JD1

Is the pre-amp "master built" as the one in mine wasn't.

Was talking with Chris May at Overwater the other day when they had just received a batch of the new EA micro thingies (which by the way are tiny). He had seen the Ashdowns in Frankfurt and apparently they look quite small face-on but are much longer / deeper than the EA and Markbass offerings. Not a mjor issue I guess, but size seems everything these days!

Cheers mate - thanks for the help. Yeah - open strings are getting a bit more of a look in on this than they would on electric! Half an hour on this and then when I pick up the electric I feel like I'm going to crush the neck. I've been practicing some of the "big-band" numbers I sometimes do in a function band - It Had To Be You, Fly Me To The Moon, Lets Face The Music and Dance etc. 15 minutes of Me and Mrs Jones and my left hand was really giving me gip. I don't have the biggest hands and I've struggled in the past with extended scale basses. However, like I said I'm going to stick at it as it sounds so good. I'm used to playing fretless and fingerstyle, so those aspects aren't so much of a worry, but because of the scale length I'm struggling to get my bearings intonation wise - and the "challenging" action and tension just add to the fun (as does the ensuing wrestling match when I want to go up to the dusty end of the neck!) I toyed with getting an electric upright as a transition, but I thought no I would jump straight in. A good friend (who I'm hoping for a few lessons from) let me have the bass at a good price and that helped the decision process as well. Let me know how you get on and I'll keep you posted with my progress, although I fear gigs with it are a long way off for me! Regards John

Thanks guys

Thanks for the advice folks. I guess my stamina will develop alongside my technique and intonation - all of which will need a shed load of work before I would feel confident enough to gig with it. Going to stick at it though.

30 years on electric bass. Just bought a double bass (it's looming over my shoulder as I type). Blimey, it's a bit physical isn't it?

I had an Auderre fitted to my 5 and the hole wasn't as big as the 4. Crucially however it went round the passive / active switch and that took it past the line where a regular control plate would be.

+1 on quality and customer service. Overwater are second to none in my experience.