Shaggy

Bought a bass case from Lee; an absolute top guy to deal with......as if any more proof were needed given all the posts on this thread!

Thanks fella! 👍

The absolute mutts nuts of a rig 😎.   I use the same head with Ashdown 4x8” and 1x15” mini-cabs (black tolex) but would so love those red ones.........

12 hours ago, Barking Spiders said:

Going against my own nature over the last few days I've listened to Led Zep, all their albums and all the way through. In conclusion, for me In Through The Out Door is by some margin their best album and I'm not trolling for the hell of it. The reasons?

1. it features lots of tasty keyboards which flesh out their sound by some margin

2. Plant actually mostly sings with his banshee yowling/screeching that marred their other albums out of sight...kinda.

3. The production is cleaner, tighter and lighter with the plodding  heavy sound of the early albums reined in

4. I dislike Blues heavily influenced rock intensely but there's little sign of that here

 

I understand that John Paul Jones -the best musician in the band - had more input here than on the other albums so that explains the heavier keys orientation

 

So, what allegedly weak albums by well-known bands would you say are among their better, if not the best albums

 

Good call, but for me, “Presence” is no question Led Zep’s finest - also generally overlooked.

A couple of others to add to the great examples above:

The Jam - “This is the Modern World”; usually totally slated as a poor second album rushed out too quickly to capitalise on the success of the debut album.  But I like it, not least as it includes one of my very favourite Jam songs on; Life through a window. 

Pink Floyd - “Atom Heart Mother”; overshadowed by the massively successful ‘70’s albums that came later, but for me PF at their most unique and creative.

and an obscure one:

Manfred Mann - “As Is”.   Songwriting as good as the Beatles were doing at the time, with better musicianship.   Remembered now only for far inferior ‘45’s.

Quite Status-esque; have to say I prefer the Alembic SC signature model.  But it’s pretty cool, and Bas Bros generally price quite keenly.

PM sent 🙂

5 hours ago, Hellzero said:

Here are good photos of this ufo : 

 

https://vintageguitars.fr/produit/burns-split-sound-bass/

 

https://www.guitare-village.com/occasion/pawnshop/pawnshop_105.php

 

https://www.guitarecollection.com/produit/basses-vintage/burns-split-sound-bass-sunburst-de-1962

 

https://www.vintageandrare.com/product/Burns-Split-Sound-6-String-Bass-1963-Sunburst-44691

 

Here with a video:

 

https://reverb.com/item/4936443-burns-london-split-sound-six-string-bass-1962-sunburst

 

 

And here some threads and infos about this not so rare bass :

 

https://www.talkbass.com/threads/burns-6-string-bass-split-sound.1503882/

 

https://www.offsetguitars.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=33604

 

https://blackguitars.com/burns-vista.html

 

Thanks Hellzero 👍 - obviously I was my usual lazy self and did no research!

Think I’ll stick with my old Vox Wyman.......

I’d initially assumed this was a guitar incorrectly described as a bass, but does indeed have “bass” on the headstock logo:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/155124714942?hash=item241e274dbe:g:AYgAAOSwwMdi~nJZ&amdata=enc%3AAQAHAAAAoE0wXRpaVNr%2FdcSLonp5t5rj9IcrQuduvhB9lUBMUGCQGkEvogWsTAsaz2FlUd%2BEzGlTNQ2dPHuAMQWY1ozv2RCtP4s0Z%2F3KtHhUqraAgKci%2F8dBUX16iKPpoxqhT28xjSiWmi%2FWuu95v3EZvNUQRg9K8djtgyVweDfDnAVuFU7XlVTbyLB5AdfX05Dsc3DuIkq74cWxf8X6BGjsfrbarDE%3D|tkp%3ABk9SR-TExJXaYA

Anyone know anything about these?

I've a couple of ‘60’s Fenton Weil pickups that would drop into this - I I had 3 I’d be quite tempted by it as a project......🤔

In 45 years of being in bands, every single one has had a really cr@p name.   I’m just resigned to it now.........☹️

On 15/08/2022 at 18:50, MacDaddy said:

Bauhaus

Passed me by at the time, even though they are my best buds fave band.

