philw

Gareth, Just a thought. What about the D'Addario flats fitted as standard to the NS Design Omni Bass (the one that used to be known as the Bass/Cello)? The Omni Bass, like your Archtop, has a gap between the bridge and string anchor so presumably needs something with an extended ball-end to wrap length. I think the Bass Centre has them (although buying from the US would probably be cheaper). Phil

[quote name='naruki' timestamp='1349277752' post='1824177'] Actually I just don't wanna pay full VAT for a used instrument. I actually did this before, when I bought a Music Man Bongo from the US but I don't know how the seller did it. Of course I'm not gonna declare it SUPER LOW. Maybe 70% of the original price not including the hsipping. Bad idea? [/quote] Yes, bad idea. What you're proposing is tax evasion. It's the kind of thing we all get so riled about when big corporations or rich fat cats do it. Who's side are you on? P

Let me know too Gareth! Phil PS. Have a 32" scale, fretless five (E - C) Veillette Flyer turning up here in a couple of weeks. Having just seen my first six string Flyer guitar I can't wait.

I've used round-wounds on my fretless Wal for most of its 29 year life and its (ebony) fingerboard has had a bit of subtle attention on just two occasions. An Overwater with an ebony fingerboard will probably outlast you whatever strings you use. P

[quote name='rubis' timestamp='1348911235' post='1819650'] I bet he's got a tiny todger [/quote] And a wealthy osteopath.

Thanks Si and Gareth. My gut feel was a bit more than £450-£500, but hey, what do I know. S'pose I should do a bit of research on previous Basschat sales and on eBay. Thanks again. P

Turns out it's not 80s at all. Either I misheard or the owner was confused. Anyway, the serial number (N727720) puts it at 97/98 MIA. I've now seen the bass - although its original neck is missing and a fretless Warmouth is fitted (the original neck is I'm assured in the loft somewhere), it looks a nice instrument. It has a couple of small dings in the finish but the hard case still contains all the tags and candy - the plastic bag containing the documentation and wrench is still sealed. Value anybody (assuming the original neck turns up and it's in good condition)? Phil

All, I'm considering taking an early 80s US Fender Jazz (fretted) in a trade. I've not seen the bass yet and all I know at the moment is that it's sunburst/rosewood, never been gigged and in very good condition. So, assuming it is what it says on the tin, can anybody suggest to me roughly what it might be worth? Thanks Phil

Just bought Si's pre-loved Boss LS-2 and I'd have no hesitation in recommending him as an all round good guy. Phil

Up until the last year or so I hardly touched a fretted bass for nearly three decades. I guess it's been that way 'cause I've never played covers but always stuck to original material that sits mostly in the Venn diagram where jazz, folk and pop genres overlap - so fretless has always been the sound of choice (and I bought a Wal in 1983). Also, I only really got into playing bass through being inspired by Jaco, John Giblin, Percy Jones and Eberhard Weber - so fretted was never what I wanted to do. Recently though, the band I'm in has begun to do a couple of songs where fretted (Yamaha BEX4) with flats, played with a pick (err, that's "pick" for all those tempted to insert an "r") works really well. And do you know what? I really love it. P

Hmmm, if you're gonna go to the lengths of putting a screen in front of the drummer, why on earth would you make it transparent?

Going to try and make it with Wal, the Yamaha BEX4 twins, and the blue Veillette Paris (if she's not sold by then). Maybe the AER Amp 1 if anybody's interested in diminutive combos. P

Rob Green at Status will probably know what it is. I believe he started his lutherie career at Shergold. P

Just happened on this thread and while I don't want to be accused of nannying, can I just post a health warning about the dangers of "Heath Robinson" in-ear monitoring? Professional IEM systems incorporate limiters and fail-safe devices that ensure that if something goes wrong in the PA/backline, users aren't rendered immediately and perhaps permanently deaf by a blast of feedback injected directly into their ears. An IEM system created simply by driving a pair of headphones from a monitor mix output has no such safety net and if you use one you're potentially playing Russian roulette with your hearing. P

[quote name='noelk27' timestamp='1344793135' post='1769204'] There were a few versions of the body shape also. The version which you have (also the same as mine) with the scroll cutaway came first, and then there was the version with the horn cutaway (and two pickups). My problem always is I can't recall which shape came in which colours. The scroll version I remember seeing in the blue, amber (orange) and jade bursts and (yellow) natural, and the later horn cutaway version in solid black, (yellow) natural, magenta burst and antique sunburst. [/quote] Hmm, so many colours, so little time.... Think I'll stop at blue and orange, although I did just do a quick Gumtree and eBay check. Nothing at the moment. Perhaps a BEX4 porn thread is in order? I'll takes some pics of my "matching" pair when the blue one comes back from a setup by Mr. Aguilera (the two basses actually had a neck swap. The neck on the blue bass had a seized truss rod so was the best candidate for fingerboard removal). P

Ooops! Think I may have just inadvertently caused a bump in the price of used Yamaha BEX4s. P

[quote name='noelk27' timestamp='1344785710' post='1769088'] I see a blue one every day. Just wish Yamaha had made these in a few other colours. [/quote] My other one is blue. It's fine but doesn't really have the pizazz of the orange so I thought that was a much better candidate for the fretless ebony treatment (I can swap the necks if I ever feel like a change). I think there was a tobacco burst version, but they're a bit hen's teeth. P

[quote name='fretmeister' timestamp='1344785489' post='1769085'] Nice! They always seemed much better than the price suggested they should be! [/quote] They are, much better. I always liked the look, so eventually bought an eBay cheepie (£250 I think) on a whim. I was blown away by the tone. Very P-bass like from the mag pickup combined with a lovely acoustic vibe honk from the piezo. Build quality is nothing hugely special, but a long, long way from shabby. So, when a second one came up on Gumtree (even cheaper than the eBay) it was a perfect candidate for a fretless conversion. Et voila! P

I've been meaning for a long time to have one of my two cheap as chips Yamaha BEX4s converted to fretless, and at last it's done. Rather than just have the frets removed and slots filled, I asked Brighton luthier Paul Aguilera to fit a new ebony fingerboard and a two-way truss rod to the bass. The result looks pretty cool to my (completely unbiased) eyes. Even better, I used the bass at a gig last night and really enjoyed it. Didn't miss the usual fretless Wal for a moment. Phil [attachment=115465:Bex 4 1.jpg][attachment=115466:Bex 4 2.jpg][attachment=115467:BEX 4 3.jpg]