The Attic Man

Hi all

I'm promently a ukulele player been playing for 14 years. Started dabbling with Bass last October. I've had quite alot of ukes pass through my hands.My holy grail has always been to own a vintage Martin Soprano ukulele. I love sopranos and am a bit of a tradionalist I prefer them with friction tuners. I've also got a 8 string tenor a baritone and a electric uke and 2 lovely hawian Mele sopranos. I used to belong to a local ukulele society it was fun played a lot of gigs with them even a local music festival where we opened the day for top loader headline. We even occasional had shena Easton guitarist play with us he is an avid user. Now I have the bug for bass guitar and I'm really enjoying it. 

Love this site as well really nice people on here .

Glad I found this thread I'm a noobie here and with the bass.

I've acquired a Encore Bass and would love to change the pick guard for a tortoise shell one seen quite  a few on ebay but have yet to get round to measuring the one on the base. Would love some input if at all possible cheers. 

hello and welcome from a noobie in every sense 🤪

30 minutes ago, Maude said:

@The Attic Man I dug out the tort pickguard but unfortunately it doesn't fit the Encore very well at. Wider neck pocket and the curved tail where the knobs sit is totally wrong.

It's actually from an SX bass not an Aria, (the Aria was white) but that's the problem with a lot of these budget P basses, the pickguards are different shapes. 

I put a generic ebay black PG on my Aria and it fits so if I can work out which one came off the Aria I can lay that over the Encore and see if it fits, if it does the you'll be fine ordering an ebay one. 

@Maude thanks so much for doing that i really appreciate it.

Yeah that would be great thank you. I had a quick look at some on ebay last night but all saying only fit fender. I would love to put a tortoise shell scratch plate on make it a bit more mine like 😆

thanks for your help greatly appreciate cheers. 

34 minutes ago, OliverBlackman said:

You’re not too far from the bass gallery in Camden. A setup and fret dress with new strings is worth a lot more than new pickups, especially on a budget bass that won’t have been through rigorous QC when it left the factory. 

Oh wow will have to check that out. Although i try my hardest to stay out of London.  I'm a country boy 😆

But I will loom into that cheers. Yeah I will put aside changing the pick ups as advised by you lovely lot 

1 hour ago, Burns-bass said:

I started playing on a vintage Kay bass I bought for £15. It was good enough to gig on, and I sold it for a profit (rare in my experience!).

 

I’ve had a clear out of stuff, and happy to send you a few bits that might help, including a lead, strap and whatever else I can find in my box of stuff. Just send me your addrsss.

Wow thank you.im blown away by the kindness on here what a wonderful community this is and I'm so glad I found it 😊 

2 hours ago, Stub Mandrel said:

100 budget? Buy the bass and amp.

 

Are the strings flats (smooth) or rounds. If the former, they last ages. If roundwound, spend your change on a set of decent strings, strap, a cheap stand and a good quality lead.

 

Where are you? Someone from basschat will probably be happy to help you do a bcasic setup.

They are definitely rounds. Yeah once I've paid for it strings are the next purchase for me. The chap at work is being really kind said I don't have to pay for it until the new year . He said get Xmas out the way first. I'm deffo leaning towards buying it.

1 hour ago, Stub Mandrel said:

100 budget? Buy the bass and amp.

 

Are the strings flats (smooth) or rounds. If the former, they last ages. If roundwound, spend your change on a set of decent strings, strap, a cheap stand and a good quality lead.

 

Where are you? Someone from basschat will probably be happy to help you do a bcasic setup.

3 hours ago, Smanth said:

Welcome to BC and all things bass!

 

I moved from playing ukulele to playing bass ukulele (still do) and then bass guiitar.

 

My first bass I really enjoyed (even tho not a blinder!), it was not too expensive and that allowed me to just fiddle with setting it up, and then making all sorts of mods without worrying I was going to damage an expensive instrument; it's not too hard especially with the wealth of videos/articles on-line.

 

A google search shows that £50 is less than you'd spend on either of the items individually (used) so a real bargain I'd say.  I suspect you'd be able to sell them on in the future without much financial hit.

 

And as to trying out other basses, there is the SE bass bash next Sunday (Addlestone) where you will be most welcome and able to play many (many) different instruments as well as chat to loads of bass heads.

 

 

 

S'manth x

Hi S'manth thanks for the warm welcome. Yes I've neglected my ukes of late. I should dust them down and have a play. I'm really enjoying the bass.

Oh that get together looks fantastic bit far for me unfortunately. But hopefully I can attend something in the future. I know when I started out on ukulele meeting others and those more experienced really helped.

Once again many thanks 😊 

@Stub Mandrel im really blown away how awesome you all are.

