Wylie

I ordered the Squier 77 jazz bass from U.S. online store Sweetwater. Cost: $285 (L182 or 214 euros). Bass arrived in good shape and tuned up nicely, very playable right out of the box, but with pretty high action. (But see below.) I was surprised to find that the bass is made in Indonesia. I thought these were being made in China. Body is agathis. The black finish is flawless and the overall effect is stunning. White-edged black pickguard, maple neck with white binding. Satin finish on the neck and headstock; a dull look but good for playing. The block inlays are pearloid. It's a very sharp looking bass. Not especially heavy, but not a lightweight. Good balance with a strap; no headstock-diving. Truss rod adjustment is at the top of the neck. Everything is mostly nice and tight: no knobs falling off, but one is rather free and the other one is a little tight. Frets are in good shape, no sharp ones. The tuners are good; string tension (with the flats I put on) is comfortably tight. Nicely responsive to aggressive finger-picking. There are a couple of 'blurry' notes but no dead notes. Overall tonal response is somewhat equal all over the fretboard. And all the lower notes--low E, F, G, up through B on the E string--are fat and full; no 'hollow' low notes. I prefer flats, but the bass was strung with rounds when it arrived, and the lower range of notes, with bridge pickup dialed in, was nice and big--a full-bodied tone, not just loud. I lowered all strings and intonated them; the action is now low, and no buzzing. With the flats, I still get the best of both worlds. I am running it through a Hartke 2500 & Schroeder light 12 cab and getting powerful, nicely balanced tones all over the fretboard. Very good instrument for the money. I swapped the bridge for a Gotoh 201 C and the tone and overall note quality is improved by thirty percent. Incredible improvement! The neck pickup dialed to about eight, with the bridge pickup dialed in to five to nine -- it's great! A year later ... It's still performing. The pickups are better than I gave them credit for. I switched to D'daddario half-rounds six months ago and they seem perfect for this bass; I get a lot of variety with them and they feel great. Not quite the fat sound of flats, but the feel of flats. I've had no neck issues. When I put the Gotoh on I shimmed the neck -- twice. Got the instructions, with pix, here on BassChat. Shimmed with two business cards and that brought the action down nicely that the Gotoh had raised a bit. [EDIT: Got DiMarzio pickups installed Nov. 2011 and they put the Duncan-Designed pickups (stock) in the shade; monster tone now.] Ted

New [b]Hartke 2500[/b] amp head, $265 new from my music shop but $250 online [EDIT: as of 11/7/2011, they are about $299 online]. Highly recommended to anyone needing this size amp. Runs 250 watts through two 8-ohm speakers, 180 watts through one speaker. 25 pounds, with handle on side, quite easy to carry. I stick mine in a canvas carryall for protection. [b]Two preamps[/b], a tube emulation and a contemporary/solid state preamp. The tube-type preamp delivers a nice fat round tone, which with my old P-bass sounded great. With my Squier jazz, a combination of the two preamps does the trick. My Squier has DiMarzio pickups, and the sound of these (with neck predominating) is very strong. [b]Compression[/b]: dials 1-10. Playing loud and hard, compression at 8 keeps the more solid lower notes from blasting and prevents higher-note shrieking. Ten [b]EQ[/b] sliders, with on/off switch. Very sensitive. Two somewhat redundant [b]contour controls[/b]. These are apparently intended give a quick reduction of hiss or rumble. You can do the same with the EQ, but with these, of course, you just turn one knob for a quick adjustment. [b]Inputs[/b] for active or passive instruments. Line out, effects line in/out. Ground lift. Two speakers out. I've had it for about a year and a half and I've used it in large and small rooms, also some outdoor gigs. I run a single Schroeder 12-inch light speaker, and this amp through that speaker is loud and strong--not just loud. With the pre-amp(s) at seven and master volume at 3 or 4, it is LOUD. This amp puts out a strong, contemporary sound. Internal operation is quiet. All buttons, sliders, knobs and connections are top quality. Fan. Build quality: 10 Sound quality/versatility: 10 Customer support: Excellent, via email. [b]Excellent value for the money, great value, period.[/b] tg

Wayne Shorter with Herbie Hancock on the [i]Adam's Apple[/i] LP and Shorter on [i]Speak no Evil[/i]. Solomon Burke's [i]Nothing's Impossible[/i]--soul from a church pew. Jaco Pastorius and Pat Metheny on [i]Bright Size Life.[/i] Springsteen's "Incident on 57th Street."

