Shaggy

[quote name='NancyJohnson' post='265211' date='Aug 19 2008, 08:44 AM']Not trying to hijack the thread, but this [i]was [/i]fretless for a while. The original board hadn't adhered properly to the aluminium in a couple of spots, so I had an ebony board put on (and a BadAss bridge) by a luthier based in Kingston (he was a British Airways engineer and made baroque instruments in his spare time. Let's just say he knew glue!). It was later refretted by Dick Knight. It was a beauty, would be worth a small fortune now. P[/quote] Again, not trying to hijack this thread, but what was your impressions of the bass otherwise? Seem to have a warmer, woodier sound than a Kramer. Lovely basses! I'd liked to have met your luthier - I also play the lute (badly)

[quote name='NancyJohnson' post='265179' date='Aug 19 2008, 07:50 AM']A Travis Bean 2000 series bass #222. I lost interest in the bass and part-exchanged it for an Ibanez Roadster. Read that last sentence again. Part-exchanged. I gave up my TB and gave cash to acquire an Ibanez Roadster! I still think about that TB once or twice a day. P[/quote] Damn, feel your pain on that one – I’ve been looking for a fretless one (in fact any one) for around twenty years! Only one lost bass love really – a mid-‘80’s Gordon Crook custom fretless (know nothing about him except he was Somerset based), very similar to a Wal Mk 1 in shape and feel, other than being neck-through. Sold her for virtually sod all at some low point when I’d given up on bass, still miss it. Also a nice original ‘70’s Orange valve head , traded for some nasty Laney thing ages ago before I understood you actually had to change the valves now and again.

[quote name='wateroftyne' post='264419' date='Aug 18 2008, 10:31 AM']Well - the *real* prized Fender body wood - the swamp ash and alder they used in the 50s - is cosmetically as dull as ditchwater.[/quote] True, but they do age to a nice "butterscotch". The other advantage of natural basses is that they pretty much match any strap/stagewear ( prententious? moi?)

Never seen a Vox logo in that script, but who knows - looks old, and the headstock looks right from what's visible

VW-Fest at Margam Park (South Wales) - pouring rain, in a huge tent but more mud than Woodstock. Happy crowd, soon had the place bouncing. But why is it always a free bar when I'm driving????? Back there this afternoon for another show (4 gigs altogether this weekend! Missus not impressed ) (Edit; We're not "The Blims" - they were on after us & kindly lent us their drum kit to save faffing about)

[quote name='Thunderthumbs' post='263165' date='Aug 15 2008, 03:39 PM']Had to back a guy called "Mr Methane". Our band backed him on TV whilst he lay on his back, farting into a microphone to "Bye Bye Blackbird".[/quote] I remember him from "Eurotrash"! Wonder if he's still doing the same act? For me - playing in a band backing a troupe of lap dancers. Best practice for not looking at my fretting hand I ever had.............

Some great shots here! Here's a few should be familiar;

Only just seen this; really impressed, although genuinely gutted about the amount of grief you've had with it. My fault for the misaligned bridge; pure impatience on my part! Congrats Shockwave, hope you iron out the glitches, she's a real beaut already and potentially even better!

Looks a real nice one otherwise, especially with all its hardware (if original) You just can't beat 3TS / maple on a Fender!

I think the most famous Vox player apart from Wyman was in the Banana Splits! I posted on BW ages ago wondering who the bass player was (The crazy pink elephant thing?) Here’s a couple of pics of a (over-) restored Wyman bass, one of Bill’s actual bass, and a couple of the guitar version I’m fixing up at the moment. Cool looking and a reasonable player, but horrendously complex ‘60’s electrics. Never tried the bass model but I’d imagine they’re fairly nasty. Short scale too? Surprised Italia haven’t done a take on it.

Thought this was a tennis match from the thead title..............

A stetson. Don't know why, but I do.

Somebody recomended using the dishwasher in a similar thread a while back - haven't tried it though

I'm sure this is a capital offence.........

What's the body wood out of interest? Looks like yew, v unusual on a bass. Lovely classy looking bass anyway!

[quote name='Shockwave' post='242005' date='Jul 17 2008, 06:26 PM']Thought the forum could do with a feel good thread. I have been going from one amp to another very recently. I find one realise i dont like it very much, Go onto the next. They play second fiddle to my bass spending, And i try to get as much as i can from very little money ampwise. I allways seemed to end up with cabs/amps that have had problems or incorrect ohmages, I have had more then my fair share of amp failures. However they are now all gone My rig is now complete. Its a Marshall 3540 Bi-Amp. Peavey 1x15 2x8 Bi-amp cab. The amp is one i am very familiar with, i had the 200 watt 3520 version for a while and i loved the sound, a good mix between a funk/rock sound. And one can be picked up fairly cheap, They are criminally underrated and have a very clean tone. One would say "Transparant" But only if you want it to be! Anyway, I liked the 200 watt so much i upgraded to the 400 watt and couldnt be happier! The cab is amazing! I took out the black widow and put a 500 watt eminence into it. Bi-amped the Treble to 2x8's and the bass to the 15 and it sounds so amazingly clear, This is the first time i have experienced Bi-amping in the flesh. Its bloody brilliant. Every naunce (and mistake) Comes through and cuts the mix. I heartily endorse Bi-amping. And with the peavey cab it gets around the nuisance of carting around 2 cabs! You should try it with a stereo bass thru 2 channels now Shockwave! I briefly tried it with the Ovation; neck pickup channel clean and bridge pickup channel with a bit of delay/chorus. Lovely massive "wall-of-sound", but TBH I couldn't be @rsed doing it live, especially as most bass amps are only single channel.[/quote]

Try; [url="http://www.harrowaudiohifi.co.uk/products.asp?Make=WAL"]http://www.harrowaudiohifi.co.uk/products.asp?Make=WAL[/url]

I paid £500 for mine last year, but it was modded (EB-3 pickups and Bartolini circuit) - Gibson basses are always undervalued as they don't have a reputation for them and did make a few real dogs. The RD's were their very best basses however IMO, and fantastic value if you find a nice one. I know EvilLordJuju was looking to trade for one of his duplicates (fireburst and black) recently - try him? Worth tryng before you buy though - probabaly the heaviest production bass ever built! Also 35" scale I think. You need either the original case or a T'bird one too. Lovin' mine mind, my main bass in the rock covers band at the moment.

My second bass (circa 1979) was a Columbus Jazz copy – OK in its way, but not a patch on some of the better far eastern copies of the time (Maya, Kimbara, Antoria etc) – body made of plywood, neck some sort of cheapo mahogany, and near zero-output pick-ups. Wonder where it is now?