The Last Bass Outpost

Main Forums => The Outpost Cafe => Topic started by: bassilisk on April 04, 2017, 06:31:51 AM

Title: Just Coming In
Post by: bassilisk on April 04, 2017, 06:31:51 AM: Hi everyone! I am new as of today.

Funny thing. I searched for some bass info and got a hit here. Imagine my surprise when I see names I remember
from The Dudepit!!! It's been a long time since I've been around you guys.

I had no idea this Forum was around or I would've got here sooner. Anyway....

I live in News York City and I still gig regularly with my cover band. We're pretty flexible so we're not pigeon holed
into one genre. Standards, Oldies, 60's, 70's & 80's Rock, Disco....a broad palette that gets us a wide variety of gigs.
Here's a link to our site: http://www.risky-biz.com

I'll be stopping by regularly :)
Title: Re: Just Coming In
Post by: Basvarken on April 04, 2017, 07:04:44 AM: Welcome (back)!

I remember your name from the Dudepit days. :toast:
Title: Re: Just Coming In
Post by: uwe on April 04, 2017, 07:05:18 AM: What took you so long? ;D

We're The Island of Lost Dudepit Souls here.

(https://media.giphy.com/media/C5J2aXT3N32O4/giphy.gif)
Title: Re: Just Coming In
Post by: uwe on April 04, 2017, 07:07:55 AM: Shall we put him into the reptile thread, you think? Apparently, he can walk on water.

(http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Br1rQvAweME/TRX-752OGBI/AAAAAAAAAM0/-7RaCJ-QT0E/s1600/Basilisk+Lizard.jpg)
Title: Re: Just Coming In
Post by: bassilisk on April 04, 2017, 10:25:18 AM: Hah!!! The Island Of Lost Dudepit Souls!! You guys are still a rip. I'm glad you kept it together.

I did go through a reptile phase though. Wifey drew the line with snakes, but I had some lizards (my favorite was a Tokay Gecko) and a couple of tarantulas for variety. I had one Mexican Red Leg for 17 years - became a member of the family so to speak.

Have to Photoshop the basilisk holding a bass......
Title: Re: Just Coming In
Post by: TBird1958 on April 04, 2017, 11:32:30 AM: Welcome back, welcome here. I remember your username, so, I'm not as far gone as most would have you think.

Electric trains..........Now there's something to chat about, esp since Uwe has been covering the "Love that dare not speak it's name" so well of late. ;D
Title: Re: Just Coming In
Post by: Pilgrim on April 04, 2017, 11:43:31 AM: Not to mention model trains, WWII aircraft, and WWII tanks being dragged out of bogs.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JOMiRsodVHk
Title: Re: Just Coming In
Post by: uwe on April 04, 2017, 12:15:05 PM: "... my favorite was a Tokay Gecko ..."

(https://68.media.tumblr.com/9718af3a13108a9ac5b9244036ac21af/tumblr_mzmnwleIBO1qdg223o1_400.gif)

Fierce little beasts with alligator eyes that can never be tamed and bite - ouch! I have more than a handful, they are the health police of my terrarium at night and keep the insect population at bay.

I'm not allowed to keep snakes either!
Title: Re: Just Coming In
Post by: uwe on April 04, 2017, 12:24:31 PM: Quote from: TBird1958 on April 04, 2017, 11:32:30 AM

Welcome back, welcome here. I remember your username, so, I'm not as far gone as most would have you think.

Electric trains..........Now there's something to chat about, esp since Uwe has been covering the "Love that dare not speak it's name" so well of late. ;D

Sssh, do not instill fear in him just yet I cry!

(https://38.media.tumblr.com/b3932d16545afa84617e9234f1e9af42/tumblr_ndej5mrCsw1s2wio8o1_500.gif)

You know how we lost the last dozen or so new members.

Young Master Bassilisk, though we are not treated with guests very often here, we do enjoy having them ...

(http://31.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lbolfbuHNR1qeg3l9o1_400.gif)
Title: Re: Just Coming In
Post by: Dave W on April 04, 2017, 01:54:55 PM: I remember your name too. It's been a long time.

Tokay Gecko? Hadn't heard of that before. Anything like a Tokai Hard Puncher? ;D
Title: Re: Just Coming In
Post by: uwe on April 04, 2017, 02:09:47 PM: Voilà!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tokay_gecko

And in Florida even an illegal alien. Established colonies there. Walls don't help, they cling to them and won't pay either. They mate like hell too.

