BobVbass

Purple and gold flake

[quote]Like this http://basschat.co.u...of-aria-basses/ [/quote] Yes that's one of the ones I'm looking at

Just one - a Fenix P bass - played it for over ten years; nut was knackered in the end, frets worn down grooves in the fret board, dinks all over the body, gave it to my friends kid to learn on in the end

[quote][color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]I don't know if it's 80s [/font][/color][/quote] yeah thanks mate - that's a 2000's + one

[quote][color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]You could get unmarked touchboards from '83 onwards. [/font][/color][/quote] perfect - thanks

Just a quick query for the Aria experts on here - did Matsumoku do unlined versions of the SB basses in the early eighties? I've only seen lined & marked versions but I'm looking at one at the minute that appears to have a plain fretboard - checked the usual reference sites and haven't come up with any examples; just wondering if it's a refitted fretboard thanks Bob

Well probably..is the answer in its simplest form, it appears that both the combo and the cab use the same 8ohm driver and the amp part of the combo is just a Little Mark head - you'd get the same 300w of power through both - the combo has an SPL of 99db and the cab 100db perhaps there is a compromise in the combo cabinet having an integral amp but the cabinet would be louder - although whether you'd actually be able to hear the difference, who knows

[quote]Well, I wouldn't be looking for a break angle at all; I'd be trying to minimise it. I'm trying to contact the string with the fret firmly and cleanly without pressing the string into the fingerboard and so possibly sharpening the note. And the closer to the fret the lighter the touch needed to fret the string. The relevance for playing fretless is that if I always play close up to or even on the fret then my muscle memory, at least on a bass of the same scale length, will put me very close to correct intonation.[/quote] Well you know, I've yet to have a disagreement in all the years I've been on here and I'm not going to start now; not quite sure what point you're trying to make but thanks for the opinion

[Quote]That seems to me an extremely odd approach the placement of the fingers but each to their own. [/quote] In what way? That's how frets work - so long as you produce the correct pressure to create a brake angle over the fret then the note will sound at the correct intonation, yes nearer the fret will create a steeper break angle but at the end of the day any break angle will produce the required note...

[quote]You're over-thinking it. Once you pick up a fretless bass and listen while you are playing it's obvious where your fingers go. I have lined fretless basses with the markers on the lines and the markers between the lines as on fretted bass. I don't have any problem switching between the two because the lines are only ever a rough guide as to where to put my fingers. The only time for me that the placement of the side markers is important, is on an un-lined fretless when they must be where the "frets" would be. [/quote] Yeah fair enough - I've only ever played unlined so probably wouldn't make a hell of a difference I 'spose

Two gigging basses in cases; practice bass on a stand, double bass in a cover in the cupboard couple of old knackered ones in bin bags in the loft!

[quote]I prefer no lines myself but I'd say you should be putting your finger right up to and on the fret even when there are frets. Are you putting your fingers somewhere else? [/quote] Well when there are frets you can put your finger anywhere in the gap preceding the correct fret and still get the correct intonation - kind of the idea of them I would have thought otherwise it would be called a vaguely precise bass instead of a precision wouldn't it No lines makes far more sense to me to be honest but I guess it's horses for courses, if you're more comfortable looking and seeing markers there then fair enough - just seemed very weird to me

So... I'm quiet happy not having frets - I play double bass so I don't have an issue but fretless basses seem to have lines where the frets are normally on fretted bass guitar and markers in the normal fretted place (if that makes sense) -Doesn't that mean if you play with your fingering in normal fretted place that your intonation will be miles out? Surely the correct place for your finger would be on the fretline? So what's the point of the marker in that position? Why have the lines and markers on the fretboard anyway? I'm sure there's a very good reason...

I had the same thing when I started playing double bass - all of a sudden people started making a B line to see me after the gig and saying how much they enjoyed it - quite freaked me out at first

[quote]The G&L L series has very little to do with Stingrays. There is no Stingray ready to burst out because apart from the fact that MFD pickups have very little in common with Stingray pickups other than a vague physical resemblance, there is no active 2 or 3 band EQ circuit. The EQ on an L series is purely passive (cut only). The active modes are a simple preamp line boost, or a rather harsh top end boost. I mostly used my Tribute L-2000 100% passive. Although I did have it modded to give single coil operation. Favourite setting was both (inner) single coils. It would be a shame to dismiss the Tribute L-2000 on the grounds that its pickups look a little like a Stingray's. There's always the G&L Tribute SB-2. PJ MFDs. Thinner neck though. [/quote] Ok I'll take a look thanks

