Maude

[quote name='skej21' timestamp='1394297645' post='2390040'] Looks awesome. Like, REALLY awesome. Just out of curiosity, is there a reason why you didn't bind the F-hole too? [/quote] Thanks, I did do the 'binding' round the 'f' hole but it didn't look right. With the edges of the hole the same colour as the body you see the 3D shape of the cutout against the dark (shadowed) background, when the edges were black they merged into the shadowed interior make it look a bit 2D, like a sticker. The way it is now accentuates the effect of having an actual cavity.

[quote name='yorks5stringer' timestamp='1394295448' post='2390009'] That looks lovely! [/quote] Thanks, I'm very pleased with the way it's turned out. You have these ideas in your head but never know for sure until it's done wether it'll work or not, personally I think it's loads better. I'm thinking about some black nylon tapewound strings, as well as sounding lovely (I have some on my fretless P) I think they'll look superb with the new colour scheme.

It's not finished yet, just the heastock to decal and lacquer but as the 'white bass' thread is at the top of the page, why not add to it . Here's my Variax which started out black but I really never liked the style of it but loved the versatility of it, so refinished it with a smattering of Fender Tele Thinline influences. [URL=http://s157.photobucket.com/user/Maudebass/media/080320141556_zps375e4924.jpg.html][IMG]http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t49/Maudebass/080320141556_zps375e4924.jpg[/IMG][/URL] [URL=http://s157.photobucket.com/user/Maudebass/media/080320141554_zpsf4fe8ab4.jpg.html][IMG]http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t49/Maudebass/080320141554_zpsf4fe8ab4.jpg[/IMG][/URL] [URL=http://s157.photobucket.com/user/Maudebass/media/080320141550_zps5c268901.jpg.html][IMG]http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t49/Maudebass/080320141550_zps5c268901.jpg[/IMG][/URL]

I like threads like this, you go down through all the pictures and it's like, 'that's good, and that's good' and it really is good, but then you scroll to the last picture and 'holy sh*t that looks good'. Love it .

I got a bit delayed on this one, been a bit busy lately but this week I found the time to finish off the body and rebuild it. Just waiting for our drummer to do the logo for the headstock as he has the stuff to print waterslide decals. As it's a Variax which has been restyled with strong influences from a Telecaster thinline I've renamed her a 'Varicaster' . I've put the faux binding around the edges and lacquered it all in and given it a damn good polish, which I kind of hate because every single finger smear shows, at least it's not a dark colour . I've also painted inside the 'f' hole bronze which will be lacquered as well and the headstock logo will be highlighted in the same bronze just carry it through. The Tele bridge cover will be fitted once strung up so it can be perfectly aligned along the string. Here's a few piccies to show off that shine. [URL=http://s157.photobucket.com/user/Maudebass/media/080320141549_zpsc661678f.jpg.html][IMG]http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t49/Maudebass/080320141549_zpsc661678f.jpg[/IMG][/URL] [URL=http://s157.photobucket.com/user/Maudebass/media/080320141550_zps5c268901.jpg.html][IMG]http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t49/Maudebass/080320141550_zps5c268901.jpg[/IMG][/URL] [URL=http://s157.photobucket.com/user/Maudebass/media/080320141551_zpsdb533f32.jpg.html][IMG]http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t49/Maudebass/080320141551_zpsdb533f32.jpg[/IMG][/URL] [URL=http://s157.photobucket.com/user/Maudebass/media/080320141552_zpsf6396693.jpg.html][IMG]http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t49/Maudebass/080320141552_zpsf6396693.jpg[/IMG][/URL] [URL=http://s157.photobucket.com/user/Maudebass/media/080320141553_zpsf64b8291.jpg.html][IMG]http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t49/Maudebass/080320141553_zpsf64b8291.jpg[/IMG][/URL] [URL=http://s157.photobucket.com/user/Maudebass/media/080320141554_zpsf4fe8ab4.jpg.html][IMG]http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t49/Maudebass/080320141554_zpsf4fe8ab4.jpg[/IMG][/URL] [URL=http://s157.photobucket.com/user/Maudebass/media/080320141555_zps595362ee.jpg.html][IMG]http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t49/Maudebass/080320141555_zps595362ee.jpg[/IMG][/URL] [URL=http://s157.photobucket.com/user/Maudebass/media/080320141556_zps375e4924.jpg.html][IMG]http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t49/Maudebass/080320141556_zps375e4924.jpg[/IMG][/URL]

Sidestepping the bickering for a moment , @ the OP, I assume the band uses a PA, another option would be to run into the PA and just use a smaller amp as a monitor. This is what I do, I use a Line6 X3 Live and run an output to the PA and an output to my amp, I only use an Ashdown Perfect10 Minirig which is a 60w head into two 10" cabs. When playing gigs this works well as you can turn up or down the Ashdown to hear yourself but it won't change the sound out the front which is through the PA. At rehearsals I can hear perfectly well running the amp at half volume competing with two guitarists, one using a Rickenbacker and Jam fetish so loud and 'spiky', and a very hard hitting drummer. If your amp, or one you get, doesn't have a DI output then a Behringer BDI21 will do the job very well for around £25/£30. It's just an option and will save you a lot of money on expensive amps, but where's the fun in not buying big amps eh?

