Paul S

I was wondering if anyone knew off hand what the neck width and weight of the EBMM OLP basses were? 4 string. I can't find the info anywhere (though i expect it is out there somewhere!) ta.

Weight was a non-issue right up until I got a back problem, then it became one of the most important things for me to consider. Like everything else that having a back problem affects - if you don't have a problem you don't get what the fuss is about. I never did. Now I do. Even slip on shoes rather than lace up I remember when I was selling a bass on here a couple of years ago, before I buggered my back this last time, and someone asked me how much it weighed 'exactly'. I thought they were being pedantic but only now realise how important it is. I have a 9lb Fender bass that is my most comfortable, best tone etc BUT for long rehearsals I go for a lighter weight bass every single time because playing a 7lb bass for 4 hrs rather than a 9lb bass makes a significant difference to how my back feels immediately afterwards and, particularly, the following morning.

I had one and would never have sold it on had it been lighter in weight. Immense tone and solid as a rock. Necks are fantastic - 40mm at the nut but a slightly deeper profile than a Jazz. You can get a really woody P-Bass type tone on them, too. I miss mine. I still have it's cousin, the Thunder Jet - much lighter but with the same fantastic neck - pimped with a P-Retro pre-amp and it is the mutts. Doesn't balance quite as well as the 1A - lighter body I suppose.

Not been to Bass Direct but Bass Merchant were exceptionally helpful when I was choosing a new amp. Nothing was too much trouble. Easy to get to, loads of parking, no issues with volume.

+1K for J. East. I haven't tried a broad range of onboard pre-amps but have used Artec and J. East before now. I have actually had 3 fitted in my Fender P-Bass Lyte in the last month or so. The stock Fender one sounded ok but one of the pots and/or pcb didn't work so I replaced it (against advice on here, I should add) with a cheap Artec SE-2. It sounded much the same as the stock one and I felt the bass had more in it. Anyway - just this morning I fitted a 4 knob version of the 5 knob J. East U retro that I bought from silddx (who had it made specially) and am still grinning. Whatever sounds are available from the bass have been articulated in a way that is beyond my dreams. Incredible. Rehearsal tonight and I can hardly wait to try it at that kind of volume.

I think I will give it a try on the back of the body and see how it turns out. If it doesn't work there's nothing a bit of polish won't restore and, tbh, it has so many dinks and dents that it doesn't really matter. It only cost me £77 in the first place! - the preamp is worth more than the bass. Thanks again

Thanks for that. I will give it a go. mcnach - thanks for the headsup but I think it will take me a week to find it! I did find one short thread with wirewool/wax paste suggestion, which I will try. Ta.

[quote name='icastle' timestamp='1316871517' post='1383905'] How about masking the area around the shiney part and giving it a quick blast with an aerosol of satin varnish? - I think Plastikote do small tins in the local DIY stores. [/quote] Ideally that would work but knowing my limited spraying skills I'd need to T-Cut it back to a non-lumpy finish and end up where I started!

Duly ignored I did previously own a Thunder Jet bass (which I had sold and subsequently regretted) that, although 25+ years old, still had a decent satin sheen to it. This makes me hopeful I might be able to get it back somehow. Maybe just trial and error around the back somewhere. As I say, it isn't crucial.

I have a Westone Thunder Jet bass which, when I bought it, had been neglected for years - totally covered in sh*te. These came finished in satin black with matching satin black hardware - pretty stealth looking and cool IMO. I took it to bits, gave it a good clean and a makeoever including a polish at the end to try to remove some of the scratches with T-Cut. This worked a treat for the scratches but I now have a more glossy finish on the body. I can live with this but wonder if it might be possible to get it back to a satin finish somehow. My thought would be to carefully use an extremely fine wire-wool as per polishing wood grade but don't know if anything else might be more suitable? Any suggestions? Ta.

[quote name='GBH' timestamp='1316800318' post='1383218'] I used to play for Greta and the strayshots too! Small world innit? If I remember rightly I generally used Hartke stuff back then, although I did have a Tech 2x12 cab that I replaced the drivers in,may have been that. [/quote] Small world indeed. I hadn't started playing back then but as I knew them went to a couple of their gigs. This was when Steve was playing guitar with them - your era? - plus the duo stuff a bit later. I also saw Steve with 'Last Orders' at the Essex Arms - again, must be 10 years ago. Was this your era? I have a vague memory the bassist's name was Neville. But my memory is increasingly unreliable these days. PS - our gig went down well - our first time there and the landlord reckons he'll give us four gigs a year there!

