basshead56

Hi guys, Just thinking of replacing the stock fender jazz pickups with Kent Armstrong lipstick style ones, just cause, you know, there isn't enough blingy chrome on these basses already... Anyone have any thoughts on these pickups?

I like them all! As long as it cuts through and gives me enough bottom end. Mostly using 10's live these days but when I (rarely) get the chance to use it live - nowt beats the Marshall VBA 8x12 rig!!! I've had good and bad experiences with 15's - owned an amazing Trace Elliot 2x15 that could alter the Earth's spin on its axis and my old humble Rumble sounded great every time but have also had some flabby ones too - house backline in some venues we played in featured some awful (older) Ashdown combos, a pig of an old Laney head and cab and what I'm sure was a GK stack (but the logos were missing). A good pre and DI set up solved most of that I reckon it is much less complicated these days, as most of the modern stuff is far better engineered.

I had the exact same problem when I got one new, back when they first came out. I got mine from the US about 3 weeks after they were launched. I really wanted a 51 style P Bass with split coils and this ticked all the boxes! I was incredibly chuffed with it, except for this strange dull E (and a bit on the A too) issue. After a bit of a look-over it turned out to be the incredibly cheap plastic nut that came with it from the factory. Shame really as otherwise, these are stunning basses for the money! The addition of a bone nut and a proper set up solved the problem immediately and it even improved the bass' unplugged tone! If you're a bit strapped, try a proper set up and new strings first and if the problem persists, look at replacing the nut further on. This should solve the problem!

[quote name='floFC' timestamp='1396822304' post='2417781'] Anyway, I have just had a go on the Stylist and I do hold it differently. The body, as well as being deeper is also much bigger than a solid body, so instead of my forearm resting on the body it's really the crook of my elbow. I also tend to pluck closer to the neck. [/quote] Same here, but closer to my forearm than elbow and i play closer to the neck. I use LaBella flats on mine and i fnd myself digging in a little more. Nice snappy sound, but again, pickups are just a touch light for my tastes...

Hi all, While on a return visit to my native Ireland, my fiance did something very silly - bought me a coffin bass! We were in Ireland for a month so she could finally meet my family, see where I come from and see the sights too as she's never been any further north than Australia. Before I left Ireland, I'd been living with my parents for a year or so after uni, so all my clothes, cds, books, dvds, bits and pieces and of course... my gear were all in storage there. So, I also had to make the call about which stuff I'd bin and what to keep (gear included). My dad is quite pally with the logistics manager of a very large multinational food company, who kindly pointed him in the direction of the freighting company they sub-contract to, and also quoted him corporate rate too! yay! Packed up the old clothes and personal effects easily enough. and my dad and I packed up all my gear (Marshall and Ampeg rigs, basses, pedal boards etc) - all in their road cases, plenty of bubble wrap and packing tape and more bubble wrap! Anyway, while on a wee tour around Dublin, she (unbeknownst to me) found a bloke selling a very badass coffin bass and arranged to collect it from him at the train station on our way back to my parents' place! Needless to say, I was very impressed that she had pulled this off, delighted with the instrument (it's a big ugly bugger but sounds stunning!!!) but also a touch disheartened about the logistics involved in getting this back to New Zealand!!! Now, i knew that getting the rest of the guitars and amps out was going to be hard, but had no idea how hard the double bass issue was going to be. My old man has since figured it out - he's going to build a crate for it out of treated wood, pack the cr*p out of it and add it to the pile. Apparently this has all been sorted with the logistics company. They have arranged a total cost for all my music gear (subject to final weight) excluding fumigation at customs (here in NZ) from my parents house to my front door here in NZ. Interesting, my parents were advised by the freighting company not bother freighting my other stuff - as 'Personal effects' is a customs nightmare and can slow the whole thing down with examination, paperwork etc, so they are just going to mail it in bulk. While the price for freighting was great (for 8 basses, 2 gats, VBA rig in cases, Ampeg 4PRO + 610 rig, Marshall gat halfstack) and the reputation of the firm is excellent, I can't help feel equally as nervous as I am excited about finally having all of my gear in one spot for the first time in 5 years! Now loads of you will ask why bother shipping it - simple - the availability and cost of this sort of gear down here totally makes it worthwhile - you just can't get it as easily and the price is ridiculous. Thus selling any of it means a greater return for me. I will also insure the hell out of it. Anyone done this before? General thoughts? Cheers Col

