The Last Bass Outpost

Hi all!
 Just thought I'd post some thioughts about the new Explorer that Uwe is graciously letting visit Seattle before making it's way to ze Fatherland (Yes, they'll be in Germany!)
 First, it's big - Like Thunderbird size but the body is thicker and has a very solid feel to it, using one of my straps adjusted for a 'Bird I found the bass comfortable on my shoulder at about 10lbs and that while the headstock is small the neck will seek level if you let go. Shortening the strap really didn't change this either and I'm a bit surprised by it since the fin on the upper 'bout is so big, for me it would not be an issue because of how my right arm arm and hand rest on the bass when I'm playing - the headstock is smaller than a modern 'Bird. I found the neck to be a pretty comfy fit for my smallish hands, not quite as much taper from the high to low frets as a 'Bird, but same width at the nut and just a bit thicker in crosssection. With good reason we and others have slagged Gibson on QC, but this bass is really nice, the finish is flawless and nicely done, I've looked it over very carefully and found no bad spots - It just doesn't photograph too well, anyway, the craftsmanship on this example is notably good - Kudos Gibson! The factory set up is certainly acceptable even to my fussiness, were I picking this bass up and playing it in a store I'd be favorably impressed, a few small adjustments to suit my hands and I'd be happy. Fret ends are dressed nicely and all appear well seated too. So I finally had sometime to really enjoy playing this bass - what a pleasant surprise! Since I'm primarily a pick player I started there, with everything dimed using a .73 Dunlop the bass has a great tone - Think of  The Fixx on "Red Sky at Night".  The position of the neck pup gives it a nice bass tone without mudiness, while the bridge pup tends to accentuate upper mids. Soloing the pups with a pick left me knowing I'd never just use the bridge pup - too thin, not enough bass, a bit of the neck pup is needed for a useful tone. The neck pup solo'd was a nice surprise with good usable tone and variation based on hand placement, note decay is almost 7ender like, I suspect the set neck may have something to do with that too. Overall with a pick I like this bass a lot. I'm not much of a fingerstyle player, with the band only two songs require it, at home however I make it a point to keep my chops and strength up so I tried the bass seated on a stool with the lower bout on my right leg, it's very comfortable and handles well. I found that backing off the neck pup a little gave a nice tone and again a bit quicker note decay and the neck pup solo'd was again very pleasing, full rounded tone and good variations can be had by shifting your right hand position.

 So what didn't I like? Well, first the mixed black and chrome hardware, I don't know the reasons since the bass  could be done all one way or the other as Gibson is doing the chrome TB Plus, or conversly all black. I also think a pickgaurd would look great too, along with a pup selector switch . For most I think the bass's limitations would be based on it's outward appearance - it may not look like it belongs at church or country gig.

 Here's the bass Mike makes for Pearl Jam's Jeff Ament available starting at the Winter NAMM show, it's 20% bigger than Mike's standard T-4 - Has some interesting finish and pickgard options, one looks vaguely familiar  

 
Mike and Jeff


Jeff personally painted this bass, it was recently on the Jimmy Kimmel Show and will soon be raffled off to support a local charity
 
Jeff, Mike and photographer Lance Mercer shooting the cover of Bass Player mag at Pearl Jam's warehouse


And some of the website's description.

The Jeff Ament "JAXT4" bass available in January 2012

Longtime Northwest guitar and bass builder, Mike Lull, has collaborated with Pearl Jam’s Jeff Ament to create the “JAXT4” signature Jeff Ament electric bass. This handmade instrument will be available starting in January and marks the first time any member of the 20-year-old iconic musical group has put their name on an instrument.
Capitalizing on a 25-year relationship, Lull and Ament worked together closely to create the signature model bass. The bass features a 20% oversized body, but thinner body thickness than standard Mike Lull T4 models, along with a reverse headstock. Jeff Ament personally chose all custom colors, finish, and wood configurations. The JAXT4 comes with a metal (select models only) pickguard engraved with an Ament designed T-bass logo, Jeff’s signature on the headstock along with a special Mike Lull logo designed by Jeff to be used only on his signature model. Included is a custom Ament hardshell case with a hand-stenciled logo on the exterior, along with a bag of assorted Ament custom guitar picks. The JAXT4 is available in these four custom color and wood configuration choices:

- Satin Black polyester finish w/ chromed aluminum JA pickguard (mahogany body/mahogany neck/rosewood fingerboard)

- Satin Kerry-green polyester finish w/ solid white plastic JA pickguard (mahogany body/maple neck/maple fingerboard)

- Gloss Clear polyester finish w/ chromed aluminum JA pickguard (swamp ash body/maple neck/maple fingerboard)

- Satin Cardinal-red polyester finish w/ solid black plastic JA pickguard

(mahogany body/mahogany neck/rosewood fingerboard)

The JAXT4 will be unveiled at the National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) Show the weekend of January 19-22, 2012 in Anaheim, California and be available for purchase thereafter.

