Grand Wazoo

I am not sure if this has been posted already, but I have just seen a small notification on facebook saying that Philip Kubicki died. Very sad news, he has been very helpful with me by email and by phone every time I have contacted him in the last 20 years or more. A very sad loss.

[url="http://www.carryaccess.com/accesspfx1vid.htm"]http://www.carryaccess.com/accesspfx1vid.htm[/url]

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1363087679' post='2008094'] Well, what about that, Fran..? You know GW only uses that cooker to light his fags off, don't you..? [/quote] Nah! all food is cooked fresh in my kitchen, but I am very picky on cleanliness, so I always clean as I go, nothing is ever left to the side, specially with the dishwasher, I never even hand wash a spoon these days. Besides I've always got guests coming and going, I wouldn't want to be seen to be messy now, would I? Let's not even start with the other rooms in the house, I hate mess, I dislike misplaced things and everything must go back in its place otherwise things would look untidy for me...

[quote name='Lozz196' timestamp='1363079644' post='2007884'] Great, where do you get hold of these? [/quote] From my local hardware store. Plumbing and electrical supply stuff.

[quote name='LukeFRC' timestamp='1363047268' post='2007687'] ah an espresso drinker. I tend to go for french press. [/quote] You can see my espresso machine in the first pic on the left above the washing machine.

Thanks for the comments on the kitchen. I keep my proper coffee in the freezer,the Illy to me is a lesser qualty coffee, which I only keep for guests who wouldn't appreciate the real stuff I use for myself. See pic below [url="http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&frm=1&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&docid=W9qnVYiK-CuNLM&tbnid=K2_jKh60MfLmAM:&ved=0CAUQjRw&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.valentinafinefoods.com%2Fshop%2Findex.php%3Froute%3Dproduct%2Fproduct%26product_id%3D712&ei=fmo-Uf65BOaW0QXVlIDQCQ&psig=AFQjCNECPB2EMgTSMJ18UVxAdCx0Z3U9bw&ust=1363131378130112"][/url]

I usally install small rubber o-rings under the base of the pickup screws, works a treat and unlike foam, they have a stronger resistance, whereas foam gets flat after time. [url="http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&frm=1&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&docid=WNot9sCtCpW-FM&tbnid=YhnlgovZOQA0QM:&ved=0CAUQjRw&url=http%3A%2F%2Fsunvast.en.made-in-china.com%2Fproduct%2FTMbmYGVkbqcZ%2FChina-Rubber-Seal-Rubber-Ring-Rubber-O-Ring-Silly-Bands.html&ei=w1c-UffZLNLM0AXAi4BA&psig=AFQjCNEl9_OCbRhxZJspBgHFRpqLwdNNjw&ust=1363126567373034"][/url]

[quote name='Dingus' timestamp='1363032309' post='2007402'] Never mind the maple , that's a lovely bit of kitchen tiling - that grouting looks like it was done by a professional - and the work surfaces look nice too . [/quote] [b]Thank you[/b]... Apologies for the off topic (big time) - it's only a small kitchen, the Ikea bloke came and measured the walls, the windows, and the entered the dimensions in his computer and came up with what you see below. In a very small space we managed to cram, sink, cooker, oven, dish washer, fridge / freezer, washing machine and enough cupboards for crockery, pans, cutlery and food stuff. All I had to do was chosing the colour scheme and the type of surfaces, the cupboard doors and the paint scheme. The tiling was done by a higly skilled Hungarian chippy who also did the floors tiles, looks like laminated wood flooring but it's actually tiles.

Oh and anyway I've got an even uglier piece of maple on this one, this was so bad it was burnt ( roasted ) came out of Oxfam lol [IMG]http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r200/xt660/5D3_5987_zps7789f1ab.jpg[/IMG] [IMG]http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r200/xt660/5D3_5992_zpsbc7c86be.jpg[/IMG]

[quote name='jackers' timestamp='1363031930' post='2007386'] that is a beautiful piece of maple GW [/quote] But... is it? Or indeed it's going to warp by the end of the year?

Well after having seen the pics in this thread I've had a good look at the back of my American Standard P Bass and I realized, (and want to show you all) that if I was to go by the judgement of that luthier in Exeter that my bass should be chopped and scrapped. Oh yeah, look at the grain, the nots and the imperfections all over the neck from the heel to the headstock, back and front. Jesus if that guy saw this neck he would think it was f*****d!

Looks like the pickup pieces are not in line with the strings, maybe it's just the way the pic was taken.

[url="http://www.blastcult.com/electric-bass-guitar.html"]http://www.blastcult.com/electric-bass-guitar.html[/url]

The main difference between the Jam Man and the Boss is that the Boss has this clever thing incorporated in it that is called Quantize, which means if your start / stop point is slightly off beat it will automatically sync it so that it is spot on. That's what I liked about the Boss.

