daz

Thanks guys, yes im pretty sure it is maple yes. You know when I have looked over build diaries, i'm always struck by how long it takes to sand by hand, especially the edges and such like. Often sometimes a week or more. So i thought, nah lets bring in the grinder and a flap disk to do the [i]heavy work[/i], and i'll do the last bits by hand. Yes i know it may be sacrilage in the world of the bespoke luthier. But stuff it. Im 47 years old already, I aint got no time to waste no mo' I did actually try a bit of Nitromors, but this was just messy and seemed to spread the paint on the nice clean parts . Arghhh! Before flap disk [attachment=61554:fretless...ap_disk3.jpg] Five minutes later [attachment=61555:fretless...lap_disk.jpg] The body now wieghs a pound lighter, after i have chopped of the ugly protuberances (see first pic on top post) and thined down a tad. Unfortunately ther original builder has not left me with anywhere to go with the pot compartment a bit too close to the edge. I will probably take a little more off the opposite side though. pot compartment. [attachment=61557:STA71193_resized.jpg] [i]Please feel free to warn of impending snags unforseen by me, comment, critique, offer ideas or pointers, (or point & laugh) mock my ham fisted efforts, etc etc.[/i]

I am using this fretless horror thing i bought off ebay for £26 or thereabouts. Just thought id like to find out what a fretless was like. Anyhow the Mighty Mite pups were advertised as working but only one ever worked. Needless to say i never really bothered with it. So i am going to make it my winter project. Today i dismantled it, and started to strip the paint off the body. Some of those horrible bumps will have to go, as will some of the rest of the body. I am taking a quarter inch off the thickness to lighten the weight a tad. I think i will have a natural finish, possibly with Danish oil, or something similar. The neck is off a fretless Stagg bass i think, (the machine heads are Stagg and it looks like a Stagg, but not positive). Not sure what bridge, pups or pots to fix back on yet. Plenty of time for that though. I have a Stewart Macdonald catalogue to peruse through yet. (Maybe a Humbucker and a Gibson neck pup? ) Taking it apart was a horror show. Screw after screw was stripped off. I had to [i]drill[/i] two of the pup screws out! Then there was the obligatory screws missing, along with strange wires coming up under the bridge and going nowhere. Holes hacked out with pen knives, etc etc. The naked body of the beast weighs in at 2.5Kg and thats after i lopped off an ⅛ of an inch of thicknes, as well as some extraneous bumps (see pic of original) What i really need to do first is try to identify the wood the body is made of. I honestly haven't a clue. When i think back to junior school (do they still have them?) Our woodwork teacher Mr Bolton, taught us to identify at least six types of wood from sight. There was, Ash, Oak, Teak, Mahogany, Birch, and Pine, if memory serves me correctly. Anyway all i have at the moment is a crappy pic, i will try and get a better lit one on the morrow. Does anyone have any clues of the sort of wood the body is made from in the pics below? Original £26 ebay fretless gloss painted Horror [attachment=61483:stag_fretless2.jpg] [attachment=61484:stag_fretless3.jpg] Can anyone identify this wood ? [attachment=61481:fretless_body1.jpg][attachment=61482:fretless_body2.jpg] . Yes that is an electric plane I am using there. I'm not sanding it down a quarter inch by hand. They dont half take off a lot quick though , dont they? Even on the lowest setting. Nearly a disaster happened there. Good job i needed so much taking off.

Sir i will have you know the worlds greatest living Jazz fusion musician and Jazzercise maverick, comes from Leeds, and is an alumni of that cities music college. None other than [b]Howard TJ Moon [/b]. "I see a muisical boundary, i eat a musical boundary, beacause thats the kind of musician i am" Says Howard. [attachment=61463:11738603...d14fd8d6.jpg] [attachment=61464:howard.jpg]

I remember them many moons ago on top of the pops. I recently got the mp3 of their Best of 10cc album, never realized they had so many hits. Good stuff. Including: Donna, Rubber Bullets, Life is a minestrone, The Dean and I, Silly love songs, The Wall Street Shuffle, Good Morning Judge, Under Your Thumb, Cry, I'm Not In Love, The Things We Do For Love, and of course last but not least the excellent [i]Dreadlock Holiday[/i]

[quote name='BurritoBass' post='987241' date='Oct 13 2010, 06:28 PM']Welcome to Basschat It doesn't get any easier, I remember when I had been playing 15yrs & I'm sure there are many on the forum who can double that figure [/quote] phooey, think yourself lucky. I have been playing since last december. I[i] wish [/i]I'd been playing fifteen years. It would mean the previous 15 years hadn't been wasted bereft of bass.

eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee was the sound I'd come home to every night after going to a gig in the old days of the 70s and 80s. I remember once going to a gig at [url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eric's_Club"]Erics [/url]in Liverpool to see [url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Don_Cherry_(jazz)"]Don Cherry[/url], [url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Slits"]The Slits[/url], and [url="http://reggaelicious.pbworks.com/Prince-Hammer"]Prince Hammer[/url]. I remember seeing a couple of Rasta guys leaning with their heads in the bass bins. But when i even walked in front of them it was painfull, So heavy and loud were they when the reggae band were on. I dredd (ho ho) to think how those guys hearing is nowerdays.

you can never be sure how old anyone is. An old pal the same age as me only looked 13 years old when he was 18.

