Bassassin

[quote name='OldGit' post='562787' date='Aug 7 2009, 02:21 PM']Jon's got it sussed. I bet his band is entertaining. That's why other people's audience members sign up for their myspace and their friend and sandwhich shop people come along to see them.[/quote] Not sure we have got it sussed! Like I said, we don't [i]attract[/i] an audience at all - we're just good at winning over people who haven't seen us before. I'm inclined to think it's because we blindside their expectations - most people don't expect a female-fronted 30s/40s band to be playing the sort of stuff we do. We absolutely don't go out of our way to appeal to a particular audience - if people like what we do & enjoy watching us then that's fantastic, if they don't then there are countless other bands they'll like better. There is a big audience out there for "our" kind of music - but so far those support slots with Tool, Rush, Mars Volta, Porcupine Tree etc have persisted in eluding us. Steven Wilson did pinch one of our riffs, though... J.

The bridge turned up today from Howard & it's spot-on. About twice the weight of the rubber one & not about to bend in a hurry. Very keen to get cracking with this now! J.

Just got a 3-point bridge for my Westbury Track 2 project, exactly the right part, arrived in under 24 hrs. Cheers Howard! Jon.

[quote name='Happy Jack' post='562655' date='Aug 7 2009, 10:53 AM']Jon, I hope you're planning on putting together a UK tour. If you can get your band down to London at some point, you should be able to rely on Basschat to rustle up a decent audience for at least one gig![/quote] I'd absolutely love to - we get out & about as much as we can but obviously one of the downsides of being a "mature" band is the day job/mortgage/high-maintenance disapproving wives trap that at least half the band is in! There is something of a rift between the composing/recording aspect of the band and the performing unit - but it all comes together so well once we're on a stage in front of a big, empty room... J.

[quote name='4000' post='562318' date='Aug 6 2009, 10:07 PM']Hmm. I think I've been here before, and at great length. Haven't I, OldGit? Like I said last time, the problem we have is getting people to take a chance on us (although these days it's becoming more about getting the entire band on stage without injury; it's like everyone in the band suffers from Spinal Tap Drummer syndrome. That's what you get in your 40s folks!). I must admit, I think I'm getting closer to giving up playing live (I'll play covers when Killer BOB finally takes possession of me, and not before!), but I just don't want to go out on several lows. Of course if I do get my "final" gig high, then doubtless I'll get the bug again....I'm not holding my breath though. If I'm honest I've been far happier this week staying in watching my Twin Peaks dvds than I have been playing the last few gigs (one or two a year for the past few years!). I guess those slippers are starting to feel ever so comfy......[/quote] Don't do it! Never give up, never surrender! As another 40-something old duffer playing originals I am painfully aware that broadly speaking Joe Public won't take original material & bands seriously unless it has been validated for them - people need press, radio, TV, the web etc to basically say it's OK to like something before they'll front up cash - or even make the time to go & see it. I have played covers (to help subsidise an original band) and the fact that you're playing other peoples' songs gives you a validation that playing your own material doesn't - no matter how accomplished your own work may be there's an attitude that "if you can play ******* then you must be good!" Madness! The band I'm in now has been gigging since 2000 and it's fair to say couldn't attract flies to a sh!t fight, but it's not because we suck. Our favourite gigs are out-of-town ones where we're a completely unknown quantity, often playing first on the bill to another band's audience - we always, without fail, get massive amounts of praise & compliments, sell CDs & T-shirts (when we're organised enough to remember to bring them) and have new people getting in touch through Myspace. It seems in no way a disadvantage that we're often twice the age of the bands that we gig with and the people we play to. For me, playing music, specifically gigging, whether it be to 2 people or 200 is a life-affirming experience - we've had a couple of long breaks (6 months or so) and I hate it - in a sense gigging is what I play music for. However covers isn't really an option despite the advantages of audience size, public approbation, regular gigs & even money - I need to have a passion for what I play. I co-write my band's material with our singer, and it may be wildly egotistical, but I like our stuff better than 99% of pretty much everything else - and I actively don't want to play anything else. Jon.

[quote name='nick' post='562184' date='Aug 6 2009, 07:39 PM']Nice looking & fairly decent [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Vintage-Kay-Bass-Guitar-Thru-Neck-Epiphone-style_W0QQitemZ280380283913QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV?hash=item4147f79c09&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14"]Kay[/url] Mate of mine has 6-string version of this & it's not bad. Not the usual Kay crap.[/quote] That's 'cos these were Corts, made in K'rea around 1980, from secret plans nicked off Matsumoku & Kasuga. I had one of these and it was a really nice bass - apart from an uncorrectable neck-twist. Gah. I'd buy another in a moment if I could find one for the £50 (or less) that I bought the last one for. J.

