Rich

I have an RBX765A which I've just had defretted, and it makes a great fretless. Lots of [i]mwah[/i] and a great feel. Go for it, but have it done professionally.

OK, I've had a quick scout through the main B/Bash thread and this appears to be the bass list so far (apologies to anyone I've missed): [i](deep breath)[/i] Musicman StingRay Lakland Darryl Jones 4 Bongo 5 HS Fender Precision with Wizard Thumper Skuker 6 string headless Status S2 6 string headless Fender Jazz Status S2 5 string headed Lakky DJ4 with Fralins Lakky Duck Dunn Dark Star Stingray Status 5 with Nordstrand Status Groove Status Retroactive Fender MiM Jazz with Wizard 84's Lakky Bob Glaub Fender 75 Mocha P-Bass Fender 80'sMIJ Precision with Wizard Thumper and Villex booster Shuker J-5 Wal Pro IIE x2 Wal Pro1 (converted to Custom) Ibanez DWB3 Fender US Deluxe Jazz Aria custom shop upright (maybe) Lakland 44-02D Encore/Precision/Jazz Build Shuker Upright (maybe) GB Spitfire Roscoe Beck V Jaydee Roadie G & L ASAT Rickenbacker 4001 1973 GB standard 4 Status S2 Stagg EUB Shuker P5 Shuker Modern 5 SX P-bass Fodera Warwick JD Thumb Warwick JD Thumb fretless Tsai 5-string ACG Recurve 4, ACG Harlot fretless 4 Status Kingbass Fender 1959 P Bass Modulus Oteil 6 string Fender Performer Manson Kestrel Sadowsky UV70 5 Modulus Q4 Conklin GT-7 Aria TSB-400 with Kahler Trem Aria SB-900 (or possibly SB-1000 Frankenfretless) Squier Vintage Modified Jazz Warwick Streamer Stage One 4 String Warwick Streamer LX 5 String Ibanez SR506 Chapman Stick (10-string) Yamaha fretless with Quarterpounder pickup RIM Custom 5 Warwick '87 Warwick Streamer Celinder Update P Celinder Update J Musicman Cutlass 1 Pedulla Pentabuzz (with Alembic pickups) ESP B-254 G&L L2500 SX Jazz Schecter Stiletto Studio 4 Peavey Grind 6 MM Stingray with Nordstrand and John East pre '74 Fender Precision RIM 6 fretless RIM Singlecut 5 jAzz Iceni/Shuker hybrid bass! 1984 BC Rich Eagle Fender Jazz V deluxe Yamaha Attitude LTD 1

[quote name='gary mac' post='153517' date='Mar 8 2008, 11:07 AM']Don't know whether to go for a fretted or fretless, jap, mexican, old or new. Guess I had better find out what the budget is first. Any thoughts on which to avoid? That might help to narrow it down a bit. Cheers, all the best Gary.[/quote]Buy her a big bunch of flowers, you lucky lucky man. What's your current bass arsenal like? Would a fretted or fretless be of more use?

If you only watch one TV programme this year, make sure it's 'Standing In The Shadows...'. It's [i]wonderful[/i] stuff. Mind you, the MC5 looks pretty good too.

ex-Greg Lake Alembic 8-string. It sounded like God clearing his throat. [i]Huuuuuuge[/i] sound.

[url="http://www.axesrus.com/axenob.htm"]About halfway down the page[/url], "TELE STYLE KNOBS DOMED OR 60'S STYLE FLAT TOP FOR SPLIT (6MM) SHAFTS OR SOLID (1/4") SHAFT. SET SCREW FITTING"

Original Steinberger cricket bat. Memorable for all the wrong reasons.

Call it a wild stab in the dark, but I reckon he might be a bass player... only kiddin' welcome on board

[quote name='BigBeefChief' post='152267' date='Mar 6 2008, 11:12 AM']Personally, the issue for me stems from being taught "lessons" by people I have no desire to emulate, in an overly academic fashion. To some this is interesting - great. To others like me, its not. You may tell me that Janek played a stormer at the 2003 Luton Solo Bass Festival, but this really isn't my scene. I'd rather sound like Lemmy.[/quote]Well ok... if you don't like the lessons, don't use 'em. You got a lot from the punk ones, whereas someone else will have hated them and learned more from the Janek thing or the Anthony Jackson style file. It's tomayto/tomarto really, isn't it? Horses for course, one man's meat, etc etc etc. In fairness you can't pan the mag for not catering specifically to your needs.

IMHO, woefully overpriced. I think at that sort of cost level, they'll make barely a ripple. From what I can see, the Pro is a fairly bog standard alder body/maple neck/rosewood board bass with a bit of fancy shaping and a few flashy bits -- funky bridge, EMGs, oh and probably the most hideous headstock in the history of headstockery. For 800 quid? You could get TWO Spector Legends for that, and still have enough left for a dozen sets of strings.

