Muzz

I'd be inclined to have a chat with the chaps (OK, Andy) at Wizard: I've had a few of their pickups, and while my tone goals were very different from yours, the pickups are very good, and the ones I chose did the job for me. Edit: Although my experience is with Wizard, I'm sure there are other small pickup companies out there (and I'm sure people will chime in with their experiences) who will make you something to your specific requirements. I'd look at that option over something off the shelf.

The body wood on the Epi T-Bird is a nice piece of Alder, which looks good, and there's very little Epi left in either of them, but the real test is how they play, which is...great. I'm convinced a great neck pocket makes a lot of difference, and that's down to Steve at PMT. It's a US Lakland neck, too, which will originally have cost zillions. I'll get some better pics of the Birdseye Lakland board, it's ridiculous. Never liked Rosewood meself; maple all the way, or wenge at a push. They're much brighter than the real thing, but then the Dingwall pickups are very different to Gibbo humbuckers, and by the time I've got the active 3-band in there, it'll be different again. They're a visual exercise as much as anything, and as such I think they work. Oh, and it's not a Fender neck - it's a Mighty Mite Jazz, just to confuse things even further...

Wasn't it a JE prototype thing that never went anywhere? Anyway, it's only got 20 frets... Cheers chaps, like I say, it's a bit of an obsession now. [quote name='White Cloud' timestamp='1370797783' post='2105667'] Oooooh, the Laklandbird also has a supertone bringing up the rear. Beautiful bass! Me likey!!!!!!!!!!!!!! [/quote] And Ultralites with a detuner at t'other end...no neck dive here...

Stick the matching 115X powered cab underneath it - I had the full stack, and you're not gonna get any arguments with 690w!

OK, so this whole Fenderbird thing is becoming a bit of an obsession, but, after a very long time in the making, the Laklandbird lives! A big, big thank you to Steve Curtis at PMT in Manchester for a cracking neck pocket, given a very unusual request - a 22-fret neck onto a 19-fret pocket. The pocket, like the first one he did for me, is airtight. And yes, it also has the Most Pointless Top Five Frets in bass history, but as I get giddy and nauseous anywhere above the 12th fret, that won't be an issue for me. Still some bits and bobs to do with pickups (Dingwall) and preamp (East U-Retro), but nearly there. Here's the two of them together: [attachment=136557:fenderbirds1.jpg] [attachment=136558:fenderbirds2.jpg] Oh, and one of them will be in the For Sale section soon - can't really justify two of them at once.

[quote name='Lozz196' timestamp='1370688700' post='2104375'] JJ Burnell of The Stranglers, on Hanging Around: [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=si2kis6lWRg[/media] [/quote] This.

Nice bass, I love doing this sort of thing. Trouble is, it becomes addictive...I have to feck around with everything now, even Dingwalls...

Yup, the 1024s are very nice, but the 2024s I've played were something else entirely. Because they don't look (from a distance) like a boutique/luthier built bass, I think people underestimate their quality - you have to play them to really appreciate them.

As has been pointed out, half a dozen songs is an audition, 25 is a dep gig list. Sounds like that's what they had in mind, anyway.

I'm shedding my heavier basses (and by heavier I mean anything over 9lbs, and this bar is descending all the time), the difference playing my 7.5lb Dingwall for an evening compared to heavier basses is startling. It would have to be a very very special bass for me to buy these days if it weighed more than 8.5lb. Needless to say, the 12lb (!) 78 Jazz was the first to go. The whole "Where's the rest of it?" 2x15 900w rig weighs 45lbs, head and cab. The originals band I'm in sometimes practice for more than 4 1/2 hours. I sit down.

I've used D'Addario Nickels (Reg.Light 45-100) on my ABZ4, and while it's close, they do fit. I use DRs now (Sunbeams 45-105 and Lo-Rider 45-105), and they fit as well. Tensions are great for me, but I play mostly with a pick, so I like a higher tension. I don't think I've encountered a string that didn't fit, but that is on the 4 string.

