retroman

I use one of the original ColourSound ToneBenders. The one with the silver enamel case. Think it's 60's?? Using that with my old Ricky, and the SVT gives a huge, phat, fuzz :wub: If you live anywhere near Derbyshire, your welcome to pop by, and try it out

[quote name='alexharvay' post='731805' date='Feb 1 2010, 03:13 PM']Was it that 76 bicentennial one?[/quote] Yeap! I was having a major GAS attack over it, drool pouring out both sides of the mouth..........The Mrs told me to load up ebay and have a look in our watch list.......She'd bid on it, and won it!!!! :wub: :wub: :wub: It's one of the 76 Bicentennials that was actually built in '77, going by the serial number. the bicentennial 'bird is my all time favourite bass!! Don't know that I would be brave enough to gig it though.....

That white 'bird looks lovely Speaking of ebay, I too am waiting for a 'bird to turn up in the post......Whoops, had a massive GAS attack, and have seriously hurt the savings account!!! It is my all time favourite 'bird though

Or, alternatively, if you are feeling semi wealthy, and live near Derbyshire, you could always book yourself on one of Jon Shuker's one week courses, where you get to build, and keep your own bass

Looks solid, and straight enough to me, but I think the asking price is a bit steep. The installation of that neck pickup looks a bit of a bodge to me, and looking at the wear on the front of the body, it's been played a lot. Me personally, I'd wait for another to come up

WHOOPS! :wub: :wub: :wub: I always was a sucker for an old 'bird..........

Personally, I am well used to gloss necks. I guess that comes from playing a Ric, and Gibbo's. The satin finish always feels a bit weird at first on Fendery type stuff, but it doesn't take too long to go shiny! My 'Ray is a weighty beast, as it has the Mahogony body. the wood on the neck is a really gorgeous mix of flame and birdseye. It really is drool worthy :wub: Dunno, if someone offered me a swap for a tidy Ric I would be more than tempted Or a 70's Tbird for that matter

It would have to be my old Rickenbacker for me :wub: The one I have a bit of a love hate relationship with is my 30th Anniversary Stingray...... Build quality is sublime, but sometimes I enjoy playing it, other times it just feels wrong....... Good example of this is I played it at band practice earlier this week, and it sounded, and felt horrible! But went away, rechecked and adjusted all the setup, used it at an all day band practice yesterday, and it felt good, and sounded awesome I'm starting to think about buying another Ric that I'm not sentimentally attached to Also took the old EB2 along yesterday, and while the others went off for lunch, I hatched the old beasty out......Wow! HOW MUCH LOW END?? Still have my first bass, and Aria Legend P bass clone. Jap Crap at its finest. Plywood body, but it has a really nice neck, and the tuners are really nice too. Plays nice, and will never part with it. I pick it up at least twice a week

I find my beloved 1980 Jetglo 4001 an absolute dream to play. I semi retired it due to sentimental value/ increasing values/ rarity, but everytime I pick it up, it just feels so right........Plays itself almost.... :wub: Hatched it out for yesterdays band practice, and had it hooked up to my SVT rig..... In fact, stuff it, I'm gonna use it at tonights gig!

[quote name='witterth' post='722741' date='Jan 24 2010, 12:20 AM']it keeps distorting a clean signal (in a Bad way)and losing power.....phwwwww[/quote] If it's any help, I've had a similar experience with two Trace amps; an AH300, and a V-Type AH600. Both amps started distorting badly, and losing power, then completely quit, and filled the rehearsal room with choking smoke! On both amps, the power amp board was completely fried, and needed complete new boards. The tech who repaired my V-Type said that there was a complete lack of protection in the power amp board, and when one component blue, it took everything out with it! Might be something completely different on your amp, thats just the experiences that I have had

Stick me down as a provisional. haven't got anything planned that day yet, and it's not that bad a run from Derbyshire I can bring some basses along, but I would struggle to bring my heavy weight rig

With the weakening pound, and rising costs of imported basses, perhaps it's time we all bought British. We have some fine luthiers in this country I'm starting to feel like custom built is the way forward....

