NJE

Yes that is perfectly normal. My understanding is that the front and back of the headstock are finished with a gloss poly (or whatever they use) and then the line is where the finish stops and they then use a wax/oil finish for a smooth satin feel. Some people have the whole neck refinished/glossed, and years ago when I had my first stingray I used multiple coatings of Birchwood Casey Tru Oil and Gun Stock Wax (ernie balls recommended finishing products) to get the neck almost to a gloss feel without a full spray finish. These days I really appreciate the original finish on my stingray, and mine had aged and worn so well, it’s the fastest neck I have ever played.

I think a lot of us have been there. I haven’t touched a bass in 18 months, sold my amp and swore I wouldn’t gig again. Currently learning a set list and researching amps 🤣. I am very fond of those Yamaha’s, my first bass was an RBX260 with a single P pickup. I kept it while ‘upgrading’ basses and eventually had a full USA American standard Precision, but the Yamaha always sounded better, more top end and bite.

Looking at new prices, I can get a Rootmaster 115 combo for £450 and a rumble will be around £590. I could do an OriginalAL 500 head and cab for somewhere inbetween. My limitation at the moment is that unless I could get something like an ABM combo for around £250 I would need to do finance. There are so many options but I am slightly swayed by Ashdowns good customer service.

I am in a similar position, sold my Aguilar/EBS rig last year as I didn’t think I would be playing again any time soon. I still don’t think I will have a regular band but a gig has come up with some old band mates and there may be a few sporadic gigs. I have no idea what to buy, but unless something really cheap turns up I will probably buy new to take advantage of finance. Currently deliberating between some good deals on the following: Ashdown OriginAL 210 combo Ashdown Rootmaster 115 combo Ashdown OriginAL 500 head plus a cab?? Fender Rumble 500 I really cannot decide what to do, I haven’t heard a bad word about the rumble 500 but the Ashdowns are a bit cheaper and the rootmaster is similar power.

These are spec’d so well for the price, and I love the fact they are doing nice touches like matching headstocks and vintage colours.

I know plenty of musicians/bands that would gladly go and play the opening of a cupboard door for nothing just as long as it was a gig, they got out for the night and had a laugh with their band mates. Whilst people are happy to do this then why wouldn’t a venue/festival/pop up bar put the feelers out for free bands. I am the grumpy bugger who won’t leave the house for at least petrol money, food and drink thrown in, because whilst I enjoy playing, gigs are hard work, especially if there’s a big PA to set up and strip down, and I actually like being at home with my wife and kids, so I want to be compensated for not being there. I can’t be annoyed by people who gig for nothing, it’s a hobby for the vast majority and you don’t get paid for playing football or golf at the weekend as far as I know.

I think your all right, it may be much simpler to buy the bits and put something together. That would also give me the option to spec a few other things as well. I would love an Ebony board and lollipop tuners for a start.

That’s interesting, didn’t the old Japanese/Mexican ones have seriously small necks? Part of me wants to buy something cheap but the reckless part of me says jump in and get something good, so nice to know the Geddy would be worth trying along with the 70s Jazz.

Now you mention it I have heard that about some older Tokai basses, will have to keep an eye out. I dont want to spend much at this point as I am not sure if a Jazz will work for me sound wise, but if it does, a P neck on a jazz could be the best option.

I think this is a fairly straightforward question, which Jazz type bass has the chunkiest neck? I am used to a Stingray and really struggled with a Japanese 66 Jazz I had, I kept getting cramp, so I don’t want anything too thin but want to try a Jazz again. I know out of the fenders the American Original 70s had the U shape neck which seems a little thicker, but are there any chunkier ‘jazz’ necks out there? How do Sire, Harley Benton, Schecter etc stack up?

I know where your coming from, it it was me there would be a part of my brain that would be going mental that it isn’t original spec. What lunatic put Aguilar in there in the first place 😄. Saying that, if it’s sounds good then I really don’t think taking it back would add a huge amount, both companies make great pickups and preamps.

Nice that! I have been looking at it off and on for weeks despite not really being into maple necks or 5 strings. A Nordy VJ5 is in my top 5 best basses I have played, good buy!!

This was on their Facebook page back in April..

I was wondering if there was any difference in power section or whether it was as simple as different EQ and features.

