An Intro - <again>

bass_slinger · 07-02-2010, 05:37 PM

I accidentally posted on the six-string side (yuck!) and I found out that there is another Squier side that deals in just basses - and here I is.

Retired now, and having been a Surf - Blues - pre-Beatles bassist in the 1959-1965 era, I am just getting back into bass playing seriously, and dumping all my sixers. Honestly, guitars feel like such toys after a bass anyway. That should ban me from the six-side huh?

I've only got five basses at the moment, and one is a 1998-9 (?) era Squier Affinity P.

I've added ROTO77, high tension flat-wound strings and reset the truss and then re-intoned it and set up the rest of the physical adjustments.

I also added a .1mF cap with a toggle switch in parallel to the original .047mF cap from the factory on the tone control.

A new set of Peavey P-p'ups for a little more power and it really sings again. The original E-A p'up was dying and it was a sad thing to have to do it, but the operation was a success and the patient lives to sing again.

I just bought a new VM '70s Squier J Bass, and I have had to do absolutely nothing to it to make it great. I even like the original strings from Fender! Imagine that.

I bought this VM Passive since I already have a Fender Deluxe J Bass that is active. (below)

Here's the current lineup:::

On the sides I have a couple of Ibanez basses. One is an acoustic AEB10E-BK (left ^) and the other is my SR500 (right ^).

Just the Squiers/Fenders in my life right now. (^)

Here's one of my Ibanezeseses::

I do all my own setups and intonation and wiring.

I think it's a form of sacrilege to damage or RW and 'relic' them or cover the wood or colors with stickers.

Typically I leave my instruments stock unless I can really make it better or I need to replace a bad/worn out or broken part.

S. Rock · 07-03-2010, 12:04 AM

welcome to squier-talk, Joe. we're glad to have you here with us. make yourself at home. you've got some nice looking bass guitars. I like the looks of that second one that you showed. the VM '70's Squier J bass.

I've been playing 6 string for 44 years now, but I've been thinking about getting one of these Squier basses to try. they are reasonable enough.

again, welcome to squier-talk.

pictoratus · 07-03-2010, 12:21 AM

Welcome to the forum.

I played bass for several years up until nearly 25 years ago. Just recently picked up the 6 string guitar again (started out on it when I was a boy).

How does that hollow-body bass sound?

bass_slinger · 07-03-2010, 04:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pictoratus

Welcome to the forum.

I played bass for several years up until nearly 25 years ago. Just recently picked up the 6 string guitar again (started out on it when I was a boy).

How does that hollow-body bass sound?

Awesome! That AEB has so much sustain and tone that I can easily overrun everybody with it. I use a sound hole plug when I crank up the volume, but it has a Phase switch to shift the signal to a reverse pattern and the feedback is almost totally gone that way.

I kept the bronze wounds on it for the slight string 'zing' they make and if I cut the BASS tone 20% and add more MIDS, it really has that 'mwah' sound of a double standup bass.

If you've never played one, I suggest you try it and see for yourself how powerful they are. Except for slap and pop, they are capable of almost anything a slab can do, but even more that a slab cannot!

YeahDoIt · 07-03-2010, 06:19 AM

Thanks for telling us about the acoustic electric bass, I know very little about them. I have a Peavey Fury bass, it's a pbass type.

bass_slinger · 07-03-2010, 10:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by YeahDoIt

Thanks for telling us about the acoustic electric bass, I know very little about them. I have a Peavey Fury bass, it's a pbass type.

The only thing I forgot to say was that they don't project well without an amp. You can use them in a quiet jam with another acoustic 6-er or so, but they really need an amp to hold their own.

I don't find that a negative however, since you need an amp for your slab instruments anyway, and that's not something that bothers me. Some people get all down on the AEB when they can't fill a room with no amp.

That Peavey you have - I think the p'ups from that are what I got for my P when mine died. Thankfully they didn't change anything but the power they put out and never changed the tone or voice of the bass.

Face it - the P has a unique voice by design that only a P can achieve - not even a J/P can really get there. Certainly no J can get that sound either - and I have two Js and know that well.

Grrrowler39 · 08-28-2010, 11:21 PM

Nice collection!!
Perhaps one day, I can have more than one

bass_slinger · 08-29-2010, 02:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Grrrowler39

Nice collection!!
Perhaps one day, I can have more than one

I'm fortunate to have an empty nest, no kids left at home and I'm retired.

I refuse to play for money as it's not my way any more. If I play with a group, it's for fun.

At this time I am spending more on gear than I think I should - just ask my wife and she'll set anyone with the wrong opinion straight - fast!

One more bass to go and it should be quits for buying for a while. I want that VM-Jaguar and have one reserved when it arrives at my local GC.

Thankfully, the VM-Jag Black/Tort will look like my Deluxe J Black/Tort and that might keep the heat off me for a while.

Now --- where do I hide the new 810?

Grrrowler39 · 08-29-2010, 02:33 AM

I was an empty nester last year, but the twins moved back in.

I am still working - have college to pay for, but I am making the boys contribute more to their education by taking a year off and earning some of their own tuition.

Since they are older and do not require as much supervision, I decided now was the time to buy a bass and get started.

Eventually, I would like to find a local band and sit in with them.

Cheers,
Ken

Darth Distortion · 08-29-2010, 03:01 AM

Nice collection. I play both 6 string guitars and 4 string bass. Tried to play 6 string bass but my fingers just not young & long enough for that. This is my new (2009) Squier Standard P Bass Special. Only changed the bridge to a Fender HMV w/ brass saddles and strings to Dean Markley Alchemys. Fantastic sound from stock Squier pups - yes it is very possible. I think people buy a $250 Squier and expect $1500 Fender USA sound. I love this bass. So comfortable, smooth and versitile.

YeahDoIt · 08-29-2010, 05:23 AM

What kind of bass amp are you guys using?

wickedtools · 08-29-2010, 08:34 AM

Very nice gear

dannyvawn · 08-30-2010, 09:31 AM

Here is me doing my 2nd favorite thing, Playing bass with my Favorite 95 Soundgear. Also, a white early 90's Squier and my Custom ESP that has seen the world. I have a few more but these are my Favorites

Grrrowler39 · 08-30-2010, 09:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by YeahDoIt

What kind of bass amp are you guys using?

YDI,

I use a Fender Rumble 15 for practicing.

Cheers,

Ken

bass_slinger · 10-11-2010, 01:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by YeahDoIt

What kind of bass amp are you guys using?

I decided that I didn't want the Ampeg stuff - as I am old school (and old to boot) and when I bought my Ibanez SR500, I got an Acoustic B-450 combo cab with 450 Watts in standard form, but take the Ohms down to 2 and you get the full 600 Watts.

I drive (sigh - I bought an 8-10 anyway!) an Acoustic B-810 and another Acoustic B-410 and a B-115.

The I got froggy and bought the Acoustic B-600H head for pretty much any combo I can think of.

With the B-450 I can get to drive the 2-10s on it - the B-810s and another B-410 set up for a silly count of 14-10 inch drivers all at once. That's off the B-600 head that is in the B-450!

I only need that much cone area when I play a pasture or paddock BBQ in an open field with 40 acres of space to fill.

Mostly I play the B-450 and put it on a B-115 cab for some really nice power and clarity.

I gotta get some more updated pixs for my insurance agent - but here's the B-450 on top of the B-115.

There are some spots on the camera lens there.

I had to add a decoupling mat between them as they 'talked' to each other and would start hopping all over the place without some sort of dampener to take it out - a thick towel worked just fine.