Clarky

Another deal with Jack, whereby I bought his Alleva P5. As always a gent to deal with .. And really looks after his gear

[quote name='Pete Academy' post='1291328' date='Jul 3 2011, 07:16 PM']Number 3 is spot on. I generally pluck an open string to demonstrate the controls on an active bass - volume, pan, bass, mid , treble. Never make the customer feel insecure.[/quote] And number 4 is me

Superb job Wayne. Given that decent re-fins costs several hundred quid, why don't you start up a nice little earner sideline in custom re-fins? Would help pay for your Ampeg habit

[quote name='Old Horse Murphy' post='1290407' date='Jul 2 2011, 07:36 PM']Nice one (or two) mate. Where does that leave your old Zeller?[/quote] Sat a bit sadly in the corner. I am not allowed to move it on though as it has sentimental associations (I used it in lessons about 10-15 years ago with this lovely old jazzer, Phil Bates [played with Grapelli and Tubby Hayes], who sadly passed away a couple of years ago and the bass reminds Mrs C of him) Edit: hmmm, Mrs C seems more amenable to be moving this on as three double basses are taking up too much of the sitting room!

I met Mr_Bassman (Keith) a week or so back and we did a trade which involved my Eminence EUB going his way and his 1960s Ampeg Baby Bass and Kolstein Busetto travel bass coming my way - the second one was a bit of a surprise as Keith had only brought it along to show me .. but I fell in love with the tone and sheer beauty of the bass. Mind you, I don't think Keith expected to be going home with the Eminence either! Dangerous, these dodgy car park meet-ups The Baby Bass is in amazing condition for its age, looks fabulously retro and is about as feedback-proof as a DB gets so this will be my regular gigging bass for Rattlin Bone. The Kolstein will (for now, at least) stay at home while I enjoy playing it and the sheer gorgeousness of its tone. I intend to use this for gigs which are more intimate, with lower volumes. Anyway, at the risk of annoying the mods with a large picture (2Mb) here they are and there are a few more pics if you click on the 'porn pics' link in my signature below. [attachment=83893:P1040316.JPG]

Double post

Phwoar. Nice score! I miss my old one

You have three main choices of transducer - piezo (picks up vibrations, which you already have), magnetic ('mag') which needs steel strings and is just like an electric bass pickup (usually attaches to end of fingerboard), amd microphone. The most suitable depends on what type of sitaution you are in - if you are in a loud rock or rockabilly band, go for a mag as it cuts out feedback (which is a problem at high volumes with other transducer types), if you ar recording a mic sounds nicest, but for most situations a piezo is best. I use a Shadow 950, which is similar to an Underwood and slots into the bridge wings. Preamps are really useful for making your DB sound more like a DB and for controlling feedback. A Fishman (most prefer the Plat Pro Bass EQ like Happy Jack just bought) or an LR Baggs are popular as these are simple to use and most have phase switches (help to control feedback) as well as notch filters (which try to eliminate the frequency that is producing the feedback). You can usually plug your preamp into the FX return socket of your amp which turns it into a power amp so that the Fishman/Baggs/other preamp acts as the EQ section. Alternatively just plug into the front of the amp and run flat. There are acoustic/DB specific amps that are very clean sounding but these are quite pricey (Acoustic Image are superb, I have the Clarus+ head, but boy did it cost me; Phil Jones amps are very clean and can slot in nicely here too I believe) The speaker choice is by taste. Many DB'ers swer a 10" is best to convey a DB sound but 12" is also popular. There are DB tailored speakers (eg Euphonic Audio Wizzy 10 and 12) but frankly most modern speakers should be up to the job. I've been down the same road as you, about 9 months ahead. I have ended up using an LR Baggs Venue DI preamp (useful as it has a tuner and mute on it) into an Acoustic Image head and Wizzy 12 speaker. If I am playing a really loud gig I use a Mackie 10" PA speaker on a stand to hear myself and to try to control feedback (as its pointed at my head not the body of the DB) Good luck!

