arsenic

[quote name='Bassassin' post='691150' date='Dec 22 2009, 12:22 AM']Arsenic - that Angelica's fascinating - never seen one the same before. It's 34" scale, by the looks. Any danger of more pics? Angelica's a pretty rare brand & I'd be intrigued to see if I can work out who made it. Anyway you're right about the hardware - identical stuff turns up on loads of instruments from many different factories, suggesting there were probably only a couple of suppliers of hardware & electronics. A lot of stuff came from Gotoh - even back then they were a pretty big player in the Japanese instrument industry. J.[/quote] Fist off I would like to apologise for hi-jacking the OP's thread. Well, it was neglected for a number of years following heavy use use from day one. Sad to say that as I was only around 11 years old when I picked it up, it was never looked after that well. But as the years went on I grew to appreciate what I had, and I will only part with it when I shuffle off this mortal coil - My two kids are already arguing about which one will releive my cold dead hands of this one, and neither seems to be as bothered who is going to get the Fenders, Hohners etc....though I am tempted to have my ashes sealed into a small container, and then fitted behind the pickguard - I'll haunt the buggers when I'm gone. Anyway back to the bass.... Angelica Deluxe (cos it says so on the headstock). [attachment=38765:DSCF2738.JPG] The neck is made up of many narrow strips of wood...this is now quite bent - way to much releif, and the truss rod is backed right off, so the action is quite high. The neck is attached by six screws, and it has made in Japan stamped onto the neck plate. [attachment=38760:DSCF2739.JPG][attachment=38759:DSCF2688.JPG][attachment=38762:DSCF2689.JPG] [attachment=38761:DSCF2743.JPG] The body is a solid wood, (not plywood), slab. The bridge,tuners,ashtrays,control plate,string tree, truss rod cover,strap buttons etc are all original. The pickguard screws have been replaced - but I have what is left of the originals. The control knobs have been replaced, but again I have the originals. It has been rewired once or twice over the years, but last time, the pots, pickup selector switch and capacitor were replaced - again the originals were retained. The Pickups - as I recall one of them was re-wound using the original wire, but both have suffered over the years, and the volume is really low - and there is now a terrible buzz/hum if the volume is turn down from max. [attachment=38763:DSCF2736.JPG][attachment=38766:DSCF2745.JPG][attachment=38764:DSCF2741.JPG] So it's in a bit of a sorry state - but I was wondering whether to retire it, try to restore it to a playable state - try and get somrthing done to the neck, a re-fret, pickups re-wound and a full rewire, or pimp it up to look more like the '51P/Telebass.- which means buying a new neck, pick guard with one cutout for a single, single coil pickup etc....what's the price of sentimental value????? Scale length is actually 30" - and having just checked the relief in the neck agian - its looking a bit better than I remember it - but the action still needs to be high to avoid fret buzz, possibly due to the fact the frets are worn with deep grooves here and there. Originally it had a lovely deep tone, with the acoustic twang still audible - now it's got a bit more of a higher tone, with less volume , but the twang is still there. Anything you can tell me about this would be great - all I know is it was brought new around '72-'73 from a music shop in Birmingham for somewhere around £30, and I am led to believe that they were a rebrand for Boosey and Hawkes - which would fit in with there being a B&H retailer at the Snow Hill end of Colmore Row around this time.

The pickups do seem to be fairly typical of the era....these are the ones on an Agelica Tele bass copy I have(my first bass), from around 72/73. [attachment=38689:DSCF2686.JPG] [attachment=38688:DSCF2681.JPG] The bridge is very similar, if not identical to the Avon Jazz featured here.

I managed to get in on the BETA test of Record. The couple of times I felt well enough to use it, it seemed a good solution for what I wanted. The ability to bring in previously created backing tracks from Reason, and then add live bass/guitar/vocals etc over it is boon. The fact that they have released a version for people who already have a registered copy Reason, and a full package with both is good marketing. There are some good deals on the individual Reason and Record packages, and the combined package if you can get the educational licenses.

Received my Picobass - pointy headstock, yesterday. Excellent pice of work. Paul is a great guy to deal with, all questions, however stupid were answered quickly and accurately. I highly recommed you do business with him.

