Cat Burrito

When we were kids we used to moan about how Craig Adams moved onstage (silly teenage snobbery) but he's a good player and a total pioneer in goth bass. He also looks better in his 50s than he did back in the day.

It seems to be a continuing trend of modern gear that looks retro. I want to like it more than I actually do and I think there are plenty who are taking the same theme and doing it better. I'm sure it's not without its charm but not for me.

[quote name='alyctes' timestamp='1475345833' post='3145286']What's the neck like? I've wanted one (preferably fretless) for a while, but I heard the neck is a bit of a treetrunk.[/quote] I prefer a thicker neck ever since I started playing upright bass and I like this one. It's probably not to your tastes but not the thickest I've had.

[url="http://s38.photobucket.com/user/Tim_73/media/image1_zpsvdyja2di.jpg.html"][/url]

[quote name='skankdelvar' timestamp='1475337939' post='3145193']By amazing coincidence there's an Eastwood Ampeg thread [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/292557-nbd-tonight-matthew-i-want-to-be-rick-danko/page__p__3142137#entry3142137"]here[/url] on BassChat that started just a few days ago[/quote] ...which was my thread. I'm liking the bass a few days in but yes, my opinions are covered in a little more detail in that thread.

30yrs in and I'm still always learning - so never stop learning and listening. For me it's a mixture of everything already said but trying to play with musicians who are better than me usually helps raise my game.

I had one until I upgraded to the PF-50t and again no issues. I think the owners of the ones that went wrong were just very vocal.

I just acquired the Eastwood copy this week... cheaper but obviously not the 67 classic.

My Great Uncle was a pro trumpet player who played with Mantovani in the 50s and my Dad was a professional drummer in the 60s. Ironically my tastes come from my Mum's old LP records.

[quote name='Happy Jack' timestamp='1475051471' post='3142544'] Weight? [/quote] They did other songs! Nah, it's a fairly average weight. I thought it'd be light because of those hugs F holes but it's a mahogany body so the F holes balance it out nicely. [quote name='KK Jale' timestamp='1475066903' post='3142750']Is the bridge screwed down on top of the guard, as reputed? [/quote] It is indeed. Strings loading through the back rather than through the body. [quote name='wateroftyne' timestamp='1475069265' post='3142768']And.. is Sneaky Pete clean now? [/quote] He's a law unto himself that one! [quote name='Dave Vader' timestamp='1475071629' post='3142797'] Damn it, I'd forgotten these existed, and now I want one (but without all those pesky frets) [/quote] A couple of you mentioned the fretless versions and my good lady said last night I should have got the fretless. I have an upright so I guess I was just anticipating being lazy!

[quote name='Mariner72' timestamp='1475003301' post='3142256']What sort of a band are you using this with, and what are you going to run it through? [/quote] An originals band, the rockier side of Americana (I guess) - somewhere between Dylan and the Stones. I have an Ampeg Portaflex fliptop rig. I've since noticed Eastwood shipped it without the chrome bridge cover and I will be wanting that too.

Okay so it isn't the original Ampeg bass but don't fret (or in this case add 20 of them) clearly it's based on the model made famous by the likes of Rick Danko. It probably came to my attention via The Black Crowes with Johnny Colt playing his one on the Remedy video shoot. Mine of course is the Eastwood guitars version. I opted for Sunburst and frets. [url="http://s38.photobucket.com/user/Tim_73/media/IMG_0100_zps9abt7qin.jpg.html"][/url] My early assessment is that it sounds good. It sounds very good. I'll probably lose the stock roundwound strings and stick some flats on it (why I'm entertaining this with a "probably" is beyond me, I always wind up doing it!). I really like the headstock and the fact that you can look through the bass (cat model: Sneaky Pete). [url="http://s38.photobucket.com/user/Tim_73/media/ampeg_zpsobweoxcw.jpg.html"][/url] If I were to pick nits with it, the body is smaller than I had hoped (I'm 6ft3) and the barely visable but great sounding pickup looks more like a late 70s aftermarket modification. The bridge and control knobs are standard Precision type and the balance and finish is great. I currently have a 50s RI P-bass and a Hofner verithin so I thought this would be a great retro themed third bass. Oh and I bought it from Reverb (via directly from Eastwood guitars - bizarrely £30 cheaper than just going direct to the guitar company). Reverb seem like a decent alternative to EBay and the like... although I base that of course on just one purchase.

I'm playing in West Berkshire that night but did want to say that Fat Lil's is a great venue for anyone who doesn't know it.

Is this a trick question because if so I'll pitch for Elvis

I can't help but feel the original advert is both incredibly optimistic and rubbish, in equal measures. Irrespective of whether they are a good band in general. I think it's a case of whatever works for each band BUT have an exit strategy in case the line up changes or the band splits.

I saw them blow Supergrass off stage at Cambridge back in the 90s. I wasn't expecting that to be the case but they were really on it.

That's a big ol' journey. I once collected a basschat sale bass from the other side of London and that also wound up being an 18hr journey due to snow and being stuck on the M25, but thankfully not that mileage you managed. That is a huge collection of basses. You have more basses than most shops! Welcome to the upright owner's club.

Before the internet and forums I was strictly one bass - a 1989 P-bass. Whilst it is great buying and selling I can't help but feel those were simpler times. I'd go with gut instinct here.

I spent years playing in a Watford based band whilst living near Newbury (an hour away). The band wasn't really earning anyway so I lost money on balance but liked the band. Everyone has different thresholds so if it isn't a problem I wouldn't worry. Also I had a very good bass player play for a band I put together, based in Hungerford with him coming from Staines. Equally, I know guys who grumble about playing 5 miles away.

I play both having spent the majority of my playing career as a bassist. I got more into guitar circa 2006 because I was working with a multi-instrumentalist songwriter and wanted to stretch out. I reverted back to being a bassist when life dictated I cut my musical outgoings but wound up auditioning for a guitar gig a couple of years ago simply because I liked the band. I think what many musicians fail to understand is that just because you play one doesn't mean you can play the other. I had to work really hard to not sound like a bassist playing guitar and even had a year plus of lessons with exactly that remit attached to them. I enjoy both now. Bass is perhaps more natural but I like the fact I have to work at guitar and do get good feedback from audience members about my guitar playing these days.

Maybe 4000 as a top capacity, we've played the O2's C2C festival 4 times now. We also had a 5 minute slot on CBS in America which was our biggest online audience. You take these things in your stride though as it quickly returns to 12 people in Sheffield.

Playing with a 50s rock 'n' roll band this weekend, an audience member came up and said "do you know any Oasis?". It's stuff like this that happens all the time now. Having been around the live scene for the best part of 30 years I can only agree with the general replies here so far. I guess for me it's in my blood and I can't imagine not doing it. My view is I always play to whoever is there and try not to sulk / strop when playing to 6 people who are only half watching.

Some of the Japanese made 57RIs have a narrower fretboard / more conventional neck (mine!) but they are not easy to find. To be fair having played my original as my main bass for 20yrs+ the fretboard really is something you get used to and don't think about.