The Last Bass Outpost
Gear Discussion Forums => Gibson Basses => Topic started by: Barklessdog on August 14, 2008, 06:27:27 AM
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Watt E mailed me this. A person drove to from NY to Toronto to give Watt his 65 EB-3!
This is a picture Watt is calling "The Andy Bass"
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v104/Fenderbird/1965-gibson-eb-3-from-andy.jpg)
Really kind of someone to do.
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That's cool. Let's hope he keeps it with him in the hotel room.
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that's very kind of the donor! I wonder if he'll keep it & modify it or return it when the tour is over?
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It's a gift, not a loan. I expect he'll keep it because in his tour diary he said "of course it'll have to be 'wattified' and such." In any case, what a nice thing to do.
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A nice $2000+ gift. Still, it would be cool to say Watt's up there beating the piss out of my bass up there.
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Wow, what a great thing! It's like an American Uwe, maybe? :)
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Not- your not getting the blue non reverse!
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:mrgreen:
That was not where I was thinking about... But great idea! I'll fake a T-Bird robbery!
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I expect he'll keep it because in his tour diary he said "of course it'll have to be 'wattified' and such."
can you post the link to his tour diary, Dave?
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Here's (http://hootpage.com/hoot_stoogestourdiary2008b.html) the diary, it's part of Watt's hoot page (http://hootpage.com/index.html).
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Isn't that a 66 (vs 65)?
The snippy bastard is back - miss me much :P
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thanks, Dave!
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Isn't that a 66 (vs 65)?
The snippy bastard is back - miss me much :P
Who are you, again? :P ;) Yeah, we have missed you.
I didn't even look at it closely, but judging by the bridge, I'd say it's later than a 66.
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watt said it was a '65 in his diary but that doesn't necessarily mean it is. thanks again for the link Dave, it's a good read.
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Trying to read his diary, to me, is like imagining what it feels like if you could here what a 1000 people are all thinking all at once. It hurts your head!
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No kidding! I think my brain melted a little trying to read it ;)
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Stream of consciousness. :) His writing has been that way as long as I can remember. Come to think of it, his conversation is sort of the same way too.
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Watt wanted to know if you guys knew of any High Output Humbucker blade pickups for his new bass.
He was looking at the bartolini mm4cbc (http://bartolini.net/information/bass/new_bass_pu_s4.htm)
I believe that Rio grande Pit Bulls are blade pickups. Are the Franlin Tbird pups blade pickups?
http://www.rsguitarworks.net/rsstore/product_info.php?cPath=30_57&products_id=428
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If he can afford the time at some point, I'd suggest sending the originals off to Jason Lollar for a nice rewind.
Actually, I have one that I'm not currently using. If Watt can describe what he's looking for, I'll send mine off to Lollar. I can forward it to Watt, and let him try it. If he likes it, I'll swap him for the one in there. The one I've got is a '60s pickup. Seriously.
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If he can afford the time at some point, I'd suggest sending the originals off to Jason Lollar for a nice rewind.
Actually, I have one that I'm not currently using. If Watt can describe what he's looking for, I'll send mine off to Lollar. I can forward it to Watt, and let him try it. If he likes it, I'll swap him for the one in there. The one I've got is a '60s pickup. Seriously.
AFAIK there's no problem with the originals. I just don't think Watt likes 'em that much, that's why he's used DiMarzios and EMGs before.
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Thanks for the offer but Watt is trying to do is come as close as what he had before, except they no longer make Lane Poors. Also I expect he might be adding a preamp like he had before, but I guess he is doing one thing at a time. He found a Shaller bridge and is installing a jack plate.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v104/Fenderbird/watteb.jpg)
Pre '64 Gibson EB-3: ZBS-440 pickup (made by Bartolini - discontinued now, I think) in the bridge, Lane Poor musicman type humbucker added to where a p-bass would have its pickup and the neck pickup removed w/a metal plate over the hole it left. Aguilar OBP-3 preamp with bass-mid-treble eq plus pickup blend control (chicken-headed knob) and a 400/800hz mid frequency mini-switch and preamp bypass miniswitch. schaller bridge replaced stock one. headstock repaired five times - this last time I put in a new piece of mahogany (see attached picture) because it was just glue on glue for the last repairs and this was not strong enough to hold. Les Paul output jack plate pounded out flat to mount output jack where body wood cracked. Strap button on back (near neck) moved lower and strap permanently screwed on to both that and the bottom peg so it don't come off!
