Chownybass

HELLO!

I was summoned and I have appeared.

So Retrovibe and Chowny are working together in an official capacity. We were already using a lot of the same production facilities and working fairly closely together. So it made sense to combine it all.

This allows us to consolidate orders, shipping, manufacturing buying power and marketing, have a central UK contact for the factory etc. It's a growing enterprise and works very well for all of us.

So currently we make all the Retrovibe bass designs under license - and Retrovibe work with us like a sort of in-house design team. We still have our own models. And we also have Retrovibe models released under the banner of "Retrovibe by Chowny"

We have a similar arrangement with Scott Whitley to make the SWB basses under license.

Working together EVO has been redesigned and greatly improved. We have a version with Davie504 (linked above) and also an upgrade to the existing one here [url="http://chownybass.com/product/evo-standard/"]http://chownybass.co...t/evo-standard/[/url] . Both of these feature the Retrovibe Stinger '77 Pre-Amp as standard.

All of us (Scott Whitley, David from Retrovibe and I) will all being going to NAMM together. Which will be a laugh

I hope that makes sense.

*discreet cough* [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/310941-fs-chowny-chb-1-purple-burst-l375/"]http://basschat.co.uk/topic/310941-fs-chowny-chb-1-purple-burst-l375/[/url]

Thanks for the kind words all. We worked REALLY hard on these.

[quote name='kodiakblair' timestamp='1503079199' post='3355602']
Never played one since Chowny took over production but I had 5 of the original Retrovibe basses and they were great basses. Really wish I hadn't sold the Evo
[/quote]

David and I have redesigned the EVO from the ground up. New manufacturing in India, better headstock, angled tuners, stinger pre-amp as standard. You should check it out. ;-)

http://chownybass.com/product/evo-standard/ for the standard EVO

or http://chownybass.com/product/evo-davie504-signature/ for the new Davie504 Signature EVO.

[quote name='Japhet' timestamp='1492194677' post='3278659']
I'm after a fuzz pedal to fill out a bit of the sound when the guitarist solos. Basically, I want something that sounds like a chunky rhythm guitar underneath that keeps plenty of dry blend in the sound.
[/quote]

Something like this?


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RnbqpDI_4Oc

[quote name='GazWills' timestamp='1494937063' post='3299728']
Having played a prototype, I agree that it's a decent sounding muff, and definitely worth the price - but to the best of my knowledge it's not 'built in the UK' as that review states!
[/quote]

Hi Gaz!

You're welcome to have a play with the new Octaver too if you like - would love some feedback. I can send it to you via Simon who is frantically setting up 30 basses for me this week.

And yes - you're right. It is most definitely not made here. Designed here. Made in China mostly. (The artwork and boxes and sleeves are all done here in the UK).

Thanks for that Gear News piece. I hadn't spotted it yet.

A couple of videos with it in use here from Danny Sapko (who deserves a subscribe on his youtube channel).

[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5mnTMw_HlK4[/media]

and

[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RnbqpDI_4Oc[/media]

[quote name='chris_b' timestamp='1493033272' post='3284945']
Does the certificate cover the whole 300 or does each bass need it's own paperwork?
[/quote]

The import license is per consignment regardless of quantity.

[quote name='Sibob' timestamp='1493037567' post='3285022']
Hoping that a lot of manufacturers move to Pau Ferro actually
[/quote]

Unlikely to replace rosewood on more affordable instruments due to the expense of getting it to the places those are made. It's always a bit awkward to finish I think. I looked into this and dismissed it as not feasible.

The kind of brands who already use this - will still use it.

*disclaimer: I can't speak for other manufacturers. But am happy to share my experience with looking at these things.

[quote name='Grangur' timestamp='1493018634' post='3284780']
So When a BCer from the EU mails a seller asking, "will you ship to Spain?", pre-Brexit, the easy answer is "yes". Post-Brexit, it will probably be, "no, because CITES, makes it a major PITA".
[/quote]

Yep. That's about the sum of it.

Drove under a banner on Bristol Portway for the Bristol Guitar Show on the 30th of April.

Thought it would be worth going - as it's on my doorstep - so I booked a table. So if you are local and fancy trying out one of our basses please come and see us there.

We'll have Chowny and recently aquired Retrovibe basses there.



Anybody coming?

(Details here [url="http://www.guitarshowsuk.co.uk/"]http://www.guitarshowsuk.co.uk/[/url] and here [url="https://www.facebook.com/events/1777086542545505/"]https://www.facebook.com/events/1777086542545505/[/url]

*Disclaimer 1 : I'm not affiliated with this show in any way But hopefully it'll be ok

*Disclaimer 2 : Will probably be lots of guitarists there too.

[quote name='mark76' timestamp='1492771286' post='3283058']
What happens to the instruments that are already made and in the shops or in warehouses waiting to be sent out?
[/quote]

Exactly the same as ones manufactured right now. As far as I know the trade restrictions apply whether it's brand new or a vintage instrument.

If you wanted to ship them across economic borders (within the EU is fine) you would need to apply for an export license. Off the top of my head this is about £57 and takes about 15 days to apply for.

You're fine to travel with an instrument you own though. I think those are exempt.

We've gone for a range of solutions for this fretboard issue.

In the short term we're putting ebony on the fretboards of the SWB basses because this gets product moving again. However Ebony is more endangered than Rosewood (Which is actually very well managed in India - and a bit of a blow to their industry - but that's another matter). So if other manufacturers make a dash for Ebony to get product moving again - I think we may well see Ebony on Appendix II before long.

