Soulfinger

[quote name='niceguyhomer' post='417298' date='Feb 23 2009, 01:03 PM']I don't Paul - but that's another issue [/quote] Hehe! I saw this thread and my first thought was... "I see a P bass in your immediate future." Two bands, heaps of money rolling in - never a better time to buy a Precision! Looking forward to the demos as well...

Andy Rourke Stuart Zender Meshell Ndegeocello Harvey Brooks Ray Brown Byron Miller Wilbur Bascomb Will Lee Tony Levin Dave Holland ...

To me, Kevin Breit (currently with Norah Jones) is as good as it gets. He can do everything, and everthing well. Check him out on Youtube.

Cool, good job! I love Paul Webb´s playing and tone on those Talk Talk albums. Here´s a pic of his bass BTW:

Hehe - had to chuckle when the bass came in and the camera was on the guitarist until it was too obvious that he wasn´t the one making those sounds. Great player (deserves a nicer web page though). Doesn´t help my GAS for a fretless P one bit...

[quote name='OutToPlayJazz' post='413878' date='Feb 19 2009, 09:12 AM']If you hear Victor playing in context, you'll understand it better. Most of his playing is some of the most utterly musical bass playing I've ever heard.[/quote] Not so sure about that. I don´t hear much music on his solo records, it sounds more of a circus act for bass nerds to me (no offence intended to anyone else but Wooten ). One track that I find particularly annoying is his take of "Teen Town" on the Jaco Pastorius Big Band album. The arrangement grooves like heck, he does a wonderful rendition of the actual theme and then, in his solo, after a promising start completely loses it in an abhorring double-thumb orgy that completely ignores all of the changes, melody and groove. It´s really, really awful and makes me want to take a chainsaw to his Fodera every time. To play like that on a studio record that has some of the best players in the business means that you either don´t have any respect, don´t care or don´t see what´s wrong with it. Each option is not indicative of a great musician IMHO.

I´m not sure if I understand what you´re after. You want lower action but more relief in the neck? Sounds counterproductive to me. For a nice, low action, I´d suggest getting the neck as straight as possible and adjusting the action by lowering the string saddles. Just my 2 Euro-cents...

[quote name='lonestar' post='411555' date='Feb 16 2009, 11:37 PM']There's a nice 70's one on here: [url="http://www.fareastguitars.co.uk/usedbasses.htm"]http://www.fareastguitars.co.uk/usedbasses.htm[/url] I wish I had some cash. I'd quite like one of these[/quote] GASP! Damn. I thought I was GAS free, but I just read the Mick Karn thread and now this..

[quote name='niceguyhomer' post='411343' date='Feb 16 2009, 07:50 PM']Ah soulfinger - a pleasant surprise. Where ya been?[/quote] Why thank you, Al! Been busy teaching myself guitar and blues harp. Actually, I do come here often but I usually keep lurking, enjoying reading about people joining new bands and getting gigs. Good job! Sorry for being OT.

Mmmmh, maple fretboard... Japanese Fenders come in different versions. Some have basswood bodies, some are alder, some have Japanese pickups, some have US pus - hence the differences in price. The cheapest Standard versions have a generic "Fender Precision Bass Made in Japan" decal similar in style to those found on Mexican Fenders (before the latter were upgraded in 2009). Then there are the 57 (maple fretboard) and 62 (rosewood) reissues with a vintage-style "Fender Precicsion Bass" logo on the headstock (like mine), basswood bodies and Japanese pickups. Those usually can be identified by the standard Fender-type string saddles (cylinders with a single groove). The "US" versions with alder bodies and US pickups have threaded string saddles on the bridge. There are ash-bodied 70s reissues as well. They do pop up every now and then on basschat and are usually cracking basses. Good luck in finding one!

[quote name='dougal' post='409776' date='Feb 14 2009, 11:19 PM']I'd agree that the SR's 'just' an iterative improvement on the precision[/quote] As far as I´m concerned, nothing to date has been an improvement on the almighty Precision. It´s just the best bass there is. Seriously - MMs are great, I never cared for the Status look, to each their own, YMMV, it´s all a matter of taste. For someone to state they have been "let down" by a bass because they prefer a different sound is a bit silly though IMO...

At the last couple of rehearsals I´ve had the pleasure of playing my P bass through an old Orange 120 Watt amp (no idea what model) and an Ampeg 8x10. Wow. Simply WOW. Bit, fat, crunchy, growly rock tone heaven. Usually the place has an Ampeg SVT Classic (which is being serviced ATM) and I have to say that I clearly prefer the Orange sound. Probably because it goes into overdrive sooner due to the lower wattage. Killer amp.

Let´s see... you have a problem with a lady who doesn´t want to sing music she dislikes because you dislike the music she wants to sing. I´d say we call it a draw. I´m sure a lot of the guys here playing in covers bands would love to have the opportunity to play stuff like "Isn´t she Lovely" and "I Wish". Both cracking tunes and very inspiring to play IMHO.

