Fionn

... for me at least. I've traditionally played Warwicks. My style and technique have developed with, and have even been shaped (to some extent) by those particular flavours of bass. However, I've had a hankering for a Jazz Bass for a while. I've been trying them out in shops, and I've played a good few. Usually American Standards, which I love for the most part. Now, something that really stands out to me is how "forgiving" they seem to be in comparison to the bold active Warwicks that I'm familiar with. I don't know if this is because the Warwicks are "unforgiving", or if it's because the way my technique translates onto the Jazz, or if, as I suspect, the Jazz bass is just one of those machines that by some accident of design smoothes out your imperfections a little bit. Has anyone else noticed this, or am I tripping?

[quote name='dudewheresmybass' timestamp='1358551283' post='1941439'] .....and four grand! ( well £3999!) [/quote] Really?!!! That seems very expensive. On a similar vein ... I heard somewhere that Cliff Burtons original Black and Gold sold at auction for £17,000. Don't know how factual that is.

The Source Audio Soundblox Multiwave bass Distortion is very synthy ... very versatile too. Regular distortion and overdriven sounds too. You can blend the dry bass in and out too, so it doesn't bleed the bass like a lot of pedals. Check it out ... [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1LEJoaj93J8"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1LEJoaj93J8[/url]

[quote name='noelk27' timestamp='1358469774' post='1940017'] As for the commercialism comment, I can't say as I'd agree with you. It's only in recent times that the Japanese have started to understand the concept of legacy in modern innovation or design. Previously, there was either the completely up to date or the ancient, with anything from the recent past being immediately dismissed. Now, they've come to accent that in their continual race to do better, along the way, they've created some iconic designs. So, when it comes to recreating those iconic designs in the present, I'd trust the motives of a Japanese company much more than, say, an American one. The SB700, and it's revised versions, the R60 and Elite I, were Aria's most successful SB models, in terms of sales. this is the first time in around 20 years it's been available again. Yea, really feels like Aria are milking it. [/quote] Very well put.

Was just at choir practice tonight, thinking that there's an awful lot of folk there who also play instruments ... a couple of bassists too. Infact, there's probably three bands-worth of folk in our wee choir alone. But I suppose choirs will naturally attract musical types. Do any of you sing in choirs? If so, what sort of choir do you sing in? Do you compete? What's your story?

[quote name='Doddy' timestamp='1358341567' post='1937247'] Offering a different train of thought....For big gigs, you don't actually need big gear as chances are you'll have a lot of PA support.You could easily do them with your head and a small cab like a 2x10 or even a 1x12 (which is my current favourite).To be honest, I've played large gigs (a few thousand people) with a 100 watt combo. [/quote] What he said

A Mhic Iarla nam bratach bana (sons of the earl of the white flag ... in the english)

Feasgar mhath! Failte gu Basschat.

Och, I'd really like to come to a bass bash ... sounds like fun. The problem for me is that I live on the north coast. Is there anyone else from the far north who goes? mibae a lift share? ... otherwise I'm having tea with the Vikings.

Just bought a lovely bass from Phil. Good guy to deal with ... Straight up, honest, good communications, and even put a brand new set of strings on the bass for me. Deal with confidence!

Good old Aria ... but good new Aria? Interesting. In terms of build quality, how do you think it measures up to the old Matsumoku Aria that you had?

In this concert from 1993, he is using Trace Elliot gear ... 1x15 and 4x10 cabs, not sure what the head is, but it's [b][i]not[/i][/b] one of the valve heads. Can anyone shed light on this? It's a great concert, check it out when you've got a spare hour and a half ... [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xhC-hhavnYg"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xhC-hhavnYg[/url]

[quote name='visog' timestamp='1357911355' post='1930427'] Where does the Alembic Essence figure? If it all other than in vids? [/quote] That was a live back-up bass, apparently.

[quote name='clashcityrocker' timestamp='1358038791' post='1932354'] There is just something about fenders though,you must admit. Which ever bass I play and own I think I will always want at least one fender, there is something iconic about them personally. [/quote] Very true. I wont be at peace until I have a Jazz bass.

[quote name='thisnameistaken' timestamp='1357912165' post='1930453'] I play really hard stuff to show everybody what a badass I am. I do it every weekend because showing everybody what a badass I am is the most important part of my involvement in music. [/quote] Haha! brilliant! I once had a great thing happen whilst trying out a bass in a music shop. I'm sat there playing a bass when across the shop (no sound booths in this shop) a fella trying out a guitar started jamming to the bass-line I was playing. It turned into an amazing five minutes of freestyle funk, totally off the cuff, fluid. We shook hands after the guitars were put back ... I've never seen the guy since. I love that kinda thing.

[sup]I was recently looking at Jazz basses in a guitar shop. On both the USA deluxe and USA standard that I played, the pickguard and the metal part that covers the control cavity were lined up badly with a distinct gap between them. Whereby on the Chinese-made "Modern player" Jazz that I played, everything was perfectly assembled. It just goes to show, you can't take it for granted that just because a Fender is American-made, the quality control with be water tight.[/sup] [sup]Pretty disappointing really. Personally, I would expect better on an expensive instrument.[/sup]

From the childrens tv show Zingzillas ... Dreaming 'bout bananas ... Stuart Zender, funking it out ... Great bass line ... [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kJrHWmCjfx0"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kJrHWmCjfx0[/url]

[quote name='Rick's Fine '52' timestamp='1357735176' post='1927394'] Really?, have you seen the 'Billy Bo'. And even the nice one's, have this as their headstock! I rest my case. [/quote] Wow!!! This is [i]almost[/i] but still not quite as bad as the Rickenbacker 4001/3 ... but eeeuch! ... grotesque, to be sure.

[b]Warwick Streamer Stage 1 [/b]... no contest. Particularly the early models with the cherry body, wenge neck, and one-piece bridge. That said the 30th anniversary edition with the black hardware is pretty sexy (same woods, mind you)

[quote name='pete.young' timestamp='1357593058' post='1925126'] I see. That's all very well, but when someone posts some useful information in response to a request, is it right that it should be lost too? [/quote] That's a fair point. There's often useful information in old sold/ withdrawn/ sorted posts. I find that looking at old posts in the "for sale" sections gives useful reference for pricing, comparison, etc.

[quote name='mart' timestamp='1357511892' post='1923937'] Am I the only one seeing a Zender influence in your sofa? [/quote] Ha! to be sure ... Iroquai rug stylee

The Rickenbacker 4001 is particularly hideous. Terrible lines, clutter, pointless binding, crude plastic and cheapy-looking chrome tat all over the place. They seem like an un-necessary condradiction to their undoubtable quality of build. Don't like the sound of them either. Appologies to Rick-lovers, but they are the crust that Satan scrapes from under his man-boobs. [quote name='Bloc Riff Nut' timestamp='1357498639' post='1923609'] Warwick SSI, those things are hideous....;-) [/quote] hahaha! aye, right enough Phil

The subject of this topic is entirely subjective, to be sure. One persons dream bass is anothers nightmare. Aesthetically, most players would have a bass, or style of bass, that particularly floats their boat. But on the flip side, one which you find to be most gross to behold. What's the bass which makes you baulk?