The trio I play with recently picked up 'All Blues' from Miles Davis's 'Kind of Blue' lp, and 'Adam's Apple,' Wayne Shorter's tune from the album of the same name. We play bass, piano and violin, and the violin generally takes the lead, with violin and piano trading solos. This music is fabulous, and every member of the group is having to stretch a good deal. I like a lot of kinds of music, but jazz seems particularly alive. Within the simple framework of 'All Blues' is an amazing, perhaps endless set of possibilities for bass. And like Bilbo said, it isn't just musicians playing whatever comes into their heads; when we play jazz, I have to pay better attention to what I am doing. But at the same time, there is an incredible freedom to listen to what the others are doing and weave the thing into a whole. There's some jazz I've heard that I can hardly stand, and maybe never will. Some of it seems designed to rattle the nervous system off the coffee table. But some of the cooler jazz tunes--and the ballads, like 'Goodbye, Pork Pie Hat' and 'Self-Portrait in Three Colors' by Mingus, and 'Teru' by Shorter--open up worlds.

+1 Schroeder Mini 10+ [url="http://www.schroedercabinets.com/mini10"]http://www.schroedercabinets.com/mini10[/url] I have a Schroeder 12 and I love it. Amazing what it can do, and yeah, the speakers are expensive. Well worth it, I think. Write to him, he'll answer right away. That url won't work, but you can easily find Schroeder online.

My Schroeder 12+L weighs about 23 lbs. (10 Kg.). He makes a lot of lightweight cabs. Mine has amazing tone and I can push it pretty hard. [url="http://www.schroedercabinets.com/mini12+.htm"]http://www.schroedercabinets.com/mini12+.htm[/url] tg

[attachment=55886:DSC09476.JPG]Hartke 2500 head with Schroeder 12 light cab. Amazing what comes out of that one speaker.

[quote name='JPS' post='912988' date='Aug 2 2010, 12:05 PM']Interesting debate. I don't want him to neglect these vital and transferable skills but am struggling to engage him with them so much and find a way that suits his learning style.[/quote] I was showing a young man some basics on the bass--and he seemed ready to learn, having just got a bass--but all he really wanted to know was a few licks. I was able to show him what he wanted, but it seemed like a waste of time for both of us. One way to get your guy thinking is to find a tune he knows and likes (or likes but can't play) and teach him the basics of it. When he's got that, show him how much more he can do with what he knows in that song, for example by opening up chords to use the 6th or other added note, or using chords in a different way, by varying the 1-3-5 routine, perhaps, or using the relative minor. This might be easier to do with jazz than with pop (or especially rock). The alternative might be that he will just need to get tired of playing the same patterns and/or keys or licks and will come around when boredom sets in. tg

I came from guitar to learn the bass about two years ago ... and I didn't bring much with me. Very medium guitar player, but no trouble with timing or other mechanical things. Had been in choir for a couple of years a while back, so learning to read wasn't difficult; and reading just a bit has made quite a difference, especially as I've tried many bass books, and found them helpful--to a degree. But you can't ask a book questions, and I always seem to have a lot of them. I'd also agree that having a teacher is important, and mine is a pro who can answer every question I have and save me -lots- of time I'd spend going around in circles if I were 'teaching' myself, which, as noted above, results in very slow learning. Trouble is, the teacher costs quite a bit, so lessons are spaced out. Still, I go in prepared and get the most out of the hour. As far as music theory is concerned, I struggle. Music is largely numerical, and I am just about retarded where numbers are concerned (just ask my mother and former teachers). But learning the chords from the degrees of the scale, learning how to use chords properly, and how to find and exploit the key center for the song, all have helped immensely to open up a tune to new possibilities and get me out of the 1-3-5 rut. Having fun? I have fun every time I pick up the bass, whether it's playing out or practice.

[url="http://bass-guitars.musiciansfriend.com/product/Fender-Bassman-150-Bass-Combo-Amp?sku=480872"]Fender amp[/url]

I have a Hartke 2500 amp that I run through a 12-inch Schroeder cab. The amp is 250 watts; through my single cab, it's 180 watts. The amp is amazingly powerful, in my opinion, and cost much less than comparably powered amps-- $250. The Schroeder was expensive, but you could go with a less expensive cab (and you'd probably want more than a 12) and keep well within your budget of $600. tg

This one: [url="http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/DM1Blk/"]http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/DM1Blk/[/url] Wide, heavy leather, won't slip around on you (backside is raw leather), won't come off strap buttons, not expensive. tg

