hubrad

..mind you, as he quite rightly points out, headlesses rarely go out of tune. Keep it 20 years and it'll pay for itself in the time you save tuning up every time you get it out of the bag.

Ebay.. China.. say no more. On a brighter note I also switched from French to German bow; started with an inexpensive one second hand and in need of a rehair. Got this done by a friend who's skilled in these matters. Convinced me to go fully German. Great for me, as one can get a far stronger stroke, especially on the lower strings. This is to an extent (considering my skill level ) at the extent of speed and fine control on higher notes. Still liking it though, and inspired to use a much higher quality bow these days. Go for it! If you're ever 'up North' you're welcome to a go on mine.

Now there's a [u]groove![/u]

Off! Off! Off!

[quote name='TheRev' post='425181' date='Mar 4 2009, 03:34 PM']I hate you. [/quote] Heh, heh! If I think hard about it I hate myself! Seriously though, that was an inspirational day.. must try to do it again.

'Because we can'! I particularly like the description - 'Forth Neck Is 4 String Bass Neck Two Large Bass Pick Ups Provide Great 5 String Sound' .. Wonder if they sell those pickups as aftermarket fit? Actually, we had one of these (different name but same everything else) in the shop for a short while, left by a rep as a Showpiece. Physical impossibility and they missed several possibilities given 6 necks to go for. Ho hum!

[quote name='Low Down Dave' post='426193' date='Mar 5 2009, 02:23 PM']Check Ebay you will get a set for round £10 (item 330311940321), but as a set of flatwounds tend to last for years, and the quality of the string will vastly effect the tone it might be worth spending a bit more for a decent set. Dave[/quote] +1 to a bit better.. the flats that came on my Crafter 5 string FL were pretty ropey, especially the B. I put Picato on which brought the bass to life! [url="http://www.themusicroom-online.co.uk/product_info.php/products_id/4346"]http://www.themusicroom-online.co.uk/produ...roducts_id/4346[/url] If you like the look of these, £20 incl p+p for BC.. quote 'Hugh said it's OK' in the Notes section!

[quote name='bassaussie' post='426014' date='Mar 5 2009, 12:09 PM']Yes, definitely. Other options are LaBella, Picato, D'Addario and GHS (off the top of my head). I'm sure there are more, I just can't thin of them right now. I've used Elites recently, which were OK. Picato were OK as well, not as good as the Elites, and I think they only do 45-105. As I said above, I currently use the GHS set, which I'm quite happy with.[/quote] Picato only advertise 45-105, but as long as we don't cause them major stress at a busy time they'll actually make anthing within reason. See my custom set: [url="http://www.themusicroom-online.co.uk/product_info.php/products_id/3542"]http://www.themusicroom-online.co.uk/produ...roducts_id/3542[/url]

[quote name='BigBeefChief' post='402778' date='Feb 7 2009, 01:21 PM']The 3 nicest basses I have ever played are Fenders. I don't want to look like a space man when I'm playing so I hate all this carbon fibre sh*t. I also refuse to put batteries in a bass guitar. Batteries are for TV remotes and my girlfriends rampant rabbit. I also don't want to sound like a guitar. Just a dull thump suits me. Quirky basses f*** me off. The people who play quirky basses often have quirky hair. And probably wear trainers with a suit, just to look quirky. Just because you've got no personality and your parents ignored you, don't try and make up for it with a silly quirky guitar. Spikey metal basses. What a load of sh*t. Everyone knows the mettallers at school were the geeks who played dungeons and dragons. Having said that, a lot of those goth birds take it up the arse, so maybe their on to something? Still, get a hair cut, take of your cape and get a f***ing job that doesn't involve breeding snakes or working in the IT department. I genuinely couldn't give a f*** what its says on the headstock of a bass, I just think Fender got it right. Other manufacturers (like those c**ts at Warwick) seem to think "how can we make a design different from a fender?" as opposed to "How can we design a great bass?". I played a Burns the other day. That was alright. Different but still comfy and doesn't make you look like a c***. Although I do look (and act) like a c*** naturally. Fender copies. Fair enough. Don't see the point though really. I know Vintange do some decent cheaper copies. Wouldn't get one of these expensive ones though. Most of them take batteries. f***ing hate batteries. I've stopped using pedals because of them.[/quote]Hey, BBC.. been at the Shiraz at lunchtime? (Nearly midnight, been on the Black Stump )

[quote name='Happy Jack' post='425531' date='Mar 4 2009, 09:20 PM']And there's the problem in a nutshell. An hour in a shop playing a brand new bass is hardly going to be conclusive one way or the other. The responses above are enough to tell me that I was probably playing a pretty reasonable instrument and that the salesman was not a b/s merchant (not that I really thought he was anyway). So my unimpressed status could be down to unfamiliarity and having to play unaccompanied in front of strangers, or it could be that I just won't get on with J-basses. Hmmmm. And again, hmmmm. And thrice, hmmmm.[/quote] Hmmmm, indeed! The problem, in a nutshell, is personal taste. This is why so many players actually have so many basses.. no one bass gives every tone. I, personally, really like the tones on a Jazz type obtained by first turning both pups up full then backing either one off a tad. Not really found much place else. Then again The tone of a P-bass or Musicman or so many others is also not to be easily replicated without using that exact format. Wood choice makes a difference, strings make a difference. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad! I generally prefer the one bass - make your sound with that - approach. However if you can cope with carrying a couple then work out in context (gigs or rehearsals - as you say an hour in a shop isn't conclusive) which bass makes just the right sound in your hands for which song. Best of luck!

