bass_dinger

I mentioned in my previous post that I was looking for an XB925, and found two in Hungary. I bought the intact one - here Ho

For a long time I have been looking for a Washburn XB925, as an upgrade to my existing Washburn pair of Washburn XB500s (the first a green '99 with twin humbuckers and a stuck truss rod ; the second a natural finish '94 that I bought while the truss rod on the green one was being fettled). The 500 series was made in Korea, with the XB925 custom made in the USA. The XB925 rarely comes up in Europe, although there are plenty in the USA. However, back in June, two appeared for sale on a Facebook group for Washburn basses, from a chap in Hungary. One was intact, with a zebrawood cap, and two Bartolini pickups. So, I bought it! The neck feels very thick and the sound is huge - the low B is deep and rich enough to make the Ashdown 12" bass cab fart. The neck feels asymmetric too - thinner on the treble side? It feels like the difference between a small hatchback, and an estate - more solid, more presence. I am pleased with it, very pleased.

He drives the beat in the summer, and beats the drive in the winter.

Swanley - junction 3 of the m25

Wake me up before you go go. A Swing your pants song with a great bassline. That E minor riff at 29 seconds.... ooh yeah

That's Deon Estus, who was also the producer of the tracks, and who took lessons from James Jamerson.

I found a short cover version with the bass line more prominent. Truly, monkey is funky.

Bump...

That finish looks deep enough to swim in! An excellent result - luthier quality.

I am beginning to change my mind about old pianos being destroyed. I see now that some instruments were poor quality instruments even when made. It is ever thus: in the 1920s and 30s, one might buy a bowl back mandolin to show that you have visited Italy; or a pair of castanets or a flamenco guitar from Spain. Perhaps some maracas from South America, or a painted ukulele from Hawaii . . . All those instruments (plus the wooden framed piano, and the Woolworths Electric Guitar) have one thing in common - they are made for people who want an instrument, but did not realise that what they bought was poor quality and not the real thing. I myself have binned a Spanish guitar - it was more accurately described as a Guitarish thing from Spain - simply to ensure that nobody else had to play it. However, I have kept my nan's castanets - easy to store. As for the piano that we had, it was given to us by a piano shop - and eventually, we returned it to them. I now have a much nicer Kurzweil piano. PS I was surprised to learn that most of the Stradivari violins in existence have been re-necked, to move them from Stubby Baroque to Longer Classical - so if a luthier can take apart a Strad and perhaps dispose of the old neck, to make it more usable, then losing a few old pianos is not so bad.

They Finnish'd it?

See also: mahogany radiogram cases; sewing machines; 2-manual organs with rhythm accompaniment; home-use reel to reel tape recorders. All aspirational items of home entertainment at one time. My dad made a sewing machine case out of the shell of an old radiogram, thereby ruining two historical items (or perhaps he made them both usable). I have a friend with a grand piano in his lounge (picked up at auction when nobody much else bid for it), and a two manual church organ in the back room. So, a few people want them, but one is more likely to see someone who is getting rid of these sort of items).

The musical equivalent of a banger race. Nobody wins, but all the entrants are sent to the scapyard.

Formidable? Or formica?

I always wonder what use can be made of a piano soundboard - a big sheet of spruce, that's been aged for 100 years, and played in. Surely that's useful for an acoustic guitar top? There is a high end grand piano in the lobby of my dad's care home. And my evangelical church has at least 3 upright pianos dotted around the place. There used to a couple upstairs too, but they seem to have disappeared. We use one of those ubiquitous red electric pianos for services.

I have a VideoLogic DRX-601E DAB tuner, which is slightly faulty. It takes about 10 minutes to warm up, and for the signal to stabilise. After that, it works well and sounds fine. Remote control included. Free to a good home, but the recipient will need to collect or pay for delivery.

A music desk with a pull out tray for a Kurzweil piano (which I can make by putting a second, stacked top on my daughter's old university desk, and cutting a sheet of mdf to shape for the tray). A repair to an Washburn XB 925 with a twisted neck. Actually, more likely to be a new neck! Space (which I can make by selling redundant and unused equipment). Time (which I can make by spending less time on basschat.co.uk!) Hiscox cases for the basses I now own. The old-style straplock buttons. Fewer basses. Talent.

For general music theory, and practical composition tips, Jake on Signals Music is inspirational.

I find Tom Bornemann to be excellent. Tab, playalong, and music all on a clear video. A wide choice of songs too.

When you're finished, could I borrow your sandpaper? Absolutely terrifying gig. Like a one-legged unicyclist on a tightrope, disaster is just one (Jah) Wobble away....

I was also surprised to learn that Judge Robert Rinder is a bassist. Certainly, Robert Rinder is often curt ...

Gareth Malone, choir master.

I've got my eye on a secondhand bass. And last week I got my hands on my third bass.