EssentialTension

[quote name='Linus27' post='899605' date='Jul 19 2010, 11:50 PM']Thats interesting, I have a Squire Vintage Modified Fretless Jazz which I believe came out before the Squire CV range but says Made in Indonesia. Are we saying that they were made in Indonesia, then shifted production to China for the CV range and then back to Indonesia?[/quote] The CVs have China and a Chinese serial number (unless some of the newest ones don't), but that CV production has moved to Indonesia doesn't seem to have benn established, as far as I can see.

[quote name='stingrayPete1977' post='899150' date='Jul 19 2010, 05:20 PM']1 in 34 posts in favour of the Rotosounds then![/quote] 1 in [s]35[/s] 36 now.

[quote name='Doddy' post='899114' date='Jul 19 2010, 04:34 PM']Right,moving away from what seems to be the weekly Marcus Miller argument,and back on topic slightly........ It's been mentioned by a couple of people that when they play,they always sound like themselves. Now,obviously everyone has their own way of playing and sounding,but would you rather be in a situation where you can do your 'thing' with your own sound and let your voice be heard,or are you happy to adapt what you do into other situations?[/quote] Not only happy to adapt, but also keen to have a go at new things.

[quote name='BigRedX' post='899003' date='Jul 19 2010, 02:45 PM']Prices start at £4500...[/quote] I've got a fretted Fender P, a fretless Fender P, a Squier J, a Lakland, a Michael Kelly acoustic, and a NS EUB. The lot cost substantially less than £4500.

[quote name='bubinga5' post='898895' date='Jul 19 2010, 01:20 PM']the only things ive ever needed to set up a bass are a pozi, and allen keys and a metal engineers ruler... the rest of my kit contains side cutters, a tuner, polish, fret board cleaner, a vernier, and a cloth...oh also a head torch and a draw full of snap on tools, oh plus a multi meter and some glue..did i mention my tool belt with router and a lathe?? and a pencil behind my ear[/quote] Surely you'll need a white coat as well?

[quote name='TKenrick' post='898859' date='Jul 19 2010, 12:57 PM']I wish someone had told me about this [i]before[/i] I'd invested considerable time and effort studying music[/quote] Don't worry, you can make money by teaching other unsuspecting and aspiring musicians what they don't need to know.

I know pretty much nothing about Gus basses - I didn't even know that's what it was. Having been to the Gus website I'd say design-wise it looks to me like something from the mid-1970s - probably a kitchen stool. Ugly as ... you fill in the gap. However, I also listened to the sound files and that's why I'm out. But who cares anyway. I'll still be playing a Fender when Gus basses are no longer looked at with rose-tinted glasses.

[quote name='BigRedX' post='898617' date='Jul 19 2010, 08:50 AM']Really? Just goes to show how tastes differ. To me the two main Fender Basses just look like over-sized Strats and I don't think it's a very good look. Plus there's so many things wrong with them from a design PoV that probably made sense when you're looking at 50's construction techniques and trying to keep costs down, but in this day and age have no place on a serious musical instrument.[/quote] I won't respond here, I'll wait for your forthcoming 'Fenders are rubbish' megathread.

[quote name='Musicman20' post='898529' date='Jul 19 2010, 12:27 AM']Some of the YouTube vids are very poor and imprecise. The Lakland ones are fantastic![/quote] Agreed, and Carl Pedigo makes it look so simple. [quote name='Musicman20' post='898529' date='Jul 19 2010, 12:27 AM']Speaking of tools, will this kit basically do everything? [url="http://www.thomann.de/gb/cruztools_bas_1_bass_player_tech_kit.htm"]http://www.thomann.de/gb/cruztools_bas_1_b...er_tech_kit.htm[/url][/quote] The thing missing there is the longer 18"/45cm straight edge/ruler to check the neck relief. However, I think it all looks quite expensive, I think you could pick up those things cheaper although I'm not completely sure. [quote name='Musicman20' post='898529' date='Jul 19 2010, 12:27 AM']Are the feeler gauges essentially the same as the thickness gauge in this kit?[/quote] The feeler gauge set looks correct and presumably they'll include a gauge roughly the correct size - which I don't recall just now.

[quote name='Musicman20' post='898480' date='Jul 18 2010, 11:11 PM']In addition, do I need any more specific tools other than a tape measure, screwdrivers, and the tools that came with the Fenders? Thanks![/quote] Ideally, you also want: - an 18" straight edge ([url="http://www.staples.co.uk/desk-accessories/drawing-and-graphic-equipment/45cm-metal-ruler"]I got mine from Staples[/url]) - a 6" ruler with 64ths of an inch at the end (not in the middle, I got mine from B&Q) - a set of feeler gauges (available from any reputable tools or automotive supplier) The [url="http://www.youtube.com/user/LaklandOwners#p/u/9/cIzV9462xeE"]Lakland set up guide[/url] shows how to use them.

