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I have to be honest and say that although a fan of a Soul/Motown music I have never really paid much attention to the band or James Jamerson during my time as a bass player. Recently though I have been watching Standing in the shadows of Motown on you tube (very poor until pay day and cant get the DVD in any shops near me) and it has blown my mind. Jamerson is just superb, so incredibly melodic and clever in the way he plays, it is a true inspiration. I have loved watching it so much I am going to invest a small amount of money and get it from Amazon. The whole band are superb and I just want to get myself a P bass with some flats on it and start learning what I can of his basslines. A genius, an inspiration and so sad that he is still not with us, imagine what he could have created.

This is just horrible, so tragic and sad. My thoughts go out to you, your daughter and his family and friends.

thanks for the comments firstly. [quote name='EBS_freak' post='727928' date='Jan 28 2010, 06:25 PM']Have you checked your pickups? Are they pretty weak? Get a meter and measure the output... how powerful are the magnets? How close are they to the strings? Try raising them to get a volume boost.[/quote] The pickups are stock so going to guess and say they are not all that good. The pole pieces are not exposed and I have them as close to the strings as I can get them now. It made a slight difference but not much. I think my conclusion is that the pickups may need changing as plenty of people get on with Aguilar preamps. [quote name='BassBod' post='728164' date='Jan 28 2010, 10:01 PM']From memory the Aguilar circuits don't add any gain to the pickups - so they don't boost output as such, until you crank the eq. I used some old Barts with one, and found the output was similar to a low output passive bass. I guess (assuming wiring is all ok) its hotter pickups or another preamp...but first push the input gain on your amp and see if you like the sound. My guess would be better pickups will get you there.[/quote] This is really interesting as when flat they are just a little higher output than a passive bass. I used it last night at a practice and it does sound really good and i got a nice sound with the eq boosted (but not maxed). I think part of my problem also was testing it a home volumes. I couldnt hear a great deal of difference when I turned the eq at home but with my amp cranked last night I could hear a difference and the pre seemed to be doing more ( I know I should have though of this before) The one thing I noticed last night after not playing this bass for a while was that because the pickups are very small (almost like a 4 string set on a 5) it was really uncomfortable to use the pickup as a thumb rest which I do a lot on my Overwater. So after thinking about my volume problems and the tiny pickups/awkward right hand position, I think I am going to go for some new pickups. Just going to have a look at some Nordy Big Singles or similar I think and see when and where I can get them done. Cheers for the comments chaps, a new set of pickups isnt much in the grand scale of things especially if it makes the bas smore usable.

Hello all, I have a Squier Deluxe Active V, its a great bass fun to play but the preamp didnt do much when I bought it. I decided to replace it with an Aguilar 2 band EQ (OBP2?) and had it wired to 18v with and active passive switch. The layout is now: Vol/Blend/Bass/Treble with active/passive switch. The problem is that now the Aguilar doesnt seem to do much either. I have to have the bass and treble full on to get a good level out of the bass and even if I roll them back to the midway position the volume is really low. My question is, is this normal? My Overwater doesnt dip in volume when I roll the EQ off, but the Squier makes no noise when rolled off. What is going on, is it wired up wrong? is it not working with the stock pickups? I am getting to the point where I want to rip it all out and go passive or splurge and get a pre-wired Audere to go in it (or a Nordy Pre). I just dont use it because I hate having a "faulty" bass. Any help gratefully received. Nathan

I wish I could afford to get myself another Overwater, I would love a 5 string Jazz or P to go alongside my Progress. The way things are at the minute though I am going to have to really save some cash just to get the bass to Chris May and the guys for a 8 year MOT. i am thinking about getting the new EQ fitted too which could add even more on to the bill. I am still holding a tiny ammount of hope that I might win the Overwater competition though.

I just sifted through my lesser used email account and found an email from Overwater. Apparently they are now offering vintage style Jazz and Precision Style Basses in 4 and 5 String. They are either Passive or fitted witha passive buffer system to bring them up to an active output. Just wondering if anyone has one yet? I have been geting some serious GAS for a 5 String P recently and would love to see one from Overwater. This is the Jazz, the finish looks stunning and Im not usually a burst kinda chap [attachment=41244:ow_dec12_01.jpg]

Hello, Thought I should start a thread for Conan (Geoff). Recently sold my Strat to Geoff and the whole experience was a pleasure and a stark contrast to the problems I was having with EBay at the time. Anyway absolutely lovely chap, great comms and very kindly did a bank transfer for me so I didnt have to pay paypal fees. Top chap, great transaction and sounds like the guitar went into the hands of a young aspiring musician which is never a bad thing. Cheers, Nathan

Man you guys are lucky, my girlfriend knows every bass I have, and have had since we have been together and now has a good eye for bass details not just "ooh that blue one is pretty". We were at a John Mayer gig the other night and she managed to spot a Vintage Sunburst Precision on the bass player who was some distance away, in the dark at the back. She said "didnt you used to have a baby blue Precision when we met" I was stunned. Anyway I put myself in huge debt to get my last bass and she would kick my backside if I bought another. Nowhere to hide!

