Jump to content
Why become a member? ×

Bass Culture

⭐Supporting Member⭐
 View Profile  See their activity

  • Posts

    1,024

  • Joined

  • Last visited

 Content Type 

Everything posted by Bass Culture

  1. Bass Culture
    Bump for price drop to £550 shipped.
  2. Bass Culture
    Another catch-up call yesterday and today. Pickups are here now and the tuners are expected on Monday so we may still be on schedule for collection before Mike buggers off on holiday at the end of next week. He rather sheepishly admitted he's dropped a bit of a bollock when staining the top, which had meant a very speedy application of some acetone. I'd asked for a deep honey/amber colour and have ended up with this: [URL=http://s120.photobucket.com/user/Myrtle2014/media/Zoot%20Custom/13710432_1347868008560143_5966690813147944276_o_zpscuv47zxr.jpg.html][IMG]http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o168/Myrtle2014/Zoot%20Custom/13710432_1347868008560143_5966690813147944276_o_zpscuv47zxr.jpg[/IMG][/URL] [URL=http://s120.photobucket.com/user/Myrtle2014/media/Zoot%20Custom/13680312_1347867991893478_5721702808218083813_o_zpshmkmosee.jpg.html][IMG]http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o168/Myrtle2014/Zoot%20Custom/13680312_1347867991893478_5721702808218083813_o_zpshmkmosee.jpg[/IMG][/URL] If that's what Mike calls dropping a bollock I'll take that any day of the week! Routing for pickups is the only wood work to be done, so Mike thinks he's got enough time to get it done if (and this is a big if as there's things outside his control) things go according to plan. There's so many variables involved that I've learnt that delivery dates can never be set in stone. Still, here's hoping I need to make the trip down the M6 to Essex next week!
  3. Bass Culture
    [quote name='flippyfloop' timestamp='1468329096' post='3090157'] What is that amp stand. Looks great and just what I'm after. [/quote] I thought it was from Flightcase Warehouse but I've checked their site and can't see it on there. I've had it a few years now and have completely forgotten from whence it came - sorry!
  4. Bass Culture
    Bump
  5. Bass Culture
    [quote name='spiltmilk_2000' timestamp='1468158088' post='3088892'] Looks great! Glwts... Probably not appropriate to hijack this thread but I'd love to hear more about the incoming zoot! I have one on order with mike too ;-) [/quote] No, no problem. Here's a link to the Build Diary: http://basschat.co.uk/topic/281575-zoot-custom-build/ I'd be interested to know the spec on yours too.
  6. Bass Culture
    (PRICE DROPPED - now [u][b]£SOLD[/b][/u]) I have for sale my rather nice Maruszczyk Jake 4 string in natural finish, acquired earlier this year, ungigged and still in 'as new' condition. This is very similar to their 'Human Nature' spec - ash body, rosewood fingerboard and maple neck; Maruszczyk humbucker and split coil pickup configuration - but has a couple of custom options that make for an incredibly fast and playable bass. Namely, a slightly narrower, 38mm nut width and a tighter, 17.5mm string spacing at the bridge (hence the individual bridge saddles). The narrower string spacing means that the strings do not line up precisely between the pickup pole pieces, of course, which may play havoc with some people's OCD. It makes no noticeable difference to the sound and has never bothered me though. It should be possible to source covers if anyone is particularly exercised by it but it's not an issue when you're playing anyway. More importantly it sounds 'F**kin' A' - tight and punchy in the treble and mid-range with really full and authoritative bass. [url="http://s120.photobucket.com/user/Myrtle2014/media/Maruszyzck%20Jake/WP_20160709_12_48_41_Pro_zpsbe4fu9qi.jpg.html"][/url] [url="http://s120.photobucket.com/user/Myrtle2014/media/Maruszyzck%20Jake/WP_20160709_12_43_29_Pro_zpsdjuxtc0b.jpg.html"][/url] [url="http://s120.photobucket.com/user/Myrtle2014/media/Maruszyzck%20Jake/c7d32ec7-3aee-42a8-814d-d72abd59a9f9_zpsavnt74ex.jpg.html"][/url] [url="http://s120.photobucket.com/user/Myrtle2014/media/Maruszyzck%20Jake/WP_20160709_12_43_52_Pro_zpshgrwjeyl.jpg.html"][/url] [url="http://s120.photobucket.com/user/Myrtle2014/media/Maruszyzck%20Jake/WP_20160709_12_44_49_Pro_zps2hxkm7hp.jpg.html"][/url] Reason for sale is a bit strange, I grant you. Basically I was so taken with the Jake, having not owned a passive bass for something like 15 years, I commissioned a Zoot custom to a very similar spec when Mike's name was mentioned in a Build Diary soon after I took delivery. I'd always wanted to order a custom Zoot and I'd sort of given up hope as Mike had slipped off the radar in recent years, so I thought