Clarky

I have a Contra II combo that I bought from Beedster (who got it off eBay, so the provenance and age are unknown). It went 'kaput' (technical term) at a rehearsal a month or so ago and stopped making any sound. I contacted the main main at Acoustic Image in North Carolina, Rick, at the suggestion of AI Europe contact Laurence (BC'er Bassadder), who said that - despite me not being the original owner and it being of indeterminate age (and because of the model, almost certainly well out of warranty) it would be fixed for free if I sent the main components of the head to AI. Well three weeks later and a Fedex package arrived with refurbed/repaired components that I have just put back in the head and - bingo - its back in perfect working order. Great service as they really didn't ask too many questions, fixed it for free and mailed it in secure Fedex packaging to the UK for free. Bravo, AI! If only Bravewood applied similar principles

Done a couple of bits of biz recently with Jack - a rather nice bass to him and a Mesa Walkabout to me. Great bloke but should be told to stay away from two wheeled transport

[quote name='Pete Academy' post='1220204' date='May 4 2011, 07:56 PM']Dating your Fender Bass? Have you tried women, Clarky?[/quote] Basses don't tell me "f*ck off you sad old git"

I have Rotosound TruBass strings on my fretless PJ and love the DB-like sound, although the hefty gauge (65-115) takes a bit of getting used to, especially the fat G string (oo err). I noticed when making an order for some Hotwire half-round strings last week that Status also does black nylon tapewound strings but in very 'normal' gauges - 40-100 and 45-105 - and at a pretty cheap price (£17; less than half what La Bella black nylon strings cost and two thirds of what Tru Bass cost). So I wondered if anyone has tried these and are they any good?

There'a bunch of flats-with-fretted devotees here - WoT, Jean-Luc Pickguard, Happy Jack, me to name a few .. and Old Horse Murphy! Virtually no fret noise, easy sliding (try playing the start to London Calling with flats and you will smile) and lovely rich sound. TI Flats for skinnier gauge, La Bellas or Pyramid Golds for meatier strings. Or go half way and get some Status Hotwire half-rounds which are dead cheaop (£17 on their website) and have a bit more bite. Its all good!

[quote name='malcolm.mcintyre' post='1219616' date='May 4 2011, 10:39 AM']Thanks. The Shadow comes with a little battery powered pre-amp attached to the bass strings below the bridge. Would you take the output from that to a better pre-amp, or actually replace it?[/quote] Hmm, I assumed you had a passive Shadow piezo. I had better step aside and let someone else step in with advice here!

Hi there, check all the threads on preamps in this section of the forum. Most recommend the Fishman Platinum Pro EQ and, to a lesser extent, the Headway EDB-1. Not only do these tone shape but they have useful frequency filters to cut out or at least minimise feedback.

[quote name='TPJ' post='1219239' date='May 3 2011, 09:55 PM']What about the QSC K10 things? Two way speaker and integrated 1000 watt class D amp with dual inputs. Just plug in your Fishman and you're off.[/quote] Interesting idea for which thanks but I already have the cab (a Barefaced Midget T) on order! Plus I was hoping for a cheeky low price for a second hand amp whereas the K10 is closevto £700.

I fancy trying this with a Fishman as an ultra-portable DB amplification combination. The reviews sound good and its a shame that its (a) discontinued and (b ) only available in one retailer (Station Music in Germany) for a staggering circa Euros 1,000!

[attachment=78923:20060616164347.jpg]

[quote name='Crazykiwi' post='1218252' date='May 3 2011, 01:34 AM'] thought I'd agreed first option on it.[/quote] PM'd you and Wes to sort this out

[quote name='Crazykiwi' post='1217999' date='May 2 2011, 08:15 PM']Eh? where?[/quote]

Where do you start? Nice "starburst" finish

[quote name='lozbass' post='1217626' date='May 2 2011, 03:09 PM']Very cool indeed Clarky - I've been getting excited about the CS 2011 P/J hybrid but yours is the real deal. Looks like nitro to me too[/quote] Thanks Loz, I am so smitten anew with this bass that I have decided (for the second time!) to sell my other fretless, my Wal (which is leagues ahead of the Fender in craftsmanship and sonic options but is not so "me" [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=133369&pid=1217532&st=0&#entry1217532)"]http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=...;#entry1217532)[/url]

[quote name='hillbilly deluxe' post='1217468' date='May 2 2011, 12:55 PM']Again. Is this nitro or poly ?[/quote] Thanks! I assume its poly as I thought they had phased out nitro by 1971? Although it does have a patina and wear patterns that look very nitro-ish.

[quote name='hillbilly deluxe' post='1217442' date='May 2 2011, 12:37 PM']Fixed.ish[/quote] Thats 90 degrees the other way ... but thanks for trying matey, it looks better this way than in my pic

I got this bass a few months back from Beedster (who else?) and it had previously been owned by Shaggy and BassBod. Although I loved the mojo'd looks, I didn't bond with it fully for some time as I kept using the wrong strings on it (too light gauge) and couldn't get the playability right. Recently I shifted to heavier gauge La Bellas and it became a whole new bass for me. I swapped for some Rotosound TruBass for a recording session I did on Saturday (as I needed a DB type vibe) and I've found it hard to put down ever since. Anyway, I had just laid it down on the sofa in our kitchen (which Mrs C has adorned in all manner of bright velvet-y cushions) and it was just crying out for a porn shot! So here it is (edit: for some reason the attachment function has rotated the photo 90 degrees anticlock-wise, but just cock your head to one side and you'll get the picture!) [attachment=78834:P1040211.JPG]