Bass & Mojo Lunch Report

This is the place where the Lunch Reports will be posted.
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asphalt-abate
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Location: Renton, WA

Bass & Mojo Lunch Report

Post by asphalt-abate »

Day 4 of 2012

Lunch today will be left over rice mixed with veggies and a piece of leftover ham.

My name is Tom and I have a confession: I am not a bass player. One thing that drives me crazy is a guitar player who thinks he is a bass player. I know several guitar players who think they are bass players. I once thought I was a bass player. I am not a bass player.

Yes, I sometimes play bass at jam sessions and usually I can do ok in simple blues or rock jams but I have too much respect for the instrument, how it’s played and its role in music to think that I have anything more than a novice grasp of the instrument.

But still, we can talk bass. I see more G & L basses in action in pro cover bands than G & L guitars. Bassists have always been less resistant to change than guitar players and definitely less hung up on brand name. G & L offers a good product and bass players take advantage of it. I have one G & L bass that I’m very proud of and that’s my 1982 mahogany bodied L-1000. I’m the second owner. I bought it off of a Microsoftie. He had bought it new in Cleveland and played it in a power trio, after which he stored it under his bed until he decided to sell it one day. I was lucky because I was the first of many to respond to his post. I think I paid $600 for it. It’s a fine instrument. My L-1000 is a keeper but my other bass is a player and that’s my pawn shop Warmoth. Do you believe in mojo? I do and I do because of my Warmoth. When I saw this bass hanging up in the pawn shop I knew that it had to have some value, at least in parts, so I bought it. It has a stained walnut body. Staining an instrument is not a good idea because it will soak up anything you pour on it including sweat and urine. Yes I said urine. The bass stunk like pee. I convinced myself that it was dog urine but it could have been an angry girlfriend’s urine. I contacted Warmoth and they gave me advice on how to clean it. So I cleaned it and fixed the broken wiring and began to play it. At first I thought it was way too honky to be of any use but once I dialed it in I fell in love with its tone. Tight, tight, tight but warm lower mids. It has an easy playing, worn smooth neck. It is a blast to play. You old timers have heard this story before but I thought I’d share it with the newer forum members. Do you believe in mojo?

Here’s a shot of my basses:

[timage=]Image
ThreeBasses by teletom60, on Flickr[/timage]

The Peavey has been replaced with a 1997 Fender American Series Jazz bass.


Check out this nice piece of walnut:
[timage=]Image
DSCN0012 by teletom60, on Flickr[/timage]

She’s a little heavy but she’s beautiful isn’t she?

Today’s irrelevant contest: Which of these two materials is closer in composition to pure iron: wrought iron or cast iron?

G & L Topic:
Body shapes. I know, from a marketing perspective, guitars benefit from looking like a traditional T or S. I was in the Beaverton Guitar Center yesterday and they have an older S-500 for sale. What a cool looking guitar. I’d love to see G & L return the S-500 back to its original body shape. Make it a heritage instrument, the company’s flagship guitar. They already have the well selling Legacy in the traditional S shape. Return the S-500 to its body. What do you think?

Hey, on Friday I’d love to see a picture of your old band or old self with guitar, back in the day when you were skinny and had long hair. I have one I’m going to post. Join in if you want.

Happy lunching!
Tom

Renton, WA USA
louis cyfer
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Re: Bass & Mojo Lunch Report

Post by louis cyfer »

nice basses. i have a fender japanese 80's p bass, and a steinberger headless i got in a pawnshop for a 100 bucks. the fender is mint 10 out of 10. not a single scratch on there. i thgink darwin migh5t like the color f it. i am not a bass player either.
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glvourot
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Location: British Columbia

Re: Bass & Mojo Lunch Report

Post by glvourot »

I'm not sure what I'm going to have for lunch today, it's seems like the 17th consecutive rainy day here ( with another 17 to come ). Maybe I'll stop for some pho on the way into work.

