AndyTravis

After 13/14 years of playing, i'd like to think i've got feel, groove, good ear sorted - most techniques seem to be no problem etc.

But i'm having my first theory lesson tonight.

I think i'm realising a bit of theory wouldn't go amiss - and I need a challenge; I want to be a better musician than I am, and i've plateaued.

It also helps that it's a mate who's a guitar tutor and has been landed with 5 bass students from next month and in his own words 'Plays bass like a guitarist' so we're sharing each others knowledge. And is costing me nowt.

As for what's 'better' - I know a lot of guys armed to the teeth with strong reading and sound theory who can ruin a gig through playing with zero 'feel' and I know amazing technician guys who haven't a clue on theory and can ruin a gig through playing with zero feel.

I think it's a question of poor musucianship vs good musicianship.

I get your point though.

Convincing myself I need this.

[url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?act=attach&type=post&id=62500"]http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?act=attach...st&id=62500[/url]

Tentative trade offer?

Very light...

Thats bloody lovely Andy!! ive been doing some research on the burners myself and the stuff ive seen on youtube ( playing aside) the tone is fantastic, really really good basses, i bet your dead chuffed, whats the top wood on that is it walnut? i will wager its very very close to the USA smiths, probably too close for kens liking anyway

probably doesnt need it, but i wonder if those nordstrands you have would benefit it congrats on a great buy, we must meet up with matt (overwater #1) and compare smiths, he,s got a posh black tiger!!

Hi mate,

It's Walnut top, Maple, Mahogany core, Maple and Walnut back with a Curly Maple centre block.

I read that Ken Smith cut these Walnut tops and sent them over to Japan. It's strange, on the Smith forum he's sometimes very complimentary about the Burners and other times he tries to avoid answering questions about them.

It's a fantastic bass - The nice thing is it's not very 'typical' sounding, the Slap tone is really tidy and it will to modern fast fingerstyle.

A real shame it seems I may not be keeping hold of it, as i'm thinking I should have kept to my my one in, one out rule...and the CC bill is about to land.

The Nordstrands have ended up in my Jazz, and they've made a great improvement without losing the basses character - The smith wouldn't need them, it sounds fantastic as it is!

Would sit nicely next to my Burgundy Mist Jazz.

Then i'd have 2 pink basses.

Why is everything I want for sale at the minute?!

Birth year bass...giving me brain ache.

So in love.

Mach 1 Wals make me feel funny.

Martin Clunes...top bassist.

oooooh. I like that, tidy.

haven't got a Fender CS or a Gibson to offer, but i've loved this bass since i saw it.

[quote name='Bass_Guardian' post='1013899' date='Nov 6 2010, 12:39 AM']Good luck with it mate

They should invent GAS-FREE patchs or something [/quote]


Would you put them over your eyes?

Commendable move, Shep. I try not to get into trouble with gear, but then I see stuff like your RIM build and I get all nervous.

Spotted a Jap 90's Fender bass VI on the Gallery website.

[url="http://www.thebassgallery.com/product_details.cfm?ID=1597&type=Bass"]http://www.thebassgallery.com/product_deta...7&type=Bass[/url] Guitar

I've asked them to ring me tomorrow if it's still there, been after one for years - Placebo 'Pure Morning' did it for me, and my brother and I are huge Jaguar/Jazzmaster/Mustang/Jagstang freaks.

They're asking a grand, seems around what these Jap reissues are going for on eBay etc.

It's been on their page for a week, so I doubt it's still about.

Would be interested if anybody local to the Gallery has seen it?

Thanks for any info/opinions.

Trav

I think i see your point.

The control plate in chrome means they can use the current body blanks to put the thin Maple veneer on the bass, and to be fair, it's to capture the slightly 'modified' appearence of the bass.

I just think if I asked them to rear-rout the bass, it will look like a Blade Tetra, or Sadowsky modern 4.

I'm unsure what will happen once these 3 basses arrived after a meeting with the product manager today; he's of the opinion they may end up too expensive, i.e. same price as a Mexi Fender.

Depends, i think the bass has at least been an interesting experiment, and if it ends up in production then happy days.

Still no news on the Blue Fretted version, if they send it fretless, i'll have it fretted.

Dawsons Manchester.

We've got a Black/MN in at the minute, and we've sold a couple of the P's too.

I originally sold my Marcus Miller to help buy one in Sunburst, but it'd gone through the till before i got my act together.

They aren't, can't see it at all.

They're only just arriving in some shops now, i've sold 3 so far, they're great.

Yeah...this is very pretty.

[quote name='EBS_freak' post='1004396' date='Oct 28 2010, 08:19 PM']I thought you hated the GB sound?

Anyway, as Shep said, the Spitfire head would probably look a little odd on the Rumour as it's probably too big in comparison to the dinky body of the Rumour. Why would you want to change it anyway? The 4 string version of the Rumour headstock is the business!

Whats the reason you want a Rumour? The fact that it is through neck (you can get a Spitfire through neck) or is it the shape you like?[/quote]


No, just the settings used to demonstrate them can sometimes be a bit on top. I'm certain you can get most sounds out of the GB circuit?

I like the Rumour bodyshape, just not a massive fan of the headstock shape.

TBH that teal Spitfire would make me happy enough!

Yeah, i'm off to change my pants.

Ken Smith Burner, and erm, a liver (road worn/relic'ed)?

Would love this.

[quote name='silddx' post='1010938' date='Nov 3 2010, 03:47 PM']Totally with Mart here.

I think your decisions re the ramp and PG are spot on.[/quote]

Yeah, i think ramps and pickguards are optionals.

BRX, this is a working prototype, if it doesn't work like that i will ask them to change it.

If we put markers everywhere it would start to look a mess, these maple inserts are at the 'front' of the dotted notes, and being a relatively plain fingerboard, the side indicators are at the note too, like my unlined fretless rather than between positions (like on most lined fretless basses) which would be confusing for most people.

I think the bass should speak for itself, brand name or not.
Just got to make sure it gets into peoples hands.

This looks beautiful!

When I asked about getting one made in Blue, as a fretted Maple Neck...

[i]"We are lucky because we still have a body to use, please check the attached SBL burst and let me know your
thoughts.

Maybe we can make it with darker blue edge, not black one.

By the way, 2 finished Fretless basses have been sent to you via DHL yesterday."[/i]


I've asked them to soften the colouring a bit, the colour they've sent looks a bit G&L.

I'll add an update with regards to this, nice to have a Manufacturer recycling their parts bin to make me a bass

Anyhow, not far away now!

this feedback is really helpful, once i get the final sheet, i'll ask how much certain things add to pricing etc.

I'll see what happens when they're in my hands.
Looking at the costing sheet so far not factoring in the ramp and pickguards, is looking like the upper limits.
I think the duncans and the nice top, as well as a real ebony fingerboard and more versatile controls give this bass legs.
I'n thinking the pickguard would interupt the top too much, and the ramp is a bit niche anyhow.
I'll still be making one for mine though.