NBD - 1975 Hayman 4040

[EMG456]

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1396101187' post='2409955']


Thanks for this! From about 3:20 to the end (when he's going for it) and despite the fact it's not a full-range recording, you do get a fairly good idea of the essential sound of a 4040. [size=4]Very audible, with a lot of thorb. Yes, I said 'thorb'.[/size]
[size=4]I think this one might just be a fretless, too.[/size]

[size=4]

I can't help but feel the bargain window might be closing... get in, quick!
[/quote]

Help!!

[Bassman Sam]

What a great restoration job, fantastic work all round. Get some sound clips up soon please.

[project_c]

Looks amazing! Congratulations.

[MB1]

'Dingus'
Don't be surprised if you now get teenage girls approaching you after gigs and asking if you are Peter Hook. Don't say yes, but don't say no. That way they will have less incriminating evidence against you when the case comes to court.

MB1.
...Pete Hooks just gone past our house on his push bike...
Or was it Mr Dingus?...Confusion!

(Nice Resto by the way!)

[Rumple]

I think I need to see this beast in the flesh at some point.

[HowieBass]

Speaking of confusion, is Arthur Baker, Hylda Baker's son?

I must get a little hand put on this watch...

[discreet]

[quote name='Dad3353' timestamp='1395927370' post='2408033']
I'll not be the only one to ask for sound files, surely..?
[size=4][/quote][/size][quote name='Dingus' timestamp='1396026102' post='2409217']
Given that I have never heard one, I would be very interested to hear some description of what this bass sounds like.
[size=4][/quote][/size]
OK, sound files as promised... this is me playing the Hayman along to Paloma Faith's 'Stone Cold Sober', which I chose pretty much at random for demo purposes. The first file is the bass mixed in with the song (from which I removed a fair amount of bottom end before adding the bass):

[url="http://markjaysmith.co.uk/audio/stone%20cold%20sober%20hayman%204040%20256kb.mp3"][u]Stone Cold Sober Hayman 4040 Demo[/u][/url]

The next file is the same number featuring bass only - so now you will hear all the fret buzz, bum notes, bad tuning and timing, warts and all. Just getting my excuses in early, as usual...

[url="http://markjaysmith.co.uk/audio/stone%20cold%20sober%20bass%20only%20256kb.mp3"][u]Stone Cold Sober Hayman 4040 Demo BASS ONLY[/u][/url]

If you're having any problems with the links please let me know.
I thank you!

Edited April 1, 2014 by discreet

[Nodd]

lovely tone, is the 'thorb' filter fully disengaged?

[discreet]

[quote name='Nodd' timestamp='1396358774' post='2412643']
lovely tone, is the 'thorb' filter fully disengaged?
[/quote]

Yes, all the 'thorb' you're hearing is totally natural.

[Bassman Sam]

Love the tone, you must be one happy bunny with the restoration.

[discreet]

[quote name='Bassman Sam' timestamp='1396445134' post='2413712']
Love the tone, you must be one happy bunny with the restoration.
[/quote]

Thanks very much. Yes, The Bass Doc excelled himself this time.

Edited April 3, 2014 by discreet

[ShergoldSnickers]

Oooops.... only saw this today.

Great sound — it has that 'slots into the mix like a keystone slots into a arch' feel. Not many basses do that.

[Dad3353]

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1396352946' post='2412536']OK, sound files as promised...[/quote]

Great stuff; thanks for sharing..! Nice, authoritative, burping bass tone. I imagine that the silver logo is responsible for some of that..? Yes, indeed; more. Many more, in fact, if you can be bothered. Nowt wrong with the playing, either. Win all round. So what's with all this 'P' v 'J' stuff, then, eh..? Hayman rules..!

[ash]

This restoration rekindled my GAS for all things Jack Golder and Norm Houlder and oops I've bought another Shergold Marathon.

[discreet]

[quote name='ShergoldSnickers' timestamp='1396446343' post='2413739']
...it has that 'slots into the mix like a keystone slots into a arch' feel. Not many basses do that.
[/quote]

Thanks Ian, that's exactly what I thought...

[quote name='ash' timestamp='1396458070' post='2413942']
This restoration rekindled my GAS for all things Jack Golder and Norm Houlder and oops I've bought another Shergold Marathon.
[/quote]

Hooray! New 'NVBBD' thread incoming? Or at least pics?

[Paul S]

Back after (yet another) trip to abroadshire to find this pornography waiting. That is a lovely job. They look so cool, I think. How much does it weigh, out of interest?

