Annoying Twit

[quote name='Beer of the Bass' timestamp='1398419750' post='2433866'] Sure, you can use different intervals, but the pitch shifted sound will always be a perfect mathematical multiple of the original, and will be phase-related to it. I was talking more about the small random variations and "slop" between separate instruments that make them sound complex and pleasing together, which this approach misses. [/quote] Erm, it doesn't have to be a perfect mathematical interval, modern pitch shifters allow any ratio, including modification +/- cents. If there is more random variation and 'slop' required, then a 100% wet chaotic chorus effect on one of the signals will do that. It would be easy to make a Max/MSP patch that has whatever variation is needed.

[quote name='flyfisher' timestamp='1397667274' post='2426292'] [i][size=4][font=arial]And sorry righties, despite many requests, we have not and never will make a right handed Gaskell guitar. That's just plain wrong![/font][/size][/i] [url="http://www.gaskellguitars.com/aboutus.html"]http://www.gaskellgu...om/aboutus.html[/url] Discrimination or chips on shoulders? [/quote] I think it's reasonable for a company to establish its own identity, and choosing to build only left handed models is a way for a company to distinguish itself from too many otherwise similar competitors. With the internet, it also seems to be a feasible way of supplying the left handed market, as from posts further up in this thread it appears that this is uneconomic for local musical instrument shops. Given the mentions of discrimination in this thread, I'm not happy with the way that women are depicted in the photographs of Gaskell's instruments. I'd be happier if the women in the pictures were shown in a way that suggests that they can play the instruments they are ... decorating. BTW: I had a look at the Jazz and P basses supplied by a very well known and very large internet retailer. I was surprised to see no photos of left handed models at all. Maybe the lefties were there, but not obvious. I was expecting that such a large distributor of many makes and models would have a good selection of L/H instruments.

[quote name='pete.young' timestamp='1398410412' post='2433750'] There would be little point adding a guitar to this line up. A melody instrument would make more sense, I would say a sax but that would be too much like Back Door. [/quote] They should add a kazoo player using a pedalboard so that it sounds like they are being harmonised by a Cor Anglais. (In case that sounds sarcastic, can I point out that I like their music)

On-topic for this thread: I am finding that I like old strings on basses. New strings, not so much. I wonder if there could be a mutually beneficial trade between those who like new strings, and those who like old ones. Off-topic for this thread: You are reviewed as being influenced by Percy Jones, with someone noting your 'busy triplets'. Which pieces of music would you say best showcase this aspect of your style? 'Reversal' by Prescott sounds similar to Percy Jones work on albums such as Eno's 'Another Green World', but I was wondering if there was something that you feel better represents the PJ side of your playing nature. I listened to much of 'I saw Spoonbung's Daughter Consumed by Kirby Dots' first, but the bass playing on that sounds more minimal.

[quote name='Beer of the Bass' timestamp='1398381231' post='2433649'] I think that after the initial "wow, there's only two of 'em" has passed, the sound they make is actually duller and less interesting to the ear than if they'd just added a guitarist! A pitch shifter is tied to precisely doubling the bass an octave up, with none of the harmonic, tonal or pitch variation that makes the sound bigger and more alive when two instruments play together. That's not to say that nobody should like the band or the song, just my feelings on their approach... [/quote] Not quite true. Using multiple pitch-shifters can create power chords from the bass signal. When I had a go at creating a Royal Blood type sound, I used two pitch-shifters in this way, and it created a thicker sound than simply pitch-shifting one octave up. Having watched the performance, I think he was using some sort of foot switch to cut the 'bass' sound at various times. Either that, or the pedals themselves where cutting the bass when he played further up the neck, perhaps through some targetted EQ.

It looks as if the seller of this bass owns a [url=http://www.theonion.com/articles/amazing-new-hyperbolic-chamber-greatest-invention,1321/]hyperbolic chamber[/url]. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/COLUMBUS-BASS-GUITAR-IN-VINTAGE-SUNBURST-/390826286537?pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item5aff0fddc9

[quote name='lemmywinks' timestamp='1398374371' post='2433577'] Actually screw it, if I don't win something else I've been lowballing that ends tomorrow then I'm in for this. [/quote] I've put a lowball on it, but don't have the boy toy budget to expand on it. If anyone is serious about this and wants to know, they can PM me and I'll tell them my bid. But, my bid is low enough so that it's not going to make any difference in the long run.

Yep. I've seen Curbows before, but the fretless-ness, the darkness of the ebanol fretboard, that body finish, and even the veneer (? - some other material) on the headstock just make this look so much better than any Curbow I've seen before. I"ve got no boy toy budget at all, having bought another bicycle yesterday. Even then, I"ve just had to put a lowball bid on this. @Evil Undead. Why would this be a pain in the posterior to play?

