PaulKing

It all depends what you want to play. The Realist is the standard for many jazzers, but it really lacks definition ... one for just adding some oomph to your bottom end in low volume situations. Or for arco. For pizz: The wing transducers are all very similar. Underwwod is safe, quality, great tone, the King of piezo transducers. It suffers from phasing issues between the two paddles, but easily fixed by pulling one out. Can't go wrong. Bassmax, Shadow 950 and Schatten are similar, hotter signals than Underwood. Bassmax sounds a bit more compressed and bassy. But both very good. Just fitted a Schatten RB1 to one of my basses, looking forward to trying ... similar tone to Underwood but I'm hoping it's even more feedback resistant, as promised above. Never tried Rev Solo but many people get just as good results as from other wing transducers. Feedback is an issue for some though. There are others ... usually you get what you pay for, but there are some cheap ones that perform really well, and expensive ones that sound like crap on some basses played in some styles..

I'm interested. Love that swampy sound. You heard of the Aces from US? Check em out. I'm a bit restricted on number of gigs i can take on ... but I'd be interested in working with you if needed. Ealing based. Playing mainly 40s jump and roots blues on old gut-strung basses. Howlin Wolf? Yeah man... www.myspace.com/4stringsking www.myspace.com/jump66

While I'm here ... difficult to see from the pics but: There's a centre seam on the front. Is it carved/pressed solid wood? That would up the price, I concede. Or is it ply? Most of what I say applies to ply really. The finish is interesting and pretty - not original though i'd guess? Did you strip yourself? Or am I wrong? And go on then .. what's the new more unusual toy?!

[quote name='slap_it_hard' post='949800' date='Sep 8 2010, 07:46 PM']Hi Paul, I thank you for your time in your response & you're quite entitled to your "opinion" of course, although it might not have been put the most eloquent way![/quote] - Well, reasonably eloquent I thought, but yes a bit blunt, sorry. Thanks for replying in a civilised manner, realise I'm taking a bit of a dangerous stance here. Let me explain my thoughts... [i]"No one said I needed to shift her quickly, but it sounds to me like you just might no someone that would be happy to take her off my hands the 30 percent cheaper you quote. Anyway, that said, when the time is right & so is the person, Karma will take its natural course."[/i] You said yourself 'has to go due to purchase of new toy'. That's why I said 'IF you have to shift it quick'. Equally I said if you want to wait to get the full whack then press on. I agree on the Karma, and there WILL be a buyer out there at that price, [i]eventually[/i]. No, I don't know a potential buyer ... sorry if it looked like that. [i]"Nice picture by the way, although I couldn't really see myself at this point having my photo taken with a bow!"[/i] - That's Arthur Askey... 60s comedian and actor. If I dared put a bow anywhere near my bass it'd make an awful noise. I'm happier slapping, just like yourself, if your name's anything to go by. [i]"So, what bass, or basses do you play, & with what set-ups if i may be so inquisitive?"[/i] - You may. Over the years I've owned a couple CCBs, 40s Czech hybrid, Hungarian Golden Strad, fully carved 40s German blonde, factory-new Strunal ply, 1968 Kay S-9. But now settled on trio of 37 King Mortone, 38 Kay M2 and 68 Boosey and Hawkes Czech ply. I'm always on the lookout for interesting basses though. Various string combinations of plain gut, Cordes Lambert Deluxe whackers and Innovation PsychoSlaps. Underwood pick-ups mainly, but still running a K+K too, through an LR Baggs mixpro. Fishman Platinum Pro-EQ. And Markbass CMD121P with ext cab. There are some pics at www.myspace.com/4stringsking [i]"Maybe you could be so kind as to pass me the details of the Vintage bass freak in Holland?"[/i] Well, I sold to Huey Moor, he found out about the bass through the grapevine, passing details from bassist to bassist. Advertising didn't work for me then. I don't think he wants another ... that was his 'special bass'. Again, it was the name he wanted. I'm guilty of that too. But you could try Markus Potts at Rockability.de . He sells interesting vintage roots basses to discerning buyers ... ie at good prices, because people know what they're buying. [i]"Oh, forgot to mention, who says that those that want to buy 'that special bass' are waiting for Kings and Kays?"[/i] - OK maybe not everyone. But certainly in the billy, blues, jump, swing, bluegrass circuits (which are of course heavily influenced by Americana) those are the names that excite people, for whatever reason. A known name is ALWAYS going to be worth more, ply or carved. Of course plenty of people are wise enough to know it's the sound that counts and just keep up the search for the bass that speaks to them, wherever it's made. And good European basses kick the ass of many US built name brands. BUT ... there ARE those people who say 'what I'd really like is a Kay...' and they'd find that last £2-3k for 'that special bass'. [i]"I'm sure there are way more unusual & special basses out there!"[/i] - Absolutely. The market has slowed though. I am a nerd, and I've been watching the price of basses that go through the bay and gumtree etc for years. These days desirable US 'name' ply basses can go for up to £2-3k. Good Euro ply basses rarely go over £1k. Sometimes very decent basses go for £500 or less. As eye-catching and great-sounding as your bass is (and I'd LOVE to give it a go...) there'd need to be damn good reason for it being elevated into the top price category for a roots/jazz bass. Of course that reason may be the sound alone ... and to the person who falls in love with it, £2k is not too much to pay. But I still maintain, you've been advertising this bass for what, a year? There's a reason no-one's bought it yet. I genuinely sympathise if the bass owes you that much ... which is why I recommend selling by word of mouth to serious buyers, not open sale. I've been in the same position. I would happily pass on to a few names in Europe if you like. I'm sure this all sounds like I've got it in for you, or I'm just being a smart-arse. Well maybe the latter a little bit, but in reality I'm just trying to be a bit helpful. We can delete this and go private if you'd prefer?

