Dom in Dorset

I've tried two, I'm not sure what models. One had two humbuckers (passive) and a slab like body, not much contouring , priced at about £180- gorgeous! as you said nice neck great big punchy sound. The other was a more fancy beast, P/J pick up combo, active (nice new battery) , contoured body, price £300? - I hated it, every tone from wooley to weedy via flaccid! Nice neck.

The ones I've seen were all run of the mill P bass copies, you get good ones and bad ones. I think they are made in China, on a par with Stagg. I set one up a couple of days ago , the frets were sharp at the egdes and had to be filed to stop a customer cutting themself (it's the only Gould I've come across that had an unfinished neck, they normally have a laquer) It set up quite nicely in the end , a good p bass copy for the money, it was pink.

I've got a home made shallow body acoustic bass with Picato Black Nylons on. I can't imagine playing fretless with any other type of string. Sound samples here: [url="http://www.myspace.com/dominicallanbagpipes"]www.myspace.com/dominicallanbagpipes[/url] It's the last track on the media player , you have to scroll the tracks down to find it.

You won't please all of the people all of the time (re time/place) , I woulds be more pro-active but I'ver got a lot on my plate. I suggest that you just put forward venue and possible dates . I'll come if I can.

Take up the ukelele.

I have actually done this. I needed a music room where I could record and practice or just hide from my family so I lined and insulated one of my sheds. I used the silver bubble wrap type insulation and plasterboard. The shed has light and power from the workshop next door and is heated with an oil filled radiator (£30 from Argos). It stays nice and dry and the cat lives in there with me so no mice. My nice Ibanez AEB still lives in the house but my amp, Epi T bird and a couple of cheap guitars are permanent residents.

The Fender Aerodine was my favourite bass on looks alone, now it's that particular Fender Aerodine Jazz.

[quote name='jezzaboy' post='734579' date='Feb 3 2010, 10:30 PM']What I`d like to know is how you can be a Hawkwind tribute band and be a trio!! Tell him to stuff it. And the drummer if he`s wanting to go along with the guitarist. I would never let anyone tell me what to play, I can ba*ls it up on my own thank you. If you aren`t happy you should walk. It is supposed to fun after all. By the way, like the idea of the tea cosy. Jez[/quote] The last time I saw Hawkwind (a long , long time ago ,15 years ?) they were a trio.

I'll run it by the boss tomorrow.

I'd be interested subject to availability. I do repairs for a shop in Westbury, they'd probably be up for doing some sort of trade stand, would you be interested?

If it's only for four or five songs you might be better off getting a good four string rather than a not so hot five. Ibanez four strings are about £200 (Nevada music) Ibanez EWB205WNE-NT 5-String £339 ( Dolphin music)

First question- was this a good/ half decent bass in the past? My (limited) experience of Hondo stuff leads me to suspect that you could waste a lot of time and money turning an sub-par bass into an also ran. Is it a paint finish , clear laquer or natural wood? If it's a paint finish you may find that the wood undereath is prety gastly as it was never intended to be seen. As I understand it you intend to use only the neck and body? Before you start satisfy yourself that they are of suficient quality to deserve your time and money. Even if it is total cr@p you could still use it to try out new pick up combinations , wiring, de-fretting etc.

Life is too short to waste your time playing in a band that you don't like. I've always said that if a band is sh1t hot and I love the music , I'll be happy to be tea boy. It sounds like you are acting as tea boy for a band you don't like, it's probably better to get out now before it turns ugly.

Wizard pick ups do a PJ combo (two types of pj combo), not tried it myself but their stuff always seems to get rave reviews , as does their custumer service.

There are loads of books on building electric guitars, that's the only one that I have. I chose it because it had a foreword by Brain May! I can recomend this place for buying components: [url="http://stores.shop.ebay.co.uk/CH-GUITARS__W0QQ_armrsZ1"]http://stores.shop.ebay.co.uk/CH-GUITARS__W0QQ_armrsZ1[/url] I have no financial interests here, I've bought two necks from them, I'll be back for bridges, machines etc.

It's about 50/50, he concentrates on aspects of design, pitfalls etc. appart from size and number of strings a bass isn't that different to a guitar, most of the build techniques are the same.

Make your own electric guitar by Melvyn Hiscock. It's on amazon, great book.

I used to be one of the organisers of the acoustic night. Let's just say I don't go any more! There is a new one starting in the (re-opened, clean and nice) Castle Inn on 12thy Feb, I'll be playing there.

I constantly bore people here with how pleased I am with my Ibanez (AEB8E?) it's a four string but I bet they do 5 and I bet it's good.

Shaftesbury is fine by me, I'm just up the road in Bruton. I've got a lot on my plate but I'm happy to help as time allows.

Put me down as a possible definite. Where and when were you thinking of doing this?

Thanks for your input. I've just done a quick search and it seems that they are a friendly bunch to deal with, I might just ask them for advice.

I'm not sure if this is the right room , feel free to move it. I'm planning on buying Wizard pick ups for my twin neck. To keep costs down and because I wan't a fat gorgeous sound I'm planning on getting their P bass pick ups. I'm tempted by the "Thumper" , in their words : "An overwound and uprated P Bass pickup for those who like a more earthy dark sound blended with a good volume and attack. With a DC resistance overall of 14 k ohms this'll hit your amp hard." They are the same price as the trad p bass pick up. I like the idea of a powerful output, do these give a dirty sound? My bass will have one fretted neck (p bass pup), one fretless with p bass pup and piezo bridge. anyone tried them?

I'm not jealous because I'm not that keen on active basses. oooh wait a minute, It's passive.... I hate him.

one neck will be de-fretted.