We will continue to use Ebony on our high end stuff though.

So we're making more maple necks - which aren't to everybodies taste.

The other thing we're looking into is a product called Blackwood Tech. It's a resin/pine composite - much like Richlite (which is resin and paper composite). They take pine (pinus radiata) and pressurise it with stain (either brown or black) and then they pressurise it and impregnate it with resin. And then finally they compact and press it.

It can be manufactured to the hardness and characteristics of ebony or rosewood or anything inbetween. It also - unlike richlite - keeps a grain because it's still wood. It's also water resistant, doesn't warp and is flame retardant. Oh and it's 100% FSC sustainable.

We've had samples made and it's really not too bad at all. You'd think it was ebony at a glance and it sounds great.

I can post some updates on this stuff if people are at all interested.

Thanks scrumpy for all the hard work organising it. It was good fun.

It was great to meet everybody and thanks to all those people that came over and chatted and had a go on our basses.

Made a few good connections that hopefully something will come out of. And ate too many cheese scones.

Looking forward to seeing the photos.

- Stephen

[quote name='scrumpymike' timestamp='1490625551' post='3266569']
[b][u]Bash update: Zilla Cabs[/u][/b] I've just done a last round of phone calls to our event sponsors, basically to say "Thanks again for your support and see you Sunday." Anyone hoping to sample the wares of Bristol cab manufacturer Zilla (me for example) will unfortunately be disappointed! Despite agreeing to attend and multiple contacts from me by e-mail and telephone, boss-man Paul now tells me that he's not available next weekend - go figure!?
[/quote]

That's a shame. I was looking forward to checking them out. They look great.

[quote name='scrumpymike' timestamp='1490359096' post='3264569']
Just heard from Stephen Chown. He's really looking forward to the bash and says that Scott Whitley is hoping to be there too. Here's a link to the new Chowny SWB-1 vid showing basses from the first re-designed, Indian-built batch as demo'd by Scott.

[url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sRq82kdoOGk"]http://www.youtube....h?v=sRq82kdoOGk[/url]
[/quote]

Scott is doing a gig in Hong Kong unfortunately. He did want to come down though.

I've probably got a Chowny T-Shirt I can throw into the raffle. Large or Extra Large?

Looks like the South West is a bit of a hotbed of guitar/bass activity. I know Zilla Cabs are also based down here. It's great to see how many of us there are

[quote name='ChunkyMunky' timestamp='1487168808' post='3237715']
[color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]Blimey.[/font][/color]
[/quote]

Don't forget to add me.

I'll bring one of everything from the range. So : Chowny SWB-1 Scott Whitley Signature, Chowny CHB-1, Chowny CHB-2, Chowny NT-J and Chowny NT-B. And also a Chowny Fuzzster pedal.

It's ok. Not a bad bass at all. It was a prototype commissioned from our factory (the one that makes the CHB-1s) when we were first trying to get to grips with what exactly we were going to be making.

It was cluttering the place up so we helped it find a new home through the community. I think since then it may or may not have had some work done.

We wisely decided to steer well clear of anything related to that well-known and litigious brand and the only design cue that carried over to our final guitars was the white truss rod cover.

The irony is we ended up being threatened with legal action anyway - from yet a completely different and litigious brand. (Thankfully now resolved)

Want us to pimp this out to our Facebook followers?

[quote name='ern500evo' timestamp='1454141690' post='2966796']
I've had some work done on a few basses lately, luminlay fret markers in my Sire V7 and Warwick Streamer and set up on my MusicMan Bongo, all done by Simon Bamber at SiCo set ups in Bristol. Can't recommend the guy enough, absolutely first class service, and a very very nice guy to deal with. My Bongo was languishing in its case not getting a great deal of use, always thought something about it just didn't suit me, got it back from Si after a set up and re-string and have to say the difference is absolutely incredible. I believe he used to work at Waghorn guitars, he now has a workshop at the back of his house.
[url="http://www.sicosetups.co.uk/"]http://www.sicosetups.co.uk/[/url]
[/quote]

+1 for Simon Bamber at SiCo. He's the unofficial Chowny Bass repair/setup office too. Can't recommend him enough.

- Stephen

Thanks to all who PM'd or responded on Social Media. I've got a list of people to check out and will return if nothing pans out.

In the past I've done two videos for each bass. One with pickup combinations, and one with music styles. But lately I've been rolling that into one and doing a couple of different styles of music and highlighting the pickup/tone settings for each one.

I've got a production company in Bristol, it'd be filmed over a couple of hours. Multiple cameras and multiple takes. Play a piece a few times until the musician feels they have nailed it.

The music would be recording directly into Mac, and pushed out to a monitor. So that the camera and sound can be synced up in editing.

I don't have written music, generally again - in the past - i've left it to the musician to improvise or write something in a few different styles.

Examples : [list]
[*]Rock
[*]Jazz
[*]Blues
[*]Reggae
[*]Metal
[*]Funk
[/list]
Does that answer everything?

Hi Guys

Looking for a Bristol based bassist between 20 or 30 (or thereabouts) who has chops. I need to record a new demo video for the new 2017 edition (30.7" and 34") Semi-Hollow Basses.

Something like this one :

[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=houaxTxFCiQ[/media]

This is a paying job - I'm not expecting freebies.

Anybody know anybody?

[quote name='tom1946' timestamp='1469128901' post='3096039']
I have a Chowny mk1 and it's a great bass, nice n light but the strap peg is on the back which I find uncomfortable as well as the bass falling forward.
[/quote]

We've moving it on the 2017 model