Billy Apple

That looks dead cool. Did you stripe the headstock too?

The Wife

Give Matamp a call. They might be able to do it for you, or point you in the right direction. http://www.matamp.co.uk/

[quote name='OBT1000_S12' timestamp='1368224613' post='2074778'] Cool thanks, that was the only thing about using the steel wool that I didn't like the idea of having to worry about the pickups [/quote] Cover the edges of the Pups with masking tape

I've used green kitchen sponges (scotchpads). I find them rougher than fine steel wool. BTW, I use this stuff.. http://www.rustins.eu/Details.asp?ProductID=803

I took the scratch plate off so the effect is even, and doesnt just go up to it.

I've done this. It wont go through the wood, or the paint for that matter. It could over time I suppose. It wont give a flawless matte finish, but will give a scoured effect, but very very small scouring. With this in mind it's best always to go in a circular motion. Also it will polish back to gloss at rub points like the arm cut. You might get a finer matte finish with T Cut or 2000 to 3000 grit automotive sanding pad. BTW the finish on the Fender CS La Cabronita has a finish akin to 0000 steel wool.. I'll see if I can get a pic up of mine

[quote name='mike257' timestamp='1368080959' post='2072831'] This all makes me very happy, as I've just got one. I'm yet to try it out but I'm looking forward to it even more now! [/quote] I spent most of last weekend messing with mine, and it does take a little while (for me anyway) to start getting the best from it. I've mentioned palm muting on the open A, but also it prefers a slighly higher action. I spent most the weekend playing with my P which is very low and slung with flat chromes and I really had to think about cleaning up my playing. By Monday evening I thought I had it nailed and I swapped to my higher action TBird with rounds, and it just sounded bang on, very steady indeed. The low notes were shaking the crockery in the kitchen cupboards and rattling the windows . Alas it was close to bedtime and I had to turn in.

PS. f*** me, you are listing August, It's like the year has passed already [size=4] [/size]

Could you be a dear and put the day of the week on the listings. Only free Saturday, see, and i'm too bloody lazy to find out myself. BTW Lady Bones has promised to come to the the next London Zulu gig, if you are doing a Saturday with KR, I'll get her along. A bit like the time she refused to come to Brighton, so I took her to Hove instead.

[quote name='xilddx' timestamp='1367840261' post='2070022'] [size=4]On another note, I wonder if Guy, BillyApple and me are the only bassists on here who have done some live stand up? If you think your first gig was sh*t-scary, try stand up comedy [/size] [/quote] Welcome to the forum Guy. Yes, Xilddx and I are professionally trained comedy ninja's. Perhaps we could do a three-some on stage sometime soon? Anyway, the sun is shining and there are Ladies outside waiting to be impressed by my shiny bicycle.

I've had a bit more of a play. Found the open A tracks better if slightly palm-muted

After hearing SiBob at the SE Bass bash, I've been thinking more about effects (before the bash I didn't have any), and in particular an octave pedal. It seems like the BC holy-grail is the Boss OC-2. I don't know if it's bad luck or what, but I've had two of them, and both of them I have moved on. I found them glichey and temperamental and just not for me. I could not understand why what I had heard SiBob play could not be translated to me. Today I went off to Stomp Box in Northwood, on West London's outskirts, [size=4]and I'm writing this to give props the the Aguilar Octamizer. I bought one new today, and have spent most of the evening fiddling with it[/size] [size=4] . [/size] [size=4]I lined up an Ag, an EBS and an MXR. The EBS fell at the first hurdle but it was a photo-finish for the Ag and MXR. In a nutshell, the EBS was all over the place, I thought the Ag tracking [/size][size=4]steadier[/size][size=4] than the MXR, but really there was not too much in it. I want an octaver to broaden my sound, a bit like having a fat shadow, and I found the Ag to have an [/size][size=4]obese[/size][size=4] organic tone. The MXR is more synth-like in nature and has greater tonal and distortion possibilities, but [/size][size=4]possibilities[/size][size=4] I don't need. I like the Ag's simplicity and ease of use.[/size] [size=4]I have read elsewhere on the forum that the Ag trips-up around the A but what I'm finding is that it's on shaky ground on the open A, but there are no problems with the A on the E. It does say in the instructions that you need a note with good fundamentals, and I guess the ringing open A on a P bass has too much overtone content. I'm also finding it ironic that an effects pedal is making me clean up my technique, previous to this I could hide all manner of sin with distortion. The pedal really does shine when it can [/size]concentrate[size=4] on one note at a time, and I'm wondering how much of my earlier OC-2 failure was down to my cack-handedness.[/size] [size=4]I also read that the pedal was not a great design, but I like it because it's a bit quirky and I'm never going to have a board big enough where it might cause problems. Although If all pedals were top-loaded like this one, you could get them right next to each other and save a rake of space. Maybe it's Aguilar's hope that folk will buy the entire range and they'll sit snugly next to each other. Anyway, I like it.[/size] [size=4]So the Aguilar won the day in the Octaver stakes, but MXR did not go away empty handed seeing as I bought a pricier M87 compressor (I tried a few comps too, in a nutshell the M87 did not affect the basses breathing)[/size] [size=4]I would highly recommend the Aguilar Octamizer to anyone looking for a natural organic tone and [/size]simplicity[size=4] of use. I found the issues it had with tracking were less than the other pedals I tried. With this in mind I [/size]recommend[size=4] you go to a shop with your own bass and try a few out (like what I did), because I thought I was going in the buy the MXR, and was [/size]surprised[size=4] not to.[/size] Anyway, my 'Effects Lab [size=4] [/size][size=4]' so far runs from my bass, this way.. MXR M87 Bass Compressor, Aguilar Octamizer, Maxon Phase Tone PT999, Dave Hall Amps VT1 EQ.[/size] [size=4]The over-all [/size]signature[size=4] [/size][size=4] I'm going for is a kick in the guts with a velvet hob-nailed boot .[/size]

