ezbass

Sunburst Strat; what's not to like? Congrats.

How did I miss this? Fabulous work Stoo, I should've gone for that amount of stripping originally, it looks way classier. I hope you're still enjoying the fretless.

I've always found Martin to be friendly and willing to spend time with customers, whether they be seasoned pros or newbies (like I was when I first went there) and doesn't push any particular agenda down your your throat. Whenever I've been looking for something new, I've been left to my own devices and allowed to try anything I like, for as long as I like (no, "How're you getting on?" after 2 minutes), with help accessing anything buried and a bit difficult to get to. In addition, if any of the basses I'm interested in doesn't feel quite 'right' to me, the workshop will tweak it there and then (if not too busy of course). A veritable Aladdin's cave. Haven't been up there in a good while though (much to my credit card's relief).

I've got GAS for a 4 string, fretless, Maruszczyk Jazzus. Must.....be.....strong.....

They are becoming rarer in the for sale section, but keep an eye out for the original US MM SUB. Great basses, which tend to go for around the £350-£400 mark. Of the Sterling SUB, I like the look of the Sea Foam Green one.

[quote name='DaytonaRik' timestamp='1450437314' post='2932762'] - I soon realised I was a much better bass player than I was a guitarist! [/quote]When I'd been playing bass a while, the wife made that very comment to me. I was both very pleased and a little hurt at the same time.

If it is at all possible, record a song with the current settings and then again with suggested adjustments (hopefully it'll be better, certainly can't be worse by the sound of it). Then, if he can't hear the improvement and refuses to change, a reappraisal of the lineup might need to be considered. Good luck.

I played guitar for a good while from about 11 years old, but always loved the bass lines in tunes. I decided to jump ship to the low side in the early 80s just when bass was becoming front and centre, coincidentally. I did it in an effort to get more work - it didn't work, not a sniff of a gig. Then I got a call for a rhythm guitarist post and so back I went. I then went onto to play in a few bands over the years, took an MI course and got pretty good I think, but nothing special (my rhythm work was always better than my lead). Then, listening to Eric Johnson (one of my favourite guitarists) in the late 90s, I was listening to the bass and thinking how happy I would be to play such nice lines behind a really good player and that stuck with me for a good while. Then, finally, in a combined effort to be happier with my playing and hopefully get more work, I went full on bass at the turn of the century; I haven't looked back, although I still play the skinny strings at home, a bit.

[quote name='Japhet' timestamp='1450369155' post='2932128'] Nobody makes me want to learn to play with a pick except Bobby Vega, and when I hear him I REALLY want to play with a pick. [/quote]Yeah, his ghost notes are sooo good. Add to those the actual groove/melody and...well, what's not to like?

[quote name='Uberkate' timestamp='1450294026' post='2931496'] I had a fun time at GuitarGuitar in Surrey a few months back - really nice range and enthusiastic, non-patronising staff, they let me try about five different guitars with no hard sell. Started shredding on a Firebird and got big thumbs up from a \m/ dude. [/quote]I know the guy you mean, top chap, as are all the staff there. So a big thumbs up from me for GG in Epsom too. Add to that The Gallery in Camden, where, whenever I'm there to try/buy, they let you have free range and, if the workshop isn't too busy, will instantly set a bass up to your requirements. As for the others I've been to, I don't get the feeling they care about me so much, I'm an inconvenience to their own glory trip/agenda.

Simon bought my '63 Precision today. Top bloke and a pleasure to business with; great communication. Thoroughly recommended BCer.

Oh dear, I feel I might've been bitten by the latest BC bug. One of these, 4 string, passive, in that blue; oh my! http://youtu.be/Kr6f1IpYyIA

[quote name='Beer of the Bass' timestamp='1450185499' post='2930345'] I like this. It also encapsulates how I felt checking out Jerry Jemmot after hearing Jaco talk about him in interviews. You can hear how Jaco has taken on board Jemmot's fingerstyle funk approach and moved it on to the next level. It's interesting to think about what Jaco's legacy is and exactly where the greatness lies. His 16th note groove playing is fantastic, and it's surprisingly hard to get the feel of that right even if you can get the notes down (I have spent quite a bit of time trying to!). He also came up with that unique lyrical, singing fretless voice that was all his own. For either of those he can be regarded as a true innovator. I do wonder whether history might not judge him as one of the great improvisers and soloists though, as IMO there can be a touch of unfocussed showboating there, stringing together stock licks with no intent other than to say "hey, get this!". This is even more noticeable later in his career. I think this may be where the "aimless noodling" accusations come from. While I wouldn't go that far as to use that term myself I can see how it could appear that way, and I say this as a fan. [/quote]That is a rather fantastic post. Take out everything everybody else has said and post this right after the OP, then follow it with the listening suggestions and we have the 'perfect' thread.

Very cool, my favourite P colour, wood, pick guard combo. Enjoy.

[quote name='tinyd' timestamp='1450181840' post='2930293'] I think that this is a pretty common pattern: 1) Someone figures out a new way of doing something, 2) Everyone admires the person, 3) People start copying, 4) Other people refine, 5) Years pass.... 6) Original person's innovation seems a bit crude / obvious / naive compared to later refinements. [/quote]Although #6 doesn't quite fit exactly, this is what I heard on a documentary about Einstein, yesterday. Apparently our understanding of the Theory of General Relativity is far greater than the man who thought it up and found the first ways to prove it. Back to music...

Because of the drop D I would imagine that the Wolfgang comes with a flat loaded trem, otherwise I'm not sure the drop D system would work without de-tuning the rest of the strings. I could be wrong though.

Back in the days when we did the lottery I always said that, if we won, I'd have a jazz box custom made by Mike Vanden.

[quote name='colgraff' timestamp='1450022436' post='2928849'] I was tempted to say something indisputably provocative, but bottled it. Nifty fingers. [/quote]Good self restraint. It's all too easy for every thread to suddenly have the same 'in joke'. Bobby Vega is a damn fine player; that is all.

[quote name='skidder652003' timestamp='1450020328' post='2928826'] I really think he is the best Ive ever heard, just the sheer emotion and groove in his playing. [/quote]Yup! I have to agree. Surely this is what being a bass player is all about.

[quote name='nash' timestamp='1449937228' post='2928191'] I guess if I should re-word the question. Suggestion of P type basses around the new price of USA Fenders and Lakland Skyline (£1k?) and also a brand with a good QC consistency. So not necessarily the absolute best but still very good. [/quote]One of our number was waxing lyrical about this in another thread http://www.bassdirect.co.uk/bass_guitar_specialists/D_Lakin_Bob_Glaub_Sonic_Blue.html And said thread http://basschat.co.uk/topic/274892-tried-a-new-d-lakin-bob-glaub-today/page__p__2928161__hl__lakland__fromsearch__1#entry2928161

[quote name='peteb' timestamp='1449937732' post='2928196'] Might be an age thing. [/quote]Or more likely a genre thing.