andydye

Originals band... '78 p bass - looks and sounds perfect, occasional seasonal niggles and no current back-up in case of disaster 2016 Shuker p bass (incoming - clone of my '78 for greater seasonal stability and a few modern appointments) Orange AD200b mk3 - looks and sounds perfect Orange OTB500 - backup head in case of disaster (currently being repaired...) Orange OBC115 x2 1960 Czech Laminate Double Bass (Originals band acoustic shows) Everything Else I get asked to play from time to time... ACG 5 string Musicman Stingray4 fretless Markbass CMD102p combo Stuff I haven't sold yet but don't need... NS Designs NXT4 don't need this now I have the db

...body and neck have now had tinted lacquer applied so I popped in for a look and the neck looks absolutely stunning! The body looks beautiful but is darker than I was wanting so it's getting redone much lighter... [url=https://flic.kr/p/DgoXuk][/url] More neck pics... the fingerboard can be fretted now [url=https://flic.kr/p/Dg4qjy][/url] and here's the back, the basic carve is done, next step after fretting is the more delicate carving for which he'll be borrowing my 'donor' bass so try and get the carve feeling as similar as possible [url=https://flic.kr/p/DEikfK][/url]

Having tried Tom's Duke with his Walnut endpin I'll be getting one for my own db once I've fettled one or two bits on it, probably oak as she's even sounding but of mellow tone...first job is to repair her current endpin and then try her with some spiro strings to get a better idea of what she sounds like to know which wood to go for

[quote name='ljbass' timestamp='1455634321' post='2980907'] small picture of DB head from my avatar [/quote] yeah that looks strikingly similar matey!

[quote name='SubsonicSimpleton' timestamp='1455539692' post='2979951'] You could offer up the plain shank end of some different diameter drillbits to find the correct diameter for a replacement endpin, as far as the retaining bolt goes, you'll have to do that by trial and error, the bolt on my strunal is M8, the most likely sizes to try would be M8,M6,1/4",5/16" I would think, just dont force anything. [/quote] Just taken the brass part of the endpin into an ironmongers to see if they had a bolt that would fit and it's an imperial size which does suggest an older bass to me. An M5 bolt is just ever so slightly too large so I'll get a wingbolt M5 and see if I can recut the thread in the brass part which will then give me a working endpin for about 25p and if it doesn't work it's not the end as I suspected a new endpin would be needed anyway... [quote name='SubsonicSimpleton' timestamp='1455631435' post='2980858'] With the exception of the tuners, your bass looks very similar to my Strunal 50/4, take a look at the pics here http://www.thomann.de/gb/thomann_double_bass_europe_1e_bd_34.htm and see if you can see the resemblance. It would be interesting to make a direct comparison with the two basses next to each other in the same room. [/quote] there are some similarities indeed matey, there is an air of age about her though, the tarnish on the tuners in particular...happy to get them together once I've managed to sort the endpin problem

[quote name='ljbass' timestamp='1455628444' post='2980820'] It just reminded me my DB but I don´t know how to confirm, Try to look here http://www.uptonbass.com/SOLD-1960s-Czech-Ply-Upright-Bass-double-bass/ or at some other pictures. I think things like the head, tuning machines, finish, colour or body shape are obvious. I´ve bought mine with ebony fingerboard, which is not original, and it took some work - resetting the neck, fixing the the top and back here and there, new bridge - but the playability is great now. I´ve had Presto Balance steel strings first, but changed them to Innovation Rockabillys actually and I like the sound and the feel much more. [/quote] ...well that does have some striking similarities! The plate holding the tuning pegs is identical and the body shape and pinstriping too, f-holes are slightly different shape but it's very very similar indeed Suspect mine might need a new fingerboard as the current (original) one has a Romberg bevel and feels a bit weird...it does work fine though so might persevere... Innovation rockabillys, I shall have a look at those, ta for the tip

I have a spare screw-in one in Walnut that you could reduce the depth of if that'd work?

