Annoying Twit

[quote name='isteen' timestamp='1394555268' post='2392638'] I have only one question: Can I get a fretless version? [/quote] If it's a cheap fretless bass you want, rather than a preference for the colours and fretboard wood of the J&D, this has been much discussed here recently. http://www.thomann.de/gb/harley_benton_jb_40fl_sb.htm?sid=bedc89f09a36d4dccbbec7ee8f3dc96a

The photo on this isn't clear, but it's very rare to see a bass with this much spalted maple (presumably veneer) on it for £50. Might look good on a wall. Stellahs like many cheapies seem to have very variable reviews. But, it looks purty IMHO. Cheap postage too. [url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Stellah-5-string-bass-guitar-/121292964474?pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item1c3d9fc27a"]http://www.ebay.co.u...=item1c3d9fc27a[/url]

There have been some cases of basses utterly failing to sell here for low prices, but then achieving much higher cases on ebay.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/six-string-bass-guitar-/221391609730?pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item338bf7df82 It looks like it might be an Antoniotsai, or someone copying his style.

[quote name='BassTractor' timestamp='1394534478' post='2392263'] Dunno whether it's a Rick or a faker, but I like the sound on Bold as Brass by Split Enz: [media]http://youtu.be/lAoiZL7dHkY[/media] [/quote] Nigel Grigg's brother Paul Davis (stage name) said that Nigel had a 4001 before he joined Split Enz. [url="http://www.rickbeat.com/photofeatures/pauldavid/pauldavid.htm"]http://www.rickbeat....d/pauldavid.htm[/url] In the video for My Mistake from the same album, Nigel appears to be playing a Jazz bass. There's then always the question of whether the bass he's playing in the video is the same one that he played on the track. PS: For Neil Finn, one thing about being a well known muso with a long career is that even when you're in your 50s, there are still videos of you as a teenager wearing heavy makeup all over the net. Edit: Here's Nigel Griggs miming with his Ric 4001 in about 1972 or 1973. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uLtczpnT0lQ

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1394530815' post='2392188'] That's not what I was expecting. Insufficient packing and indifferent delivery processes? [/quote] Very likely, I would think.

[quote name='thisnameistaken' timestamp='1394496444' post='2392049'] While I can appreciate most of these tunes it's not looking good for the Ric that they're mostly 'of a time' is it? [/quote] How about posting some more recent Ric tracks then?

No link, just an expression of boredom of seeing yet another damaged G4M acoustic bass on ebay. With the number of them posted, and with other models not turning up at anything like that frequency, I feel that there must be some reason for this number of wrecked basses. If you want some wood, have a look at [url=]http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Wal-Type-Bass-/291099428493?pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item43c6e0c68d]this.[/url]

This is what it's starting to feel like sometimes.

My father listened to classical music. My mother had an eclectic selection of albums, the one I remember being an album by Mahalia Jackson. The first time I remember seeing a song on television and liking it, was Suzi Quatro performing 'Devil's Gate Drive'. My main musical influences were my older brothers, from whom I gained an appreciation of Frank Zappa and many other artists. I remember at 10 or 11 years old transcribing the lyrics/dialogue of 'Billy the Mountain'. In those days I didn't know what a 'Lesbian Queen' was. Later on I discovered The Beatles, even though this was after they split up. I had been watching reruns of The Monkees on TV, and from articles in New Zealand's "The Listener", was aware that there was a link from The Monkees to The Beatles, and watched Help! and A Hard Day's Night when they were on television. However, the first record I bought was 'DW Washburn' by The Monkees, for five cents at a flea market. I also supported a lot of local bands. I remember concerts by Citizen Band, Schtung, Dragon, Hello Sailor, and others. Festivals including Nambassa and Sweetwaters. I bought all the Split Enz albums on release after Dizrhytmia, bought that one second hand but was aware of the release and saw the clip for 'My Mistake' when it came out. BTW: For those who know Crowded House, I believe that this was a teenage Neil Finn's first proper appearance on TV. [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9AKQ2H4QW9M[/media] I'd like to say that the first ever albums I bought were 'right first time'. The second album I ever bought was The Beatles: Help, the third was Frank Zappa's Zoot Allures. But sadly the first album I ever bought was The Best of Abba. Oh dear. But, the picture on the back of Agnetha Faltskog wearing a very short dress was actually part of growing up as well, in a way.

Well that showed me. It sold for £50 more than the price of the new one. Probably not as much as it cost if the frets were levelled and crowned by a professional. But a very healthy selling price, I tink.

[quote name='iconic' timestamp='1394384468' post='2390865'] I couldn't put up with the slightly rough fret ends, I thought I would live with them, but couldn't in the end....that was the only reason, everything else was good for the money, as I find with most cheapies. A good bass, but my Aria STB jazz is a better built bass for sure, as I said in my first post, but then the Aria is more expensive [/quote] Aria STB basses sometimes sell for peanuts on ebay. I've seen them in claimed excellent condition sell for £40. (Collection only in obscure location) A long time ago, someone said to me that the STBs are better built than Squier Affinity basses, but not as good as Squier CV or VM basses. Would you agree?

[quote name='miles'tone' timestamp='1394319941' post='2390362'] What do you guys think of this one? Direct from China (well Hong Kong I think) £60 including shipping. Could this be where GFS sources it's bodies from? Maybe.. [url="http://www.eyguitarmusic.com/P-Bass-body-custom-Paulownia-WoodVery-Soft-WoodUnfinished_p_1417.html"]http://www.eyguitarm...hed_p_1417.html[/url] [/quote] There might be some customs and handling fees to pay on top of that. I'd be interested in your experience should you buy one. I'm vaguely interested in this: http://www.eyguitarmusic.com/NewNatural-Color-in-Gloss-FinishJ-Bass-NeckFretlessMaple-FingerboardMachine-head-mounting-hole-diameter-1750mmfree-shipping_p_1019.html But on the other hand, when money is available, there's someone who sells Mighty Mite necks on t'bay for not much more (or any more?) than these ones cost.

