EssentialTension

[quote name='Len_derby' timestamp='1389452358' post='2334312'] Eva Cassidy was a fantastic singer. Her version of 'Wayfaring stranger' always gives me the goose-bumps. [/quote] I'm a fan of that one too. [quote name='Len_derby' timestamp='1389452358' post='2334312'] But of course, [s]only a covers artist[/s] only ever recorded excellent songs. [/quote] I corrected it for you.

I wouldn't seek out a relicked bass but if i liked how it felt and played then fine, I wouldn't be put off by it.

[quote name='bassman7755' timestamp='1389213590' post='2331543'] Well the physics of it dictate that there is a strict linear relationship between length mass tension and pitch, so I think this idea of "better compliance" is more psychological than real (as it probably is for many things about instruments and gear). [/quote] [url="http://liutaiomottola.com/myth/perception.htm"]http://liutaiomottola.com/myth/perception.htm[/url] [url="http://liutaiomottola.com/formulae/tension.htm"]http://liutaiomottola.com/formulae/tension.htm[/url]

[quote name='Grassie' timestamp='1389005849' post='2328572'] ... but at the end of the year I'm off... [/quote] I'd give them notice now and tell them exactly why.

[quote name='peteb' timestamp='1389047172' post='2329396'] ... what are the pros and cons of stringing a bass in this way?? [/quote] I am unconvinced that there are any real advantages. Others will tell you different and say more sustain and lower compliance as the main advantages. You'll need to try it.

[quote name='chris_b' timestamp='1389106727' post='2330042'] I always thought Leo Fender had a solid reason for every design decision, especially when it came to the unit cost of each instrument. He went to the trouble of putting through body stringing on his Fenders, Musicman and G and L basses, so he must have thought there was a difference that was worth the additional cost. [/quote] ... So as not to pull the bridge screws out of the body?

[quote name='KevB' timestamp='1389106932' post='2330047'] It's sometimes nice when other musos see you putting your Fender back in the case and you flip it over and they see the ferruled holes in the back and give you that 'Ooh its a US model' look. Pure snobbery I know... [/quote] .. or 'Oh it's US model 62 reissue which has no through-body stringing.'

[quote name='hamfist' timestamp='1388768343' post='2325877'] ... [url="http://www.ephotobay.com/share/green-w-body.html"][/url] [/quote] I do like the colour.

[quote name='hamfist' timestamp='1389031204' post='2329066'] Now please don't get me wrong ... [/quote] I didn't mean to get you wrong but just to illustrate the Marlin Sidewinder which got a mention. Although I don't really believe in sweet spots and usually prefer one pickup.

[quote name='Roland Rock' timestamp='1389013803' post='2328721'] I'm sure my old Marlin Sidewinder had this configuration [/quote]

[quote name='Woodinblack' timestamp='1388968447' post='2328362'] Thanks very much - I think I will go for that then. Did you actually notice any advantage in doing it? [/quote] The only advantage, as I understand it, is the ability to lock the trem so that if and when a string breaks the tremolo spring does not put everything out of tune because of the loss of tension. Setting up the trem instructions are here: [url="http://www.webrocker.de/jaguar/cms/2007/05/12/setup-the-tremolo-system/"]http://www.webrocker.de/jaguar/cms/2007/05/12/setup-the-tremolo-system/[/url]

It's a straight swap with no problem. I have done it. [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/211505-2013-squier-vintage-modified-bass-vi/page__st__150"]http://basschat.co.u...i/page__st__150 [/url] .. see post 177

[quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1388691855' post='2324971'] TBH I can't really see the point of the majority of Fender signature basses, unless the originals have been heavily modified to suit their owners requirements in which case I would image the market would be fairly limited, especially in the current conservative climate regarding musical instruments. [/quote] I'd agree with this. The few exceptions will be at least slightly out of the ordinary like, maybe, the Tony Franklin fretless Precision with P/J set up and unlined ebony board. A Jamerson Sig, for example, would just be a 62 reissue.

[quote name='White Cloud' timestamp='1388691193' post='2324952'] Without wanting to be a party pooper I think that there are already far too many signature basses on the market...especially Fender models. [/quote] [quote name='SlapbassSteve' timestamp='1388691525' post='2324963'] Agreed that there are a heck of a lot of Fender sigs out there already though! [/quote] The reason for that will be related to the number of Fender users.

[quote name='Freddy Le Cragg' timestamp='1388690001' post='2324929'] Sorry if this has been done but what "famous" bass guitars would you dig if you could get a company to release a replica? I think mine would be this fella Leo Lyons 1962 Jazz Bass. Sublime [/quote] Do you just mean a 62 Jazz or do you mean relicked to look like that?

[quote name='TimR' timestamp='1388516425' post='2323013'] ... true musicians ... [/quote] That's me excluded then.

[quote name='Ziphoblat' timestamp='1388513066' post='2322941'] Right, but you're talking about one of the most talented guitarists of all time with a particular knack for tasteful rhythm parts in a studio context. He performed it live with one guitar and no issues. It's far easier to get more to work in a studio mix for several reasons - the guitarists aren't in control of their own volumes or frequency content, and stereo separation creates more sonic space for them to sit in, whereas live music is nearly always mono. Any more than one guitar in a live performance setting has the potential to get very ugly very quickly, [b]unless the musicians know exactly what they're doing.[/b] [/quote] So I stand by what I said.

[quote name='thebrig' timestamp='1377950482' post='2193973'] ... Most of the reasons given is, [b][i]"it muddys the sound"[/i][/b] ... [/quote] My reply to that would have been something like 'Oh so that's why Hendrix sounds so crap on Little Wing with its three guitars'. ... or some comment about the three guitars on many Motown recordings.

I don't know about the Variax but different strings definitely sound different with an underbridge piezo on both my Takamine B10 and my Michael Kelly Dragonfly.