The Bass Doc

[quote name='OutToPlayJazz' post='473725' date='Apr 27 2009, 09:21 PM']Can't seem to get to the bottom of why he plays like this...[/quote] It' fairly obvious to me - the first bass he had was particularly neck-heavy.

[quote name='warwickhunt' post='347649' date='Dec 7 2008, 01:51 AM']I'm sure I'll upset a whole bunch of bass tutors by just mentioning ONE more but Kenny Potter is worth checking out![/quote] I remember years ago when I knew Kenny as a player. Bumped into one time and he told me he had started doing bass lessons - I said that I looked forward to hearing the improvement in his playing in the future - HE didn't laugh either.

[quote name='wateroftyne' post='469698' date='Apr 22 2009, 04:12 PM']That's a neck and a bridge goin' on right there...[/quote] Dashed clever of you WoT. I suspect that even in the short time since the OP appeared you downloaded a still from the show, E-mailed a friend in the CIA in Washington D.C. who enhanced and magnified the image 100 times whilst researching via information gleaned from Guy Pratt's guitar tech on an earlier tour as to the position of the line pointers on this particular bass when it was switched off. They then digitally rotated the image of the knobs through 340 degrees to reveal that both pickups were indeed full on before E-mailing you their findings. OR did you just use your lugs?

Think it's a load of bull personally

If you're sure about the neck being a 78, the pickup is by Seymour Duncan, I reckon it's worth taking a chance at £450 - any other parts that turn out to be genuine would be a bonus. Absence of a thumb rest ain't too significant. If a photo is possible it might help further - then again might not.

Yeah... kinda reminiscient of funkyhobbit and friend at NE bash....no?

[quote name='BigRedX' post='468285' date='Apr 21 2009, 11:49 AM']But you don't hire Pino (or any other 'name' player with a signature sound) if what you really want is Marcus.[/quote] Yeah that's what I meant - you hire the man who has the sound rather than a.n. other with gadget. Unless of course budget restrictions dictate the latter in which case rsl's point is spot on.

[quote name='BigBeefChief' post='468152' date='Apr 21 2009, 10:04 AM']Nah.[/quote] Me neither - I follow the James Jamerson school of thought. Mind you as far as personal hygiene goes I have a bath once a year whether I need it or not.

Greetings Berb (rslaing) - it's so good to share views with you. Next time you pop over to mine you must bring that broomstick thing you've mentioned - I'm due to see LT soon and could arrange to have it fretted for you.

The idea of modelling, sampling etc. seems intriguing BUT can you imagine a top producer calling in Pino Palladino (with '62 P-bass) to do a session and then saying 'it's OK but I'm going to put the signal through a gadget to make you sound more like Marcus Miller playing an active Jazz'. I reckon the response would involve said producer having to walk with a slightly different gait. Further down the line the producer decides not to spend big money on people like Pino or Marcus and instead hires in local bass player with his VB 99 - can you imagine it happening? I could be wrong but I'd like to think there will always be a need for individual expression by a player whose talent is so unique (and we're ALL unique) that no electronics will fully replace him and his sound. Neutral observers please note this is not a dig at rslaing whom I respect as a talented musician and a good friend - he is also bigger than me. As Hitler once said 'Opinions are like testicles - we all have one'.

[quote name='Golchen' post='467811' date='Apr 20 2009, 08:18 PM']I feel such a newb with this sort of thread. I wouldn't have the faintest idea what a Precision or Jazz sound is???[/quote] An old-school bassist friend once said he thought a Precision sounded 'woody' and a Jazz sounded 'fruity' - however you have to have owned them to get the idea.

[quote name='mantekka' post='467482' date='Apr 20 2009, 02:29 PM']A few questions: 1) (See Pic) The frets are seated as in the picture, which appears to be same as tutorial above. Any issues? 2) I'd like to replace the machine heads. Are these standard fittings, if I pick up a set will they have the same screwhole placings? Should I look for fender specific ones? 3) Is it possible to continue with the rusty pickups or are they badly affected by a bit of rust? 4) What type of strings would be ideal after the job is done? 5) Will the design of this bass, location of the pickups etc. be compatable with the sound of a fretless?[/quote] Having de-fretted many a similar neck my answers would be:- 1) Frets seated as normal - follow tutorial. 2)Schaller BMFL seem to have the same footprint and would be a good choice replacement. 3)If they still sound OK ignore the rust for now but plenty replacement P-Js on the market. 4)Flats by Tomastik, La Bella or D'addario Chromes would be fine. 5)Yes. Other people will no doubt add comments which may vary - hope you enjoy your project

I think we're looking at a transition period here and either decal would suffice on a restoration project - I personally would go with the spagetti logo if it's clay dots, the ' tighter' logo definitely goes with 'pearl' as I remember owning a Dec. '64 with such dots and logo. As it happens I've an Oct.'63 P-bass for sale at the moment which is a Fiesta red (re-spray) with all original hardware and it carries an 'off-white' pickguard. Hope this helps.

How did you take it out in the first place? Did you unsolder at the pot end or at the pickup? At the pot end should have been safe but if disconnecting and reconnecting at the base of the pickup it's possible to have applied enough heat to have damaged the begining of the coil wire even if it's out of sight by then. Re-wind is probably out of the question so replacement will be needed. Dashed bad luck old bean.

I've got a Burman 4x12 which I wouldn't mind moving ( if I could bloody well lift it). Me thinks Crazikiwi might just be interested judging by the avatar. Apparently it used to belong to a Mr. Sting when he was bass player with Last Exit in these parts before he joined the force. Just a thought - is Sting related to that bloke who played the part of Bergerac on telly?

Yup, WoT is right - he knows a thing or two about fretless Fenders. Since the front pickup is in the same area as on a Precision the tone will be close enough with perhaps a slight reduction in volume when you compare them - however that's what your gain is for on your amp.

Good to know you've still got the 6-string even if it's not out there with you. The shop ain't there anymore - I had a minor heart attack a year and a half ago and am now semi-retired but once you come back to the UK you can still keep in touch as I have a little workshop out west in Throckley and would be happy to give the 6 a service as and when required.

I'm not sure we should rush JPJ - he may be quite careless with tools - I noticed from the first pic that he only has 4 toes on each foot.

Hi Dan I'm the guy that built your 6 string fretless - anybody in Japan copied it yet? The design was so good people said I should patent it and when I mentioned it you said you wanted it patented white - so I did. Just a thought - if four other guys called Dan moved to Japan before you, you could be a fifth Dan without even taking up Judo. Enjoy yourself over there and keep in touch via this wonderful forum

Cheers Lee. Yeah the expression on the face makes me look very serious but I was smiling on the inside - I always do when I've got a gig - it' still the best thing in the world to do (but don't tell the missus)

[quote name='Beedster' post='462187' date='Apr 14 2009, 03:07 PM']When A-B'd on the same bass my '73 Jazz neck (rosewood) sounded different to my 77 Precision neck (also rosewood), the Precision neck had a bit of a mid scoop to my ears. Although the boards are the same wood, the Precision neck is wider and deeper, so perhaps this has an imact? Is the TF neck Jazz width? If so, and as you're getting all scientific on this (it'll be double-blind random-controlled trials next), it's perhaps worth checking the impact of neck dimensions as well as materials?[/quote] WoT is now logging on to confused.com