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The easiest way to tell if those flatwound strings are Chromes is if the ball ends are all different colors. I really like that method for helping me figure out which string goes where without having to compare it to the others.
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Feb 25, 2018 19:36
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I don't play bass, but I do play guitar and have been wanting to add a bass to my studio for some time now. I just feel like I want the sound of a real bass sometimes and can't get it to sound right using a Sampler or Software Instrument. Also, my buddy who I have been working with in the studio really wants to take up bass and might pitch in a bit for us to get one for the studio. I have been keeping an eye out at local pawn shops for good deals and had a few questions. I am mostly making hip-hop music but will also do electronic (house) and pop music from time to time. I found a 1985 Fender Precision Bass Lyte (Japanese made) in decent condition (few nicks and scratches) at a pawn shop this week. I know next to nothing about pricing, especially older model instruments but this one was going for $480, which seemed a little steep for a 30-year-old instrument that is the "Lyte" version. But again, maybe these were just great bass guitars and are rare. If there is a particular model I should look at that would come in under $400, I would appreciate any advice. I did see a couple Fender Jazzmasters at another pawn shop that were under $400 (if I remember correctly) but I didn't get a close look at them and am not sure if they would fit my style better than something else.
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Mar 1, 2018 23:47
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Anyone know the Fender spec for string height for their resalers? I went into a Guitar Center today to eyeball some basses and every Fender they had there had action higher than my upright  Also, are all Fender maple fingerboards glossy finished? They look great but the one I played today had a super tacky feel that I hated compared to my rosewood Jazz neck. I also fooled around with some other basses and their Ibanezs all had great setups and I played one of their 5 string fretless prestige models and it was pretty fantastic. Not a fan of those tiny Soundgear bodies with a neck that big though, neck dive like crazy. Also played one of those Ibananez singlecuts and I wasn't a of the shape or size, at least for sitted playing. It was a 6 string and the neck was so flat I swear it looked almost concave which felt awful, and I used to play a Conklin 7 string!
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Mar 1, 2018 23:57
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MrSargent posted:
I like the Lyte. A lot. Thinner neck, narrower nut than most Pbasses. PJ pickups. Smaller, lighter. Been looking for one w/o gold hardware, or a great deal where I could replace it, for a while. Sweet spot has been around $400-$450 usd for the ones I've seen. I haven't found one locally where the neck wasn't hosed or I'd have bought one years ago.
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Mar 2, 2018 00:12
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pumped up for school posted:I like the Lyte. A lot. Thanks a ton for the feedback dude! I am pretty sure I could talk them down from $470 on this guy since I think it has been in the shop a long time. Good to know that this would be a solid choice.
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Mar 2, 2018 00:21
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"Lyte" didn't mean that it had less features (you can't really get simpler than a Precision), they were just lighter and slimmer overall. Smaller body allowing for a 22 fret neck, more rounded cutaways, contoured heel, and I think a more Jazz profile neck. Meant to compete with the more modern stuff companies like Ibanez were starting to put out.
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Mar 2, 2018 02:53
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Bottom Liner posted:Anyone know the Fender spec for string height for their resalers? I went into a Guitar Center today to eyeball some basses and every Fender they had there had action higher than my upright It ranges between 2 and 3mm for the factory specs depending on the radius and treble vs. bass side. Guitar Center is poo poo and treats their instruments as such so I’m not surprised that you found a bass there like that. And people wonder why instrument sales are down. Not all maple necks are gloss finished but many are - I couldn’t tell you which though. I like the look of the glossy maple but not the feel.
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Mar 2, 2018 04:26
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Is my technique super good or what? I’ve never had a problem with glossy fretboards and unless I’m doing certain bends on a guitar I never touch them in the first place. Just curious.
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Mar 2, 2018 04:55
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Last time I was at a Guitar Center the guitar that had caught my eye on the website turned out to be in absolutely appalling condition: Missing a string, massively out of tune, fine tuners clogged and barely turnable, knobs falling off. Luckily somebody on shift gave enough of a poo poo to fix it when I pointed out the state it was in. Took him drat near an hour. (Then I ended up buying something else.)
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Mar 2, 2018 05:02
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Kilometers Davis posted:Is my technique super good or what? I’ve never had a problem with glossy fretboards and unless I’m doing certain bends on a guitar I never touch them in the first place. Just curious. If you've ever been sweaty on stage you'd know how tacky gloss or painted necks and boards can get. The neck I played today was high gloss on the FB and back of the neck, so I was referencing both.
