EssentialTension

[quote name='he man812' timestamp='1352677575' post='1866118'] wow that looks very nice! sadly about £100 out of my price bracket :/ do you think its worth it over cheaper alternatives? [/quote] I don't really know the answer to that - it was substantially cheaper and 'shop-soiled' when he bought it, more like £400 including a gigbag. I do know someone else with a relatively cheap Ozark (left-handed one) who's also happy with what he got.

[quote name='Len_derby' timestamp='1352674890' post='1866077'] Yep. There's a massive amount of cultural baggage attached to the banjo. Not all of it good. I've found that a neutral reaction to a banjo is rare. People tend to go either or . I try to use mine in a blues/gospel way. Inspired by the playing of Otis Taylor. A 2008 cd of his 'Recapturing the Banjo' was a great inspiration. [url="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Recapturing-The-Banjo-Otis-Taylor/dp/B0010VD7FS/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1352674797&sr=8-3"]http://www.amazon.co...52674797&sr=8-3[/url] [/quote] Yes, I really like that album.

[quote name='Len_derby' timestamp='1352673598' post='1866048'] Banjo - great instrument. [/quote] Definitely.

My son has an Ozark 2142G. Sounds brilliant but also very heavy.

... or from here [url="http://www.allparts.uk.com/online-shop/guitar-bass-parts/pickups-pickup-parts/pickup-parts/rubberfoam-neoprene-sponges-for-mounting-under-bass-pickups-p-3568.html"]http://www.allparts.uk.com/online-shop/guitar-bass-parts/pickups-pickup-parts/pickup-parts/rubberfoam-neoprene-sponges-for-mounting-under-bass-pickups-p-3568.html[/url]

[quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1352654282' post='1865649'] In that case I think you may be disappointed if you try that again. From what I can gather the UK distributer was appointed about 6 months ago. When I contacted LaBella recently hoping for a similar sort of deal my request was passed on to the distributer and I've had no direct contact from LaBella themselves. I don't have any problem with paying "shop" prices if the shop in question actually carries the items in stock. What I object to is paying a premium price for an item and then go through the rigmarole of having to wait for them to be ordered in. [/quote] So are you saying that the new distributor didn't help you ot?

[quote name='untune' timestamp='1352642134' post='1865446'] I'd like to try some of that denser black foam stuff you usually get under pickups but I don't know where to look for it... [/quote] [url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/GENUINE-FENDER-JAZZ-BASS-PICKUP-MOUNTING-FOAM-001-7333-049-/230839352195?pt=Guitar_Accessories&hash=item35bf18fb83"]http://www.ebay.co.u...=item35bf18fb83[/url]

[quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1352641053' post='1865424'] How long ago was that? La Bella appear to have recently appointed a "proper" UK distributer. However from my PoV this means that my favourite internet string site can no longer get the strings I want at a competitive price or on a reliable basis, and I am now expected to deal with my "local" music store who aren't particularly local and to my knowledge have never kept the strings in stock before. [/quote] Not quite sure when but less than a year. As I said in a previous post it was for items difficult to get hold of in Europe - specifically two 760N black nylon extra long E strings. I exchanged a couple of emails explaining what I needed, gave them a credit card number, and hey presto!

[quote name='walbassist' timestamp='1352594415' post='1865082'] They ship direct to the UK? Result! [/quote] I couldn't guarantee they will ship anything and everything direct. In my case it was a couple of 760N-Extra Long which are rarely available in Europe and they were happy to do that.

[quote name='lettsguitars' timestamp='1352208251' post='1860084'] La bollocks. A company who have never responded to my emails. [/quote] That's odd because when I emailed them a few months ago I got a reply within a couple of hours and about five days later I got the parcel of strings I asked for dropping through my letter box.

[quote name='steve-soar' timestamp='1352145874' post='1859412'] I know 2 people who think they own everything and I really do mean everything recorded by Zappa. What are the odds of that? [/quote] What? All the stuff in the Zappa archives that hasn't even been released? The odds are nil.

You could just play them to break them in.

[quote name='Truckstop' timestamp='1352143310' post='1859346'] I use my nose and chin. Truckstop [/quote] Short strap then?

First five frets or so - little finger Simandl style. The rest - ring finger 1FPF style.

[quote name='chrismuzz' timestamp='1352138525' post='1859254'] ... Stringing basses through the body instead of the bridge will result in a much tighter feel. [/quote] I know some people have this experience but I've never been able to tell any difference.

What BRX said - but also, even if the strings are all the same make and gauge, strings will be made within a certain tolerance so one packet/one string may well differ if only slightly from another so producing a small change in tension.

[quote name='wateroftyne' timestamp='1352107516' post='1858650'] This post makes no sense. [/quote] Irony and sarcasm often make no sense - a bit like the new La Bella bass.

Yes, what is the point?

Great video by the way.

[quote name='hollywoodrox' timestamp='1351942766' post='1857097'] I think the mothers used to be the band 'the turtles' who sang happy together. I'm gonna watch this later it looks good [/quote] [quote name='silddx' timestamp='1351946552' post='1857142'] Howard Kaylan and Mark Volman from the Turtles joined the Mothers and were christened 'Flo and Eddie'. [/quote] As well as Kaylan and Volman the 70-71 band included Jim Pons, also from the Turtles, on bass.

Or if you want something more traditional try some La Bella 760FX extra light - 39 56 77 96

[quote name='rOB' timestamp='1351196007' post='1848655'] If it turns out you need to play in two tunings during 1 set I'd recommend a Hipshot de-tuner. [/quote] ^This.

Very nice (and very nice gloves too).

Might not be what you're looking for but D'Addario Black Nylon Flats are similar tension to TIs (although less compliant) and substantially cheaper.

[quote name='Dr M' timestamp='1351176665' post='1848277'] ... Am I still correct in thinking they're essentially made out of plywood and hardboard? ... [/quote] Yes, proper tonewoods for the true Danelectro sound.