Saw them the first time they reformed and toured, one of the best gigs I've ever been to. Awesome band 😎

Saw them back first time around (accidentally - I was dragged to the gig) - fantastic live, never got the kudos they deserved.

Re the OP, for me - Darryl Hall & John Oates; back then IMO they were just another “meh” American band, but I’m playing some of their stuff now and it’s soooooooo classy..........😎

Some great suggestions.

A few years ago I was looking for a Stingray type bass for a funk project; wanted to find something with slightly better playing ergonomics having previously owned a 1980 MM Sabre (plus ‘Rays have gone darn expensive recently.......😕)

Settled on a 1998 Warwick FNA, bought on BC of course - does the midrange heavy growly/punchy Stingray tone spot on; hardly surprising given the circuit and pickup are Seymour Duncan replacements for MM Stingray, and the ash body.  With rather dead roundwounds on it absolutely nails the Bernard Edwards tone.

Later on bought a Jazzman Streamer LX for the added versatility of the neck pickup - a really lovely bass in its own right, but on bridge pickup solo much less like a ‘Ray than the FNA, that single pickup “sweet spot” seems crucial.

20 hours ago, Woodinblack said:

Not even slightly Ska'd enough for the version that we do!

The Reel Big Fish version?  We used to do that too - made me much more fond of a song that I’d come to detest over the years....🤔

Met up with Rich in sunny Lampeter today to buy a loaded bass body off him.   Smooth easy deal, great communications, top guy to do business with 👍

7 hours ago, NancyJohnson said:

 

Pretty much all this.

 

Bear in mind the original Thunderbirds had lap-steel pickups in them; Gibson had a surplus, the lap-steel market dissolved and in the spirit of not throwing stuff out, they stuck them in Thunderbirds, so they're not specifically designed for bass.  I think this extended to the '70s bicentennial models too.

 

Perhaps your post should just have read; "I'm looking to build a P-bass with a single <insert desired pickup manufacturer here> Thunderbird-style pickup in the sweet spot.  Any advice?"

 

I've chased tone since most people here were in short-pants, so I know what it's like to be driven by a desire to do this sort of thing, but honestly, what are you expecting of this pickup? 

 

If you're just looking for something that just looks the part then go for it, but if you're of the belief that installing a vintage part or throwing £££ at something that purports to be a Thunderbird replacement will somehow transport you to 60s Gibson tone heaven, then forget it.  You'd be better off buying a Sansamp BDDI to control how you sound.

 

Lest we forget, about 30 bassists here couldn't tell a Precision bass from a Thunderbird from a Rickenbacker in a blind shootout. 

Have to say I never knew that about the lap- steel pickups, but it’s what manufacturers did at the time, using up surplus parts in other instruments.   Gibson had huge amounts of tonewoods for mandolins stockpiled during the mandolin craze of the 1920’s (which faded out during the depression years), which they then had to use for guitars,

I’m lucky enough to own a 1965 Thunderbird IV (twin pickup), but have always thought that the single pickup T’bird II is probably the coolest looking bass ever made.    

There is a recent signature Thunderbird model (non Gibson) with the bridge pickup moved up to the P bass “sweet spot” and the neck pickup moved right up against the end of fingerboard.   I can’t for the life of me remember the name or find any images, but TBH that twin pickup arrangement would be my preference.

In the antiques / secondhand world; generally something has to be at least 50 years old to be called vintage, and at least 100 years to be antique

Edit: beaten to it.........😕

Mojo is an overused word, but wow that bass has it in spades 😎 - definitely in a Jim Lea style

I was often tempted to do something similar when old EB-0’s were cheap as chips - sadly no longer..,..🙁

See also: https://www.basschat.co.uk/topic/248557-show-us-yer-headstocks/#comment-2595574

My personal favourites - 

Around November I climb inside my nice cosy bass cab and hibernate until March........😔

I think the only difference is having to brush up on the poxy jolly Christmas songs for the set in winter. ☃️   In Wales of course it just means the rain is a tad colder.

On 07/06/2022 at 14:23, Daz39 said:

That's an awful sunburst, plus I hate that shape.

But yay for a Baritone!

Eye of the beholder - I love that sunburst and shape!  (but owning ‘58 sunburst and ‘69 cherry EB-2’s I would.......😉)

Don't remember Tom Peterson ever playing that......  