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Mar 2, 2018 05:07
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Could take off the strings and knock down the finish on it once you get it home though
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Mar 2, 2018 05:22
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Bottom Liner posted:If you've ever been sweaty on stage you'd know how tacky gloss or painted necks and boards can get. The neck I played today was high gloss on the FB and back of the neck, so I was referencing both. That makes sense. I’ve never played live and usually keep my hands as dry as possible while playing.
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Mar 2, 2018 05:24
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Bottom Liner posted:If you've ever been sweaty on stage you'd know how tacky gloss or painted necks and boards can get. The neck I played today was high gloss on the FB and back of the neck, so I was referencing both. It's amazing how much sweatier you can get at a gig vs. practice. Nervous energy plays a big part of it, I guess. I really like the wenge neck on my Dingwall for that reason. It doesn't get sticky at all no matter how humid things get.
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Mar 2, 2018 06:33
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Juaguocio posted:It's amazing how much sweatier you can get at a gig vs. practice. Nervous energy plays a big part of it, I guess. Ask me about playing a dive bar show with 400 people crammed into a tiny area and a leaky roof with trash bags taped to it as tarps because it was storming outside in the middle of August and the AC was broke. A lot of people got sick from the heat/humidity in that place that night. New Brookland Tavern in Columbia SC if anyone is familiar with it. 
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Mar 2, 2018 06:38
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I forgot all the merch money at that place. Woke the owner up the next morning, got it back and still made it to the next city on time. No big deal it was only $2000. Yes, we did deposit it into the bank the next day, and got a fanny pack to prevent further idiocy. Also yes, I never heard the end of it for a couple years until the guitarist did almost the same by putting the fanny pack in his pedal board, and totally forgetting about it.
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Mar 2, 2018 06:53
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Anime Reference posted:Last time I was at a Guitar Center the guitar that had caught my eye on the website turned out to be in absolutely appalling condition: Missing a string, massively out of tune, fine tuners clogged and barely turnable, knobs falling off. Luckily somebody on shift gave enough of a poo poo to fix it when I pointed out the state it was in. Took him drat near an hour. (Then I ended up buying something else.) I went to guitar center yesterday to try out a markbass little mark tube 800 yesterday and the amp made gnarly crackle sounds anytime a knob was adjusted and the volume seemed to be fluctuating randomly. Those goons should learn to spray some pots or at least not keep a broken piece of poo poo out on the floor. I didn’t buy it and my search continues.
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Mar 2, 2018 14:42
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Maple fretboards are always finished with poly, lacquer, or something else. It is often glossy, especially when new, but sometimes it's more eggshell-ish (in terms of finish gloss). I don't know if I've ever seen it be totally flat. Contrast this with rosewood or other dark fingerboard woods--those are often left raw or oiled, but rarely finished with anything like poly or lacquer. If you're just talking about the necks themselves, no, they're not all glossy. Some are matte from the factory. Some were glossy but were matted with the help of 0000 steel wool. Some are also just worn.
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Mar 2, 2018 19:17
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How fool proof a process is it to do yourself (buffing down to smooth out a lacquering)? Also, is maple just a softer wood that can't handle being raw and oiled and needs a lacquer? Is the brighter tone mostly from the wood or the wood + lacquer? I have zero experience with maple but I love the look and I'm trying to get my hands on a maple board p bass but I feel like I'm gonna have to find something older and well worn for it to be comfortable to my tastes.
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Mar 2, 2018 19:25
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Bottom Liner posted:How fool proof a process is it to do yourself (buffing down to smooth out a lacquering)? Also, is maple just a softer wood that can't handle being raw and oiled and needs a lacquer? Is the brighter tone mostly from the wood or the wood + lacquer? I have zero experience with maple but I love the look and I'm trying to get my hands on a maple board p bass but I feel like I'm gonna have to find something older and well worn for it to be comfortable to my tastes. Maple is softer than rosewood and ebony. This is why, for example, you’d never see an unfinished maple fingerboard on a fretless bass that wasn’t finished vs. ebony which is certainly hard enough by itself and rosewood which is not as hard but hard enough. The big reason on fretted instruments that they coat the fingerboard when they use maple is because it gets finger dirt and poo poo on it and gets dirty-looking easily. Now that brands are using roasted, baked and torrefied maple more often they are not coating that even though it is maple because it is darker and won’t show the dirt like a normal light maple would.
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Mar 2, 2018 20:45
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There are are plenty of maple necks with maple fretboards that don't have a thick gloss finish. My Music Man Sting Ray 5 has an oiled neck. It does show dirt as Rio points out, but it's nice and smooth. I have a Rob Allen fretless bass with a Birdseye maple neck and rosewood fretboard that I got used and it has a shiny back of the neck. I actually had the opportunity to show Rob Allen himself the bass and he said that it originally had a satin finish, but playing it has caused the finish to shine up. I do think that you can just run steel wool down the neck and combat that shiny, sticky feeling. I mean isn't that what Geddy Lee is did to his jazz bass and then Fender copied that for his signature model?
