artisan

[quote name='cocco' timestamp='1388089650' post='2318484'] Precision for me. Had 2 rays and there's just something missing for me [/quote] That would be the G String then I have owned 3 Rays,a 3eq & a 2eq,both had almost silent g strings especially in a live mix,i tried everything to cure the problem but to no avail. Don't get me wrong i love the look & feel of a Ray but they just don't work for me. With a Precision bass though you just can't go wrong,perfect in any musical genre & the build quality on the 2008 onwards U.S. models is just as good as an EBMM bass. Imho of course.

[quote name='sarah thomas' timestamp='1387840191' post='2316448'] Good for you. Well done. [/quote] thanks Sarah.

Big congrats to mr & mrs Rev

[quote name='ChrisF' timestamp='1387816023' post='2316055'] What... there's another one as well as me ? Seriously ... I really want to hear you guys play ... any gigs a bit further down South coming up ?? [/quote] well you never know,there was a guy watching us who deals in genuine 1950's juke boxes. He is involved in the American car/Rockabilly scene & says he wants us to play at some rallies/shows next summer,so if it actually happens i will keep you informed.

[quote name='ChrisF' timestamp='1387730319' post='2314961'] That's brilliant news Neil [/quote] thanks matey

Many thanks for all of your kind comments guys My fingers are firmly crossed that the band will stay this way in future,both guitarists did realise what a difference it made to have the sound levels correct. Another plus for me too came when we were packing our gear away when a guy comes onto the "stage",shakes my hand vigorously & says "you can't half play that slap bass mate" Turns out he is a massive Rockabilly fan & expert on the genre,result Lol

[quote name='ezbass' timestamp='1387786645' post='2315506'] Now that's extremely good news, both for you and your audience. How did this change come about; did you have a stern word with them or did they perhaps stumble over this thread? [/quote] oh i told them last week,either sort the sound out or i'm gone I guess they listened then.

Well we played last nights gig & boy did i get a supprise We did a decent sound check for once,the guitars were massively quieter than usual & i was even asked if they were too loud ! I just ran my rig with gain & master volume at 12 o'clock ,neither guitar got turned up at all,infact i actually asked the rhythm guitar to be turned up a little. The gig was awesome,the punters loved us & we sounded great,i couldn't stop grinning all night it was brilliant. The guys have promised me this is how it will be from now on - Result.

Cheers John you are a star. S/N is I783968 so i guess its a March 1978 jobbie I'm just playing on it now it does play nice,it has a Basslines pickup in it so that may help a little. Having a better look at paint i think it has actually been brush painted ....err yuk. Looks ok from a few feet away but deffinately a c*unt close up I'll take some photos tomorrow if i get chance. Cheers

[quote name='Bassassin' timestamp='1387553647' post='2313323'] Silver series was a bit later (serial number gives you the year, if it hasn't got one it's pre '75) and it's probable proportions were more accurate. However, I wouldn't write off the original body - copy-era Ibbys are pretty collectable & IMO best left original if possible. How has the body been refinished? If it hasnt been stripped, neat acetone (cheap off Ebay) will quickly remove a lot of shonky refins, and a bit of T-Cut is great for getting a shine back on the thick poly lacquer that's probably underneath. Jon. [/quote] hi Jon. Many thanks for the info I'm told it is a 1978 but don't know for certain. It looks like its had a very thick coat of single pack poly sprayed (with a cycle pump) very badly,not sure what is underneath that though but i may just try a little acetone. Didn't know i could use that so many thanks for that. The body is quite battered under the paint but i'd rather play it battered than how it is now & it plays very well,it just looks a c*nt.

Merry christmas to all ye good folk on here & a big thank you for all of your help / advice too.

I have recently aquired a 1970's Ibanez silver series P bass copy with a lovely fretless maple neck. The body though is very rough & has numerous dents some very deep,also some numpty in the past has painted the body very very badly. The paint is extremely thick & exhibits just about very blemish you could possibly find,it is sh*te. Initially i thought of getting the body stripped & refinnished but that would cost more than this old clunker is worth. So my other thought is to buy a new Fender P body from strings direct & swap everything onto that,so onto my main question. Does anyone know if the Ibanez neck will fit into a mex P body ? Cheers

They look really nice basses,i quite fancy the natural finish £600 cheapy version.

[quote name='KevB' timestamp='1387370932' post='2311139'] You might even be able to hear the G string on these [/quote] Well said that man

[quote name='ubassman' timestamp='1387378139' post='2311281'] You could get Yoko to record different takes with different mixes and ask her what sounds the clearest from au audience point of view ....she could be your biggest ally [/quote] aha you've not met her then Yoko is an expert in everything,talks at very high speed without listening to any replies & constantly tells hubby to turn up so i'll not get any help there. the really annoying thing is we used to play pretty quietly & sound pretty good but the volume just keeps rising,hence why i bought a bigger amp but that seems to mean we can play louder now,the idiots. Rest assured if we can't resolve the issue i will walk, away brother or not but it would be nice just to sort the problem out. Thanks for all your replies guys,i do appreciate it very much so please keep them coming.

