largo

[quote name='niceguyhomer' post='497347' date='May 25 2009, 04:07 PM']It doesn't make any difference whether they're 'parts basses' - I think the end justifies the means. Your car is made up of parts from different manufacturers [/quote] On that premise, why not just buy yourself some Warmoth parts, a Sadowsky pre and pickups and get a local luthier to do the build and finishing work. I reckon you could save at least £1000 over a Sadowsky.

The bass tone control on a J-Retro is boost only and it has a centre detent !

Oooh, I love the look of those F Bass Jazz-a-likes ? Is that one for sale or just an example of what to buy for £4K ?

My maths must be wrong. £4K - £2K resale = £2K it's cost. £10 week * 52 weeks * 4 years = £2080

Why are most of you obsessed with getting maximum reasle value on a bass? It might seem like a lot of money, but £4K isn't that much these days. I guess it's all relative but I know a lot of people who will spend £10K on a car and loose half the value in 2-3 years. Let's say he loses £2K over 4 years on the bass, i.e. he buys at £4K and resells at £2K then the bass has cost him £10 a week. Wow! Maybe I have £4K to spend on a new bass too :0)

I owned an Ashdown ABM 500 EVO II RC amp for several years. I loved the tone and thought I'd found theeeee amp. Then, for some stupid reason I was struck with GAS and sold up for an Ampeg SVT-3 PRO as I'd always thought I'd like the sound and features. Pile of poo ! Instead of buying another Ashdown curiosity got the better of me and I went for a Markbass SA450. I'm glad I did. I can dial in the Ashdown sound that I loved but it's just got a bit more punch and clarity. The guys in the band like it too which always helps. So, my opinion is Markbass but there's nowt much wrong with Ashdown either.

Slightly different in that most gigs we play are weddings. 5-piece with PA & lights, all instruments through FOH and we expect to be setup, quick sound check & changed in the hour. Everyone pulls their weight ! Any longer and there's wedding guests starting to get impatient wondering why the bands not started.

I thought Sadowsky's were all CNC machined by Warmoth and then finished in the Sadowsky workshop? I could be wrong though

Hi voxpop I have the same problem, where I prefer a narrower string spacing on my 5's to the almost standard 19mm on most Jazz style. The Warwick Stage II is 16.5mm. Sadowsky are 19mm but apparently can do 18mm from the NYC factory but same neck dimensions ! I think your best option is the new Fender Jazz US 2008/09 models which have narrow spacing on the 5's. Haven't tried one but think they are 17.5 mm from memory. I've been looking at getting either a Jazz 5 or Precision 5. They are passive remember! Other options are Musicman at 17.5mm (this is all best guesses) Zon, althought not really a Jazz bass or a custom build. I ended up getting 2 custom made Jazz basses. My Sei & Shuker Jazz 5's are both 17.5 mm spacing. Hope that helps S

Is it just me but I found the Sadowsky's too perfect ? And they all looked a little too machine made. The neck pockets was too perfect, the fingerboard end is too straight-edged, the headstock just the right shape for a CNC router. I don't know, there's just something about the curves that all look like computer-generated curves if you know what I mean. Not saying that's wrong. Are you sure they aren't made by wee Robots ?

Thanks again for all the advice (keep it coming) .... The sound guy doesn't own the PA, we all do so he is no more precious than the rest of us should be. I think he has a fair idea of PA setup, or maybe just likes to think he does, after hearing what some of you guys have to say. Good point about the guitar clipping the desk. I'll watch out for that, although and here's where I fall down. The soundman/guitarist likes to isolate each input by pressing a wee button (pardon my ignorance) on the channel and seeing what it's doing regards levels. It's not that easy for me to access the desk from my position on stage and I'm sure he'd wonder what I was up to just wandering across and pressing buttons on the desk. Regards the DI, is there any boxes anyone could recommend. Preferably "passive" (no battery) or wouldn't that work? My other option is a compressor pedal, and one that possibly acts as a DI box too. Do you get them? Or, a combined tuner/compressor for my rack. Cheers

Thanks for all the advice guys. Quick question, if I set my gain low then won't the sound guy just increase his line level to below clipping at the desk anyway. So no difference? I can slap fairly quiet, but popping ain't so easy. Maybe I should be more aggresive with my fingerstyle !!!!

A bit off topic but ..... Your guitarist has a H&K head with 4x12 cab AND you have to get something lightweight/portable because you use public transport ?

Bit of background.... My Markbass SA450 amp is DI'ed to the front of house as well as backline. I set the amp up with enough gain to clip the amp using fingerstyle and then back that off just a bit then set my master volume accordingly, according to Markbass manual. However, when I slap/pop (sound's so 80's) my amp doesn't clip but our sound guy (also the guitarist) moans that I'm putting the desk into the red and I'm going to blow the PA speakers !!! For the record, I'm not going to buy a compressor. No rack space and no money :0( Anything I can do? Could he back off the line level to the desk or is he doing things correctly by taking me to just below clipping level as well? I'm not a sound engineer but would like to stand my ground if possible. Cheers,