caughtinamosh

Ariel

Can't speak for Oni, Mike Sherman or Roter on their respective basses (or their guitars for that matter). The one thing that really seems to set JJ Helms up there for me, is that his instruments can run the gamut of different bass tones out there extremely well (in my opinion). This one is the same body style, but different woods to the one that I have (should show you billsdc6). I agree, I do like some of the sounds out of a Fender Jazz bass, but then again, I also greatly enjoy Musicman, G&L and Pedulla Buzz basses, too (a bit more midrange and lower midrange). Now, for a more traditional Fender Jazz bass minus the pickup noise, I'd recommend going with a David King Bass, especially for his fretless models.

Dude,

I can't recommend going with either a Roscoe (if you go fretless) or a JJ Helms (fretted with zero fret) enough. Look through E-bay, U-Bid, or other equivalent site. That new Roscoe bass is particularly awesome in playability and tones. The JJ Helms is quite simply my "Jack of All Trades" bass after I "rediscovered" it after a re-setup and both are 35" scale. I'll not purchase a 34" because I loathe floppy low B strings. My Steinberger is the only one I'll own in a 34" scale.

I also recommend going with a 6-string bass (you'll be able to play scales a bit easier in one position or if you slide around a bit without having to double up on running down a string as much).

James,

The other suggestion I'd posit on getting a bass down to an even lower F# is to use a carbon graphite neck with slightly larger than normal strings vs. a wooden neck. I'd really recommend going with either a Modulus Graphite or Status Graphite (this would be much easier for you) bass in getting that low on your bass. Both of these manufacturers build in 35" scale which will be quite helpful in keeping a stable low B and possibly lower depending upon the rest of the instrument, etc. , ... Another person to talk to on this would be Apophis, as I think he tunes that low on his basses, but I could be readily incorrect. Several others will probably disagree with my opinoins concerning scale length/neck and fingerboard construction, too. It's a great thing to get a discussion on this topic from time to time.

The other small trick to this is to use stainless steel frets and make sure there's a zero fret involved. It's a subtle change, but very noticeable (at least to me). I've a JJ Helms bass that has a wood neck, but uses stainless steel frets with a zero fret and this makes a huge difference in note definition and almost gives me what I like about my modified Steinberger (which still has only 2 wolf less sustains to it). The JJ Helms has 4 wolf less sustains and one wolf lower volume that I've found thus far, but harmonics are extremely clear, especially the rare natural ones that are duplicates found in different positions on the neck. My Quantum 6 (no zero fret) does this, too, but I have to change the EQ to a more treble/midrange setting than what I'd normally use.

Slight tangent, but I now use harmonics as my basis of comparison on whether I'll keep or sell an instrument, still do the unplugged instrument thing, first to suss out if I'll like the instrument or not, then move onward to plugged in on flat settings and work from there (after setting it up to a small extent). Have gotten very picky in my geezerness.

James,

Right yet, I've not even thought quite that far ahead as to tuning one of my 6-string basses down to a low F# instead of a low B. As odd as this will sound, I'm really comfortable with my basses tuned to low B up through C (fourths). Once in a very blue moon I drop the low B down to A, but I've not gone lower because I didn't like the lack of note definition when I go lower (and don't feel like re-setting up an instrument for it, to be honest). More likely than not, I'll stick to low (ok, occasionally A) B to C on my bass guitars, as I was and still am intending the 8 string guitar to be more of a solo instrument.

You're using a Fender Jazz bass, ... more likely than not, it's a 34" scale neck, and that's gonna give you a bit of grief on a low B to begin with (in my opinion). A 36" to 38" might be a bit kinder on getting a low F# instead of using super huge strings on a shorter scale neck. Unless you've a fairly trebly, even midrange and low bass (what it would look like of your bass being flat in an EQ) of a bass guitar prior to the experiment you'll end up with less defined notes (way too much bass, not enough midrange and treble) and possibly not be happy with the sound.

Hopefully this answers your questions.

I got served there aswell, you could be a ....ing rugrat and get served over there.

I had some of an ex-girlfriends saliva before I left, actually

Yes, and my brother getting with 2 girls adds insult to injury..
But they were northern so I don't care

Noo!

Thank you, French beer, hot weather, lovely beaches, european girls
Sadly, my tapping hand was not lowered