[discreet]

[quote name='Paul S' timestamp='1396467833' post='2414108']
Back after (yet another) trip to abroadshire to find this pornography waiting.
That is a lovely job. They look so cool, I think. How much does it weigh, out of interest?
[/quote]

Thank you... I imagined it was heavy as all received wisdom points to this, but the fact is it weighs in at less than 9lbs.
These basses are made from obeche, which is relatively soft but is also light.

[Billy Apple]

The solo clip sounds canny. Can't hear much in the mix one tho, but I'm listening on a lap top.

I thought woody with a hint of growl. Would like to hear something a bit more driving and with a pick.

[Billy Apple]

What string-ingtons are you wearing?

[Paul S]

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1396469147' post='2414127']
Thank you... I imagined it was heavy as all received wisdom points to this, but the fact is it weighs in at less than 9lbs.
These basses are made from obeche, which is relatively soft but is also light.
[/quote]

Wow. just listened to the sound clips. My old one sounded *nothing* like that - it was weak and thin. Yours sounds utterly awesome - the kind of bass tone I absolutely love and strive for, without necessarily hitting it. Sits there with enough growl to make the hairs on your arms stand without smashing you in the face, tuba-like, the way some basses have to in order to make their presence felt. Was that enhanced or straight from the output?

Just another example of how ostensibly similar basses can vary so much. My old one was heavy with a weak tone, yours is neither of those things. You must have a smile on your face every time you take it out of the case, Mark

[discreet]

[quote name='Paul S' timestamp='1396510443' post='2414371']
...Was that enhanced or straight from the output?
[/quote]

It's through my GK Fusion (flat EQ, Contour about 25%) and 1212L cab recorded as a .wav file on a Zoom H1, then transferred to FL Studio 11 for mixing with the original track. There is a touch of compression on it to give a bloom to the note as it decays and enhance the sustain a little. The original number has the bass mixed quite low, presumably as it's a very busy number. It also has some bass/brass synth work in it which weaves its way around the bass line. I'm not even sure if the original was played or programmed, it's hard to tell. I could do a version that's recorded direct from the bass if you like, just out of interest.

[quote name='Paul S' timestamp='1396510443' post='2414371']
You must have a smile on your face every time you take it out of the case, Mark
[/quote]

It only goes in its case when I take it to rehearsal - otherwise it lives on a stand. It has to be ready at all times.

Edited April 3, 2014 by discreet

[discreet]

[quote name='Billy Apple' timestamp='1396471084' post='2414149']
The solo clip sounds canny. Can't hear much in the mix one tho, but I'm listening on a lap top.
I thought woody with a hint of growl. Would like to hear something a bit more driving and with a pick.
[/quote]

It's quite low in the mix to blend in, as per the original. Er... try bigger speakers.
Fair comment about pick playing though Sean, I'll think of something suitable and get my Herco out (fnarr).

[quote name='Billy Apple' timestamp='1396471339' post='2414153']
What string-ingtons are you wearing?
[/quote]

Fender Flatwound 9050ML Medium Light 50-100.

[quote name='Billy Apple' timestamp='1396032786' post='2409322']
Stop me if I'm wrong here, or maybe some can educate. But, is the Hayman, Shergold, Wal shape born from the fact that they were all manufactured by the same furniture makers in High Wycombe? In fact the same factory where Burns and Vox had been built?
[/quote]

Sorry, I missed this... it's an interesting point.
Obeche is often used for furniture, so maybe they went from kitchen cabinets to basses...

Edited April 3, 2014 by discreet

[Dingus]

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1396469147' post='2414127']

These basses are made from obeche, which is relatively soft but is also light.
[/quote]

Yes, it has always been one of my favourite cheeses for that very reason.

[Dingus]

That bass sounds superb, with a really strong fundamental that suits the sound of flatwounds so perfectly. That recorded tone is[u] [i]the[/i][/u] sound that so many bass players are trying to get nowadays. I'm not surprised you are so happy with it.

[discreet]

[quote name='Dingus' timestamp='1396532176' post='2414736']
That bass sounds superb, with a really strong fundamental that suits the sound of flatwounds so perfectly. That recorded tone is[u] [i]the[/i][/u] sound that so many bass players are trying to get nowadays. I'm not surprised you are so happy with it.
[/quote]

I thank you sir, I do like it a lot. I also like my newly-acquired GK MB500 Fusion and 1212L cab, too. But I am well aware that one man's great tone is another man's 'So what?', so I'm pretty sure there must be a number of members wondering what the fuss is about. But you're quite right, of course.

Edited April 3, 2014 by discreet