Spoombung

Here's an old photo from my student days. I bought this bass in 1982 from a shop in Canterbury. Back then acoustic basses were very rare. It had a fibre glass bowl back (like an ovation) a rosewood fretless fingerboard and a piezo pickup which sounded revoltingly scratchy. I also hated the way the bulky curve of the back of the bass made it turn over in my lap. I know there was a shop in the West End also sold these. Anyway, I don't remember what bass model was called and would quite like to know. Any ideas?

Behold, Prog fans:

[quote name='TommyK' timestamp='1470308515' post='3104924'] What are the necks like on a wal 4? I really fancy saving up for one but yet to try one. Are they more stingray/p than jazz? [/quote] As Trevor says, they are generally round, fat and chunky which can put a lot of people off along with the nut width and the weight of the instrument.

I played musical saw on the Cobra and Phrases album. Seems like years ago now...

Another favourite http://youtu.be/KZ9z0Puurgk

This a very fine bass line (played by my friend Sean) and one of my favourite Stereolab songs http://youtu.be/9aYJwd1nyNw

[quote name='PaulGibsonBass' timestamp='1470846610' post='3108929'] I enjoyed Stereolab. Another similar band from the same era I liked was Broadcast, from Birmingham. Anyone remember them? [/quote] Yep. Loved them http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kfm_vQYqGLk

W2148 still going strong

Another shot

[quote name='blunderthumbs' timestamp='1466525119' post='3076502'] [attachment=221955:IMG_1012.JPG] [/quote] Love the white one. Great instruments.

Here's mine. It's one of the nicest I've seen. There's been a few changes since I bought it: thinner frets (not sure that was a good idea!) and a Bartolini pickup replacing the bridge pickup. It's a lovely, lightweight bass with a great squashy attack to it. The most annoying thing is the position of the jack input which means you can't stand it up against a wall and even some stands don't accommodate it well with a lead inserted.

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There's not a huge advantage to them because you'll still have to hold the pick to prevent it turning out of position on your thumb (on up strokes). On a guitar it's used for downstrokes and doesn't need bracing or holding in the same way.

I had one of these things years back but failed to make the mental adjustment needed to play it with a fresh mind. These instruments aren't quite a bass and aren't quite a guitar.