I am not a bass player. I have a Squier classic vibes 50's presion bass and a Fender Squier series Jazz bass. I play in a hobby band and we practice once every 2 weeks. I bought the classic vibes because I like the neck and it seemed good value for money. The Jazz bass was given to me by a friend who never used it. It needs a bit of work but It's the one I play the most now. I have a lot of respect for bass players. Simple or complex bass patterns drive the songs. Dynamics and feel are paramount. I am far more atuned to basslines now than I ever was before ( as far as listening goes anyway ).

I do hope to try out a G&L bass eventually, a good deal will reveal itself I hope.
Paul
sickbutnottired
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Re: Bass & Mojo Lunch Report

Post by sickbutnottired »

The trivia is fun. I meant to post Mon and Tues but got busy.

I didn't know that wrought iron was a specific material; I just thought it was a term for old fashioned bent-work. The best stuff has very limited arc-welding and fasteners. So I'll guess wrought, even though I obviously have no idea.

Bass
There is a worldwide shortage of good bass players. Those instruments of yours are all beauties. Glad the delousing (sp??) worked!
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darwinohm
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Re: Bass & Mojo Lunch Report

Post by darwinohm »

Tom, I am primarily a bass player but do most of my work at home on 6 string. I had a Ham sandwich for lunch today.

You have nice basses. I have four basses, one 4 string and three 5 strings. I rarely use the 4 string. It is a Jazz bass and doesn't have the growl of the others.

One of my MM Stingray 5s had a lot of mojo. I bought it to see if I liked the 5 string. It is currently in the process of a restoration and I have visions of doing it in Baby Blue. Red, White,and Blue would be cool but I have a lot of time to decide. It may be something totally different by the time it happens. Good to see the lowenders remembered today. They are always a lonesome bunch. Ladies usually are watching the lead player!!!!???????-- Darwin
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Kit
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Re: Bass & Mojo Lunch Report

Post by Kit »

I'm not a bass player either, but I love songs driven by bassline. The topic actually came up during band practice and I realize that songs that grab me are many times ones with interesting basslines. I have a L-2000 bass that I use to record with or figure out how to play basslines to songs I like. Here's an example of a bassline driven song I like:

[youtube]TsS_W5jN-vU[/youtube]

I don't believe in mojo infusing a guitar from being played by a certain person or played a certain way. I guess I do think certain guitars have something special in them essentially from day one (OK, all guitar do change some from years of being played), and the lucky player will run into such a guitar and the bond will be permanent.

Kit
zapcosongs
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Re: Bass & Mojo Lunch Report

Post by zapcosongs »

Great report!

My lunch today was what my kids call a "Daddy Sandwich." This usually means ham, turkey, cheese, mustard, mayo and romaine. Doritos and apple slices on the side.

I am not a bass player either - and I hear you about bass players being under-appreciated. For some reason I cannot fully explain, since discovering G&L, I've wanted to own at least one Leo-era bass. Thanks to some sage advice (mostly from our friend and rickshaw-riding G&L aficionado Brock), I managed to get my hands on two such instruments. Because I don't really know how to play my first-style SB-2 or 1981 L-1000, I have relied on our friend Bassman (who is local to me) both to tweak and take my low-end instruments out for a spin on occasion. I believe he sensed some Mojo (maybe he'll check in to confirm).

Here's a little slideshow of my basses in action (if you've seen this before, just play along ;+) :

http://s87.photobucket.com/albums/k156/ ... =slideshow

By the way, it's hard to tell in these pictures, but the SB-2 is not black - it's Bahama Blue. I snagged both instruments off the Bay. Miraculously, the L1K is da*m near mint. And yes, the fretboard is ebony.

I would love to learn to play bass one day. - ed
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Ahryn
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Re: Bass & Mojo Lunch Report

Post by Ahryn »

Nice basses!

