Rabbie

+1 on Charlie being a great guy to deal with. He is very nice, very well organised and he knows his stuff!

True, it's great, it's hot and it's reliable. IMO nowadays there are better similar options like Upton and Blast Cult. Still, if it goes for half price, I'd be tempted myself indeed. Thanks for pointing this one out Paul. There'll probably be a bidding war now eh eh...

[quote name='cattytown' timestamp='1382274874' post='2249899'] I think US bass player Jimmy Sutton has one for sale. Paul. [/quote] I absolutely love what Jimmy does, both as player and producer. Didn't know he had a Chadwick. By the way, I've been gigging mine for a few weeks now and it's great. I was expecting to have more tuning issues with Lamberts, but it's not too bad if you don't mind checking your tuning in-between most songs.

It'd be nice to see a photo or video once they are ready. I'd give it a go at least to try it out. you could even have a couple going around for the basschatters to try like Daf does with innovation strings and Ehrlund p'ups. All the best to you, I love an entrepreneurial spirit me.

Check out the late great Dennis Irwin, legendary NYC jazz player. He had a wooden endpin on his old Amefican Standard ply: that's what I'd go for. You can check out a video on his bass on YouTube, there are a few seconds on his endpin. Sorry cant find you the link just now. Great idea though

I do. Never ever used them but it makes me feel better. It's an old set of wackers anyway stuffed in the gig bag with all the other bits and bobs.

All ply.

[quote name='keeponehandloose' timestamp='1381000394' post='2233317'] dont be fooled by the name , the King company which morphed into Blast Cult had nothing to do with the old King Moretone company which folded many years earlier [/quote] Correct! However, Blast Cult is a great young company.

I have an estate now, which makes things easy, but for years I travelled up and down the UK in a Fiat Panda. Granted, it was only me, bass and wee amp. Even the overnight bags had to be very small...The process of watching me fitting the double bass back in the car was more successful with the punters than me playing the gig!

[quote name='henry norton' timestamp='1380981662' post='2233084'] How about Engelhardt - are these up there with the Blast Cults? [/quote] They are the modern version of the old Kays. In fact they are the direct descendant although not nearly as sough after because not vintage. Good basses too, lots of great people play one and make a great sound on them.

[quote name='henry norton' timestamp='1380918534' post='2232520'] Thanks for your answers Rabbie - can I ask why you went for the Duke? [/quote] The expense of importing a US made bass was the first reason for me contacting Thomas (the guy who invented Dukes basses). I don't remember who told me about him, but at the time he was just in the process of "launching" the Duke. I communicated back and forward with him and we came up with a custom bass which sounded and looked the way I always wanted. Thomas's passion and love for what he does was apparent, so I took the leap of faith. The result is a bass I am in love with and it kicks the bahoochy of any bass I have ever tried before or since. It's even got my name on the wee label inside! Please remember it is a ply: it will never sound like a carved bass orchestral monument, BUT it sounds a trillion dollars to me. With guts and high action it gives you back an almighty muscular thump that just sends me weak at the knees! And to think that a while ago I had a 'weak moment' and toyed with the idea of selling it: that would have been the biggest mistake ever! I recently got myself a Chadwick folding bass for traveling, which is great, but my custom Duke is my pride and joy. Of course I have also been the owner of basses who didn't suit me at all, and one or two happened to be expensive carved ones, so it's really the sound you are after that makes the choice for you. In a nutshell, I went with the Duke because Thomas is a great guy and I was rewarded with a great bass!

Sorry, missed out your actual question: there are people out there who buy these aplenty: normally those who play rockabilly, bluegrass, country, roots Americana, some folk, psychobilly etc, trad jazz, swing. Not really on the shopping list of any post-bebop jazzer or especially not found in orchestra pits.

I own a custom made Duke. And I use Blast Cult gear. These people are enormously passionate about making plys that are truly outstanding instruments. High end plywood basses are the only kind of bass you need to play a certain style of music, better still to make a certain kind of sound. Listen to A LOT of music and find the bass sound that makes you jump for joy. If that sound was made on an old Kay or King Moretones or American Standard, you need a high end ply. If you dig the complex sound of a carved bass, whether bowed or pizz, I'd look elsewhere. Hope this helps.

[quote name='bassace' timestamp='1380634442' post='2228181'] Musicians Union membership gives me £2,000 non specified insurance. OK, it doesn't cover everything but enough to pay for a DB repair following gig damage (I've claimed once for a split in the table after a sax player knocked my bass over) or my Clarus head getting nicked. Stuff at home is only partially covered but I've always taken the more unlikely risks on the chin. [/quote] +1 for this but if you have an instrument worth a lot more than 2k it is worth insuring separately

[quote name='BurritoBass' timestamp='1380732603' post='2229724'] Interesting review Rabbie, I'd seen the bass before but think I am happy lugging mine around as is - an opinion that occasionally changes at the end of the night! [/quote] Nothing wrong at all with that, I have done for years but for the occasions when you are travelling with a band or flying, or simply to protect you main bass, the Chadwick is priceless IMO.