Current lot of American Standard every time

[quote name='RAY AGAINST THE MACHINE' timestamp='1396474314' post='2414214'] Just wondering; how much would a pair of replacement pickups cost to be fitted to my taxi bass, if I wanted ? [/quote] I'm wondering the exact same thing here: [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/233406-gretsch-pickup-question/"]http://basschat.co.uk/topic/233406-gretsch-pickup-question/[/url] They are amazing basses, just the stock pickups are a tad weedy!

For what it's worth I use the 4 PRO atop a 610HLF and it's the mutt's! I run it mono bridged and the cab can take it with ease. Serious earth moving equipment there!

UPDATE: So I found a set of Gretsch Blacktops on the bay awhile back. They are the ones in the current Electromatic basses. Got the bass back yesterday from my mate who installed them. He said a tiny amount of routing was required but they were an easy fit. I sounds HUGE!!! Massive thick boom from the neck and plenty of twang from the bridge! Tone to spare! and not a hint of feedback when driven through my Mesa 8x10! Equally cool is the sound when played unplugged - it feels and sounds like a totally different instrument to before. I think this may be down to the metal pickups but don't really care why. All I know is I'm chuffed! I was incredibly happy getting one to begin with but much happier now - it's NBD all over again! Just need to decide on the colour of the dice knobs I NEED to add...

Dammit!!! I just managed to get my hands on an original Cabbie last year. Oh well, I'm still in love with it. Just need to swap the pickups out for gretsch ones. Awesome basses.

[quote name='Ou7shined' timestamp='1392231469' post='2366288'] Did she use and iron man? [/quote] Surely it's Mop Rules?! I'll get me coat...

[quote name='rogerstodge' timestamp='1391957009' post='2362949'] I think Lozz is Leo Fender in disguise ?? [/quote] Lozz is the man! $800 Euros?! Bargain!!!

[quote name='blinddrew' timestamp='1391803971' post='2361597'] Think that track might be set to private Col? Saw a video of myself playing at a jam night last week, only thing I can say is that I'm glad that the phone camera barely picks up the bass notes! [/quote] Hi Drew, Can't seem to get the public link up and running... I guess try putting in 'Otepuni' in the search bar, that might get around it. I saw a video recently too, at least I kinda looked like I knew what I was doing. haha

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1390905372' post='2351013'] I find your lack of faith disturbing. [/quote] [quote name='thodrik' timestamp='1391038981' post='2352690'] Possibly, Orange might be trying to move in on the EBS/GK/Mesa/Hartke using metal people. I just don't see Orange offering a really extensive eq system that you tend to get with such amps at a similar price point. If the blend is awesome though, it might render any other criticisms meaningless though. [/quote] True, it does appear they are venturing into Mesa territory, but this is no M-Pulse 600 - lacks the big EQ section and (Han) Solo channel... I'm off...

[quote name='Marc S' timestamp='1390916115' post='2351190'] Can't add any useful suggestions, I'm afraid but I'd like to know how you get on, and what exactly you do to add the clicky I'm thinking about adding one to my Stagg EUB Let us know anyhow Good luck with it Marc [/quote] Hi marc, will do mate [quote name='ubassman' timestamp='1390917183' post='2351227'] erm ...whats a clicky? [/quote] A clicky is a smaller transducer pickup one may attach beneath the fingerboard to amplify the 'click' sound of slap/percussive playing.