Especially the G&L, bursts on Mahogany is like chocolate and peanut butter. Two great things that go great together :lol:

Body shapes, I would really like to see some of those classic body shapes come back.

With the S-500 they could always bring back the classic body shape as a custom creations style guitar, mix the modern with the vintage.
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sam
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Re: Bass & Mojo Lunch Report

Post by sam »

nice basses all around. Not a bass player now, but did play a little many (21) years ago. Had a Gibson Ripper or Grabber can't recall. Great bass lines can truly make a song, there are so many classic ones running in my head now that you started the bass talk.

I will go with Cast Iron. No idea but got a 50/50 chance. :searching:

A limited run of original S-500 would give an idea what the market wants, but I think they would sell, lot of S body players out there.
Cya,
Sam
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asphalt-abate
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Re: Bass & Mojo Lunch Report

Post by asphalt-abate »

Thanks to all who replied today. Sickbutnottired you win today's contest. Wrought iron is the correct answer. Although they all contain smaller amounts of other elements, wrought iron contains 0.05-0.25% carbon, steel contains 0.2-2.1% carbon and cast iron contains greater than 2.0% carbon (all by weight). I'm way out of my expertise here so I'm sure a metallurgist could rip me apart. But for now I'm sticking by my answer.

Louis - a headless Steinberger for $100, that's killer.

glvourot - Im with you on the weather, literally.

Sickbutnottired - only drummers are in more demand. From a steady giging standpoint, I wish I was a bass player.

Darwin - I was not aware that you are a bass player. Here's a toast to ya'.

Kit - Cool song. Is your band working on this one? It sounds like one you guys could kill on.

Ed - I wish I had a personal bass assistant. Lucky dog.

Ahryn - Did you catch Monday's Lunch Report? My kids and I were waving to you from across the Straight. Did you see us?

Sam - I bet your Gibson bass weighed a ton. Weren't those big solid pieces of Ash? Or were they Maple?

Take care all.
Tom

Renton, WA USA
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Ahryn
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Re: Bass & Mojo Lunch Report

Post by Ahryn »

Heh guess I missed Monday but that's the fun thing about where I am, on a clear day you could peer over the border :wave: and vice versa.

Weather hasn't been too friendly though, here's hoping for a drier Thursday.
Michael-GnL-Michael
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Re: Bass & Mojo Lunch Report

Post by Michael-GnL-Michael »

darwinohm wrote:...Good to see the lowenders remembered today. They are always a lonesome bunch. Ladies usually are watching the lead player!!!!???????
I have noticed that guys believe the girls watch guitar players. It is guys who watch guitar players. Girls watch the singer. At least that has been the case with girls I have known over the years.

I am not a bass player but I think I could have been. I preferred guitar but I really enjoy the bass lines. When I started playing guitar I did have an aversion to bass mainly because there is a prevailing notion that "anyone can play bass" and if you play guitar you would automatically make a superior bass player. I have seen guitarists get on a bass and attempt to more or less shred like it is nothing........BS. When I say I could have been a bass player I just mean that I think I understand and have an ear for melodic bass lines. I would be that kind of bass player. I also like the position providing support and "tasty fills" that Tom described yesterday. A tasty fill on bass is often the signature of a song.
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Ken Baker
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Re: Bass & Mojo Lunch Report

Post by Ken Baker »

Sorry, but it was bedtime when I realized yesterday that you wanted to talk bass.

You after pics? I got a few

Image

Of these, the SB-2 is the only one that still lives here. The honeyburst was traded in (and quickly snatched up for a Japanese CW band) for the L-2500 below. The burst fretless is off to parts unknown (maybe Texas). It and another bass were consigned to be able to purchase the El Toro below.

Image

Vintage and aged white with a matching headstock. Mahogany body. The Fullerton El Toro.

Image

My much-modded (all reversible) tone monster. I just can't play it right now. Maybe in a few months. Series/Single/Parallel, active Aguilar 3-band. This beast predates the the new M series by a long time.