Hello, and welcome to the forum and the wonderful world of bass..... I would recommend that you have a look at this thread [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=8009"]Here[/url] which may give you some help in decideing what to buy. Best of luck, and keep us up too date with what you decide and your progress

[quote name='thinman' post='683296' date='Dec 13 2009, 07:40 PM']You have my sincere apologies - I am certainly not trying to imply that people in your situation are sad cases. And, I'm certainly not having a pop at anyone that chooses not to be in a band if that suits them. I think "Eight's" post put it better than I but, at the risk of digging myself deeper into a hole, there are individuals out there that talk a good job and knock those that actively do something (and by "do" I mean play in any capacity in a situation that suits them). If you ever watched "The League of Gentlemen", the former member of "Creme Brulee" was what I had in mind. Again, apologies if you found my post insulting. I'm not in the habit of trying to upset anyone here and I admire your tenacity at continuing to play despite a disability.[/quote] Thank you for clarifying that, and under the circumstances I appologise for my misunderstanding. I too try not to upset anyone, and I have often read a post several times before commiting it to the forum, for exactly this reason. anyway as far as I am concerned, all's well that ends well. Thanks again for the clarification, and with that explanation - you have nothing to apologise for.

To Netballman and Mog. Thanks for all the comments and encouragement - outside of work, bass was a way of life for me for 25 years, so its's been hard to ride this out. 13 years waiting for an operarion that didn't improve things makes me feel, perhaps, a little angry and a bit sensitive - but it is this which is fueling my desire to play once again. I sold all my kit, and only kept my first bass, a banana necked copy, which I picked up now and again, So I am now trying to get some stuff around me to go for a full on attack, even having a Bass made for me by Paul (Prosebass) to try and get the best from the limited movement. Again - thanks guys. To Eight. I appreciate the point you made, and I must admit that I read the post a couple of times before posting, to make sure I hadn't taken anything the wrong way . Personally I couldn't rationalise any other way because Thinman had catagorically split the camp in to two distinct halves - those that play in an "active band" - which reads as anyone jamming/rehearsing/gigging - and thoses that don't play in a band - the "sad cases". There was no mention of "in the process of forming" or even "college/school knock about bands with no intention of doing anything about it" - he made a clear 2-way split "band" and "sad case". If this is not what he meant, then I apologise, but, ensuring that the wording in posts is clear, may stop others from taking things the wrong way....and this applies to me as well. - I hope I have explained why I took offense - I never post in anger, but I am guilty of posting out of frustration, especially when comfronted with apparent "everything is black or white" attitudes. To Maxrossell Sorry that I inadvertantly hi-jacked your thread, this was not intentional and I do not make a habbit of it, I just felt I had to make a point. As far as your original question is concerned, I think there are valid points on both sides, and it all depends on the individuals outlook on life, and each persons comfort zone, and I think we all, as musicians need to accept that people will find their way in the world in their own good time, and I am sure many of us have made mistakes and choices that have, or will, come back to haunt us. I was once asked to dep for a band who were good friends, and who, at the time, had record company interest....I did the gig, and I thought thatI had ruined it completely - they were full of nothing but encouragement, and when their bass player left, they asked me to join. I was not in their league when it came to playing. they were about 7 years older and had been playing together for years. Based on this one bad, in my mind, performance, I refused and stayed with a small inexperienced bunch, where I felt my skill level was more appropriate - The band broke up, because they could not find a suitable replacement, and that was the end of their dream at that that point.....that was nearly 30 years ago, and I still kick myself over it. We all make choices, some for the better, some for the worse, and both sides have to live with it. I know I do......

Sorry - I got carried away thinking about that aria......Congratulations on the new job. I am at risk at the moment - the IT department I work in needs to trim down from 115 people to 80.....won't know until April....but I'm hoping I'll be OK - started looking around already and will jump before I get pushed if it comes to it.

[quote name='Sarah5string' post='681499' date='Dec 11 2009, 04:38 PM']My god that aria flying v is sexy as hell.[/quote] Is that what it is,,,,,it's lovely....I want one -.....