I'd better get my arse in gear before he did the same again. Anyway, the Zoot's arrival is imminent so the Jake has to make way for it on the 'one in, one out' rule. I'm looking for £550 please, which will include delivery to mainland UK. Obviously with Brexit and the knock the £'s taken against the Euro since I think this represents a bit of a bargain for someone. It's supplied with both its original - very nice - gig bag as well as the high quality strap that Adrian packaged it with too. It'll be sent in its original box which was good enough to see it safely over from the continent so is plenty fit for purpose. Thanks for looking people. Price now dropped to [u][b]£SOLD[/b][/u] (+ shipping). This is as low as I can go so if it doesn't shift at this price I'll pull it for a while. Happy to consider taking payment in 2 or 3 instalments if that helps.
  7. Bass Culture
    And Hipshot are sending out the replacements to arrive at the beginning of next week, so not too much time lost at all - result! The race is on to see if the bass will be complete before Mike goes on his holiday in the last week of the month now. Fingers crossed!
  8. Bass Culture
    Swapped emails with Mike today about a potential collection date before the end of the month. This prompted him to dig out the tuners to fit to the headstock, at which point he found Hipshot had sent him a one-sided set rather then the 2R 2L the bass needs. This could result in a bit of a delay, of course; I suppose it's down to how soon Hipshot can organise the correct set. It might yet be finished before the end of the month, we'll see.
  9. Bass Culture
    [quote name='hiram.k.hackenbacker' timestamp='1467205877' post='3081905'] Peaches? [/quote] No names, no pack drill, Hiram.
  10. Bass Culture
    I appreciate this isn't the first time the subject has been raised but to describe cracked lacquer as 'antiqued' seems to raise the bar to a whole new level of stupid to me.
  11. Bass Culture
    I was visiting my family down in Colchester the other month and happened to pop into a music shop with my 18 year-old niece. This particular shop had a very impressive stock list, and several interesting and high end basses. I pulled one such a bass off the wall to have a pluck - a Suhr Jazz - and, horrified, turned to my niece to point out the huge crack in the varnish that, I presumed, must have resulted from some heavy-handed numpty dropping it before. Mortified, I turned to the Shop Assistant to tell him what I'd noticed. Response - it's supposed to be like that, that's the 'antiqued' version of the bass. I was gobsmacked - seriously, would anyone pay nearly £2.5k for a bass that's deliberately had its finish cracked?! You couldn't even say it was 'road worn', it just had a cracked finish FFS!!!
  12. Bass Culture
    Been a bit quiet for a few weeks so time for an update, I think. Was 'darn sarf' this weekend, visiting the family, so I took the opportunity to pop to Walsh Towers for a progress visit. Definitely taking shape now and looking more bass-like. Mike's just waiting for the pickups and then we'll be on the home stretch, I think. Here's some snaps: [URL=http://s120.photobucket.com/user/Myrtle2014/media/Zoot%20Custom/WP_20160627_10_32_01_Pro_zpsxu5punqc.jpg.html][IMG]http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o168/Myrtle2014/Zoot%20Custom/WP_20160627_10_32_01_Pro_zpsxu5punqc.jpg[/IMG][/URL] [URL=http://s120.photobucket.com/user/Myrtle2014/media/Zoot%20Custom/WP_20160627_10_32_34_Pro_zpsxkysg0fa.jpg.html][IMG]http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o168/Myrtle2014/Zoot%20Custom/WP_20160627_10_32_34_Pro_zpsxkysg0fa.jpg[/IMG][/URL] [URL=http://s120.photobucket.com/user/Myrtle2014/media/Zoot%20Custom/WP_20160627_10_32_53_Pro_zpsgg8k50ow.jpg.html][IMG]http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o168/Myrtle2014/Zoot%20Custom/WP_20160627_10_32_53_Pro_zpsgg8k50ow.jpg[/IMG][/URL] [URL=http://s120.photobucket.com/user/Myrtle2014/media/Zoot%20Custom/WP_20160627_10_33_01_Pro_zps4zluc3dy.jpg.html][IMG]http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o168/Myrtle2014/Zoot%20Custom/WP_20160627_10_33_01_Pro_zps4zluc3dy.jpg[/IMG][/URL]
  13. Bass Culture
    I use a RH750 with a BF Big Baby II. I've been happy as a pig in s**t with this set up for 18 months - I think they work really well together, and would definitely suggest you consider it.
  14. Bass Culture
    Room for a little one? Currently about 6 weeks or so away from delivery of my Zoot Custom (fingers crossed etc.). Deposit placed towards the end of February so doesn't compare with you Wal guys, but somewhat shorter than my ACG build time...if, of course, nothing goes the shape of the pear and Desmond Delay comes a-knockin'.