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Fralin Chrome bucker Tbird replacements would be cool but I'm not sure if that's what he wants either.
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Watt wanted to know if you guys knew of any High Output Humbucker blade pickups for his new bass.
He was looking at the bartolini mm4cbc (http://bartolini.net/information/bass/new_bass_pu_s4.htm)
I believe that Rio grande Pit Bulls are blade pickups. Are the Franlin Tbird pups blade pickups?
http://www.rsguitarworks.net/rsstore/product_info.php?cPath=30_57&products_id=428
The Bartolini MMs are not what I'd call high output. They're moderate output but intended for use with an MM-style preamp. Maybe Watt intends to put a preamp in there anyway.
Kent Armstrong makes a high-output MM style but I've never heard it.
IIRC somebody used filings to detect a pattern on the Pitbulls and there were polepieces under the cover.
No idea about the Fralins.
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it might be easier to just have a pickup made to the specs he wants.
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Watt does not seem to be that type of guy. He seems to like to use off the shelf stuff, I think he does his basses Econo. No futzing around, just put it together with what you can get or find. Gibson in Toronto offered to build him a new bass, but that's not Watt's style, I guess. He did not take them up on the offer (Maybe he knew Gibson could not really do what he wants, at least quickly?) Look at how long the Shavo bass took!
I think he's like us a bit and wants to put together his own bass, himself, being part of the process.
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I was going for the rewind, because Lollar would be able to make him what he wanted. I've got Barts in the Holy Crap bass. What are the measurments of his? I might consider parting with one, but I really love them in the bass now.
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what model is are the barts.
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They may be the CGB? model? They were originally on Les Paul basses, and not offered to the public. I got them from a Pitter, and I think that's what he told me about them.
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My 1993 Gibson bass brochure just says Bartolini Bass HB, with Bart TCT active controls.
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this is a pitbull with the cover off in my eb2[img][http://i236.photobucket/img].note the fender string spacing.i now have an artec blade humbucker with alnico magnets in the back of my eb4l and it sounds fantastic.i will take it out later and find the model number.
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Watt does not seem to be that type of guy. He seems to like to use off the shelf stuff, I think he does his basses Econo. No futzing around, just put it together with what you can get or find. Gibson in Toronto offered to build him a new bass, but that's not Watt's style, I guess. He did not take them up on the offer (Maybe he knew Gibson could not really do what he wants, at least quickly?) Look at how long the Shavo bass took!
I think he's like us a bit and wants to put together his own bass, himself, being part of the process.
Dimarzio DP125 might be a little high output for him though. it is not a high advertised pup but any dealer can get one for him though. two blades, about 500 ma output, humbucking for bass. it has a guitar counterpart but i really don't know the other name for it. but i know DP125 is correct.
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Dimarzio DP125 might be a little high output for him though. it is not a high advertised pup but any dealer can get one for him though. two blades, about 500 ma output, humbucking for bass. it has a guitar counterpart but i really don't know the other name for it. but i know DP125 is correct.
That's the X2N-B, the guitar version (X2N) is still available as a stock item but the bass pickup is a custom shop special order.
It's really overwound, not a mudbucker but not clear either.
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X2N-B available here:
gotta use the scroll to DP 125 and the color you want)
http://www.musiclandcentral.com/noname3.html
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Watt's first mod?
He sent me this today from the warp tour-
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v104/Fenderbird/Musicians/kevinwatt080817.jpg)
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If he is considering a Dimarzio pup As most of you guys know I am a big fan of the model G Early ones you can coil split, later ones are two lead and can only be wired full bore. Even if the pole pieces don't line up over the strings out put is very even from string to string. I bought a Lindy Fralin for this but the model G sounds so dam good in there I'm just going to build another for the Lindy ! (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v102/godofthunder59/001.jpg)
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righto,its taken me ages to restring,but the pickup im using in the rear position of my modded eb4l is an artec hxtna-bk.a blade type humbucker,it sounds amazing lots of nice vintage type overtones a la boris the spider and sounds pretty darn punchy by itself.combined with the 66 eb3 mudbucker in the front position there is a broad range of tones that dont cancell each other out.i like it.oh yes,its a guitar pickup.standard humbucker size,black with 2 fat silver polepiece rails.