[size=4]Polyrythmmm bought my Matamp 212 cab. Great comms and cash on the nail. A smooth, hassle free sale. [color=#222222]Deal with confidence [/color][/size]

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1367270262' post='2063622'] I think you mean 'bated'... anyway, I await the pics with baited trousers. [/quote] No. My breath smell like cat-food

[quote name='sk8' timestamp='1367244341' post='2063050'] Unfortunately mike decided to book match his finger on the saw and cut it down the middle. Hoping to get some pics up soon. I know the body has progressed [/quote] Is that the same as 'slipping in the shower?' We await pics with baited breath! [size=4] [/size]

[quote name='molan' timestamp='1367180528' post='2062336'] [size=4]However, the OP asked for "the most beautiful bass ever" and my thought was that something that's the same as something else can't the the [/size][i]singular[/i][size=4] most beautiful bass - it can only be one of many beautiful basses.[/size] [size=4][/quote][/size] In hindsight the OP was a knee-jerk reaction to the 'ugly bass' thread running. I think I was being deliberately contentious in asking for the 'EVER' definitive, simply because we all know that will never be agreed upon. However, I'm enjoying how the thread is panning out. Coffee tables and planks, bring them all and celebrate that which you find most pleasing to the eye [size=4] [/size]

[quote name='molan' timestamp='1367145885' post='2061624'] If the OP is looking for the single most beautiful bass ever doesn't it have to be a full custom build that's a 'one of a kind' - otherwise it's just a bass that's very nice indeed but looks almost identical to a lot of other basses? This would, therefore, exclude almost all Fenders, Gibsons, Rickenbackers etc. Obviously individual beauty will be in the eye I the beholder but if something looks near identical to many other basses it's not really going to be THE most beautiful bass ever [/quote] I think a mass produced object can be an object of beauty, although Fender and Gibson are also looking at volume sales so they will tone down design in a way that Jens Ritter does not have to. Looking at the Ritters I think it's fair to say he is elevating the instrument above form and function and into art. Do I think they are beautiful, yes, the most beautiful, no. In terms of design I think that Leo Fender got it right very early on. It's a criticism laid at Fenders door that they don't come out with anything new, but when you have the icon of design and function why should you? There are many identical E-Type Jags (well, perhaps not so many now-a-days) but it is a very beautiful car. There are very few Bugatti Veyrons, but they do nowt for me

Tuners wrong, bell style truss rod cover wrong, logo wrong, letter script wrong, knobs wrong.

[quote name='Muzz' timestamp='1367143698' post='2061578'] Love a Thunderbird, but my obsession with maple boards means it's got to be a Fenderbird! [/quote] Here you go sir, I think this one is particularly fine... [IMG]http://i.imgur.com/rT6sOqC.jpg[/IMG]

As an antidote to the most ugly bass thread, I'm taking subscriptions for the most beautiful bass ever. I'm voting for the Gibson Thunderbird. Designed by Ray H. Dietrich it embodies the optimism of late 50's Americana. Sat in my living room it looks like a rocket-ship waiting for somewhere to go, and when I strap it on, I'm the Captain baby! Knocks all others into a cocked hat

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1357551129' post='1924182'] What is it with that top horn? It's like a terrible deformed alien teat. [/quote] I've had to trawl through 11 pages of sh*te just to check that no one else has posted this gag. So without further a-do, Ladies and Gentlemen, will you please welcome.... A terrible deformed alien teat? It gives me the right horn... The top horn that is. Brrrrrm TISH! im so very cold