Kiwi

Jon told me yesterday he's going to aim to complete your bass this week if he can. Which reminds me, I got the quarterly phone bill today - 17 quid in calls to Jon's mobile number!!

Classic status is usually spurred on by nostalgia. This is what drove the preCBS Fender interest originally in the 80's. So if you take the same basis and apply it to british basses (for example) our time of greatest nostalgia was the 80's and mostly around Mark King although there were others too. Only if we were as excitable as the US we'd be telling each other that Jaydee basses were the 4 string equivalent of the second coming of the great prophet Zarquon... ...or something similar anyway. My 2p: Jaydees (anything other than a Roadie made before the Running In The Family album in 1985/86) Pangborns (mainly because there's an air of mystery surrounding where Ashley is now) Wals (obviously because now the Americans have gotten excited about them the prices are through the roof) Status (although probably the Strata models more than anything but watch out for those warping necks!) I don't think there's much else to add really. Those 4 brands were the brands to have back then. Burns were distinctive but mostly associated with the 60's and the Shadows, Overwater wasn't known, John Birch didn't really make anything iconic, the early Warwicks were cool but not English. Warwick have flooded the market anyway and kind of undermined their potential status as classics. There's not a lot that sets a JD Thumb bass apart from a late 80's Warwick Thumb as being special. Also worth considering: Ibanez Musicians (mostly through the New Romantics era) Arias SB basses (mostly because of Duran Duran) Yamaha BB5000/BB3000 series. At one point in the 80's every bassist who wanted a 5 string went for a BB5000 so I'd say they've got a certain nostalgia to them. BTW:

I reckon that photo would be perfect for a spot-the-pickup competition.

Exactly. The problem is that it takes a lifetime for a luthier to understand the variations in character (or lack thereof) caused by using the vast range of different exotic woods and hardware on offer in different combinations. Often its just easier and more commercially convenient to find something that works (eg maple and ash) and go with that. Also, one luthiers idea of what works can differ significantly from anothers.

It's another lesson in stating the obvious innit? Has Jeff actually met and conversed with Scott Thunes sufficiently to distinguish between the guys own problems and the extent of issues that Jeff claims exist in the wider musical world? Also giving Jeff the benefit of any doubt for a second, I don't know why he takes so many words to say 'where's the craftsmanship gone?' I'd agree with him on that but point out that its not just music, its many aspects of creative endeavour - music, film, comedy, painting etc. Sometimes out of time and financial pressure, sometimes just to be ironic (as in Damien Hurst's work). All to do with the commercialisation of culture and the commodification of activities that most people invariably started off doing for sheer enjoyment more than anything. This is what gives rise to kitsch and noone ever really lost loads of money by under estimating the taste of the general public, did they?

Mike?

this argument is so old and done to death.

How much of a chance have you had to play around with them yet? When I had a pair of Loud 2x10's and a pair of Acme 2x10's that while the mids were nicely defined, the lows were often boomy. Have you found this? I've also noticed that I got better projection when one is sat on the other - perhaps because of an acoustic coupling effect.

But still worth looking at. They're quite light for non neo cabs if you go for something that isn't a 4x10 Goliath or bigger.

There might be a few things of help in my Shuker build diary perhaps? [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=8263&st=180&start=180"]http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=...0&start=180[/url]

aah right. didn't spot that. thanks

[url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Aria-pro-basses-and-Amp-And-fx_W0QQitemZ290302685993QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV?hash=item290302685993&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1688|66%3A2|65%3A12|39%3A1|240%3A1318"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Aria-pro-basses-and-...%3A1|240%3A1318[/url] Whole batch of basses here, including an Aria SB1000 and a 70's Aria Jazz bass. OK, the auction has a reserve but might still go for a steal. Worth keeping an eye on...

[url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Carvin-Bass-Amp_W0QQitemZ220378261278QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_MusicalInstr_Amplifiers_RL?hash=item220378261278&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1688|66%3A2|65%3A12|39%3A1|240%3A1318"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Carvin-Bass-Amp_W0QQ...%3A1|240%3A1318[/url] Highly under rated bit of kit. Not sure its 2x12", more likely to be 2x10" but still a nice price if you're in the market for a powerful, compact combo for small stages.

[url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Acoustic-126-bass-amp_W0QQitemZ220374586432QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_MusicalInstr_Amplifiers_RL?hash=item220374586432&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1688|66%3A2|65%3A12|39%3A1|240%3A1318"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Acoustic-126-bass-am...%3A1|240%3A1318[/url] Eight hours to go (at the time of posting) It needs a bit of TLC but if this was being sold in the US, I'd bet they'd have had the sellers arm off by now. 99 quid is probably a steal for a bit of kit that is likely to gain in collectability. Acoustic amps were amongst the best quality solid state kit before Trace Elliot came on the scene.

I had the same experience myself recently Al and it was bittersweet. But all things must come to pass eventually. Doesn't mean you can't keep working with your band mates in a different capacity either, does it? Good luck for your blues band too, it sounds really promising.

[quote name='Josh' post='433899' date='Mar 13 2009, 04:59 PM']The widdling from Janek, Hadrien and Damien could easily be replaced by a couple of other well known Gospel bassists (Justin Raines, Maurice Fitzgerald & Dwayne Wright would've been perfect).[/quote] I couldn't agree more mate. And Mr Reed while we're at it. I'm glad Peanut got a shout here too.

As far as I'm aware, there's noone producing a stereo valve power amp, if thats any help? At 200w a side it might be a lucrative market niche for a low volume maker perhaps? Otherwise, if you could give me a 400w version of my road rashed 2 channel Burman Pro4000HD, with an effects loop, switchable voltage, the Trace V8 compressor, 3 band parametric eq and a smaller chassis I would sell you my sister. Its running some really nice 5157's in the preamp section and EL34's in the power amp section at the mo and it keeps making dirty, seductive noises at my Celinder Classic P when they're not attached to one another.