[quote][color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]-I was doing a multi-band gig last week, and everyone used the same bass amp. There were a couple of Ps which sounded lovely, but my favourite (apart from my own, obviously) was this Telecaster bass:[/font][/color] [url="http://www.dawsons.co.uk/fender-tele-bass-modern-player-series-maple-fretboard-butterscotch-blonde"]http://www.dawsons.c...erscotch-blonde[/url] [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]It was nice and old-school sounding, yet had clarity and character - I was really impressed. [/font][/color][/quote] That looks really nice actually I have to say at the minute I'm swayed towards either the Les Paul (If Mr Precision Lozz says they're nice then I'll probably like it & if I do like it I can get even more GAS and get one of the Gibson versions in a while - or the Jack Casady - I like the look and the fact that I'd have to fiddle with it (lightweight tuners, reinforce the top horn inside and move the strap button) would be fun. I like the look of the early P bass G&Ls but the others look like they're a Stingray ready to burst out and I've had a couple of MusicMans (men) and didn't like them... Almost at decision point I think....maybe....more frantic googling and endless pouring over stats reviews and figures is underway but I can feel the GAS valve definitely reaching the "oh just get one of those" stage - of course one of the ones I'm looking at could sell at any minute then I'll be back to square one

[quote]'51 RI? I had a Sting sig for a while and loved it. At the time however I wanted more tonal options so moved it on for a Jazz. I wish I'd kept that one; looked so fine![/quote] Yes good idea but I've already got the paisley precision to cover the old P bass area

[quote]discreet, on 10 February 2014 - 02:41 PM, said: Maybe a different amp is what you need? Exactly what I was thinking. Better get saving for a B15. [/quote] Yes did think of an amp but I'd get a lightweight back up like a mark bass f1 if I did - happy with the hartke/ super twelve at the minute; thanks for the idea tho

[quote]OK. Before I start, I must point out that I replaced the standard tuners with Hipshot Ultralites. I didn't do this with the initial thought of saving weight - one of the press fit bushings was lifting out of the headstock and it bugged me so I wanted to fit some screw fit tuners. The Ultralites came up at an agreeable price so I went for it. Of course it will tip the balance (ha) in favour of the body slightly but I suspect that the difference would be soaked up by the wide strap. Anyway, I've said my piece, and feel free to call me a big cheat. I did a test with a wide neoprene strap (Neotech Mega strap) and a normal slippy strap. I look ridiculous, but hey, nothing ventured, nothing gained.[/quote] That is one of the most masterful videos I've seen in a long time - that's had me sniggering over my early morning diet coke; fantastic! Thanks for doing that and answering the neck dive question.

[quote]You want something different..........but don't know what you want - this makes finding what you want a big problem. If you don't know..... then how can anyone here know?[/quote] Well I'm looking for suggestions and opinions - working well at the minute [quote]I always feel that the name of the person playing the bass is more important than the name on the headstock...... [/quote] hmmm maybe I should change my name to Blodwyn Thunderthumper then .... [quote]G & L should probably be on your radar. [/quote] Ok - I'll have a look - I kind of assumed they'd be twang machines along the lines of stingrays but I'll have a look - thanks!

[quote][color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]Try falling in love again with your Lakland P. It's got to be pretty much as good as it gets. [/font][/color] [/quote] Yeah it's awesome I haven't fallen out of love with it - I just want a new toy for my birthday

[quote][color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]But yes, if it's old school you want, the Jack Casady is hard to beat. The varitone gives a few extra tonal options, can't speak for all of them but mine is well finished and screwed together and it looks the absolute nuts, especially in gold - although I think they've just released a white one, if that's your thing. [/font][/color][/quote] They do look brilliant - what about neck dive though? Is it awful or not so bad? [quote][color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif][size=3]I would say that you have answered your own question in your original post.[/size][/font][/color] [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]This... If your happiest with a P bass, get another one [/font][/color] [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif] [/font][/color][/quote] Well yeah I know.... it's just y'know another precision and for £500 it'll be no where near as good as my Lakland so I won't use it - I'm kind of thinking I'll leave the next precision until next year and get a nice 70's one....

So.. I crashed and burned on my last GAS purchase - Yamaha RBX765a; beautiful bass but just too twangy and not smooth enough a sound for my "I play a Precision" ears. So I'm now in the market for something else up to about £500 ish - and I've seen the following that take my fancy... Epiphone Les Paul Epiphone Jack Casady Ibanez SoundGear Lakland 44-01 or Another Precision I like deep creamy bass (think Duck Dunn on the blues brothers) so the obvious choice would be another precision but I just know it won;t be better than my Lakland so I'd just use it as a back up and probably never play it. If I got something with a nice bass sound though that was different it would give me an excuse to take it out and give it a go - and it might be nice to try something different... Anyway - which do you think would be good? I will of course hold anyone that suggests anything absolutely responsible if it all goes wrong

Bought a couple of cases from Gavin - top chap - great comms and smooth transaction Thanks Mate!