Cosmo Valdemar

[quote name='kedo' post='1285425' date='Jun 28 2011, 04:55 PM']Thanks again nottswarick. I use a Fender custom shop NOS 1964 limited edition Jazz bass[/quote] There's no reason you couldn't get a wonderful sound with that bass and your Ashdown. When they were being designed, the Fender Jazz was used as the test bass throughout, so it's really as if the amp was designed to make that bass sound great. One question though - what strings do you use? If the jazz has decade-old flats on it's going to sound pretty indistinct from the off... Also, my hint for the Ashdown heads - I always found them to sound best with the shape preset off- which, weirdly, has the switch pressed in. A little bit illogical if you ask me. When I first got the head I did a whole tour with the shape EQ engaged, all the while believing that it was off. Should have just trusted my ears I suppose.

Link doesn't work anymore so I'm guessing it's been pulled.

[quote name='dc2009' post='1284352' date='Jun 27 2011, 05:15 PM']Bass cellar, perchance?[/quote] Congratulations! Now, simply send me your address and your FREE peanut will be on the way to you! Bloody villain that man was. Reprehensible liar. Still, I'm glad your bass doesn't suffer form that unfortunate issue! I remember it was a wonderful, grunting beast. Don't know if you're familiar with the band 3 Colours Red, but their album 'Revolt' was recorded with the 4 string variety, and it sounds excellent, a big influence on me buying one. If I ever see a 4 string version for sale I'll be straight on it!

The reason I play bass. Can't believe it's been 9 years. I still have the newspapers from the day at home. I'm going to drink some Remy Martin from a cycle flask in his honour tonight.

[quote name='dc2009' post='1283628' date='Jun 27 2011, 05:20 AM']@ Cosmo Valdemar, one or two posts of former owners also repeated the exact problem you had, which some reckon was caused by a 4 string pup being put in to do the 5 string, and the A being the string that missed out on the J.[/quote] I'm sure it was that. I remember now the guy in the shop telling me this was normal practice in bass manufacture and that it couldn't be helped. He also convinced me that the P pickup (which had no issues) was the only one you really needed for my kind of music (at that age I probably had a Fear Factory shirt on). Being utterly naive, and already in love with the bass, I took it. First person to guess which reputable London bass trader that was wins a peanut.

When I was at school, there was a little guitar shop up the road where we would frequently 'miss' chosen lessons to go and look round. They had a very early Wal in there, single pickup, scratchplate, wide headstock and everything. It was about £350 and it hung on the wall for years. Yes, I regret that one.

Do Fender still make the Mexican 50s Precision? AFAIK they are the same as the Roadworns but 'pre-beating'. A lot cheaper too. I would happily say that the one I played was the best-feeling P bass I have had the pleasure to hold. The neck is the stuff of dreams.

[quote name='danweb22' post='1280616' date='Jun 24 2011, 10:15 AM']Ah I was hoping someone was able to do that! lol[/quote] I can't see anything other than 'WB'...

I enjoyed that. Any chance of 'Dyer's Eve'?

[quote name='chrisd24' post='1274206' date='Jun 18 2011, 10:27 PM']I used interparcel a little while ago as had the same issue sending an accordion to ireland and was getting ridiculous quotes elsewhere. there site is [url="http://www.interparcel.com/?gclid=CPXdo5mywKkCFQEY4Qod8AH4EA"]here[/url] You can get an easy quote while choosing what service you use,and insurance on your item is vastly cheaper than what royal mail will charge,and they will pick the item up from you saving the hassle of even leaving the house![/quote] That's who I use. I usually go for the TNT option.

I don't know why the term 'self-indulgent' has become so derogatory - as far as I am concerned, the finest music is self-indulgent, i.e. composed for self satisfaction and for the sheer joy of it, rather than for a target audience. When I shut myself away and start working on ideas, I'm not thinking of anybody but myself.

Sounds like my ideal band! Shame I'm a bit far away.

[quote name='Maverick' post='1274201' date='Jun 18 2011, 10:21 PM']Completely unimportant point, but he's back to the Marcus Miller in their latest live vids. I'm kind of glad, thinking that Mendez's bass looked really cool is how I first discovered Marcus Miller [/quote] From Opeth to Marcus Miller in one move. So he's back with the Fenders then. To be honest the last time I saw them was at High Voltage almost a year ago, and he used Sandbergs throughout - I think it was the J style one with the MM pickup at the bridge. Although, true to Opeth form, you could hardly hear the bass!

[quote name='dc2009' post='1274198' date='Jun 18 2011, 10:19 PM']You dismantled it? o.O I just checked, and my A string is perfectly even with both pickups soloed and when mixed, sound like you just had a bit of a duff magnet, which is a shame. Mine sounds pretty nice, though the J pup is a bit weak as I said before. And thanks for the kind words merello, I do love the look of it too.[/quote] The close string spacing was always a bit much for me, I had the idea of turning it into a 'Fenderbird' with an old Encore P-style neck I had knocking around. Turns out the necks were the same width, so Epiphone clearly just squeezed an extra string onto a standard sized neck. Never got round to completeing it and sold the parts on Ebay, doubtless to another Fenderbird enthusiast. Sounds like I must have had a duff pickup then!

The only 'metal' bands that would give a toss about the appearance of the bass would be the trendy-arse, whiney emo metal - and that's only jumped up production line pop music anyway. Any metal band worth their salt wouldn't give a monkey's. This whole thing about all metal bassists playing black basses (or worse, blood-splattered) is a cliche at best. Examples - Opeth's bass player used Fender Marcus Miller basses for years, now plays Sandberg. The guy from Fear Factory played modified Roscoe Beck basses. And this: [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SSCduKrF5Zc&feature=related"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SSCduKrF5Zc...feature=related[/url]

Veeeeeery nice... Very Fear Factory If the recent quality of Squiers is anything to go by it should be a killer.

[quote name='dc2009' post='1272954' date='Jun 17 2011, 05:01 PM']Here are some pics I've just taken, apologies for the pisspoor light.[/quote] That takes me back. Wish I had never dismantled it now! Can you check to see if the A string is particularly quiet with the J pickup solo'd? Mine was, I would be interested to know if mine was iffy or if it was an inherent design flaw.

The most impressive thing by far is that your mum is a stand up comedian.

Another shout for the Line 6 Lowdown110. I have one and it is wonderful. Wouldn't fancy it's chances against a drummer but for bedroom practice and recording it's fantastic.