Spoombung

[quote name='Mykesbass' post='813072' date='Apr 20 2010, 09:21 PM']How about setting up a new, seperate thread on bass design rather than raining on Overwater's parade and let us dullards support them in what should be a really great commercial venture for a well respected bass company? Cheers, Mike[/quote] Yes, that's a good point and I think I should probably refrain from any more comments about the Overwater designs as I admit I am [i]very [/i]critical of them. I get the feeling criticism of instrument design is not altogether welcome here anyway; that's evidenced in the frequent[i] 'each to his own'[/i] and [i]'that's just your opinion' [/i]comments that pop up over these issues. Opinions aren't welcomed on the subject... unless asked for. I'm sure the Overwater basses will play and sound okay. They have plenty of fans. However, I will bow out by saying that I feel every new decade needs something fresh and funky in terms of mass-produced instrument design and 2010 is in great need of new, innovative bass designs that stand out with real indentity and grab attention. I can only confess that I find the all pervading output of anonymous yet familiar templates, the same old shapes, the Fender-cloning and vintage conservatism (regarding mass-produced models from well known companies) a bit depressing...afterall...we've had over a decade of it!

[quote name='Crazykiwi' post='813007' date='Apr 20 2010, 08:41 PM']Yours is just one opinion though. There's no accounting for taste.[/quote] Well yes. What's yours?

[quote name='Rich' post='812375' date='Apr 20 2010, 11:27 AM']I'm still willing to bet that the majority of players would choose a 'normal' shaped bass over a wilder alternative. Although I am of course just voicing my own opinion here and speaking for myself and so on.[/quote] For me, the problem with those Overwater designs is that (for whatever reason) they appear to be rather cool exercises in moderation and restraint and therefore fail to excite as a result. There are dozens of basses that look like them (or a bit like them) on the market already. We all know bass guitars are pretty similar between bridge and nut... and they also usually sound [i]very[/i] similar too because of ubiquitous pickup designs and the small spectrum of materials available. In reality, that really only leaves one major area you can experiment with and strive to make an impact; the exploration of line, colour, and the relationship with the body in terms of shape, balance, style and ergonomic features. Unfortunately, I can't see any evidence of that in these very plain designs. It looks like someone has simply drawn around an existing design and presented that to the client. It might have been more interesting to give the job to a designer instead of a guitar maker to see what would happen (I'm reminded of the Ned Steinberger story). For anyone who missed it, here's a link to BigRed X's fantastic thread featuring adventurous guitar design: [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=5525&hl=Weird+wonderful"]http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=...Weird+wonderful[/url]

[quote name='Bloodaxe' post='786318' date='Mar 25 2010, 09:53 PM'][url="http://www.creeksidestudios.co.uk/index.html"]Creekside Studios[/url] Pros... Ample secure FREE parking, Buzzer entry system (so you can leave the Uzi at home), Walking distance from DLR (Deptford Bridge) & National Rail (Deptford) - less than 10 min walk, Bus Routes [url="http://www.tfl.gov.uk/tfl/gettingaround/maps/buses/pdf/deptford-10316.pdf"]47 (Catford Garage to Shoreditch, Deptford Church St. stop P)[/url] & [url="http://www.tfl.gov.uk/tfl/gettingaround/maps/buses/pdf/greenwich-2106.pdf"]199 (Catford Garage to Canada Water [for Jubilee Line], Creek Road-Creekside)[/url] go past the end of the street, Local Greggs, Percy Ingle, Tesco Express, a takeaway Curryhouse, Barclays & HSBC within a 10 min walk. Cons... None - they'll all be up the market on Deptford High Street fleecing the punters. You know it makes sense.[/quote] Deptford is a great idea (I live there - virtually opposite the proposed venue) so count me in. I'll bring a couple of basses of course...

[quote name='BigRedX' post='805040' date='Apr 13 2010, 04:39 PM']I'd be up for this. For a start I could finally show my O level history teacher who once wrote on my school report: "His ability to design guitars is considerable. I would prefer it to be used in other ways" Unfortunately I rather suspect that the total sales would be limited, especially since I hope would hope to get at least one free...[/quote] You want to join me? C'mon lets take the bass world by storm, my friend....even if we have to take Tanglewood down with us.

If anyone from Tanglewood is reading please get in contact with me through Basschat. Me and my assistant, Mr BigRedX, will design and deliver you something very special... something with an identity, something modern, something different.