I actively avoid the NIA, as I have never seen a band there that has had an overall good quality sound. I really do not see the point of doing fewer shows to larger audiences at these types of venue, when the experience is marred by the terrible acoustics coupled with poor mixing/engineering. Then they have the audacity to charge extortionate prices for the privalige. Oh! how I miss the days of the Birmingham Odeon as a live venue - never heard a bad band there - unless you count some of the dreadful support bands that played, and then it was usually down to porr songs/musicianship

[quote name='thinman' post='682194' date='Dec 12 2009, 02:38 PM']Better to be in any band that's active than being one of those sad cases that actually does nothing but tell people what they did or would do![/quote] I actuall find this part of your post insulting. not everyone who doesn't play in [u]any[/u] band at all is a sad case. I don't for a very specific reason, I have lost some of the use of my left hand/arm, and will probobly never get it back - I know that I will unlikely be good enough to play in a band again - so I play for my own pleasure while I try to come to terms with this disability, and essentially learn to play all over again, working out a technique that will be suitable for my situation. I do talk about what I have done in the past, and I do try to guide my son who plays bass, and his band, to avoid them making the same mistakes I made in the past.....and based on your comment this makes me a sad case does it.....well thank you very much.

Usually I don't name them - but - Iended up doing just that. The reason was that my other half didn't have a clue if I said "The Telecaster, "The Precision or whatever......so now it's "Red", "Angie" or "Blondie", and she refers to them as the Blonde, the Brunette and the Redhead.....or collectively - "The Tarts".

I think the last pub I went to there was The Cabbage Patch.

Hello and welcome to the firum. Twickenham....My mother was from Twickenham and I spent nearley every school holiday there when I was a lad......Keep meaning to go back there and see how the place looks now

Hi, and welcome to the forum..... Sit back, relax and enjoy

Hello, and welcome to the forum. That's a nice rig you got there.

First gig was Yes at Stafford Bingley Hall (The Cattle maket) on 2nd November 1977 on the Going For The One tour - and IIRC they thre in Don't Kill The Whale. A good noght, Jon Anderson wanted everyone to be comfortable and asked us all to move bac a couple of feet so that wwe could all sit on the floor - and evryone complied - wonderful friendly atmosphere. Followed this a couple of weeks later with Rainbow at the same venue on 18th November 1977. Blackmore, Dio, Cozy Powell, David Stone and Bob Daisley complete with rainbow lightshow. I think this tour was to promote the forthcoming Long Live Rock And Roll album, and was Rainbow at their best - full of energy. A good many other gigs followed, but the next memorable event was Reading Rock Festival in 1983.

Hello, and welcome to the forum. Yep!..that for sale section has a lot to answer for - maybe a GAS support group should started on here. Oh! and that is one cute cat....is that yours?

[quote name='Deep Thought' post='662465' date='Nov 23 2009, 10:31 AM']To be fair, the fact that I'm working nights from the 24th to the 26th of December.......[/quote] OMG....are you one of Santa's Elves..... Not too sure about xmas songs myself......I agree that virtually every one I have heard has made me want to vomit But....I have heard ccouple of bands take a traditional christmas Carol and re-jig it into a nice bluesy number.

This is something I have wondered about.... Would something like a Squier Bronco with a set of D'Addario EXL280 (short, for up to 32" scale), work. I realise something would have to be done with the Nut -buy a blank and file it for the right guage????

Welcome to the forums..... I'm sure you will find more than enough to entertain, tempt and satisfy your musical soul, on here.

[quote name='brummie' post='661473' date='Nov 22 2009, 12:25 AM']Hi, We're taking over the forum! Roll on the Brummies[/quote] Let me see.....A Brummie......Says "From Ealing" in his profile......and a picture of the Krankies..... That is some identity crisis you must have there my friend.

Hello and welcome to the forum. I am in the same general area. born and brought up in West Bromwich, now just down the road in Wolverhampton. Brum used to be one of the best places for music shops in my youth....Musical Exchange was on Broad Street, Woodroffes was in Dale End, Yardleys was on Snow Hill.....Oh how times have changed.

Hi there, and welcome to BassChat.....I'm sure you will make many new friends here.

Hi, and welcome to the forum... I'm sure someone will have the answer to your quandry.. I'm fairly new here too, and I have found this bunch to be really friendly....have fun