Adult animals can reach a length (including head and tail) of a foot or more which is huge for a gecko. They're (pleasantly) noisy too, they have a loud croak which sounds a bit like "tokk-kay"- hence the name. Edith always loves it when ours start doing that - they only do it once or twice a night (and by far not every night) for a few minutes at the most. But you can hear it well through the thick terrarium glass and throughout the apartment. Our guests are sometimes startled.
Title: Re: Just Coming In
Post by: slinkp on April 04, 2017, 08:09:45 PM: Hi Bassilisk! I think I remember that name from the 'pit too.

A bunch of the same cast of characters here. Nothing much changed... we still find a way to turn every thread into either Deep Purple or WWII airplanes, with a bit of cross-dressing thrown in ... and we still manage to (mostly) avoid political arguments!

Me, I came to the 'pit like ten or fifteen years ago researching a custom bass project I wanted to make... I was inspired by the sound and look of non-rev Thunderbirds so I wanted to learn more about Gibson basses. I still never had that thing built :rolleyes: ... basically I had a kid instead ... but I'm still here!
Title: Re: Just Coming In
Post by: OldManC on April 04, 2017, 08:10:47 PM: Welcome aboard! I remember your username as well. I'm glad you found us.
Title: Re: Just Coming In
Post by: uwe on April 05, 2017, 02:53:37 AM: I assume Bassilisk was probably doing time all these years and you know how internet access is still problematic in many correctional facilities. But let's not dwell on that here. 8) We should welcome our bruddah back wholeheartedly!
Title: Re: Just Coming In
Post by: bassilisk on April 05, 2017, 04:34:54 AM: Wow! Thank you all for the warm welcome. I did look through the member roll and I recognize quite a few familiars. Very cool indeed.

Uwe - that Tokay was just the coolest thing. I just loved the "alien-ness" of it. Amazing creatures for sure.

Historical recap:
-My first contact with Steve Barr was to purchase a John East preamp (first generation). No Pit at this point.
I had him get me one with a black control plate and gold knobs which matched the original color scheme on this Jazz.
Ended up selling it to a Pit member.

-Next thing I know there's a Forum, and it was my first experience being part of one. Once I got my bearings I have to say that,
other than a few AH's (typical for any Forum), I found a lot of cool people and a wealth of ready knowledge available.
A lot of actual experts. That's you guys - plus a friendly vibe.

-When the Pit imploded a number of folks went to Badassbassplayers. I hung there for a while, at least until my former job blocked access
at work, so that was that. I sit in front of a machine all day and the last thing I feel like doing is going home and doing it some more.
So that fell away.

-Other than lurking in a couple of brand specific hangs I found myself mostly at Talkbass (sigh) :sad:. Again, there are some very knowledgeable
folks there and I got some real help when I needed it, but at the cost of seeing "What color PG should I get?" or "Help me pick a strap.." ad nauseum.
You all know the chaff that accompanies the occasional bits of wheat. I don't need bass advice from a 16 year old.

And now, by a very broad stroke of luck, I find this place. I Googled "Jack Casady Case" and found a hit here.

So I'm back through the looking glass, in a place at once brand new and yet familiar. I know I'm going to like it here.

P.S. Today I'm picking up my '81 G&L 'Hog L2K on which I mounted a Moses neck and had a new G&L pre installed.
It's been 4 months in the making between acquiring parts and final assembly. I will post separately about it after I grok it for a while. :mrgreen:
Something completely different! At least, for me!
Title: Re: Just Coming In
Post by: uwe on April 05, 2017, 06:45:15 AM: "When the Pit imploded a number of folks went to Badassbassplayers. I hung there for a while, at least until my former job blocked access at work, so that was that."

A euphemism ("former job"), no doubt, I told you he was in prison! :rimshot:

A G&L owner, u-hum!!! Very "dudepity". What is a "Moses neck", nothing that divides the Red Sea, is it?

The guys at Badassplayers were nice, but it wasn't really a forum with a Gibson focus, not that every forum has to be. To this day, I've never signed up with Talkbass, much less posted something there, too large for me. That said, I sometimes wish we had a couple of 16-year-olds here, even if they ask naive things, we all did at a time, it freshens things up. But I guess we have a very "old school/old men" image here, probably because the music tastes of most members were shaped in the 60ies/70ies, early 80ies.
Title: Re: Just Coming In
Post by: bassilisk on April 05, 2017, 07:09:48 AM: When I got the bass it had an '84 L2K neck on it that needed some work. It was playable but to make it really right meant a refret/FB planing (correction for a slight twist). I decided to keep it and I got some cash back from the seller. So it kinda went into limbo for some years.

