Chris2112

I'll nominate the entire Gibson range just for sounding awful. I can't even think of another bass manufacturer that sounds as consistently awful as Gibson. Even Fender get it ridiculously right sometimes (Fender Urge basses, Zone bass etc etc).

[quote name='BassBod' post='1035956' date='Nov 25 2010, 09:50 AM']I'll nominate the Warwick Thumb - such a beautiful looking design, and great woodworking...compromised by heavy weight, peculiar ergonomics and floor diving headstock. Unless you wear it under your chin. Should have been headless. I have seen one, nailed to the wall in a German club, like a sacrificial offering. But it wasn't built as a headless.[/quote] I never wore mine under my chin, although I did wear it relatively high. I have never had any problems with balance or weight though, it was very comfortable to play for long periods. Compared to some basses that don't carry their weight well (like a P bass or a Thunderbird) it felt like a feather!

[quote name='zero9' post='1033863' date='Nov 23 2010, 01:41 PM']The double bass. It's too bulky, doesn't stay in tune and needs to be amplified.[/quote] Yeah, they may have been good back in the day but they're just pointless now, and they sound crap.

[quote name='voxpop' post='1034253' date='Nov 23 2010, 07:18 PM']How about my new BT6.......... Only 2 weeks old..... [attachment=64791:DSC_0007.JPG] [attachment=64794:DSC_0012.JPG] [attachment=64793:DSC_0005.JPG] [attachment=64795:DSC_0015.JPG][/quote] Thats so nice it's making my head spin! Gorgeous!

If you could get that back to natural it would be awesome, otherwise I'd go for a bright and colourful orange tone.

When thinking of this I usually think of Kubicki first, I'll elaborate on a few points: The neck is 34 laminates of maple, chosen by Phil because he wanted a super stiff neck but without the high cost of graphite. It's ultra stiff and stable and doesn't suffer from dead spots! The body shape is so comfortable but looks fantastic. The pickups are radiused to the fretboard and they have "popping" scoops out of the offside. The headless design is excellent, the 6 position preamp is also fantastic as it gives a wide range of active and passive options but is very user friendly and easy to pick up, unlike some of the more complex Alembic systems. And to think, that this was done in the 80's too, it's a bass that is still ahead of it's time!

There seem to be a lot of people asking about this now. Customs aren't mugs though, they're trained to spot just about every scam coming in to ensure that no one can buck the trade laws of this country. Every penny counts to Westminister now, and given the risk of trying to smuggle stuff in I'd day you're best off keeping it above board or just buying in this country.

[quote name='Faithless' post='1032978' date='Nov 22 2010, 06:00 PM']But, then, as I assume, people here are discussing the 'gear way'..[/quote] Well actually, we're discussing the "tone way". After all, my Kubicki sounds like Stuart Hamm's Kubicki, and I use that tone but I generally lack the talent to play some of his stuff!

Yeah, the Lazarus is absolutely beautiful. There was a Finn single cut on the boards here when I bought my Harlot which was later withdrawn, that was another very pretty one:

I'd class the Jazz as being a million miles better than the Precision. To me, the P Bass is a stone age design and well past it now. The jazz bass was a massive leap forward in design, because the shape and balance was better, the beck was better and the tone was better! Your could hear your bass, and it wasn't just the dull, farty P sound. However, I think the jazz bass is past it now, espeically in it's stock Fender type format. There may be a few miles left in boutique jazz basses but they're outclassed by the innovaters and market leaders now (Fodera, Alembic, ACG, Status Graphite, Zon, Ken Smith, Kubicki etc etc).

Finding "the one" has always been a bit of a funny thing for me, I've always tried to keep a Kubicki in my life as they are as good as it gets. I was lost without one! So in a way, #1659, my second Kubicki is my #1. However, my go to bass these days in my ACG singlecut, I just love it. I only play from the studio these days, but even then I like to rest the Kubicki despite the fact it leads an extremely pampered life being played from a padded leather chair in a studio! Getting the ACG was a revelation in that it was more than just an impressive bass which I loved playing, it felt like Excalibur in my hand. I feel like I suppose Vic Wooten does about his #1 Fodera Monarch. That the ACG Harlot Singlecut #1 will be in my hands in 20 years, albeit wearing the gentle mojo that a boutique bass could collect from studio use. I am so taken with the bass that in the new year (once the car insurance is paid for for another year!) I'll be ordering another bass from Alan at ACG. Likely to be the same shape and dimensions as my bass now, but fretless and with different woods. I hope that you are successful in finding a bass that is good enough to be #1! And if you ever want to try my ACG and you're in the North East of England then just give me a shout.

If I were upgrading the pickups in a bass and I'd be looking at two options; EMG and Bartolini. They're both fantastic brands as I'm sure you'd know. The Barts would suit better for finger funk and the EMG's better for slap and that sort of thing. I don't think it'd be possible to be disappointed with the results either way!

I suppose a large Stuart Hamm influence would be obvious when I'm playing my Kubicki, after all Stu was the reason I bought one in the first place. And since I play it through my Ashdown Mark King amp, which is very transparent, you get the full whack of Kubicki tone! I'd like to think with the ACG harlot singlecut I have my own sound. It reminds me of Geddy Lee's Wal tone on Power Windows. I suppose that's the filter preamp speaking! Tight, almost compressed bottom, a pronounced midrange and a sweet, subtle top. Very modern and hi fi but without being harsh or sparkly.

This dvd here: [url="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Ed-Friedland-Slap-Ultimate-Guide/dp/B00008G90O/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1290373667&sr=1-1"]http://www.amazon.co.uk/Ed-Friedland-Slap-...3667&sr=1-1[/url] It's by Ed Friedland, who is an absolutely fantastic player, and it goes right from the basic form of the techniques all the way up to the fancy stuff with a few tricky lines! I bought it a few years ago and it really revitalised my slap playing as it brought me back to basics and made me focus on raising the standard from the ground up.

That does have a really nice burpy sound to it. Possibly a subtle envelope filter maybe? Answers on a postcard!

[quote name='charic' post='1001149' date='Oct 26 2010, 01:21 PM']ACG graft bass i think will sit nicely in that budget. Maybe even a 2nd hand shuker....[/quote] If you're not looking to buy used an ACG Graft bass would be an excellent choice. They come with my recommendation, I was very impressed when I played one!

That is absolutely stunning! Definitely my favourite Overwater shape, I love the way they've created the illusion of the top horn, very smart! If you don't mind me asking, how much did this set you back?

Yeah, that was pretty horrid.

I watched that documentary a little while ago, very good stuff. Those Steinbergers are amazing basses, I only wish they were still being made, in the original 80's guise of all carbon graphite design. I'd buy one! If you like Steinberger tone, check out this video at 01:47 seconds, in the little section starting there before the solo.

[quote name='Crazykiwi' post='1030825' date='Nov 20 2010, 08:15 PM']A couple of years ago Alex said Ken refused to take an order from the Bass Gallery because they didn't sell enough of his instruments! Thats why the Gallery have never bothered offering them since.[/quote] That sounds like a bad move, after all the Gallery are surely the longest established and biggest name in boutique bass sales in the UK - I've never known them to have bother shifting any high end kit!