uk_lefty

My first ever bad was a trio with an incredible drummer and an insanely good blues-rock guitarist. It is my favourite format by far, as you say there is nowhere to hide! But that's the great thing, you don't have to hide, you don't have to avoid treading on toes like you do with two guitarists.

Just wanted to share... I've had this idea in my head of fronting a three piece guitar bass and drums. I love my 80s covers but my band is a bit wary and is straying towards more Dakota, Sex on Fire and some other stuff that makes me cringe but drunk punters enjoy... That's fine, it's got its place. But I'm getting a bit bored of the set and I've noticed my playing is getting so sloppy, so I want a new challenge. I advertised on Thursday night for a guitarist and a drummer. Set out that I want to form a three piece to play covers and work up some originals, stick to 80s style songs but put on a harder edge, and gave three song examples so they know I don't mean Kylie and Rick Astley: Message in a Bottle, Dancing in the Dark, Just Died in Your Arms Tonight. Just three off a long list I've drawn up. I've had two quality guitarists answer, no drummers. Very different guitar styles. Guitar one: rock guitarist. Has sent me clips of playing in big function bands with multiple singers doing very professional disco hits. Other clips of him in a rock three piece where he's doing lead vocals which are OK, as good as most cover band vocalists and I've seen far worse, better than me also I'd say. This could be good: I know how to play with guitarists of his style and my vocal is not the strongest outside of my comfort zone (which isn't very big!) so sharing it out could be good to get a decent range of songs in. Lives a little bit further away from my preferred practice places but not insurmountable. Guitar two: echoey, lush sound scape type stuff. He gets it about filling the sonic space in a three piece. He's keen, he likes the 80s ideas, he lives nearer me, he's also left handed which could be an interesting gimmick or at least allow us to swap instruments every now and then if we feel the need (I've seen him play bass too). I've suggested to meet with each, see if we get on, play some songs together and then each of us has the chance to either say no thanks or go ahead. Hoping one of them works out and we can then record some two guitars and vocals stuff and get it out there to snag a good drummer. There's potential for two very different sounding bands though, with very different strengths. Will be interesting! Two bands isn't an option sadly... I'm still in my existing covers band, have a dep slot with a very similar covers band and two other ad hoc deps that could come in at any time once all is up and running again.

Sorry, I see now. I'm not going to hold my breath for this one. I'd like it, but I don't need it.

I emailed them directly and my post was based on their response. In this case "on request" means they don't yet have a date for it to come in to stock.

A few months back I asked Andertons whether they'd be getting a lefty Sire fretless in, it was listed on their website as "available at short notice" or words to that effect. I asked when and their reply may as well have been "maybe November, don't know really mate, come back later" which didn't fill me with confidence.

Ta. Was depping for a band with an awesome bassist. I play with the guitarist in my covers band and I just told him "I can't play like him, can I do something completely different?" and they were cool with me playing fretless where they usually have funky triplety finger and thumb style.

I nod vigorously and sometimes swing my bass around a bit but if I get overexcited and try something more extravagant the bass is no longer being played but is being shamed as a musical component. So I try not to let it go too far.

By virtue of owning it for nearly 18 years this is my most played bass. I love it. Its been through everything with me. It looks a bit out of place, and can sound out of place too if not careful. I've had better quality basses, but there's something about this that means it's the first I want to play. If I'm recording something this is the bass I use. The Kramer Striker fretless 5. A budget bass from the early 2000s but has a nice grittiness to the tone and with flats on it sounds perfect to me. It still gets gigged too.

Surely your HB collection doesn't include a lefty yet? Don't deny yourself, only one life... Etc.

Calm down everyone! It is the fretless lefty I've been discussing for the entire thread. So just a lefty version of the fretless jazz they already do in right handed.

News just in... Thomann have this bass as "on request" because its a new model and they don't yet have an expected delivery date. They told me they'll update their page when they have a delivery date. So it's not so much "on request" as "coming soon". Lost in translation I think.

Thanks, appreciate it. I'm waiting on a reply from Thomann so I can understand the terms and conditions around the "on request" instruments. It could be non refundable in which case I might not take the risk, depends how selling off some other stuff goes...

I change around so often my playing style and dynamic, I just go through phases of liking different things. Have had a Fender. 73mm pick out today as it happens! Why not just change around for how you feel at the time and don't worry about it? Try different things, see where you end up settling, or where it takes you next. I don't think I can ever be a "pick player" but I like to noodle about using one and bring it on for some songs every now and then.

At my desk... Sorry couldn't resist a sh!t joke. St Albans area.

Oh my... That does it for me. 😍

Top knowledge.

I've sent them an email with all the relevant questions. Do all requests get fulfilled? How long is the wait... Etc.

Great! Thank you

Thanks everyone. I'd prefer not to be changing components but then again im not shy to do that if the bass is a keeper. It's more the feel, which I think has been resolved. I always fancied a fretless jazz and their Jaco type one looks the part. I've raised nearly enough from selling other gear but also have a bass to possibly shift too, shall decide this weekend. Its just with it being a special order I don't want to mess anyone about and buy it thinking I'll return it if I don't like it. For 140 quid I'm not expecting it to rival my USA Stingray or MIJ Jazz but I also don't want to buy it and be disappointed. I think I have a good impression of what the quality will be like now, thanks all.

Thanks. That's the kind of comparison I'm looking for. I just want it to be better than a Westfield to be honest, though I know some people like them and even gig them I found them to feel really cheap... Low quality is not necessarily the wrong word but they didn't have the feel of a 90s MIM Fender (poor quality for MIM Fender) so while someone may rave about them it's probably because they can't get past paying just 50 quid for one second hand. That is a beaut if a bass you linked to.

Hi everyone, I have a request please. I'm interested in a bass that Harley Benton do on request only (fretless lefty jazz). Thing is I don't know what to expect. I've heard Harleys are great / great value, but that can mean so many different things. But what do they compare to? I've listed out the below in my view of order of quality... Would be good to know where you place Harley Benton against those. Westfield Squier Affinity Squier CV MIM Fender Sire MIJ Fender

I think Aria did this on the SB series, so in the early 80s. I've seen a special run one with frets 1-7 in and fretless down to the dusty end. Personally I just take two basses and have a different effect on my multi fx depending on the bass I use. Or, I just don't wobble the notes on my fretless I'd I don't want that sound, that's the cheapest, easiest and least fun solution 😊

Agree with all of the above. Also, my guitar sounds carp through my bass effects, probably the built in EQ emphasis (he says as if he knows anything about the technical bits). Individual pedal wise I know some guitar pedals are used to good effect by bassists but it's horses for courses. It depends what other gear you use and how you play. For example, some bass pedals that sounded awesome with my passive p bass were terrible with my active jazz bass, amps can have a big influence on sound too. Unfortunately it's just one more thing to research and experiment with, the endless trial and error!

I can see the romantic attraction of vintage instruments but don't know enough about maintenance to keep one myself. Also it would be interesting to compare it alongside a brand new USA Jazz to feel and hear the difference and see if it justifies 3x the price.