Geezzzzz --- NOTHING like that ever entered my mind!
Rick - yea -- from what I can tell it's electric only. I've not seen one personally, though a couple of folks I know in southern Minney-soda have them, and say they play really well. (I'll get a chance to see the things at the next festival up here.)
My bass is one of these ---
Neck Type --- One piece of wood for the body, neck fingerboard
Fingerboard --- fretless with printed fret lines
Body Type --- One piece
Finish --- Blue
Pickup(s) --- 1 Piezo
Controls --- Volume, Treble & Bass
WHAT THE HELL IS THAT THING, ANYWAY': This is a reissue of the Guild Ashbory bass produced way back in the 80's. It's now being produced by DeArmond who's parent company is Fender. It's 18" long and uses silicon rubber strings. A lot of people think it's some kind of toy but it has a HUGE sound.
HOW DOES IT PLAY: It took a little while to get use to playing it. I've found that playing with a very light touch makes it much easier to play. The stings last for years and years.
SOUND: It sounds HUGE. The company claims that it sounds like an upright. I wouldn't exactly agree with that but it does sound different then any other electric. However, it DOES have some very cool sounds. It makes a very protible travel guitar and it's just a flat-out cool axe to add to your collection.
Like the review above says -- it has a HUGE sound. I really like the rubber *gumby* strings. Tie a knot in each end, stretch them out to fit in the peghead from the tailpiece, and yer set to go!!
I considered one of those because I didn't want to callous my delicate fingers with steel strings... but couldn't do it. Besides, I love wood and the sound of steel strings (and the look). It does sound like the action is good for it and I bet it's great for some techniques like popping, but... aren't those strings also expensive?
Also, painted fret lines? What's the point? Isn't that like a painted bikini top? Whoo hoo. Does the paint rub off, rather than having fret ware?
Also, painted fret lines? What's the point? Isn't that like a painted bikini top? Whoo hoo. Does the paint rub off, rather than having fret wear?
The *frets* are pieces of binding that go across the neck -- so while it is a fretless bass -- one can tell where the notes are. It's only 4 1/2" from the nut, to the 5th fret!
Price of strings?? I don't know. I got the bass in '87 or '88,
and have never had to replace the strings.
They are still good. :)
I doubt if they are really expensive though.
Whenever I get fiddle strings -- that is usually $50.00 or more. :(
http://www.parkerguitars.com/ ........ http://www.line6.com/ .. line 6 in one of the new electronic gutairs..you can flip a swith and it sound like a 12 string , a banjo. the Fly is a 5 pound smooth very easy gutair to play... James Burton was promoting the line 6 at his festival in Louisiana last year.. Jim
Edited by JCHEV
Hey Jim, welcome! I played with a Line 6 at Gutiar Center a few months ago, they were good about demoing it with me. Nice sounds, the banjo sound in particular sounded very nice. And so many other sounds!
One of my favorite local (Calfiornia) guitarists is Harvey Mandel, who plays a Parker Fly - HIS SITE HERE has some photos. There's a pretty good video of him HERE at the Cafe Du Nord doing his thing, takes a bit to load, but it's got some good stuff of his on it.
Well Socks, the word awsome gets really overused a lot but uh, nope, can't think of a better word here. :) The Soldano designed Yamaha that I have is all tube too, but they are 2 totally different worlds. The Yamaha has a Marshall tone (hmm...designed by Mike Soldano and it sounds like a Marshall...go figure!). Crank the gain up and you get the same Marshall style edge of chaos distortion (Yes, I blatently plagerized that description from somewhere, just don't remember where).
The Fender Blues Deluxe now, it has a sweet, creamy tone to it even with the gain maxed. Yeah, you can get dirt with it, but a different kind of dirt. When you dig in, it gets dirty, but pick softly, and it's a "softer" dirt. Does that make sense? It's touch sensitive, like all tube amps so when you dig in, you get this big blast of sound. And I have NO idea what I'm talking about here, just trying to describe the tone as best I can being a rank amature. :)
So anyway, all that being said...it sounds awsome!
Aaah! sound, or reads, awesome Bluzeman! I was at a store yesterday and saw one on the floor but there was a lot of activity in the area and couldn't get to trying it out. What are you playing through it? I bet it sounds great with some humbuckings or the like!
