Grand Wazoo

I am not going to say what part of female anatomy that particular piece of matched veneer looks like but certainly not the face! errr.. come to think of it none of my basses have "a face"

Nice wood.

I am in trouble now... I've liked that 51 P-Bass so much now look what happened!!!









I went to GAK in Brighton this morning with my son, I liked it so much I've bought it, but... the original pickups are well below par, so I've already got these 2 babies to put in:



application
Vintage-voiced Stack®. Perfect for country, pop, blues, and classic rock.
description
This is one of our most popular Basslines pickups. It captures the same great tone, presence and response of the SJB-1 Vintage single coil, but without the annoying hum. Comes with four-conductor hookup cable and logo cover.
complete setup
Calibrated neck and bridge set. Neck pickup is slightly narrower.

[quote name='bumnote' post='743545' date='Feb 12 2010, 10:09 PM']like turning your amp up a notch? [/quote]

No not really (funny by the way, does yours go to 11?) but if you recall I had a lot of buzzing noise coming from this bass from day one, when I attempted to screen the cavity and the back of the scratch plate I found out the pickup wires to be so flimsy that they were interrupted in many places, causing interference noises. With the Quarter Pound the sound is of the same quality but obviously there is a lot more clarity in the mids (which were lacking on the original) and no noise at all, not even when I take my hands away from metallic parts. I think overal the cost of the SD is quite reasonable and its well worth the improvement you get from it which is all that matters in the end.

[url="http://www.seymourduncan.com/products/basslines/progressive-1/scpb3_quarterpo/"]http://www.seymourduncan.com/products/bass...cpb3_quarterpo/[/url]



[i]"The quarter-inch diameter pole pieces add more string sensitivity than the Hot model. Aggressive tonal response with strong bottom end and lots of mids. Adds tremendous tonal versatility to a single pickup instrument. Includes Basslines logo."[/i]

available here [url="http://www.basscentre.com/bass-guitar-pickups/seymour-duncan-scpb-3-quarter-pound-for-single-coil-p-bass.html"]http://www.basscentre.com/bass-guitar-pick...oil-p-bass.html[/url]

[quote name='bumnote' post='743231' date='Feb 12 2010, 04:05 PM']I am a fan as well and I think mine is pretty darn good. what difference has the SD pick up made compared to stock?[/quote]

Sure... let me explain then:

Original pickup: BOOM BOOM DOO-DOO BOOM

Seymour Duncan: [size=5][b]BOOM BOOM DOO-DOO BOOM[/b][/size]

Simple!

[quote name='Terra' post='743053' date='Feb 12 2010, 01:30 PM']I think a lot of it comes down to the pure comfort of it, and the attitude in which you play it.

I love my musicman, it's definately my go to, it plays like a dream and just feels right, the action is perfect it sits on my knee nicely, it's comfortable around my neck, not too heavy, the neck slides well, and it's now got enough bumps and scrapes that I've not got the over protective fear you get with new/expensive gear.

My other basses just feel wrong by comparison, not enough space to pop, pickup in the wrong place to rest my thumb, action not set quite right, all those little things that make the MM feel like mine.

I guess you could put some time into making sure all the others are set the best they can be to increase comfort[/quote]


Yes I understand precisely what you are saying but unless I had not explained myself correctly (often happens with me being foreign), I did say I love and feel comfortable with all the other basses, and they all serve a specific purpose, and the money I've spent on them doesn't make me regret any of them. I have had the Stingray5 for almost 10 years and thought I was settled with it, done, dusted no more basses needed, end of story so to speak, but then, the kids grew up and went to college, the wife I sent her on her way, the new prettier and younger girflriend comes in, and midlife crisis was easily over and done with, I've learnt about the Bongo and thought that was the dog's blx, and shortly after I was hooked and along came the 25th, then one day someone got me to try the Squier and I though wow, must get! At that price I couldn't believe with little cash so much bass was to be had.