[quote name='Mykesbass' post='803203' date='Apr 11 2010, 11:11 PM']I'm pretty certain that's not the case - I think the power of the brand and the heritage of certain styles outweighs any new innovations and the builders have responded by giving the majority what they want. I must say though, that in my short time in retail, bass players were completetly polarised into the "old faithful" camp and the exotic custom build camp. There were a lot more of the "old faithfuls".[/quote] You know I real wish they'd asked [i]me [/i]to design those basses instead of Overwater. What is it that prevents designers picking up a pencil and drawing some fresh lines?? I'd have come up something [b]10 times[/b] more arresting. Mind you, it might have been a commercial disaster (like my other ventures into capitalism)

[quote name='Mykesbass' post='802686' date='Apr 11 2010, 03:16 PM']Trouble is, most bass players (even more so guitarists) are a very conservative (small c as it's so close to an election) lot, and for every exotic Sei or space age Gus there are thousands of P's J's and Stingrays. Just look at the plaudits this forum gives the Squier CV series. I think with the strong commitment to QC that I am sure Overwater are going to apply and the strength of the brand will make this series a huge success. Could be what I will be looking for in a few months.[/quote] I largely agree with you but maybe they're conservative because they aren't offered much variety?

It was this kind of model: You can tell the bass will neck dive just from looking at the proportions. All the weight is concentrated on the neck and top horn. The lower horn is positioned too far back on the bass to redress balance - hence the bass neckdives on the lap. I'm sure it's okay with a strap though. Seated, it needs lifting by the neck or leaning on the top to compensate.

I personally think it would be nice to see some more adventurous, eye-catching designs - more experimentation with body design, shape, contours, colour etc. Something that says "Ah, this is 2010 design".

I popped in there yesterday for the first time and got to play a Sei bass (for the first time) - a fretless 5 string. It was immaculately made but just wouldn't sit on my lap at all (massive neckdive). Apart from the usual hazards (a young guy slapping and making clanking noises while his mother looked on) it seemed a nice shop (with a very harassed, unhappy- looking shop assistant glued to the computer while frantically trying to answer phone calls).

Shame there's no photos.

[quote name='cheddatom' post='787039' date='Mar 26 2010, 03:23 PM']Weird! Maybe you don't go to many gigs? If anything I wish there were more 6ers, but only to perv at as I have no dosh.[/quote] No, I go to quite a few! Sometimes I think the 5 strings+ bass culture only exists on bass forums (a bit like slap bass only exists in trade shows) although I'm obviously mistaken about this as there have been sightings of 5-string bassists at gigs - and maybe bassists also slap at gigs too (again, I've not seen that either)! I'd quite like to know the percentage of 4 string players to 5. A quick look at Ebay reveals there are [b]86 4-strings[/b] for sale, [b]76 5-strings[/b] and [b]42 6-strings[/b] - that is similar to the percentage here on Basschat. So it looks like they're becoming lot more popular although I suspect they're recycled more frequently. I'm getting old.

[quote name='XB26354' post='787013' date='Mar 26 2010, 03:09 PM']So?[/quote] Well hurrah for 5-string basses, I suppose.

You know, I don't think I've ever seen anyone play a 5-string at a gig (and I go to a lot of gigs) or met anyone who owns one. Where are they then? They're all here in the 'For Sale' section or the Basschat 'Porn' section.

[quote name='XB26354' post='786989' date='Mar 26 2010, 02:50 PM']Er... page 1 of the Basses for sale has 27 basses, of which 19 are 4-strings.[/quote] There must have been a rush of 'em! Fenders don't count by the way; they're omnipresent.

The Basschat 'for sale' section is choka -block with 5-string and 6-string basses. It's a shame for us traditional 4-string players: not much variety or choice there. Do people get fed up with 5 and 6 strings really quickly and go back to their 4-strings? Why are there so many 5 and 6 string basses for sale there? I thought most bassists played 4?

Never, ever had a bass bargain...

[size=7][b]STOP[/b][/size]

[quote name='BarnacleBob' post='786254' date='Mar 25 2010, 08:07 PM']The body looks remarkably similair to the Pedulla RB range. BB[/quote] Yeah. A bit wider, perhaps.

Manson's in Exeter are selling an interesting looking bass: Stark E-Bass Bass Guitar - apparently made on the premises. Has anyone here had a go on it?