GreeneKing

I agree it won't help. It might be that you are applying unnecessary pressure with your fretting fingers? It's amazing how little force is actually needed. I find that the more I dig in with my plucking hand the greater the force I apply with the fretting hand. I've solved my own fretting discomfort issues by increasing my volume. I have to be more gentle with plucking and that transfers to my fretting hand. Of course this may not be the case with yourself

It is indeed an older GMR. I acquired it recently in a trade deal with my 91 NT Thumb 4, having finally left 4 strings behind, although I still own 2. The GMR has been a delightful surprise. I'm a great fan of older Warwicks so the use of Warwick hardware and the waxed bubinga are all pushing the right buttons. The body carving is absolutely lovely and it both balances well and sits on the knee perfectly. The neck and fretwork are top quality and make the bass very easy to play. The passive MECs can get some stick but these are like the active ones on my Thumb, growly and full of presence. It came with a passive VVT set up and seeing the potential for a keeper I fitted one of the new modular 4 knob John East Uni-pre modular pre-amps (I had to drill a hole in the bass ). This way I get full passive capability along with 3 EQ, sweepable mids, a passive tone that works in both active and passive AND a HP filter to get rid of those sub 40Hz driver threatening rumbles. The 40-118 Vapour Shield LaBellas also contribute to what is fast becoming a bass of legendary status for me anyway. I fitted a trussrod cover to the headstock as the open wound looked a bit odd to me. It's about a mm or 2 offset so that remains to annoy The MM5 is a 20th anniversary with the added tone block and the modified 3EQ. It's also a MM5 without the asymmetric scratch plate that is a bit of a love/hate thing. It's absolutely mint and plays/sounds lovely but its a very heavy and stunning beast. The custom ACG Finn is full Uber spec with multi coil pickups and the latest spec filter pre-amp. It's modelled on my love of things Warwick and is a bubinga wenge sandwich with a 7 piece wenge and bubinga neck. Words alone can't describe how articulate the bass sounds or the versatility of the pre-amp. It also has THE perfect neck and fretboard. Every time I play it I just think 'wow'. I think the 7 piece neck contributes greatly to a B string that feels just like an E string. I've worked with Alan on speccing a few basses and I was made well aware of how heavy this bass would be. I'm no a 'tone woods' man but I do think this bass has a real Warwick growl. Not a bass for a 3 hour gig stood up though The ACG J5 is simply a great J5. Light, playable and it looks good with a lovely birdseye maple fretboard. I know a few folk who covet this bass. I've recently fitted single coil Aaron Armstrong pups to replace the humbuckers and its got a more open tone that I was looking for. It has a John East U-Retro onboard. It's also fitted with a Roland V-Bass rig. I still have Rita my Sterling. She's a keeper now As well as my Gibson LP double cut. This has a visible neck repair where the fretboard was starting to separate at the far end so it's not a viable sale. It's also pretty immense sounding with the T'bird pups. My final two are a test bed ACG fretless 4 that's a prototype that Alan used to work on fretless setup and my special blonde headless; That's me Peter

[quote name='Kev' timestamp='1485019333' post='3220487'] Oof. [media]http://youtu.be/-EnrHGdw9kw[/media] [/quote] Very nice

My thumb rests on the string above the one I'm playing unless it's the B and then it rests on the bass/pickups. I mute with my thump and left hand.

The sheds in my garage which is a part of the house thankfully ) I used big FU screws and rawplugs. I'll keep an eye on them, any sign of movement and I'll think again.

[quote name='bassix' timestamp='1484996640' post='3220229'] Mike Watt comes across as totally mad but in the best possible way! [/quote] I didn't get the mad thing. Passion yes. He seems absolutely lovely.

Eric Clapton - Rarities Edition

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1484929935' post='3219833'] Nice. It's important for a man to have his own space... [/quote] Your post was fine as it was, no need to edit it It's all online nowadays I believe......