I may be thick here but - a sponsorship? Go ahead and grab it, what have you got to lose? Worst thing to happen is that you don´t like the strings. Use something else then, no big deal. I doubt that even a Rotosound rep would be able to make out what brand of strings you have on your bass on stage. FWIW, I had Roto Swing Bass Nickels on my Yamaha BB414 once - it instantly sounded, and I´m not kidding, like a Rickenbacker! Made me play a bunch of Chris Squire lines I never ever played before...

[quote name='rasher80' post='388181' date='Jan 22 2009, 09:10 AM']Also the body cavities are shielded on the newer model[/quote] And they are shielded very well I might add. I had a go at a couple of Jazzes at my dealer recently, among them two standard 2009 MIMs. These were dead quiet whereas all of the other basses hummed audibly (room full of neon lights) - even the 2009 MIA Fenders. I really liked the sound of those MIMs as well, moreso than the 70s Classic. Although my favourites are the new US Fenders, these were fantastic. If only they came with an equally good shielding job...

[quote name='Apex' post='387890' date='Jan 21 2009, 08:18 PM']Thanks for your views, Soulfinger - even if they do add to my confusion. What style(s) do you play?[/quote] A little bit of everything, I guess. I originally bought it thinking it would be nice to play a bit of jazz, blues, folk, singer-songwriter stuff or anything with a less than average volume level. And then I joined a rock band. As I said, we have the privilege of rehearsing in our drummer´s studio, fully equipped with an Ampeg SVT+8x10 stack. I don´t think the Roland could fully cope with the volume we´re playing at... But I still haven´t given up the idea of forming/joining a quieter outfit so the Cube might come in handy one day. It sounds mint so it isn´t going anywhere soon.

[quote name='yorks5stringer' post='385720' date='Jan 20 2009, 10:22 AM']Its a problem that has been reported by a small % of users both here and in the USA too[/quote] And by some folks on the Swiss(German/Austrian) bass forum I frequent, among them F1 and LM250 users. Some of them have sent their amps back to Markbass who are very interested in finding out what´s happening. So you´re not alone. Some blame the D-class power switching but the jury is still out ATM... You´re not using Eden cabs by any chance?

I´ve been using the Cube 100 for three years now and I think it´s a brilliant amp. I´m playing it completely flat (no amp modelling and all EQ knobs at noon) and it simply sounds good with all my basses (P, J, MM, L-2000 etc.). The amp modeling is very good as well (especially the Ampegs, the "Bassman" emulation is great for guitar!). I must admit I´ve never used it with the band (we have an Ampeg full-stack in the studio) but the Roland is bloody loud for its wattage. Should work well enough as a stage monitor. Before deciding on the Cube I tried a lot of similar combos but the Roland was the best compromise in terms of sound, power, weight and price. Other amps I liked were the EBS Drome (much more expensive), the Markbass C121 (ditto) and the Hartke Kickback 12 (nice, but heavier, bulkier and not as loud). Thumbs up from me for the Cube 100!

[quote name='flip' post='383834' date='Jan 18 2009, 12:30 PM']I don't suppose any owners have the means to weigh their aforementioned bass?[/quote] FWIW, the half dozen or so Classic and VM Squier Precisions I´ve tried were all over the place in terms of weight. Some were rather heavy. I particularly enjoyed one 50s model that was very lightweight and perfectly set up (unlike most of the Fenders in the shop). Nice bass.

Strictly IMHO: The Classic Squier is a good bass but the HW1 is in a different league. More meat, more punch and an overall richer, fatter sound plus better quality hardware etc. A used HW1 won´t cost much more than a new Squier and will be a noticeably better bass, as will be a MIJ or CIJ. If you don´t mind a maple fretboard, the MIM 50´s Classic P is excellent for the money as well.

[quote name='6stringbassist' post='383196' date='Jan 17 2009, 02:08 PM']I suppose it depends on how you play, if you're used to pivoting on the pickup or not. I use a floating thumb technique so I don't have a problem.[/quote] That´s not the point really. I use floating thumb as well but regardless of technique, the cover does not let you play directly over the pickup - and that is my favourite playing position on a P for a fat, warm sound. I know Jamerson and Dunn, among others, got their ultra-juicy sound by plucking in front of the cover but that doesn´t work for me.

[quote name='escholl' post='382764' date='Jan 16 2009, 08:50 PM']The programmable version has got little feet on it like the old one in your photos, so the velcro thing isn't an issue with the battery compartment -- i wonder why they didn't do that on the new version you've got there?[/quote] I have the current version and it does have the rubber feet. Or rather doesn´t ATM. I took them off because they got in the way of the velcro (while the battery lid was not an issue).

[quote name='beerdragon' post='382741' date='Jan 16 2009, 08:09 PM']The Pup cover just gets in the way.[/quote] Yes, unfortunately it does. And the bridge cover as well (palm muting!). I´ve taken them off as well but I just love the look.

I hear you...