hubrad

Same here.. there's always a frisson of 'I hope this works'! Dr.Dave has seen this bass in action at gigs in Wakefield. It definitely still worked then.

[quote name='bremen' post='438913' date='Mar 19 2009, 08:43 AM']And discovered broken blades, and crossed town to find that Homebase have never heard of routers, and ran out of glue at 3:59 on a Sunday afternoon and...[/quote] Well, there's a thing. [quote name='uzzell' post='441922' date='Mar 22 2009, 06:57 PM']I want one, but unfortunately i wouldn't know where to begin with such a project. I dont suppose anyone knows of any 1x10 cabs that you can pick up in a shop.[/quote] I got a Euphonic Audio 1 x 10 with concentric horn. Not sure if they still exist, but Overwater do EA gear. [quote name='yorks5stringer' post='442458' date='Mar 23 2009, 02:25 PM']Yes I'm O.K. with cream, .[/quote] +1!

..and that last pic was backstage at a church hall gig last week! Enjoy!

Hi all, Everyone over about 40 is probably familiar with the trusty Ibanez Roadster.. [attachment=22559:normal_Ibby_023.jpg] I got mine second hand, 20-odd years ago, already fretless with an unlined ebony board. Had to get a fretless and this one sounded ok and was in my price range.. under 200 quid with a hard case. As I took up bass to play in a ceilidh band, I soon fancied the idea of being able to play D below the E string, but couldn't cope with detuning one string. With hindsight, why didn't I think of detuning the whole bass? Anyway I tried a cheap 5-stringer, one of those Hohner cricket bat ones, which persuaded me that was the way to go. Ripped the frets out (as opposed to de-fretting it!) but it just didn't have the sound of the Roadster. I reet fancied the Status headless look, but even then you were looking at 1500 pounds, so sadly not on the cards! Out came the drills.. I worked out there was just enough space to fit a 5th string on that board. Only trouble was, with a 2-a-side head, the middle string tuner had to stick straight out the end.. kept snagging on curtains and band members! So, with hope in my heart and more than a flutter in my stomach, I hacksawed the head off. As you do. Used the Hohner hardware at head and tail. 'Job's a good un'! The truss rod cover stayed on board by way of a memento. Over the years, I developed tastes for fancier pickups. Not that the originals (poss. DiMarzio) were bad; poss low budget old school GAS? I had good communications with a pickup maker in Cornwall called David White, now sadly deceased, I believe. He sent various trial pickups for the experiment. Nice chap. New holes routed and drilled in the bass. After a few years I got hold of my first EMG soapbar, and I was hooked! More routing in the bass, and 2 pickups fitted. Reduced the controls down to Volume and Blend, so had a load of holes to cover.. gaffer tape for the switch holes and Wenge for the hardwood-filled spaces around the EMGs. So this was my bass for the last 15 or so years.. [attachment=22560:before_wb.jpg] I've been meaning to give it a tidy up for yonks! Finally got some flamed maple from Neil at [url="http://www.nscustomguitars.co.uk"]http://www.nscustomguitars.co.uk[/url] , then hung around for another couple of years plucking up courage to do the deed. Got into the zone a couple of weeks ago.. we're going in! First, the facing Wenge off.. now I can see the hardwood blocks again. [attachment=22564:faceoff_wb.jpg] Then onto the Nitromors and scrapers etc. [attachment=22567:stripping_wb.jpg] I've found some top abrasive called Abranet.. heartily recommended! It doesn't clog like normal sandpaper, and if you have a vac attachment the dust just gets sucked straight through. Having cleaned the finish off so as not to clog the machinery, it's off to see my local luthier Thomas Buchanan - [url="http://www.folkmandolin.co.uk/"]http://www.folkmandolin.co.uk/[/url] - for a run through his flatbed sander.. [attachment=22561:buchanan.jpg] and back home to glue and clamp.. [attachment=22562:clamped_wb.jpg] After some drying time, a couple of whips around with a router.. [attachment=22563:edgerouted.jpg] [attachment=22566:routedsmooth.jpg] to get the shaping right and the pickup and control holes in place. Now my bass body is back at Buchanan Heights as spraying lacquer around the place is definitely not one of my hobbies! Can't wait to get my trusty Roadster back up and running.. it's done every bass gig with me and has become my comfort zone! More news and pics soon! HUGH

Would that take an EMG soapbar? Looks like a 45 size from here. Already active, they give a good breadth of tone in a very clean manner. Then you can add the active tone controls if you really want, but I get everything I need from just the pickups. I use the 35s and 40s myself; various internal configurations are available (J, P, a couple of dual coils).

One of these [url="http://www.themusicroom-online.co.uk/product_info.php/products_id/4326"]http://www.themusicroom-online.co.uk/produ...roducts_id/4326[/url] should do the trick. The shop's located near Jn.26 of M62 in W.Yorkshire. I'm not there for a week but ring them for measurements. HUGH

[quote name='thepurpleblob' post='441570' date='Mar 22 2009, 10:49 AM']I wouldn't get up up tight about it. Maybe you'll get it back, maybe you won't. I used to be a keen cyclist and then I discovered cake and sitting on my arse all day. Things change!![/quote] mmmm.. cake! Essential bass player material! Hope the enthusiasm returns, Megallica.. it all sometimes goes in fits and starts. +1 to the comments above.. sometimes even just hearing the right piece of music does it.

[quote name='cd_david' post='434765' date='Mar 14 2009, 06:30 PM']Should have used the Overwater comfort strap, Have gigged one for around 6 years with no problem and loads of comfort still got all its give in the elastic section as well! Dave[/quote] +1 to that.. had the Overwater strap (still dreaming of one of their basses ) for about six years myself. Brilliant.

If you're anywhere near M62, the shop where I work is at Cleckheaton, 1 mile from Jn.26. We have both in at the mo so you can try them.

On the one without backrest, the body rests against both front legs, this bit being padded. Hence the bass is held at three points - seems more stable to me, but both are really good.

We sell both of these.. both excellent but my personal feeling is definitely toward the 414. It just kinda [u]looks[/u] more stable in use.

[quote name='benwhiteuk' post='432609' date='Mar 12 2009, 04:44 PM']It should say – “Do not expose to a lack of common sense”. Problem solved [/quote] They'd never sell in the States.

Another thing to consider, acoustically speaking, is that solid top or all solid instruments do 'warm up', i.e. the sound develops, with a load of playing. My first double bass was a solid top Zeller and did me marvellously for the first few years.

I don't care how good it is, [u]no[/u] preamp touches my wine!

Looks like that really cheap, ultra-pale rosewood on the fingerboard.

..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]