Gamble

[quote name='Mr. Foxen' post='299990' date='Oct 5 2008, 05:17 PM']My mockingbird shows signs of various button placement experiments, currently its on the end of the neck pocket end: Balances fine, got a suedy sticky strap though, although to be honest, [b]when I'm actually playing it is mostly being waved about in front of my cabs and feeding back.[/b][/quote] Good man.

Don't you hate it when someone posts the exact same thing as you at the same time you're typing?!

Looks like I might have missed the most appropriate point to make my comment, but here it is anyway. I really quite enjoyed that. He holds a groove more than most people who play like that and I AM impressed at how fast it all is. That probably is actually the fastest bass playing (although it is 95% percussive) I've ever seen. I actually met Nigel once when he way demo-ing Line 6 gear at a new Academy of Sound shop and he's a really nice guy, really happy to chat about his techniques etc when he's getting payed to talk about the equipment. I don't remember him playing quite that fast when I met him, but I do remember there being a lot more notes involved. A lot of the right hand fingers to the fretboard stuff actually produced audible notes (all be it very briefly!) when I saw him so maybe the audio just isn't coming through on that clip and not really doing his playing justice. I know most of the negative stuff said on the subject is against the showy technique that's 99% useless in songs and not the players themselves, but I don't think there's any reason to slate those who chose to do it. I like it, and as long as people are prepared to practice hard enough to do it, and inventive enough to come up with new ways of doing it I'll applaud them. We all know it's w*nky, some of us just don't care! Just my 2p's worth!

[quote name='LukeFRC' post='298550' date='Oct 3 2008, 01:13 PM']I really want a new job. then I will have evenings free and can get a chance to form a band again and play my wick propperly. Having said that its going to be a shock going from 2 controls, one of which i never touch and the other i sometimes use to a whole two band active and pup blend system. Will be confusing.[/quote] There's an active 3 band in my Thumb 5 and I almost never touch it - just a bit of low boost when I really want to rattle my trousers on stage! Just because it's there doesn't mean you need it IMO.

I guess that's probably down to the Bubinga body. I've got an Ovangkol bodied Thumb 5 NT and I've never though of it as being overly weighty.

[quote name='rjb' post='298384' date='Oct 3 2008, 10:28 AM']Here's my two Thumbs. Guess that makes me some kind of masochist. [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?act=attach&type=post&id=13374"]Pic here.[/url] (P.S. Is there any way to properly re-use attached images? They're in my control panel but I can't get at them with the "img" or "attachment" tags.)[/quote] Is it me, or is the NT a smaller body than the BO? Interesting.....

That'd be grand, cheers Lee! Had a bit of a read up on Nordstrands but I'm none the wiser on how they sound really so a bit of a review would be super helpful! I gave Wizard pickups a call earlier today as I found a thread on here about them and everyone was nearly wetting themselves about how great they are, but unfortunately they're smaller than my standard Fender p'ups so I can't drop them straight in. They certainly sound like a bargain though incase anyone else is interested. www.wizardpickups.co.uk

[quote name='alexclaber' post='296482' date='Oct 1 2008, 12:45 PM']I'd be more interested to see the fastest tuba player in the world... Alex[/quote] [url="http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=2-NVMsj6lXA&feature=related"]http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=2-NVMsj6lXA&...feature=related[/url] Best i could do.

I know it's a different ball game altogether, but Wesley Guitars do plexi basses on Evilbay, I got a 5 string to my door for under a ton! Just fancied a see-thru bass, and it sounds alright too!

I've been looking at the 5 Stack and the passive single in SD's "Pickup Sourcebook", it says the stick isn't a direct retrofit but the singlecoil might be, I'll need to check their website for dims. I don't really know what else is out there as far as other brands go, that's kinda what I was hoping to find out about on here. And suggestions on where to startd brushing up?

[quote name='BassManKev' post='296055' date='Sep 30 2008, 11:47 PM']i prefer this guy [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vwu2dGMtxU8&feature=related"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vwu2dGMtxU8...feature=related[/url][/quote]

[url="http://stores.ebay.co.uk/bassguitarpartsdirectuk"]http://stores.ebay.co.uk/bassguitarpartsdirectuk[/url] I just had a Badass V bridge for £58 to my door, not sure what other bargains there are to be had but it could well be worth a look!

I'll agree that upgrading for the sake of it is a bit daft, it's also just dawned on me that my road tax is due 2 days before the studio visit - which I still need to pay for! And the new bridge, and the fretwork, and the setup...... Like I said, I'm not even sure if the p'ups in there already are of any kind of standard so maybe waiting to see what difference the bridge makes first would be a plan, but I'm still really interested to know what's an option for me. Been reading up on SD's and it seems the Quarted Pounders have a bit of a mid-scoop in their output signal, I'm not sure it that would smooth out my sound a bit too much but I guess I could always boost the mids a bit on the amp.

I never actually hear anyone giving Warwicks a hard time on here, just people asking why they get a hard time! (that's not a dig by the way). All I've ever really heard against them is the neck profile, the price and the dreadful factory setup. The only one of those that's a problem for me is the price!!

