GreeneKing

[quote]but that sort of playing is just drivel and it doesn't have any place in a musical sense.[/quote] Statement of fact? Or your opinion?

I've got a pair of Japanese Yamaha's (BB5000 and TRB5P) that have some 'mojo' and when they are made as well as that it does lend character imho

Hiya all. I've been around Basschat and it's precursors for quite a while, more recently as Greeneking and before that as Wraithwrider (yes there's a reason for the name change and it's nothing sinister) and although I've never seen the need for feedback before now I do appreciate that it has a place in offering some reassurance to others who may be fuelling or being fuelled by GAS. So if you have any feedback (bass dealing related only please ) I'd ask that you plonk it down here. Cheers Peter

I was chatting to a really nice guy yesterday who is a registered Fender dealer and who has amongst other things a 73 Jazz he loves dearly. He's also been around for a while i.e. even longer than moi. He was relating tales of how he and his band mates sold Jazz's, P's, Strats and Tele's for little money not that long ago. He deals mainly in Japanese instruments nowadays and can't speak too highly of them in comparison to the US counterparts both new and old. We were talking about the huge prices these older instruments fetch and about how that in the later 70's before retooling the worn out routers were producing neck pockets that you could nearly fit two necks into. Then we have the defective poorly machined body that because of Leo Fender's penny scrimping business acumen becomes a 'desireable feature'. Well everyone to their own, and I do find a nicely finished 'burst' Jazz or P with a tort plate as sexy as anyone but when some tired old relic appears and we get the 'omg' comments and the prices to go with it I too think 'omg' but for an entirely different reason. I'm not saying there's owt wrong with this fascination with all things Vintage Fender but is it only me that thinks 'Fenderphiles' are victims of clever marketing?(2nd hand market). Is it just me thinking along these lines or am I an isolated 'heathen' with no taste or appreciation? It should go without saying but I'd add this is my opinion I'm not stating fact or slagging anyone off etc, etc. I actually did buy a Fender , a new Japanese P/J Aerodyne in white and it's just superb btw and I'd only swap it for a 'knackered' 1970's Jazz to sell the Jazz on and buy a (several) 'better' bass(es). Peter

Is it the Bongo by any chance Alan? I do occasionally have occasion to do the matchstick and pva thing, can't remember if the Bongo was a 'victim'. Polyeurothane is ace stuff though. Peter

Thay's very nice (now). I hope you got it for a good price.

Ah but was that a price rise driven by Ric or their importer adjusting their prices inline with UK inflation?

Where r u? Someone just may live around the corner

With respect, if there's no fret buzz I wouldn't recommend leaping straight into trussrod adjustment but try the aforementioned 1st. I can get loadsa clank and all my trussrod adjustments are fine. Check your relief as per the site 1st. Good site if it does need doing though. To tighten the trussrod/reduce the relief turn clockwise towards the neck/rod whichever end the adjuster is (sometimes both). Peter

EQ settings make a big difference to the amount of 'clank' that comes through and it's worth experimenting with maybe less treble. As you strike the strings are you giving them a lot of 'up and down' as well as 'side to side' movement? Maybe changing how you 'pluck' (!) will make a difference.? Try playing closer to the bridge too that helps restrict string movement. Finall you could raise string height. I like clank btw, when it fits.

Welcome to BC from someone who lived and worked in Fife for a while. I actually have an Iceni Zoot Custom Chaser fretless 5 that I'd consider parting with if you were interested. It'd be the top of your price range tho and a bargain at that Peter

He's got one back again at the mo

I had a good night out on Saturday thanks to Homer and the band: That DJ is one sweet sounding bass. Cheers Alan

I've always gone for the front neck position and tend to stay there most of the time. I'm learning and experimenting more with moving towards the bridge pickup not just for the tonal difference but also because there less string 'clatter' going on. I have the pickup covers on my Rics and that suits my mono position playing

Rickenbacker shouldn't 'have to' outsource or get bigger in order to remove their waiting list if they choose not to. The company apparently functions well at it's present size and format and it can be folly to change what works, especially if growth makes a company vulnerable. They have streamlined their range in order to get on top of their order book. I suspect that there are negatives too with forever making instruments that have been ordered for over a year. Having time and manpower to spend on development being one of them. I suspect that the price hike is mainly in place to cover the increasing cost of raw materials. As developing countries are consuming ever more sometimes dwindling resources prices have shot up. According to Ric, the last price rise was in 2001 and because of the backlog this price rise won't take effect until 2008/9. Maybe the biggest mistake that Ric have made is in the way they have done this from a marketing point of view rather more than what they have actually done?

Jammie This is not meant to be personal but it must be more than just a coincidence that your views, in different forums over the years, cause such controversy? I actually go with your views pretty much on Ric's, against the general run of opinion here. But as they say in NLP 'The map is not the territory' and trying to be the one who proves his opinion is the right one just isn't going to work and can cause much angst. Peter