[quote name='jezzaboy' post='722119' date='Jan 23 2010, 12:56 PM']In his book White line fever, Lemmy said that his roadie damaged his favourite Rickinbacker bass and although it could be repaired, his roadie went mad, smashed the thing to pieces and was promptly sacked! I`m not sure which one but he said it was his favourite at the time. I don`t think it was his famoue Rickenb*stard. [attachment=40860:lemmyy.gif] Jez[/quote] I wonder if it was the white one from the Overkill/ Bomber era? I think that Maple board one still survives. I was at a Motorhead gig a while back, and the Rickenbast*rd failed him, and out came old faithful.

Motorhead's "Ace Of Spades". Awesome album from start to finish. My favourite ever bass sound

I can't help wondering what happened to some of Lemmy's old basses.........

Be careful............................ My Gibson 'Bird is lovely to play, once the action was sorted out, has a lovely fast neck, and has a really good growly Tbird sound to it. Check any potential purchase out VERY carefully, as IMHO, quality control is poor Thats not to say that there aren't some really beautiful Tbirds out there, maybe I just got unlucky

[quote name='BottomEndian' post='721009' date='Jan 22 2010, 11:48 AM']IIRC, don't Rickenbackers have a relatively small "spreading-out" of the strings from nut to bridge? I mean, the strings aren't parallel, but they're much more so than you'd find on a Fender. That could account for the difference in feel. Unless IDRC. [/quote] Spot on The strings on the Ric are also really close to the edge of the board as well. The neck on my 4001 has to be my favourite

I think I can come at this from the other direction I'm more used to Rickenbacker, Gibson, and Jazz neck profiles, so my P basses fell quite chunky, and my Stingray feels huge! The 'Ray is hung on the wall, next to my Ric, and the neck physically looks way bigger than the Ric's I don't find P's, or the Ray uncomfortable to play, but they do feel really odd after playing the Ric. Dunno why, but I am starting to find that I like the P for playing finger style above anything else.........

[quote name='essexbasscat' post='720168' date='Jan 21 2010, 02:45 PM']Will you take my challenge ?? T [/quote] I took your challenge sir I like the main riff to that Bon Jovi track. I tried it both pick, and finger style, and found that fingers work best for me on that one. Did start to feel it a little in my fretting hand after about five minutes. Have to admit, I hadn't heard that track before, so it was a good challenge

OK Sir The only parts that are not chords are the intro, and the bridge riff. Under the verse, Lemmy uses his usual trick of playing the riff around the 5th and 7th fret position, and leave the string below ringing open. For Road Crew, the first note of each verse bar is G, fretted on the D string fifth fret, then A at the seventh on the D, all the time letting the open A string ring out loud and proud, muting the E with your thumb. Play that for three bars, then the fourth bar is a root and fifth chord, G, down to F, using the D and G strings. The 8th bar in the verse riff is the same as the fourth, just reversed, then play the intro/ bridge riff. All notes mentioned above are flat Hope that makes sense.......I'm not too clever at all this music theory stuff! :brow: The best "how to" for this song is on the Making of "Ace Of Spades" Classic Albums DVD. The DVD has lots of bonus features, one of which is Lemmy, Eddie, and Philthy belting out Road Crew for old times sake There are lots of close ups of Lemmy's bass playing, and you can quite clearly see how he is playing it. I play it with a pick (as lord god Lemmy intended), strumming very fast, on my old Ricky. Lemmy is more of a rythum guitarist, than a bass player to be honest PS, love the bit in the guitar solo, where Eddie fell over in the studio, and they just left it in there!! Loads of screaming feedback!

[quote name='essexbasscat' post='720187' date='Jan 21 2010, 02:59 PM']Well met, Mr. Metalhead You try mine and I'll try yours T[/quote] No probs T, I'll look at the link you posted, and have a go at it tonight for "Road Crew", you need to tune down half a step The "slower" version of the song is on the classic "Ace Of Spades" album. Actually, "Ace Of Spades" is another goodun!

Mr Metalhead to you!! "We Are The Road Crew" by Motorhead. Damned fast, and it's all chords on the bass. Normally have smoke coming off my forearm after that one!

Might also need a truss rod tweak, if there is too much forward relief in the neck. The latest Bass Guitar Magazine has a pretty good "How To" guide. If in any doubt, seek the advice of a local, reputable shop that does repairs.

Electro Music Services in Doncaster have always served me well Real Time Music in Chesterfield are a decent bunch of lads as well.