Sibob

Thanks NJE, will have a look. I mean, perhaps there aren't any bad combinations?? Do people think that it really matters what pickups are used with what preamp? You'd like to think that a companies preamps will sound 'best' with their pickups, but is there really a difference?! Si

Hi all, Recently I purchased a Lakland 55-01, whilst it sounds fine, I've decided to swap out the Bart MK-1 Pickups and Preamp. Already I have Bartolini humbucker (dual coil) USA replacements on the way (collecting at NAMM actually), but i'm looking for peoples experiences with preamps they've had installed with Bart dual coils. Of course I could just go with the Bart NTMB-F Pre, but thought I'd see what peoples experiences are, as I don't have a lot of experience with different preamps (let alone with specific pickups), having spent my playing life playing probably 80% passive basses. Cheers all Si

[quote name='woodywyatt' timestamp='1483796772' post='3210195'] Quite interested in this to take on my travels just to keep my hand in while on holidays. Would it easily fit into a suitcase? [/quote] For what it's worth, I fit a full scale scale (34") jazz bass into my luggage by removing the neck from the body when I visited Nashville. Simply packed it in with my pants and clothes etc. would have been even easier with a 32" or 30" scale.......and they're not super ugly basses lol Si

They're as good or bad as any other brand depending on your tastes Fwiw, I had a set of Seymour Duncan soapbars in my Fodera and they sounded great! Si

[quote name='stingrayPete1977' timestamp='1483910332' post='3211113'] How many other basses have a shim too though, they are regarded as solid work horses even with the shim so it doesn't bother me, it must be there for a reason as it's not for saddle height issues? [/quote] Who knows, this certainly isn't a MM slagging, they're great mostly, just wasn't to be this time . This thread has probably run its course I guess. For those interested in my Lakland NBD thread, it's here: http://basschat.co.uk/topic/297128-nbd-lakland-55-01/page__fromsearch__1 Cheers Si

[quote name='Orbs' timestamp='1483903949' post='3211024'] MM IMHO make some of the best basses out there, both in sound (which I agree is subjective), and engineering and fit etc, top quality stuff..... [/quote] Perhaps, although another thread has highlighted that all Musicman Basses come factory fitted with a shim in the neck joint......which is a little odd to me. They do usually sound great though! Si

To be fair, I'm not sure how much of a B string is down to the 35" scale. My previous Xotic had a fantastic B and that was 34". Before I got the 55-01, I tried a few Musicman SR5s: 2016 5H - Sounded horrible 2012 5HH - Nice but much less versatile than I had imagined 2006 5H - Sounded great So, same as any bass, they all differ, some are great, others less so. I'm very impressed with the 55-01 so far, at less than half the price of a SR5, it's a fantastic prospect. Even if I swap the pickups and the preamp, it probably comes in at about £800-£900 cheaper than a new SR5. This is what made up my mind after trying the 55-01 and enjoying it straight away (luck perhaps), whilst having mixed results with testing SR5s. I think I'm done with SR5s for now, really going to get to know the Lakland, although would still like a nice SR4 one day Si

It is a very cool bass, proud of myself for the spec haha. I'd probably still own it if I had a bigger place, oh well, maybe one day Si

What are the other 3 pedals? What tuner? Si

Made a quick demo of my Guma Antique build for your delectation: https://youtu.be/RFd51bJM5l0 1983 Squier JV Jazz, played with a pick, into the Ditto, then into the Antique, out into a Focusrite iTrack Pocket. Si

[quote name='ordep' timestamp='1483585882' post='3208499'] [IMG]http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd127/ordepresplandor/BE1CD9D4-FE89-48D7-BA0B-3270AEC5F56E_2.jpg[/IMG] the family along with their 80's and techno loving cousin on the right. [/quote] Ah you bought my old Maruszczyk? . Knew you fell in love with it at the Herts Bash . How are you finding it? Si