[quote name='tom1946' timestamp='1394306802' post='2390196'] Yes, had both, still have the HB and I love it, it's a bit on the heavy side but the tones and finish are brilliant. The JD is as everyone says and it's good but I prefer the thud and clarity of the HB but it's very subjective isn't it? My 'like' might be your poison, I even bought the HB 50's too and I can't really fault that either. ICONIC why did you bin your JD? [/quote] Oh yes, now you remind us I remember! My memory is what it is. How would you compare the HBs to the real Fenders in your sig. How much is someone who only has the HBs losing out compared to someone who has real Fenders? [BTW: I'm not likely to buy a HB anytime soon - the cooker failing and a desire to live within my means has kiboshed my disposable income for a while. But I really like to hear about bargains]

<p>[quote name=&#39;Sara SG&#39; timestamp=&#39;1394284782&#39; post=&#39;2389868&#39;]<br /> Thanks for all your answers. I will spend an evening checking and googling all those models. Will defo consider de-fretting a cheap bass.&nbsp;&nbsp;Dear Subsonic Simpleton - My regular bass IS&nbsp;&nbsp;the Squier Mike Dirnt Precision - its the one in my profile photo here. I have been playing it for 3yrs about 10 gigs a year, on most of my recordings too. I love it. It is heavy though! I have an Epiphone hollow bodied bass which of course is much lighter but not so robust for rock gigs. Wearing the Mike Dirnt bass for hours , low slung, (never sitting down!) does give me back pain, particularly because&nbsp;&nbsp;I have a microphone to negotiaite. But hey - no pain , no gain! Just next bass is unlikely to be a Precision! Any new shape puts different pressure points than the the Mike Dirnt has left. Was really impressed by some small&nbsp;&nbsp;light basses I tried on the Cort stand at the Bass Show. No attractive fretless though <img alt="" class="bbc_emoticon" src="http://basschat.co.uk/public/style_emoticons/default/sad.png" /><br /> [/quote]</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>I don&#39;t know enough about fretless basses to make &#39;recommendations&#39;, but if you&#39;re thinking of defretting a cheap bass, assumedly to try out fretless without spending much, then would a [url=http://www.thomann.de/gb/harley_benton_jb_40fl_sb.htm?sid=c64b88d4cb91adff89330645b9ee045a]Harley Benton fretless bass[/url] be an option?&nbsp;</p> <div id="myEventWatcherDiv" style="display:none;">&nbsp;</div>

Is there anybody who has played both the J&D 1975 bass, and the Harley Benton 1975 bass?

At least that one looks really nice. Though, not £400 worth.

For Wings this is the song that most made me desire a Ric. Unfortunately, all I have (and can justify buying) is a Ric-shaped-instrument but it does it for me. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fGgeGxji3A0

<Clicks virtual 'Like' button for your mate's £2 tea chest bass>

Not seen one of these on ebay before. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Portable-Tea-chest-Bass-/151248567016?pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item23371dfae8

Kala U-bass as per the previous post - 2.5 lbs or 1.33 kg! I thought that the Tanglewood Traveler may be compromise between a normal bass and a ubass - but [url="http://www.soundsliveshop.com/p/Tanglewood_TWRB-E_Traveller_Electro_Acoustic_Fretless_Bass_Natural/TWOOD-TWRB-E"]this site[/url] lists it as being 10 kgs! I presume that's an error (And I'm guessing that a Tanglewood may be too downmarket for the OP). Ashbory bass?

How do you know which strings to buy if you would like higher tension? I've just been playing three basses (4, 5, and 6 string), and the one I'm liking best is the one with the highest action of the three. But, I think a lower action but high string tension might be interesting to try.

Frank Zappa was the first rock concert I ever saw, when I was 12. BTW: Does anyone know where I can get a transcription of Dweezil's "Purple Guitar". And is the bass line as hard as Bryan Beller says?

[quote name='Green Alsatian' timestamp='1393892039' post='2385651'] If you can find one, the Ibanez SR300 DXF sounds like it would meet your requirements. I had one a couple of years ago - bought it for £150 and sold it for that a few months later. (there was one on here for sale for £150 also). Mine was very light in weight and had a lined fingerboard, P/J config (reverse P) and a two-band EQ, which made for a wide array of tones. I did try it with chorus and an octave pedal (you have to with a fretless) and it was capable of a Pino-esque vibe, if he ever injected both of his hands with anaesthetic. The one I had was candy apple red and for some reason the body of text from the auction is here, along with my pics: [url="http://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/ibanez-soundgear-sr-300-dxf-fretless-218739699"]http://www.worthpoin...tless-218739699[/url] Oh, and welcome to Basschat! [/quote] This one's a bit more expensive than GA's target price. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/IBANEZ-SOUNDGEAR-SR-300F-ACTIVE-FRETLESS-BASS-GUITAR-/321343599420?pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item4ad192333c

This looks like it might be a RBX374. http://www.gumtree.com/p/for-sale/yamaha-bass/1051186981#photo-content If so, £75 for it including a soft case (worth £5 of that?) seems a pretty good deal. If I hadn't bought my Ibby SR760 to be my cheap bass for keeping at work, I'd be sorely tempted by this Yammy.