[quote name='Happy Jack' post='561570' date='Aug 5 2009, 10:48 PM']Are you doubting his authentierty? [/quote] Absolutely not. He's selling it on Ebay, ergo every claim he makes is an honest, genuine, factual & truthful lie. And I say this as a regular Ebay seller. J.

[quote name='bythesea' post='561395' date='Aug 5 2009, 07:35 PM']I emailed asking what make it was and suggested that it was Jazz shape and not Jaguar. This is the reply I got. "Im sorry but I cant help you on the authentierty as I purchased it about 25years a go as a fender but did not do any research on its back ground sorry " So not a lot of help there then! [/quote] B0ll0cks. He bought it for £20 at the car boot on Sunday, bloke told him it was a "Fender bass". He went home & Googled it, the first one that came up was a Jaguar. J.

I'm now sorted out for a bridge thanks to The Bass Doc (Howard) so I'll probably be getting on with this sooner than I thought. I just need a 2-way mini switch (buttons on Ebay), one speed knob (spares box) and a control cover, which I can make. J.

[quote name='Happy Jack' post='560930' date='Aug 5 2009, 09:56 AM']Do we have any clue why he thinks it's a Jaguar?[/quote] Maybe the block inlays? Or more likely just a word he's heard in connection to bass guitars. Like "Sting". J.

Generic Japanese, or possibly Korean 70s copy, nothing to do with Fender & certainly not a Jag. You can't infer a brand from the tuners as these were used on basses from every known copy manufacturer in this era, but they are a giveaway as to its origin. With bidding starting at £60, an undisclosed reserve, and the seller under the impression it's a Fender, it's probably stupidly expensive for what(ever) it is. Jon.

[quote name='JTUK' post='560141' date='Aug 4 2009, 01:09 PM']You want to be careful how obvious you make flying in parts ..Britney and Madonna can do it and nobody cares how much is mimed, but a pub/club band might get some funny looks, IMV..[/quote] This is unpleasantly true. Me & a guitarist mate did rock covers as a duo, using drums/keys/rhythm guitar backing tracks which we recorded ourselves. I don't think we played a single gig without some half-cut knowall accusing us of miming [i]everything[/i]. Jon.

[quote name='neepheid' post='560370' date='Aug 4 2009, 05:00 PM']Sorry man, I sold it some time ago when I parted out my Epi EB-0. Bought it when the pound was strong last year and got £50 for it if memory serves, so I think I got all my money back [/quote] No probs. [quote name='sgt-pluck' post='560369' date='Aug 4 2009, 04:59 PM']Was that on eBay last week?! How did I miss that?! Nice buy. I've been looking out for one of they also - I have a the g****r version which is very nice. Last one I saw went, as you say, a good sum and far more than I would've expected for a little-known japcrap brand. Funnily enough IIRC the last one I saw had a broken bridge also. I think I remember discovering that a few basses had the exact same bridge, the grabber-esque Hondo for example. Not inconcievable that a replacement may find it's way on to eBay? Nice find. Pluck[/quote] That makes 2 of us - I have a lovely black Westbury Standard g*it*ar - without a doubt the nicest one I've ever owned! That's actually why I've been after a Westy bass for ages. Always fancied having "the pair". J.

[quote name='neepheid' post='560281' date='Aug 4 2009, 03:27 PM']That bridge is so bad it looks photoshopped! I can vouch for the Supertone bridge, but yes you'll pretty much have to source it abroad. However, the pound is strengthening against the dollar so it might work out not too bad. Obviously, dimensions are quite critical - [url="http://www.hipshotproducts.com/files/all/supertone.pdf"]http://www.hipshotproducts.com/files/all/supertone.pdf[/url] $100 from BPR = £60. Alternatively there's always here: [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=260456582644"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...em=260456582644[/url] - I bought my last one from this guy with no problems. Because they're in short supply here, you should get most of your money back if you choose to move it on, particularly if customs overlooks it on entry...[/quote] When I Googled the Hipshot your BC review was the first thing that came up, and the pics of it on your EB were what swayed me away from a conventional bridge. Thanks for the links, I'm pretty certain it would fit my bass, and the seller in the States is pretty reasonable. Interestingly, when you Google Westbury Track 2, half of the results seem to be about broken bridges - obviously there was an issue with the part! Really surprising considering these were Matsumoku basses & the quality control was generally excellent. Of course bridge replacement option no. 3 would be a standard 3-point bridge, which would return it to stock - and this does appeal to the JapCrap purist in me. I'm very drawn towards the Hipshot but I suppose I don't know if the Westy's a keeper until I've played it a bit & gigged with it - so I feel a bit reticent about buying a part that will cost more than the bass did! Have you still got your old one & would you consider selling or loaning it? J.

