Chris2112

[quote name='icastle' post='1103108' date='Jan 26 2011, 04:44 AM']I'd guess that, being a relatively new technology, they were making it up as they went along with what materials were available. I suspect that things are a lot different these days... [/quote] It was more quality control issues than anything that people seemed to complain about, silly things like the screw holes on the neck not matching up with the bass making it impossible to fit, or the screw holes being poorly done with stripped threads. When people got on with them, they seemed to be very positive about them.

Well, Warwick have always suffered terrible depreciation. I don't know why, as they are amazing instruments and they are real bargains on the used market. I paid £590 for my BO Thumb, which was a 1999 model with a wenge neck that look as though it was brand new, it was that good. I don't think Fender could made a bass that good at all, unless you're thinking about a custom shop Urge bass. Mind you, bassists are typically a closed minded bunch and sticking with those tired Fender designs is an easy choice. The Warwick market doesn't look to be improving, as although I'm seeing a few basses being pitched on here with amibitious prices they don't seem to be selling.

[quote name='cheddatom' post='1102361' date='Jan 25 2011, 04:59 PM']Although Jennifer's comments are perfectly valid, and probably represent a more mature attitude, I have found myself banging my head against the proverbial brick wall on a couple of occasions. Once a soundman said "you're not using THAT EQ" and then started to mess with the EQ on my amp. Another guy wouldn't let me use my rig at all. I think they're both pretty unreasonable situations and i'm sure there are many more examples.[/quote] At the end of the day, it depends who is calling the shots. If you're a good band with a good following, you should be telling him what is what. If you're playing down the Dog and Bollock and he's the house soundman, getting in a rick with him won't do you much good, it will just mean you're not asked back. Generally though I'd advocate some communication with the soundman, you should speak to him regarding your sound as a whole and let him know what you want. If you have a specific request or complaint, let him know later. In my time playing live, I've never really come across any soundmen who were completely unreasonable.

[quote name='BTS_Spacebass' post='1103066' date='Jan 26 2011, 01:03 AM']Interesting, didn't really think about the manufacture and how costly that would make things. Cheers for the heads up. The moses website is quite interesting too[/quote] Well, I quite like Moses necks, but back in the day they had a reputation for being poor quality and a lot of US customers were less than impressed. By all accounts, I think they've gotten better these days.

Yes, these are very specialised items, not typically the sort of thing you can get custom made off the bat like you would a wooden neck. They are made from moulds, where graphite fibres are laid up to form the shape of the neck. The moulds are extremely expensive to make, hence why Status, Moses, Modulus, Zon et al don't do custom neck profiles.

I keep my ACG and Kubicki basses in hardcases. I often think I could make do with one hardcase since I only ever take one out at a time.

The old T bass was a nice super jazz but I do think the chrome hardware is a little tacky. The new ones are fantastic though, but they are considerably more expensive. They are great though.

It's sad to hear Paul coming out with statements like that. Since about 1980, he's had some of the greatest basslines in pop, and some of the greatest players too. Abe Laboriel, Anthony Jackson, Bakithi Kumalo...he's not struggling to find amazing musicians willing to play the bass for him. So for him to turn around and say that, especially when he's had the honour of having these guys play for him is just insulting.

I'm a massive Paul Simon fan but this does seem to be continuing the downhill trend since Graceland. It just sounds so derivative and lame, those irritating panned acoustic guitars sound terrible and it needs a bass pulse. Vampire Weekend do better Paul Simon these days than he does!

Yes, even when he had a US Ken Smith I believe he was playing his Burner more. However, he's had that Fodera for a little while now, jumping on that Matt Garrison led trend that Janek Gwizdawa and Tony Grey got onto. I like it though, it looks great and sounds better than his Ken Smith. In fact, that pretty much fits in line with my expectations of Fodera, to be better than Ken Smith!

[quote name='ovialexm1' post='1097469' date='Jan 21 2011, 01:27 PM']Chris, K-sad from France bought that bass from me. [/quote] Bugger, still too far for me to buy it then! That Russian luthier who made that awesome Monarch bass for you, I loved that. If he was selling those in the UK he'd make a killing!

Thats a shame, I've always dreamed of going to Alan with a particular shape I've had in mind and getting him to build it for me. No crazy Michael Manring style Piezo kit though!

I always thought that the "riffled" finish on the SUB's coupled with those strange cardboard scratchplates made them look really naff. The new Sterling Stingrays are far more attractive but they don't seem to slap well!

[quote name='Doddy' post='1097736' date='Jan 21 2011, 04:20 PM']Just wondering why you [i]need[/i] a 7 string? I can understand why you would [i]want[/i] one,but why do you need it?[/quote] To complete the Bill Dickens halloween costume!

[quote name='Spoombung' post='1097797' date='Jan 21 2011, 05:03 PM']...say he wouldn't make another one like this. But, you know... money talks![/quote] Pardon me, typing error made by me in my sleep deprived state, I meant "why was that?".

Now that I have a singlecut bass I often like to spend long hours playing it with a pick in the style of Anthony Jackson, only with less strings. I think I'll have to buy a 6 string ACG one day!

[quote name='Doddy' post='1097693' date='Jan 21 2011, 03:48 PM']Steve Vai aswell.[/quote] Good choice! Nice to see someone else mentioning John Mclaughlin too, he is incredible. He has taken his whole "MIDI guitar" sound concept to an amazing level these days.

[quote name='Spoombung' post='1097695' date='Jan 21 2011, 03:48 PM']Yeah. He did.[/quote] What was that?

Shawn Lane.

[quote name='KevB' post='1097448' date='Jan 21 2011, 01:15 PM']There used to be a story that Chris Squire used to use a flattened dime coin - now that's a *man's* pick! personally I say whatever the song requires. It's all about the music, not some snobby convention.[/quote] I believe Chris has been using something like a Herco or Dunlop velvet pick since the 70's, and that his thumb hung slightly over the edge creating a "double attack" type sound. Someone will be along in a minute to clairfy this.

Just because you detail every spec in your head and think you know what you want when you order a bass doesn't mean it'll be everything you need for the rest of your career, even if it's perfect for you at that time. Case in question, and I'm sure he won't mind me mentioning this is Greenking's old ACG. Now, Peter bought this bass and thought carefully about the specifications. What was produced is a brilliant instrument. Now, Peter told me he had ordered this bass along the lines of his "ultimate bass" and it really was just that. Until a few months later he gets into playing 5 strings and sells it to me! Of course, for me it really could be a bass for life. I don't think I've ever played anything as good as it, it just demolishes the competition. I was playing a Sterling Stingray that was £650 today and I got my ACG for £300 more. I couldn't believe it, that I got such a good deal when compared to the slightly tatty 'Ray. I bought as my "toy" bass that I could play for a while and trade, as I didn't want to sell or trade a Kubicki again. However, now I'm not sure I could ever let the ACG go! It's just too bloody good. I've never really owned one bass for a long time, save for my Kubickis. This could be it for me though, I hope I still have it in 20 years time and it'll be played in like Victor Wooten's #1 Fodera is.

In fact, if it wasn't for Ovi posting about this small Romanian and Russian luthiers that he has bought from before, we'd probably never know about them, and that would be a shame.