overwater

Having watched this thread unfold over the last week since my return from Frankfurt, I thought maybe it is time I threw in my two penny worth... Firstly I’d like to say that I gave a great deal of thought to what I was trying to achieve before I entered into this relationship with EMC/Tanglewood Guitars and that my aim from the outset was to form a strategic alliance with this British company that not only has the knowledge and experience in manufacturing and distribution – but also shares my values with regard to quality control, value and design ethic. And, by entering into this alliance, it would enable me to extend what we do at Overwater – not dilute it... The name on the headstock is there for very good reason - I see the ‘Aspiration Series’ basses as just that... A series of instrument that fit into the Overwater ‘family’ and encompass the all the values I have always aspired to – but at a price that makes us much more accessible and bridges the gap between the ‘boutique’ and more ‘production’ instruments. What you see in these pre-production prototypes represent over a year’s meticulous hard work – but never the less, they are still very much a ‘work in progress’ – a proving ground to ensure we can indeed transfer successfully into larger production. Yes – I agree; they do still look a bit ‘two dimensional’ and unrefined – but these mostly aesthetic concerns are recognised and will be addressed before we go into full production... I have been very clear from the outset that this would not be simply a ‘badging’ operation. These basses are not ‘copies’ – but a ‘Series’ of instruments in their own right. I have always believed in design from ‘the inside out’ – not visa versa. My very first consideration from the beginning has been for the sound and playability. These basses where never going to be a selection of bits bolted together and badged with an Overwater logo! Every part of every instrument has been designed specifically – from the bottom up – or are actual Overwater parts shared with existing Overwater instruments. The timbers we have chosen are included for their acoustic properties and the pick-ups, electronics and hardware are all largely unique to Overwater instruments and have all been designed to match both the performance and expectations associated with the rest of the Overwater range and to integrate fully with our handmade instruments. Tanglewood/EMC have been the facilitators – not the driving force. I have been given a completely free hand and absolute veto. Our project team includes Haydn Williams (CAD and design specifications), John East (electronics), Alan Entwistle (pick-ups) and of course myself. We have chosen a small factory with an excellent track record for exceptionally high class work and quality control. American luthier and production engineer Jim Donahue – whose manufacturing experience and long association with Ibanez makes him an ideal choice to facilitate the transition from design to production – and I will be supervising and overseeing the first full production run – on the ground, at the factory... Yes, of course we are limited by our budget – but I have made every decision based on what would make this a better musical instrument... And yes; by conventional wisdom, I have probably spent a disproportionate percentage of my budget on things that might not be initially obvious. But that has always been primary concern - my mantra has always been ‘sound and set-up’ and never ‘form over function’! Which probably accounts for why Overwater almost certainly has a higher proportion of professional, freelance and session musicians among its client base than any other ‘boutique’ bass builder in Europe? We have always been ‘player led’ and I absolutely take on board everything that is said both here and elsewhere – Frankfurt was our first outing with this new line of instruments – and I have to say we met with an almost universally positive reaction – but it has also given us the opportunity to re-evaluate and fine tune some aspects of our design before we go into full scale production and I also note with interest comments made within this discussion.. Thanks for your interest, Chris May

[quote name='martthebass' post='599175' date='Sep 15 2009, 01:07 PM']Need to do a little rod twiddling on my new (2nd hand) Perception. None of my Allen keys are a perfect fit - does anyone know what size should be used? Cheers, Mart[/quote] Give me a call Mart and I'll sort you out with the right one - but I need to know which bridge your bass has.. Best Rgards, Chris May (Overwater) 01228 590 591

[quote name='BarnacleBob' post='519694' date='Jun 20 2009, 11:10 PM']The pic u have put up is of an Overwater C bass ( that actual pic is from a shop called Oasis Music' website and that bass was allegedly built for Andrew Bodnar of the Thompson Twins, it sold for 1.5K ) If ur seller has a C bass ( it should say so on the headstock ) it effectively has a different tuning from normal -The low E is a C but cant remember wot the rest of the tuning is. If its in good condition grab it! BB[/quote] Hello chaps, This one was not Andrews' C Bass (which was # 1 and as far as I know, he still has it) - the top on the one in the pic’ is burl/quilted Poplar, while Andrews' bass had a top of Australian Lacewood with a satin finish (the only other C Basses with that top/finish where made for David Gilmour and Dill Katz + one other that went to a shop in London). The blue bass with the ‘less extreme’ body shape is either a later version of an ‘Artisan’ (mid 80’s) or short lived ‘Fusion’ (late/mid 80’s). And the passive 'Original' with the contoured top came from very early 80’s or even 1979... So there you go! Chris

[quote name='bythesea' post='507676' date='Jun 7 2009, 07:23 PM']Further to the PM I recently sent I just looked at the Overwater site and there is an Evolution shown there under the recently sold basses - EVO00001, The price they show on the site for that one is £1395. It doesn't have the matching headstock so that would up the price somewhat, but Absolute's price seems a bit high.[/quote] Hello, The Evolution in 'recently sold' was originally very much a custom build; with a narrow string spacing and 33" scale - built several years ago and would have been well over £2k at the time, but yes with a narrow re-sale market; hence the price... The one with the dealer looks in pretty good condition - though a few years old, as it looks as if it has the old style bridge saddles and will also have the earlier circuit. Chris

[quote name='hubrad' post='485094' date='May 11 2009, 02:39 PM']I know that Overwater do this on their own basses, and 7string got it done by Shuker. Probably any decent luthier would be able to fit this job in if wanted.[/quote] Hello All, I just spotted this post about fitting ‘ramps’ etc. and can confirm, we do quite frequently fit them to both our own and other makes of bass. We do also do bass set-ups and offer a full repair, upgrade and customisation service to any make of instrument – and we can collect and deliver from anywhere in the UK if need be: Just give myself or Laurence a call on 01228 590591 for more info’... Chris (Overwater)

[quote name='JPJ' post='409144' date='Feb 13 2009, 11:21 PM']As far as I recall, this is the Overwater 'C' bass. I almost bought a fretless one off the bassist with Lindisfarne about ten years back, wished I had now. I have a J series 5 string (35", tulipwood body, flame maple neck, rosewood board, 3tsb, Ultrajazz pup's, J-Retro) and its the best bass I have owned by a country mile and then some. I'll be gigging it tomorrow night and grinning sickeningly like a cheshire cat throughout.[/quote] We named the 'Original Series' so - after the event as it were - back then ('79 when I designed it), it was just the bass we built... The C Bass was a 36" scale variant first built for freelance bass player Andrew Bodnar when he joind the Thompson Twins live band in the early 80's and tuned C F Bb Eb (4 semi-tones lower than regular tuning) and pre-dated our early 5 strings - an example of which you see here! Chris

[quote name='ben_eat_pie' post='409251' date='Feb 14 2009, 09:27 AM']Hi there, Could anyone advise me on someone who'll be able to do a decent set up on a Bass and Acoustic guitar in my area - South Norfolk. Thanks very much, Ben[/quote] Hi Ben, You could check out my old friend Martyn Booth, who's not a million miles from you... www.martynboothguitars.co.uk Regards, Chris