Piers_Williamson

That is a really gorgeous and historic bass. Does it balance as badly as an Alembic Mark King 🙂

Err mine cost £91 in duty in 2017

One of my favourite basslines of all time. Bruce Thomas at his very best.

Now can someone tell us which Stravinsky piece? I did know, but I've forgotten!

Has anyone suggested the reference to Stravinsky in 'Wherever I lay my hat'?

Is that the in-car hifi?

It's their cunning way of getting you to go in there (and possibly hold onto your money a bit longer than they should....albeit we love the place 😬)

If I can add a different angle. As a lefty I was fortunate to acquire a 4 string and 5 string Wal in lockdown (at not nose-bleed cost). For a long time I was snotty about Wals (having bought one from Pete the Fish in c 1990 and not knowing what a bargain I got). I tried all sorts of Wals over the years, mainly at the Gallery and resisted the temptation becasue of my perception of their cost, weight and complexity. That said, one of the Wals I now have I had de-fretted (by the Gallery) to its original form. One of the places I practice is a church hall - where when I play the fretless, I sound like Pino. I took the same bass into a much more constrained practice studio this week (knackered Ashdown rig) and sounded s.....t. I am sure sound engineers can make Wals sound like Pino (as can great acoustics), but I have learned how much the amp and the acoustics of the venue in which you are playing count (at least for a part time player like me). I love my Wals, but appreciate them as a player, not as an investor.

I last played it in the Bass Gallery, where it loitered for quite a while. It's interesting in that it has a lighter body than a normal Wal 2 and it had some pretty bespoke fretless markers as well

I think these look the business. The dreaded Guitar Guitar have got three of these in stock at the minute a bit cheaper than the Fender site has them. I have a second hand Custom Shop 66 Leftie, which doesn't have the matching headstock, but is still the nicest four string bass I own. The neck profile on it is slightly different to most other Jazz's, and I prefer it.

Who ever would consider doing a thing like that now?

Have you checked out the Brucie Baby version of this. Not quite Northern Soul, but still good!

Here's a left bookend for you

Surprised no one's brought this one up....

What a great thread (other than the bit about Leeds...as a Londoner I went to college in Leeds because people were massively more friendly than London). Newcastle is massively friendly for a Southerner if you accept them on their terms (not hard). Grainger Town is a revelation (Looks like Bath) and the countryside is properly beautiful.

Cool. I'm not in the business of promoting the Gallery (although they did a fantastic job for me recently reverting a Wal to fretless). they do appear to have a new l/h Player Jazz which I am sure they would de-fret for you and set up, all within your budget. Just talk to Martin or John. I think they would take as much pride in this as a more expensive project.

An alternative suggestion....pick up something like a fretted Mexican Jazz and take it to your local friendly luthier. The Bass Gallery advertises defret and lining for £110, and they will set the bass up for you

And to ask the nurdy question, what is that Left Handed Bass Camelle Hinds is playing in the Style Council set?

I have a lefty version of this bass and have been playing it over Christmas (re-taught myself the Alphonso Johnson/Jeffrey Osbourne line 'Stay with me Tonight'). It's an incredibly stable bass....keeps its tuning. Quite lively pickups...much more what I imagine a 70's Jazz to sound like, despite all the early Jazz references. Great all rounder bass.

Could I have the name of your osteopath?