White Cloud

[quote name='Spike Vincent' timestamp='1389295123' post='2332572'] Hate them with a passion.It's cheating. Put 30 years of wear and tear on it yourself. [/quote] Young man I am 87 and only took up bass 6 months ago...gimme a break!

I like to look after my gear and get upset if any of my basses pick up dings etc..so I would not buy a road worn, but I do think they actually look cool when done properly. A pal of mine has a vintage P bass that rivals Jaco's bass of doom aesthetically..but each ding tells a story (seriously that bass has lived). I suppose I like real worn more than road worn....if that makes sense?

[quote name='Dingus' timestamp='1389119603' post='2330293'] I've got the looks to match the patter , too. [/quote] Dingus, I would appreciate it if you would ask my permission first to use my piccy before trying to pass yourself off as me!

Yes totally agree...brilliant recording, brilliant bass tone and brilliant bass playing. A real piece of classic British rock. I'm not certain but I always believed that Martin played his Gibby T bird through an Ampeg SVT on Argus.

[quote name='seashell' timestamp='1389083711' post='2329595'] However, onwards and upwards for 2014! Drummer and I can really concentrate on the other band now. [/quote] A shame...but nothing stays the same forever. The only universal constant is change. You have a great attitude though, enjoy the journey!

This subject is contentious..I'm afraid it all depends on who you ask. For example top luthier Roger Sadowsky argues vociferously that through body stringing makes no difference whatsoever. Others disagree. Suck it and see. I tried both, and although I actually liked thru body stringing I cant honestly tell you that it was better as such...or why I even liked it.

[quote name='TRBboy' timestamp='1389042015' post='2329281'] it depends how you get on with 35" scale. An Ibanez Soundgear would be worth checking out for a relatively inexpensive 34" 6er. [/quote] This is great advice. I love Yamaha's and aspired to a TRB 5 string...until I tried one. The Yamaha 35" scale length really didn't suit me at all, I actually found it extremely uncomfortable (strange because Lakland 35" basses really work for me!). I eventually settled on the Ibanez Sr1205 which has a 34" and feels divine.

Oh dear, in my experience punters HATE long gaps between songs due to band members messing around in this way. My opinion is it is unprofessional to wing it without set lists if it will create time lapses in the entertainment. That would frustrate the hell out of me.

[quote name='UglyDog' timestamp='1388805019' post='2326355'] Didnt i read somewhere that he used a really cheap'n'nasty Washburn fretless on the Graceland sessions? [/quote] Cheap yes...but evidently not nasty!

[quote name='Dennis1971' timestamp='1388702152' post='2325183'] Post christmas fun... Just wondered what you would buy, might bring some fresh ideas to my mind. Happy new year. D. [/quote] A nice watch!

I think that Paypal is a rip off, as is Ebay. I avoid using both at all costs now.

Without wanting to be a party pooper I think that there are already far too many signature basses on the market...especially Fender models.

[quote name='Dingus' timestamp='1388588199' post='2323693'] That chap from Hue and Cry went on to be the bass player for Stiltskin( they of the song "Inside" from the Levi's ad of about twenty years ago) and is apparently now a music teacher at a school in Scotland. [/quote] You are right, James Finnigan is an excellent bassist. I recall cutting a demo with one of my old bands in the 80's in Glasgows CAVA studio around the same time as Hue and Cry were cutting their fist release at the same venue. I recall he was adept at playing Jaco lines...always neat and tidy. Funnily enough I traded my 1974 Fender Jazz bass against the white Vigier (James's back up to the black Arpege)....and reputably James subsequently bought the Jazz.. Weird!

