guybrush threepwood

[quote name='andyjingram' post='799408' date='Apr 8 2010, 12:56 AM']Hmmm, I guess it's not so cut and dried, then. I can't really afford to try a ton of sets for now, but I was looking at Picato strings, which are about 16 pounds too. (I'm typing in the US and don't have a pound sign!) I'll check out the Status ones, though I think nylons will be too warm sounding for my needs.[/quote] I personally wouldn't recommend Picato flats - found that my hands stick to them on a gig when sweat can make them clammy. I thought it was just me, and I wouldn't get on with any flats, but I've recently shelled out a bit more for some D'Addarrio Chromes and they're lovely and smooth!

Really impressive. All three are fantastic players, the level of musicianship is simply astonishing. However, (and I'm not trying play devil's advocate here; I am truly in awe of all of them), as impressive as the playing is, I do find the music to be lacking something. The rhythm, timing and groove are impecable, but, as you guys have said, the fact that there are only basses being played does restrict the timbre somewhat, and there isn't really much variation in the way of dynamics. It just seems to me to be more of a demonstration (albeit a very impressive one) than a piece which has a strong musical structure. I hope I don't sound like a knob; I enjoyed the video, but musically it's not really my kind of thing.

Bought a fretless jazz from Mark, and he's great to deal with, top marks all round!

All 3 countries produce some excellent instruments, and especially the newer American standards- the consistency between instruments is great, every one that I've played has been superb. However, I've played quite a few Japanese Fenders that have sounded and played just as good, if not better, than the US models, but of course there are other options, like resale value, to consider. That said, all Fenders tend to hold their price well, as they'll always be desirable. If you can get there, I'd recommend going to Electromusic in Doncaster. They've currently got a maple neck, candy apple red MIM jazz which is sublime. Seriously, everything about it is top notch, and it's definitely as good as any US I've played!

[quote name='phil.i.stein' post='789828' date='Mar 29 2010, 07:57 PM']oh and Mars Volta for definite.[/quote] I absolutely love Juan Alderete's tone, especially the fretless stuff on Frances the Mute.

[quote name='thisnameistaken' post='780446' date='Mar 20 2010, 07:10 AM']Closing Down Sale! All Stock Nearly Fair Price![/quote] Unfortunately, I imagine that would be the case.

I'm sure it won't come as a surprise to most people who know the shop, (there are quite a few unhappy reports dotted around the forum), but my guitarist told me last night that Music Ground in Leeds is closing. To be honest, I have always found the staff in there very rude, patronising and unhelpful, but it is sad to see another music shop close. Oh well... I'll keep you all posted if I hear of a clearance sale going on.

Hehe, I bet someone would buy it though.

Hmm, went for a 'chap' look with this, but I just look like a Geography teacher (2nd from the left) [attachment=45084:6_edit.jpg]

Geoff, you are indeed 'the man'. Just tried a new string on it, and there's no buzzing whatsoever. Thanks for the good advice! I'm quite new to Fenders, as I've previously played modern basses with small tuners, so I've always had to cut the string short. Creature of habit I suppose!

Unforunately, I won't be able to make it after all, due to a practice. I hope that everyone has a good time, I'll try my best to be there next year!

[quote name='geoffbyrne' post='775124' date='Mar 15 2010, 12:30 PM']Are you sure it's nothing that putting an extra few turns of A string onto the tuning post won't fix? Fender P & J style basses are notorious for having little or no break angle on the A unless you leave an extra bit of length and put a few extra turns on the peg. Another way is to put on an extra string tree, but that's messy, but I think you may still have the same problem after a new nut. G.[/quote] Ah, brilliant! I hadn't thought of that. Just ordered some new strings to give it a try, I shall report back!

The nut on my jazz bass needs changing, as it's creating buzz on the open A string. I'd like to change it myself to learn the process, can anyone give me any handy tips?

It's nice to know of former owners Jon; it's such an amazing bass, it really changed what I listen for in my tone. Before I was really into modern, active basses, with endless EQ options. Now I love only having the options of volume and tone, with simple EQ on my amp. IMHO, endless EQ means endless twiddling! Anyway, what's not to love about the sound of jazzes? Cheers Chris, I decided to put the thumbrest there as I like to play down by the bridge... Thing is I don't actually use it that much; with my small hands it's far more comfortable to rest on alternate strings! I still think it looks pretty sweet though...

That jazz is absolutely lovely! Don't keep it in it's case, play it - it deserves it!