[quote name='TheGreek' timestamp='1484931350' post='3219844'] Nice ACG - how does it compare to the SC Harlot? [/quote] It's quite different Mick. The multi coil pickups are very articulate indeed as perhaps you would expect and the bass seems quite 'growly' perhaps due to the wenge and buginga. It's very weighty and the neck is very rigid meaning the B string is very good. It has the full and latest spec filter pre and it's a tone monster. Mind it's a long time since I've played my lovely Harlot SC. Good to see its in safe hands. Peter

I bought my house off a drummer. Due to complaints from the neighbours he knocked up a sort of an insulated shed at the back of the garage. Perfect for bass practice if a bit small. Today courtesy of man flu I put up 4 cheap guitar hangers and now I have plenty of room. Here's most of my 5 string collection together with my Bongo that usually lives elsewhere in the house.

[quote name='Jazzjames' timestamp='1484839825' post='3218987'] 4-6 hours' practice 6 days a week plus classes 3 times a week (playing there too), plus rehearsals, plus gigs every week. It all adds up I guess. I still loved that bass. A first generation Sandberg California 5 string Jazz. i don't think anything was wrong with it, it was just being played very often. When you have a bass that responds how you like and sounds great on every song without fiddling with the amp etc., it's a keeper. [/quote] If you spend that much time with the bass then another 2 minutes per month changing the battery wouldn't be a problem imo.

Tim bought a chorus pedal. Dealing with him was a pleasure as always. A credit to BC. Peter

[quote name='Burrito' timestamp='1484764043' post='3218265'] Having bought from Peter last month, I'm back again for a chorus pedal this time. Same story, effortless transaction etc etc. [/quote] Many thanks Tim. I couldn't find a feedback thread for yourself. Peter

Nice looking chorus I have my chorus after my drive and it works well. The drive (COG 66) is on all the time. Polytune 1st too.

Paul bought a chorus pedal from me. He was just ace to deal with all round Peter

I seem to remember this coming up before Factually, the only passive bass is an acoustic bass. All basses that generate a voltage are amplified, some at the amp, some at the instrument as well (and some at the instrument, pedal board x X, and the amp etc....). So that lovely passive signal that some folk rave about gets amplified just the same. I don't think anyone has mentioned this but the main reason that basses themselves had a pre amp fitted was to boost the signal because of degradation through the cable. EQ came along a little bit later because it was an obvious development. The other big difference is that active EQ allows you to add as well as take away. I've got one passive bass in my herd of 9 and as it's a 4 it doesn't get used anyway (which is a bit sad as it's a lovely double cut LP with T'bird pups). I know what the EQ does on all my basses including full fat ACG filter equipped so I don't fiddle with it, I use it. In the range of onboard pre-amplification there is a vast choice of options, settings and prices. Things like sweepable mid control and a high pass filter to remove the cab threatening lower rumbling are invaluable to me. The John East pre-amps in passive mode retain proper passive blend and tone control btw. Those that struggle with any more than a single tone control had better keep away from my full spec Uber ACG Finn 10 coils per pickup, 2 Low Pass filters each with a resonant peak control and a mid boost pull switch, a sweepable mid control and a passive knob too (hooray) that is actually very useful as it works in active as well as passive and is great for rolling off some tone easily. So the best of both worlds. I'll happily go through it with anyone and once set I use blend and passive tone to change my sound - just like a passive 2 pickup bass. Each to their own, I'm a very average ability player and there's a lot of you guys that have a passive Fender P bass and would knock me into a cocked hat Peter

[quote name='Grangur' timestamp='1484585769' post='3216533'] Me too. He recons £400 to strip it and refinish it? I'd be happy to do it for half of that. But his price is a bit optimistic I would have said. [/quote] I agree. If it had been nice condition okay but who knows what horrors might lie beneath that finish. A project bass and should be cheaper.

That's what happens when you try to lacquer over an oiled finish Taking it back to original would be the only way methinks.

I suspect that some posters aren't reading the entire thread. It's interesting when you see both sides of the story. Initially I'd have said that the buyer was a chancer but on actually seeing the strings with much corrosion and apparently no life I've changed my opinion. I usually fit new strings to an 'incoming' after cleaning and lemon oiling the fretboard. I then check the action and intonation. I wouldn't have asked for a refund but I would have been less than chuffed with those strings as it is an indicator of a lack of care towards the instrument imo. Peter