Silvia Bluejay

The Fortress body is bigger than that of a Corvette, and more stable, with no neck-dive at all. That one is a Rockbass rather than the 'real deal', but it sounds and plays great. I've tuned it down half a step and the low B shows no problem with floppiness or buzz. Warwick released and updated Fortress model a couple (?) of years ago, and I'm told those sound fantastic.

Welcome to Basschat! As you say, Warwick have changed a lot in the last few years, especially as far as their necks are concerned. The necks are now standard width and depth, so should you want to revert to thick necks you'd have to check the second hand market (we have the Marketplace here, which is free to use as a buyer). The neck dive problem is mostly in five-stringers; I have several Corvettes, only one of which is a 4, and that one is almost dive-free. It all stems from having a small body with a neck that extends further than many other manufacturers' models. I suspect that Warwicks are heavy basses because, let's face it, if they had lightweight bodies, their neck dive would become intolerable. Can you cope with a lot of lefty Warwicks? If yes, here they are! My four Corvettes: The Fortress 5, with a couple of non-Warwick mates.

Where are you based? Might be worth posting the question in General Discussion.

Makes sense. Also, you'd need to be really bloody clumsy to make the entire instrument unusable with one mistake. Does any Basschatter near you have a (righty) Stagg you could look at, to see what could be done and what -if anything - looks impossible instead?

Yes, I would recommend you have a look at that instrument or a similar one. As you say, you may be able to swap the brackets, or indeed do without a bracket at all, depending on the way you like to hold the bass and the way it leans on your body. Just make sure to find the correct angle for your plucking elbow and for your fretting wrist.

LOL! I'm checking the manufacturer's site, and they have photos that don't seem to show the opposite side to the one where the bracket is screwed in. It might be possible to drill a couple of holes under the handle (?) to reposition it. I'd check that, and if drilling is possible, I'd go for it. I find the bracket necessary for correct posture and to avoid my plucking arm getting cramp. (Your elbow needs to be at an optimal angle in order to play for long periods of time without injury or pain.)

[quote name='rogerstodge' timestamp='1507990036' post='3389199'] [url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/ulk/itm/122744879176"]http://www.ebay.co.u...tm/122744879176[/url] It's this one Bluejay, dya reckon it's do able? [/quote] Sorry, cross posted with my previous answer. The only problem I see there appears to be the lack of a way to attach the bracket to the other side of the instrument, am I right?

Keep us posted! I should have documented my process in a Build Diary but I wasn't a member of Basschat at the time I think, or I had only just joined and was too shy. Any question, just shout.

Nah, I'm attached to it, and it really has no value except to me. You'll see that making your own is fun.

I've still got the HB and even play it in preference to the NXT5! It's not perfect but I still like it.

We had a similar chat not long ago, here: [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/308706-anybody-using-an-electric-upright-and-has-flipped-the-strings/"]http://basschat.co.u...ed-the-strings/[/url] If you're sure they don't make lefties and absolutely want that model, do it - it works, although the cheaper the instrument, the less satisfactory the results will be. I've since discovered that Eminence do make lefties, albeit to order, and my GAS has hit an alarming level. Luckily they are a bit too expensive to justify a purchase, as someone who doesn't gig.

Steady, you guys, if the OP has small hands like mine, and/or fragile skin, strings matter a lot when you learn. I learned on thick roundwounds, and thought they were OK, until I tried flats on a thinner neck (moving from my student cheapo to a 4-string Warwick). Suddently I was able to play faster, without too much string noise ('cos when you have small hands you have to move them a lot over the fretboard!) and the allergic reaction caused by nickel rounds was less of a problem on flats. So I'd say, soft flats - Thomastik or D'Addario Chromes. Forget about horrid rounds.

Tweeted. Good luck, hope the gear is recovered.

Sounds fine by me, and Bob will have time to tell us precisely when he's planning to be in the country.

That would be brilliant!

You need a roadie wife, Mike (don't ask me how I know!)

[quote name='Mike Brooks' timestamp='1506360404' post='3378229'] Review will be in the next issue of the mag. Bought my own one, used on a couple of 4-piece band gigs with a very 'volume intensive' guitarist, matched with an EBS Neo 2x12 and Status Empathy...haven't had to push it past 11 o' clock yet....the band were asking me to turn down and Silvia witnessed my first gig with one...it didn't lack volume or poke in a large-ish pub with the same band. All I can say is test one for yourself. [/quote] I was indeed at Kalabash's gig in Ealing Broadway, and both Happy Jack and I can confirm that Mike's bass - through the ELF and a 2x12 cab - sounded crisp and with no shortage of volume, and wasn't drowned by any of the other instruments. This was in a large pub, with a dancing crowd on the floor within minutes of the band getting on stage.

Or would-be attendees saying "If only I had known about this sooner, I would have arranged etc. etc."

A few pics from yesterday (many many more to follow!) Davey Steve Darren of Planet Rock Davey, an upside-down Streamer*, and Cetera Ped, Orange Friday and two of the weirdest basses at the bash The Raffle, complete with canine guest! * No, it's actually a Spector!

Back home too, quick dinner before we leave for a gig. Was great to see you all, and once again I didn't have to say hi to all! We do have lots of footage and pics.

Bassace is the person you should talk to, as he has organised the previous ones, and I'm sure he'll be glad for some help. He was at the South East Bash, so he may not have seen this thread yet. Oh, forgot to mention Owen too - he's worked wth Bassace on the previous meetups.

We're still on the M25 too!

There will be recordings galore of both Steve and Davey.

Voted, and tweeted this thread!

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