This might not be the best place to ask, but did anyone consider the Original heads/combos as well as the rootmasters? I am interested to know what the differences are other than a bit more EQ on the rootmasters.

For me there are two aspects to buying a bass, sound and feel. I have played £150 basses that sound great and feel pretty crap and £3000 basses that sound a bit ‘meh’ and feel incredible. I guess the reason we all buy and sell so many basses is that we are probably seeking a bass that does both without spending 10k I have played fender CS guitars that were simply the best feeling and looking instruments I had seen, even next to the likes of Suhr, Nick Huber, Tom Anderson etc. The relic work was so good and the neck feel and rounded board were incredible, so much so that I thought if I could buy a CS bass that felt half as good I would be happy. I value feel and comfort over sound, because I can do a lot quite easily and cheaply to rectify sound (EQ, pickups, preamps etc), and for the playing I used to do, as long as it sounded like bass no one cared and I am not a person that has ‘my tone’ that I get precious about. So for me what you get with Fender CS is a feel and something that may well inspire you to keep picking it up or that extra bit of mythical ‘mojo’. How much you want to pay for that is a personal thing. You may well find a £750 bass that will get you 98% of the way there and if so your lucky you don’t have to spend the money. I paid very little for my Stingray a few years ago and the neck is phenomenal. I still slightly lust after a Fender Relic because I think some of them look very cool, but I would probably buy it on feel and build quality over how it sounded in a shop, I don’t even bother plugging in a bass in shops because I know when it’s in my hand if it’s a goer!

I saw these are available at Bass Direct now and were designed by Rob Elrick. The branding, website and general info on their channels is t great, but the spec looks seriously good. It is hard to create a traditional looking headstock but I quite like this one, I have seen a few shockers over the years but this is pretty good.

Tried a Sadowsky Modern 5 string, it was tame and characterless and the B string was way too flappy for me but that could have been strings. It felt no better than a Lakland Skyline to me. I had lusted after and Alleva Coppolo for ages and then finally tried one secondhand but in mint condition. It was fine, nothing exciting just ok and I didn’t think the build quality was there for the huge price tag and my old overwater Jazz was way better to me.

As mentioned TDog Customs do some great work, some Of the Jaycee and Alpher finishes he’s done are amazing.

Gloucestershire based Dire Straits band called Shire Straits.

Basically every major influential band 😂: Nirvana (other than the obvious big songs), Led Zeppelin, The Beatles, Radiohead, Slipknot, Tom Petty, Oasis, David Bowie, Nine Inch Nails, Beastie Boys, Ozzy Osbourne, The Rolling Stones.....

I agree with the other replies in that going and playing some instruments will help identify what you want. The chances are you may even be able to find some secondhand examples of uk luthiers work at The Bass Gallery and Bass Direct like Status, Goodfellow and Sei. I have owned and played a lot of custom made/bespoke/hand crafted instruments from small luthiers and two of the best I have ever played for feel and quality were a GB Spitfire and a 5 string Rob Elrick Mark at Bass Direct put in my hands many years ago. I also played a Sei Jazz briefly and it was phenomenal as were my old Overwaters but they were pipped slightly by the Spitfire (some of that could have been the hypnotic Birdseye neck though 😄) You may be able to find a great bass from a small custom builder in stock somewhere so go have a few days out and play a lid of basses.

Don’t worry too much about mistakes, everyone makes them and if your in a band with the right people you can just laugh it off. People watching you pay for the atmosphere and vibe the band gives off so enjoy yourself, move about and even dance a bit if it’s in keeping with the music you play. No one wants to watch a band of people glumly staring at their shoes unless they already know they are going to see Radiohead 😄. But seriously, play along with the songs and listen to them on their own so that you can hum the main melody and know the structure in your head. After that, gigging is the best practice IMO and enjoy it!

That metallic green on the Gretsch is seriously nice! Always wanted a green bass after listing over an early green Eric Clapton Strat as a kid.

I think the concept is great and I have to respect Vulfpeck/Jack for fronting it and taking the gamble (even though there isn’t one). He could have done a lot more and sold them all but they don’t work that way. Live the little nod to Pino, a short scale must look like a Ukelele on Pino 😄