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Messages - neepheid

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286
Other Bass Brands / Re: Your first crappy bass
« on: November 24, 2011, 07:26:31 AM »
I don't think I've owned what could be described as a "crappy" bass.  I believe that beginners since probably the beginning of this century are spoiled for both choice and quality when it comes to first basses.

My first bass was an Epiphone EB-3.  It's only "crappy" because it turned out to be nothing like the basses I've since discovered that I like to play and own.  However, it did start me off in a Gibson-ish frame of mind rather than a Fender one, so in a way I am eternally grateful to it.



I'm not sentimental so I flogged it.  Sentimentality is expensive.

287
Gibson Basses / Re: 1979 RD Artist (or the luckiest so-and-so in the world)
« on: November 22, 2011, 04:07:08 AM »
I guess ultimately I choose not to get that deeply into in the minutia of basses.  How far is too far?  Will every "identical" pickup have exactly the same amount of copper wound around the bobbin?  Are all pole pieces uniformly magnetic?  Every piece of the same species of wood will be subtly different.  The scientist in me says it all must an effect, but I'll freely admit that it's beyond both the capabilities of my ears to hear and my level of interest to care.

It boils down to a simple choice for me - do I like this bass or do I not?  The sweat I was wiping out of my headphones says yes to me ;)

Uwe, your comment about "dirty mids" interests me - in my experience it's been harder to get an audible (never mind good) sound in the rehearsal room out of the Victory Artist - it's so refined sounding to me that I had to EQ the hell out of it just to hear myself properly over the band.  This spooked me out enough to take a spare with me to the first gig I played the Victory at in case I couldn't get a good sound but it performed great, probably because it was a nicer room and I was using my own amp (which is much better for me than the variable stuff you get in rehearsal rooms)

I realise the contentious comment was "probably the best bass Gibson ever made".  That was written in the heat of the moment and should have had opinion disclaimers on it.  It's certainly the best bass Gibson ever made in my collection, much as I love all the others ;)

Jules, I'm still a tender novice.  I've only been playing properly for 4 years and I've only done 17 gigs.  Feeling vibrations while playing?  I'm barely remembering to look up now and again and I barely remember any of the time I'm on stage (and not through alcohol - I've got a strict "one pint before" limit).  Even in non-pressure playing situations I don't think I've built up enough playing time with enough basses to speak with authority on this matter.

Dave, despite my scoffs I would have a go at A/Bing two identical basses made of different woods.  While I'm sure I'd be able to hear a difference, whether or not I'd correctly identify the mahogany one is another matter.

288
Gibson Basses / Re: 1979 RD Artist (or the luckiest so-and-so in the world)
« on: November 21, 2011, 03:17:08 PM »
I don't wish to be controversial, and more power to you if you can hear the wood, but I never have given it much consideration.  To me most of the sound comes from the pickups/electronics and the different woods and construction methods influence my ears very little.  I'd estimate that it's less than 10% of the sound of any solid bodied electric bass, it's little more than a statistical anomaly to me.  Pickup types, electronics, pickup placement, pickup height, string material are all more important to me than types of wood.

I will freely admit that I would not be able to do anything other than guess the wood type if I was to listen to different basses while blindfolded.  Maybe that's my lack of experience and knowledge but to be honest I see far too much of this "maple fingerboards are brighter sounding than rosewood ones" and other completely unquantifiable statements which people love to cyclically argue around again and again to lead me to believe that ignorance is bliss.

Having said all that your vast collection probably qualifies you to speak pretty authoritatively on the subject though, Uwe ;)

289
Gibson Basses / Re: 1979 RD Artist (or the luckiest so-and-so in the world)
« on: November 19, 2011, 04:47:26 PM »
My most insincerest apologies for blowing on about this but I've just finished playing my Gibson RD Artist until the sweat was pooling in my headphones and I smell a bit funky. I have a big grin on my face. I've had mud, I've had some crazy fuzzy distortion from my bass trainer because the compression setting turns 10 volume in approximately 13 (given that 7 with compression is like 10 without) and I've had some mad, zingy stuff with expansion and bright mode together. It does everything in between as well. I played some Madness, some Selecter, some Rancid and some Charlatans. I played a bit of band stuff. Then I just messed about for the hell of it - because this is the kind of bass which invites you to just flick some switches and have a go.

I absolutely love this bass. It's as mad as a box of frogs, can be sublime and ridiculous simultaneously and probably the best bass Gibson ever made. I doubt we will ever see its like again, not properly anyway.

290
Gibson Basses / Re: 1979 RD Artist (or the luckiest so-and-so in the world)
« on: October 04, 2011, 11:48:49 AM »
I do apologise for the delay in getting pics together, I've been really busy helping my wife get her studio in the shed together (shedio?).  My RD is now complete again thanks to Ken providing the hen's tooth that is the 5-0-5 speed knob.












291
Gibson Basses / Re: 1979 RD Artist (or the luckiest so-and-so in the world)
« on: September 20, 2011, 02:38:42 PM »
Quote from: BUFF on September 20, 2011, 12:58:13 PM
Bumped this so I remember to go looking...

