Recent content by Barton Lee

I used a 2011 CMD121 combo for 14 years with no issues before moving it for a Little Mark Vintage 58R, and I much preferred the VLE and VPF controls over the old school-scoop-flat options only. I'm using the Vintage 58R with a 102 Energy 4-ohm cab (which I like a lot) and find that only the flat...

I've had a set of TI Acousticores on my Martin for three years now and they're still working well. Not very loud unamplified but great plugged in and low tension. They are quite bright when new and take a bit to settle in for tuning, but neither of those things bothered me and I wouldn't use...

I had the JMJ Mustang, a very nice bass, and to me it had a tubbier, very P bass-like tone. Short scales have their own thing going on. For me, it wasn't different enough from the full scale Fender P basses I have, so I moved it on. The Embassy for me was a way to approximate a classic Gibson...

I've owned and gigged with both. The Embassy is the more versatile and would be my choice. The Embassy pickups are great.

I've used two sets of the Optima RB on my Ric in the past. The first set did not have a noticeably duller sounding E string and I was quite pleased by the tone and feel of those flats. I bought a second set a couple of years later and was not as happy with the result. Perhaps I changed but the...

I used to think poorly of Hofner violin basses and never considered owning one, let alone playing a gig with one. Then recently I bought an entry level Hofner Cavern violin bass with the two pickups mounted close by the neck. This bass is definitely not "kindling" and the sounds one can get out...

I had a Breedlove acoustic fretless bass with an unlined ebony board that sounded great amplified and was quite affordable. Without an amp, it wasn't loud enough for playing with a group.

Congratulations on your acquisition. I own a G-serial number 1988 MIJ 62 RI just like yours. I picked it up new at Corner Music in Nashville in 1990 while on tour. I did replace the stock pickups later with Fralin noiseless and installed a drop D tuner. The frets are pretty worn after years of...

Last night, I played my first gig with my 2025 made in Vietnam Cavern violin bass. I've played gigs with a HCT500/7 Verythin over the past few years and like that bass enough to keep it instead of a Jack Casady and a modern Guild Starfire II. I was curious though to try a Hofner with the Cavern...

Rotosound 77 flats (45-105) tuned to E standard have never bothered my Fenders, let alone destroyed truss rods, and while Chromes eventually lose their charm, they stay alive enough for me for a couple years. Unlike the beloved La Bella 760FL, which for me turn boring and lifeless after a couple...

I use Pyramid flats on my 2025 Vietnamese-made Hofner Cavern and TI flats on my Verythin Contemporary-series bass. The TI E string took some effort to make fit, but they've been great since. I really like the Pyramids as well. DR Legend short scale flats will work too and are worth considering.

I once got to spend a good hour killing time in the CBGB annex before a gig chatting with Ira Robbins, creator of Trouser Press, about the Dictators and their performances there, at Max's Kansas City and others. A friend turned me on to Manifest Destiny when it came out, and they were my...

I think the issue may be with the neck, which may need replaning as your luthier suggested. I had a fretless Fender J that started sounding like that despite any attempt at setting it up to correct it. I could be wrong and hope it's just a string or setup issue, but I'd be curious as to the...

Fender can charge whatever they want but good luck to their dealers selling the signature models in particular at those prices. A local shop has had a new Mike Dirnt P bass for sale for a very long time still listed at the old price of $1,499, and it just sits there. Good luck selling one for...

I've had a Jazz Ultra II for eight months. The QC on mine was flawless, the neck didn't move over a Minnesota winter and the preamp and controls are a significant improvement over the Ultra I series (I also have an Ultra I P). I'm sure others will recommend the superiority of their favorite...