Dr.Dave

I have a daphne blue/maple Strat onto which I put a cream pearloid pickguard. Looks the dogs esp witt white pups. So would this , not sure of the tort.

Well , it's got to change the sound in some way - however small. The arse end of the string is now tight up against a metal ferrule embedded in the body - rather than sitting jammed against a metal bridge that's screwed onto it. Not sure if it's an advantage but obviously it's a difference. I suspect it will increase sustain so if you want increased sustain - yes , it's an advantage. Only downside that springs to mind is that the wrappings on the head end of the string are now maybe an inch closer to the nut - and maybe close enough to touch it.

[quote name='ped' post='248802' date='Jul 27 2008, 10:17 AM']On a P bass I had a while back I used the cover as a grounding for the bass, to stop that clicking every time you touch something metal - I ran a piece of tin foil to the cover from the volume pot under the scratchplate and it worked really well!! Cheers ped[/quote] Was the tin foil pre CBS ?? Certain models of Jazz use a copper strip from bridge pup to bridge to do a similar job as I recall - though I may be wrong about the copper strip's purpose.

[quote name='backwater' post='248797' date='Jul 27 2008, 10:03 AM']I suspect that most people only quote the first part of the number to prevent fraudsters using the number to sell a fake. Andy [/quote] I wondered that but it doesn't game out does it? A fraudster can just dream up a number , partic if he has the first few digits. Personally I reckon the more people that know my 73P is 412347 the better. Then if it gets nicked you'll all know not to buy it and if you (or I) ever see that number in an ad and it's not my bass we'll know it's a fraud and we can contact the feds.

[quote name='Doddy' post='248422' date='Jul 26 2008, 02:03 PM']Correct me if I'm wrong,but I believe that the chrome pick-up covers were actually a way to help stop feedback,as it prevented the soundwaves from the speaker from going back into the pick-up. The bridge cover contained a foam mute. I personally keep the pick-up cover on my Jazz Basses,but not the bridge cover.[/quote] I never heard the thing about feedback busting before. Interesting. I know some players have said the pup cover 'traps' the sound and colours it somehow but I've not convinced myself of that. Other than cosmetics I can only think of negatives re the covers. I'm all for cosmetics (as anyone who's seen my basses will know!!!!) but not to the point of creating a negative when it comes to playing. There's a world of difference between the tone of a string plucked just behind the pup cover and one plucked just in front. I deny myself all the tones inbetween with the cover in place. That , alone , is enough to sway me. It getting in the way is a personal thing but seems most players feel the same way. I'm not anti anything - honest guv!! - I'm just saying think about negatives/positives you can create when doing things for cosmetic purposes.

I've missed something along the way. Why (partic on Ebay but also in the 'for sales' here and in other places) do sellers only give the first couple of digits of Fender serial numbers?? Not just on vintage models either - can't figure it out. There must be a sound reason but I'm always tempted to think that if they withold information from me they're less than 100% straight. Obviously that's not the case because it's so widespread inc folk with excellent reputations. Sorry to be as thick as a whale sandwich but I just don't get it.

Yes , in my opinion , they are worth it. A much more solid unit which does increase attack and sustain. The badass II design will drop straight into the 5 screw holes on your Fenders , no drilling. You'll need to do alittle fettling with the original Badass (Badass I ?) and the Badass III. Expect to pay around £30 for a good used Badass II or search Bass Parts Direct (US dealer) for a cheap price on a new one. There's an excellent thread pinned to the top of the repairs forum here that will tell you all you want to know.

[quote name='niceguyhomer' post='248755' date='Jul 27 2008, 08:36 AM']An awful night for us - we played at the 55th club in Preston. Full of Bingo lovin' coffin dodgers and petty officious commitee members - where do these people come from? Had to tweak Sex Machine in favour of Kidney Dialysis Machine to suit the audience. [/quote] Please tell me you took the chance to busk 'knocking on heaven's door' I thought that type of club gig was finally dwindling but I've had a couple of reminders myself in recent years that it's still around. Today's sounds much better and at least you can have a few laughs about yesterday.

I have a Badass '1' on my old P. Got it off Beedster second hand but it's been around the block so to speak. It has quite deep grooves in the brass saddles which would help folk who find they can't lower the saddles as much as they wish. No idea if the bridge came new like that or someone got smart and filed them - whatever , does a fine job and I'm grateful to whoever it was.

