hubrad

Eyup, We've dealt a fair bit with Picato.. had quite a few custom sets from them, including bass strings as low as 0.020" I'm using their flatwounds at the mo, including a 5-string double ball set they started to make as a custom for me Could be worth a try. HUGH

Hi there, The shop where I work does La Bella Super Steps: [url="http://www.themusicroom-online.co.uk/product_info.php/products_id/4361"]http://www.themusicroom-online.co.uk/produ...roducts_id/4361[/url] in which even the G is tapered. HUGH

[quote name='Russ' post='400313' date='Feb 4 2009, 07:10 PM']You can now get *your* bass for less than the price of a US Fender.[/quote] This is actually a really good point, Russ. Now we've lost the advantageous USD rate and the Euro and Yen have gone the same way and worse, this is a really good time to be looking at British made gear. A hiscox case, just as a basic example, is now only about 2 quid more than its Chinese 'equivalent. I know which one I can tap dance (well..) on in front of a customer. Obviously I don't advise tap dancing on a bespoke bass guitar, but it could provide your band with that elusive Unique Selling Point:D HUGH

[quote name='TheRev' post='399829' date='Feb 4 2009, 11:55 AM']Welcome to the club mate! You'll never look back plus you'll be inundated with offers of gigs. There is something that is just so satisfying about playing upright bass - I can't quite put my finger on it. It's just so much more involved - all your effort and concentration goes into making each note sound just right.[/quote] Nice one Jez, I second all the above, and have you started to notice that when you walk in carrying such an instrument folks actually seem pleased to see you? HUGH

[quote name='Steve_K' post='866' date='May 17 2007, 08:47 PM']Oh cool, good idea My Custom Status S2 Specs: S2 Classic Through Neck Headless 5 String, EADGC Board 302 Walnut/Utile back, "MooWood" front (Spalted Siberian Ash, we believe) Black Hardware [/quote] Gorgeous.. would love a go on such a one! HUGH

Personally, the nicest bass I ever played so far is this one: [url="http://www.themusicroom-online.co.uk/product_info.php/products_id/253"]http://www.themusicroom-online.co.uk/produ...products_id/253[/url] from Overwater. I sold it - one of those happy-and-sad moments! I play an extremely customised Ibanez Roadster (remember those?) and I'm building up to doing a Build Diary as I've got it off the road for a re-face. These days, it's a 5-string headless fretless.. all done by me and so personalised that whatever I tried I coudn't find anything I preferred. Until the above! If I had a couple of grand to spend and more electric gigs the Overwater above would have been mine over a year ago! Those Carlisle chaps are, as has already been said of other makers, also really good to deal with. Most importantly, you have to find someone who makes the right bass for you. HUGH

[quote name='timloudon' post='399992' date='Feb 4 2009, 02:13 PM']I'm having a bit of trouble. These guys don't have any of those in stock, and won't have for a long while. I still searching around, but is there anywhere else I cn look? Is there a specific thing I need to search for?[/quote] This may sound a bit ordinary, but have you tried asking Roland? If anyone has the direct replacement or can get one shipped from the factory, then they're the folks! A busy place, so don't panic if no reply immediately. [url="http://www.roland.co.uk/logcallserv.asp?id1=1w2l3t4e4u2e3j5a5z"]http://www.roland.co.uk/logcallserv.asp?id...l3t4e4u2e3j5a5z[/url] ATB, Hugh

[quote name='Telebass' post='399965' date='Feb 4 2009, 01:43 PM']And on top of that, the quality of both is ever increasing.[/quote] Indeed so.. anyone remember what was on offer for the same money 20 years ago?

[quote name='Machines' post='399934' date='Feb 4 2009, 01:22 PM']I've had my MIM Jazz a couple of years now and initially I wasn't that impressed with it. Since changing the pickups and spending some time getting the setup nailed - now it sounds great and plays like butter.[/quote] A big vote for an individual setup on almost anything. One of my best mates, living near Bradford, is a real magician in this stuff (he once taught me how to fret-dress in instalments over the phone!). His standard setup charge, assuming not much fret work, is £35 plus your favourite set of strings. I've seen grown men on the verge of tears with the improvement! Sadly, on an instrument costing a couple of hundred, there's not enough time factored into the price for that level of attention. He also said the same re MIM pickups.. quite acceptable, but an upgrade is well worthwile if you've got the right instrument for you!

[quote name='clauster' post='399926' date='Feb 4 2009, 01:16 PM']Long live the guitar shop![/quote] +1 to that!

[quote name='Paul Cooke' post='399262' date='Feb 3 2009, 06:52 PM']all bottom, no zing, no finger noise... I've got mine on a fretted bass, so don't know how much bloom and mwaah they have... but they make my fretted acoustic bass sound more like a double bass than a big acoustic guitar... I hate phosphor bronze strings... too zingy, too much finger noise.[/quote] Go on.. bite the bullet.. get a double! My last car was a Punto, so you don't have to have an estate. [quote name='Paul Cooke' post='399262' date='Feb 3 2009, 06:52 PM']I tried Picato flats on it, but it was too dead... far more life with the LaBellas on it...[/quote] I'm on Picato flats these days, as they're the only folks I could persuade to make an odd custom set. 5-string headless flats? See: [url="http://www.themusicroom-online.co.uk/product_info.php/products_id/3542"]http://www.themusicroom-online.co.uk/produ...roducts_id/3542[/url] I'm using a Crafter Congress 5FL with a head at the mo, so I'm using Picato 766 flats on that; thoroughly enjoying the tone: [url="http://www.themusicroom-online.co.uk/product_info.php/products_id/4346"]http://www.themusicroom-online.co.uk/produ...roducts_id/4346[/url] May well give La Bella a try as well since we have some of those somewhere. Anyone know who actually makes the Status strings?

You have to remember that wood is a nautral material, and hence is a variable. I work in a shopspecialising in acoustic instruments, so the Martin D-28 is one of our world standards. Even at that quality level, we sometimes get a 'normal' one - never so far com across a ropey one - and occasionally a real belter! Electric solid body instruments are also subject to the same qualities of resonance (or lack of). Hence you'll read here of folks who tried half a dozen of the same bass or guitar before they found one that really worked for them. Have fun tasting lots of basses!

I just got a Crafter Congress 5FL as a stand in; The original strings were pretty bad - especially the B, and the pickups were ok. Now equipped with Picato flatwounds and EMG soapbars, this bass rocks! Even my wife wants me to keep it after I've done the surgery on my Ex-Ibanez Roadster! BTW, welcome home - fretless is the one true path. HUGH

[quote name='Toasted' post='397760' date='Feb 2 2009, 12:28 PM']The personal one that gets stuff done? [/quote] Yaay! Second that!

[quote name='johnnylager' post='397655' date='Feb 2 2009, 10:53 AM']Yeah, I liked them, nickels if I remember correctly.[/quote] Hi there, The shop where I work has the La Bella Super Steps in [url="http://www.themusicroom-online.co.uk/product_info.php/products_id/4361"]http://www.themusicroom-online.co.uk/produ...roducts_id/4361[/url] I've not used them myself as I'm into flatties myself these days, but I've sold quite a few sets in the shop with no complaints at all. I measured the ball to step distance to be 54mm or 2 1/8".. check with your bass as to whether that's enough. They seem to have a good endorsement or two - Alain Caron on La Bella website - so by those two factors I'd say they must be ok. My boss extended a sale 'til midinight tonight so they'd come out at £15 inc p+p if you get in there swift-like! Much cheer HUGH