Those would look so good with my Ashdown MK 500 head - wish you were closer......☹️

Are these UK made?

11 hours ago, Doctor J said:

I wish they'd sell the pickups and electronics separately but I imagine that wouldn't be quite so profitable.

Thats something Wal will never, ever do.  Every part on a Wal bass is bespoke apart from the tuners, and they know that’s a big part of what makes their bases unique and effectively uncopyable (there are close custom build copies of course - IMO the Enfield Cannon is pretty much a copy of a mk2 - but never exact).

I acquired the ‘83 Wal Mk 1 Custom that Beedster sold on here a good few years ago, that had been previously modded with the pickups being swapped for Seymour Duncan Jazz bass pickups, and the preamp circuit for a generic 2-band one; probably in the late ‘80’s judging by the parts.  Why?   Some things will forever remain a mystery.....🤔.    

I approached Wal asking if they could supply pickups and a circuit so that I could restore it to original spec;  they were incredibly suspicious at first, but once I brought the bass in they were happy to fit the replacement parts and do the necessary bit of remedial woodworking, as long as they did it themselves.   Which of course they did a fantastic job of doing. 👍

Moved that one on, but I’m lucky enough to still own an ‘85 Mk 1 fretless and ‘83 Mk 1 fretted.  Bassfinger’s analogy with Morgan cars as a business model similar to Wal’s is an apt one.  Any modern sports car will blow a Morgan off the road, are more technologically advanced, are produced more efficiently and economically, and may even be considered better looking.   But to drive a Morgan (as I have) is a unique and special experience, and it’s the perfect original design and hand-build care on a small scale that keeps them special.

1 hour ago, Mykesbass said:

Much as I love a great groove, and appreciate anything that is performed with real passion, my ultimate weakness is a lovely arrangement. Anything from Mozart's Grand Mass in Cm, to Elvis Costello or Robert Wyatt's Shipbuilding, via 1970s disco and Bacharach and David. A beautifully crafted arrangement gets me every time.

 

What does it for you?

Thought hard about this, as I love stuff ranging from flamenco to punk to Bluegrass to bagpipes to Bulgarian folk songs, but I guess if there is a single theme in music that moves me utterly, it’s to hear a perfect example of Northern Melancholia.  So music from Thomas Tallis and John Dowland, through to Jean Sibelius and Vaughan Williams, through to Joy Division, Siouxsie and the Banshees, the Smiths, and Magazine.  Seems to be an entirely British / Scandinavian thing.

Very nice indeed; lovely palette of tones there.   A Wal-alike, but not a Wal clone - a very attractive bass in its own right.   Enjoy! 👍

Had a FREE bottle crown capper off Dave, so that I can re-live my misspent homebrew-loving youth 🥃

Great communications, package sent off straight away.

Definitely one of BC’s good guys  - cheers Dave! 👍

1 hour ago, daveybass said:

Now I'm curious.....do tell

Only what I’d said in an earlier post above, in it looking like a bass FS here ages ago, which had facings made from an antique piece of mahogany furniture (or could even have been part of an old stately home?) - which I guess would make it the original “coffee table” bass! 😉

I could of course be wrong, but fairly rare to see basses with fancy grain mahogany facings, as the big old proper mahogany trees with lovely figured grain were cut down and used for furniture many years ago - any remaining probably now protected, like Brazilian rosewood.

25 minutes ago, BigRedX said:

 

Mick Karn? (although the vast majority of his best known work with Japan was recorded with him playing a Travis Bean bass).

 

The thing with Wal basses is that although they are still being made, the current build times are being measured in years rather than months, and if you want the "Wal Sound" there really is no alternative (some ACG basses will get you close though). The price reflects the fact that you will be able to take this bass home right now rather than wait for Paul Herman to build you one (that's if Wal are actually taking new orders at the moment).

I’d agree with that. Added to which is the near certainty that however much you spend on a Wal, you’ll make money when re-selling it (much less likely with an ACG/ Fodera/ Alembic), it’s an ‘80’s era Wal - which does add kudos, and if it’s the one I’m thinking of then with those facings it’s unique.   Probably a realistic price, currently.