franzbassist

[quote]What's the string spacing?[/quote] Wider than a Wal, my guess is 18mm. [quote]Sorry the word "best" interpreted therefore as better smile.gif came from your quote above.[/quote] Not to worry, my wording may have been less than imprecise in the first place. Cheers Gareth

[quote]Whoa, hold on a sec. as an admirer of the collection of Wals you've owned in the past - are you saying this is better than the Wal fretless you owned ?[/quote] Better? No, just different. This bass has a much more organic, natural, and less "processed" sound than the Wal. [quote]Are those rotodound black nylons she's wearing?[/quote] They're La Bellas, and very nice they are too.

Thanks for all the kind words guys. Having now gigged the bass and played it most evenings over the last few weeks, I have to say it is without doubt the best fretless I've ever owned. The sustain is just incredible and the variety of tones lurking inside it is amazing for such a simple setup. I am so pleased with it I want to get a fretted version as well....

[quote name='Old Horse Murphy' post='707149' date='Jan 9 2010, 09:57 PM']Met Bruce and Rick at Water Rats one Saturday afternoon [/quote] I was playing at The White House in Guildford one night and Rick came in, stayed for the first set and then bought us all a pint. Nice guy.

[quote name='JordanRLS' post='706840' date='Jan 9 2010, 06:08 PM']welcome from alton... not far away from you.[/quote] And me!

Smooth deal. Excellent communciation throughout and a quick payer by Paypal.

[quote name='philw' post='689414' date='Dec 19 2009, 10:10 PM']Thanks Gareth. Glad you're enjoying it. Flattery won't get you a better deal on the next one you know (no, actually, thinking about it, it might). Phil[/quote] Thanks Phil. Make sure you add pictures of your acoustic to the thread as well!

[quote name='Dom in Somerset' post='688262' date='Dec 18 2009, 12:08 PM']The only problem that I can think of is that you may find that you are little too quiet and mellow when played unplugged. If you're using the bass plugged in then it's probably fine , I've got black nylon flats on my acoustic fretless, unplugged- dull and quiet, plugged -cavernous.[/quote] +1 to that. If you only play unplugged then rounds are a necessity, and I would recommend Elixirs, but if you are plugging in then flats are an excellent choice.

Some more photos, taken this morning.

[quote name='BassBod' post='688053' date='Dec 18 2009, 09:37 AM']Very nice.....looks like LaBella strings? A lovely simple design that lets you get on with the playing - enjoy. On a different topic - where did you get on the amp setup?[/quote] Yep, La Bella strings indeed. Very nice they are too. Have decided to keep my current Markbass LMK and two EA cabs. Too mch of a hit, financially, to sell any of it in current climes.

[quote name='silverfoxnik' post='688016' date='Dec 18 2009, 08:59 AM']I think it's the simplicity of it's design that catches the eye most...[/quote] Thanks Nik! Yes, I know what you mean; quite traditional and yet very contemporary at the same time.

After just over four months since placing my order, I picked up my Veillette Archtop from Phil Ward, Joe's UK rep, this afternoon. Obviously it's early days and I haven't given it a good run out yet, but all I can say is... Wow. It is quite simply stunning. Spruce arched top over poplar body. Maple neck. Ebony fingerboard, bridge and tailpiece. It weighs just 8.5lb and balances perfectly (yes, I was surprised as well). Fit and finish is superb. Electronics are a regular Citron soapbar and a DTar piezo pickup in the bridge, with just a single tone control, run through a DTar 18v preamp. The tone is just incredible. Fretless is my favourite type of bass to play, and this just [i]sings[/i]; every note sustains beautifully, with that wonderful swell and blossom you associate with a quality fretless. The magnetic pickup gives you a pretty conventional electric tone, but dial in the piezo and roll off the tone and it gets very upright indeed. I've played a lot of basses in my time, many of them "boutique", and I have to say I think this tops the lot. Joe Veillette and his team are true craftsmen, and in Phil he couldn't have a better UK rep. Enjoy... Gareth PS Sorry about the rubbish flash photos, better ones will follow when next the sun shines.

I never go anywhere else. Paul and his team are the biz.