[quote name='AndyTravis' post='986420' date='Oct 12 2010, 11:23 PM']I spotted you together when i was tied up elsewhere, had a pint with Martin later on. We'll sort it. I'm debating whether to do a Basschat Manchester Bassday in March or similar, my mate has just opened an ace live room in his pub on Oldham Street. Maybe we could have a gathering/bash? Trav x[/quote] Thats the road where the Frog & bucket comedy club is, isn't it ?

[quote name='warwickhunt' post='986038' date='Oct 12 2010, 06:33 PM']Classic Vibe Jazz and Precision necks are identical btw! [/quote] a tad thinner surely ? The [url="http://www.dawsons.co.uk/acatalog/squier_classic_vibe_precision_bass_60s_fiesta_red.html"]Squier Classic Vibe 60's Precision Bass[/url] ’ is 42mm at the nut, the [url="http://www.dawsons.co.uk/acatalog/squire_classic_vibe_jazz_bass_60s_olympic_white.html"]Squier Classic vibe Jazz bass [/url]is 38mm at the nut. Or wasn't that what you meant ? nb: I have no affiliation with Dawsons other than buying my own CV Jazz there, six month back when the price was £80 cheaper.

[quote name='yorks5stringer' post='986650' date='Oct 13 2010, 09:55 AM']Just going back to the "silent room" suggestion, there was a room where you could take upright and acoustic basses to listen to above the slapathon ofthe main area.[/quote] I was not aware of that? Mayhap next year things could be sign posted in big dayglo colours, so nothing is missed (such as me missing Paul Balmer and Mo Foster, who were in some [i]secret room [/i]hidden under the stairs Also if everyone coming in the door could be given an itinery with maybe a room and stall plan on the back, might be an idea too. Not criticising, just a thought for next time. As far as im concerned id go to one every month if there were one.

[quote name='Thunderthumbs' post='986301' date='Oct 12 2010, 09:53 PM']Bernie Goodfellow, he of [url="http://www.gbguitars.co.uk"]GB Guitars[/url]. Very decent chap. No idea about the finance, but no harm giving him a call.[/quote] Oh yes of course, he was at the top of the stairs at the side wasnt he? I talked to someone there about the threaded inserts and case hardedned bolts that they use to get a real firm grip from neck to body. Lovely guitars, though i cant now remember anyone trying one.(im sure thats just my memory though) I wonder if they make up a bass for you if you supplied your own wood, and wound your own pickups?

[quote name='Thunderthumbs' post='986285' date='Oct 12 2010, 09:40 PM']Should've come with me a couple of years ago. Drove down to Brighton and back in a day to Bernie's shop. He arranged for a whole raft of amps and cabs for me to try. I was in there 4 hours. Top bloke, makes a mean brew, and gave my bass a free setup too. I came away a very happy man with two Neo cabs, and also now own [b]the[/b] GB Spitfire he played through the rig I bought. Well worth the long trip.[/quote] Hmm? no idea who this Bernie bloke is but he sounds like a decent chap, does he do finance?

[quote name='stingrayPete1977' post='986220' date='Oct 12 2010, 08:48 PM']One thing I would add and keep forgetting to before we go back to the whinging is that I have been 3 years in a row and no one has mentioned Stevie Williams himself? He has consistently played a great opening set of different genres each and every year so I take my hat off to him and feel he is a little over shadowed by the big names.For me he has done a great job every year from a musical point of view,Mad clothes though! [/quote] Ahem! I mentioned him [i]and [/i]his sartorial ellegance, and thanked him for doing a fine job. [quote name='goblin' post='986136' date='Oct 12 2010, 07:51 PM']I know what you mean about the girl with boots at the Shuker stand (Anna), the knowledge is there and she can do it, however I felt she had the same problem a lot of the slappers I heard had, and she was lacking feel for what she was playing. Either was she's another one of the really nice people there, and really good to talk to. Her bass plays thernomenally too![/quote] I dunno i thought she was pretty damn talented. Fancy calling her a slapper! she was a looker. I watched her for a while and got the feeling she was thinking 'wtf are you staring at me for type of thing', which was weird and I'm sure was only me being paranoid. I was actually honestly trying to remember where on earth i had seen her before or somewhere around? Dunno maybe she was thinking the same about me. I am strikingly handsome. [i]natch![/i] Though my bass playing is not quite so [i]thernominal[/i] as hers and then some. Does she play in any bands? As for slapping & popping i think there should be a moratorium on it next year and see how we get on.

not to put any more choices in yer head, but id try a classic vibe jazz before i bought anything. with a jazz you can get a good approximation of a precision bass just by using the bridge pickup only. Plus you also have the two jazz pups to play with. I bought one several months back and im very pleased with it. [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showuser=7628"]Grand wazoo[/url] is selling some cv squires right now. one of them is the one i reccomended with seymour duncan pickups already installed.

