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Messages - copacetic

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346
Other Bass Brands / Re: Sir Paul playing a Yamaha BB series bass.
« on: May 12, 2009, 09:58:44 AM »
Yes, sorry to have stretched your reference to the Jazz. I lumped the Fender all together there. Indeed the FIJ surfaced at the time of the 'white album'. The resurfacing of the Hofner started at the time of "FLowers in the Dirt' when Costello requested him to use it.

347
Other Bass Brands / Re: Sir Paul playing a Yamaha BB series bass.
« on: May 12, 2009, 12:04:32 AM »
Not to slight your comment but I would not go so far as to say there were 'plenty of Beatle tunes with Fender bass'. Very few in fact and the ones that were played on that VI were pretty lackluster in feeling and not played by the Hofner guy. I cannot speak for Uwe at all as his collection is probably the most comprehensive in existence when it comes to Gibson (esq). It would be interesting to hear if he does have a 'go to' bass. I suspect so but you never know. I have about 36 basses covering the range of Guild, Fender, Hofner, Ampeg & some Gibsons and Epi's (and yes a certain "collectionitis' consciousness entered in there but I view the instruments as facets of sound, and tools really and also each instrument elicits a certain approach and stlye.  Through it all at this point I suppose my style has developed to the degree that no matter what bass I pick up they might all sound the same with ofcourse differences in tone and definitly the Thunderbird brings out something different then the Starfire or the Ampeg Scrolltop. However I always find myself going back around to the semi hollowbodied basses that I started out with. Though I admit I still like my very 1st Hofner I got back in '62 for a combination of sentiment and the hell I put it through and as you say when plugged into my modern Mark Bass system you would never know it was the same bass I plugged into an Echolette 43+ years ago. Overall point: We are so fortunate now to have amazing amplification systems to really explore the bass universe and keep those guitar players on notice.

348
Other Bass Brands / Re: Ovation Magnum help
« on: May 11, 2009, 11:24:19 PM »
Back to my last comment on 5/10, I mistakenly said IV & V's. I meant the Magnum III & IV's (they were also a different body shape. If you really need the schematic John Budny (he's an old hand with Ovation and was there at the time and helped and several others with our Magnums years ago) at Kaman Guitars is very helpful and he does have it and can give you some advice. I'd say forget the stereo and mono wiring. I cut those out on my Mag I. The one thing you will notice as well about that Magnum neck pickup is that the sound does really roll off if you are prone to bend strings. Otherwize there is not a pickup around that comes close to the bass that one puts out.

349
Other Bass Brands / Re: Ovation Magnum help
« on: May 11, 2009, 08:40:31 AM »
The I & II's are all in at 10-10.5 lbs. Mahogany galore. But very nicely balanced and put together. You can intonate them to a tee. The bridge and all that surround around the pickups is aluminium. The IV & V's are also right in there at 10 lbs as well.

350
Other Bass Brands / Re: Sir Paul playing a Yamaha BB series bass.
« on: May 10, 2009, 11:52:04 PM »
The 5 string was a Wal. There is a reason he is still playing the Hofner live and in the studio.The days of the Vox Ac 50 and Super Beatle amps are long gone and he even admitted not getting a good bass sound on record prior to Revolver. You can find thousand of his quotes on this. I think it can be said that his style did develop exactly because of the specific qualities and limitations of the Hofner. Each bass in itself has certain attributes which we work on and have our preferences. We can directly attribute the more front and center function and acceptance of the bass guitar to better amplification along with correctly recording them in the studio and the mix.
I know it might sound weird and presumptuous of me to say but the Beatle  sound was not really a Fender type sound overall. That is not to say if he used a Fender P or Jazz that it would have sounded that different however from where I sit particular instruments lend themselves to different approaches. I did see the Beatles live and up close and it sounded good up close. I also had the privilege of seeing his recent band go through a whole sound check playing familiar songs and jamming and his little Hofner sounded incredible, beyond imagination really. He does have an exrtra cosmic connection with that particular bass. I think it's the same for all of us though. There are particular one's we just get really on with. I remember one time my daughter was playing at a club and Marcus Miller was hanging around and later on we all got to talking and Marcus said to a few of the younger kids: 'Just find one bass you can really stick with and make that one yours and develop your sound and style with it and later on you can play around with other things and you'll always sound like you but that one you develop with will always bring you back around'. I think i can vouch and agree with that.

