Vibrating G String

While those links may appear authoritative there's no science in there. If they were accurate they would be specific and consistent. All those link writers make a profit based on tonewood "lore", just something to keep in mind while reading them

There are many great pickup makers out there and I have heard them all sound great, from the latest boutiques & vintage replicas to the cheaper end like EMG Selects and Wilkinsons bought from Hong Kong for next to nothing. I would be careful of recommendations for a manufacturer that do not specify a model as that is usually just someone pimping what's trendy. All the big makers will have something close to what you want. That said I almost always end up with Bart's They make many variations of the J style and I really like that the pickups have no exposed pole pieces, they use bar magnets so string spacing isn't an issue (though it could be on split coils) and they are fully shielded and sealed in epoxy. Do you know which Barts you had in the past? Do you want a vintage Fender sound? Single coil or some kind of humbucker? Your string spacing choice can also limit your options if you choose some thing with individual pole pieces. Some of the most vintage sounding pickups I've heard came stock on Fernandes and Tokai Fender copies. The Seymour Duncan Hot Stacks are nice for a beefed up Fender tone with no hum, familiar but a bit warmer and quieter. The stock pickups from a Mexican Fender have the classic tone and can be found cheap from all the people who must upgrade to the latest and greatest. So many choices

[quote name='Schnozzalee' post='888225' date='Jul 7 2010, 03:28 AM']I don't think its benefitted the pastorius family at all[/quote] Is there any reason it should? As for Trujillo anyone recognize this burpy barky midrangey galloping style of finger funk?

[quote name='andyjingram' post='886837' date='Jul 5 2010, 03:15 PM']That said, it is also the first time I realised that the bag is on fire, and the face must have been drawn first... I winced at the rabbit/motel horror, then laughed at the shocked, burning bag! [/quote] Yeah! Now that's a shocking avatar. By the way, the rabbit is just yawning and I am neither the naked dude or the bunny.

[quote name='burno70' post='886818' date='Jul 5 2010, 02:59 PM']^^^ I find that avatar disturbing[/quote] My work is done

[quote name='Kongo' post='886829' date='Jul 5 2010, 03:05 PM']Sure, Trujillo is completely different a player than Jaco...but that doesn't mean he can't play the legendary combination of wood and strings! [/quote] While different I also see a lot of similarities between Jaco and Rob. And not just the hair for example both are very aggressive players who brought a large amount of funk into a style that wasn't always so funky. Both upfront lead players when they get the chance. I'd guess Jaco would be proud to know Rob has his old bass and is playing it.

[quote name='OutToPlayJazz' post='886033' date='Jul 5 2010, 12:19 AM']Myth has it that Jaco was out cold on a park bench and it was stolen by an opportunist while he slept off the booze/drugs/whatever.[/quote] That's kinda what I heard. I think it's a bit presumptive to assume he just didn't sell it to get whatever he passed out on like he did in the past. Without an actual known theft, demanding anything be returned sounds a bit lynch mobby Jaco certainly didn't have respect for this bass when he owned it. He had trashed it and broken the neck before. I guess it's just funny to see the fans worship the bass way more than Jaco did. When I saw him he was ripping it up on a Jaydee which was just before he was a Guild endorser. In other words, there was nothing in that Fender that wasn't in many other basses from Jaco's apparent point of view.

I get years out of a set of strings. I like a midrangey old school tone and I turn my tweeters off. That kind of sound seems to be easy to get with old strings. I change them when I wear grooves in them from the frets or if the intonation starts to go bad. I'm not a fan of the zingy tone in the first few weeks so that saves some money.

I thought it just disappeared during one of his "episodes", is there an actual theft? Like with a date & location? For years people were looking for an old worn sunburst Just wondering if stolen is an assumption.

[quote name='12stringbassist' post='885599' date='Jul 4 2010, 09:39 AM']So the guy has whacked out enough money to make the shop finally part with a known-to-be-stolen bass.[/quote] How is it known to be stolen?

[quote name='Stacker' post='883656' date='Jul 2 2010, 12:47 AM']I've heard that as well. But then that makes out Charlie Brent to be a fibber, which I doubt.[/quote] It's funny both stories come from Milkowski. Charlie could be misquoted or maybe Jaco at first said someone else did it because he wasn't pleased with his work. He's definitely become bigger than life and that will allow stories to grow.

[quote name='OutToPlayJazz' post='883122' date='Jul 1 2010, 08:07 AM']I have an 80's interview with Jaco where he says he actually pulled them out with a butter knife. I'll scan it later. Also gives details on how he would eq. Works, too. [/quote] A quick googling brings this alternate version of the tale... "How the frets actually came to be removed is not as clear however, with Jaco himself giving varying accounts. Although he generally claimed that he removed the frets himself with a butter knife, he gave a different and more detailed version of the bass's evolution to writer Bill Milkowski in 1984 for Guitar Player magazine. "When I got the bass," explained Jaco, "the cat who had it had taken the frets out himself, and he did a really bad job of it-- left all kinds of nicks and chunks taken out of the fretboard. So I really had to fix it up. I filled in the chunks with Plastic Wood." He told Milkowski that he used Petite's Poly-Poxy, a boat epoxy, on the fretboard. "You can find it in any boating supply store in Florida," remarked Jaco. "I used about six coats on my fretless, and it took about a day for each coat to dry."" [url="http://www.ricksuchow.com/press-group-234.html"]http://www.ricksuchow.com/press-group-234.html[/url] Jaco was a great player at times but he was also a junkie with a damaged ego. He was well known for being quite liberal with reality when talking about himself.

