, and Mary's Garden "noise it up" later!!!

Cheers
Jules

I played at an acoustic night using my fretless through a "Smokie" fag box amp, with a failing battery. Someone had promised to bring an acoustic bass but it never materialized. It sounded like an angry wasp in a coke tin and got quieter as the set wore on.
The most embarrasing thing I've done (musically!)
And it was a 90 mile round trip for no money. Still, could have been worse - only eight people in the audience instead of nine...

[quote name='7string' post='296029' date='Sep 30 2008, 11:17 PM']Whenever basses don't have the pickups in the right places I prefer to have a ramp.

This one was made for me by Jon Shuker and I'm really pleased with it (which reminds me I need another one!).



[/quote]

That's a really nice looking bass, but what is the rationale for the strange jack mounting bit?

I think they're ok.
My U.S. masters has them, ebony on a birdseye board, and looks really nice. The fretless has no front dots, as I do think it looks better without, but has black fret markers on a pao ferro board, which I think looks kinda classy too.
I just realised my Godin guitar has offset dots too. I'm sure someone has put some thought into it, just not sure what the reasons are!

Is the truss rod a bit loose? If you damp the strings and rap lightly with your knuckle on the back of the neck you might hear a rattle. I've come across this on a bass and an acoustic. They just sounded a bit "wrong" though it was kinda hard to define how...
If you only recently got the bass the previous owner may have faffed about with the rod.

ok, just picked up on this thread a bit late. There is a type of grease you can get called Kilopoise. It comes in various grades of "stiffness" or viscosity, if you like. In its thinner form it is used to make rotating parts feel really smooth (think of SLR camera lenses) and take up play in parts where the tolerances are quite slack.

A small amount applied to your shaft will make it considerably stiffer.

It doesn't dry out either. It is made by Rocol.

Hope this helps.

Cheers, MBA

Hi There, and welcome from another noob!
That's a great score for the Vox! I had one and defretted it, sounded really nice as a fretless, what with the pickup near the bridge. They do weigh a bit though! Don't be tempted to take the finish off it though, you won't find anything nice underneath (lesson learned the hard way!)
Cheers
MBA

Exactly what I thought when i saw it too!

I had one of those from that vintage and mine was TRULY rubbish! I played a B302 of the same vintage and it was lovely though.
Has that shape become a "classic" yet? It never really grew on me. They are well solid though!
Good luck with this one.

Hello Bob! I thought you must be on here somewhere. I only just joined in, and can NOW see how your GAS could have come about!
So, what are you current workhorse basses? This isn't for me, but I'm still thinking about that Masters Tele most weeks.
All the best.
Jules (the U.S. masters basses)

P.S.
BUMP!