This makes a chapman stick look like a pencil. [attachment=61122:warr_bass.jpg]

[quote name='AndyTravis' post='985087' date='Oct 12 2010, 12:29 AM']They had one on the Yamaha Stand, but it played like utter sh*te. The tone pot was loose to the point where it wasn't safe to turn it. And when talking to a rep, i don't expect every other word to be 'f***in' the bb2024x in sunburst was covered in greasy marks, and the strings were goosed...'yeah man, the reliced thing is f***in in at the minute, these are f***in awesome'. Yawn, walk away. What a poor showing, they didn't even have a cloth to wipe the £2400 custom basses, the tools to make adjustments or the strings to keep them at their best. I could see the frustration in Dave Griffiths' (my usual Yamaha contact) face. The Yamaha stand had stiff competition from other high end manufacturers, so i expected a bit more. End Rant.[/quote] ahh thats a shame, the guy does not sound like a good ambassador for Yamaha, lets hope he was the floor sweeper filling in for the proper guy who was off ill or something. I have been looking up the original bass Billy talked on stage of altering himself to his own specs. [url="http://www.doctorbass.net/en/producto.asp?id=1000170475"]Here is a pic of it [/url](amonst others) lots of holes drilled in it by Billy

[quote name='dood' post='984767' date='Oct 11 2010, 07:38 PM'] Ere's a piccie - a bit of blatant self-promotion, but hey honoured to be stood next to a bass god and what a humble and pleasant guy.[/quote] I was trying to remember who the bloke on the left is. Of course he's the Rotosound guy right? That bass of Billy's is awesome, love to have a buzz on one.

[quote name='owen' post='984906' date='Oct 11 2010, 08:58 PM']What did he say?[/quote] Victor said (amonst other things) Madonna and the tour was "no sex no drugs no rock n roll, one hundred percent serious business" and he admired her as a business woman. There were certain things he couldnt say, "as there are ladies in the room"

[quote name='EdwardHimself' post='984607' date='Oct 11 2010, 04:56 PM']Personally I was getting a bit sick by the end of it. I literally had just a cacophony of bass notes ringing through my head last night in bed. I don't think I'll go next year (if it's on next year). Sorry guys. Not that I didn't enjoy meeting BS or that Neil bloke or any of the basschatters. It's just y'know I couldn't really handle a whole day of it.[/quote] I agree it was a little wearing after 3 or 4 hours, and i was there for 8 hours myself. My 'trick' to it was this. There was a quiet area at the box office with long comfy settees in, that was a good place to chill out with a tea or coffee between the Q&A sessions and masterclasses. There is after all only so many times you can go around the same 15 stands. Also there was a quiet garden area outside, where you could sit in the sun and quiet for a while. It would be a shame to miss on on a great event like this because of easily fixable circumstances. trick #2, At least two of the bass stand people had noise canceling headphones on. (no really) Obviously not their first bass day.

He he. I just stuck to pentatonics up and down the neck as i didnt want to show myself up tripping finger over thumbs I did find however it is a very good way of comparing basses. [quote name='tinyviking' post='984690' date='Oct 11 2010, 06:25 PM']I for one enjoyed my first ever BassDay UK. It was a pleasure to make the aquaintance of "Dood" and "Born to be Mild". It seems there were many others who were there but of course no one knows who anyone else is. I second the suggested meet up in the bar for next time! I enjoyed the clinics and the Fender Bass Manual workshop. It's just interesting to hear all of the stories and experiences of so many great players. I have to admit the cacophony of players slapping themselves silly did get a bit much at times but what an array of fine instruments there were. I hope this gets bigger every year, I was disappointed that no big Hartke stand was there - especially as three endorsees were playing that day. Never mind eh? I got a few photos but posting them here seems to be a bit of a problem Try this [url="http://cid-f0ec7d84fcb82ba6.photos.live.com/browse.aspx/BassDay2010-10-10?sa=956042930"]link [/url] to view them.[/quote] where were the pics of Mo Foster and paul balmer taken? I didnt even see that room? I do remember Steve mentioning about Paul Balmer, but when I went outside the auditorium into the exhibition I couldt see him. Why i never asked i have no idea.