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Tubehead, where did you get that artec hxtna-bk.a from?
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http://cgi.ebay.com/Artec-Alnico-5-Guitar-Hot-Rail-Humbucker-Pickup-Black_W0QQitemZ150287667569
http://cgi.ebay.com/Artec-Alnico-V-Guitar-Hot-Rail-Humbucker-Pickup-Black_W0QQitemZ120298927559
These don't have an "a" on the end but I'm not sure he intended the "a" as part of the model number.
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yep thats the place and thats the pickup.
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Got any pics Tubehead?
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It's too bad someone here didn't have a beaten EB body in need of fixing, you guys could put your heads/parts boxes/luthery talents together to make a new mutt for Watt.
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It's too bad someone here didn't have a beaten EB body in need of fixing, you guys could put your heads/parts boxes/luthery talents together to make a new mutt for Watt.
i think he has a bass that he is working on "watting" that was given him. BUT if we outposters did that, i can donate a set of Grover open gear tuners in chrome. we might have to ship it around between a few of us to actually get it together or collectively donate some moolah to someone (a luthier or coordinator representing US outposters)to get it done for the group.
i would reccomend any of the accepted self-lutherizing (how bout that for a word?) guys here like Doc or GOT (maybe vote amongst us for both jobs ???) or TimThelen in Des Moines to do the work.
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It's too bad someone here didn't have a beaten EB body in need of fixing, you guys could put your heads/parts boxes/luthery talents together to make a new mutt for Watt.
Look here..
http://cgi.ebay.com/Old-Vintage-Long-Scale-Gibson-Bass-in-Original-Case_W0QQitemZ190248455482QQihZ009QQcategoryZ64402QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
Or perhaps THIS would make a nice modding platform for Mike Watt.
http://cgi.ebay.com/Gibson-1972-SB-450-Electric-Bass-Guitar-VINTAGE-1296_W0QQitemZ280261439910QQihZ018QQcategoryZ64402QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
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http://www.myspace.com/smashedexecutive - the first tune.i finally recorded something with the new pickup.its only a demo and the strings are dead but you get the idea.its recorded striaght into my sound card no eq mudbucker on 10 artec on around 7.if i get time i will try to do a recording that is the artec by itself.i have been at the computer doing a mix for a film these last few weeks so its high time i did some music in there.
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If this idea progresses to the point it might be attempted, you should know that it must be a short scale bass if you actually want Watt to play it. He lost the ability to play long scale a while back. Not sure what that means, but that's what his website has mentioned. That being said, I'd gladly donate a part if I have what you need, and if not, a few bucks. With the number of people we have here, I don't doubt we could make it happen.
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Watt said he had to switch to short scale because his left hand hurt so much after gigs. At the time he said this, he also said he was still playing his long scale basses in the studio. That may have changed, I don't know.
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http://www.myspace.com/smashedexecutive - the first tune.i finally recorded something with the new pickup.its only a demo and the strings are dead but you get the idea.its recorded striaght into my sound card no eq mudbucker on 10 artec on around 7.if i get time i will try to do a recording that is the artec by itself.i have been at the computer doing a mix for a film these last few weeks so its high time i did some music in there.
How do you record and save audio directly into your sound card? I'd love to try that.
BTW, I really like how your bass sounds there. That's the kind of thump I like, but it's not mushy and indistinct!
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How do you record and save audio directly into your sound card? I'd love to try that.
Buy an older Mac.
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this is a pitbull with the cover off in my eb2[img][http://i236.photobucket/img].note the fender string spacing.i now have an artec blade humbucker with alnico magnets in the back of my eb4l and it sounds fantastic.i will take it out later and find the model number.
The Pitbull is two Rio Grande '51 P Bass pups stuffed into a chrome cover.
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Watt said he had to switch to short scale because his left hand hurt so much after gigs. At the time he said this, he also said he was still playing his long scale basses in the studio. That may have changed, I don't know.