I'm in east herts. Sawbridgeworth not far from stansted airport. Yes i could definitely do with some help 😉😂

2 hours ago, Maude said:

 

I think I have a tort pickguard that came off my Aria STB precision (another excellent budget bass) in a drawer somewhere. Let me dig it out and try it on my Encore, if it fits then it's yours. 

A quick polish, oil the fretboard and a tort PG and your Encore will be a lovely looking bass. 

Oh maude I'm really touched thank you. I can't believe how awesome the people on here are. I'm blown away.yeah I think I will stick with this bass I'm playing it every day and it deffo needs some tlc. Once again thank you 😊 

46 minutes ago, Geek99 said:

Sea foam green possibly ? Close though 

 

this https://www.gak.co.uk/en/fender-player-stratocaster-sea-foam-green/961825?gclsrc=aw.ds&&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI1ZGtp96qggMVxd7tCh2NCwM8EAQYASABEgK75PD_BwE

 

note that leo fender originally used only car paint colours made by Du pont - that’s why some of the names are a touch esoteric 

Oh my just spotted that òh I feel so embarrassed bloody predictive text  can't believe it put seafood green maybe I should invent it 😅 

@Geek99 @warwickhunt @Stub Mandrel @Bleat @Supernaut  @Paolo85  @Maude  @Reggaebass  @Thump  @Delberthot and others if I've missed you thanks so much for the help and knowledge really appreciate it right im going to bash the bass now for a bit 🤘😆😎

Just now, Geek99 said:

Smart man. All the best people love tortoiseshell. Be careful that an encore pickguard may be slightly different shape than a fender compatible one. There are people who make them to order. The topic comes up on here quite often 

😆😆👍 thank you and ideally I love seafood green I think that's the name of the colour I've seen it's that light pastel green. But beggars can't be choosers 😆 but then again who is to say I may sand it down and repaint it 🤔  one day.

I shall look into that about the scratch guard cheers. 

Thanks everyone your input is invaluable and greatly appreciated sorry I've not replied to you all personally but I've devoured your comments. Thanks so much and I'm really glad I joined this forum. Will keep you posted. 🤘🙃

29 minutes ago, Thump said:

I bought a Wilkinson P pickup from northwest guitars, £20. Sounds great to my ears , well worth the small amount it costs. Whilst you're in there, slap some copper tape in the cavity to reduce any hiss/noise. A roll is about a fiver. Pocket friendly and great mods.

Keep us updated with how things go with the bass, any problems you come across can most likely be solved by some of the incredibly knowledgeable people on here ✌️

Thank you so much 👍  and very much appreciated.  Yeah that is my thoughts. The money I save buying the encore I can pay for a set up and hunt around for a pick up I'd love to change the pick guard to would love a tortoise shell effect one 😆 I know it doesn't help the sound but I love tortoise shell 

1 minute ago, Paolo85 said:

Cheers. I hate heavy basses myself. From that point of view though, some Harley Bentons would not solve the problem... certainly not the two HB boat anchors I had

 

I've mainly been playing sitting down. But I did a stint standing last Saturday I need a shoulder padded strap 😆 

2 minutes ago, Paolo85 said:

Ah yes, strings, forgot that! I'd much rather play a very cheap P with decent neck and strings of my liking (actually, that's what I do!) than an expensive Fender precision with strings not of my liking. Now that's a rabbit hole and not a cheap one. But worth considering that as well in terms of priorities. Old strings are fine if you like them, depending what do you want to achieve. But some age more gracefully than others. Some are known to last forever, some people tend to change them every few months. Some strings may just be described as dead and changing them is like buying a fresh new bass. Plus there's the tension issue. Some are very hard work to play, stiff, high tension. Some are effortless - though they tend to create other problems.

Yes strings are a whole new ball game I know well from my time on ukulele forums the great string debates. It's all a personal choice isn't it. The strings are old on the encore you can see they are well used. But they sound fine to my untrained ears and I have no problem fretting them . I'm avoiding the whole bebacle of string choice and changing them I've got my headed planted firmly in the ground 🙃 

2 minutes ago, Geek99 said:

He did say that, but he was a) mistaken or b) talking rubbish 

 

and I speak as a jamerson fan 

Yeah I'm only discovering the world of bass and jumping down the bass rabbit hole. Been watching a documentary about the funk brothers really enjoying it.

7 minutes ago, Paolo85 said:

This, totally agree. If you are enjoying the bass, it means the bass suit you and there is nothing particularly wrong with it. Which is no small achievement!