351
Other Bass Brands / Re: Ovation Magnum help
« on: May 10, 2009, 10:21:51 AM »
I have the Magnum I & II. I had my II preamp/sliders replaced with an updated one (done by Gary Brawer in S.F. and great job by the way). I still have the original plate and sliders. I could see about making a template for you, but will have to find the whole set I have stored somewhere. By the way if you want to hear some real Magnum sounds at work check out just about anything from Jah Wobble.Among the worlds most original and innovative bassists.

352
Gibson Basses / Re: My work with Gibson Basses,during my years at Gibson Guitars-Part 1
« on: May 08, 2009, 10:31:44 PM »
Really welcome. You realize the extent of pregnant and in labour questions that are just ..(not to mention a few other 'bursts'(!!).
Eagerly awaiting all the details. Please be graphic. I can say for myself the (reverse)Thunderbird always balanced for my particular hold/stance and playing stlye. Also I think most will agree here that Gibson/Epiphone came up with some of the more under the radar designs and innovations for the bass starting with their very first pickup. I'll stop there for the moment.I won't even mention the Les Paul Signature bass.

353
Gibson Basses / Re: An acquired taste ...
« on: May 05, 2009, 06:45:36 PM »
I was almost going to say that is just short of a terrorist act but in actuality that is just plain stupid looking. Now we also have to remember the line between style and sleaze can be thin at times and the art is therein but this guy left it where it fell somewhere.
I will say this: i have seen some clear pickguards on some instruments that actually works. This guy perhaps should have just the etched in gold Thunderboid loogo on the clear pickguard to have any redeeming qualities. The quality of the cler pickguard is also of utmost importance.It should be scratchfree. That would be about $350.00 with etching. 

354
Gibson Basses / Re: Nice EB 650 on ebay
« on: April 22, 2009, 10:45:55 PM »
The 650's & 750's were one of the biggest let downs Gibson ever came up with. The TB+ pups were just not right any way you looked/look at it when installed in these bodies.Prototypes of this body with wood block down the middle or totally hollow just did not make it. Lots of confusion going on what they were actually trying to come up with on these soundwise. I know no one who has one wants to mod them (because of the price they paid) but I think they would be a nice platform to try out a few other pickups.(did I hear some say 3 mudbuckers and 3 baritone switches with phase in and outs..?)no really what ya think..?

355
Other Bass Brands / Re: 59 Hofner bass
« on: April 21, 2009, 09:37:11 AM »
The only slight comment I will make to Jon's comment above is that I think that is a President not a Senator Hofner. The President's distinguishing charateristics were the floral motive headstock, dual pearloid postion markers on the fretboard and 2 pickups whereas the Senators were one pickup and no floral headstock and regular pearloid position markers. I love the larger bodied Hofners. A true hollow bodied bass. Watchout for feedback! One thing I'v often wondered if one were to drill out some f holes in the Hofner 500/1 or 500/2's if you might get that Klira sound...? To me the Klira always had that slighter hollow sound not necessarily better but different. I realize about the pickup differences but they were ever so slight as well.

356
The Outpost Cafe / Re: Big news: Fender loses attempt to trademark body shapes
« on: March 26, 2009, 10:37:19 PM »
Your partner sounds like a person of wit and wisdom. Reading between the lines however I think he is after your entire collection.

357
Gibson Basses / Re: Ultralite Clovers on a T-Bird
« on: March 24, 2009, 09:51:44 PM »
Those actually look really good. I have a feeling I might end up fiddling around with them more than I should be playing at the other end. Could you give us a shot(photo)from behind?!

358
Gibson Basses / Re: Thunderbird Strings
« on: March 22, 2009, 11:27:16 PM »
Dean Markley Blue Steel flats son.

359
The Bass Zone / Re: Sir Paul teaching us how to play bass. ...Well at least he tries.
« on: March 22, 2009, 11:24:23 PM »
re Headstock damage: leaning over record palyers while madly chasing a bassline, or even trying to hear bass over old systems and setting the needle exactly where you wanted it to be while the bass was flailing on the strap hitting the wall, floor sometimes would tend to leave a nick or two on the headstock.

360
The Bass Zone / Re: Sir Paul teaching us how to play bass. ...Well at least he tries.
« on: March 21, 2009, 10:32:30 PM »
I damaged many a headstock ( Hofner, EB-O's, Teisco, Guild Starfire and yes Fender jazz)'going over the lines on 45's and 33's. But boy did I learn and in retrospect it was fun trying to get in the exact groove!

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