Just spoke to Brian at Warmoth and sent an email to see if they could do a markerless, fretless (no lines either!), no peg head holes for a baritone neck for a Watt Mutt build. He said he is going to get back to me. It could be modified into a set neck, 30.5 inch scale neck by "a" builder. I also asked for any discounts they could give with them having promotional rights to helping with a "Mike Mutt' build to help with the stolen Stooges equipment.
I'll post an answer if and when he gets back top me.
I helped "Big Daddy" Don Garlits get a very rare historical engine (the actual engine that won the 1968 1/8 mile Bristol winternationals, a 430 Lincoln complete with the Hilborn fuel injection manifold) for his museum once. Maybe this idea Andrew had can work! What do you all think of donating parts or a small amount of money (pretty much counting on about every member)? As George said there are enough of us to do this!
I can donate a set of used but nice chrome "Shamrock" shaped Grover tuners (Kluson 538's are a bit hard to come by) for the build.
Or just shoot me!!!!
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I can donate a two-point "evertilt" bridge with funny saddles.
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I've got an old Gibson bucker that I can get rewound for this, along with an old TBird pup. The Barts from the Holy Crap bass are also available, if needed.
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I can donate a two-point "evertilt" bridge with funny saddles.
if we are going to do this, lets get some ideas of what is to be built.
i vote for a repop of his old mutt as close as possible. he had an EB given to him but it was not a mutt. it was a 65 eb3. it wouldn't have to be a hurry up job of any sort and might take awhile and might merit some thinking on how it should be made for example: there are no short scale mahogany necks being sold by Gibson (no surprise there!) but a rose wood neck might sound close and it would not require a finish. judging from the appearence of his "Mutt" i doubt if there was any finish left on the back of his neck at all aside of having a "few" years sweat and grime soaked in. a rosewood neck might do the trick as it would require no finish and the tonal characteristics should be close to Mahogany. Rosewood is an oily wood so it might even feel close to him. same with the bridge = a Schaller type that is still being made today.
finding out what kind of pups he had and then finding them might be the biggest hurdle as well as figuring out the wiring. i am reffering to a pic in this post:
http://bassoutpost.com/index.php?topic=999.0
over all i think the mojo from a bunch of us with used parts (specific to the picture posted) we have or have used or a small donation or what ever a member can afford would mean a lot to him.
maybe i should post this as a new topic and get some opinions?
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i have an eb4l pickguard and a mij 3 point bridge and studs if thats any help .
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a tentative list might look like this (any knowns, corrections, additions or suggestions welcome)
One body mahogany early Gibby bass or repopped guitar body?
One neck mahogany Gibby short bass hopefully with truss rod. i have a quote from Warmoth on a Rosewood one with a fretless fretboard unmarked and unlined
One bone nut
One fret board rosewood 30.5 “ scale
One neck pup = ? Dimarzio g or model one, or a Gibby mudbucker?
One Armstrong mid pup ? Kent still makes blade musicman pups like his dad made. But the values are unknown to me. They might be known to him. Can he duplicate them or is a viable alternative available?
One Bartolini bridge pup, specs unknown at this time. Was this a Bart out of an LP? Pre-amped or not?
One Schaller bridge chrome
One set tuners = Kluson 538 are hard to find. Grover clover leaf i have a set i can donate = are Schallers better?
Fret wire = what type 6150 or ?
Hard wire = cloth covered type?
Control cover = used or new. Gibby makes replacements
Knobs = old Gibby hat types?
Pots = unknown what values to use = need suggestions
4-way switch and knob = i know where to get these and i know some members have one of the ones i either sold or gave them
One set strap locks = probably new
One PG eb3 type = these can be repopped
One 4-way switch plate = modify a 5 position with some paint = look like new and be set on a 30 degree break like the original switch plate to match the switch 30 degree throw.
One set of strings = unknown what type Mike uses
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thanks for putting together that list, old puppy, it jogged my memory. I have a nice bone nut that would be available.
