philw

Just took delivery of Tom's Sue Ryder P-Bass. Ridiculously nice bass for the money. Madness. Thanks Tom.

[quote name='Kiwi' timestamp='1339414374' post='1688011'] Mahogany/wenge would be a seriously interesting wood combo - am really interested in knowing what it sounds like [/quote] My '83 fretless Wal is mahogany body with wenge top and back. Pete Stevens advised strongly against the combination at the time I ordered it. He thought the tone would be far too pushy in the mid-range (Pete favoured walnut facings on fretless). But hey, I was young and knew best back then, so went ahead anyway. I just loved the look of wenge (still do) and a Wal that's "too pushy in the mid-range" just didn't make sense for me - surely that's (partly) what the Wal tone is all about, especially on a fretless. Anyway, I never regretted the choice. Mine is about the most Wal sounding Wal I've ever heard. Even Pete I think came around to liking my bass. When I took the Wal up to Paul Herman for its 25 year service a couple of years ago he thought it must have been converted from fretted 'cause, "Pete would never have built a wenge/mahogany fretless". Phil

All, For one reason or another (partly to "impress" a local promoter and partly 'cause we like doing gigs in towns we've not played before) my "alt-folk" band , The Galleons would like to do a gig in Canterbury (the one in Kent). Ideally, something a step or two above a dodgy pub gig where there's a decent house PS and a more than half decent chance of sounding good. Canterbury's equivalent of The Bedford in Balham or The Brunswick in Hove would be ideal. So can anybody suggest some venues that we can approach? Thanks Phil PS. You can hear The Galleons here: http://soundcloud.com/the-galleons

Oh that's a rare beast. Lovely. Always been on my list of basses to own one day. P

I've actually used Graham before on a simple repair job, but I'm not sure he's the right guy for a complete fingerboard removal and replacement. I'll give him a call though. Aguilera Guitars has closed down recently. I think Paul must have given-up the unequal struggle. Phil

Probably not too far no. What are you having done to your bass? Will you let me know how it is when it comes back? Thanks Phil

Can anybody suggest a good luthier in or around Brighton to put a fretless fingerboard on one of my Yamaha BEX4s? I was going to have Bernie Goodfellow do the job but having been waiting for him to get around to it for a good six months now I think it's time to look elsewhere. Phil

Mick saw my post asking for recommendations for a "cost effective" gig bag the other day and simply put a spare one in the post. You can't really get more generous than that. Thanks Mick. P

[quote name='TheGreek' timestamp='1327866594' post='1517973'] Hi Phil what are the dimensions?? I've got a couple of not bad quality soft cases which don't get used..you can have one for the price of postage (assuming one fits!!) [/quote] That's a very kind offer Mick. I'll email you. Phil

[quote name='Clarky' timestamp='1327865471' post='1517941'] If it has to be cheap-ish gigbag (ruling out a Mono, which is my preferred one) then the Madarozzo bags that BassDirect ships some of its basses in are OK at about £30 [url="http://www.bassdirect.co.uk/bass_guitar_specialists/Madarozzo.html"]http://www.bassdirec.../Madarozzo.html[/url] [/quote] Ahh, now that's the sort of post I was looking for. Thanks Clarky.

No, I keep it in a cupboard with the chocolate teapot.

[quote name='rubis' timestamp='1327841189' post='1517439'] I also used to have a Wal..... I worried about it even when it was in it's hard case [/quote] Probably best you don't have any kids then. You'll worry yourself into an early grave (apart from which, if social services find out about you keeping the kids in a hard case they'll be taken away). Think I'll give up on this thread and go talk to the cat :-) P

Awww come on guys, if I wanted a lecture I'd go back to college! P :-)

All, I have more basses than gig bags and since my original Wal hard case fell apart years ago (wish I'd kept it now, even though it was trashed), I could do with something good but inexpensive to carry the the old girl around in. So, can somebody a good, cheap(ish) gig bag. Thanks Phil

Don't know about books but I'd certainly get a few lessons from an experienced double bass tutor - a decent arco technique and bow grip is unlikely to be something you'll invent without help. Lessons will also help ensure that you don't end up with a left hand/wrist injury (keep that left elbow up!). As far as a bow is concerned, I just got one of these: [url="http://www.thomann.de/gb/alfred_stingl_by_hoefner_as_34_bf_carbon_bassbogen_34.htm"]http://www.thomann.d...assbogen_34.htm[/url] It's French I know but there's also a German version (my original tutor pushed me towards French, saying that a decent relaxed grip comes more naturally, he may of course have been talking nonsense, but a French grip certainly looks less awkward to me). I use it with both my NS CR4 and my "proper" DB and I'm really pleased with it. Vast improvement on my old fibre-glass thing. Phil PS. I suspect you might find arco on a 5 string NS bass significantly more difficult than on a 4.