[quote name='BigRedX' post='897896' date='Jul 18 2010, 11:31 AM']Fender basses are full of design compromises that stem from the limits of what Fender considered to be cost-effective back in the 1950s.[/quote] *bolt on neck - excellent, and easy to replace *string tree to ensure downward pressure of strings on nut - excellent, works every time and better than an angled headstock that breaks easily *bent bit of metal bridge - excellent, and doesn't need to be replaced *single pickup - excellent and, well, just excellent *single volume/tone contols - excellent, even that is two more than strictly necessary *colourful pickguard to cover ugly routing - excellent, easy to change for aesthetic reasons if you must I could go on but, hey, why bother, Fender Precision bass - excellent.

[quote name='The Bass Doc' post='898232' date='Jul 18 2010, 05:52 PM']The guy seems quite relaxed about selling it - he's already 'reclined' a few offers.[/quote] Laugh out loud here.

[quote name='Marvin' post='898346' date='Jul 18 2010, 08:16 PM']Is that when you start calling them those funny other names, when you start knoblin' about with minor 2nds and augmented 5ths? All though I think I might be wrong.[/quote] Yes, I believe, as a rule, in C, the augmented 5th would be G# and, as my son said to me only the other day, 'augmented 5ths are awesome'.

[quote name='Mog' post='898330' date='Jul 18 2010, 07:49 PM']I could read back through the thread but I couldn't be arsed [/quote] Fair comment.

[quote name='MacDaddy' post='898306' date='Jul 18 2010, 07:21 PM']Certain keys have certain notes[/quote] Wouldn't it be better to say that certain scales in certain keys have certain notes? Not certain notes but [i]any[/i] of the twelve notes occurs in any and every key and the note would then be named as an interval in relation to the key note e.g. in the key of C, Db would be a minor second, D would be major second, Eb would minor third, etc., up to B would be major seventh. So certain keys don't have certain notes, all keys have all the notes. Or am I getting it wrong and I need to learn more theory? Edited for inability to follow rules of spelling.

[quote name='MacDaddy' post='898306' date='Jul 18 2010, 07:21 PM']Quite simply there aren't any.[/quote] So your rule is 'no rules'? ... and +1 on what Doddy said.

The way I took Doddy's original question was whether we would prefer to be 'stylistic' or versatile'. I'm no session player nor even a very good bassist but I like playing lots of different styles of music. I'd be bored always playing one style. This isn't to say that there are no styles or genres I don't like - I can't abide metal, for example - but if someone says to me 'Hey, do you want to try playing some country?' then I'm up for it and I'll be looking into what it takes to play country bass. That's why I prefer versatility. Your experience may vary. The twist to this is that, whatever style I play, I still have a tendency to sound like me.

[quote name='Grand Wazoo' post='898091' date='Jul 18 2010, 02:54 PM']I am a happy bunny! This bass might look odd to most of us (yeah, I also find it a bit funny looking)[/quote] Pretty good looking I'd say (although it seems to have an extra string). It kind of looks like a surfer's bass to me.

[quote name='KiOgon' post='898187' date='Jul 18 2010, 05:05 PM']I forgot to mention - my current gas/lust is a '57 Vintage White/Blonde - just how I like my woman too [/quote] You like vintage women? I agree there's something to be said for it.

[quote name='essexbasscat' post='897919' date='Jul 18 2010, 11:44 AM']Good news I hope T[/quote] It usually takes a few days to get the result from these exams but 'Come on Sarah, how'd you do?'.

[quote name='joegarcia' post='895242' date='Jul 15 2010, 12:00 AM']1977 Guild B-301. My current go to bass for my band. Beautiful to play and sounds really amazingly versatile and edgy. Tuned down to A too so gets really deep but still has loads of bite if you play at the bridge.[/quote] Nice collection. I saw someone playing a Guild B301 at the Hop Farm Festival acouple of weeks ago. I'd never heard one before but it was a very good sound.

[quote name='redstriper' post='898056' date='Jul 18 2010, 01:59 PM']Get a second opinion - saying that your sound is awful just before you go on is not what you want to hear and blaming the material used for the driver's magnet is ridiculous. If he can't get a decent sound from your gear, maybe you need a new sound engineer.[/quote] +1.

[quote name='funkle' post='769988' date='Mar 10 2010, 05:05 AM']Ah. Apologies. Not sure - this person is visiting the relevant factory in China now. They were confident that production had been moved from this factory to Indonesia, and that it had already happened for the CV Squiers. The other possibility, which I am sticking in here on my own supposition, is that production could alternatively have been moved from one Chinese factory to another. Wait and see, I guess! The labels on the back of the headstock will eventually tell.[/quote] Any update on this?

[quote name='BigRedX' post='898054' date='Jul 18 2010, 01:59 PM']The bass guitar isn't the only method of getting low notes. Something other than a plucked string supported by a couple of pieces of wood isn't always the most appropriate sound.[/quote] Yes, sometimes you just can't beat a tuba or even a double bass.

... and can't stand Rotos, love Fenders.