I'm overhauling my Mexican Fender Jazz 5 string for my next studio visit and new pickups might well be on the cards. Sorry if this is in the wrong forum or if I'm asking a very tired question, I had a quick go with the search facility, but I'm sure you can imagine how many threads have the words "Jazz" and "Pickup" in them on here! Firstly, does anyone know what the standard pickups in my Mex J5 would be? I spoke to a guy who's going to be doing some other work on my bass and he said they might be the same spec as on the American made Fenders. If they are likely to be a decent quality, I may leave them in for now as I'm expecting the new bridge and frets to make a notable difference to my sound as it is. If they are poop, what should I replace them with? Seymores, EMGs and MECs were suggested, and the choice between active and passive came up. Obviously active pickups would mean I'd have to have the body routed for the battery compartment which is going to add to the cost, but if it's the way to go then it's the way to go. As far as sound goes, I keep the bass controls turned up (vol,vol,tone) and my preamp fairly flat. It's an Ampeg SVP Pro through an SWR 6X10 so it's pretty crisp but coloured by the valves. I don't slap in the band, but I keep a fairly slappy tone with plenty of gain so it's nice and bitey and cuts through the mix. I'm fairly happy with the sound my bass provides at the moment, but was thinking that there's probably room for improvement - even if it's just in component quality and not that noticable tonally. So what I'm asking you guys is, what should I really be looking for and taking into consideration? Any suggestions are very welcome, as I'm a bit dense when it comes to pickups and what's actually avaliable! I'm hoping to find something that will drop straight into my bass without any extra work on the body. Cheers guys!

I'm still semi-gassing for one of these, kinda tried to put it to the back of my mind while I've been weighing up my options. Keep us updated as you get used to it please!

Oh yeah, and it was great to put so many faces to names - really good to meet you all!

Many many thanks to Nick and Martin for getting it all together, all the guys who gave workshops and everyone who let a cack-handed ape like me near their basses! Had a great day, just looking forward to the next one now.....

While we're on the subject, could someone in the know let me know what a reasonable price for a s/h 2006 HH 'Ray 5 string would be in the current climate? Many thanks!

[quote name='geilerbass' post='280927' date='Sep 10 2008, 09:56 AM']Are there any music shops in Norwich that have anything worth trying in stock? Last time I was in Cooke's, it was pretty dire. Admittedly, it was a while ago - I didn't think there were any other music shops in Norwich, since Academy of Sound closed.[/quote] Not in stock I'm afraid, I was going to start a ranting post about the lack of basses in Norwich a couple of weeks ago in fact! Academy of Sound has re-opened as PMT, but it's still exactly the same in there - right down to the Lakland they've been trying to sell for ages! Thinking about it, I guess that's probably why they don't stock much in the way of basses. I think all the other music shops have closed, apart from Crack-Converters. Somebody did mention a music shop in Watton that I was unaware of in another thread recently though, that might be worth a look. Peted: My GAS is usually much better after a days treking around music shops, I don't usually find anything that I can't live without and it leaves me feeling better about the situation!

[url="http://www.myspace.com/thestanton"]ARCH STANTON[/url] Norwich / East Anglia I can't ever find a pidgeon hole to fit us in, but I guess it's high energy rock. Could headline shows around Norwich area, but would always prefer to support a local act when we're out of town. [url="http://www.myspace.com/draglineband"]DRAGLINE[/url] Norwich / East Anglia Progressive, melodic heavy rock / metal. Could headline shows around Norwich area, but would always prefer to support a local act when we're out of town. Cheers, good thread Charic!

I might have just got lucky, but I'm keeping my fingers crossed! If I'm honest, I'm pretty unlikely to ever buy from anywhere in London unless it's something rare or a second hand bargain, as I've got a pretty good relationship with the music shops in Norwich and they'll more than likely pricematch and order things in for me if I ask nicely. It's just nice to be able to go to a shop that already have things in stock to try out, which is what pi$$es them off! Hands up. I'm guilty. Sorry!

Well..... I payed our chums in the Cellar a visit on Saturday with my good friend Peted and my sister. I was wearing either a hoody or a t-shirt and camo shorts, so I probably didn't look minted. I don't believe we were greeted immediately apon entry (which I'm not really bothered about) as I think there was at least one other person at the counter already. We got to almost a whole lap of the shop before one of the guys in there asked if we wanted any help, we declined. After a little while I asked the same guy (quite tall, ear length curly hair) if I could try out the 2 p'up OLP Stingray they had in, probably one of the cheapest basses in the shop, but he obliged with a smile and as good a service as I expect from any shop. I played it for quite a while, Pete had a go, I got it back again, shop assistant asked if everything was OK. Yep thanks, kept playing. Took it back to the front eventually, asked for the price and what the genuine MM version would set you back and had a quick chat about how good the OLP is for the money. Then I gave it the old "I'm goinna go have a think about it" which I'm sure they hate and would rather you were honest and left. Got to admit, I was happy enough with the service. Sorry for not showing solidarity guys, but maybe they have started to take notice! I did hear that as most of Denmark St is owned by the same company the staff get moved around a bit, so perhaps they've moved the surly tossers out and split them up amonst the other shops. It was 2 chaps probably around their mid to late 20's working there this weekend, does that sound like new blood to anyone who's been visiting more recently? Fingers crossed for a brighter future! *although it was still rather pricey!*

[quote name='doctor_of_the_bass' post='280072' date='Sep 8 2008, 11:32 PM']4. Norfolk Guitar & Bass Centre (Watton, nr Swaffham)[/quote] WHAT?!! *gets map, plans weekend*

I'd have thought you'll have to play softer with with a low action, or you will get some rattle. My basses tend to buzz a bit but I play pretty hard too and quite like to effect it gives. It's a balancing act I'm afraid!