Last year I got a pretty good bonus and rather than get something new I decided to resurrect this one.
By the time I'd get all the necessary work done to the existing neck the cost would be very close to a new one. For those that have tried to find a loose G&L neck you know how rarely they show up.

Enter Moses Graphite.

http://mosesgraphite.com/

They manufacture their own version of graphite necks and are the only ones that make a direct replacement
for G&L. I've read that their necks are relatively "warm" sounding so I am anxious to hear how it works with the MFD pickups.

As for G&L's this would be my second. I have a '99 ASAT (in gold flake - very blingy) that I really like and figured I'd go with an L2K to complement it.

I only have one Gibson at this point - '96 LP bass (LPB-2 Premium), and an Epi Casady. I'm still in an ongoing pickup hunt for the LP. My next stop down the line will be a set of Alumitones I snagged.

I've accumulated an "acceptable" (read "way more than I need" according to wifey) number of basses over the years, gone through twice as many. At this point GAS percolates softly in the background - not the roaring beast it used to be that needed constant feeding. The occasional tidbit is more than enough to keep me relatively subdued.
Title: Re: Just Coming In
Post by: lowend1 on April 05, 2017, 07:36:20 AM: Welcome to Lord Of The Flies with middle-aged men. Uwe has the conch.
Title: Re: Just Coming In
Post by: uwe on April 05, 2017, 09:16:47 AM: Quote from: lowend1 on April 05, 2017, 07:36:20 AM
Welcome to Lord Of The Flies with middle-aged men. Uwe has the conch.

Wow - what an utterly apt and succinct description, I bow my head in admiration!

(http://www.helpingwritersbecomeauthors.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/Lord-of-the-Flies.jpg)
Title: Re: Just Coming In
Post by: bassilisk on April 05, 2017, 09:33:12 AM: Time to blow the conch Uwe.....
Title: Re: Just Coming In
Post by: Rob on April 05, 2017, 10:22:03 AM: Welcome from another G&L owner 8)This is the happy place for Gibson players.
Title: Re: Just Coming In
Post by: bassilisk on April 05, 2017, 10:35:25 AM: Quote from: Rob on April 05, 2017, 10:22:03 AM
Welcome from another G&L owner 8)This is the happy place for Gibson players.

I'm afraid the bulk of my herd are Fender types with a smattering of others for diversity.

Looks like I'll have to ramp up my Gibson contingent again to hang successfully then.

Come and gone:
'74 LP Triumph
'76 EB-3
'76 G-3
'77 RD Artist
'78 TBird
'02 TBird
Title: Re: Just Coming In
Post by: uwe on April 05, 2017, 10:49:38 AM: It's never too late to make good on your mistakes and shed your old skin, scaly one!

(http://www.the-lizard-lounge.com/content/gallery/lizard-pictures/plumed-basilisk/plumed-basilisk-02-shedding.jpg)
Title: Re: Just Coming In
Post by: bassilisk on April 05, 2017, 11:02:26 AM: Unfortunately the only place left where I need to shed with regularity is my waistline.....
Title: Re: Just Coming In
Post by: TBird1958 on April 05, 2017, 11:50:59 AM: Quote from: uwe on April 05, 2017, 09:16:47 AM
Wow - what an utterly apt and succinct description, I bow my head in admiration!

(http://www.helpingwritersbecomeauthors.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/Lord-of-the-Flies.jpg)

I'm the one in girl clothes - not in the picture :-*
Title: Re: Just Coming In
Post by: Pilgrim on April 05, 2017, 12:37:23 PM: Quote from: bassilisk on April 05, 2017, 10:35:25 AM
I'm afraid the bulk of my herd are Fender types with a smattering of others for diversity.

Looks like I'll have to ramp up my Gibson contingent again to hang successfully then.

I have a '64 EB-0; otherwise I'm not sure the cool kids here would play with me.

But I have four Gretsch basses...including the Ultimate Cougar Bass...so perhaps my wackiness doesn't fall far from the group.

(http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j306/apowell1/Electric%20Basses/Cougar%20Bass%20-%20Gretsch%202202/IMG_20160807_151506176_zpsilgu6yyb.jpg)

(http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j306/apowell1/Electric%20Basses/Cougar%20Bass%20-%20Gretsch%202202/IMG_20160807_151609694_zpszfbemyfa.jpg)
Title: Re: Just Coming In
Post by: Rob on April 05, 2017, 02:20:47 PM: As a fellow G&L owner all I can sat is 8)
And I remember you from the Pit and BABP
Title: Re: Just Coming In
Post by: Dave W on April 05, 2017, 02:21:42 PM: I've made fun of G&L's headstock in the past.