Where's the pics, Matt... ;)

 :popcorn:

Heh, I've got some free time tomorrow.  Now that it's cleaned up and relatively shiny (not trying to turn back time, just make it look the best it can) I'll get the camera out.  Mind you, having said that I might replace the pickguard screws - some of them are pretty sorry looking - rusty, no chrome at all.

292
Other Bass Brands / Re: Long scale Greco Les Paul 3 pickup bass, anyone?
« on: September 15, 2011, 06:53:58 AM »
Postage that approaches the base price of the item in question annoys me.  What can I say?  I'm a percentages guy.

293
Gibson Basses / Re: RD Reverse
« on: September 13, 2011, 08:04:26 AM »
Reminds me a little of a Guild Jetstar.  Melty!

294
Gibson Basses / Re: 1979 RD Artist (or the luckiest so-and-so in the world)
« on: September 12, 2011, 02:56:04 PM »
Quote from: BUFF on September 12, 2011, 01:40:34 PM
I've seen that lady first-hand - on display in a (great) shop in Devon and has been for some time, iirc - lots of mojo...

My Swede-ish buddie... I may have one of those 5-0-5's in the shed, redundant from my (abused) RD, so will check and come back to you...

Wow, that would be amazing, hope you find it :)

295
Gibson Basses / Re: 1979 RD Artist (or the luckiest so-and-so in the world)
« on: September 12, 2011, 02:53:02 PM »
Quote from: Chris P. on September 12, 2011, 07:18:23 AM
Wow, cool! There's a great one on UK eBay. An RD Artist, with the Moog electronics removed. So lighter, passive and only 650 pounds. Tempting, but I don't have the money at the moment.

I felt sad when I saw it :(

296
Gibson Basses / 1979 RD Artist (or the luckiest so-and-so in the world)
« on: September 12, 2011, 06:43:30 AM »
I have a very lovely wife who has bought me a 1979 RD Artist (two switch Moog).  I have looked longingly at these ever since I got into Gibson basses but always shied away from the cost vs. my bass playing skills.  However, my wife recently got a financial boost and decided to treat me.  I am a very lucky man.

Pics to come, it's a little grubby and needs a good clean (lacquer feels rough in places due to the accumulation of dust/dirt and the machine heads will need a good coke soak), but with fresh strings on it sounds great and all the Moog stuff is working.  Some chump had confused one of the machine screws that goes into the threaded insert for the battery cover with a pickguard screw and tried to jam it into the threaded insert - no permanent damage done thankfully.  The only missing thing is one of the 5-0-5 speed knobs has obviously been lost and replaced with a standard 0-10 one.  Anyone got a spare? ;)

297
Other Bass Brands / Re: Long scale Greco Les Paul 3 pickup bass, anyone?
« on: September 12, 2011, 06:33:14 AM »
Similar story here - thought it was a brilliant, barking mad bass (and a lot nicer looking than the Gibson BFG), but was put off by the £100 postage.

However, I can't really be buying any more basses - that's 7 now and I think it's high time I spent less time on eBay etc. and more time playing the damn things ;)

298
Gibson Basses / Re: G3 colours
« on: September 01, 2011, 04:21:22 AM »
Quote from: PhilT on September 01, 2011, 03:24:28 AM
I had a go at rebalancing the colour in the picture, but however much I got the red out of the background, the bass body stayed stubbornly red. Eventually everything else was blue, except the body. So I don't think it's a camera effect.

I was thinking of bidding on it, on the basis that I'd get it for the start price and that's ok for a G3 here. But my Rippers talked me out of it. Ended with no bids and not relisted so far.

Your Rippers are scared of it.  Speaking from experience, the G-3 is a great sounding (and looking) bass :)

299
Bill's Shop: Projects, Mods & Repairs / Re: Headless Thunderbird
« on: August 12, 2011, 04:05:01 AM »
Well, I've decided to stop messing about worrying about modifying the body shape and just get the damn thing assembled.  I've got 2 weeks off coming up and a set of double ball end strings just arrived in the post.  There are three (relatively) simple steps:

1. Get the neck properly attached (will use a neck plate for now, but will be using recessed bushings eventually)
2. Get the bridge units attached (checking that the positioning is feasible for both intonation adjustment range and attaching double ball end strings)
3. Rewire electronics

After that I'll be able to assess the playability and make proper decisions about any body modifications (lower cutaway edge bevelling, scalloped out end for easier access to the tuners, possibly moving the strap button from the upper bout to the neck heel somewhere).

I'm looking forward to having a go on it soon :)

300
Bill's Shop: Projects, Mods & Repairs / Re: Headless Thunderbird
« on: August 08, 2011, 08:37:53 AM »
Quote from: mc2NY on August 08, 2011, 08:36:30 AM
Are you going to scallop the tail a bit so you can turn the tuners easier?

Once I get them fitted I'll see if it's necessary and yes, I'll do that if I feel it will be beneficial.

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