[quote name='ljbass' timestamp='1455573903' post='2980438'] The bass looks like my Czech Cremona from 1960 (pre Strunal). They were cheap instruments, but although the thin laquer wears off easily, It's built like a tank. The plywood used for the top is pretty thick and therefore probably not so resonant as more recent DBs, but the sound is even as you say. And the mojo of course [/quote] Hello there Oo now that is exciting, do you know of any ways to confirm that? I can't see any markings inside but I haven't shone a torch in there as yet How do you have yours setup and what strings do you have on it? I'm wanting to switch from the rotosounds to some weichs as they take arco pretty well on the duke I'm borrowing

[quote name='SubsonicSimpleton' timestamp='1455539692' post='2979951'] You could offer up the plain shank end of some different diameter drillbits to find the correct diameter for a replacement endpin, as far as the retaining bolt goes, you'll have to do that by trial and error, the bolt on my strunal is M8, the most likely sizes to try would be M8,M6,1/4",5/16" I would think, just dont force anything. [/quote] Now that, sir, is a brilliant plan! Thankyou kindly

[quote name='Grangur' timestamp='1455539412' post='2979946'] Not that I know your taste but that sounds absolutely perfect..... Does she have a sister? [/quote] she does sound great played solo but I want to try her in ensemble to see whether she gets lost or occupies a niche Sister? I have no idea where or when she was born to know whether she might have a long lost twin out there somethere, that would be nice to find out though...

[quote name='TPJ' timestamp='1455529672' post='2979797'] Congrats again Andy. Enjoy [/quote] Thanks Tom matey, your help has been invaluable [quote name='philparker' timestamp='1455536169' post='2979884'] Yep, that's got mojo! [/quote] haha, yep she looks 'well loved' [quote name='Grangur' timestamp='1455537991' post='2979917'] Looks cool. What's it sound like? [/quote] Thanks bud, sound...not quiet but kinda mellow and balanced, not boomy but with a nice amount of bottom nice even volume across the strings and up and down the neck...surprisingly lovely sounding for an old laminate lady

Just got her home and had a proper play back to back with Tom's lovely duke, first impressions are she has a nicely balanced voice to say how inexpensive she was/is and her neck feels really good to play Currently strung with the 'rotosound superb' strings (d & g nylon, e & a monel on nylon core)...I kinda like 'em She's got oodles of mojo but is still structurally sound [url=https://flic.kr/p/DbbNXV][/url] [url=https://flic.kr/p/DbbNKR][/url] [url=https://flic.kr/p/DaRw6Y][/url] [url=https://flic.kr/p/DZkoqM][/url] She does currently lack an endpin... [url=https://flic.kr/p/DX9yEu][/url] Does anyone have any spare endpin bits lying around please? Needs a fixing bolt for the endpin and an endpin, it may be cheaper to just get a complete new endpin but an old bit would look right on her and I'm intending to have a wooden endpin made when i resolve the bolt issue (by Ben Bastin as they're lovely and solid). ...at some point she'll need a new fingerboard but she's ok for now

Just bought Darren's spider pedalboard flightcase, super easy deal, shipped exactly when he said he would and it's exactly as described! Perfecto thanks matey

Sheffield help - can I please borrow an acoustic db for a show on Monday night!? I would usually use my eub for this kind of show but this one is completely unplugged as it's a sofarsounds thing...it's also a very short notice 'helping a mate who's organising the show' kinda deal Pleasey

...the small cows are far away...

Fingerboard has been 'radiussed' and is ready for a coat of lacquer, the body has been base coated and is about to be flatted back ready for the topcoats and tints [url=https://flic.kr/p/CZx6Qp][/url] [url=https://flic.kr/p/CADigF][/url] [url=https://flic.kr/p/CAwtjw][/url] Next stop is clear lacquer on the body and fingerboard before tinting, then frets in the board and it's neck carve time...lookin proper sexy

[quote name='owen' timestamp='1453820304' post='2963070'] I changed the black side dots on a Maple/Maple neck to glow in the dark dots. It did not work well. [/quote] haha oops I was thinking black dots on maple would give sufficiently good contrast for visibility, I've not had a problem seeing the black side dots on very yellowed vintage maple of my '78 P