Here it is:

Here is my conundrum

co·nun·drum
Pronunciation: \kə-ˈnən-drəm\
1 : a riddle whose answer is or involves a pun
2 a : a question or problem having only a conjectural answer
b : an intricate and difficult problem

~~~~~

I own quite an array of quality basses, as follows:

1 PRS pre-90 4 strings - I paid loadsa money for it back then
1 PRS pre-90 5 strings - I paid loadsa money for it back then
1 Stingray 5 - paid £1150 in 2002
1 Bongo 5 - paid £1299 in 2009
1 MusicMan 25th Anniversary - ashamed to admit how much I paid for that one

and...

1 Squier Classic Vibe 51 Precision Bass - paid £234 in Jan 2010

I admit I swapped the original crappy pickup in the Squier for a Seymour Duncan Quarter Pound.

All of the above basses are fantastic and super duper, they all do things that make them them exceptional in one way or another but...

...my question is: why is it that I am having so much fun with this cheapo Squier compared to all of the other more expensive ones listed?

I fear this little thing is slowly becoming my go to bass, it does a lot with that one single pickup, except for harmonics which due to the odd pickup placement only come out on 5th 7th and 12th fret, any in between ones forget it. But still, playability and sound wise, it's so spot on, I just can't put it down!!

Any idea why? I am bu55ered if I know why, but I am just enchanted by it.

Cheers

Looks like a minter

[url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=150410001614&_trkparms=tab%3DWatching"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...=tab%3DWatching[/url]

[quote name='karlthebassist' post='737872' date='Feb 7 2010, 09:31 AM']I think you'd struggle to get a "real Stingray" for a smidge over 300 quid though... [/quote]


Very true, but there's a lot (and please believe me that what follows is barely my own personal preferences) better basses for that kind of money, I'd rather spend that 300 smackers on a Squier or an Ibanez SR300, or... has anyone tried a Yamaha RBX374, dual humbuckers and a neck that flies?

I just don't like them Flea basses [b][u]to me[/u][/b] they look naff.

I couldn't live with those silly colour schemes. I'd take a real stingray instead any day of the week. Sorry, but it' horses for courses, I guess.

Good luck and congrats on your new bass

Rumour has it they are made by Rotosound. I don't know wether to believe it or not.

Here is a PDF spec sheet for the Blade b2 bass

[url="http://www.bladeguitars.com/files/B-2%20Tetra%20Classic%20Bass%20-%20Spec%20Sheet.pdf"]http://www.bladeguitars.com/files/B-2%20Te...pec%20Sheet.pdf[/url]

Well let me add my piece... I was longing for a tele style p-bass, the old '51 model with the small single coil pickup and I have heard so much about these CV Chinese Squiers that I took the trouble to go down to Denmark Street and try one. My intention was to just try it and compare it with a real Fender 51 style, and I was lucky to find both a Sting model and that Squier one.

What impressed me the most was the faithful sound reproduction of the Squier compared to the real thing. The bass sounded so mellow I couldn't help falling in love with it, the neck is a joy to play too, perfectly fitted to the body, and the frets are the smaller vintage type but work very well with this particular bass. I like a good chunky 4 stringer and this fitted the bill. What I was unable to do is justify spending the extra money on the Fender made in Japan Sting model hence after a bit of careful decision making time I settled for this lovely Squier



to which I since fitted a Seymour Duncan Quarter Pound and I have never looked back.



Having said that, and after having read the good review of Mr. OutToPlayJazz I am now in the market for a Squier CV, which will soon compliment my collection. I am kicking myself because back in the 80's I had a JV Japanese Jazz and sold it in a moment of madness, and I wish I had kept it.

Jaco had a Jazz with a P-Neck, so... why not?

[quote name='lemmywinks' post='734276' date='Feb 3 2010, 05:46 PM']Aye i spotted that a while ago, looks really meaty![/quote]

Yes that is exactly the one I have but mine's a fiver, click on my signature for more pics of it where it says "My basses" or just here: [u][b][url="http://www.captnmoto.co.uk/videos/basses.wmv"]CLICK HERE[/url][/b][/u]

[quote name='phil.i.stein' post='734234' date='Feb 3 2010, 05:04 PM']sorry to hear that.
try firing off an e-mither to [url="http://www.stringsandthings.co.uk/"]http://www.stringsandthings.co.uk/[/url]