Or the intro to this, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fbIhw_36vNA Sounds awful on it's own but in the mix sounds great, a great example of what works at home doesn't always work in the band

Flea plays with a very low buzzy action which adds character to his sound. Lots of isolated bass tracks on youtube, eg http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MoeLpv8-l1I

I don't want any different pick materials, the reason I use a pick on some songs is to get an aggressive punky sound so don't want felt or leather, I'm happy with my trusty old Dunlop 1mm nylon picks . The Fender nylon tapes I have on the fretless have a sound a bit like old rounds (which I like) but feel lovely to play, a half way house between flats and rounds if you like. This is why I'd like to put them on my main gigging bass, I want the same sound as the old dead rounds but with the lovely feel of nylon tapes. Now all this talk of leather and nylon is starting to make me come over all unnecessary . Thanks guy.

Well that's a good enough reason not to do it! :-) Thanks guys, I had visions of the tape splitting and leaving rough edges to play.

Just had a thought and it might be silly but how do nylon tapewound strings hold up with plectrum use. I have Fender tapes on my fretless and was considering using some on my main gigging bass as I really like them, I mainly play with my fingers but do use a plectrum on some songs. Just wondered if a hard plectrum would damage the tape wrap or not. Any experience peeps?

I eat my peas with honey, I've done it all my life, It makes my peas taste funny, But keeps 'em on my knife.

I'm excited for you, it's a great day when that big box arrives

Which order do they sound best in ?

Not used a pedal but the acoustic setting on my Variax is pretty good, captures that hollow sort of rattly sound without being unpleasant, it's meant to sound like a Tacoma Thunderchief but who knows. The Doublebass setting sounds kind of DB-esque but not being fretless cannot emulate the nuances of a real DB, sounds alright in a band situation though, if we rattle through Lovecats it's passable. In short I would use the Variax instead of an acoustic guitar at a jam night if that sound was needed but wouldn't attempt to use it for a DB gig.

I use a Perfect Ten mini rig and can plug a piezo (J tone) straight in with no pre amp and it sounds good. I use a BBE Acoustimax pre amp when going to the PA and when I was fiddling with it to get the sound I liked I realised it was exactly the same sound as just plugging the bass straight into the Ashdown, bass, mid and treble set to centre and the deep switch off gets a very nice clean representation of the acoustic bass, so plenty left to adjust tone to your liking.

I use these, http://www.amazon.co.uk/Jim-Dunlop-electric-acoustic-properly/dp/B002905YTQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1393371292&sr=8-1&keywords=dunlop+strap+locks Have done for as long as I can remember. And my stupid stage antics include holding the bass upright by the neck while playing it away from my body in a true rock cliche style, even with a slack strap slot on the top horn end the strap's never come off.

My black Yammy BBG5s has all gold hardware which is just tarnishing slightly and it looks awesome, any other colour just wouldn't look 'right' .

What I've always loved with The Cure is that they put amazing songs on B sides, most bands just chucked any old rubbish on there to fill the space but a lot of The Cures B sides could easily have been Singles. 'I'm Cold' is a favourite, and is there a happier song than 'Throw your foot away'? And people call them a miserable band, pah!

[quote name='timbo1978' timestamp='1392840693' post='2373440'] Owning a double bass is a beautiful thing [/quote] Some great info in this thread but by far the best statement I've seen on here in a long time is this.

Re the Hook/Gallup thing, and I hate comparing bands sound but have a listen to 'Dreams never end', the first track on New Orders first album Movement. The album came out in 81 from memory but the opening sequence is very 'Inbetween days' which didn't come out until, was it 85, Head on the door? Movement is probably my favourite New Order album, and I adore The Cure so I really don't mean to start a Hook/Gallup thing, just an interesting similarity.

The seller has cancelled the item but only if I agreed that I bought the item in error rather than it being listed wrong. Couldn't be bothered to argue.

I'm guessing here but if you marked the even frets then all the marks would be evenly placed, if you mark the odds and the octave (12th) then the the octave is easily distinguished as it has two spaces either side making it stand out.

A little off topic here, but sort of on track. I never set out to be a bassist, I've never had that 'seen bassist X play and had to learn bass' moment. I dabbled in a few instruments and settled with bass. But whenever I go back to my old favourites from before my bass playing days I realise what bass prominent bands they all were, even one off songs I loved all have strong bass lines. Maybe it was there all along but it had to make it's way to the surface in it's own time. I think I've just likened my love of bass to a splinter! And as for Simon Gallup, yes awesome, The Cure were my favourite band in my teens. Having just bought a Bass VI I'm doing the same as you now and relearning old Cure tracks .

Just had the third, I think, reply. My message, "[color=#000000][font=arial, sans-serif][size=3]Could you cancel this item please as it does not state in the listing that a conventional sized bass will not fit in the case.[/size][/font][/color] [color=#000000][font=arial, sans-serif][size=3]Thank you."[/size][/font][/color] His reply "[color=#000000][font=arial, sans-serif][size=3]It does actually state that it was use for a Status 2000 suggesting that that it will accommodate headless basses."[/size][/font][/color] Hmmm My final message, "[color=#000000][font=arial, sans-serif][size=3]I'm not going to get into a debate about this, yes it states it was used for a Status, also states it "will accommodate a bass", suggesting that a standard bass will fit, which it won't, therefore your listing is inaccurate.[/size][/font][/color] [color=#000000][font=arial, sans-serif][size=3]If I sold my U-Bass case I would not state that it will accommodate a bass, because that would be silly, as is this listing.[/size][/font][/color][color=#000000][font=arial, sans-serif][size=3].[/size][/font][/color]" If he still disagrees I will now open a dispute as, like Musky says, he will probably open one against me because he seems like right Richard.