[quote name='OldGit' post='151551' date='Mar 5 2008, 09:58 AM']Played on the same bill as the Wurzels a few months back and the dep bass player they had was using one of these I was a tad disappointed, not just 'cos I wanted to meet the famous "Sedge Moor" and his ancient Precision but because the Cort just looked wrong in the context. Sounded great though [/quote]'Ere, they'm local boyz. Gert lush You'd expect a Wurzels bass to be covered in cowshit & strung with baling twine with a big sticker on it saying "Git Orf Moy Laaand"

Lenny "The Guvnor" McLean, he was a real hard case. I don't think he liked jazz though. Sorry. Errm... [url="http://www.thomann.de/gb/cases_for_electric_bass.html"]thomann[/url]?

[quote name='Dr.Dave' post='149722' date='Mar 2 2008, 09:15 AM']There's another eeason to buy a used SM58 - if it doesn't work out you'll get your money back no bother. Doubt there's many mics about you could say that for. If you do buy used - unscrew the pop shield - rinse out the bit of foam in hot water and mild disinfectant , chuck the pop shield in the same brew then scrub it with listerine. Don't buy silly specialist mic cleaning products - use what's under the sink or in your bathroom. Do make sure the foam's dry before you screw it all back up. I had an expensive AKG. It went in the theft 2 years ago and scrambling round to put enough kit together for the next gig I bought a cheap AKG (about £60 new) for £25 used. Still using it - it's great. Can't for the life of me remember either mic model numbers. I'm anoraky enough about basses to start on something else!![/quote] So right, he said it twice! Seriously, +1 for wot Dave sed. An SM58 will never let you down and a used one will lose precisely zero in value. I had an AKG D80 waaaay back in the day, it was a great budget mic right up until it got stolen along with the rest of my gear. I sincerely hope it exploded in the face of whoever nicked it.

Nice review I have an RBX765A too, it's a great bass... was my main 5 stringer for years. I hear ya about the quality of the 'gold' plating, however the hardware is easy to upgrade... I recently bought a new bridge for mine off eBay, [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Players-Bass-Bridge-405-5-String-Chrome_W0QQitemZ130175608892QQihZ003QQcategoryZ41407QQtcZphotoQQcmdZViewItem"]one of these [/url]in fact (only gold, obviously)... dead easy to fit and about 1,000,000,000 times better than the original, AND the finish is better too.

Re: Manring's "Enormous Room"... I've just spent nearly 6 mins staring in wonder at this screen, watching that youtube vid. My god. That is one of the most beautiful, haunting things I've ever heard from a bass guitar. I knew the guy's a visionary, but [i]that[/i]...

[quote name='OldGit' post='147865' date='Feb 27 2008, 02:44 PM']Hiyah Bridges - I've fitted the Gotoh 203 fender-alike. Not strung it up since as it's in bass hospital under the knife (or router) for its active electrics .. But the bridge is a lot more substantial than the original SX one or the vintage Fender replacement mine came with. Others have fitted Gotoh 201's which are more chunky. Not sure about 5 string uptions. Pups .. Talk to Rich [/quote] Bridge-wise, I went for [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=130175608892&ssPageName=MERC_VIC_RSCC_Pr4_PcY_BIN_Stores_IT&refitem=130104603117&itemcount=4&refwidgetloc=closed_view_item&usedrule1=StoreCatToStoreCat&usedrule2=CrossSell_LogicX&refwidgettype=cross_promot_widget&_trksid=p284.m183&_trkparms=algo%3DDR%26its%3DS%252BI%252BSS%26itu%3DISS%252BUCI%252BSI%26otn%3D3"]one of these[/url] for my fretless Yam 5... it's built like a tank, everything locks down rock solid. Great bridge for 20 quid or so, thanks to the exchange rate. Be aware though that the screw holes will not line up & you'd need to drill new ones... the ones on this bridge are off-centre, y'see. Got my eye on some new pups at the moment... wait 'n' see

[quote name='EBS_freak' post='148856' date='Feb 29 2008, 10:51 AM']Get a jazz then.[/quote] No amount of preamp trickery will get the sound of a passive, wooden bass with single-coils out of a graphite necked active bass with soapbars... if you can invent a circuit that does, you'll be a very rich man my friend.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but no preamp in the world is ever gonna get you a Jazz sound out of a Kingbass...

Great review M/c, and what appears to be a superb bass. All I need to do now is win it! OK, send off the entry email and [quote name='Machines' post='148049' date='Feb 27 2008, 07:28 PM'][i][b][size=1]Note: the competition is not open to any BassChat moderators[/size][/b][/i][/quote][size=1]oh bum.[/size]

Stickers come off easy enough though. It could be worse... could have been a, errm, custom paint job or worse yet, a hacked-about chisel victim. It's a peach, I'd love it.

He's well known for his lurking, is Dood. Something of a prefessional lurker. Lots of practice. That's what all his restraining orders say, anyway PS -- yes, about bliddy time too.