Burns-bass

11 hours ago, alyctes said:

Lawrie's a nice guy and a credit to BC.  Deal with confidence.  Bump!

Thanks my friend! 
 

Seems a shame to have this beauty here doing nothing. Perhaps I’ll enter it into hibernation.

10 minutes ago, Richard Jinman said:

Good point about GAS (classical gas?). I too used to trade bass guitars on a whim, but in the DB world you’re forced to commit. Once you’ve got a bow, a quiver and a stand (optional) you’re pretty much out of options in the accessory market. And the strings last 10 years and take 10 hours to attach so that’s 

not a GAS option. No, it’s only when you decide to amplify the damn thing and type ‘what’s the best pick up for double bass’ into Google that your troubles start.

My bass teacher always talked about committing yourself to an instrument. It’s like a relationship that you need to spend years investing in it.

9 hours ago, Owen said:

When I went bass shopping many decades ago I was astonished at the price differentials. They made absolutely no sense to me. It is such an incredibly niche market. There seemed to be no parameters which could be measured. I eventually had a new 5 string neck put on a bass I owned. I know that given the historical mishmash it is, it would not be considered "the real thing". And yet, I want for no other. I have not had a hint of DB GAS since I took delivery of it (apart from new machine heads!). And in the intervening years my front door has been spinning with the plank purchasing and selling. I am a bass guitar tart and will go with any of them. If you like it, then that is it. If it is cheaper than 80% of the rest of the shop, well happy days. This is before we even reach the value of a decent setup and a set of strings which complement the instrument - which are not necessarily what the bass will be wearing. And let us not even START about the price of bows. 

 

This has been a stream of consciousness posting. 

I understand the point you’re making.

Theres also the adaptation you have to do to every instrument. It takes a long time to get the sound you want from the bass I found. 

I’ve played gigs and festivals with Wilco Johnson (nice guys!), Jethro Tull, Carl Palmer, Arthur Brown, Wishbone Ash, the Stranglers, Asia and quite a few more I can’t remember. Went on tour with The Musical Box and recorded two albums with Genesis producer Johnny Burns.

This stuff means nothing to most people but was fun.

Sold a guitar to Phil Oakey and I’m sort of friends with Sade’s producer.

34 minutes ago, Richard Jinman said:

Good tip… 

It’s also common to take classical instruments on approval. I didn’t know this when I bought my Bryant bass and turned up with a bag full of money which he refused to take. 
 

He gave me the bass and rang me a few days later with his bank details.

You may know this of course, but it removes a lot of tension when buying from a dealer I guess knowing you can bring it back if it doesn’t work for you.

I benefitted from the advice of an expert when I bought my bass. It’s worth bringing someone with you that can play for several reasons…

You can both play the bass and hear it being played (projection, sound quality etc).

They’re likely to spot things you won’t about the construction and playability.

You won’t be lonely on the journey. 
 

Perhaps someone here might be able to help you? I would if I could play and had any idea what I’m doing (which I don’t).

These are beautiful (but very big!)

My point wasn’t to criticise people with loads of basses. Perhaps you need to have loads of basses to realise what you want in one (you can see I’ve owned and sold *lots*).

Perhaps as I get older I’m more interested in understanding why I felt the need to own lots of stuff. It didn’t make me happier, or play better, or play more, for example.

It’s interesting to know what everyone thinks in a non-judgemental environment. 

11 minutes ago, OliverBlackman said:

I could definitely get by on my 4 string P bass. But the satisfaction of wishing for a sound and having a bass that can deliver it is worth more than a holiday for a week (insert other not as fun as bass ways to waste money) to me.

I think this encapsulates it. But after a few weeks playing in the house I go back to the one I’ve always used.

It’s harmless fun as the instruments retain their value (by and large) but it’s ultimately pointless.

I’ve spent my entire musical career owning hundreds of basses but basically only really playing 3.

4 minutes ago, chris_b said:

No.

 

I played the same bass for 26 years and I've owned my current 2 for 12  and 8 years. I played the bass before these for 14 years.

 

I need to be a better bassist and owning more basses won't achieve that.

I think a visual representation of this would be easier to understand but ultimately you’ve reinforced things. 

4 minutes ago, Buddster said:

The affliction of a wife who asks why i have so many basses, but don't use them? 

Yes, I do. 

Not sure she'd understand even if I could explain it. 

 

But to your point, yes I have a favorite I play and gig that feels right, but I like the others. 

I should add, it wasn’t in some kind of cliched nagging housewife way, it was a genuine question. (She is financially better off then me and we respect our independence on these things.)

You pay for what you get. I’ve got two friends who are luthiers (one double bass the other guitar and bass) and I drive an hour each way to see them both.

Thats partially because I’m loyal and once I trust someone that’s it, but partly because the quality of their work is exceptional.

Seems Thwaites have delivered on that. When it comes to DB, you really are investing in something that will make playing easier and the sound better. 

For the last 5 years every gig or session I’ve done I have used the same bass. We’re looking at about 100 gigs or more, possibly double the practices and thousand of hours at home.

If I have to choose, it’s that one. I bought it new after careful selection and it’s been a good friend to me. 
 

I’m still interested in buying new basses but I know that when it comes to gigging or practising or anything else I won’t take it or ever use it. My wife asked why I have a lot of guitars but only ever use that one, and I struggled to answer.

Does anyone else suffer from this strange affliction?

Still for sale. Any offers? I need the space!

Still here! It’s a lovely bass, don’t be put off by the headstock badge…

15 hours ago, BigRedX said:

After all that, it's a pity that the song in question is so mediocre and uninspiring, and considering that it came out in 1987, was on the cusp of being totally eclipsed by acid house, so not really surprising that it was totally ignored at the time.

Little ray of sunshine!

The music may not be to my tastes but it’s a lovely story nonetheless.

Bristol is similarly challenging for this. I once had to carry my aluminium double bass half a mile to a gig. 3 hours later I was still knackered!

 

That's a fabulous price for what could be a fine gigging bass in a covers band or for someone starting out. Big fan of Epi Tbirds myself - when I was still in a covers band I think I had six! Now down to a much more manageable two. GLWTS. Hope it goes quick.

Thanks! I bought it for £120 and spent £50 on strings so this seems fair. I also have a set of black straplocks if the new owner wants them (free).

The bass looks and plays wonderfully well. But it’s heavy and the balance is weird (if you’ve not played a TB before)

Offers? Prefer all gone at the same time…

This is in as new condition. Bought for a few songs in the set but it’s an indulgence:

£99 collected or £112 delivered.

Here my gigged, loved, perfectly functional and fairly priced Epiphone Thunderbird.

It’s recently been set up with some new flats and sounds amazing.

No case and I can’t be bothered with postage. (Sorry)

£150 collected.

I didn’t play for almost a decade. Came back to it as I wanted a social outlet that wasn’t the pub or cycling (which I was obsessive about).

If it feels like a chore then stop. 

Just pack the gear up, put it somewhere safe and don’t worry about it.

I’ve got this K&K Bassmax pickup here. Used once but it’s not the right fit for my aluminium bass. (Now gone for a magnetic pickup…)

As new in box.

£85 delivered.

£50 delivered as I need to Declutter.