[url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/WAL-CUSTOM-MK-1-BASS-GUITAR-EXCELLENT-CONDITION-/110709579412?pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item19c6ce1e94#ht_500wt_922"]http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/WAL-CUSTOM-MK-1-...94#ht_500wt_922[/url]

[quote name='Rick's Fine '52' post='1288624' date='Jul 1 2011, 09:24 AM']No, certainly not for sale, i've only just got them!! I know Andy, he was involved, to a certain extent, in the purchase of these Basses, and he asked to put them on his site for publicity purposes, thats why he's put 'Please call' in the text, and not a price. Not uncommon, particularly with rare guitars. New Kings Road Guitars are still advertising my '52 Precision, despite me buying it a couple of months ago, for the same reason, it generates interest in their inventory. Rick.[/quote] Vintage & Rare were still advertising my old Fender 76 fretless Precision on their website a year after I had bought it (during which time it changed hands twice!)

[quote name='mentalextra' post='1288043' date='Jun 30 2011, 05:46 PM']But, as I said up the top. What is so special about a "stack knob"; is it age, rarity? [/quote] Other than Reissues, Fender stopped making stacked knob Jazzes in '62 (ish). Individual volume and tone for each knob, whereas the subsequent (and more enduring) three knob control plate allows you to mix the volumes with one knob (at the expense of only having one tone control). So if you like a stacked knob jazz its either (a) you like the retro nature of the bass or (b ) you are a vintage collector or (c ) you prefr the control arrangement. Most I guess like it because of point (a).

Buy Happy Jack's Tone Bone in the FS forum. Two independent EQ sections in one preamp.

[quote name='jonthebass' post='1287832' date='Jun 30 2011, 03:08 PM']I would say from my experience that there's the same potential to be let down by a small luthier too and that if it's a CS Fender you want then go for it.[/quote] Sorry to go OT but did you get the issue sorted out with the small luthier Jon?

[quote name='lojo' post='1286775' date='Jun 29 2011, 06:22 PM']This might be slightly off topic-ing but ...... If you had a set that required half fretless sound and half fretted but only used 1 bass, would you use a fretted or fretless, and what effect would you use to create the fake sound I only ask as I play a few numbers which really would sound great on a fretless and it got me wondering[/quote] Buy this, perhaps? Fretted E, A, D, G strings plus additional fretless D, G strings. Thump and mwah in one (to me, frankly confusing) package. A thought though ... [url="http://www.bassgear.co.uk/products-page/pre-owned/ibanez-ashula-pre-owned/"]http://www.bassgear.co.uk/products-page/pr...hula-pre-owned/[/url]

[quote name='wateroftyne' post='1286686' date='Jun 29 2011, 05:18 PM']Aww... you've spoiled it for me. [/quote] Apologies - who is it, w-o-t or PURPOLARIS?

[quote name='wateroftyne' post='1286680' date='Jun 29 2011, 05:16 PM']Sorry.. I didn't hear a word. I'm too busy gazing at your avatar. [/quote] Ozzy Osbourne in a kilt? Each to their own

I too am a bit flabberghasted. Its a sticker fercrissakes! Bet you didn't keep the little plastic sleeves that Fender supply on the tuners to keep the chrome shiny, so why keep a piece of advertising material? I have sold (ahem) "several" virtually brand new Fenders on BC in the past 2-3 years and can assure you that noone asked the whereabouts of the sticker

Can't make it tonight Mike but hope its a corker! You'll have rather more space to jump about than at the 12 Bar

[quote name='dannybuoy' post='1286231' date='Jun 29 2011, 11:29 AM']My first bass was a fretless![/quote] You are the Chuck Norris of bass playing, Dan!

I have had a renewed attempt to become better at fretless, spurred by playing DB in my band. I don't find intonation that much of a problem (I use the side dots just like I do a fretted bass for guidance) as long as I keep up my concentration levels - if I don't, then my left hand position sometimes starts 'drifting' gently and I tend to go sharp.

[quote name='Clarky' post='1260722' date='Jun 8 2011, 08:42 AM']I saw a demonstration of the ToneHammer 500 head at the London Bass Show in Olympia a few months back, played around with it and talked to Aguilar's CEO about it. Great tonal flexibility, from clean to full-on rock, weighs next to nothing, looks uber-cool (the classiest looking micro head in my view). On the strength of that I am happy to place an order ... and with BassGear!![/quote] ... and it arrived Chez Clarky this afternoon Had a quick blast with my Jazz bass and it sounds very nice, just as I remember it form the Bass Show at Olympia. Not pushed the Drive level up for mega-distortion as my Jazz has Roto Tru Bass black nylon strings on and its too mellow for that - however at lower Drive levels its nice and creamy sounding. Can get a great DB sound out of the Jazz too. Cool!