No, no locals from any 'old days' but my middle-of-the-road covers band May Contain Nuts. Yes, please do say Hi to Greta for me I should really get in touch as I want to ask them about their garden (plants are how we met, rather than music)

[quote name='bassman7755' timestamp='1316732208' post='1382258'] How about this for a bit of single coil growl ... [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0_nK-g8sMdg[/media] [/quote] That's the very thing. Very pleased to say that my Fender Power Jazz Bass Special sounds 'exactly' like this - unsurprising, I suppose, as McKagan used one. But did he use one for this - anyone know? This is similar - Black Country by Black Country Communion [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PkxnzUDOunc&feature=youtu.be[/media]

He'll probably know me more as a friend of Greta and Mark (Greta and the Strayshots). Haven't seen any of them for a few years now but, coincidentally, I am playing a gig at the Essex Arms this very evening!

I did something 'similar' to my Westone Thunder Jet bass, bought for £77. Like Aria basses, Westone basses are exceptionally good value for money - well made with beautiful necks. For the T-jet in particular the electrics let it down - I installed a Kent Armstrong pickup, a J. East P-Retro I bought on here second hand and a Gotoh 201 style high mass bridge (mainly because I don't like the look of the BBOT bridges). Now I have a beautifully built (and lightweight at 8lbs) bass with a gorgeous neck that also plays and sounds like a million dollars. If I get fed up with it I will break it back down, sell the upgrade bits, then return it to stock.

I currently have 6 with another one in the breach (paid for but not collected yet). The Fender Power Jazz Special is the one I usually gig with for my heavy rock covers band but at a shade under 9lbs is a little bit at the end of what I find comfortable, so I use lighter weight basses for practice. Usually the Bass Collection. I keep these detuned half a tone as that is how we play. I know it isn't exactly onerous to keep changing it but, well, you know - it is easier to pick something up that is ready to go. At the moment I am using my pimped Westone Thunder Jet for my light rock covers band gigs - with the J. East P-Retro preamp it gives a greater range of tones for the greater range of tunes we play and isn't as gritty as the Power Jazz, which is really more suited to heavier rock. This is fairly lightweight in itself but if my back is playing up I will use the Hohner cricket bat. I feel this is going to change soon as I am about to put a J. East Pre-amp (thanks again Nigel!) in my newly refurbished Fender Precision Lyte and I reckon this will be my 'go to' bass for this band. The neck is fantastic and I find it really comfy to wear so I am guessing the change of pre-amp is going to be step or 4 up! I also have my Washburn Scavenger which is too heavy for me to play for any length of time, so is probably the only one that I would say 'no I don't play it' to the OP. But I can't bring myself to sell it - it is a superb instrument in truly original condition and I would get bugger all for it. Hopefully my back will get stringer and I can play it again, I will get it out of it's case occasionally in the meanwhile. On the way is a Yamaha RBX800A. I have no firm idea why I bought this other than a moment of weakness - submitting to GAS - and curiosity to see how this supposed top end of the range mid 80s Yamaha compares against the P-Bass Lyte and the Bass Collection. We'll see.

[quote name='silddx' timestamp='1316689857' post='1381416'] I just sold Paul my John East U-Retro Deluxe. Paul's a great guy to deal wit, excellent and friendly comms with regular updates. This could not have been smoother. Thanks mate, I hope the East puts a massive grin on your face! Best wishes, Nigel [/quote] Thanks! As I said - this is a major kismet event going on - exactly what I needed, which couldn't be bought off the shelf, and exactly when I needed it! I've got a silly grin on my face and haven't even fitted it yet...

I bought a J. East U Retro unit from Nigel in one of the smoothest transactions I could imagine. He kept me informed the whole time and didn't even bother to wait for the money to clear in his account before sending it off. Top man. Cheers Nigel!

Good Lord - I know Steve Curtis. Damn fine player. Oh, and congrats on the curry night.

[quote name='arsenic' timestamp='1316634409' post='1380800'] No link on the site now, but exists here [url="http://wiki.basschat.co.uk/"]http://wiki.basschat.co.uk/[/url] [/quote] Ah, great, thanks.

I recently did the same thing - changed to lightweight gear. I play rock covers, went from a Trace Elliot set up with the pre-shape selected as it suited me. Sounds like that is similar to your mid-scoop arrangement. As far as the head goes I tried everything in the lightweight head ranges that were in stock at both PMT Southend and Bass Merchants in Colchester with no preconceptions other than I fancied the Orange Terror Bass. As has been said already you really need to try before you buy if at all possible - I had discounted Genz Benz, for example, as what I had read about them made me think the sound would be too 'brittle'. When I tried it I immediately knew I didn't want the OTB but I loved the Genz Benz. In the end it was a close thing between the Genz Benz and the TC Classic 450. I ended up with the Classic 450 which goes through a BF Compact. As has been mentioned - the onboard compressor and (especially) the tubetone are both handy and very useable. My fear was always that it would be a compromise, and that I wouldn't have the same sound as I got from the TE gear - wrong!! More clarity, just as much presence (more, in fact). And shifting around a 16kg rig compared to 60kg+ rig is a no-brainer.

Yup - top job. Quick question - anyone know where the Wiki is?

Well spotted that man!