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Bass Culture

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Posts posted by Bass Culture

    New bass guitar show 2020 (and 2022)

    in Events

    Posted

    42 minutes ago, Machines said:

     

    The live stage very much looks bass focussed though.

     

    Even so, I've still had to request refunds for the Jeff Berlin and Leland Sklar clinics that no longer appear to be happening that I'd booked for.  Mind you, I'm now going with a guitar-playing friend, rather than my one, now Covid positive, bass 'pupil'...

    Zoot 'Wal-a-like' - FINISHED

    in Build Diaries

    Posted

    Great catch-up with Mike yesterday - thanks @Cosmicrain.  The bass looks great, the wood is much more interesting close up than in the pictures and the shape works brilliantly.  Bit unsure about the gold but Mike’s convinced it will look good when the wood darkens after the finish is applied. Very happy with progress.

    • Like 2

    Chowny/Retrovibe to become fully UK brands

    in Bass Guitars

    Posted

    1 minute ago, Chownybass said:

    OK! 

     

    Here's the bad news. Prices for CHB-1 and CHB-2 basses are increasing from £500 (Made in India) to £895 (Made in the UK). 

     

    Here's the good news. MASSIVE bump in quality. Made by highly respected luthiers in the West Country UK. Totally UK made and finished. Assembled by ourselves in Bristol. 

     

    This means lower carbon footprint. Quicker leadtimes. UK jobs being created. 

     

    We are collecting samples on Friday and will have them available to look at, and play, at the ACC Liverpool for the UK Bass and Guitar Show on the 2nd and 3rd of April. We hope to see you there.

     

    I'll be there and will definitely be putting these through their paces - well, as best I can manage anyway.

    Zoot “P”

    in Build Diaries

    Posted

    8 hours ago, Jimothey said:

    Sounds like its going to be another lovely bass.......👍🏻 

     

    I think Mike's incapable of making anything else, to be honest.  (says me  - fully paid up member of 'Zoot Addicts'. 😀)

    • Like 3

    Right on! Straps

    in Accessories and Misc

    Posted

    I've got the vegan/non-leather Right-On strap.  Anyone else have an issue with this being very 'sticky' when you try and adjust the length?  I'm an inveterate strap adjuster (sometimes in mid-rehearsal) so do like a strap that's easy to adjust.

    Zoot 'Wal-a-like' - FINISHED

    in Build Diaries

    Posted

    Nice surprise when I got back yesterday afternoon - some more updates from Mike.  More work on the neck and he's now starting on the body too.  Definitely shaping up now: 

     

    MNN1 MNN2 MNN3 MNN4 (1)

     

    The mahogany core is going to be faced up back and front with paduak - to give that authentic Wal vibe. :)

    • Like 3

    Zoot 'Wal-a-like' - FINISHED

    in Build Diaries

    Posted

    We have activity!  Mike's been busy, busy, busy recently, so it was a nice surprise to get a message from him this week saying he's started proper on my build now, with some update photos of the work he's done on the neck: 

    MNWB1 MNWB3 MNWB4 MNWB8

     

    Screw holes on the headstock are the location of the tuners and the string retainer, I'd guess.  Not as showy as the neck on my Zoot ZB-1000 (which was a work of art - see build thread:

     

    I'm heading down his way towards the end of February so it will be nice to pop in and see progress first hand, and have a good catch-up too.  I don't expect it to be finished by then but it will certainly be looking much more bass-like.

    • Like 3

    Right on! Straps

    in Accessories and Misc

    Posted

    Must have not been concentrating the other afternoon when an advert for one of these popped up an Facebook and I'd pulled the trigger before I knew about it: https://www.cablefreeguitar.com/products/lekato-strap-for-bass-electric-guitar-with-3-5-wide-neoprene-pad-3d-sponge-filling-decompression

     

    Has all the required requisites I usually look for: width; adjustability etc., but does look alarmingly similar to this one off Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Ultimate-Guitar-Strap-Pack-Comfortable/dp/B07D38HYP2/ref=asc_df_B07D38HYP2/?tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=310853155332&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=6143358123542197301&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=1007072&hvtargid=pla-562896271134&psc=1

     

    And despite the price being in dollars it is - predictably - winging its way from China.

    Building a Wal....ish

    in Repairs and Technical

    Posted · Edited by Bass Culture

    I've owned a number of neck-throughs and bolt-ones over the years and, for me, very generally, I'd say bolt-ons have a naturally slightly more 'compressed' character.  I guess this ties in with the oft-cited observation that neck-throughs have more sustain (generally said in such a way as to imply that that, in itself, is some sort of holy grail characteristic).  For me, I actually prefer bolt-ons, for this reason.  As well as the simple, pragmatic consideration that they are more easily repaired if the neck ends up critically damaged for some reason.  I think Wal's have this sound characteristic of bolt-ons generally too.  That said, they are probably often recorded with added compression anyway, so who knows?!

     

    Of my Zoots, I have two that sound totally different acoustically - one with swamp ash body and rosewood fingerboard and the other with a mahogany body and ebony fingerboard.  Plug them in and twiddle some knobs though and I can get them to sound within a gnat's whisker of each other.  Go figure. [And yes, this does beg the question of why I now own 4 - soon to be 5 - custom Zoots!  And why I've spec'ed them all differently too, when I try and set them up to sound the same, more or less!...But, my, they're pretty. :)]

    • Like 3

    Care of Cell 44 - The Zombies

    in Theory and Technique

    Posted · Edited by Bass Culture
    Missed a 4 out of the song title!

    Just wanted to say "chapeau" to Chris White for his playing on this, the first track from The Zombies masterpiece, Odessey and Oracle (sic).  I have one (70+ year-old!) bass 'pupil', who requested we look at this recently.  For many of us we think that great bass playing = technically challenging.  This, however, is a great example of harmonic and rhythmic sophistication being applied to create a really fluid, interesting and melodic accompaniment which, if removed, would significantly detract from the arrangement and the song itself.  It's a terrific line created from a mixture of well chosen, root and non-root, chord identifying notes.  I'd heartily recommend giving it a listen.  Happy Christmas! :)

     

     

     

    • Like 1
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