Not as bad as sitting down with a Bongo, that lower spike really digs into your leg! [url="http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&frm=1&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&docid=BzA_soRBaE_VjM&tbnid=fcbZeK8MFuMcUM:&ved=0CAUQjRw&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.talkbass.com%2Fforum%2Ff8%2Fmost-elegant-basses-whole-world-596979%2F&ei=NMQ5Ud70DcHU0QWfvYGgDg&psig=AFQjCNGHmhHHJIVxkrib_8--w1BtTcLCgA&ust=1362826657545984"][/url]

I tried a fretless one in my local shop. Nothing bad about it, actually, a fun bass to play, it comes with a very powerful Bartolini humbucker pickup, I would compare it to a stingray on steroids, it has a "slap" switch that as the name suggests, boosts a sweep with lows and highs to give you that characteristic mid cut. Other than that I found my only gripe was with the non organic fretboard, which felt a bit like hardened plastic different in quality to a proper carbon fiber and meant to be in between wood and fiberglass but to me it sounded like neither. A big decision if you can live with that synthetic stuff or not. Price wise, between £350 to £400 if I remember rightly, so not exactly cheap and for that midrange money you can get a lot more different instruments. Oh and... I totally hated the jazzy metal flake paintwork, but I know they also come in real man's colours if one is so inclined. This is what they sound like [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Bv7u0K2wX4[/media]

and a very interesting factory tour [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ACpS-GNXiqw"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ACpS-GNXiqw[/url]

How do they sound? Well here are a few youtube examples: This one seems to go through many of the pickup combinations [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k3N1jBP02dE"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k3N1jBP02dE[/url] Or Lubiankier trying one [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ntNYwVl8UI"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ntNYwVl8UI[/url]

Please go to your local luthier in Exeter and show him this diagram: [url="http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&frm=1&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&docid=fZQQ1LSp6XsxkM&tbnid=cVGFZDywK6biIM:&ved=0CAUQjRw&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.atheistnexus.org%2Fprofiles%2Fblogs%2Fmr-ken-ham-the-science-guy&ei=Ujw4UdWfNsju0gWQ5IGgCA&psig=AFQjCNEmUfffCGoKoFS90Z_alT5Lxu_Sgg&ust=1362726320386114"][/url] I've never seen a nicer piece of maple and by God there is nothing wrong with the grain pattern in that wood. As anyone has said all it needs is a fret redress. And I have never heard a luthier talking so much crap. He should be shot.

Some very interesting points you have all made so far, most of which I share.

[url="http://www.ritter-basses.com/"]http://www.ritter-basses.com/[/url] I saw Jens Ritter at the show and admired some of his "creations". You can't deny that they all look like "one-off" works of art, and they've got a price tag to show it, yet... I keep looking at them and thinking about them being an impractical gigging bass, too pricey for your local pub gig, God forbid if you get it scratched or dented. What would you do if you had one? Bear in mind that you would have to spend at least £4000 - £5000 for the average model. So my question is, even if money was not an issue, would you buy one and how would you justify the purchase and finally where would you use it?

[quote name='stingrayPete1977' timestamp='1362346058' post='1998800'] Could you have the fret lines drawn on wonky GW? [/quote] Pete, you're a funny man, I'll kill you last!

[quote name='Billy Apple' timestamp='1362344623' post='1998766'] Grand Wazoo's spilled the beans over on the other thread, but in the mean-time, how was it? [/quote] Not exactly spilled the beans, I've just reported as much as I was allowed to say, no details were given as to dates and specs. Though I know a bit more. tsk tsk

THIS ===>> [url="http://www.jhs.co.uk/vintagebass.html"]http://www.jhs.co.uk/vintagebass.html[/url] Vintage Icon Series VJ96MRJP Fretless I had never tried one before, and ok it needed a bit of work as the action was a bit on the high side but other than that, the bass sang with a very sweet voice, to be honest for the money it costs, it gives the Fender Jaco reissue a run for the money, and it sure felt smooth and resonant, it's got Wilkinson pickups and a very solid bridge, sort of an in between hi-mass and an original but surely heftier than the fender bit of tin. I have been looking to make myself a Jaco clone, but I think this will make a very good contender. Here is a good review of this bass: [url="http://www.guitarmagazine.co.uk/reviews/vintage-icon-series-vj96mrjp-fretless/"]http://www.guitarmagazine.co.uk/reviews/vintage-icon-series-vj96mrjp-fretless/[/url] Price is somewhere below the £220 mark but I am sure you could haggle yourself a deal on the shop floor, or with some internet retailers [url="https://www.google.co.uk/shopping/product/3769242322110624881?q=Vintage%20Icon%20Series%20VJ96MRJP%20Fretless&hl=en&biw=1344&bih=746&sa=X&ei=y7kzUcSgIeTK0AXP8YCADg&ved=0CDgQ8wIwAA"]https://www.google.co.uk/shopping/product/3769242322110624881?q=Vintage%20Icon%20Series%20VJ96MRJP%20Fretless&hl=en&biw=1344&bih=746&sa=X&ei=y7kzUcSgIeTK0AXP8YCADg&ved=0CDgQ8wIwAA[/url]

[quote name='Billy Apple' timestamp='1362318553' post='1998273'] Apparently Matamp had a demo model of their new 500 hybrid, but in an unmarked box. It is going to be sold through a distributor who's stand it was on, and labelled as the distributors product. Anyone see it, or know who the distributor is? [/quote] Yes they are Proel UK formerly the UK's sole distributors of Mark Bass amplification, well Proel last year had a fall out with Mark Bass and are no longer their distributors, Mark Bass gear is imported by another UK company. Proel still exist very prominently in the amplification and PA field and they still represent a number of large manufacturers, and as you have rightly said their new project which is still secretly under wraps, (the only reason I know is that after my dealings with Proel UK I have remained very friendly with them as they are all from my same country, Italy so we keep in touch a lot) Well the Matamp project will soon go into production, they are planning to produce good quality bass amplification which will be badged probably with the Matamp name or whatever else they will come up with. In the meantime Proel continues to distribute Cort basses and guitars as well as many brands that do professional PA products. You can see a list of their brands on this link: [url="http://www.proelint.co.uk/"]http://www.proelint.co.uk/[/url]