BassBod

Can't help with Cardiff/Brizzle, but I will be heading from Brizzle through Shaftesbury on Friday evening....

Good to see they've updated it now (although I'm sure there was also a To Let sign up in the window last time I walked past).

[quote name='99ster' post='989985' date='Oct 16 2010, 10:08 AM']Their Bath shop has closed?[/quote] Umm...yes. A few weeks ago..just a phone no in the window to contact Mr Manners for repairs. I know its not good for business, but they should mention it!

Well, you had to be there, man. Or something like that. I'm more surprised that V&R seem to have missed the fact that their Bath closed a few weeks ago......thought that would be worth a mention on the website?

No problem in theory..but I hope you've got a bit of time to hand. Its worth taking the time to ensure that all the pickups are fitted and working well before making any decisions. Bilbo's right of course, its the sound you make that's most important. You've probably learned to accept the natural hierarchy for recording - condenser mic, dynamic mic, pickups. I'd put the magnetic as a postscript! But - its all about what works for you and your music - I can recommend putting the mag through some distortion/compression and mixing a touch in with the purest condenser mic....hehehe. Have fun!

So how does it sound?

Have you ever done a duo gig with a pianist who plays solo a lot? Its happened to me a few times (also jazz gitar) and the first ten mins or so can be a real challenge! Usually settles down after a tune or two, but it can be very strange sitting in someones else's private time bubble....

Good stuff (always tempting to say "mmm niiiccee" in the jazz voice). I wondered what you sounded like...and now I know!

Getting the frets out isn't hard, although the right (flat head) nippers help a lot. There's been a few threads on here - search in repairs? Its usually cheaper than a re-fret if a luthier does it for you.

I would simply get a good used J bass (Tokai, Squier etc) and de-fret it. Maybe coat the fingerboard if you want the real Jaco tone (but you don't have to). An ebony fingerboard is a step up for a fretless, but not strictly necessary. You'll get a better deal and a wider choice if you buy used.

The one Dood is playing looks like my old one (blue Guild). It had to go...I tried to like it, but it just wasn't worth the hassle with the original friction tuners. Could make a good sound for recording, but the looks were just distracting for gigging. I'd call it an interesting distraction, at best. I should also mention that when I got/researched the Ashbory both Alun Jones (RIP) and Nigel Thornbury were very friendly and still enthusiastic about the venture, despite its complicated history.

I've always thought about getting the B1...but I'm just too much of a jessie to order from the States without seeing/hearing one (or a pair). Looks like Acme are going with lighter speakers at some point "soon" so I'll be keeping an eye out for these. Meanwhile I might get my Barefeced Midget later this week....hehehe

The scratchplate issue needs sorting - that's one for the dealer to do (properly!). Others wouldn't bother me, as long as the neck won't budge (even with reasonable provocation) and it plays well and sounds good. I actually don't like neck pockets that are super tight - especially with nitro paint! Good luck

I use a Levy's canvas job for small/light..contego for same, but with more stuff to carry and a bit more protection...and I'll get another Hiscox if I start doing lots of van/estate car trips again. I would use the contego for van jobs if I could be sure it was going in last/on top and I was putting it there - but the Hiscox is a better case for that situation.

A modern J body will probably be more cost effective and better quality. I wouldn't pay real money for one unless I could hold it (weight) and try the intended neck for a good fit, and even then it would have to be just the right finish...and then I'd start haggling. Many UK luthiers could supply a good one with your preferred finish etc.

I'm not a Wal fanboy....but that looks fantastic! Hope its as good as it looks.

Always interested.....

Do you know Neil Perry? Let me know if not, and I'll send you details.....

Spectacular.....lovely work. But Bernard all the same. Sound clips??

Question for valve tweekers - years ago I put 5751's in my SWR and Alembic, so I could keep them sounding nice and clean. From memory, the relative gain was approx 70% of the 12ax7 - is that right? Are there any other differences between the 12ax7/ecc83 and the 5751 spec?