I like the soft/hard picking dirty description, makes sense. It can be hard to get a setting like that, but the amp sounds like it's made to do that. That kind of responsiveness is ideal!
I went out couple times this week, looking for an acoustic guitar, started with nylon string and went to steel string. Didn't want to spend too much, get a case with it if the price was right. Ended up with a guitar we really liked, bought it for my daughter. It's a Yamaha, the FG720S
I got the natural top, sitka spruce. Very nice sound, good resonance, plays great right off the wall. The store had several. Yamaha is doing some new things with production on these and the price is way low for the sound it gets. We talked wanting a good all around guitar, something that you could play with friends, leave out, not stress over too much and that would sound good enough to gig with. Anyone still looking for an inexpensive guitar with good features that plays well and is made soundly - this fits the bill.
They're priced at 259.00 most places online. I got it with tax for 299 and change, pennies under my budget, with a nice wood/plush lined case. Great deal. If you live around Northern California, I have to plug Zone music. They're good people and very helpful. So we're having a happy Easter too Bluzeman! :)
Nice! Is this her first guitar? If so, even nicer!
Right now I have an American Texas Special Strat. I think it and the Blues Deluxe were a match made in tone-heaven. :) Next time your at the music store, you gotta give it a listen!
Nice photo, there. Like the color. Those guitar really have some great sounds.
No, Bluzeman, she's been playing quite awhile, just back home from a year at Musicians Institute, finished the Basic and Intermediate Level Guitar program and is taking a break to get some time to play and shake it all out. They have a very aggressive program, she learned a huge amount in her first year there, and got some great experience. She's got a Fender Tele Thinline and Epiphone 335, but no acoustic and it seemed like a good addiiton to her instruments, having something she could knock around with. Within budget she wanted something that she could use for some of the fingerpicking and acoustic styles she learned. I was really impressed with the Yamaha. The have a sunburst I may go back and look at myself. :) Need mo' dough!
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Bluzeman
Dmiller...are they strictly electric? I don't see any kind of body, soundboard, er, anything to really give it tone. Just wondering.
Rick
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ChasUFarley
If you look at that thing just right, it looks like...
er...
something else....
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ChattyKathy
Is it male or female?
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ChasUFarley
Female.
:blink:
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ChattyKathy
That's what I thought you were going to say.
I can have a wacky sense of humor I must tell you.
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dmiller
Geezzzzz --- NOTHING like that ever entered my mind!
Rick - yea -- from what I can tell it's electric only. I've not seen one personally, though a couple of folks I know in southern Minney-soda have them, and say they play really well. (I'll get a chance to see the things at the next festival up here.)
My bass is one of these ---
Like the review above says -- it has a HUGE sound. I really like the rubber *gumby* strings. Tie a knot in each end, stretch them out to fit in the peghead from the tailpiece, and yer set to go!!
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ChattyKathy
Rubber "gumby" strings. I'm trying to hear a sound in my head, hmmm. Interesting David.
And Chas and I were just having some fun ya know
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Tom Strange
...it's only eighteen inches long...???
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ChasUFarley
Is the fretboard only 18" or the whole thing?
I considered one of those because I didn't want to callous my delicate fingers with steel strings... but couldn't do it. Besides, I love wood and the sound of steel strings (and the look). It does sound like the action is good for it and I bet it's great for some techniques like popping, but... aren't those strings also expensive?
Also, painted fret lines? What's the point? Isn't that like a painted bikini top? Whoo hoo. Does the paint rub off, rather than having fret ware?
Hmmm.... interesting... tell me more...
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dmiller
It's the neck/ fingerboard that's 18". Overall length is 27".
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dmiller
The *frets* are pieces of binding that go across the neck -- so while it is a fretless bass -- one can tell where the notes are. It's only 4 1/2" from the nut, to the 5th fret!
Price of strings?? I don't know. I got the bass in '87 or '88,
and have never had to replace the strings.
They are still good. :)
I doubt if they are really expensive though.
Whenever I get fiddle strings -- that is usually $50.00 or more. :(
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JCHEV
..a friend of mine has been playing a Parker Fly but just bought a Line 6 and like it real well..Jim
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dmiller
What's a Parker Fly, and what's a Line 6???