Harley Bentons are incredible value for money but they are not fairyland. Some are weird if you ask me. At the price they come, you have no guarantee that you won't get one without a terrible fretwork for example (yes sure, most people will be swearing theirs is perfect but guess what, even with Sires but the one I got was terrible, basses are always a lottery, the cheaper, the higher the risk).

I would not discount the amp, you'll never know. I mostly play at night with my daughter sleeping but lately I find I prefer the amp at minimal volume (it is not much louder than the acoustic sound of the bass, it beefs it up a bit) that having headphones on all night every day.

I would buy the encore, keep playing. If you feel like upgrading, consider a professional setup if this has not been done yet, it can make a world of difference in terms of playability and sometimes even sound.

I am not discouraging upgrading but to be honest I'd go around shops, build more knowledge (what type of bass suit you? A P, a J? A shortscale semihollow? A superlight and slim neck a la Ibanez? An active bass?) and put together a budget that gives you more flexibility to chose (which may still mean you buy a Harley Benton).

I started on a cheap P bass which was unlikely to be any more high end than an Encore (can't remember the brand). A few months lster I upgraded to an Ibanez Ergodyne. I swear, in hindsight, the cheap P was more suitable for me than the Ibanez

 

 

Thanks so much the encore is a heavy beast bit then again I'm used to playing ukulele 😆  but I do like it it does need checking over at some point thanks so much

6 minutes ago, Maude said:

I have a similar Encore (same headstock logo so probably same era) and I genuinely consider it one of my best basses. Admittedly I have spent a couple of hours fettling it but it was still very good to begin with. 

Being new to all this you presumably don't know about setting up a bass to your liking (forgive me if you do) but it can make an OK playing bass into a superb playing bass, and it's not difficult if you're reasonably hands on. 

If you're able to, or live close to someone that could help, I'd set the Encore up to your liking, put the kind of strings on you like and give it a good clean and polish, then spend the saved money on an Nux Mighty Plug and some headphones for practicing. 

There's a thread on here about the NUX Mighty Plug, and lots about setting up a bass but ask away here and you'll get plenty of help. 

Thank you. Yeah I know nothing about setting it up or strings. I'm very tempted to keep it. I would like someone to give it a once over and deffo needs a clean then again as I'm immersing into the world of bass i read about James jammerson never cleaning his bass as he believed it added to the funk. Thanks for your help 👍 and I'm loving attempting to play it .

Thanks guys appreciate your thoughts.

I've been alerted to some reasonable priced pick ups. I've got about £100 quid to spend so the 50 I would save from buying the encore I was going to use that on pick ups.

Unfortunately I went to a local music store they only had stuff well out of my price range.

Once again many thanks 😊 

Hi all and firstly thank you for the warm welcome.

As stated in my introduction post. Totally new to the world of bass so I know nothing so please forgive my ignorance. 

I've been leant a Encore Bass and a Peavy Bass amp to noodle and teach myself. Really enjoying it 8 weeks in. 

Anyway the lovely person who loaned me the Bass and Amp said I can buy them for a total of £50

Now is this a good deal I think it is but I do also really fancy a Harley Benton brand new from Thomman I'm not to fussed about having a amp as I live in a flat and when I (attempt) to play I wear earphones. So if I did buy a Harley Benton I would also purchase one of those headphone amps .

I've included some photos of the encore and the amp.

I've read on here that the older encores (made in india) aren't that bad of a Bass i know they are budget basses but I'd read that the old encores although a heavy beast are not to bad. I was thinking if I did keep the encore the money saved from purchasing a Harley benton  I could buy some better pick ups and get a good service done on the old girl.

Anyway I eagerly await your thoughts and input.

I'm off to murder some tunes now.

Cheers all .OK

On 01/11/2023 at 10:46, TheWetFerret said:

Morning all

 

just wanted to say hi

 

I started playing bass years ago after dropping out of uni with some mates, back then everyone seemed to have a guitar but no bass.

 

haven’t really played much in recent years as adult stuff got in the way but started slowly picking it back up recently now things have settled down a bit. 
 

my current gear is a Harley Benton p bass and an ashdown studio amp, looking to get a vintage vj74 soon as money (and the wife) allows

hi ya and welcome from a fellow noobie, ive only been fumbling for 8 weeks ,ive heard good things about Harley Bentons ive got an old encore and a peavy bass leant to me with the option to buy.

hello and welcome from a newbie in every sense 😁 ive only been attempting to play for about 7 weeks, welcome aboard🖖

Hi all thanks all for the lovely warm welcome. I will add some photos of the bass I've been offered .I actually would really like a Harley Benton bass, I've read good things about them. anyway once again many thanks for the lovely welcome. Oh I've also added "Buck Rodgers" by Feeder to my repertoire 🤘