In my humble opinion Also Jaco admitted and some people believe he got the bass already de-fretted. Great player but the Fender article seems to be as accurate as calling a whammy bar a tremolo bar.

Do you really jam with Burke? I saw budgie 3 times in the '70's when I was in school. He's one of my bigger influences. I remember him as being a classic P-bass SVT guy. Coincidentally my other biggest influence in the '70's Chris Squire, also had Roger Dean art on their album covers.

[quote name='Mr Fudge' post='856706' date='Jun 3 2010, 03:41 PM']If Geddy Lee played my Jap Jazz through my markbass rig I don't think there would be any discernible difference even to us bass players.[/quote]Unless you posted a picture of the event

Shriekback My Spine is the Bassline

[quote name='parker_muse' post='824272' date='Apr 30 2010, 10:08 AM']It got my thinking. Do you really need to spend £££ to get what you're looking for? I've had everything i've ever needed and never spent more then £180 or so on more then one thing until now. Is it more a placebo to us rather then twice as good for twice the price?[/quote] Hi, you seem to be happy with what you have, congratulations, you're not controlled by ads and hype Nothing wrong with being content and not drooling over fancy trinkets. Nothing wrong with fancy trinkets either I would go so far as to say often more expensive means a worse tone and less playability. To me a good setup and fret job means more than any nearly extinct rainforest wood species or picture of the bass being played by Victor Wooten. Look at all the bass heros who made their name on cheap gear that was not boutique at the time. Jaco, Jamerson, etc... Gear is fun and cool and artsy but after 30 years I've found killer tone can be found at any price point. A little time learning the knobs on your amp and you can change your tone more than any luthier can. IMHO of course So yeah, I think placebo or psychoacoustics play a bigger part than most will admit.

[quote name='pantherairsoft' post='808239' date='Apr 16 2010, 03:46 AM']A bit like my GB Spitfire you mean… Held on by Bernie's magic powers… [/quote] That's really nice. Could you reveal what Bernie's powers are?

[quote name='paul h' post='806822' date='Apr 15 2010, 01:02 AM']That looks rather sexy. Any thoughts on how to achieve this? Maybe grub screws and magnets. Mmmm. I am going to steal this idea, come up with a cost effective way of achieving it and make a fortune! Muuuhhahhahhahaha.[/quote] I was thinking the double sided tape they use to hold pickguards onto acoustic guitars as it's quite thin or maybe a bit of spray adhesive like 3M77. On the Jazz style there is nothing mounted to the PG so you wouldn't need much strength. Much tougher on a P Bass. I was thinking of a mint color. Combined with the lack of poles from the Barts the screwless PG would give it a nice clean vintage/tech look.

[quote name='urbanx' post='805998' date='Apr 14 2010, 05:14 AM']I'm liking these! I'd like a chrome pick guard, but don't even want to think how much it'd cost to get made![/quote] How about mirrored? That can be found ready made for about the price of a normal one. [quote name='warwickhunt' post='806496' date='Apr 14 2010, 12:42 PM']I really like that idea of changing the layer under the clear plate to suit mood etc. Nice one! [/quote] Unfortunately on mine I have a huge hole routed under the PG since I'm a nut for shaving weight. I had to use a spray adhesive to attach the print or it would sag. On a more standard bass you should be able to get away with just the screws holding it flat against the body. That's how the first one I saw was done, seen here being played by Jaco You get a decent look in the last few seconds of the video of the infamous "Corn Flakes" bass.

Nice collection, really works well as a group. Seems to want a Jazz of some kind.

One of the other ideas I toyed with, and probably the best one, was the no screws look. Seen here in a mock up. If this was as easy as getting a clear pickguard I may have gone this way. [attachment=47259:Fender_no_Screws.jpg]

[quote name='Mickeyboro' post='801546' date='Apr 10 2010, 01:17 AM']Don't know how to say this, but it looks like your kid's been nat your bass with some felt tip pens. [/quote] That's a scary thought... that I have a kid But it does look like someones kid got to it.

The Mexican Fender Kandinsky! Other mods include a shaved neck so it's now smaller than a canoe, humbucking Bartolinis, and a Hipshot string tree. [attachment=46859:Knadinsk...ickguard.jpg]

[quote name='lojo' post='795036' date='Apr 3 2010, 05:23 AM']What I have found is that every 2nd hand bass for sale is always "best we've ever seen"[/quote] I'm so cynical that even a little hyperbole will turn me off an ad for a bass. Too many !!!!!!!!'s, ALL CAPS, and the word wow all raise red flags for me. Also I don't want to know about their religion or family's medical expenses. I like a good matter of fact sale that just lists facts. Tell me the specs, what damage you know about and stuff like that. When I hear this is the best I've ever played and I'm going to regret selling it I've learned to be wary. I may still buy it but I'm a lot more suspicious. As to how to pick one amongst the masses, as bad as this may sound, I often buy what looks best. If it's somewhat decent and looks cool I'll play it I find I quickly get used to the little things that annoy perfectionists and I enjoy the relationship. And even bad relationships are cool for a while if they look good.