I want a bass

[Lunch Money]

Just because you're out of ONE band doesn't mean you have to give up the instrument entirely!! Yikes! I know, it's probably not your 'main' instrument, but keep it around. It'll come in handy some day, you'll see.

As a side note to my earlier anecdote, the Music Man bass I tried out was fretless. I didn't realize how easy a fretless was (WITH the lines where the frets would be nice and visible... playing it blind, I'd be screwed) until that day, and I gotta say that I'm considering getting one of those Saga kits and ripping the frets out... seems like about the least expensive solution to fretless bliss to me.

Greg

[jens]

Having played a Fender Esquire in Southport I want to maybe try it more, I rather enjoyed it, although it is totally new to me. It's not that I have much to spend on it, but a bit of help and advice may be good here?

Is there a second-hand market for instance?

http://www.musicstore-koeln.de/englisch/

(sorry, no direct link because the site is crap )

select 'bass', then 'basses', then 'e-basses' and then 'Jack and Danny'

If their basses are as good as their guitars that's the way to go. Dead cheap but still good quality.


I could test them out for you, Mark.
(remember: I'm a bass-player actually )

[mystahr]

Can I just say thanks for all the help offered allready

I realize that it will take a bit of time before I find what I'm looking for, but I'd say that with the support sofar it'll make the selecting and finding a lot easier.

@jdg - too bad you're not Euro-based; we could have started a band

Such a shame

[VicDiesel]

I'm considering getting one of those Saga kits and ripping the frets out... seems like about the least expensive solution to fretless bliss to me.

Me and tools should stay far from each other.

I paid a luthier to rip out the frets, put in hardwood strips, and sand the fingerboard to get it even. The cost was surprisingly low.

Just a suggestion.

V.

[vurt]

well mark stop whinging and go and buy one you big dutch TWAAAAAAA...!!!

[mystahr]

well mark stop whinging and go and buy one you big dutch TWAAAAAAA...!!!

I'll get round to it soon, just fishing for advice and tips

[jens]

I'm considering getting one of those Saga kits and ripping the frets out... seems like about the least expensive solution to fretless bliss to me.

Me and tools should stay far from each other.

I paid a luthier to rip out the frets, put in hardwood strips, and sand the fingerboard to get it even. The cost was surprisingly low.

Just a suggestion.

V.

yes but you have to take care that you do it with the right bass - not every bass will sound good unfretted and a lot of them would refuse to sing -
I did it quite succesfully myself though (a friend helped me to fill the gaps with wood)

[DevonB]

well mark stop whinging and go and buy one you big dutch TWAAAAAAA...!!!

I'll get round to it soon, just fishing for advice and tips

The real advise has already been doled out. Look at action, make sure they're isn't fret buzz (pluck at EVERY fret position on the bass to find out, not just a few) see if you like how thick or thin the neck is, make sure you like the weight of it since it's going to be hanging from your body if you play standing up, play expensive and cheap ones (you mind find you like the cheap ones better, and that's not a bad thing either), and ignore the pansies that say "Ohhhhh Brand X sucks, you must like Brand Y". The brand thing is like someone telling you you MUST like a blond over a brunette. It's bullshit. It's got to feel good in your hands, period. If you don't like the way it feels, you'll never play it, which makes it a waste of money.

Devon

[mystahr]

and ignore the pansies that say "Ohhhhh Brand X sucks, you must like Brand Y". The brand thing is like someone telling you you MUST like a blond over a brunette. It's bullshit.

There's plenty of that around......

But thanks again all, I got enough advice here to be on my way with this

Thanks

[jens]

and ignore the pansies that say "Ohhhhh Brand X sucks, you must like Brand Y". The brand thing is like someone telling you you MUST like a blond over a brunette. It's bullshit.

There's plenty of that around......

But thanks again all, I got enough advice here to be on my way with this

Thanks

I totally agree with Devon's advice but I hope you don't count me in to those who suggested a brand-name although I clearly did

The 'brand' I suggested is the 'in-house'-brand from a huge local dealer and I suggested this brand because I know that a least with guitars their price/value-ratio is unbeatable.

Hell - you get a j-bass copy for 100 euros and don't put it down just because the price is so low.

I have two guitars from that 'brand' and both aren't world class but really good & usable.

[DevonB]

I totally agree with Devon's advice but I hope you don't count me in to those who suggested a brand-name although I clearly did

Let me clarify - Do not let brand be the deciding factor only.

Devon

[t-willy]

mark,

this has your name all over it!!!





lates

t-willy

[Lunch Money]

I'm considering getting one of those Saga kits and ripping the frets out... seems like about the least expensive solution to fretless bliss to me.

Me and tools should stay far from each other.

I paid a luthier to rip out the frets, put in hardwood strips, and sand the fingerboard to get it even. The cost was surprisingly low.

Just a suggestion.

V.

yes but you have to take care that you do it with the right bass - not every bass will sound good unfretted and a lot of them would refuse to sing -
I did it quite succesfully myself though (a friend helped me to fill the gaps with wood)

Yeah, but you can't be TOO picky when you're looking at that price point (ie. dirt cheap). Ideally once I learn how to make a solidbody (I'm halfway there) from scratch, I'll just make a fretless. In the meantime, almost anything will do.

Greg

[torhan]

What about the Shadow Bass:

[Hunter]

cool thread this , I used to play double bass in my teens and would love to pick it up again in the electric styleee...

jim