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Mar 2, 2018 21:42
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Scotch bright pads or whatever those green cleaning pads work well to de gloss a finish. I did it over an entire double bass and got good results - requires some elbow grease but good results.
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Mar 2, 2018 22:45
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Yeah, 0000-grade steel wool takes the shiny gloss off very well and gives you a sleek, matte back of the neck that's easier to slide up and down. That said, I've quite gotten used to glossy finishes on the back, and I no longer let it bother me.
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Mar 3, 2018 03:15
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My VM70s Jazz Bass has a completely flat maple neck and fretboard. Feels awesome aside from the fretboard being so narrow.
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Mar 3, 2018 03:19
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Idk if this is thread inappropriate but if anyone knows a free way to make music flyers for a gig where I can slap in a photo of the band with ready made templates lemme know. Mspaint I guess if I was less lazy. Lovin my music man sub series right now. Been playing a steady diet of punk shows and it combines the perfect mix of awesome sound and who cares if it gets smashed that I crave.
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Mar 3, 2018 06:54
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Canva.com
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Mar 3, 2018 06:58
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Rifter17 posted:There are are plenty of maple necks with maple fretboards that don't have a thick gloss finish. On a functional level, maple necks get finishes to prevent moisture absorption that could lead to movement and twisting. Larger manufacturers aren't going to go unfinished - especially ones that do one-piece necks, but with proper reinforcement and multi-piece construction you really don't need to worry too much about it. I just crossed 10 years with an unfinished maple fingerboard & maple + purpleheart neck, and it hasn't budged at all. Places like Warmoth require finish on their maple necks for warranty purposes but DON'T on roasted maple.
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Mar 3, 2018 09:27
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I got to play a fanned fret Dingwall for a bit today. It's definitely different, but I could see the adjustment period being fairly short. The low strings felt nice and defined, and the scale length difference didn't seem to impede playing at all. I also got to meet another bassist from a thousand miles away, who I had only met online through Discord. It turns out he went to college (and is close friends) with a bassist currently playing with my old drummer. It's a small world, drat.  He really liked my singlecut... And I definitely enjoyed the Dingwall.
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Mar 4, 2018 09:48
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Need more bass porn up in here  drool
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Mar 6, 2018 04:54
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ok Stambaugh, Stambaugh, Shen, Stambaugh, Warmoth "Fender"
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Mar 6, 2018 07:11
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Unf, hott  Indonesian upright, G&L, Clement, Clement, G&L
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Mar 6, 2018 07:37
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DEUCE SLUICE posted:ok Nice Shen. I’ve heard good things about them.
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Mar 6, 2018 07:48
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Hung the electric up in the practice room finally. Been playing the poo poo out of that thing again since getting into the upright. Also found out a high school friend found one of my original Fenders in a random pawn shop and bought it. He recognized it somehow and sure enough when he took the neck off my name was written in sharpie. We graduated 14 years ago! Can't wait to check it out when I go back home next. 
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Mar 6, 2018 08:02
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rio posted:Nice Shen. I’ve heard good things about them. I don't know how representative mine is of the "better" Shens, as not only is it the lowest model (SB-80) but it's repaired from a double neck break and got a fairly extensive overhaul. I like it a lot, though!
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Mar 6, 2018 09:26
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DEUCE SLUICE posted:ok I think I remember when you were warwick5s or something. I've played a few Warwicks and walked away impressed (I'm a guitarist who wishes they were a bassist mind) so are Stambaughs that brilliant? For the price I'd want them to be!
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Mar 6, 2018 12:08
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 Geddy Lee, Hagstrom, Matsumoku Fender clone
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Mar 6, 2018 13:04
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  I’m actually sitting down learning The Middle, Seven Nation Army, and Revolution Radio (surprisingly complex) because some local punk band needs a bassist and it sounds like fun to play some live music. its curtains for Kevin fucked around with this message at 13:07 on Mar 6, 2018 |
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Mar 6, 2018 13:05
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its curtains for Kevin posted:
I’m trying to figure out how there is a foot coming out of your bass.
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Mar 6, 2018 13:35
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That’s my foot because my legs are wrapped around it
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Mar 6, 2018 13:42
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Comfy looking pantalones
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Mar 6, 2018 13:49
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| # ? Jun 6, 2024 14:09 |
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This is a good page. Sweet gear all around.Sockington posted:
You have that P tuned as a contrabass, right? BEAD?
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Mar 6, 2018 13:57
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