Cosmo Valdemar

Slightly OT but I saw Fish's bassist playing one of these last week - a fretless fiver - and it sounded glorious. Not sure if it was EMG or Bart though.

There's the Status Streamline as well - also a one-piece graphite build but without the Buzzard's mid controls. It looks a bit bonkers but sounds excellent, as this vid will show: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0YSzB8s6TfI

[quote name='The-Ox' timestamp='1462549192' post='3043987'] ahhh I see, so you think a Stealth is more Entwistle than a B2? [/quote] I've never played a Stealth but it makes sense.

[quote name='Rich' timestamp='1462299552' post='3041949'] With a maple neck, black/black. With rosewood, black/tort. [/quote] This. I always think black/black with rosewood can look a nit drab. That said, I have no issue with white/black with rosewood, particularly if the covers are still on.

[quote name='The-Ox' timestamp='1462532796' post='3043803'] I'm glad they changed the original design of Entwistle's Buzzard! [/quote] They didn't change it - the B2 is a different instrument. It used to be available alongside the standard Buzzard as the Buzzard 2 but following his death Status were forced to stop producing the JE-designed Buzzard by Warwick. Production of the B2 was allowed to continue as long as all refernces to the name 'Buzzard' was removed. I've never played a B2 but have been lucky enough to play the Status Buzzard, and it's an incredible bass. The owner advised me that the closest equivalent would probably be the Stealth bass, being of one-piece graphite construction.

[quote name='Fred Leicester' timestamp='1462473505' post='3043386'] Bit of an update on this. Tried a "grippier" strap and couldn't get on with it, oddly! I like to be able to move the bass around a bit whilst I play so it just wasn't working for me. Also, whilst it helped a bit with the neck dive, I could still feel it diving... So, got a set of Gotoh GBR640 Res-o-lites and fitted them tonight. Was a like for like swap so was dead easy, a 25 min job all in. Aaaaand it's so much better! I'm genuinely surprised what a difference it's made to be honest, and it's way nicer getting around on the bass without having to support it. So all in, although it's cost me a fair chunk, it's improved the bass massively for me. She's a keeper anyway, so I'll get my money's worth in the long run! [/quote] Well done that man.

Beautiful! I'm a sucker for those high-gloss finishes. I'm not familiar with the builder but I'll definitely check them out.

[quote name='bigd1' timestamp='1462442608' post='3043004'] When Jon Anderson [b]was unceremoniously dumped [/b]I did feel it was perhaps time the band called it a day and went out while still in a lot of fans eyes sounding great. When Chris died that in my opinion should have definitely been the point that YES is no more. Between Jon and Chris that was the sound and main driving force of YES. [/quote] Fixed.

[quote name='anDy LAKIN' timestamp='1462375274' post='3042507'] what didnt you like about the sound?, there have been a few models with different pups on them. [/quote] I always found the Luthite basses to have a rather dry, clean sound - not a criticism, but my tastes have always leaned more toward a warmer, growly passive kind of thing.

I adore these basses. Beautiful shape, and so, so comfortable. Sadly I never really got on with the sound of them. Doesn't stop me from eyeballing them on Ebay though! They used to be available in a coulour Ibanez called 'Vampire Kiss', a beautiful blood-red (unsurprisingly).

[quote name='lowhand_mike' timestamp='1462369492' post='3042441'] yeah, the graphite necked one with a stingray type body [/quote] I though so. Wonder why they didn't come up with a new name?

[quote name='Fred Leicester' timestamp='1462368367' post='3042432'] Thanks Marc. I'll try the tuners first and see what difference that makes. It could be the strap I guess, but I don't seem to have any neck dive issues with my Stringray using the exact same strap! I'll report back one the tuners arrive and are fitted etc. [/quote] A strap will react differently with different basses. Your Stingray might have better weight distribution - there's a good chance it wouldn't dive with any strap. I really would try using a different strap with your Precision before going to all the hassle - and expense - of changing the tuners.

I really like the white one... But the traditional MM neck/headstock does look a bit odd on that body. I'm sure I could get used to it though. Edit: Didn't MM/EB have a Cutlass model back in the 80s - one completely different to this one?

[quote name='Marc S' timestamp='1462363794' post='3042367'] Also Fred, maybe look at what strap you're using - perhaps something with a bit more grip may help? Again, worth a shot..... [/quote] That was my first thought. Worth a try!

I've always played both. When I first started playing I bought myself a 'teach yourself' book and it had little chapters on both. Mind you, by that logic I should also be slapping I reckon on an average gig it's about half and half.

[quote name='essexbasscat' timestamp='1460737365' post='3028363'] The Joyo AC30 emulator is pretty good too [/quote] I've got one of these and it's wonderful. I'm surprised Joyo don't do a copy of the Tech 21 Leeds, they seem to do all the others!

I'm in a similar boat to you Mel, although I've actually taken the plunge a couple of times and actually bought a guitar! However on both occassions I quickly became frustrated with the tiny strings and my ham-fisted attempts to play 'real' chords, and realised I could be buying bass goodies with the money so quickly sold them. Of course, I regret it each time! Like Schnozzalee I don't really get much out of playing bass at home on my own anymore*, and the days of cranking the stereo and blasting along to Live At Leeds are sadly passed. Despite not being a guitar player, I can find my way around crudely but would love to learn properly - Steve Howe being a particular inspiration. Nice and easy to aim for eh My problem is always deciding which guitar to go for. I adore hollowbodies like the Gretsch Electromatics and Epiphones, and they sound glorious, but there's another side of me that wants to play extreme metal on something sharp and heavily drop-tuned. *I remain, however, a bass player, and no amount of dabbling elsewhere will change this.

[quote name='Evil Undead' timestamp='1462220257' post='3041274'] The pole were only 2mm under the strings on the bridge pickup so I've lowered them to 4mm under and it's definitely helped a little. But lowering them further doesn't seem to help so I've left them at 4mm. I like a nice meaty bridge tone, that might be a bit low for me but there's always the volume knob [/quote] That sounds alarmingly close! Even 4mm! My guess would be the pickup magnets being too close to the strings and pulling them out of tune.

Probably not much help but the sweetest Jazz pickups I've ever heard were the ones in the Roadworn.

I still want one.