(http://i.imgur.com/rzipGLl.jpg)

Then I heard an L-1000 being played and went looking for one. Figured all I'd find was an early one with the old headstock, then I came across a screaming deal on a mint 2014. Now I can still make fun of the headstock but if you make fun of me, I'll hit you with the pointy part. 8)
Title: Re: Just Coming In
Post by: the mojo hobo on April 05, 2017, 03:41:27 PM: Welcome Bassilisk! I was invited to the dudepit when Steve Barr bought a tuck and roll Kustom head from me on ebay.

I was invited here when the dudepit folded, which was right in the middle of the Bachbird project which Rob did an outstanding job of bringing together.

And speaking of old times I found for sale a bass I sold on ebay a long, long time ago.
https://reverb.com/item/3868590-vintage-1986-gibson-iv-4-string-electric-bass-with-strap-ohsc
And no, it is not coming back to me.
Title: Re: Just Coming In
Post by: slinkp on April 05, 2017, 06:40:21 PM: I forgot the bachbird had Pit origins? I though it was here!

Some cool things happened on the pit. I still want a Lakland DPLE even if it was somehow connected to the forum imploding. (I missed the whole thing)
Title: Re: Just Coming In
Post by: Nocturnal on April 05, 2017, 07:50:00 PM: Welcome to The Outpost!! I remember your name from the Dude Pit days. Please enjoy our brand of insanity :o
Title: Re: Just Coming In
Post by: Basshappi on April 05, 2017, 08:40:32 PM: Welcome to another Dude Pit survivor!
Title: Re: Just Coming In
Post by: gweimer on April 06, 2017, 02:13:12 AM: Welcome aboard. I remember your name, as well. We're still basically just several species of small furry animals gathered together in a cave and grooving with a pict.
Title: Re: Just Coming In
Post by: bassilisk on April 06, 2017, 03:46:54 AM: Quote from: Pilgrim on April 05, 2017, 12:37:23 PM
But I have four Gretsch basses...including the Ultimate Cougar Bass...so perhaps my wackiness doesn't fall far from the group.

I have a couple of wackies as well....

- a mid 80's Carvin LB50 that I dropped some TV Jones Thunderblades into
- a mid 80's all Koa Kawai KRB105 with a graphite neck and Schaller pickups and hardware
- an early 60's Hagstrom Coronado IV with Bi-Sonics

And to the mojo hobo - I have always wanted to try one of those Gibson IV's. They still appeal to me. Very curious as to how they sound.

I also see I'll have to revive my photobucket account to insert pics.
Title: Re: Just Coming In
Post by: gearHed289 on April 06, 2017, 07:52:18 AM: Welcome to the Outpost! And wow, you have one of those graphite neck Kawai basses? I bought one when they first came out, all black. I fell in love with the neck and the look, but there were issues with the neck. How is yours? Mine had ZERO relief, so it was total buzz-town on the first few frets. I had some serious screaming matches with Kawai and the store where I bought it (I was a real hot head in my youth). They sent another bass and it was no different, except they added a "bar" type string tree. Still buzzy. After I raised a stink while there was a store full of customers, they gave me full credit toward whatever I wanted, so I got my first Guild Pilot which I played for years.
Title: Re: Just Coming In
Post by: slinkp on April 06, 2017, 08:10:27 AM: Wackies are more than welcome here!
Title: Re: Just Coming In
Post by: bassilisk on April 06, 2017, 08:18:56 AM: Yes, the Kawai was irresistible to me when it showed up on ebay. The neck actually has a touch more relief than needed. This was before most of the graphite makers realized a TR would be a good idea*. It's playable with the action a bit higher than I usually use, and I have no problem still gigging it. I really like the neck profile and it balances perfectly.

I've been wondering whether I could get it heat treated - Headless USA does Steinbergers, maybe they'll do this. At any rate, that's down the line if at all.

It really has its own tone too. Those Schallers are solid midrange, and with a set of Chromes on it, it cuts the mix like a hot knife. No billowy bass to get in the way!

*I bought a Zon Legacy back when they were just starting out and they had no TR. Still don't I understand. Well, being in its infancy there were all those claims of graphite being stronger than steel yadda yadda...
I loved hitting some harmonics and giving the headstock a whammy - man it sounded (and looked) very cool! Fast forward 8 years and there was a front bow in there that made it pretty difficult to play. Another bass on the "maybe I'll get around to it some day" pile. I'd have to send it back to Zon for correction. So much for stronger than steel....
Title: Re: Just Coming In
Post by: the mojo hobo on April 06, 2017, 09:12:09 AM: Quote from: bassilisk on April 06, 2017, 03:46:54 AM

And to the mojo hobo - I have always wanted to try one of those Gibson IV's. They still appeal to me. Very curious as to how they sound.