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Watt sent me these pics
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v104/Fenderbird/andybassbody080910.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v104/Fenderbird/theandybass080910.jpg)
right now I have the same kind of schaller bridge (3-d4) the little bass had (http://schaller-guitarparts.de/hp135061/3-D4.htm) and the two stock picups and all electronics gone. right now I have just a bartolini mmc pickup (please scroll down at http://bartolini.net/information/bass/4st_bass_pu_s.htm) mounted pretty much exactly where a p-bass would have it's pickup if it was a 30 1/2" scale instead of 34" and that's going to 500k volume and tone pots w/a .047mfd capacitor for treble roll-off (it's passive for now). I replaced the output jack w/a new switchcraft one mounted to a les paul jack plate pound flat.
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great to see that happening. i killed the "make a mutt" idea and made a post in there.
thanks for the pics.
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i would think the blue circle might be a salute to the germs. or not ???
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Please don't tell me that was the nice stock EB3 he was just given. :sad:
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I'm guessing it is. And the donor probably expected him to customize it.
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I'm sure they did and I'm guilty of it myself. It's just there are so many hacked up EB3's that could have filled the void. So uh um whats he gunna do with the pups ?
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i would think the blue circle might be a salute to the germs. or not ???
Yes. Pat Smear gave it to him at the Warped Tour.
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Please don't tell me that was the nice stock EB3 he was just given. :sad:
I believe the answer is - Yes, it is.
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Usually when a star player does this it's an artistic creation, like Sheehan's "Wife" etc. If we do it we are hacks.
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The o'l double standard
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No doubt. It doesn't really bother me if somebody hacks up his own property. Just don't tell me that makes it worth more.
If somebody famous does it, it's worth more because he's famous, not because of anything he did to it.
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Hey it's cool I'm glad he has a new bass.
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Guess its gone from being a collectors bass to being a players bass.
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to me there is no distinction between a collector's bass and a player's bass. to buy an instrument just to own and admire and never play is nonsense.
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Yes but would you happily modify a vintage or classic bass to get it how you like?
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probably not. but i have never modified any bass i have owned. never felt the need to because i don't buy a bass that is not exactly what i want. that's just me. but if someone owns something that they want to heavily mod have at it. it's only wire and wood.
i guess i should add that i have always used 15" speakers so it's pretty easy to find a tone i like no matter what bass is being used.
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hehe :) I dont think I've ever played a bass (Customs aside) that I didnt need to mod to be happy with.
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No one can play well enough bass to justify this horrible crime,
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v104/Fenderbird/theandybass080910.jpg)
nuff said! The poor beast - lest you forget - before "wattification".
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v104/Fenderbird/1965-gibson-eb-3-from-andy.jpg)
This makes even the more adventurous mods of Herr Scott "Saw" Dasson look like trips to the beauty farm in hindsight. You are herewith forgiven. :o
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The thing I don't understand why not use a newer SG bass, instead of a vintage axe?
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Or ask the Gibson Custom Shop to build him a signature model? I'm sure they would have within a couple of days given the circumstances.
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They offered but he refused???
He just likes to do things Watt's way.
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Gibson doesn't strike me as a company that can do anything "within a couple of days".
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I guess the other thing is that it probably wouldn't suit his overall public demeanour to be seen to be getting endorsements from big companies.
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Gibson doesn't strike me as a company that can do anything "within a couple of days".
I'll bet their legal department can. ;D
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They seem to be quite demanding as regards endorsements. I just read an interview with Kirk Hammett in a German Guitar & Bass mag and he said that Metallica had been in intenisve discussions with Gibson re a Metallica signature guitar line but that Gibson's demands (When, where and how often will these be played? Will you be playing other guitars too?") were so exacting, Metallica lost nerve and stuck with ESP "who are much more uncomplicated".
That kind of sounds like Gibson.
Uwe
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well in some respects you can't really blame them. who wants to spend a bunch of money hyping a signature model and then see a bunch of photos/video of the guys playing ESP instruments? it's business, not personal! :)
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I guess the other thing is that it probably wouldn't suit his overall public demeanour to be seen to be getting endorsements from big companies.
Watt is actually an Eden endorser, so I don't know if the issue is with the size of the company with Gibson.
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Watt is actually an Eden endorser, so I don't know if the issue is with the size of the company with Gibson.
Wow, I was unaware or that. A bit surprised too.
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Eden has been owned by US Music Corp. (http://www.usmusiccorp.com/) since 2002. They're certainly not a small company.