PaulKing

I change my mind which is favourite on almost daily basis. Sometimes the Mortone looks stunning... doesn't really do justice this picture. But currently Framus and Kay are favourites. Got sent this page from an old Framus catalogue by Michael off DBC ... certainly looks like my bass on the right, except cutaway version obviously. Nice. ...

I'm just showing off really, but I have to share my pleasure at having plywood like this knocking about in my house...

[quote name='bob_pickard' post='1203144' date='Apr 18 2011, 06:11 AM']nope no label on mine although there's various scraps of paper, dust and general muck floating about inside - Paul any other definitive marks on your Framus at all?[/quote] Nope. Actually I recently mailed Christian Foyer at the Framus Museum in Germany, even he couldn't be certain. he said it's impossible to tell if the label's gone, as there were other makers doing similar things. All he could say was it certainly LOOKS like a Framus, what with all the edging and stuff, and that Framus was by far the biggest maker ... so chances are very good that it is. An added complication, I'm informed, is that Framus actually commissioned out-of-house luthiers to build basses for them, so many different styles and builds exist. Only notable feature on mine is the engraved number inside the peg box, just above the nut. 990 or 066 ... can't tell which way up. I'm blown away by the power and punch of tone from this bass ... as good as my old carved bass, which was notably powerful and pure. Heavy though.

Are we thinking Aria Excelsior here guys? Maybe. It's not American, if that's what anyone was thnking.

Difficult to say ... any label? Looks like it could be perfectly decent, if it's more than a few years old that's good. Bridge is warped, or on upside down. Should scoop downwards, so the curved surface is on top, flat surface below. I wouldn't start messing with stripping or revarnishing, unless you want to go into full refinish as major project. If it has a nice tone ... what more do you want?

Opinions differ, as you can see. In mine .... Mag pick ups CAN sound good, but most often they sound like e-bass. You have to set up and EQ with care and skill. With a piezo pick up it's easier to get a faithful sound, but they too can sound compressed. Proper pre-amp can help, if it's needed. Feedback can be a problem, but it can be avoided with care even at very loud volumes. For rockabilly sound, authentic tone and click is easiest with piezo. The Underwood or Shadow single paddle wing piezo (is it 950?) are fabulous, and pick up plenty of click for most people. If you want very clear click or psychobilly clatter, you will find a separate clicky useful. K+K Bassmax or Rockabilly Plus (with attached clicky) are great pick ups. I've got a Rockabilly Plus going over in classifieds right now, but not the preamp/blender. You need a blender to set levels of each pick up (enter a whole world of tweaking and fiddling...) If you are playing VERY loud, thrash/psycho loud, a mag pick up will be easier to use. You will definitely need a separate clicky to get a proper click sound. Nothing worse than the sound of steel strings hitting magnetic pick-ups.... pop pop pop. My choice, for pretty loud R'nB with slapping all night long ... Underwood piezo. Plain and simple, easy, reasonable amount of click, faithful tone. Don't need preamp going in to my Markbass Amp ... though I use a Fishman Plat Pro because phase shift and EQ work well. Underwood is £130 new from Vivace, but occasionally crop up on ebay. That said, I used K+K without any complaint for years. If you are really new to amplifying DB for rockabilly, I'd keep it simple to start with. Learning how to EQ your bass is quite an art, having to deal with the confusion of a clicky is just adding to the complication. You'll have a laugh doing it, but you'll get better results quicker with a simple pick up.

Hehe, I resisted the Epiphone. Don't actually like the look much. Tho I still lusted of course... This Framus has blown me away, the Kay and the King sound like toy basses compared. But man, it is BIG ... it's officially a 7/8 but it is massive, and sounds it too. German quality. ANd it looks amazing ... better than in the photo. Mmmmmm...

Jeeeeesus. I got it today. BOOOOM. It plays like a carved bass (well it is a hybrid). Loudest ballsiest bass I ever had (apart from a carved bass...). I am seriously in love. What a find. Gorgeous, quality bass. It cleaned up stunningly too, mojo scars intact but otherwise luscious patina and deep colour. Mmmmmm.

[quote name='bob_pickard' post='1194265' date='Apr 10 2011, 07:32 AM'] I was looking at the one the other day - looks a nice one; hybrid version so more posh than mine! [/quote] It's a bit tatty, but just enough Mojo and just enough rock and roll bling for my liking. Good price... I was lucky.

Sorry - post moved to classifieds. Didn't realise there was a special EUB / Double Bass section these days... cool.

Hey EUB fans. I've just pulled the trigger on another vintage plywood upright, so the house is a bit crowded. I'm considering letting go of a bit of EUB history. I've got the remains of one of the rarest and most sought after EUBs, 1968 Ormston-Burns, British made less than a dozen ever built. Sadly, bodywork altered beyond recognition by a previous owner, now further frankensteined by me before I knew what it was. Still, neck, scroll, pegs, fingerboard, bridge, pick-up all original, what's left of body is original wood (!) with replacement controls, lump of wood I added as an upper bout, and a home made spike. Sadly, no sign of original scratch plates or controls. It works, though in my opinion sounds rough. Especially with Innovation strings on, which don't drive the mag p/up very well at all. I use it as a silent practice bass. With some love it could easily be returned to a very serviceable vintage EUB. Originals looked like this ... this one sold for several £1000s a couple years back. So here's a feeler ... anyone interested in inheriting this collecors curio? What's it worth, I dunno .. if you're interested I'll try a price!

That one on ebay ... not any more it isn't. SCHWEEEEETTT!! Come to Daddy. Damn, have to sell some sh*t now. Anyone want a mint Westone Thunder 1-A fretless, 1984? On ebay....