[quote name='Dingus' timestamp='1387378345' post='2311287'] Nice to hear someone namechecking Alan Spenner, dr T. I have always loved the sound he got on those late'70's / early '80's Roxy Music tracks , too. He was a brilliant bass player who gets criminally overlooked nowadays . [/quote] damn right he is one of my all time favourite players & one of the reasons i want a Wal.

[quote name='CamdenRob' timestamp='1387378260' post='2311286'] So this morning I placed my order... Summer 2015 I'll have what I should have ordered 15 years ago... [/quote] excellent,good man I'm glad i started this thread & i'm excited for you too. P.s. Please leave me it on your bucket list

[quote name='Huge Hands' timestamp='1387369567' post='2311122'] I played drums in a band during my teens with my brother (keyboards) who is six years older than me. He always treated me as the "kid brother" as the rest of the band were his age, which meant not updating me of changes and then shouting at me mid gig when I obviously got that wrong, and treating me like c**p the rest of the time when the other band members were around. I don't think he wanted his annoying little brother in his band, but he didn't know any other drummers! I moved away at 18 and have not really played more than the odd gig with him since, but I would imagine it would still be the same now even though I'm approaching 40.... I reckon you might be suffering from a similar thing? Just a thought? P.S. I wasn't intending to slag off our kid by the way. For all I've said, I love the sod to bits and actually think the treatment toughened me up a bit and kept me on my game at the time as I can be a lazy b*****d at times. When we locked in together it could be great! I wouldn't recommend his approach for everyone though.... I guess in summary what I was trying to say was, you probably need to make the decsion as to whether you stay to keep up the relationship with your brother, or branch out on your own and join a band that makes you happy. Tough call sometimes.... [/quote] this i think is spot on & absolutley true in my case too,my brother is 5 years older than me & even though i am 46 i still get this exact treatment.

Thanks guys. I'm not sure turning myself right down would work,the rhythm player spent 20 odd years just playing with himself in his bedroom & seems incapable of adjusting to a band setting,all he seems to here is himself. We have a gig this saturday so i will see how it goes on the night,at least they know how i feel now so it will be interesting to see how it goes. Its a funny band though my brother & the singer are thick as thieves where i actually feel like an outsider sometimes. The will change the running order mid set but neglect to tell me what we are playing next,odd really but a shame as the band can be good. Kirky - i'll bear that in mind

[quote name='RAY AGAINST THE MACHINE' timestamp='1387315175' post='2310696'] I'd hate to have a band rehearsal with these guys. [/quote] me too Actually we rehearse in the singers house at at what they think is low volume but i still need an amp,i tried just playing accoustic but couldn't hear myself. They are hopeless.

[quote name='CamdenRob' timestamp='1387296903' post='2310413'] Why did you have to start this thread... Now I've been forced to ask Paul if my quote from Two months ago is still valid.... [/quote] haha go one get it ordered,you know you want too I would if i could afford it

[quote name='Marc S' timestamp='1387292380' post='2310346'] It could of course make you want one even more But if the only way you could get one was to sell that lovely blue DB of yours..... .... no contest! The DB is far better than any bass guitar! [/quote] now there's an idea Lol i think i'd rather sell a kidney

[quote name='CamdenRob' timestamp='1387291556' post='2310326'] Yep, I'm firmly in the really, really, really, really, really want a Wal camp as well... Thing is I want a MK3 6er. I've sorted out with Paul what I want... and a price... I just can't bring myself to sign up for the 18 months I've been quoted for him to make it. So now I'm just waiting in hope that what I want comes up second hand somewhere... I have faith BC will come up with one for me eventually... [/quote] i hope you manage to find one matey as i'm sure an 18 month wait would be a nightmare,but a worth while one. I don't think i will ever be in a position to buy one ..... Oh woe is me ..... Sob sob ... I wonder if anyone wants to but a pickled kidney

I watched Spandau Ballet on Sky Arts 1 last night & fell in love with Martin Kemp's Mk2 Wal bass,it is gorgeous to look at & sounded amazing. I want one so bad it hurts can't bloody well affort one though I was never a fan of the band but thought they were pretty good & he is a pretty decent bass player too. I am sure he would really like to give me his bass for Christmas

[quote name='6v6' timestamp='1387285837' post='2310204'] IMO the guitarists need to get smaller amps. I gigged (guitar) for many years, and it took me a while to realize that, in a pub, even a 15-20w valve amp is generally too much. Most guitarists think they need 50-100w amps, which is just totally wrong unless you're playing festivals and big venues (even then you can mic a small amp), naturally big tube amps only sound good when they're driven hard, which results in totally stupid stage volumes. What amps are they using? [/quote] the rhythm guy uses an AER which is damn loud for such a small amp. My brother used a Fender blues deluxe which also makes a right row,he plays a Gretsch too so it can be very cutting.