East Tennessee Talkbass

[Michael Vee]

I have 3 basses with Barts.

• SX short-scale J-bass with old unknown model Barts from Bill Bartolini era
• Ibanez Cerro 4 string with the usual Mk1 import soapbars
• Warmoth J-bass with the latest B-Axis pickups from Clark-era Bartolini

All different from each other but then all very responsive to string choice.

I was a big EMG actives guy back in the 80's and 90's. I like the sound of Barts better in recent years.

 

[PDGood]

That's the cool thing about music, everyone has different ears and we will never all like the same things but it's all good. My experience with Barts is with the MK1s and MK4s. Of course, I'm hearing them on basses that also have the Ibanez preamp so it's hard to separate which is contributing what part of the sound. I would just say that they are not Fender sounding to my ears which seems to be the goal in this case.

 

[BWB]

I'll have to agree with PDGood here. I've never been a fan of Barts, but admittedly, I have limited experience with them. If you must change the P pups out, I would suggest either Nordys or EMG Geezers. I have used the Nordstrands and the EMG's get rave reviews around here.

The Nordstrand NP4's I have in my main bass sound oh, so, so good. But they're expensive for a bass I am going to play for one song a night. The Bartolini's were bought used, cheap. This is a budget bass operation. I don't even have a case or gig bag. I've been carrying it around by the strap from place to place for . .. . . . 4 years now? I didn't have a use for it other than the Ohio gig once a year until I needed a bass tuned to D to play one song when we started the Steely Dan tribute band last fall.

 

[ljazz]

We'll be opening at the Shed tomorrow evening. Big stage, so I'll break out the 810 to plug my Shaw B150 into.....

I have the stock CS pup in my CS'59 P. I love it. I've contemplated putting a SD Antiquity in my '08 AmStd P, but it sounds good with the OV'62 pup I put in.


Question for everyone..... Does anyone know of a local shop that carries Sadowsky Blue Label Flats? I'm trying to get my hands on a set or two of the original version.

 

[BWB]

Here's the finished product. Squier bass with used Bartolini pickups, tort pick guard, paint job at the top of the neck, knobs stolen off a dead Bogen PA amp. Total investment: $114. I need a hard shell case. Who in Knoxville has my beat up hard shell case for this sucker?

IMG_1917

• BWB
• May 1, 2018

 

[JEDI BASS]

Actually, I have the ugliest HSC ever, I don’t mind one bit to give it to you. It’s somewhere in my garage.

 

[JEDI BASS]

Squier P looks great BTW

 

[Michael Vee]

Every time I see a good beater parts bass like Scott's P, I think, "Smart move." It's nice to have a lusty boutique bass, if one can afford one, but a beater is practical on so many levels. And that is a nice looking parts bass. It's fun to put them together, and if you use good parts, you can end up with a good-sounding bass.

$114??

 

[Michael Vee]

Question for everyone..... Does anyone know of a local shop that carries Sadowsky Blue Label Flats? I'm trying to get my hands on a set or two of the original version.

Local to Cookeville or to Knoxville? Knoxville doesn't have a true guitar music store of our own anymore.

Blue Labels! What great strings! Sadowsky Guitars does not have a Blue Label page at present, so they must be making the strings sporadically.

Jason at Bassstringsonline stocks them on an availability basis, but not at the moment. Here's an Amazon source if you choose to buy from them.

 

[ljazz]

Local to Cookeville or to Knoxville? Knoxville doesn't have a true guitar music store of our own anymore.

Blue Labels! What great strings! Sadowsky Guitars does not have a Blue Label page at present, so they must be making the strings sporadically.

Jason at Bassstringsonline stocks them on an availability basis, but not at the moment. Here's an Amazon source if you choose to buy from them.

I'd be happy to find them anywhere within a few hour drive of Cookeville. I've tried Jason at BSOL..... He doesn't have any of the old version Blue Label Flats.... Only the new version coming in.

I'm hoping to find a set or two that has been sitting on someone's shelf for a year.

I tried Amazon, but no Flats.

If anyone has a set laying around, I'd love to take them off your hands!

 

[BWB]

Every time I see a good beater parts bass like Scott's P, I think, "Smart move." It's nice to have a lusty boutique bass, if one can afford one, but a beater is practical on so many levels. And that is a nice looking parts bass. It's fun to put them together, and if you use good parts, you can end up with a good-sounding bass.

$114??

Pawn shop Squier P-bass $60, used Bartolini's $39, tort pickguard eBay $15. $114.

The practical part is simple. I don't have to worry about it getting banged up, stolen, broken. It's already kind of banged up - you can't see it in the picture but the sides of the body have 6 or 7 pretty good dings all the way down to the wood.

 

[JEDI BASS]

Every time I see a good beater parts bass like Scott's P, I think, "Smart move." It's nice to have a lusty boutique bass, if one can afford one, but a beater is practical on so many levels. And that is a nice looking parts bass. It's fun to put them together, and if you use good parts, you can end up with a good-sounding bass.

$114??

And, after spending a few hundred on tools, I can do the fret work needed to make a beater play and feel like a boutique. I just finished my first refret, and 3rd fret level, crown and polish. I also sand and refin the necks in tung or tru oil. It’s phenomenal what a difference it makes to the playability.

 

[PDGood]

And, after spending a few hundred on tools, I can do the fret work needed to make a beater play and feel like a boutique. I just finished my first refret, and 3rd fret level, crown and polish. I also sand and refin the necks in tung or tru oil. It’s phenomenal what a difference it makes to the playability.

I've discovered the joys of an unfinished/oiled neck too, although I had to do it to a cigar box guitar to have the balls to start sanding. Haven't done a bass that way yet.

 

[JEDI BASS]

I taped off the fretboard edges to protect the dots, and to keep me from exposing the fret ends. I also taped near the headstock. I then lightly went over the transitions, from oil to poly, with fine grit sandpaper so I can't feel an edge. So far, I've done this on a '79 Ibanez, an '85 Ibanez, and a '80 Peavey T-40 that I refretted. The bassists that have played them, liked the feel a lot.

 

[39-Bassist]

I live in florida but own a 2nd home in Newport...does that count?

 

[JEDI BASS]

Only if we can vacay in your Fla home.

 

[39-Bassist]

Hmm..been thinking of 6months at each!

 

[Michael Vee]

I live in florida but own a 2nd home in Newport...does that count?

39, are you from Newport originally? You must be- that's the only way I can figure out that connection.

 

[Jeff Elkins]

I live in florida but own a 2nd home in Newport...does that count?

39, welcome! Let us know when you’re around. We don’t check in with each other too regularly, but we’re always looking for a reason to!

Here is a pic of some of the show band that Melony took last weekend. Me, Dale, Brandon, and Larry, L-R.

We start the second weekend of the show tomorrow night. Come see it!

MVee—wish I could! Wrapping up a big project before we travel out west for business and pleasure. Have a great closing run!

Dude—your drummer also has a keyboard. That seems kind of dangerous. Also, what is it with young, talented drummers these days? I haven’t worked a pit with one over age 22 in YEARS.

 

[39-Bassist]

39, are you from Newport originally? You must be- that's the only way I can figure out that connection.

No actually went from Ohio to Florida and then lots of vacation time in the PF, Gat area...then found a sweet deal on a small cabin in Newport and has a good view...so...