GHS Stainless Steel Precisions. Mine are extra long because my P-bass has a string-thru-body bridge. Beautiful full, very fat sound, nice if you like to slide (or do I mean, play sloppily?). Also the upper-register notes are not so shrieky as with roundwounds. Very little (if any) extra tension with these. Love 'em. About $25. Ted

Thick leather strap. You have to work to get it on; no worries about it coming off. TG

A great inexpensive case for bass: [url="http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/GLBass/"]http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/GLBass/[/url] Rigid but light, zips, storage. Fits a P-bass or a Jazz bass perfectly. TG

Finally got my lightweight rig together. The amp is a Hartke 2500, which I bought locally for about the same price you'd pay an online outlet. The cab is a Schroeder mini 12 light, which I bought direct from Jorg Schroeder (http://www.schroedercabinets.com/mini12+.htm). The Hartke weighs about 25 lbs. and puts 175 watts into the 8-ohm 20-lb. cab. Adding a speaker would give me 250 watts. The Hartke is loud, EQ, preamps (tube emulation and solid state), and compression all are effective, and it's built like a tank. The speaker is fantastic. I dealt with Schroeder directly, which I [u]highly[/u] recommend anyone doing. I could not be happier with the speaker, the price, and Schroeder's expertise and courtesy. At medium to high volume, the speaker is incredibly punchy and deep, controlled, and penetrating. Now I carry speaker and amp in each hand (amp has handle on side, speaker has recessed handle); getting all in and out of the car is a breeze, setup is five minutes. Total cost was about $750. Cheers-- Ted

Richard Thompson, Brian Wilson, Alec Wilder.

Paul McCartney, Peter Cetera, Entwhistle, and Bruce Thomas of the Attractions.

Squier Bronco, Behringer BX900 (90-watt piece of furniture).

Has anyone played through a PhatKat amp? These are said to be great for bass and guitar, are lightweight (28 lbs.) and medium-strong for a small combo (135 watts, more with a cab extension). Anyone? Would suit me because I also play guitar at gigs. Can't find a review, just ad copy. I'm looking at this and a Phil Jones Flightcase or Super Flightcase for the same reasons ... and will plug in when I find a shop within 200 miles that carries one! Would appreciate any comments. PhatKat: [url="https://shoppingcart.djangobooks.com/item--PHATKAT-AMPLIFIER--jazzkat-phatkat.html"]https://shoppingcart.djangobooks.com/item--...at-phatkat.html[/url] Thanks, Ted

[quote name='Mykesbass' post='637005' date='Oct 26 2009, 03:57 PM']Every Japanese Fender I've laid my hands on seemed to have a nice vibe to them, that little something you just can't explain.[/quote] I agree a hundred percent. My Japanese blue-flower Tele bass always gets a few laughs ... till they pick it up.

I am thinking of buying a Markbass Minimark - 2x6, 150/250 watts, I need a lightweight amp - but wondering if anyone can advise either for or against. Most of the reviews are raves, but at least one said playing a passive bass through a Minimark is not a good idea. My bass is passive, and I'm holding on to it ... Anyone have a word about these amps? Thanks. Ted

In my experience of instrument making, the effect of a finish on wood has a minimal effect on its tone. On a solid-body bass, a finish would have to be extraordinarily thick to affect the tone; on a 1/32" guitar top, of course, the deadening effect of a finish can be more pronounced.

[quote name='EBS_freak' post='498962' date='May 27 2009, 03:25 PM']Put a BadAss on it.[/quote] Lots of folks have written online (esp. in Harmony Central reviews) that they've bought Mexican Fenders at a good price, then immediately replaced pickups and bridge - effectively bringing their total cost up to that of a Japanese Fender. It would make sense to get a Japanese Fender to begin with. I played a number of Mexican and American Fenders, both new and used, before getting my CIJ P-bass, and I found exactly -none- that could touch the CIJ. TG

[quote name='nick' post='498270' date='May 26 2009, 08:18 PM']You'll undoubtably get a fair few replies to this, dead spots etc.... But first I'd recommend trying a fresh set of strings & a good set-up by a decent repair man. Also see post [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=1324&hl=dead+spot*"]Dead spots[/url] for more info & comments that may help. If it's any consolation, most basses can tend to suffer - some of mine do anyway, though not so noticeable with flats Guess it's a bit inconvenient on those particular frets. That if deadspots are the problem(?). Good luck. p.s. Also, if you get a Mod to shift this post to the 'Repairs & Technical Issuesl' section, you'll probably get best advice on this problem [/quote] Thanks. Wrong place again, as usual ...