[quote name='Dingus' timestamp='1388502388' post='2322751'] Speaking of ultimate basses, didn't you mention once that you had a Vigier Arpege with a graphite neck? I was watching Bands Reunited featuring Kajagoogoo that someone posted on Basschat the other day and there is snippet from their heyday with Nick Beggs playing a beautiful white one and it just reminded me what awesome basses they were. I could only dream of owning one at that time, and the Vigiers they make now just don't have the same appeal to me. That era of Vigier basses would still be very near the top of my wish- list. Those basses were the epitome of what that kind of bass guitar[i] should [/i]be- punchy as hell, light, powerful and very playable-and I sincerely wish they still made them like that now. Maybe you could get whatever builder to distil some of those elements into your custom build. [/quote] Yes I did own a Vigier Arpege with a carbon fibre neck...funnily enough it was also white. It was an exceptional instrument - on a par with the Wal & Alembic soundwise...and in hindsight probably nicer to play. I think it was an ex Hue & Cry/Midge Ure instrument. I had to sell that bass (cheap) in 1989 due to a sudden bout of extreme poverty. Another beauty bit the dust..........sigh. And I also agree that the current batch of Vigier basses just don't hold the same desirability. Happy new year and all the very best

[quote name='GreeneKing' timestamp='1388393620' post='2321393'] Alan has owned a Wal. He doesn't copy Wals but I think it's fair to say that some of his favourite bass lines were played on one. I've a new Uber spec that has the multi coil pickups and the latest filter pre. The pre has been developed with Alan's needs put into reality by John Easts technical expertise. It's not a copy of a Wal pre having markedly different and wider parameters but it is extremely versatile. With the adjustable mid range boosts and the 3 filters plus a passive tone the possibilities are huge and the tone from the MC pickups is pretty amazing. Alan will happily discuss the differences with you I'm sure. [url="http://www.acguitars.co.uk/acg_admin/wordpress/portfolio/0148u-finn-5/"]http://www.acguitars...o/0148u-finn-5/[/url] [/quote] This is very encouraging indeed.

[quote name='Dingus' timestamp='1388420954' post='2321788'] All I am trying to say is that you should think carefully about what it is that you[i] really[/i] want and be honest with yourself. [/quote] Dingus to be absolutely honest with you I don't think you have "tried" to say anything....I think that you have said it very, very well. For whatever reason, considering I don't know you, your opinion is quite important me and I value it. You have hit the nail on the head regarding the fostering of, and nuances of, brand creation/association. I have been mulling over the advice offered throughout this thread a lot lately, and having had a close look at AC guitars...I think Alan will get my order. The only problem is I am talking in future tense...and that is frustrating!

[quote name='EMG456' timestamp='1388352726' post='2321197'] You never know what's round the corner but whatever you choose, enjoy it. Cheers Ed [/quote] Thanks Ed. To be honest this thread has widened my horizons. I checked out an ACG Recurve on youtube earlier and the tone was to die for. I don't think I can wait until my 50th though!

That was humbling. Thanks for sharing....brilliant.

Lakland BG5 all day long.

[quote name='Dingus' timestamp='1388332414' post='2320825'] The market for Wal basses is indeed "buoyant" , as I believe is the appropriate term , and probably will be for the immediately foreseeable future. The same cannot be said, however, for most other exotic wood custom -made basses. They are very much marginalised in the marketplace in favour of Fender-inspired designs. [/quote] Very true. I personally find the current fender inspired design obsessed bass market place extremely...boring (despite paradoxically really enjoying both Sadowsky & Lakland derivatives). I, like you, was a bassist forged during the era when Fenders were considered unimaginative, undesirable & square! The question is...if an ACG bass is built as well, plays as well, uses a similar filter based electronic package (always my preference) and looks as good as a Wal...at half the price (plus being located just over an hour drive away from me)...would I be stupid to discount it?

[quote name='Fionn' timestamp='1388261248' post='2320207'] I was reading through another thread where somebody made a comparison between basses and cars. The comparison was "Fender = Modeo, Alembic = Ferrari", then someone else elaborated "Fender = Mustang, Alembic = dated sportscar". I thought that to be quite interesting and both cases hinted a certain truth. There's a tastily contentious thread in this. Here's a couple to get the ball rolling ... Warwick Streamer Stage 1 = Porsche 911 Hofner Violin Bass = Morris Minor Gibson Grabber = Austin Allegro [/quote] Ah, the power of the metaphor! I was responsible for setting the ball rolling on that other thread lol. Any use of this bass = car comparison will be contentious...but it is interesting.

I have been researching AC guitars as previously suggested...the Uber Recurve looks awesome. If Alan could change the headstock slightly (more of a paddle) then I really think this might be a winner!