scrumpymike

[quote name='scrumpymike' timestamp='1473192933' post='3127940'] Ohhhhhh yesssss! A Mensinger Cazpar 4P from that nice Mr Maruszczyk! Fell in love with it as soon as I saw it. Also fits in nicely with my Polish ancestry (my old Dad would be proud). [/quote] Just the standard spec green 4P they've got in stock but with the radius of the top edge sculpted like a Jazz to make it a bit more comfy for my arm to rest on. Trouble is they're quoting delivery times that I can't really live with - especially as the pound is forecast to be even weaker by the time the 2nd 50% payment comes due on completion.

[quote name='naxos10' timestamp='1473165014' post='3127540'] Have you got a particular bass in mind Mike? [/quote] Ohhhhhh yesssss! A Mensinger Cazpar 4P from that nice Mr Maruszczyk! Fell in love with it as soon as I saw it. Also fits in nicely with my Polish ancestry (my old Dad would be proud).

Thanks wateroftyne - one of those pictures that's worth 1000 words!

Looks like I'm about to go the Maruszczyk route with a Cazpar 4P. They seem to come with a gig-bag rather than a hard case. Just out of interest, can anyone who's already bought from Adrian tell me how the bass was packed when it arrived?

Hi again Naxos. Phoned Neil at Newtone yesterday for a chat. His suggestion is to make me a set of medium-light nickel rounds with a thinner-than-standard round core. I told him that I'm looking for another bass and I'd get back to him for the strings then rather than reverse the light-gauge set-up on one of my current gigging basses. What an incredibly helpful guy!

[quote name='dyerseve' timestamp='1473094736' post='3126889'] Defo a Rockbass - the serial number starts RB, it says 'Made In China' on the sticker on the back of the headstock and it has a maple neck. I believe the first gen rockbasses had a one piece bridge but they have been producing RBs with 2pc bridges for a while now. Not sure it's a short scale either - I counted 24 frets??? One thing is certain though - it is definitely NOT a $$ as listed. Still, for £250 it's a decent bit of kit. Warwick wouldnt put their name to it otherwise... [/quote] Think our posts crossed - you beat me to it with the $$!

It's certainly not a 'Double Buck' as advertised.

ET, thanks for brilliant early Cream / Who pics. Love the poster behind Moonie promoting a "RAVING R & B NIGHT" with The Birds - those were the days!!

Just sold a bass to Stance (aka Alex) and I couldn't have wished for a more reliable and communicative buyer. I can recommend him as a thoroughly good Basschat-ter - thanks again Alex.

He replied very fast to my e-mail, but I noticed he ignored the couple of questions that maybe needed a bit more thought! To be honest, I expected worse because enthusiastic small businesses run on a shoe-string and offering real value for money typically generate more interest than they can cope with. This was also my recent experience in doing business with Scott Whitley - but if you stick with it, what you get in the end is worth a bit of hassle.

Just thinking, another possibility would be the short-scale version of the Warwick Rockbass Corvette. Weighs a reasonable 3.5kg but not sure what the neck width is (not quoted in their specs); I've heard the neck feels fairly chunky but that could be down to its relatively flat radius. My problem has been finding one to try and I'm personally not a fan of that sausage-like top bout. Must say though that the clumsy (IMHO) look is softened by some of the fantastic finishes currently on offer.

Good luck with your search Steve. The Talman is the best I've found so far although a used short-scale Fender Jazz (from the Modern Player range I think) would be something else I'd like to try - not sure how heavy they are though.

[quote name='naxos10' timestamp='1472823021' post='3124550'] Hi Mike, Just fitted a set of Newtone 45-105 Platinum Nickel strings with a hexagonal core to my SWB-1 and find the string tension 'right'. They do not take a great amount of hand/finger effort to move them to get volume or attack and seem easier on the hands than the GHS strings Scott supplied as standard. ACG also use Newtones in a 90-110 gauge and these also feel right on the ACG short scale I have. You could ring and have a chat to Neil a Newtone as they can produce custom strings that may suit your requirements. [/quote] Thanks for that Naxos10 - sorry I missed it earlier. I've heard good stuff about Newtone so I'll give Neil a ring. Have you managed to get a nice low action set up on your SWB-1? Cheers, Mike

Thanks for the info ET - the Bruce and Entwistle ref was a real surprise.

Funny you should say that Trueno - I recently tried exactly that with a fretless SWB-1 strung with flats (no 'mwah' for me either) but didn't stick with it and moved the bass on. I realised that if I persevered it might work out but I just wasn't sure and decided against introducing another variable into the mix. That's interesting feedback though and glad to hear it's working for you.

Thanks guys - I remember thinking at the time that it was 'dead cool' and how perfectly the songs, bass parts and instrument complemented each other - which is, I guess, the ultimate achievement for any bass player.

That's generally true Howie but my problems come from a bike accident 30 years ago that is now giving me nerve compression issues causing weakness and loss of feeling in my hands.

OK, here's a question for the (other) oldies on here: when I were a lad and the Hollies were at their peak, Eric Haydock's bass had 6 strings on it. Generically speaking, what was it?

Thanks guys, I'm pretty light with the right hand as it happens. It's not that I'm really struggling with my playing, just that a) I want to push back the day when it does become a struggle (and the playing quality suffers) and I'm questioning whether my decision to go for ultra-light-gauge strings was the right one. Apart from anything else, fatter strings = fatter sounds - and we LUUURVE those

[quote name='benebass' timestamp='1472723962' post='3123625'] The medium scale Jake I'm selling is chambered & sounds great. The only difference I've noticed is it's a lot more toppy than solid basses I have even with flats, but that's not a bad thing at all... [/quote] Thanks Benedict - GLWTS!

Hi Danuman, only problem with current strings is high action due to light gauge. I guess I'm looking for the best compromise between string tension and height.