Thought you might be interested in what dropped through the letterbox this morning. I've been vaguely looking out for a Westbury Track 2 or Track IV for a good few years - they're not exactly common & when they come up on Ebay the JapCrap vultures tend to push the prices well into that 3-figure stratosphere, where my Pikey Powers desert me, and I cannot not go. However, last week I managed to snag a Track 2 project for £52, and this is what I got: [attachment=30245:trackfront.jpg] [attachment=30246:trackback.jpg] [attachment=30247:trackbridge.jpg] The bad news is all very apparent from the pics - particularly the bridge, which appears to be made from plasticene. The good news is that the important bits are fine - the neck is dead straight, truss rod works and the frets are in excellent condition with very little wear, no splits or cracks. I was a little concerned that the pickup might be a dud, after the Ebay seller claimed it "just buzzed", but it turns out that the phase switch it had originally is missing & somebody appears to have attempted to re-wire it using the power of guesswork! A quick bit of reconnecting shows that the pickup, a vintage PAF-stickered DiMarzio, is reading a very healthy 11.5k. I'm not sure what to do about the bridge - obviously that piece of bent rubbish is useless, and my first impulse is to just forget it, fill the little route under it with a block of wood & fit a more conventional type - I have several suitable bridges in my parts box. But the other option is a Hipshot Supertone - they look the business, adjust in 54 different directions, and should just bolt straight on. However, they cost a fortune & seem to be pretty much unavailable in the UK. I'd also need to confirm that my JapCrap plasticene 3-point has interchangeable dimensions... Anyway, no hurry, I can't see this bass getting huge amounts of attention straight away, as I currently have about 5 other projects ongoing! Jon.

Fair play for askin' but I recommend your local car boot & a bit of patience. It'll probably cost you less than the postage on other peoples' throwaway junk. Jon.

[quote name='skankdelvar' post='559690' date='Aug 3 2009, 09:44 PM']"Fendr PERCISsION - it are bargin, play superb WOW! Fund in m y uncels' loft VINTAGE 1945 Giutar WOW!!#."[/quote] You forgot "L@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@K!!!!!!! Always wondered what the hell "laaak" means. Sounds like it might be Finnish. But I dunno about the choice between mentally subnormal and glib, smarmy & insincere, tbh. Jon.

Rockin' like a spastic wi' a fistful o' plastic, yo. [attachment=30214:j_mresize.jpg] And [i]someone[/i] doesn't look happy! Jon.

[quote name='hodgsonk' post='559329' date='Aug 3 2009, 04:01 PM']A link from their site, UK dealer - [url="http://www.hinesitedistribution.co.uk/"]Hinesite Distribution[/url][/quote] That's good to know - but their dealership network leaves a bit to be desired! J.

I'd love to try a Lace Helix: Pretty sure they've never been imported to the UK. Jon.

[quote name='tauzero' post='559273' date='Aug 3 2009, 03:09 PM']"How dare you have a more attractive, richer, deeper sunburst than us! We'll see your ass in court!"[/quote] As it turned out it was more like "How dare you have deeper, richer sunburst than us? We'll get the same factory to make our basses! My Squier SQ Precision had the most stunning burst I've ever seen, makes me wish I hadn't sold it... Funny thing is, they never did sue, neither did Gibson, Rickenbacker or anyone else. Jon.

[quote name='nick' post='558688' date='Aug 2 2009, 07:26 PM']Lovely looking [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/El-Maya-EB-2200-Bass_W0QQitemZ290336204846QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV?hash=item439962e82e&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14"]El Maya EB-2200[/url][/quote] That's a BCer, Deaver, selling that. The full story's mostly in this very thread. And yes - it's a gorgeous-looking & incredibly uncommon bass. J.

[quote name='Pete Academy' post='558682' date='Aug 2 2009, 07:20 PM']I've seen that guy before...amazing![/quote] He's got half a dozen threads on here! He's Gustavo Dalfarra, a busker in Barcelona, I saw him a couple of years ago & watched for ages, wonderfully inventive, melodic, musical player - and that's coming from someone who's not a massive fan of solo bass! Jon.

[quote name='William James Easton' post='558509' date='Aug 2 2009, 02:31 PM']but hey music is about fun and passion, coming form the heart and being pure.[/quote] Truest words in the world, EVAAR. Welcome back! Music is one of the few things that has kept me going for the last 3 years, which has been a spectacularly dark time for me. Gigging & practicing with my band, composing & recording - what I've found myself calling "The Redemptive Power Of Rock 'n Roll". Somebody on here said last week - apologies for not remembering who - "you don't choose music - music chooses [i]you[/i]". Can't beat it. Jon.