Well I do like Rics. They hold a place in my heart along with the big 2 Fenders as they were the only things worth having back in the starry eyed , teenage days when I used to stare in shop windows. The poor Jazz I'll never get used to - something about the off set body contours - that leaves Precisions and Rics alone on the pedestal. I've never had a Ric , and never play them in shops for fear of knee jerk credit card reaction. Maybe one day one will seek me out - as seems to be the way with old basses and me. I'm liking your fireglo esp.

[quote name='OutToPlayJazz' post='248381' date='Jul 26 2008, 12:54 PM']Only personal experience I have is with my Marcus Miller Jazz. Apparently, it's a big part of the Marcus Miller slap technique and works really well as a "wrist rest."[/quote] Apparently ???? That implies that you don't find it so - correct ? They really are a love hate thing aren't they. No way you can afford to ignore the comments of a fine player such as Mr Miller but my experience of them has been that they just get in my way. I do find the J bass bridge cover with the F hugely attractive but I wouldn't have one on a bass. I'd love one on the wall to put pens in or something. I suppose - if I'm honest - I get a little up my own arse about them being there for cosmetic purposes only. Just my opinion and I'm certainly not having a pop at any individual - each to their own etc.

On a community such as here it's easy to get to know other players , once off-line friendships are formed with members going to other members gigs or the bass bashes it's perfectly possible to maybe swap basses for a while with a likeminded individual. I think that's a more sensible ,and far easier , option than a formal collective ownership scheme. I also know many players - myself included at an earlier stage in my life - that have their main bass and constantly change the back up bass. That way you get to own and play as many basses as you wish , and if you buy and sell at realistic prices you're losing nothing - as you would with a joint purchase jobb for something that's never yours to do with as you please. I'm not trashing the suggestion - just thinking there are easier and better ways to achieve the same goals.

I've got just the hat to go with that - the sombrero I use in the ZZ trib - our guitar player's wife got us them imported from Mexico. I was in Barcelona last year and there was a mariachi festival in one of the squares one night. Packed with folk and brilliant entertainment.

[quote name='beerdragon' post='248356' date='Jul 26 2008, 12:11 PM']the girl. cant remember her name.[/quote] Ta. I can now watch Mr Dunn without it bugging me !!!!!

I'm quite changing my tune and getting into the look of black/black/maple Fenders. Must be old age. I saw a guy playing one a few weeks back and I was actually jealous for a second. For a second !!!!!! If you only have black and white Fenders does that mean the licence is cheaper???? Nice brace - matey.

[quote name='Paul Cooke' post='248348' date='Jul 26 2008, 11:57 AM']STAX records story: [url="http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00cp52q"]http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00cp52q[/url] STAX Volt tour of Norway 1967 [url="http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00cp52s"]http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00cp52s[/url] Celebrity Masterchef episode 12 [url="http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00cr25g"]http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00cr25g[/url][/quote] Top man - thanks. But I don't want to watch Masterchef , just want to know who won.

[quote name='Wayward-Wanderer' post='248347' date='Jul 26 2008, 11:56 AM']I guess i was talking about the pickup cover! thanks for the help. If they are an after market part then i definately gonna put the pickup guard and bridge guard on mine. I think they look Kickass![/quote] And you're not alone , my friend. You'l find them strewn across ebay if you search pickup covers and bridge covers. Don't get stung for vintage ones. If your bass doesn't have holes for them you'll have to get the drill out so for Christs sake be careful and get the position right. If I had mine left you'd be welcome to the bloody things!!!