There's a lot that can make a high C sing or sound awful, scale length, fret size, string gauge, electronics. Personally I really don't like C strings on medium-jumbo frets (which most basses tend to have). I had a Fodera 5 string which was 33" scale and small frets, and that 26 gauge C sounded fantastic. The argument above which states that Cs are pointless because you can get "most of the notes on a bass anyway" is odd, especially because the same thinking can be applied to low Bs lol, you can also get 'most of the notes', you're only missing 5 extra notes in both examples . What does of course matter is context, I love having a high C 5er, great for chordal work & studying. You can obviously do that on a low B 5, but you either accept you're a 4th out in the same position, or that you'l quickly run out of space playing material in the same key as the high C bass. Ultimately, I had more use day to day for a low B, for transposing keys on gigs and retaining low notes, Bs, Cs & Ds etc, so I reverted to a bass with a Low B (which doesn't suit small frets IMO) Si

I agree, you may as well go straight to the interface from your bass (assuming the interface has an Instrument input), then just use a amp/cab sim VST for the rest. I recently recording an album with my Precision direct to my Focusrite Clarett and it sounded brilliant, didn't use any VSTs other than a little compression. Si

I wouldn't say they're that expensive, they seen comparative with other custom built basses. Si

Taking a 5er from B-G to E-C is easy, the most amount of work is changing the nut, and that's not always completely necessary. It's not a 'delicate' job, and if a luthier can't do it.....they're not a luthier. However if you want a bass that comes in that configuration to start with, try the Ibanez Volo: http://www.ibanez.com/products/u_eb_detail.php?year=2016&cat_id=2&series_id=53&data_id=70&color=CL01 Si

Finished my Guma Antique. Fair warning....the enclosure contains swears, but are quotes from the South Park film.....so morally we're cool. Sounds good! Happy with it [url=https://postimg.org/image/h9eedwmr3/][/url] [url=https://postimg.org/image/uetwk0gmn/][/url] Si

[quote name='Deedee' timestamp='1482952439' post='3203737'] With this in mind, I'm obviously very happy with the Squier/Fender P string spacing, but what about the Stingray 5? Am I correct in thinking that the string spacing on that is far narrower than the Stingray 4? If so, is the spacing on a US Sub 5 any wider? [/quote] 99% of 4 strings (be it a Stingray or whatever) have a 19mm spacing at the bridge. Most Fender/Squier 5s (if not all?!) will also be 19mm. ALL Musicman 5 strings are 17.5mm spacing at the bridge, meaning they'll feel quite different. Si

Mike Newell on here bought a Fodera copy from Ali Express and it was a heap of junk, so will be interesting to see how this pans out. It's a little difficult, as many people want to 'try a 5 string' (or whatever feature it is you're exploring), but understandably not spend a lot of money to do so. However, judging it on a £170 plank thrown together may not give you the best experience......so consider something else before giving up on 5s if this experience fails Si

I play the bass that is best for that given gig/session. Ultimately, 4 is home for me, but I've been going between 4s & 5s since the early 2000s, so am perfectly happy playing a 5 if the situation calls for it. Because I can easily get low Ds, Cs & Bs etc on a 4 using an octave pedal, 9 times out of 10, I'm only playing a 5 for one reason, if I'm unsure what singer is on a gig, and therefore what keys the songs are in that night. Changing positions on a 5 is infinitely easier to me than transposing on the fly on a 4 (a good exercise, but on a paid gig is often not the place to 'try it out' with tunes you might not know 100%). If I was going to own one bass, it would likely be a 5 string Precision (or a Fodera with a split coil in that position ), but luckily I'm able to own a nice vintage Precision, because let's face it, works in 99% situations, and have a great 5er for the situations that call for it Even on a gig that I usually use a 5er on, I recorded the album on my '71 Precision, and for the couple of low Eb & D notes dotted around, I simply tuned it down and dropped in single notes But whatever feels best to you, and suits the gigs/situations you're in! Completely take the point that for a lot of pit/sight-reading work, 5s & 6s are often best for easier positional playing! Si

[quote name='progben' timestamp='1482418800' post='3200410'] Those Focusrite interfaces look great. Are they compatible with Windows PCs or is it Apple only? [/quote] Our Clarett range of interfaces are compatible with Windows PC & Mac, as are our Scarlett range. Cheers Si

My yearly update. This is how I'm finishing 2016, and I anticipate the whole of 2017. L-R: 2016 Lakland Skyline 55-01 - The 5 String 1971 Fender Precision - The One 1983 Squire JV Jazz - The YOB Jazz Again, sorry for horrible lighting. 2017 is going to be fun Si