Image

This is/was Kevin's. An Ibanez BTB. Mahogany, Bart pickups & preamp. Heavy as Hell. Nice tone, if you like Barts. I could do with this what I did with a Lakland, but it would still be heavy.

Image

What else to say. Bongo. 4-band EQ and piezo. Versatile, to be sure. Ergonomic as well. I still like my 2500 WAY better.

http://www.bassesbyleo.com/images/lakla ... tion_1.jpg

Click the link. I'm not gonna resize it, as it's already at a standard 1024x768.

Lakland Skyline 55-01. Bart system is long gone, replaced with Nordstrand pickups and an Aguilar preamp. Sweet sounding bass.

Ken...
zapcosongs
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Re: Bass & Mojo Lunch Report

Post by zapcosongs »

Nice basses all!

Hey Ken, anything new to report on your recovery? - ed
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Ken Baker
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Re: Bass & Mojo Lunch Report

Post by Ken Baker »

zapcosongs wrote:Hey Ken, anything new to report on your recovery? - ed
Playin' the hell out of the SB-2. A little sloppy yet, but it's slowly coming back.

Thanks!

Ken...
zapcosongs
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Re: Bass & Mojo Lunch Report

Post by zapcosongs »

Great to hear Ken. I'd like to mail you my SB-2 one day just to see what you think.... - ed
louis cyfer
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Re: Bass & Mojo Lunch Report

Post by louis cyfer »

nice to see you on the guitar side of things ken.
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Ken Baker
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Re: Bass & Mojo Lunch Report

Post by Ken Baker »

zapcosongs wrote:Great to hear Ken. I'd like to mail you my SB-2 one day just to see what you think.... - ed
Heh.... Ah, don't do that. Bill is close by your neighborhood. Besides, it might just end up being here for "extended" testing. :twisted:
louis cyfer wrote:nice to see you on the guitar side of things ken.
Thank you. I do stagger through quite often in double-secret mode.

Ken...
bassman
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Re: Bass & Mojo Lunch Report

Post by bassman »

Ken: Good to hear that you are playing again. I hope you heal up fast.

Ed has a couple of great G&L basses. Lots of mojo with those axes.

Guitar players who think they are bass players are understandable. Its bass players who can't play a bass line that drive me crazy. Slap is not the only way to play bass! Learn some finger technique and some music theory so that you know what notes should be played under what cords. (sermon over)

Louis: If you got an original Steinberger bass for $100 bucks you got one hell of a deal!
Even if it is a copy you did OK.
If thine enemy wrong thee, buy each of his children a drum.
http://www.rags.ws
http://www.capitalbluesensemble.com
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Brock
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Re: Bass & Mojo Lunch Report

Post by Brock »

asphalt-abate wrote:But still, we can talk bass. I see more G & L basses in action in pro cover bands than G & L guitars. Bassists have always been less resistant to change than guitar players and definitely less hung up on brand name. G & L offers a good product and bass players take advantage of it.
You have to keep in mind that electric bass hadn't reached the "solved problem" level for quite some years, particularly in regards to amplification. In contrast, one can get reasonable guitar tone from an FM transmitter going into a cheap clock radio. Bass is far more demanding, particularly on the amplification end.
asphalt-abate wrote:I have one G & L bass that I’m very proud of and that’s my 1982 mahogany bodied L-1000. I’m the second owner. I bought it off of a Microsoftie. He had bought it new in Cleveland and played it in a power trio, after which he stored it under his bed until he decided to sell it one day. I was lucky because I was the first of many to respond to his post. I think I paid $600 for it. It’s a fine instrument.
That's my favorite bass guitar model of all time: The mahogany bodied L-1000!
asphalt-abate wrote: I was in the Beaverton Guitar Center yesterday and they have an older S-500 for sale.
I bought a USA Hamer 8 string bass from there for cheap years ago. Good times.