hooky_lowdown

Number one influence on your sound is the strings. Then pickup type (alnico, neo, ceramic), neck and body woods have a very small influence on one's sound, a natural wood body or one with nitro will give a tiny bit of warmth, if it's covered in thick poly, you'll get a more snappy, punchy tone due to the vibrations from the strings bounding off the plastic like surface. I'd say electrics have as much influence as neck and body woods. 

Sustain is different from tone. A heavy or high mass bridge because of its shear mass, will increase sustain due to vibration lose through the body is less then a bbot bridge for example. The choice of nut material can also influence the sound. A cheap plastic nut, because of its relative softness will give a softer, warmer sound. Other materials can give a glass like tone, super crisp.

You just can't go wrong with a Yamaha. Never played a bad one, always well made.

@Chienmortbb brass saddles are the worst for sustain, because brass is a softer metal than your standard steel saddles, so absorbs vibrations more, meaning they deaden the sound. If you want sustain get a bone nut and high mass bridge. 😀

Unavailable

Sold

Unavailable

Still available. 😎

@Chiliwailer 

Do you know the output of these?

Or leave the sponge there and just enjoy playing! 😎

4 hours ago, carlos fandango said:

Many thanks to you all for your replies but especially to hooky_lowdown for the tip to put a bit of sponge under the strings.....wow what a huge difference that made
Who'd have thought something so simple would have a drastic improvement...cheers hooky and I'll be keeping my 'cheap' 4 string lefty Tanglewood for a little while longer 😁

Something else which will lessen overtones are brass saddles, brass is a little softer metal than the standard metal used for saddles, the result is an ever so slightly dampening of the string.

If you like a medium or high action than it shouldn't be an issue with the thicker base. May be an idea to add a shim to the neck, to offset the height from the thicker base.

SOLD - 2001 MIK Cort Action with reversed P pickup and J pickup. Solid alder body, in semi translucent Teal (greeny / blue colour), with wood grain beneath. Straight rosewood neck, which was recently cleaned and lemon oiled.

20 minutes ago, Paul S said:

Sue Rider Precisions came in and out of vogue with equal haste.

This, along with Westfields and SX's.

1 hour ago, ezbass said:

I can't think it wouldn't be totally worth it. 

 

Maybe because the stock pickup sounds pretty good. Its short coming is that is lacks a lot of output, but if the music you play doesn't need huge volume, then it works and sounds decent. My EB3 and EB0 both are stock and sound good, to me atleast.

I have no idea why people are mentioning 5 string - the OP hasn't?!?

Anyway, it sounds like you're getting overtones, a quick and easy fix is to put some foam under the strings like the picture below. This will stop the strings from ringing when you move to the next one.

There's nothing wrong with your Rebel bass. The biggest affect on the sound you get on any string instrument is the strings themselves! You need to try out a few sets of strings by different brands, or let folk here know the type of sound you want to get or favourite bands, and we can guide you to the best string choice. Having an expensive bass with poor or cheap strings will still sound poor, it'll just feel nicer to play.

Not sure Level 42 or the Undertones were new wave?!? There was a lot of Scottish bands which were new wave and didn't get there appreciation, if you're talking UK only.

Unlike some of the old farts on here I like the Sleaford Mods. Punk ethic, a little political, passionate, honest. A lot of their stuff is bass driven, even if sampled, melodic.

21 minutes ago, Ricky Rioli said:

That Cort was definitely a bass I should NOT have bought....and yet the regret, the regret..... 😅

Don't want to rub it in, but it's a cracking bass. Luckily I have an even better P for sale currently. 😉

19 minutes ago, Ander87 said:

Thank you Marc! What's the weight on this beauty?

I'll take a wild guess at 4kgs.

If you can find a set, the closed back tuners on full size P or J squiers are pretty much a drop in replacements. They're more sturdy than the original bronco one's, and will allow you to put on heavier guage strings. I did this to one bronco I owed, and fitted fender flats. Sounded fantastic, even with the stock pickup.

26 minutes ago, Ander87 said:

Guys sorry to bother but do any of you have details to order a Limelight? @attackbass @wateroftyne @Hobbayne sorry for the mentions but I can’t find anything!

Go to the limelight website, and email Mark.

40 minutes ago, TheGreek said:

When I started playing your choices were Dean Markleys or Ernie Balls...

It seems that loads of people use the EBs, I don't know anybody who uses DMs - and I can't find a reason why...

Kim Deal of the Pixies used/uses DMs exclusively. One very good reason right there! 😉

3 minutes ago, Reggaebass said:

If you just want a decent sat at a reasonable price I’d recommend these, they are very good for the money 👍

Totally agree. These are very decent flatwounds, sound good and are very reasonably priced, ideal for first time flatwounds imho. Medium tension too, so they won't feel like you're playing steel rods.

They won't sound or feel as nice as higher priced flatwounds, but an excellent starting point.

13 minutes ago, barrycreed said:

What guages do you think would work well for short scale? I can't imagine what light guage would be like. I suppose medium guage is always a safe option...

Heavy guage strings for short scale. Because short scales are lower tension, they need thicker strings to get a fuller, richer sound. Light guage strings at low tension will lack any presence, especially in the low end department.

Andy purchased a jazz bass from me. Very easy transaction and communication. Fast payment.

Top guy. 👍

Why do you require a second bass?