Right then, thought it might be about time for this... Unfortunately the pedalboard still needs sorting out... [attachment=44671:IMG_0992.jpg] So what do we have here... Starting from the back - the Markbass rig. A Jeff Berlin combo, with the New York 15 cab. I can't describe how great this sounds, the tone is so clean, pure and punchy. I was always a sucker for 10s, but here are 15s that are just as defined but with the added low end that 15s bring. And the weight of both combined is less than my old 4x10. Result. [u]Fender US American Traditional Jazz[/u] Absolutely lovely jazz that I got from [b]Rasta[/b] in a trade for my Warwick Corvette. You may have seen it before - I believe it's gone around the forum to a few different people. Anyway, it's a 1999 Olympic white (which is now a lovely cream colour). It's also turned into a bit of Frankenstein bass with none of it's original hardware remaining - the controversial one piece pickguard was swapped for a tortoise shell guard with a 'proper' jazz control plate before it came to me, and it also had Kent Armstong pickups fitted, along with a Gotoh bridge. The Kent's have now gone, and have been replaced with DiMarzio Ultra Jazz pups. (I've also changed the capacitor for a .022, to compensate for the slightly darker sound of split coils). I've replaced the tuners with hipshots, and even the neckplate has been changed for a Fender 'big F logo' plate, which completes the look. (What a snob, eh?) This bass is lovely to play, with so much honk it's unbelievable. I like to back off the neck pickup slightly for a biting tone that cuts through beautifully. When it's slapped, the DiMarzio's make it sound very much like an active bass - really deep and bright. However, it comes into it's own with a light fingerstyle touch; it responds incredibly, with strong harmonics, and notes high up the neck sing out. [u]Homemade Fretless Precision[/u] My first homemade bass - well, more like home-assembled, there are obviously a couple of rough points here and there. Oh well, it's all a learning curve! So, it's a Mighty Mite ebanol neck with the original tuners from the jazz, and has a alder body. The pickups are from a S1 series US Precision, kindly donated from [b]Zero9[/b] and the bridge is a vintage style Wilkinson, with brass saddles. The action is spot on, and the bass has a lovely thick and powerful tone, but a more 'traditional' fretless sound can be acquired by playing behind the pups. Strung with roundwounds for a big [i]mwah[/i] factor!

[quote name='Hot Tub' post='303038' date='Oct 9 2008, 01:28 PM']Hmmmm..... thinking about getting one of these for my MarkBass CMD103H. Just wish they did black & yellow.....[/quote] Oh but they do! (Still need to order one for my new cab) [attachment=44670:IMG_0189.jpg] Apologies for the rubbish phone picture

Ex demo can be brilliant for basses; cheaper price and if it's got a mark or two it means you won't feel quite as bad when you give it the first, inevitable ding. Years ago I bought a brand new Warwick Streamer, it was absolutely gorgeous, but I was almost in tears when it started getting belt buckle rash.

[quote name='bigevilman' post='766847' date='Mar 7 2010, 01:18 PM']Aye I noticed the weight of it (29lb) but to be honest, thats no heavier than the Laney I'm using at the moment, so think I'll get over that fact Cheers for the offer, but I already have a Sansamp at moment. I agree, its a fabulous little box! When I had my Ampeg cab, it somehow turned my Laney head from utter crap, to warm and rich....its like a miracle in a box I've decided on the WT800, its got the valve pre-amp that I was after, its the A model, so runs dual mono at 400watt per side @ 4ohm, perfect for my cabs . I've also decided for the overdrive, I'll just use my Sansamp through my FX loop. It means that I won't have to use it as a pre-amp anymore, and just use as a dedicated overdrive pedal. Cheers for all your advice [/quote] You'll love the Eden for the overdrive- you can bi amp it and just run your sansamp on the hi band- lovely overdrive without the wooly bottom end!

My vote's on frog green! It would stand out so well.

[quote name='smurfitt' post='765997' date='Mar 6 2010, 12:54 PM']I didn't ask about earphones and already have them. Would be more helpful if you stuck to the topic. [/quote] Well, I apologise for the deviation, but I was purely trying to reiterate the importance of wearing earplugs. A lot of people seem to forget that there's no point having a lush sounding, loud rig if you're deaf. But not you. Well done.

[quote name='alanbass1' post='766185' date='Mar 6 2010, 04:27 PM']I don't like the Markbass piezo tweeter as this sounds spiter to my ears. I acyually disconnected it in my CMD121P combo and the it now sounds great (it was not switcheable). If the Piezo is switcheable it should be OK[/quote] Actually, I tried out the 1x12 combo in shop yesterday and I know exactly what you mean- it takes a lot of the VLE to tame that tweeter! Anyway, I spent all afternoon playing with the new cab and it sounds lovely! The tweeter had to be turned down quite a lot when I was using the cab on it's own, but with the Jeff Berlin it sounds great with the tweeter up full. 2 15s plus this tweeter gives an incredible, full-range sound; deep bottom, thumpy low mids, growl and bite in the high mids, and a smooth glassy top end. *chuffed* I'm going to take the rig along to practice tonight so I can turn it up, and see how it sounds.

I'd definitely either rewire the cab (a mod that is completly reversable and will cost £15 at most), or buy 2 4ohn 2x10s; a bit more costly but you have the option of taking a single cab to smaller gigs, and for bigger gigs you could stack them on their ends with the Superfly on top - you'd hear yourself really well on stage and it would look sweet! Like a 'size zero' stack! I'd be against buying a power amp to drive the cab, as you'd need a 400 watt stereo amp which is bridgable to get the full 800 watts in 8ohm format. This would add another 15kg to you setup for sure, unless you found a class D amp. Lastly, I know watts aren't everything when it comes to the subjective pursuit of loudness, but there'll be a big difference between 160 and 500 watts. You'll laugh when you realise how much headroom you've got!

Haha, I agree with you about the 'VLE', what's wrong with simply calling it 'LPF'? I do love the sound of my combo, so I was thinking I can always turn the tweeter in the cab off if I don't like the sound of it