bloke_zero

There is a thread here:

I listen a lot while working - often trying to find new stuff on Spotify. I'll always stop and listen if I can to something that catches me. If I really need to get some concentration and work done I just put on something like ACDC (strictly Bon Scott - I can't even remember that other guys name) and plough through. I don't listen to as much vinyl as I'd like as it's in the TV room and often being used for that, but I love getting a new album and listening through. Music is still as uplifting and adsorbing as it's ever been for me - I really like the 'Discover weekly' algorithm on Spotify as I don't listen to the radio like I did to hear new things. Check out the new styles - that old stuff has lost it's flavour!

Don't forget radiused as well so that the radius changes down the fingerboard - it's mind boggling! I'd say the best idiots guide would be to visit a well stocked shop and try a load of stuff. It wasn't until I was idlly mucking around with a 70's stingray on Denmark street that I clicked with a neck. Wide but not too deep - I guess kind of a shallow D shape. It was £2000 and the most amazing monkey poo brown so I wasn't too tempted by it! But it did help me pick out what I wanted in a neck. It was a really instant feeling - "this is right".

Come on, tell us how you *really* feel 😜 ! I had a US L2000 and the neck was a big part of why I moved it on. Just didn't really leap into the hand - I played it a lot live, but it never quite felt right. I did feel that if there was a zombie apocalypse and zombies rushed the stage that I could probably hold my own using the bass as a club. I suspect it'd just need a wipe down afterwards - built like a tank!

Care to elaborate? I'm intrigued 🤔

I was wondering about a decent preamp front end - like the Nordstrand starlifter + a powered cab - not necessarily flat or full range. It seems like an unecessary extra gain stage to have a preamp pedal + preamp also in the amp? I know this isn't going to fly with someone who has an SVT as an integral part of their onstage sound, but I was wondering if anyone has gone down that route?

Nice video - it sounds great.

It does say 'Needs review' so might be a rando suggestion rather than a 'true fact'. Makes some sense though - a classic rock set of strings.

They *almost* admit they think it's the pickups, as they note towards the it's exactly what Seymour Duncan is talking about with the effects of magnet degradation. I think the wood and finish must play a part - it's hard though - I have a bass that just feels so good acoustically it's kind of hard not to pick it up all the time though I'm not convinced it's the best sounding electronically!

Crazy video! Well, you can hear that it's different after a year - I guess how much of that is the pickup magnet and how much is the body? I think the whole nitro thing is partially about how the bass feels in your hands as much as the difference in tone through the pickup, though a friend of mine (and studio engineer) swears it makes an audible difference. Cool that they asked some actual experts - Seymour Duncan no less!

Yeah I get that. Personally I was comparing it with a US built Fender but with MM build quality and attention detail and the MM neck which I like. And it was substantially discounted, so all in all it made sense for me. I have to say, I'm doing less well with making sense of the rest of the world! I really was surprised with how well it recorded - in the hand it feels and sounds like a really well thought out and made response to 'what's our version of the P-bass' question.

She's great to watch - still playing and engaged with the bass.

How much does it cost to get a nut cut by a luthier? Might be more cost effective for a one off?

Same on my MM Cutlass - nice looking bass!

It's really nice to see something new and really well considered. I wonder how long the buttons will last - I guess they'll be fairly easy to fix. I'd like one! Looks like a lot of fun.

When I looked there aren't too many passive bass and treble circuits out there - the only one I found was the G&L2000: https://www.bassesbyleo.com/passive_l_series.html It's pretty easy to implement and I'm sure could sit in with a preamp (it's only a couple of caps really). The only thing I found difficult was finding a reverse log pot with a long enough shaft - but you wouldn't have that problem. And I've heard that you can use an Linear 250K in it's place anyway. I've definitely heard of people swapping the resistance strip in pots to create new combinations so it is possible - good luck!

Thanks for putting up the clips - it is the kind of thing I always mean to do but never get around to. Interesting the consensus around the tone. I guess I'd characterise the '71 open as 'authoritative' rather than 'flabby' as it sounds a little deeper, but then I'm a bass junkie! I liked the openness and clarity of the Moollon with the tone open, but the '71 won for me with the tone down. On the whole you're right - they are different rather than better/worse! Really made me want to get some flats on my bass!

I have tried! But when you're getting that Ampeg sound with the 'Ultra Hi' button enaged smashing into the amp at high gain evey little creak and scritch at the top end is really loud and however fast the gate is. If you let the note die without sounding chopped off by the gate, I get a little screech as I lift my finger on the left hand, which I should be muting with the right hand instead. I know if I changed ANY element of the set up it would go away (flats for roundwound, ultra hi off, less pre gain), but also, if my muting technique was immaculate it wouldn't be a problem and I could have that crunchy sound I'm after!

Thanks - I was looking at this the other day after seeing Moses stopped doing instruments. http://www.zonguitars.com/zonguitars/necks.html Phenowood looks interesting!

They look great - though I did like the stripes on the US models

Got to love that! Nice bass!

There was an interesting little bit on 70's jazz pickups from Monty's on Instagram (ssssss! I know - I don't normally social media but...), you might have got on the wrong side of the quality control. Might be worth giving them a call for a rewind - and they do a replacement too - https://www.montysguitars.com/collections/bass-pickups/products/retro-wind-j-bass-pickup-set?variant=29222240288867

The dilemma of science - what can you quantify? I guess I'm thinking that I've gone to low and sacrificing tone for playability. You could record in between height adjustments and blind test. I agree there must be an element of feel - art and science.

I agree - re-reading that has made me re-think. Science works if you have the patience and sensible metrics.

Tell me about it - it wasn't until I picked up a 70's Stingray that I suddenly went 'Ahhh!' and then had to quickly put it down as it was about 2.5K! Looking at your list of players it seems like Jazz bass style would be a reasonable place to start - narrower neck etc - it's all very personal!