Shaggy

Stunning, though I'd have stopped after the first two. And maybe the Alembic. And.......
You're bass to the bone, alanbass!

Just scored another pack of 3 Hartke “transient attack” nickel round/w bass strings on t’bay, I usually get the 4-string packs (quite reasonably, as all my basses are 4-string), but it worked out a quid cheaper getting the 5-string packs.
So 3 brand new shiny low B-strings if anyone wants for the price of postage. They’re “medium” gauge, long scale, but I’ll check the quoted diameter if anyone wants. Decent strings too – good as any nickels I’ve used, for a stupidly low price.

Never had an HH amp, although the guitarist in my first "school" band had a shiny new Valve-Sound combo - we were all dead impressed, especially as had back-lighting.
For about a decade though I ran my old Fender Bassman 135 through a big old HH 2x15 - monster cab, monster weight.
Never sure why they went under, as I always reckoned they were technologically ahead of Carlsbro, Laney etc, and way cooler design styling too.

There was a time when if you watched TOPTP almost every bassist had one of these......
Love that double-neck!

[quote name='Bassmingo' post='650616' date='Nov 10 2009, 01:39 PM']Interesting, that song has quite the unusual tone, but never figured if it was the bass itself or all that processing. hows it done?[/quote]

Alot of compression and a touch of flange/chorus and overdrive I'd say - typical '80's power ballad production! They're naturally growly basses though, with a natural acoustic-like resonance (the mahogany I guess) and massive low end on the neck p/u

That Overwater is [b]fab[/b] - the only one I've seen I've really liked

It's horses for courses like so many bass-related matters - personal preference. I prefer passive, two pick-ups is a must, and I like the clear, glassy response of a single coil. But then probably the "holy grail" fretless tone is a Wal custom, and those are active humbuckers........and then strings are an even bigger factor than for fretted.......
You've just got to try as many as you can really, see what the common "wow" factor is!

[quote name='Bassmingo' post='650191' date='Nov 9 2009, 10:31 PM']thats a magnum??[/quote]

Yup. Not sure what Ross Vallory is playing now, but then it was a Magnum 1, live & studio.

[quote name='solo4652' post='649922' date='Nov 9 2009, 06:21 PM']Aha! That's what I'm looking for - only cheaper. My unlined fretless 'Ray has side dots where the 3/5/7/9/12 "frets" would be - i.e. where the notes are, unlike where they are on a normal fretted fingerboard. This means I struggle to switch between fretted and fretless boards, so I'm looking for a back-up for the 'Ray that ticks all these boxes - fretless, unlined, side dots where the "frets" would be (unlike many unlined fingerboards that have position dots in the same places as fretted boards), wide P-style neck, costs no more than £350. All suggestions gratefully received.

Steve[/quote]
Buy this: [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Fender-style-carbon-graphite-fretless-bass-neck_W0QQitemZ280417758642QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV?hash=item414a336db2"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Fender-style-carbon-...=item414a336db2[/url] - put your own dots on, fit it on a donor Squier (have to be black), and you've got the coolest fretless around for norra lorra cash!

[quote name='Happy Jack' post='648454' date='Nov 7 2009, 11:59 PM']I'll never be a fretless-only player, so I need to be able to switch between fretted and fretless really easily.

My Ibanez fretless (a 2366 P-bass from 1972) has "fret-edges", i.e. partial frets about a millimetre long set into the side of the fretboard, exactly where the frets would end on a fretted bass, plus the usual side dots you'd expect.

When I'm playing, and glance down at the (side of the) neck, it looks like a fretted bass. To the audience, it's an uninterrupted expanse of (stained) rosewood.

[url="http://tinypic.com/a/z8zs/3"]http://tinypic.com/a/z8zs/3[/url]

Brilliantly simply, and simply brilliant. I'd recommend that to any fretted player looking to start playing fretless.

The only thing I'd change (magic wand at the ready) is that I'd prefer a maple board. Rosewood doesn't have quite the sound I'm after.[/quote]

Got exactly the same on my Ovation Magnum 1. TBH it throws me a bit, as my preference is for 1/3/5/7/9/12 dot markers [b]on[/b] the "virtual" fret-lines, whereas with this system they're of course in the usual "between the fret" positions, but after a couple of minutes I'm fine.

Damn, you come up with some sweet basses!

[quote name='richrips' post='645404' date='Nov 4 2009, 04:15 PM']and i'm checking out barry adamson as soon as i get home!

Thanks,
Rich[/quote]

Magazine ('78 - '81-ish) Listen to "Permafrost", "Back to Nature" and "The light pours out of me" - any track's a goodie though, superb band.

