The Bass Doc

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

[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] Oops see below

I have built a bass with a P-style body, jazz neck and a pair of J pickups (it was fretless as it happens). The bass is somewhere in Manchester now - I've lost track of it's owner. I can recall however it did indeed sound like a Jazz as the pickup placement was precisely measured. This leads me to believe that the overall body size and shape has little to do with the end result once plugged in. Trust this helps you in your deliberations.

[quote name='fryer' post='461444' date='Apr 13 2009, 07:32 PM']Aren't you as old as the Woman you feel.[/quote] Yes and my dear (meaning expensive) wife is 35, aren't I lucky. Mind you, I've told her when she reaches 36 I'm trading her in for two 18 year olds

OK this is me at age 60 (two years ago). The bass is my main gigger a 63 Precision (with added Di Marzio Jazz - sorry!) The bass has been playing the same length of time as me but as you will see is in slightly better condition than I am. The relicing is entirely natural in the case of the bass but in my case there was some deliberate damage caused by tabs & beer.[attachment=23746:Mouth_of_the_Tyne.jpg]

[quote name='wateroftyne' post='460121' date='Apr 11 2009, 08:57 PM']Keep up at the back! I've established that the J pickup is kinda surplus to requirements...[/quote] One of the reasons for suggesting the blend kind of options was you might find the J more useable if you didn't simply dial it in on the same settings as the P p/up as in the clip. Anyway it looks like you are now firmly 'anti -J' and at least that's established and just leaves the quandry on neck material and overal looks - I sense a definite decision coming on...possibly...maybe...

[quote name='cd_david' post='460038' date='Apr 11 2009, 05:49 PM']Why dont you sell the TF and put together a fretless hybrid to YOUR specifications not Tony Franklins.[/quote] That's exactly what I was going to to try to sell him..er I mean tell him...er I mean sel...oh never mind Seriously, an improvement over the TF would be separate vols (or vol and pan) rather than the selector switch. Got to be an ebony board though.

Yep middle one for distance,(i.e. not cutting into the scratchplate) but with the halves reversed as per no. 3