Double ball is just that bit more secure.. I once had a single ball unravel in the clamp hole and pull out. Only once though. Couldn't tell any difference sound-wise. At least if the clamp is there you can use single ball in an emergency.

[quote name='bassace' post='424926' date='Mar 4 2009, 11:49 AM']Thanks to the Rev and others in the thread for tuning me in to DT. I know of him, of course, and his awsome reputation but I've been so buried in jazz that I haven't really studied his stuff in the detail that I shall be doing now. The message of course is that technique doesn't equal busy-ness. From the few clips that I've seen here his playing is sparing but every note counts. And his sound, like all good players, comes from his right hand. I'm just off to practice my bass face for Sunday's gig.[/quote] +1 to the hand! I had an informal lesson with DT a couple of years ago, and got a go on Victoria!!!!!! An amazing instrument, but I couldn't make her sound like Danny works it. Then he played mine - now I know I don't need another bass, just a whole lot of practice and playing.

[quote name='bassace' post='424926' date='Mar 4 2009, 11:49 AM']Thanks to the Rev and others in the thread for tuning me in to DT. I know of him, of course, and his awsome reputation but I've been so buried in jazz that I haven't really studied his stuff in the detail that I shall be doing now. The message of course is that technique doesn't equal busy-ness. From the few clips that I've seen here his playing is sparing but every note counts. And his sound, like all good players, comes from his right hand. I'm just off to practice my bass face for Sunday's gig.[/quote] So you do Bass Face too? Excellent

+1.. I've had a couple in the shop, each with bag.

[quote name='ARGH' post='424111' date='Mar 3 2009, 01:56 PM']Pics.... its guage is .262[/quote] Man.. that's over a quarter of an inch thick.. beyond the bounds of my tastes! Wouldn't mind a go just for the interest though.

,,Martin Simpson - Prodigal Son. Amazing album all round! Just noticed, following the link above to the Discography, that Bassically Speaking VHS is on sale there at £8 [u]including[/u] p+p! Get in there.

Hah hah.. where to start? Tons of albums exist featuring DT's instantly identifiable tone, but good starts are anything by The Pentangle - Basket of Light was the album that got me into folk music! Richard Thompson and Danny Thompson - quite a few live ones around, also check out Industry and The Old Kit Bag and so many more Darrell Scott - Live In NC is one of my constant top favourite albums. of course, any of the Whatever albums - DT's own jazz line up all albums recommended John Martyn - some ace live albums. The list goes on.. just wait 'til everyone wakes up tomorrow! If you catch DT live, he may have some copies left of his video cassette 'Bassically Speaking' which is more of an observation on bass playing rather than a how-to-play vid. A truly interesting watch. Just everything - the man is a superb bassist. Yes, he can do the technoflash, but most of the time he just chooses the right notes to make you melt inside! As you can probably tell, I like Danny Thompson! HUGH

I just found another dusty shelf of CDs! RT + DT - Bloomington 1993 is another live recording, double CD this time. Pretty sure this came via Ebay, possibly from USA. First track on CD2.. 1952 Vincent Black Lightning! Danny keeps it pretty simple on this one.. RT already does a pretty complete version on his own! Sounds like the way for you to go is listen to your guitarist if he's doing his own thing, then just get a nice groove going to help him along from behind. Tuesday, eh? No pressure there then!

Yup, it's the bit most of us conveniently ignore when buying outside EU.. technically any purchase over a certain value (is it £18?) or gift over about twice that is liable for VAT, Duty etc. Always budget for this.. HMRC are only doing what they're supposed to. If you get away scot free (sorry Ou7shined.. couldn't resist! ) consider it a bonus. That way you don't feel cheated if and when you do get charged. Also worth checking - depending which country you shop in, if buying from a business you might get their VAT knocked off at point of purchase, before ours is added at the UK border. That certainly works if folks from abroad shop here.

It's all the eternal balance.. buy summat dead cheap then mess with it for ages to get it to work better. At that price you can tinker with it while risking very little.. learn to shoot the fingerboard assuming it's a bit on the rough side, maybe borrow a router and fit a J pickup near the bridge. Or spend a bit more on something nicer! Fretless is brilliant!

Too slow! If Bassace has second thoughts, give me a shout! HUGH

[quote name='wotnwhy' post='418677' date='Feb 24 2009, 07:42 PM']With custom basses, the relationship between customer and luthier is important in getting things right.[/quote] Yup, further to that, if you're near London, Mo Clifton makes headless.. I had a go on his electric 5 headless and his EUB.. could have spent a few grand there if I'd had it at the time! HUGH

Is it the normal one or the Bass model? HUGH