Do you mean the pickup cover? Around where a right handed players right hand goes?? If you do then it...er....covers the pickup?? I think meant to be a convenient hand rest. These days I find it a convenient thing to chuck in a drawer and most players think the same in terms of it's use as a hand rest , though many like the retro look it gives their basses and leave it on if it doesn't get in the way. It wasn't the first - the Fender Precision had it way before. There's also one covering the bridge - again , as much use as a chocolate fireguard in my opinion. Same reason for it's inclusion in the design and same reasons why many players retain theirs. Indeed - many modern Fender designs have omitted these covers , or included them in the box with a new bass but not fitted them . They also sell as an aftermarket part , and vintage ones are sought after by current owners because the chances are the earlier owners chucked them out. Only other thing I can think you might mean is the bar style of string guide up by the machine heads. I first noticed these on 5 string basses but haven't a clue where they first appeared. They're a variation of the round string guide (also called a tree or a tee) which is designed to increase the angle that the string comes over the nut so the string sits in it better. Different guitar types - for instance many Gibson designs - slant the whole headstock backwards from the neck so the angle is increased naturally and you don't need a string guide.

[quote name='Paul Cooke' post='248205' date='Jul 26 2008, 12:46 AM']BBC iPlayer... watch it again quickly before they delete it...[/quote] I'd like to - what was the name of the show so I can search it. Talking of telly last night - who won celeb masterchef?? Guessing Andy Peters.

Well , it began earning it's keep last night at a pub gig in Horbury , West Yorks. Happily , a guitary mate of mine had turned up and had his fret files in the car (opticians instruments from his work, I believe) so we cured the d string prob in a couple of mins. He held the strings out of the way while I filed - sorted. The bass still has that vintage , no nonsense sound but the scratch has gone - all thanks to the QP I think , and I'm happier tuning 'forwards' - esp that last minute or between song check. Having access to my korg rack tuner meant that I got the intonation spot on in less than 2 minutes too (actually during a guitar and drum intro!!!) I'd got the E bang on by ear at home but the other 3 saddles had to come back about 3 turns. That sent them sharp but I yanked at them and back they went without touching the tuners. I'd wondered about the Badass III grooves - the pre cut ones are 3 or 4 very close together per string. I thought the string might jump from one to t'other - didn't happen. It's a good weight (basswood body??) and plays very well. The neck isn't clumpy at all and I haven't noticed any dead spots.I can do the whole Doc Blue set easily , no way I could do it with my EpiEx so it'll def do the double header gigs we do with our ZZ trib band .I'll use this for the Doc Blue support slot , the EpiEx just featuring on the early ZZ set for visual effect then I'll switch to this again and maybe back to the EpiEx for the encores. Unlike my old Telebass there isn't the slab body to take lumps out of my forearm and dig into my ribs. I find my right thumb searching out the underside of the top of the pickup for a place to anchor. Bit weird - first bass I've had where the pup hasn't any form of pickup cover. It's simplicity and basic sound is quite a change from my hi-fi ish Shuker and Status and I think overall I'll use them in preference to this for normal Doc Blue gigs - just because of the versatility. Makes for a few stage gags too - 'Dave's got a gay bass' - 'watch yourself if Dave's bass follows you into the bogs' etc

Tch tch... What sort of no-brain , attention seeking nob head would go on stage with a Precision covered in flowers ?................. ....oops....er....hang on , cancel that remark !!!!

[quote name='alexclaber' post='246334' date='Jul 23 2008, 06:59 PM']ZZ Top tunes with large beards gives you a unique exemption from all the rules of the trade. Alex[/quote] Ha! Just thinking - we should have a bass 'cool wall' like top gear , but without the meglomaniac or the dwarf. Price and build quality are meaningless etc - just 'is this bass cool or not'. Would ownership of it make a class bird climb in the back of a transit for a lift home via the kebab shop??

Were it moi and I def. wanted to keep it - I'd move the neck back in the pocket and knock up a shaped piece to fill the gap. A bodge job will suffice to see if all's OK and you can make a better job later. Is the neck new? If not you could fill the screwholes easily enough. If it is new , and you may want to sell it on in the future it'll have holes in the wrong place - so depends how much money you have tied up in it if you want to try a bit of fettling. If you're not confident - and if it'll always bug you , don't bother and sell it on now.

[quote name='alexclaber' post='246282' date='Jul 23 2008, 05:42 PM']Nowadays the only way you can look cool playing a headless bass is if you're Robbie Shakespeare or a fellow reggae brother. Alex[/quote] Our version of Hey Joe which manages to work it's way in to our set most nights includes a reggae section in the middle. If I'm playing my Status does that make me cool for 45 seconds - more to the point am I still an 'uncool old fat bastard who should grow up and pack it in' if I use the headed Shuker??