Chris2112

[quote name='The Bass Doc' post='685731' date='Dec 15 2009, 09:20 PM']Yeah, Sounds Live deserve a good mention - it's owned and run by two bass players (allegedly).[/quote] Well, there is the ginger bloke who works there, with the goatee, I remember him telling me he was a bassist with a custom bass a couple of years ago. Presumably a left handed custom bass, since he is a lefty player! They often have the better selection of basses in the toon, especially since Sound Control with it's Spector collection closed down!

[quote name='Huge Hands' post='685358' date='Dec 15 2009, 04:15 PM']Ha ha, the shop in High Bridge Street! I remember often trying to look through the window whilst on my way back to Worswick Street for the bus home![/quote] We must be going back some years now if buses used to run on Worswick street! Now there is bugger all there except the office for NODA taxis, a closed down "Smokey Joe" style pawn shop and a couple of closed down takeaways! And High Bridge has bugger all on it now too, escept for a tattoo parlour and a few people using it as a toilet on a friday and saturday night! Only metres away from the 24hr Bigg Market bogs! I have to say that Windows is terrible these days and as far as I can remember, it has never been any good. However, it has always been the "new" Windows too me. That is, crappy guitars and basses of the least reputable names, that are hideously overpriced. That, and crappy practice amps, and staff who know nothing about what they're selling. I wouldn't spend a penny there simply just because there are simply better places, and it does seem to be frequented by "first time buyers", who I really think could find better stuff at Sounds Live! The other Windows store at the Metro Centre is naff too, which is a shame.

I look after my basses, but they are tools and I accept the "playing wear" they will suffer. I just try not to be too clumsy with them! However, my Warwick Thumb is very well looked after these days. Some gigs I can do from a chair, and otherwise I just try to create a big space for myself, even if I'm on a small stage! But most of the stuff I play with other people is jazz fusion, so I don't have to worry about bandmates jumping around the stage like idiots! Lets face it, when does John Mclaughlin ever jump about the stage? etc etc But yeah, the Warwick is well looked after, waxed regularly and polished with lint free cloths every couple of days.

This bass always reminded me of a Bass Collection, and it sounds stupidly good! [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UH2Wp_b9COs"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UH2Wp_b9COs[/url]

Ah, my old Spector. It was so good it made me sell my Status Stealth 6 string! I picked it up when I was in Preston, it was an awesome bass. I wasn't planning on buying when I was there but a sit down with this bass made me change my mind! It was so good I even took it on a torturous journey home in a gig bag, complete with having to travel over the most dire parts of England across to from Preston to halifax and then on to York before getting home! It was an absolute beast. So much bark and growl and with an amazing bright slap tone. I sold it for peanuts too, chasing another Status which I sold to buy my Warwick!

[quote name='wateroftyne' post='677767' date='Dec 8 2009, 12:23 PM']I'm an anti-smoking Nazi, but even I'll admit The Bass Place was never the same after the air cleared. [/quote] I'll admit, it had a certain smokey charm before the refurb! I've played some cracking basses there over the years!

[quote name='The Bass Doc' post='677730' date='Dec 8 2009, 11:54 AM']It won't work. Howard.[/quote] I dunno, I'm not sure how happy I'd be smoking all over the brace of Alembic and Fodera basses I am planning on stocking! Maybe I'll buy basses that are exclusively headless so I can have more room for stock!

Sadly Howards shut down, and thus the chance of finding anything really cool for a good price is gone! I might reopen the old Nun Street store as a bass boutique now, no smoking allowed!

Sounds like he has his bass plugged directly into a farting elephant!

[quote name='noelk27' post='675168' date='Dec 5 2009, 06:38 PM']An Aria Pro II SB-LTD - Aria craftsmanship married to Alembic electronics. I'd settle for an SB R-150 though.[/quote] Do they not do one with a bridge pickup and the crazy electronics package?

The first time I saw Level 42 was at the Gateshead Sage and they were awesome. Crap support act though! I might have to see if I can get some tickets to this, see if I can get myself to a third level 42 gig!

A Status Hellborg please! And a fretless Thumb!

Although the name is apparently pronounced the same as the fish, not the instrument!

I have to say Warwickhunt, that I'm sure I played that Streamer at Howards a few years ago. I'm sure I may have already told you this. It was battered, the frets were green with gunk, the bass was filthy and the action was awful. But I thought with a bit of a fix up it would be cracking, and look at it now! Talking of basses that got away, I actually spotted my old Status Matrix bass for sale on Ebay just a couple of days ago! Looks like it has been through a couple of hands since I let it go, but I didn't fancy having it back because I like to try out new basses! That said, there are two basses from the past that I still think about a lot and wouldn't mind getting back! The first is my Status Stealth mk1 bass. It was my first 6 string and despite sounding awesome, I just wasn't enjoying playing it that much. I sold it to a bloke whom I believe lived in Wales but was from Crewe. I'm sure he drove a silver Vectra. Anyway, I sold the bass through Bassworld or Basschat, met him and handed the bass over and that was that! It was a cracking bass though. And of course, the other one is my old Kubicki, #1777. Made in 1989, I got it when I was 16. This was truely an awesome bass, aside from my Thumb its probably the one that "clicked" with me the most. I'd have this back if I found it, not just for nostalgia but also because it kicks loads of ass! Funnily enough on Talkbass I found the guy who has #1778!