All depends on the size of the pub, and the size of the band. You certainly don't [i]need[/i] an 8x10 any more (I had one a long time ago) for volume - there's plenty of much smaller kit which will do the job, but hey, if you wanna stand in front of one (and don't mind lugging it around), go for it!

[quote name='Bloodaxe' timestamp='1370269074' post='2098327'] They're trying to get hold of the seller to see if they can take it to bits to investigate further, so there's seemingly a question mark or two in Martin's mind. [/quote] If there's a question mark or two, it's a good job they didn't try and sell it first for three grand, then...

My Streamliner's never been over about nine o'clock on the master, gain/input about noon. Was at that last night at a 200-head wedding gig, drums through the PA, I wasn't. Deafeningly loud head - at least as loud as anything I've had, including LMIII, Mesa M-Pulse, etc. Did accidentally play it that loud once in the garage when I'd left the dials untouched post-gig, hit an open E and the place basically dismantled itself - I was picking up jars and tools for ten minutes...

Well, I managed about half a minute of that, and I was fully clenched for the last 10 seconds of that time, so no, I can't stand him.

[quote name='Lozz196' timestamp='1369485659' post='2089705'] Barefaced or Schroeder, both are lightweight, both will take all the power you have and be plenty loud/powerful enough. Both expensive, but great quality. Barefaced to me are very neutral/uncoloured in their sound. What you put in comes out. Schroeders have a mid-bias which, when playing solo sounds a bit scratchy/nasally, but this really helps them in the mix. [/quote] From my experience, this. the Schroeder 2x12s (1212L) and 2x15s (1515L) are both about 40lbs, and the Barefaced Super12, while a bit bigger, is about the same. The 1x15 Compact's even lighter - IIRC 26lbs or so. My 1515L with my 900w Streamliner can destroy any drummer, and it's a real one-hand lift. I even have guitarists offering to carry it...

Legend. Love the story from filming LOTR told by Elijah Wood, that they used to sit and discuss Tolkein's motivations or nuances in a particular scene, and then Christopher Lee arrived on set and was able to say "Well, he never mentioned that to me."

[quote name='Rasta' timestamp='1369375121' post='2088419'] I've just recently sanded down my green fortress to reveal a lovely maple grain, two piece - love it! They're great basses for the money although I put a passive set up in my bass with wizards for a more traditional sound. I paid £350 for mine about a year ago, the previous owner I believe had it from new and paid over £1k back in the 90's. My Fortress has become my main gigging bass for my soul band especially now that I've ditched the bogie green colour, much prefer the oiled natural looks, superb slim necks too and top Warwick build quality. Mine is definitely a keeper [/quote] We (more specifically I ) need pics! Ahh, go on, go on, go on. BTW, how,long did it take you to sand it down? The finish on mine looks bomb-proof! Edit: sorry, bit of a thread derail there. I'd say 400-450 depending on condition, finish, etc. As you were.

Looking forward to it. Give the cost of tickets, I ration myself these days - not seen them since R30.

There's plenty of info on the Kent Armstrongs here http://www.wdmusic.co.uk/soapbar-bass-pu-4-or-5-string-bridge-1226-p.asp Never used them myself, but they look like they'll fit, and one reviewer had them in a TBird copy, so...

I put a set of passive EMG Hz into my Fenderbird project thing, and was, as BRX says, pretty underwhelmed by the result. If you're after the 80s metal sound, you'll want the active EMG setup, but I think that might bust your budget and also I doubt you'll fit the active EQ and battery into the bass- the control cavity is pretty shallow on those: I put a pull-serial pot in mine and found I couldn't get the cavity panel back on flush afterwards... Perhaps try a couple of the custom pickup makers like Wizard or Cats Whiskers, they may be able to make you something? They're not as expensive as you'd think, and they're certainly worth a phone call to chat about it.

I was gigging. Best thing to be doing on a Saturday night.

[quote name='Dandelion' timestamp='1368787695' post='2081448'] I like that triple bass stand.. [/quote] Hercules thingy. Don't use all three very often, but it was a wedding gig and I needed the acoustic bass for a Irish unplugged-ish set which had been requested. Normally the guitarist uses the third one, or for comedy value, we hang the mandolin off it.