Amongst my many pleasures of being in The Nasty Habits are our many trips out to Washington's Olympic Peninsula, most of the time for shows and sometimes pleasure - sometimes both. Since I had business to the south to start my trip out this time I chose to drive on the famous Hwy101, which goes the length of the U.S. west coast, tho Washington state's portion is relativly unknown. The trip starts at the southern end of the Hood Canal (named for the Englander Lord Samuel Hood, the Hood as in the ill fated H.M.S. Hood) which also shelters the U.S.Navy's Bangor Submarine base.
 Hwy.101 is curvey and relativly low speed but there's saying something like "It's more fun to drive a slow car fast than a fast car slow" and such was case, the Subaru won't win any contests but it sure was fun to drive! Washington's state motto is the "Evergreen State" in reference to the many species of Fir, Cedar, Spruce and Pines but there are many decidious trees here too - But it's not like upstate New York!


 The cool art deco highway bridge spans the Hamma-Hamma river, a narrow two lane anachronism from the 1930's.

 The road evetually turns inland and passes thru some lower parts of the Olympics, here I'm behind a logging truck.
 
Pt. Angeles has it's own charms, one that I'll never tire of is Hurricane Ridge, here I'm hiking with my off duty U.S. Ranger friend on our way to Hurricane Hill -  looking south into one the few truely unspoiled parts of the U.S. As you can see this really is the Evergreen state and the ancient forest stretches on to the horizon - Not a bad place to work at.


The band played one night at 7 Cedars Casino in Sequim, Wa. A great place with two pro sound guys, a big stage and lots of lights, we had about 2000 folks in the crowd.
Her we're covering "Hit me with your best shot", props to our guitarist Rachael for the solo, and I love when the crowd sings along
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TWZiwCMVLQg&feature=related

And our take on Cindi Lauper's "She Bop"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tJ7wicRoILs&feature=related

 And to save the best for last, the many trips out here have made me many new friendships, the woman on the right is my M-16 toting Ranger friend and stunning Dallas Cowboy cheerleader, she's shall we say "very special" too me  
  

 Not quite as fabeled as Kenny's Scotland, but I'm off for my beloved Washington Coast for a nice four day trip with my GF Alison, (no band ) we'll be visiting some very scenic and historic spots - I'll have some pics to share of course.
 A highlight will be a moonlight hike under a full moon on top of Hurricane Ridge on Friday eve, through the band's many trips out here I've gotten to be friends with this Park Ranger.......

http://www.seattlemet.com/travel-and-outdoors/articles/olympic-national-park-ranger-august-2011/
 
 She's attended quite a few of our shows and the pic really does add about 10lbs to her, it's a bullet proof kevlar vest, I'll be keeping an eye out for the rambucious mountain goats that inhabit the park.

Meantime I'll leave you a gig shot from a recent show............. Really lovin' my Lull T-4 lately 



 

Okay all,

 Here's my "owner's shot" of my '75 Ibanez Thunderbird. The question is: To refinish it or not?
My own thoughts go towards stripping and refinning in some kind 1960's car color, Mopar Blue or Go Mango perhaps. The original finish has seen some better days, the headstock is beat up pretty bad, the area around the jack has a split, at some point it was flipped and set up as a lefty as there's an extra hole in the lower 'bout and there's a stress crack in the finish around the neck pocket.
Were this an older bass I might feel  differently about it, I'm thinking that any value this bass has is long gone, I love kitchy Japanese stuff as much as the person but this thing needs help. what do you guys think?
Of course feel free to suggest other options too 

Meanwhile in Ft. Collins Colorado..................Our beloved Al's home.

 It seems retired jock John Elway isn't happy some local punks are using his last name.....

http://www.thepostgame.com/lifestyle/201105/john-elway-sounds-sour-note-about-band-same-name

So some (to me) exciting news.

 As most of you guys know I really like Mike Lull's Thunderbird pickups, ever since getting my Lull bass I've be impressed with them and have retro fitted several of my basses with them. I have pimped them a lot here and on Talkbass because I felt they are a great pick up. Several guys here have tried them and like them, their opinions are much like mine. So on a recent visit to the shop I brought up the notion of becoming an endorser with Paul, Mike's GM, he was enthusiastic (I was surprised!) and
as of this afternoon I'll be an endorsing artist for Mike Lull's T Bass pickups - I'm both happy and very proud to make the association.
 Since the question is likely to arise, I don't mind saying that part of the deal was that I did not want any kind deal (i.e. money, discount etc.), I'll continue to pay what anybody else does.


Me, my Lull and I.

  

A little Holiday cooking fun on New's Year's Day.

 A simple stew made with Guiness Extra stout (who knew you could actually cook with it, much less drink it! I always thought it was left over road repair tar.) as part of the gravy. I'm such a domestic dolly sometimes, I should have had my maid's outfit on 

First saute some onions and garlic in a dutch oven.




Then brown some stew meat in small batches


Return all the meat to the pan and coat with flour - then add the Guiness.


Add the carrots.....


Let the stew simmer for an hour and a half, during the last 30 minutes boil some Yukon Gold potatoes. and add some prunes to the stew.



And when they boiled enough drain, add butter, garlic, basil and milk + elbow grease.


And serve with beer......In this case I've decided to attempt to drink the Guiness Extra Stout as well