you probably know this already, but they are the distributors over here and will be able to recommend someone who can help.
speak to them nicely though. [/quote]

I am very friendly with one of the managers of Strings and Things, I could have a word with him for Duarte, but there is the issue that S&T are only obliged to provide assistance for UK purchased items and Zak (Duarte) bought this bass from a chap in US through the EBMM forum, hence I would expect a load of humming and errring from them about it.

Take it to The Gallery in Camdem, is what I'd do, at least I know they can sort it there for a minimal charge.

[quote name='Duarte' post='733633' date='Feb 2 2010, 11:42 PM']Oh yes, and I bought it used...from the states. The bass is out of warranty and EB customer service are being very nice and polite, but not particulaly helpful.

Edit: actually, they are being very helpful, sending me different diagrams and suggesting different possible solutions, but to no avail.[/quote]

Hi Zak, Fran here... man what can I say? You're in a bit of a pickle, you can't turn to EBMM customer service because its out of warranty and you can't shake Erin in the US, what I sugges is to phone these people and see what they say, they are authorized EBMM dealer and have fixed untold StingRays in their time: The Bass Gallery - Workshop in Camdem Town, London: 0207 267 5458 / 267 5258

their charges for sorting out electronic are not too steep as you can see from their website price listings: ELECTRONICS Electronic Maintanance from £10
[url="http://www.thebassgallery.com/workshop.cfm"]http://www.thebassgallery.com/workshop.cfm[/url], if you want we can meet somewhere in London and I'll take you to them. But I ain't driving you back oop norf I tell ya! I'll drop you back at the train station.

Cheers

[quote name='Stingray5' post='733640' date='Feb 2 2010, 11:50 PM']obi -
A very nice pair, sir!!
Is the one on the right a Cherry 'burst?
The see-thru guard shows it off nicely too.


bass5 -
Ok, did it this time. Actually, it didn't take too long after all. The 'other porn' served to fill the time...
The vid is nicely done too and your basses look truly wunnerful!
So what do you think of the 25th Anniversary?
And who's the music you used for the vid? (Carlton? Ritenour? Stern? etc.)[/quote]

Zach, yes me ol' china, 'tis me Fran! Have you sorted the piezo on your Bongo 5 yet?

at Sitngray5: yes mate the 25th is total bliss, there's nothing it can't do, so many sound combinations, so many options, I know there are people (including me at times) that prefrer the simplicity of a bass with one pickup, one volume and one tone control with the "less is more" and the "what can go wrong when you've only got one sound" attitude, and I do get that option wih my cheap and cheerful Squier 51 replica, however if you sit down with a 25th and start exploring the multi options you will be amazed like a kid in a sweet shop: 3 pickups all selectable by on off switches, active / passive with passive tone control, series / parallel

Active Mode:
1) H - S - S all on
2) H - S - S all off (gives the bridge humbucker in series)
3) H - _ - _ only bridge humbucker is on in parallel
4) H - _ - S Humbucker and neck pickup
5) _ - S - S middle and neck
6) _ - _ - S neck pickup only
7) H - S - _ Bridge Humbucker and middle together

and again in passive

Passive Mode:
8) H - S - S all on
9) H - S - S all off (gives the bridge humbucker in series)
10) H - _ - _ only bridge humbucker is on in parallel
11) H - _ - S Humbucker and neck pickup
12) _ - S - S middle and neck
13) _ - _ - S neck pickup only
14) H - S - _ Bridge Humbucker and middle together

Initially to really appreciate the difference between passive and active, you would think the obvious: "active on" = more power, and "passive on" normal power, but no, it's not just a boost jump between the two, the passive tone control does more than roll off highs, it adds gravy to your beef, so to speak, and really it is very much like having two different basses, in active you are very close to the powerhouse destroyer sound you get with a Bongo, with the 4 bands eq, but when you play passive it's back to the old days of Volume and Tone and you think your sound control is limited but you'd be wrong, with 7 different pickup combo's and a classic tone vibe you are more than spoiled for choice.

Some of the sounds I have heard from the above options are totally new to me, and I do like them all but all in all I have narrowed it down to the 3 following preferences:

The 1st of my fav choice is the bridge humbucker on his own in series (with all the 3 buttons off), either active of passive this is such a cool sound, and proves that series coils rock.

The 2nd one is the middle pickup on his own in passive, gutsy, middley and hollow at the same time, played with a pick, it's what I missed so far in both the Bongo and the StingRay.

The 3rd of my fav sounds is neck and middle together in active mode. Perfect sound for blues / jazz, if you add some low mids, a bit of bass and roll of the high a touch, this sound is great through an amp, but of all the sounds I've tried through the Mbox / Protools / PC this is one of those that seems to be coming off the best of the bunch.

Try one if you can, you won't be disappointed.
Cheers


P.S.: The track is "Little Shoes" by Mike Stern, I believe the bass player on that track is Jeff Andrews - The album is Upside Downside © 1986 Atlantic 781656-2

[quote name='HarryPotter' post='732779' date='Feb 2 2010, 12:12 PM']According to Ashdown I 'may have blown my speakers'

W T F ???

So for 2 years, I change no settings, never drive it too hard, treat it with kid gloves (it lives in a church after all) and then all of a sudden, inbetween uses the speakers blow???[/quote]

This is not the first time I am reading about Ashdown speakers going pop. Warranty claim for sure.

[quote name='Stingray5' post='732477' date='Feb 2 2010, 01:45 AM']Would like to have watched the vid but as BB has said, it was taking an age to load.
If you have a Youtube account, might be better to upload there...? [/quote]

took me ages to upload it, youtube won't take it, it's made in Hi Def and best things comes to those who wait., just let it spool in the background while you look at other porn.

I don't have just one picture but...... I've got this instead

[url="http://www.captnmoto.co.uk/videos/basses.wmv"][b][u]Click here for my MusicMan Porn[/u][/b][/url]

You could check on this site [url="http://myweb.ecomplanet.com/TOWN8019/mycustompage0028.htm"]http://myweb.ecomplanet.com/TOWN8019/mycustompage0028.htm[/url], my estimation given your Serial No. 29838 is that the bass could dated between 89/90, are the first 2 letters BO before the number? I.e. BO29838 ? If so, that is as accurate as it should be. Also if you lift the control plate moon shape thing with the volume and eq knobs you should be able to find a sticker on the pot with a date.

Or just send an email with some pics to the webmaster (his name is Gav) he could give you a more accurate placement. The email address is: [email protected]

Oh and do show us some pics, will ya?

Looks the BLX but it's not available yet until March, I am wanting one simply because my other tuner dates back to 1980 and it's sh|te

I've seen a good luthier knocking out a nut with one single mallet stroke and a chisel!

From the top edge of the E string he pointed the chisel at the base of the nut without touching any part of the neck and bang one single hit with the mallett and the nut was off, he then got an "allparts" replacement nut, put it side by side with the old nut marked the slots with a pencil, and then with a smal axle he cut the slots, used a special bonding glue slotted the new nut in and restrung it straight away. All this in less than 20 minutes. He sand papered the edges of the nut so it would perfectly match the neck profile too.

[quote name='Lostheplot' post='727213' date='Jan 28 2010, 04:33 AM']Great pic i love his look of intense concentration!

The Johnston bass looks cool too i was scared to go for names i didn't know without a recommendation from someone who had played one.

Did your son keep playing? We're kind of worried that in Jamies case it will probably be a fad and end up being left after a month as he has the attention span of a goldfish (his dads words not mine )but we're really hoping he proves us wrong.

Hopefully the fact that his dad has just started learning as well will keep him interested.[/quote]


Yes he is 17 now, still plays, this year he started college he has chosen music technology, wants to be a studio producer, who knows...?

When my son was that age I started him on a short scale Johnson P-Bass copy which was a dodle to play.



Here's one on ebay [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/JOHNSON-JUNIOR-P-BASS-IN-TOBACCO-SUNBURST-NEW.-(SAH623)_W0QQitemZ350309321753QQcmdZViewItemQQimsxq20100126?IMSfp=TL100126189002r66"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/JOHNSON-JUNIOR-P-BAS...100126189002r66[/url]