Gotta hear "don't stop beleiving" (Journey) too of course!

[quote name='richrips' post='645811' date='Nov 4 2009, 10:47 PM']NO WAY!!!
that blue (white?) magnum with the metal scratchplate is pretty much the sweetest looking bass i have seen in ages! it's like a prop out of some 70's sci-fi! i saw it archived on some website and thought damn thats tasty.....[/quote]

That was on ebay a couple of years back - definitely a refin, but a tasty one. Original finishes were only natural mahogany, a "sunburst" mahogany (like a T-bird), and possibly translucent cherry, with black pickguard. The first production bass to use graphite in the neck I think , along with Alembic.


[quote name='Mr. Foxen' post='645858' date='Nov 4 2009, 11:45 PM'][/quote]

Damn, where did you dig that old pic of me from! I'm sure I've still got those strides somewhere.........

I've got a Magnum 1 (fretless), and it's a keeper. I'd say £500 for this is a good buy, especially with the case (made by Samsonite I think) - these used to be very unloved and cheap as chips, but recently seem to have acquired the classic status they deserve - V&R have one for around the £950 mark. Pickguard definitely a replacement (mines got a crack running from one of the jack sockets), but you can get replacement identuical to the originals on US ebay for £40. The aluminium bridge / pickup frame was painted black and most (as here) are stripped and polished.
Barry Adamson, Jah Wobble, Kim Gordon (Sonic Youth) and Ross Vallory (???spelling -Journey) all used these - Barry Adamsons sound with it is one of the all time greatest bass tones IMO. Go for it!

Edit 2 posts got in while I was typing that!

[quote name='jonthebass' post='642404' date='Nov 1 2009, 11:12 AM']Now there's an offer and a cab!
I had the Mesa Boogie Diesel 800W 2x15" once upon a time and it is an awesome bit of kit.

The only down side is that it's a 2 person lift so beware of that.

Regards,
Jon[/quote]
Nah......only if there's stairs! On castors too

I had one of the active models new - absolute peach of a bass!

Mesa Boogie Diesel 2x15: Road-ready (flightcased) model, EV loaded, 800W, 4ohm mono or 2x8ohm stereo. Tightest sounding 2x15 I've tried, but rather surplus now I'm DI-ing. £300 if you're interested.

I always thought string-thru improved sustain - my RD Artist can be strung either through or top, and my impression is it definitely sustains better when strung thru (but needs extra-long strings!)
Compliance? Sounds like the bass version of cellulite.........

Stunning bass - that finish looks superb with the maple board. I've always modded old basses, in fact it's half the fun of playing bass, but with the vintage market being driven by collectors it's a criminal offence these days. This bass has history, character, the personality of its owner, and is far sweeter than when it left Kalamazoo. Respect!

Good thread!
Must admit I tend to stick to the John Entwhistle / Wilko Johnson school of showmanship as there’s sufficient on-stage mayhem with the other guys. Generally focus on something towards the back of the venue just over the audience, and try to avoid slipping into doing the “chicken-neck” during the funkier numbers.
Until a couple of years back we always had female lead vocals , and sad though is I definitely I miss the rear view……….

[quote name='evilLordJuju' post='637119' date='Oct 26 2009, 05:56 PM']You'd think so Greg, but no.... The thing I want is way cooler than that. If I win, i'll post pics here. And you know more than most which 'other' brand drives me[/quote]

.......got me interested now..... :ph34r:

[quote name='evilLordJuju' post='636459' date='Oct 25 2009, 08:39 PM']i've fallen for something else on ebay... and I REALLY want it.[/quote]

Something with more than one neck?

Last couple of shipped sales I've used www.Interparcel.com, click on "Titan" option, selectable insurance level (up to a grand I think), fine about shipping musical instruments so long as it's in a box, cheap, reliable. I'm sure there's been a couple of threads about recommended couriers.

[quote name='stunbass' post='633250' date='Oct 22 2009, 10:45 AM'][ overwater.... Sean Connery

Fender.... Roger Moore

Gibson... George Lazenby[/quote]

Shurely not, Miss Moneypenny……….

Fender……Sean Connery
Wal………..Roger Moore
Alembic….Pierce Brosnan
Warwick…Daniel Craig
Gibson……Pussy Galore
Ibanez……Austin Powers

I still want the EB-2 on the wall, but bump for a classy, hand-built gee-tar

Lorne's the man for this.........

That was the tour ("Black and White") that I saw them on as my very first gig - Cambridge Corn Exchange. Gobbed on, gob-smacked - awesome

Edit: "Hanging around" my fave!