76
Gibson Basses / Re: Music videos that feature Thunderbirds
« on: February 21, 2024, 05:30:01 AM »
Live Mott the Hoople, with a TB II providing all the low end rumble.
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77
Other Bass Brands / Re: New acoustic/electric from Sire
« on: February 20, 2024, 02:45:48 AM »
I wouldn't be too surprised if the Sire basses and import Sadowsky Metro Express basses are coming from the same factories.
My second Sire bass was a P5R. A basic P Bass copy. The one weird thing was the roasted maple neck. It was dark brown, like it had been hit with walnut wood stain. Far darker than any torrified maple I've seen elsewhere. Even the budget brands like Harley Benton are using this supposedly roasted maple, but it is suspiciously dark.
My second Sire bass was a P5R. A basic P Bass copy. The one weird thing was the roasted maple neck. It was dark brown, like it had been hit with walnut wood stain. Far darker than any torrified maple I've seen elsewhere. Even the budget brands like Harley Benton are using this supposedly roasted maple, but it is suspiciously dark.
78
Other Bass Brands / Re: Searching for Macca's missing bass
« on: February 20, 2024, 02:38:36 AM »
It is a fantastic article, and it discloses more of the story than I thought would be made public. Very interesting!
An article on the 'tear down' of Hofner restore the bass would be equally interesting. It is interesting that luthiers could take such liberties in the '60s. Presumably Jim Burns was just asked to make the bass like new? Hence the heavy poly sunburst, oversized pickup chassis, etc. John Birch was apparently notorious for going well beyond the scope of work required; replacing fretboards and shaving necks, refinishing everything in poly when the guitar was booked in for a fret replacement, etc.
An article on the 'tear down' of Hofner restore the bass would be equally interesting. It is interesting that luthiers could take such liberties in the '60s. Presumably Jim Burns was just asked to make the bass like new? Hence the heavy poly sunburst, oversized pickup chassis, etc. John Birch was apparently notorious for going well beyond the scope of work required; replacing fretboards and shaving necks, refinishing everything in poly when the guitar was booked in for a fret replacement, etc.
79
Gibson Basses / Re: Neodymium EB-0 Pickup.........
« on: February 19, 2024, 02:49:18 PM »
Neodymium is pretty strong! I destroyed a Mustang bass pickup by fitting neo rods in place of the original alnico rods. The neo rods pulled together, ruining the flatwork!
Putting stong magnets under the strings at the 24th fret location on a shortscale bass could be a recipe for wolftones and choking unless you are careful with the pickup height.
Putting stong magnets under the strings at the 24th fret location on a shortscale bass could be a recipe for wolftones and choking unless you are careful with the pickup height.
80
Other Bass Brands / Re: New acoustic/electric from Sire
« on: February 19, 2024, 02:45:41 PM »
I've owned two Sire basses. Fretwork was brilliant on both, as was the electronics (pickups being a bit tame). The headstocks were very heavy on both, due to the dollar store tuners.
81
The Outpost Cafe / Re: We're back!
« on: February 18, 2024, 12:19:16 PM »That sounds (and looks!) like it must have hurt, I’m sorry to hear. Did you have it removed? I had my renal tract clogged up a few years ago, never been in as much pain in my whole life. Luckily, Edith knew the symptoms from her father and called the ambulance immediately. That was a real fun weekend.
Which reminds me: I need to drink more!
Luckily not mine, but my wife has been sending me that photo at intervals this week to remind me to drink more water.
Famous diarist Samuel Pepys had one. Smooth, the size and shape of a tennis ball. It was removed, sans anaesthetic, by making an incision in his perineum. Lucky fella!
82
Other Bass Brands / Re: New Eastwood semisolid for Peter Hook
« on: February 17, 2024, 04:37:37 PM »
It's a multitracked cover of the Joy Division track 'Disorder'. They've not sync'd up the B-roll footage very well. Probably a rush job!
The bass sounds very Peter Hook! Clanky, thin and metallic. Just add an analog chorus unit.
The bass sounds very Peter Hook! Clanky, thin and metallic. Just add an analog chorus unit.
83
Gibson Basses / Re: TB+ construction question
« on: February 17, 2024, 04:34:21 PM »
Having, err, smashed one of these pickups out of frustration (an epoxy potted humbucker that is microphonic and prone to interference, how did Gibson f*** this up so badly?) the black rectangle on the back is a pad of epoxy over the copper tape that the coils and magnets are housed within.
84
The Outpost Cafe / Re: We're back!
« on: February 17, 2024, 04:31:26 PM »I blame the IRS.
Cutting onions and capsicums out your diet can work wonders.
On a semi-related note, my new avatar is a jackstone urolith!
85
Other Bass Brands / Re: Searching for Macca's missing bass
« on: February 17, 2024, 08:02:04 AM »
Amazing story. I'm quite taken with how mundane it all is! The bass wasn't stolen by a Canadian art collector and buried under a swimming pool, just tucked away in an attic for decades.
86
The Outpost Cafe / Re: We're back!
« on: February 17, 2024, 01:29:51 AM »
I thought the forum was a goner!
Our resident polder-hopping philanderer didn't get to post about Paul McCartney's missing bass.
Our resident polder-hopping philanderer didn't get to post about Paul McCartney's missing bass.
87
Other Bass Brands / Re: New Eastwood semisolid for Peter Hook
« on: February 14, 2024, 04:53:25 AM »
Eastwood instruments always felt overpriced, when I tried them in the past. Harley Benton build quality, copy of some random '60s catalog guitar, Fender price tag.
88
Gibson Basses / Re: Need a new capo?
« on: February 09, 2024, 01:47:27 AM »
Gibson continuing to innovate, after carefully listening to the requirements of musicians.
The first capo to require a CITES certificate. Innovation.
The first capo to require a CITES certificate. Innovation.
89
Gibson Basses / Re: Epiphone for 2024
« on: February 01, 2024, 03:33:57 PM »Danos have a unique charm , the designer cut every conceivable corner he could to make them cheaper.
These , by design , were the best student priced instruments they could build (by New Jersey housewives with little to no woodworking experience)
I don’t understand quite how it happened , but I fell for them. They weigh next to nothing , but they’re tough as nails. They do sound good , and really are fun to play.
I love them.
I never gave them much thought until I had to repair my friend's DC59 (Jimmy Page style?) Danelectro. Yes they are cheap, but they are built using another era's version of cheap, frugal design principles. I found it fascinating to work on, and all the design quirks gave it a unique tone. Sort of dirty and unfocused with a rusty, wiry edge to the tone.
90
Gibson Basses / Re: Epiphone for 2024
« on: January 30, 2024, 11:20:33 AM »
The Ashdown looks a bit barren and featureless? Like a small face on a big head. Small pickup, small knobs and miles of empty land in between them.
I don't like Ashdown amps, so nothing would inspire me to try their basses.
I don't like Ashdown amps, so nothing would inspire me to try their basses.