Beer of the Bass

[quote name='Spoombung' timestamp='1363432243' post='2012607'] A 4-sting will often sound a lot bassier and a lot clearer- even in the upper octave. Its.... Strong fundamental, weak harmonic mids (low stung instruments like 5-stings) versus Strong mid harmonic, strong fundamental (a 4-string) An upper octave instrument is usually perceived as bassier because of the accompanying mid harmonics that lower pitched instruments don't possess. In short, it's more audible and more textural. I would encourage any bassist to do themselves a BIG favour and 'downgrade' to a 4-string and return to audibility. [/quote] I'm really not sure about that. I don't hear the top four strings on my five string as sounding any different to a similarly configured four string. My ash bodied, bolt-on necked 5 string with passive Jazz pickups just sounds like a Jazz to my ears. If there is a difference due to the heftier neck, increased tension or differently shaped pickup coils, I think it's smaller than the variation that exists within differently built four string basses. The only difference I have noticed is that the type of right-hand stroke you can use on the E string is different, as you now have a lower string limiting your finger movement. EDIT; I read your post again - I guess you're talking about the sound of a higher octave note versus a lower one, not comparing tone of the same note on a four string vs. a five string. If so, ignore the above! Although by the same logic, perhaps we should all "upgrade" to guitar and ditch those bass notes entirely!

[quote name='Mr. Foxen' timestamp='1363363937' post='2011906'] The got EU protection of the headstock a few years ago. [/quote] Ah right, I missed that! I'm surprised there aren't more near copies with alternative headstock shapes out there, as seems to be the norm with Fender copies.

As far as I can gather (and feel free to contradict me if you're clued up on the legal stuff), their trademark protection on the headstock shape, toaster pickup covers etc. applies in the USA only. Ebay and Gumtree will co-operate with their requests as they are American owned companies, so could be taken to court successfully. I don't think they have the same sort of influence where the instruments are made and sold outside the US by non-US companies.

Discontinued, and didn't most of their five strings keep the four string neck width and pickups? Otherwise, one of those in mapleglo would be great! Actually, I may have to build myself something some time in the future. It doesn't even need to be Ric-shaped, just imitating the construction and functional bits so it gets a similar sound and feel...

There isn't anyone doing with Rickenbacker style instruments what Sandberg, Nordstrand, Sadowsky etc. are doing with Fender-esque basses, except perhaps John Birch who isn't around anymore. I can understand the rationale behind buying their instruments, as they provide the functional attributes and much of the appearance of the Fenders, but with far more options available and a degree of personalisation that a larger company would struggle to provide. The currently available Ric copies are all cheap knock-offs, but if a small company was to offer a quality bass built like a Rickenbacker except with a sensible bridge, no uncomfortable pickup surround and the option of five strings, I'd be sort of tempted to save up my gig money for one! It'd be even better if Ric themselves offered such a thing, but I can see they have little incentive to.

If you're doing "acoustic" gigs without a kit drummer, a good 10" is easily enough. I regularly use a 1x10" with drum kit in pubs, though in a bigger room or with louder electric guitarists I'd want more. The GK does look good value though, and if it's lighter than the Ashdown there's no real downside for portability.

I like the D'Addario set I have on at the moment except for the B-string. It produced a wooly thud which was not much like the other four. Though your sig suggests you're playing 4-strings so this is probably not an issue for you.

I play guitar in this band, and our old bassist has had to leave for work reasons. We are a political seven-piece band based in Edinburgh called New Urban Frontier. We need a bassist willing to gig, jam, experiment and have fun. Our style is an ever-changing mix of punk, ska, hip-hop, soul, reggae, dub and afrobeat among many others We have gigged furiously all over Edinburgh. In the last few years we have played at, among others, The Forest Cafe, The Roxy Art House, Summerhall, The Bongo Club, Henry's Cellar Bar, Teviot Underground, The Jazz Bar, Tepooka, The Voodoo Rooms and Eden Festival. There are always exciting gigs on the horizon, so if you're interested get in touch as soon as possible through here and we'll arrange a jam to see if sparks fly. We have some recordings available on [url="http://newurbanfrontier.bandcamp.com/album/climbing-the-walls-of-babylon-ep"]http://newurbanfront...s-of-babylon-ep[/url] I'd point out that these are older recordings and since then, we have added some new material and changed guitarist. I'd say we've got tighter too! We have some more up to date recordings that we are in the process of mixing, coming soon.