[quote name='slap_it_hard' post='948610' date='Sep 7 2010, 06:32 PM']Wow, you guys are all quiet![/quote] I've respectfully kept quiet long enough. I just think you're asking too much, still... How long you going to wait, another year!? Don't get me wrong, i think your bass looks really special. The market is in a different place though... If it owes you this much then press on, be patient, try a dealer like Peter Tyler or Thwaites. Or sell direct to the roots players in Europe - this will go in Holland or Germany better than in UK. When I sold my Kay S-9 I knew noone would pay the true value over here, it went to a serious vintage bass freak in Holland. There just aren't enough of us here, and those that want to buy 'that special bass' are waiting for Kings and Kays. If you need to shift it quick you gotta come down another 30% at least IMHO.... Sorry. I'll delete this if you think I'm screwing up your sale, but no-one's biting are they?

Tips to soundmen: A lot of upright bass tone is in the midrange. It is not a dub sub bass instrument. You need mids and highs to be heard. Getting heard through the mix is not just a case of boosting volume and low frequencies. That way feedback lies. So yes, roll off the extreme lows, allow the mids and mid-highs to breathe to make it stand out in the mix. At sound check you actually want it to sound slightly more unpleasantly mid-rangey than you think.. but then it cuts through the mix and allows you to pick out the low end better.

+ 1 on the Fishman Pro Eq bass. It's designed to do the job, specifically for upright bass, no tone colouration, and it is not too expensive. The EQ is a bit limited compared to expensive alternatives, but it's perfectly adequate. Phase reverse and Hi Pass filter (Depth control) make feedback control a cinch. Ground lift and pre-post DI out make sure you send the soundman best signal possible. Useful little compressor too. If you're after a good quality DI/preamp box for upright bass with piezo pick up, that allows you enough control to help out or even override the sound man, this little thing does it all for you. I too never gig without it, whether I'm going into backline or straight to PA.

[quote name='slobluesine' post='907920' date='Jul 28 2010, 10:19 AM']here go Chris.... [attachment=55195:lowdowndog.mp3] EUB or Upright?[/quote] Nice JC. Jumpin.

[quote name='slobluesine' post='901854' date='Jul 22 2010, 01:25 PM']oh yeah, poster of Walbassists's Avatar too , plz tell me that's not your missus or girlfriend Wal, if it's you can i have your tel no plz, she's hornier than my Kay[/quote] Haven't seen Walbassist avatar, but maybe his profile will get a few hits today. I do keep lusting after a cherry burst K162.... no idea why. I've NEVER played an e-bass live. Or with a band. Just in private. With the doors closed. And curtains drawn. and NO frets. Makes me feel dirty.

[quote name='PaulKing' post='895951' date='Jul 15 2010, 08:33 PM']noodle noodle whacko jaco [/quote] A quick derail, by way of bumping your ad John. Jaco doesn't really move me much, even if he is technically brilliant. See, he's wearing a headband. Understand? But to show I'm not a complete prog-jazz heathen, I do find Squarepusher fascinating, amazing and much more pleasant to listen to. He's about as close to Jaco as anyone's ever got. With added snare-rush. COOOL. Check the Ultravisitor album, loads of Pasto-style solo doodling there.

[quote name='slobluesine' post='895782' date='Jul 15 2010, 04:58 PM']whooooah!!! lightweight hey.... i'll lend you a Fender and a few Jaco tabs here go... a little lightweight hippy one to be gettin on with.... [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I63bOi477cA&feature=related"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I63bOi477cA...feature=related[/url] featherweight one... [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OwJJ4oK79Wg&NR=1"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OwJJ4oK79Wg&NR=1[/url] [/quote] noodle noodle whacko jaco

[quote name='slobluesine' post='895473' date='Jul 15 2010, 11:39 AM']oh alright then... £2500 [/quote] Crikey, dump the bass, dump the avatar ... get all hippy on our asses... welcome back to the LIGHTWEIGHT side!