Hope you get your ear problems sorted, its scary stuff when your hearing isn't all there. I had a bit of a scare recently with my ears. I think I have good hearing but I always have music and the TV really loud and my girlfriend thought I must have hearing problems. I thought it would be compacted wax so went to the doctor who said there was nothing above normal wax, your probably slightly deaf because of loud music and playing so go get a hearing test. I was really worried at this point but it turns out my hearing is fine I just like it loud which is not good thing but no harm done. Anyway as a result I thought best look after my ears and got a pair of Etymotic ER20s which I cannot praise enough. Used them at a practice and a gig last week and find them superb. I can hear a good range from all instrumnets and vocals. They literally just turn the volume down a touch without any major loss (well for me anyway). When I get the cash I am going for the moulded ones, cant imagine how good they must be. As I said though hope you get your hearing back and keep your plugs on you even in clubs, they are so handy.

[quote name='stonecoldbass' post='691645' date='Dec 22 2009, 04:49 PM']Hey folks, here as promised is a little medley from my last gig. We go under the banner Roots Revisited and we put on a night where we covered live versions of Jill Scott and Erykah Badu tunes. It was a great learning experience in so many ways: putting together and rehearsing an 11 piece band, working out a whole heap of material by ear, trying to nail not only parts but the style as well etc etc... Anyways, here it is, let me know what you think: Our next night is gonna be a Prince night ;-)[/quote] I have just been flicking through all these videos and can quite happily say this is my absolute favourite. Your band are superb and and your singer has an amazing voice, pretty too anyway briliant musicianship and I really like the Santa Fe and the Fat City Horns as well. I wish I could find a group of people that could or even wanted to play like this where I live, all blues and metal down here. Nice one, Nathan

Good stuff! did you say ONE of yours? do you have more to show?

Surely there must be some more Overwater owners on basschat? Having recently aquired one myself I would love to see everyone elses, especially as I am looking to start saving for a complete custom spec one in the new year and could do with some ideas. Are all the Overwate rowners too busy playing to put a picture up?

Aroundabout Sound all the way. There was another shop closer to teh centre of town but that has recently closed down. Aroundabout have a good selection of bass gear, Mark the owner has a stunning GB spitfire for sale there and last time I went in there was a mighty looking Eden stack as well. if you goodle them they keep a few bits on their website. Great shop and the owners are really nice.

5's are starnge beast and everyone has different experiences in making the switch. I have been playing 5 strings for about 2 1/2 years now and most of that time I have not owned a 4 string (had a jazz 4 string a couple of months back but quickly sold it because it didnt feel right playing 4). I tried a 5 when I was about 18 and didnt get along with it at all. I then decided to try again and bought a very nice warwick for very little just in case. As soon as I picked it up and played for ten minutes it just felt right and I didnt touch my stingray again. It was sold a couple of weeks later for a better 5 string and I never looked back. I think it was because I didnt over think it and didnt make it out to be a any different to a four (so completely different approach to J3ster below). I know people that overthink it and let it scare them to an extent but I thought about it as the same instrument but with a few extra notes and as soon as I thought about it like that it was simple. Also it sounds really stupid but learn the notes on that string like you do on a 4 when you first start playing, and also try running through scales incorporating it. I really liked the B string and started using it to go down to notes from the E string rather than up to the A string. I dont use it all the time as its not always needed but it is great to drop right down sometimes and feel that rumble. Like someone mentioned previously, I use it to go accross the neck rather than up and down and it makes life very easy oince you get used to it. The low C,D and E is great to have (rarely use a low and I think the key to switching for me was just learning to substitute the notes I usually play on A string with those on the B to start with. When I got used to using the notes on the B I was then able to incorporate them when needed as well as using the higher notes. Also listen to some records with 5 string on and just try and play along and learn them. Canned heat by Jamiroquai is a fun one on a 5. Maybe it was because I had no choice but to get along with it as i quickly sold my 4 strings, but if you put some time in it really does become very natural quite quickly in my experience. Sorry that was a long old rambling post. Nathan

I believe these pictures were taken at a Annie Lennox gig. I know he does prefer using 4s but like someone said earlier for the kind of music he often plays he needs to get that low bass that is predominant in a lot of pop music. Saying that if the post about his Alleva now being in the hands of one of our own, maybe he has given up on 5s or switched back to his MusicMan. (sure he was playinga Nordy at one point too, and Sei.....cracking taste in basses) I think he is such a fantatstic player and one of my biggest regrets was not going to say hello at the london guitar show a few years back when he was on the Ernie Ball stand.