  15. Bass Culture
    [quote name='LewisK1975' timestamp='1465300830' post='3066888'] Thanks for all the input Gents - It's going to be Passive, the new wiring is on its way from Kiogon, and looks like I have a buyer for the J-Retro too. XLNT! [/quote] You simply can't go wrong with a Kiogon loom. I'd been playing active basses for years until I picked up a Tangelwater Classic J to tide me over when my ACG was having some work done on it. I swapped out the stock controls with one of Kiogon's wiring looms and it made such a difference it really sold me on passive basses. So much so I moved the Tangelwater on to make way for a Maruszczyk Jake, which itself is going to be moved on soon ahead of my passive Zoot custom being delivered. I play the ACG less and less these days.
  16. Bass Culture
    Funnily enough Eude I'm having a battery compartment routed anyway, to give me the flexibility to add a pre-amp in future, if I ever fancied a change. Mike has used a Noll active blend before but wasn't that impressed. I've used u-retros before and loved them so the East could well be the answer - thanks.
  17. Bass Culture
    Had a visit to see Mike at 'Zoot Central' on Tuesday and to see progress. All the shaping work on the body is now complete and the neck is glued up and rough shaped ready for the shaping, sanding and profiling. The narrower string spacing I've specified has given us a couple of issues with regard to pickup choices as it pretty much excludes anything with exposed pole pieces for aesthetic reasons, so we've gone for an Aguilar DCB in the bridge position and we'll stick with the P-type at the neck but try and source some covers to hide the pole pieces. We also had a discussion about a blend as this will be a passive bass and I wanted to avoid the dual volume approach in favour of a master volume. Mike was saying there would likely be a volume drop in the centre position if we installed a blend, which could be avoided with a simpler, three way, rotary selector to give bridge/both/neck. However this doesn't really do it for me as I tend to favour the bridge pickup with a touch of neck added in to give the tone some depth and a bit more weight. Anyway, we kicked this ball around for a while before eventually hit upon a potential solution which Mike thinks might be do-able by employing a 5-way selector instead of the 3-way. I'm crossing my fingers...
  18. Bass Culture
    [quote name='Andyjr1515' timestamp='1461052086' post='3030890'] Like the look of that top....a lot [/quote] Me too. It was a very nice surprise as neither Mike nor I thought the figuring was as deep as this when were looking at it the workshop.
  19. Bass Culture
    It's been a few weeks but the ball is starting to roll now and we have some wood shots. Early days but they should give an idea of the how the woods will work together. First up we have the body wood. After deciding on Idigbo initially Mike pulled it out to start work only to find it wasn't good enough quality. We discussed hin sourcing some new stock but he also mentioned he also had some nice swamp ash in his store too, so this is what we went with: [URL=http://s120.photobucket.com/user/Myrtle2014/media/Zoot%20Custom/Mark%20Newman%20Zoot%20Swamp%20ash%20main%20body%20blank%20%20rear%20veiw_zpsylov9na1.jpg.html][IMG]http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o168/Myrtle2014/Zoot%20Custom/Mark%20Newman%20Zoot%20Swamp%20ash%20main%20body%20blank%20%20rear%20veiw_zpsylov9na1.jpg[/IMG][/URL] Already quite chuffed with this Mike also sent me a picture of the top wood, which we thought had [i]some[/i] figuring but nothing like as much as came up when he gave it a wipe over with some white spirit: [URL=http://s120.photobucket.com/user/Myrtle2014/media/Zoot%20Custom/Mark%20Newman%20Bookmatched%20top2_zpsqyfppimx.jpg.html][IMG]http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o168/Myrtle2014/Zoot%20Custom/Mark%20Newman%20Bookmatched%20top2_zpsqyfppimx.jpg[/IMG][/URL] The neck was originally going to be one piece maple but Mike offered up some stringers for a laminated neck as he felt a bit gutted about the idigbo not being up to scratch - result! It's going to be a five piece laminate of maple and Blue Jarra now. I know nothing about Blue Jarra but Mike assures me it's much more nicely figured than it looks in the shot here: [URL=http://s120.photobucket.com/user/Myrtle2014/media/Zoot%20Custom/Mark%20Newman%20neck%20blank2_zpsnos8i97m.jpg.html][IMG]http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o168/Myrtle2014/Zoot%20Custom/Mark%20Newman%20neck%20blank2_zpsnos8i97m.jpg[/IMG][/URL] The build started as a cost conscious 'workhorse' passive bass but some lucky accidents have meant it's taken a much more up market turn, which I'm getting very excited about. There's a photo of the top wood being bound to the body too which I don't seem to be able to upload. Definitely starting to look bass shaped now though.