Hey guys, I'm trying to boost the 'click' in my slap sound and have been considering adding a clicky pickup to my Baby clone. It already has a transducer style pup under the bridge which sounds great, but unfortunately it just doesn't give me the click I hear playing acoustically. What's the best way to sort this? I have thought of getting the clicky, and having it wired to the tone knob (with the tone disconected at full) and having this pot control the clicky volume. Would this work? would I need a preamp? Any recommendations on clickys? Cheers Colin

Hi all, Just heard a 'bootleg' of my 'side-project' band's second show (that was only my second/third proper gig on DB) taken from the desk that night. It was mostly covers with a couple of our own chucked in. Whilst we were fairly intoxicated going on (it was 1am by the time we staggered onstage-the joys of being the headline at a blues/folk/rockabilly show, during a huge biker festival) AND considering it was my second set that night, I reckon it was pretty good overall. It was done using my Baby clone strung with red Weedwhackers going through my VT Deluxe to the desk and a crappy unknown Peavey am on stage. Some of my lines definitely reflect the band name and vibe (Otepuni Moonshine); staggered and drunken. I was quite impressed with my slap tone, which is what I really wanted to nail, so happy with that. The drummer slipped a couple of times but I covered it up as best I could.haha. The guitarist's timing was off in a couple of places and I seem to recall the crappy/battered house Peavey amp (fairly sure it was a keyboard amp) cut out a couple of times so my onstage monitoring wasn't brilliiant. Anyway, there's definitely room for overall improvement (hey, if it was perfect, I'd be bored all day!) but I'm happy with how I'm coming along- I reckon I'm ten times better now when compared with that gig back in November. I'm also thinking of adding a clicky to the fretboard to make the slap tone a bit more defined/sharper. Only gutted I couldn't get a copy of my first set with my Rockabilly mates, cause I reckon that was much better (it had to be, I was stone-cold sober!) But this set was pretty good (I reckon). I certainly had fun playing, so did the boys and we got free beer and paid pretty well, so I guess that's all that matters If anyone has a spare 33 mins and wants to have a listen/provide some constructive criticism/tear it to pieces - all is gratefully appreciated [url="https://soundcloud.com/live-sound-engineering/otepuni-moonshine-mix-ii/s-v8DZb"][u]Clip here on Soundlcoud[/u][/url] Cheers Col

I think they look great. Sound wise, never heard a bad one. I wouldn't say no to one.

Has to be the 68-69 Boss edition! Seriously though, of the two, I'd be more tempted by the Pawn Shop version, having owned the 64RI. I loved the look and feel of it (fiesta red) and it was nice and light. Beautiful neck and fretboard. What let it down for me was the sound. It didn't have the same thump I heard in my head, no matter what i did with it (raising pickups, different strings etc). Don't get me wrong, it was a great bass and i was hesitant about selling it, but it wasn't getting the use it deserved so it went to a good home (on here). I tried the PS version recently and loved the sound of the 'huge motherbucker' - proper vintage sounds on tap there. Mind you, Paul S. has the right idea - get a cheap old Musicmaster and mod it out - vintage look and feel and still cheaper than either Mustang new (if you get the right one) - you can make your own 'Pawn Shop' model - that's what Fender did!!!

[quote name='Lozz196' timestamp='1390214297' post='2342569'] Niiiiiice bass, congrats. [/quote] Cheers mate, it is indeed one of the nicer ones I've picked up. Seriously growly without being too dark and muddy. Not usually a fan of flats by any means, but they just seem 'right' on this. Mind you, never tried LaBella before either... [quote name='Geek99' timestamp='1390216200' post='2342593'] Schwing... Like the light relic [/quote] Yeah, it's a fantastic light relic job, just around the edges in places. It really does feel lived in, but brand new at the same time. The guy i got it from has a serious collection of MIJ/CIJ Fenders which he seems to be thinning out before he rotates back to the UK. A kindred spirit - these are all mods I would have 100% definitely made myself anyway. Just short that bridge cover and tug bar... Anyone got either lying about idle? Happy to take them off your hands

[quote name='Si600' timestamp='1390207427' post='2342494'] Shiny! Nowt wrong with more Precisions I can't see the jack socket. When you said Strat style I expected to see the chrome recessed pocket on the front of the bass, Is it in the side? [/quote] EXACTLY! The more the merrier! haha Yeah it's still on the side

[quote name='antnee' timestamp='1390037884' post='2340691'] Love it, really want a DC! [/quote] They are great basses. If you can get one without spending silly money, get one!