(Curious minds ---want to know!)
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JCHEV
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ChattyKathy
Welcome Jim.
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dmiller
Yes --- welcome to GSC.
(And thanks for the links.) :)
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socks
Hey Jim, welcome! I played with a Line 6 at Gutiar Center a few months ago, they were good about demoing it with me. Nice sounds, the banjo sound in particular sounded very nice. And so many other sounds!
One of my favorite local (Calfiornia) guitarists is Harvey Mandel, who plays a Parker Fly - HIS SITE HERE has some photos. There's a pretty good video of him HERE at the Cafe Du Nord doing his thing, takes a bit to load, but it's got some good stuff of his on it.
How's that amp sound, Bluzeman!?
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JCHEV
..Thanks for the "welcomes" .. great video, he can make that Gutair talk....Jim
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Bluzeman
Well Socks, the word awsome gets really overused a lot but uh, nope, can't think of a better word here. :) The Soldano designed Yamaha that I have is all tube too, but they are 2 totally different worlds. The Yamaha has a Marshall tone (hmm...designed by Mike Soldano and it sounds like a Marshall...go figure!). Crank the gain up and you get the same Marshall style edge of chaos distortion (Yes, I blatently plagerized that description from somewhere, just don't remember where).
The Fender Blues Deluxe now, it has a sweet, creamy tone to it even with the gain maxed. Yeah, you can get dirt with it, but a different kind of dirt. When you dig in, it gets dirty, but pick softly, and it's a "softer" dirt. Does that make sense? It's touch sensitive, like all tube amps so when you dig in, you get this big blast of sound. And I have NO idea what I'm talking about here, just trying to describe the tone as best I can being a rank amature. :)
So anyway, all that being said...it sounds awsome!
Rick
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ChattyKathy
Excellent description having heard it.
Um, well not to the options and such seen above my name. What the heck! You can't know if you'll start a new dadgum page. RATS!
<_<
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socks
Aaah! sound, or reads, awesome Bluzeman! I was at a store yesterday and saw one on the floor but there was a lot of activity in the area and couldn't get to trying it out. What are you playing through it? I bet it sounds great with some humbuckings or the like!
I like the soft/hard picking dirty description, makes sense. It can be hard to get a setting like that, but the amp sounds like it's made to do that. That kind of responsiveness is ideal!
I went out couple times this week, looking for an acoustic guitar, started with nylon string and went to steel string. Didn't want to spend too much, get a case with it if the price was right. Ended up with a guitar we really liked, bought it for my daughter. It's a Yamaha, the FG720S
I got the natural top, sitka spruce. Very nice sound, good resonance, plays great right off the wall. The store had several. Yamaha is doing some new things with production on these and the price is way low for the sound it gets. We talked wanting a good all around guitar, something that you could play with friends, leave out, not stress over too much and that would sound good enough to gig with. Anyone still looking for an inexpensive guitar with good features that plays well and is made soundly - this fits the bill.
They're priced at 259.00 most places online. I got it with tax for 299 and change, pennies under my budget, with a nice wood/plush lined case. Great deal. If you live around Northern California, I have to plug Zone music. They're good people and very helpful. So we're having a happy Easter too Bluzeman! :)
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Bluzeman
Nice! Is this her first guitar? If so, even nicer!
Right now I have an American Texas Special Strat. I think it and the Blues Deluxe were a match made in tone-heaven. :) Next time your at the music store, you gotta give it a listen!
Rick
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JCHEV
This is my friend with his Line 6....
..and his Parker Fly...Jim
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socks
Nice photo, there. Like the color. Those guitar really have some great sounds.
No, Bluzeman, she's been playing quite awhile, just back home from a year at Musicians Institute, finished the Basic and Intermediate Level Guitar program and is taking a break to get some time to play and shake it all out. They have a very aggressive program, she learned a huge amount in her first year there, and got some great experience. She's got a Fender Tele Thinline and Epiphone 335, but no acoustic and it seemed like a good addiiton to her instruments, having something she could knock around with. Within budget she wanted something that she could use for some of the fingerpicking and acoustic styles she learned. I was really impressed with the Yamaha. The have a sunburst I may go back and look at myself. :) Need mo' dough!
That Strat must sound good!
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