alyctes

[quote name='thebrig' timestamp='1509662832' post='3400768'] Judging by all the mixed comments, I think it's definitely a MARMITE bass!!! [/quote] If your Marmite's that colour I wouldn't eat it if I was you

[quote name='FinnDave' timestamp='1509178196' post='3397117'] Well done, that one had been gnawing away at me for months! I have recently discovered a way round my injuries to allow me to play a modified finger style, so my pick playing days may well be numbered. Then I will discover whether the 'birds are any good played that way. [/quote] Glad to hear it.

Oooh. Does he do a fretless five?

[quote name='roman_sub' timestamp='1509496602' post='3399491'] As my better half reminds me, plural of anecdote is not data, but for what it's worth I have seen a number of Ibanez's with finish cracks around that area and no obvious detriment. I guess it may be to do with finishes / thin neck joints used? My '91 RG is holding up tune and tone perfectly despite similar visuals..... though this is clearly case specific and I have no way of knowing anything about the bass in question without seeing it in person [/quote] Fair point My experience with neck pocket cracks like that is that they are not restricted to the finish, and I should have said so in my earlier post. But I've not seen one on an Ibanez, so perhaps I'm being overly cautious.

[quote name='SimonEdward' timestamp='1509308287' post='3397986'] [size=4]Sorry for carping on... but I think the original OP should get on his pike and fix this thread, otherwise fins could get [/size][color=#1C2022][font=Helvetica, Roboto,][size=4]a shoal lot worse ![/size] [/font][/color] [/quote] I don't know whether this thread should really be resurrected. I mean, it's been quiet for dace and dace.

I'd be wary of the neck-pocket cracks, personally. Maybe no big deal, but I'd leave that to someone who actually knows.

Thomann's Harley Benton basses are generally recommended at the entry level. Not tried one myself, but under £150 delivered... https://www.thomann.de/gb/fretless_basses.html?oa=pra

I can't hear it as music, personally.

Keepers, IMO.

Fretless

I sold Mike some CDs. No issues whatever, happy to trade with him again. Cheers Mike

It would be interesting to know the tonewoods used in the shovel.

[quote name='Evil Undead' timestamp='1507549666' post='3386215'] I seem to have to press quite hard but yes, the overtones disappear [/quote] That wasn't quite what I meant. If you damp the string behind the nut with something stuffed under the string (sponge? bit of balsa? cigarette filter?), what happens then?

Yeah, been noticing that one. Not buying though - I think someone else ought to have a chance at one occasionally

Blimey. I've a defretted fiver, bargain at nearly three times that. Keep your eyes open, he might not have sold it

If you damped the string behind the nut, does that make a difference?

Not to me. Ah well...

I've put a snipe in. We'll see.

Avoid the silicone Fender Ashbory strings, they snap if you think about beer (or cheese, or elephants) within fifty feet of the thing. I haven't tried the Thunderguts on a fretted ubass (they are on my Ashbory though). I have tried Pahoehoe polyurethanes; they are quite acceptable, at least to me. They do take a little while to settle down, but after that they last for years.

Gah. I'm not going to be at my computer tomorrow evening. Nothing I can do about it either. Bah, humbug... I suppose I could bid anyway. Can't hurt.

Okay, I had a measure of a Kinsman hard case I use. I think this will JUST fit those dimensions. The waist seems very tight, maybe too tight, and the overall length seems too long (about 127cm). Depth should JUST be OK, so long as the neck isn't too deep. Hopefully this will help.

Excellent. Thank you, gentlemen. I'm definitely not expecting to get it at anything near that price, but you never know...