[quote name='mcnach' timestamp='1363224998' post='2010227'] Also note that they have not have any issues regarding payment yet. It's all second hand... [/quote] While I'd usually agree with this, I recall there was a chap running a venue in Edinburgh a few years ago who would regularly fail to pay his staff, tradesmen and bands on the basis that Edinburgh had enough of each of them passing through he could stiff 'em all once and it didn't matter if they never came back. A bandmate of mine took him to court over some carpentry work and used to be quite evangelical about warning people not to play or work for him, but they all would anyway. Once.

I've settled on having two sets of Spiro Mittels, rotating them after a year or so and soaking them in alcohol when I rotate them. Hopefully this'll keep me going for a few years without having to buy new ones. Yes, I'm a skinflint...

I read (in Melvyn Hiscocks book) that Wal would refuse to use figured maple in their necks, saving them for the body facings as they felt the risk of warpage was too great in a neck. So there is definitely some support for this way of thinking, even if many figured necks turn out absolutely fine.

[quote name='The Dark Lord' timestamp='1362982781' post='2006943'] I thought the scenario of 81 guitars hanging up on a washing line amongst a team of tokie chugging Rastafarians, all sitting in front of a big log fire in Edinburgh, while blowing the smoke away from the back of the headstocks was a great image. I'm sure that happens all the time up there. [/quote] If it does, then they've never invited me to their parties! More's the pity...

I don't think we could have had any sort of "great discussion" with him. He only seems to have one topic, and his debating technique consists of praising those who agree with him and insulting anyone else. What insight could we gain from that?

I've never tried one, but I have a friend with one of those Shadow pickups. He gets a reasonable sound and plays on some fairly large stages at festivals etc. Because it has the little preamp attached, it should work well with a wide range of amps too. The preamp does look a bit flimsy though...

I'd add to that list the Upton Revolution Solo pickup - another workable bridge wing pickup. If your amp has an input impedance of 1 Megaohm or greater (check the manual), some of the piezo pickups may sound fine without a preamp, so you may want to try that and see how you fare first.

And it's FANTASTASTIC, apparently! Much better than merely FANTASTIC...

It'd be a shame if that got pulled. I know it probably does infringe their perceived trademarks (how much that means outside the US I don't know), but there's no way anyone could mistake that for a Rickenbacker.

I remember being told to avoid any bit of gear with "Professional" written on it, as it almost certainly wouldn't be. I think the "Custom Handmade" decal on the SX is about the same! It is a bit of a naff decal, which could get on your nerves if you like everything else about the bass.

I'm only 30 seconds in to listening to the first track on your soundcloud, but I like this a lot. I think I'll be downloading this one...

I agree with the above suggestion! If it's really because you don't like the SX logo, why not leave the headstock blank or come up with something more individual? But then I'm not much of a one for displaying brand names, as I even pick them off my jeans...

Good stuff - should be a fun festival band!

I enjoyed that! Nice grunty P-bass sound, the guitars have come out meaty rather than fizzy and for some reason the arrangement reminds me slightly of Beefheart's Clear Spot, which is a good thing.

The Big Muff has inherently mid-scooped EQ and I think the Terror Bass does also (though I've not seen the schematic). I wonder if the combination of the two is leaving a big hole in your sound? There is a simple mod to lessen the mid-scoop on a Big Muff by changing capacitors in the tone stack, which might be worth looking into before you change anything else.

One thing to mention about the Chromes is that they're quite stiff feeling and high in tension. If you're coming from 45-105 gauge rounds, it might be worth trying the 40-100 Chromes. I've had one bass where the truss rod didn't have enough adjustment to bring the neck straight with the 45 gauge Chromes. Also, as Silddx says, tapewounds can also be worth a shot if you like flats. I'm using D'Addario tapes at the moment - they sound like a flatwound but with a slightly different, crisper attack and they feel great.

[quote name='4 Strings' timestamp='1362522745' post='2000903'] Thanks, really enjoyed that, great sound on 'Look Around', was that the flats? I guessed a Jazz, then I saw the pic of you (presumably) and the bass, what is that? [/quote] Cheers! Look Around was my five string with flats on, and both pickups on full. My bass home built - I had a thread on it in the build diaries section here. It's not exactly a jazz, but since it's got Jazz pickups and wiring, ash body, bolt-on neck etc, it does the same job.