[quote name='thisnameistaken' post='889118' date='Jul 7 2010, 11:26 PM']So it's not wedged in the treble-side bridge wing, but somewhere else?[/quote] (EDIT - oops, missed bilbos reply before posting this...) Certainly looks like it's in the treble side. That's not uncommon, I've finally switched mine over to the treble side too. Depends on your bass of course, but tends to give a more defined sound, emphasizes mids and finger noise more. If your bass tends to sound boomy with the piezo on the bass side, try it on the other side. It's a shame bassmax seems to be so sensitive to fit. Underwood just slots in and sounds good. Bassmax should be fairly tight, so that if you wiggle the cable it doesn't move, and you feel like the cable will strain if you try to pull it out, but if you hold the actual bug it will wiggle out without too much resistance. Use sax reeds, credit cards, guitar pics whatever to pack it out if necessary. Sometimes twisting the bug round so that it's at an angle, even half in and half out of the slot, can improve the sound ... seems you need to find the narrowest bit of the slot and get that centred on the bug (assuming your slot ain't perfectly parallel... which is likely). And of course your pre-amp makes a difference. Are you using one? Mine sounds much better through an LR Baggs preamp than the K+K preamp. Sorry.. derail Nice bass! Nice playing! I'm sure Evahs will give it some extra warmth and sex...

[quote name='fabbabass' post='886304' date='Jul 5 2010, 02:23 PM']Hey everybody - I have a Slap King in Midnight Burst with the deluxe tailpiece. I also managed to get a Dolls Head pick-up before the company went down, (massive thanks to Jason for this); but I need to know how they fix the jack socket behind the tailpiece. Can anybody help please? Thank you.[/quote] Are you signed up over at doublebasschat.com? Laods of King owners there who will help you out. Or I can ask for you...

Yes Martin Bailey is a big name, reputation for quality instruments really? Also Steve Laws, just down the road from Martin ... google Oakdene Music Services. Great guy, great skills, great rates, not too snobby to get something out of any bass for any kind of music. Also, Peter Tyler near Maidenhead (M4). Lovely bloke, works from home, works on all basses from £100 CCBs to 200k classics. Google him too, Peter Tyler basses. These two both understand why a cheap plywood bass is worth trying to get some decent sound out of for someone who can't afford 50k and doesn't want to play like Dragonetti.

[quote name='slobluesine' post='884674' date='Jul 3 2010, 11:14 AM']bump[/quote] cheeky pm your way jc! Despite having to get up at 7 to look after 2 babies all day ... I bloody loved playing Aint Nothing But the Booze bar with the Contenders. Stormin night... Bass on my back, no amp to carry, walk a couple hundred yards, easy! I guess the novelty of the 3am bedtime does wear off after while, but I'll be back there like a sucker. No-one fekked with my bass... Tequila seems to make people like anything you play, don't it? Don't think they've seen someone lying on the floor with the bass in the air very often either...

[quote name='bob_pickard' post='877057' date='Jun 25 2010, 06:08 AM']They have a new site - [url="http://www.slap-strings.de/shop/catalog/"]http://www.slap-strings.de/shop/catalog/[/url] and have Kays and Engelhardts in stock - swingmasters are about £1400[/quote] Haha, i just came here to post the same thing .. that's what I was looking for in the first place, lost th link. it's Thomas Schmuckers list: [url="http://www.slap-strings.de/shop/catalog/index.php?cPath=29_35"]Vintage basses[/url]

[url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=140417953881&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT"]Visit My Website[/url] 4hrs left....

[quote name='fatback' post='875428' date='Jun 23 2010, 02:04 PM']Thanks Paul Looks like I've got my spec at last: All ply, European. Adjustable bridge (matching the thread of Full Circle Pickups). Ebony board Possible replacement tail wire Strings: Innovation silverslaps Thomann 1E (Strunal) seems to fit the bill: '3/4 scale laminated bass with swelled back and ebony fingerboard, single machine heads and adjustable peg, adjustable bridge. Colour: Golden Reddish Brown. €984 inc VAT' I don't see a gear4music all-ply bass on their site. So, I'll be looking out for an aged ply bass, but if that fails, the Thomann looks like the deal. Thanks to all for the info. very much appreciated.[/quote] There is a beautiful old Selmer on ebay right now, going at £600 at the moment. That is a CLASS bass, worth a grand at least. Buy it if you can!