  20. Bass Culture
    Hmm, interesting. I'll be running them with a TC RH750 - omitted that vital bit of information!
  21. Bass Culture
    I currently own a Barefaced BB2 which I'm very happy with and was thinking of adding a One 10 just for the convenience of transporting to rehearsals (both full and in-house, vocal rehearsals etc.) and was wondering how they work together if I were to use both for larger gigs. Anyone used both together? I don't find the BB2 lacks anything but I was simply wondering whether the One 10 would bring anything else to the party if paired with it. Thanks, BC.
  22. Bass Culture
    [quote name='RichardH' timestamp='1458721314' post='3010085'] Look forward to seeing some pics soon! Sorry if I caused inadvertent Zoot GAS! [/quote] Resurrected it really!
  23. Bass Culture
    [font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]I've come to this commission rather circuitously. After being caught in the Maruszczyk-related buzz I ordered a passive Jake with a 32" scale, I took delivery of it and was immediately taken with it as an alternative to my ACG custom. I really liked the warmer, less hi-fi tones and knew it would complement the ACG really nicely. Through a quirk of timing though it wad delivered not long before I caught up with RichardH's lightweight Zoot Build Diary. There's been a few Zoot's have passed through my hands over the years and I made quite a few visits to The Bass Merchant when Mike had the shop in Witham. I'd always thought about asking Mike to build me a bass but had thought this was a pipe dream as Mike had slipped off the radar a bit in recent years. When I saw Richard's thread though I thought I'd better strike while the iron was hot and before Mike got too inundated with work! We arranged a visit at the end of February and agreed the following spec between us.[/font] [color=#000000] [u]Neck detail:[/u][/color] [color=#000000] Canadian rock maple neck. [/color][color=#000000] Ebony finger board with side dots[/color][color=#000000] Soft 'V' profile[/color][color=#000000] 38mm bone nut[/color][color=#000000] Dutch medium/heavy fret wire[/color][color=#000000] 16" radius to board.[/color][color=#000000] 22 frets[/color][color=#000000] Bi-flex (two way) truss rod adjustable body end.[/color][color=#000000] Hipshot black string retainer[/color][color=#000000] Hipshot 'Ultralite' machine heads in black[/color][color=#000000] Satin finish to back of neck[/color][color=#000000] Hi-gloss finish to face of headstock.[/color] [color=#000000] [u]Body detail:[/u][/color] [color=#000000] Idigbo Zoot body with figured maple book matched cap.[/color][color=#000000] Ebony veneer dividing line.[/color][color=#000000] Standard Zoot body contours.[/color][color=#000000] Hi-gloss finish with washed out Amber trans' tint with edge detail.[/color][color=#000000] ABM bridge[/color][color=#000000] Aguilar standard P pickup in neck position.[/color][color=#000000] Aguilar H/B soap bar in bridge postion.[/color][color=#000000] 2 X tone controls[/color][color=#000000] 1 X Master volume[/color][color=#000000] 1 X blend control (special taper) [/color][color=#000000] 1 X mini switch for H/B soap bar.[/color][color=#000000] Schaller strap locks in black[/color][color=#000000] All other hardware to be black [/color] [color=#000000] [size=3][font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]He's got another couple of commissions on at present but has quoted a very reasonable build time so I'd expect to see some progress and post some pictures in the next few weeks. Watch this space for further 'Return of the Zoot'-type updates![/font][/size][/color]
  24. Bass Culture
    That's fabulous, Rich. I've been wanting Mike to build me a bass for years. I've owned a Performer, a custom fretless and a fretted four over the years, all of which were terrific. I'm really pleased to hear he's starting to put himself out there a bit more after several years of virtual invisibility.
  25. Bass Culture
    [quote name='LewisK1975' timestamp='1453476841' post='2959856'] I've been GAS'ing for an RH750 for some time now......The feature set is amazing and from what I've heard, they sound pretty darn good! [/quote] And they've come down in price. The RH750 I bought at the beginning of last year cost me quite a lot less than the RH450 I'd bought (and sold after a couple of years) about 5/6 years previous!
×
×
  • Create New...