Like a Thunderbird http://bassoutpost.com/index.php?topic=1773.0 I'd probably still have it if it had a 4 in line headstock.
Title: Re: Just Coming In
Post by: uwe on April 06, 2017, 09:59:12 AM: True. George Carlston's eternally famous quote: "Thunderbird in Clark Kent mode."

(http://www.halfmoonbay.co.uk/graphics_cache/c/1/2807-mboxsm01_1-3-600.jpg)

With a high E!!! For those of you who venture to dark and forbidden places - not that anybody does this here, ever.
Title: Re: Just Coming In
Post by: bassilisk on April 06, 2017, 10:21:28 AM: I've noticed that, for a bass that basically became invisible from its outset, it has gotten pretty pricey relatively speaking for an 80's bass.

With examples hovering in the $1K range it sits squarely in the midst of used Fender/MM/G&L territory, not to mention others like Warwick and Spector i.e. With those much more common (and popular) choices available, what would drive the price up? It's only interesting to us fogeys...

The same thing has happened to basses like Peavey's original Rudy Sarzo model. I think I got the last one of those at $425 a couple of years back. I will say it's an excellent bass and easily worth twice my cost, but that connection to the 80's kept it off the radar for a lot of years. Couldn't give them away.

Personally I don't understand this aversion to the 80's connection. I've always felt any well made/good sounding bass, regardless of it's visuals, was something worth having and playing. It seems this is now starting to trend.

When I would bring my '02 TBird to a wedding gig nobody snickered, and it sounded right at home playing Sinatra.
Same for my 80's BC Rich Mockingbird.... Or my '86 Steinberger XL-2.....
Title: Re: Just Coming In
Post by: Dave W on April 06, 2017, 11:16:59 AM: Quote from: slinkp on April 05, 2017, 06:40:21 PM
I forgot the bachbird had Pit origins? I though it was here!

Some cool things happened on the pit. I still want a Lakland DPLE even if it was somehow connected to the forum imploding. (I missed the whole thing)

Yes, Rob conceived the BaCHbrid project while the Pit was still limping along. The project was ongoing when we started here in January 2008. At that point Rob was still gathering commitments. The earliest existing thread here started in April 2008 after Rob deleted an earlier one out of fear that Gibson might notice.
http://bassoutpost.com/index.php?topic=434.0
Title: Re: Just Coming In
Post by: slinkp on April 06, 2017, 06:22:46 PM: We've been on here for nine years???

Jesus I'm old
Title: Re: Just Coming In
Post by: uwe on April 07, 2017, 03:19:30 AM: It hasn't really been that long, has it?!!!

(http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AzhBnoO5ccU/U7WNJTJT_ZI/AAAAAAAABKw/SugUQt_EfAM/s1600/2.jpg)
Title: Re: Just Coming In
Post by: Dave W on April 07, 2017, 11:50:08 AM: We've lasted longer than the Pit did.
Title: Re: Just Coming In
Post by: uwe on April 07, 2017, 12:59:05 PM: By any methodology that's a crystal-clear statement.
Title: Re: Just Coming In
Post by: gearHed289 on April 08, 2017, 08:15:03 AM: Quote from: bassilisk on April 06, 2017, 08:18:56 AM
Yes, the Kawai was irresistible to me when it showed up on ebay. The neck actually has a touch more relief than needed. This was before most of the graphite makers realized a TR would be a good idea*. It's playable with the action a bit higher than I usually use, and I have no problem still gigging it. I really like the neck profile and it balances perfectly.

I've been wondering whether I could get it heat treated - Headless USA does Steinbergers, maybe they'll do this. At any rate, that's down the line if at all.

It really has its own tone too. Those Schallers are solid midrange, and with a set of Chromes on it, it cuts the mix like a hot knife. No billowy bass to get in the way!

Well cool, I'm glad yours is working out for you. The bass was absolutely lovely in every other way. Sleek, sexy, and like you said - great neck profile. Funny thing - the bass it was replacing was an aluminum neck Kramer with Schaller pups. I think that one has developed some extra relief. Can't seem to get the action as low as I'd like anymore. I've been thinking about putting some clamps on it for a night to see what happens.