IMHO, this is utterly gorgeous. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Tanglewood-Curbow-active-fretless-bass-/201078902721?pb=2&&pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&autorefresh=true

Yes, I was speaking of the Yamaha headless. I've never heard of a Vega bass before. Based on what I see in this listing, I don't think I've been missing anything. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Vintage-Vega-power-bass-guitar-1978-made-in-japan-/261460975840?pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item3ce049e0e0

Ishibashi ain't lying when they say that's a unique body shape

[quote name='mark_random' timestamp='1398162061' post='2430972'] Hello all! Thanks for the kind words about GAK in this thread. As I'm sure I've said before on BC, we really value the feedback from specialist forums like this one. I'm always keen to hear about the experiences you've had in-store, over the phone, and on our site. As the OP noted, it's really tough to be a music instrument retailer in 2014 so hearing what we are doing right, and where we can improve, is very useful indeed! [/quote] Your terms and conditions say that anyone who returns an item under the distance selling regulations will receive a refund 'less carriage costs'. http://www.gak.co.uk/en/terms-and-conditions [quote] 7 Day Money Back Guarantee[list] [*]In accordance with the Distance Selling Regulations, any goods can be returned for any reason within 7 working days for a refund, less carriage costs. Returned goods must be in their original condition and packaging. If you decide that you do not wish to keep an item you can either return it to us yourself, or contact us and we will arrange collection. The average cost for a collection is £25. [/list] [/quote] Does this mean that you don't refund the original postage paid for an online order that is returned under the Distance Selling Regulations?

[quote name='Diablo' timestamp='1398179458' post='2431249'] check his feedback through - buyer beware! [/quote] Looks as if the seller doesn't send the item if it doesn't get to a price they're happy with. But, when they do send the item, things seem to work out OK.

Gretsch basses have been discussed (and bought) quite a bit on the forum lately. Here's one with a 99p start and reasonable postage. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Gretsh-Electromatic-Jet-Bass-/331182797480?pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item4d1c0872a8

Unusual looking bridge.

I've never seen one of these before. [url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Warwick-Triumph-Electric-Upright-Bass-/221421951256?pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item338dc6d918"]http://www.ebay.co.u...=item338dc6d918[/url] I must admit that I find the design a bit ... well, it looks a bit like one of the bodge jobs you see on ebay. I'm sure it's very well made, however. Edit: It does look much better in other photos. [url="http://www.ni-gunim.co.il/image/users/104721/detail/big/1950852.jpg"]1950852.jpg[/url]

Vantage Fretless. I think these were Matsumoku until they started sourcing them from Korea, weren't they? http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/VANTAGE-FRETLESS-BASS-MADE-IN-JAPAN-C-1980s-/291130580860?pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item43c8bc1f7c Looks reasonably nice, but I don't think I'd be the envy of all my friends on it.

Early bolt-on SB600. I don't recognise this finish. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/ARIA-SB600-1979-BASS-RARE-BOLT-ON-NECK-EXCELLENT-CONDITION-/201077338724?pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item2ed124b264 That would be a very good price for a classic era SB600. I'm not sure how much a 1979 model is worth, and whether that's the original finish.

[quote name='flyfisher' timestamp='1398014331' post='2429564'] Unless you live next door to a bass shop that stocks what you want to try then travelling somewhere that does has a cost as well - financial as well as your time. As you say, many online retailers offer free return postage so the cost of trying something in the comfort of your own home can be zero, especially of you use a credit card, which is a good idea for all sorts of reasons, and don't have to pay the bill for 4 weeks, which is plenty of time to return the item and get a full refund. However, if you 'just don't like the idea' of using that sort of service then fair enough, it's your choice of course. [/quote] I suspect that my next purchase will be online, either new, ebay, gumtree, or here. Simply because there aren't many fretlesses around where I live. But, I'm keeping my eye out locally. But if I decide I want a new fretted four string, I'd certainly be looking very carefully at the shops around here. I'd [b]prefer[/b] it if the right instrument turned up in a shop around here. But as you say, particularly for the specialist things that are likely to be my future purchases, they are hard to find in shops.

[quote name='flyfisher' timestamp='1397997707' post='2429330'] But you have a legal right to return anything bought online if you don't like it, so would you prefer an hour or two in a shop or a few days at home? [/quote] In theory, yes. In some cases, I'd have to pay the return postage, which makes it non-free to try out a bass. Even for a company that offers free returns, I just don't like the idea of having a bass shipped to me unless I'm pretty sure I want to keep it. I've bought on ebay, but the results of that have varied.

As I see it, the primary advantage that a local shop has is that you can try the actual instrument out and see what you think of it. I find that there's enough variation in the same make and model that it's a big plus. Also, with lower and mid-priced instruments, if the shop sets them up properly before purchase, that's another big bonus which I would pay +delta for.

I can now confirm my attendance (barring medical emergencies etc.) I'm not sure what to bring. What I'd like to bring is my self-written looper, though it still has no interface, so I'd drive it from my laptop while someone else plays it. Would it be possible to plug this into an amp brought by someone else?

There are three music shops in central Leicester which sell significant numbers of basses. All of them have friendly and helpful staff. When I've visited stores in other cities, such as Foulds in Derby and ... damn! What's the name of the shop that's across the road down a bit from New Street Station in Birmingham - I've encountered friendly and helpful staff. Maybe I'm just lucky, but in my experience shop staff tend to be good.

I haven't really seen pictures of this model before. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Dean-Razor-NT-4-Bass-guitar-hardcase-strap-Mint-cond-/331181198104?pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item4d1bf00b18 Erm, I think it looks awful! I appreciate designers trying something different, but this is ... urgh! IMHO.

Most of the crack converters type shops around my way are as described in other posts on this thread. But, this one particular one at least seems to sell goods for a reasonable price.