[quote name='Platypus' post='689977' date='Dec 20 2009, 06:37 PM']Our Birdy has got his Olympic White Coppolo LG5[/quote] Seriously? Is it actually Pauls or just one that looks like it? I am a huge fan of Paul Turner owning an Alleva that was his would make my life.

Saw these on a old thread on Talkbass whilst GAS-ing over Alleva basses and thought I would share. Great player and superb taste, this is just perfection to me: [attachment=38638:IMG_0558.jpg] [attachment=38639:IMG_0540.jpg] [attachment=38640:IMG_0547.jpg] [attachment=38641:IMG_0545.jpg] [attachment=38642:IMG_0541.jpg]

Well thats just marvelous, now I am finding the website a joy to browse which is creating some major GAS. Nice website, much much better and nice and clear. Good stuff and thanks for letting us know.

My vote goes for Comfort Strap and Schallers. Best strap I have ever had, so comfortable and just a pleasure to wear (doesnt fold up into my case though which is a pain). Never had issues with bouncing though. It does extend a slight bit if i jump up and down and dont hold my bass but i dont make a habit of doing that. I dont get why so many people have problems with schallers, I have never had to mod any holes on any of the 5 basses I have put them on, the nut/washer has never come unscrewed (to be fair I do use a ratched set to get them so tight) and I have never had to puncture holes in my straps. Been using them for about 10 years never had a problem (bet they fall of next practice now )

I had a feeling it was that MTD! That bass has haunted me ever since I first saw it, STUNNING in every way! I dont envy your descison making process in narrowing down a collection that comprises of Alleva, MTD and Overwater. Good luck and I hope you make a descison your going to be happy with.

The last thing I needed to hear was that there is a chance a MTD 535 could be for sale in the near future! Its a really difficult issue that obviously only you can make a final descison on. I find that time spent equally between both scales does help and your body can remeber what both are like after a while without stumbling over notes. If you play one instrument a lot more than others then you will obviously get used to that instrument and notice the difference when you switch. The next logical question I would maybe ask myself in this case would be why am I playing one more than the other? One thing I will say is that if you find yourself favouring one or two instruments (sounds like its the Alleva and Shuker...Nice!) do you actually need the others despite them being fantastic instruments? I had a few basses at one point and as lovely as they were I only really played one. Ok it didnt quite give me every sound but it was more than enough for what I needed, so the others went and I am currently bonding with one bass (I have another which i kept for sentimental reasons) and really getting to know it well. I think what I am trying to say is spend enough time with any instrument and I personally believe you will adapt and get comfortable with it and really get to know it. I think one reason I was so unhappy with instruments in the past is that I never gave one enough time to really get to know it. It was actually Mark at Bass Direct that gave me a good talking to about multiple basses when I went there and I thank him so much for that talking to!

I swap between a 34" and 36" 5 String and it doesnt really bother me that much. The 36 took about ten minutes to get used to initially but know its fine. I think the kind of bass makes a difference to the feel as well though. My best friend has a Lakland 5 with 35" scale and that feels really awkward and big to me and I just cant get comfortable with it. On the other hand my 36" Overwater is nice and compact and well thought out in comparrison and I don't really find the extra length and issue because of where the body sits and how it fits with me. Although 34" is ok on a 5 string, after using the Overwater for a couple of months I dont think I would want to drop below 35" scale for a 5 string.

It obviously depends on the sound you are after but if it was me and I was dropping to lower tuning I would probably want to go for a longer scale to tighten things up a little and give me a little more definition. I play a 36" scale overwater which is phenominal. It took about 10 mins to get used to it over my old 34". You can get them secondhand for reasonable money or go direct and see what they can make you from scratch. They are unbelievable and sound fantastic and also the customer service is superb. I would also suggest checking out dingwal basses. I played a 5 string J at Bass Direct and it was great, again takes a little getting used to the fanned frets but its looks great, and its a bit different and something people will remeber you by. Great basses and under hand you barely feel the difference.