As i mentioned in an earlier post, i bought two sets of Rotosound SM77 monel flatwound hybrid guage strings. I put a set on today and i am completely bowled over at how good they sound on my Squier Classic Vibe jazz bass. So much fuller tone. I am so happy to have bought 2 sets, i must try them on an old Peavey jazzer i have too. Fantastic sound.!

[quote name='funkyspuke' post='984229' date='Oct 11 2010, 11:26 AM']that question was just not even appropriate think that's why Billy asked him to repeat it like 3 times! what can you say to that???!![/quote] nah i think he just didnt hear it, it was rather convoluted. As Billy said "forty years standing in front of very loud bass amps..." Did you notice him cupping his hands behind his ears for every question? *I think the guy really has some hearing problems.

[quote name='sshorepunk' post='982829' date='Oct 9 2010, 07:01 PM']I'm on the Matamp stand with my rig and a few of my basses, with that Tayste bloke, he's the one[i] with[/i] the hair! Tony[/quote] i went to that stand to look at the green matamp, i got a wierd look, didnt know if it was because someone recognized me from my avatar (i made it to resemble me) or whether you were worried i was gonna steal something [quote name='AndyTravis' post='983925' date='Oct 10 2010, 11:03 PM']Wish i'd spent a bit more time trying basses There was also a blue/teal burst GB Spitfire with a maple fingerboard i wanted to sit with...but that stand winds me up, very hard to explain.[/quote] thats strange i got that too. But in my personal case it was because got the feeling i was actually been watched in case i stole something. Unfortunately im not joking like i was above. Very sad as it was one bass i really wanted to try (was also hoping for a Warwick and a Rickenbacker but a definate shortage of them too. ie not a one in sight, unless i missed something, and i went to every stand three times?) .

I came out Manchester Oxford Rd station at 12:30pm, turned right and walked in the direction of the University. After maybe 7 or 8 hundred yards I start thinking to myself "hmm its round here somewhere" ? Just then I realized the traffic had all passed and the road was clear, but I could still hear hear lorries rumbling past somewhere in the middle distance, but there was something not quite right....? Suddenly, after a head slapping moment I realized the almost subsonic hum was coming from the building behind me, as I turned the corner at the junction to my right the sounds of dozens of basses vibrated me along the road to the entrance of the music college building All the guys who took to the stage were excellent. The live side of the event was very ably 'compared' by Stevie Williams [i]avec chapeau [/i] (a natty bowler ). then Steve and his Friends who's names i have forgot, started us off with a couple or three of rocking tunes. Next up was a very informative rhythm session and Q&A from Dave Marks and drummer Darren Ashford (hats off to the guy who had the balls to go on stage with them and play a bass he'd never seen before in his life). Then Stuart Hamm came on, who i must admit I'd never heard before. He was immediately likable and the crowd quickly warmed to him. Stu was really funny as well as being a red hot bassist and tapping officianado. Id like to hear more of him. After that was the turn of the one and only Victor Bailey[size=5]*[/size], who also had some funny anecdotes as well as of course showing us some of the worlds finest bass chops. But as he said, no matter how much of a virtuoso you are, if it don't get you rocking, its a waste of time. Lastly of course the legendary Billy Sheehan was on stage. He had however been doing sterling work at the Hartke stand practically the [i]entire day[/i], playing [url="http://www.doctorbass.net/en/producto.asp?id=1000170475"]his own signature Yamaha bass [/url]for the punters around the Hartke stand, answering questions, signing autographs & basses, and posing for hundreds of photographs. Needles to say there was always a large group of people around him. What an ambassador for the bass world, and what a nice guy. The only small downer of the day was i had to leave at 8:45pm to catch the train home, and missed the prize draw to win a bass. Who won it? ps: i bought 2 sets of Rotosound Jazz Bass Monel Flatwound hybrid gauge strings for £30. I hope thats a bargain ? pps: damn i didnt even see anything about [b]free[/b] strings and MarkBass [i]Keeper[/i] till i got home, surely you should have been given them when you got your wrist band ? heres a (bad) pic of Steves band (minus a guitarist i chopped off on the right) who did a great job of opening the Bass Day live stage. [attachment=61030:bass_day...ves_band.jpg] . [size=5]*[/size]Victor Bailey thought for the day: "The first five frets are the money makers

[url="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Guitar-Player-Repair-Dan-Erlewine/dp/0879309210/ref=pd_sim_b_1"]this is a great book [/url]to have if you are guitar making/repairing. It gives methods on allsorts of things and what tools to do it. (i have no comercial interest in this book, just a friendly recomendation) I would also go to the stewmac page (as linked on a post above) and sign up fot the newsletter and free catalogue. This has many tools/parts in it and at the very least gives you an idea of what tools and methods are used in mant repairs and builds. Some of the tools are expensive, but it at least gives you ideas on how to go about it, possibly cheaper.