Billy Apple

You know, with the weather we had the other day, you missed a photo opportunity... Brand new ACG in the snow! ..... Dare ya!

The bass on the bed session.. Cannae beat it! Sublime bass

Very good thing. Blew away a lot of cob-webs. Anyway, I've always thought the argument that punk bands couldnt play was a bit redundant. I think most of them could play pretty well, and had been around in other incarnations before '76. It's more that they stripped it all down to basics, and had more in common with '50's rock n' roll. Decent stuff always stands the test of time and the good punk stuff is still around, as is the good stuff pre '76.

My first Bass was a natural wood finish Westone Thunder 1A. I sold it around '86 in McKays on Westgate Hill, Newcastle. Got £50 for it, which was not bad seeing as I'd nicked it off my guitards brother. I don't regret letting it go, it seemed to snap lots of strings. Either my heavy-handedness or a crap set-up.

My favorite JJ moment was finding Rattus Norvegicus in the summer of '77. I was 12 years old, and it was the first album that spoke to me. He set the course for me wanting to play bass, taking it from the background and into a virtuoso instrument. Not just the music, but also the cover.. He was all I wanted to look like too

I use Ernie Ball Nickel Rounds with no Ill affects. £17.95 from this lot.. http://www.stringsdirect.co.uk/products/8376-ernie_ball_4_string_bass_slinky_nickel_strings_45_105_hybrid_slinky_45_105 Can't stand stainless, me. feels like a cheese-grater

I think the Barefaced 212 looks pretty cool, but never seen one in the flesh, and do like the silver grille too

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1328959393' post='1535263'] I believe TI Flats may suit you, but do a search on here - there are multiple threads on the subject. [/quote] Ta very much

[quote name='StraightSix' timestamp='1328957223' post='1535224'] I recently bought a set of the 77s but I did some research first and found out that the tension is higher so I ordered a set in a lighter gauge and they are very nice. [/quote] Interesting. Thing is, the 45-105 guage is my thing and wouldnt want to go thinner. Maybe Roto's are just not the brand for me. Anyone know which brand offers a low tension 45-105 (or maybe fatter) flat?

Hi Jason, I'm feeling a little bit mugged here. While you are giving out free strings, I'm a punter who went out and spent £27 on a set of '77' flat wound 45-105's. Was really looking forward to slinging these on the TBird. I'll start with the bad bit, then finish with a positive. They are so 'tight' I found then unplayable for me. Just rock-hard tension, and my neck was pulled so far forward, I thought it might give some problems. Previous to this I'd had on Ernie Ball RW Hybrids (45-105), and they are now back on. I wish I could return these, but I dont see it as a fault with the shop. I've now got them up for sale on BC, maybe other folk are used to this and could fare better than me. The positive is they did sound great, and the 'monel' (nickel?) is the 'soft' feel I want. Can't stand stainless. But just cant play such a high tension string. But the amount of tension was way higher than anything I've known before. Given a choice, I would prefer to buy British, and would spend a few extra pennies to stay loyal, but the product has to match the outlay and enthusiasm. There is some good British kit out there, and I started with Rotosound in '85, but too many neg comments here. What gives, Jason? Best wishes, Sean

I had a drummer whose (only) Granny died. About 3 months later she died again

Good that.

How about the Orange Bass Terror? It's the same pre as the AD200 IIRC. Or hang fire for a bit for the new digital Amps Matamp are developing.

Love this thread. Looks a very nice amp. Was thinking of a name.. Capitalising on the Sheffield/Steel/Iron thing, the first thing that comes to mind is British Steel (ha ha), then I got British Power.. Hmm, Sheffield Valve Power, would be SVP, too Ampeg. How about British Valve Power? Cut down to BVP.

If they are giving you so little to go on, then how would you know this set up is for you? I think you are auditioning them as much as they are auditioning you. Just turn up and see what happens.

[quote name='Mylkinut' timestamp='1328175434' post='1522907'] This would normally be entirely not my sort of thing, but I really like the look of that. [/quote] Thank you

[quote name='eude' timestamp='1328174000' post='1522872'] Nice one Sean. That is going to be one hell of a bass! I'm looking forward to watching this one progress Eude [/quote] Cheers Eude... Anything happening this weekend of interest?

[left]I'm very pleased and proud to announce my putting down a deposit on and brand new custom built ACG. This is the first time I've stepped up to this level of instrument, and arriving here has taken it's time, but here I am. I would like to thank Basschat for opening up my horizons from the usual suspects, to the many and varied possibilities out there. Also I would like to thank BC members such as Eude, who have offered encouragement and advice on the way. Finally I would like to thank Mr Alan Cringean at ACG, who has started to make real what was an idea in my head, and taking those ideas and making them into something better than I had imagined.[/left] [left]We started on the specs early November last year, and I forget the amount of changes we have gone through. At current counting there have been over 50 emails between us, and it is testement to Alan his pateince with someone as fussy as me, and his dedication to the task in hand.[/left] [left][u][b]Specification [/b][/u][/left] [left][b]Skelf Single Cut 4[/b][/left] [left][color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]34" Scale[/font][/color][/left] [left][color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]White mineral stained Limba body core (V light weight)[/font][/color] [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]Calico Padauk top and back on Maple and Black veneer[/font][/color] [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]Glued in Wenge, 3mm Maple, Padauk neck[/font][/color][/left] [left][color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]39mm nut[/font][/color] [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]Ebony board 16" radius[/font][/color] [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]Calico padauk front and back head with black veneer[/font][/color] [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]Hipshot type A Bridge, 18mm spacing[/font][/color] [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]East U retro 01 pre amp[/font][/color] [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]RFB ceramic pup in bridge, RFB alnico in neck[/font][/color] [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]Reverse/extended headstock[/font][/color] [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]Max amount of body carving to keep weight down, rounding out lower bout and upper horn[/font][/color] [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]18v LX[/font][/color][/left] [left][color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]High gloss finish[/font][/color][/left] [left][color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]Low battery LED[/font][/color][/left] [left] [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]Alan is going to try and book-match the top as a chevron >>> instead of parallel, to try and get it to look like an arrow. If the piece is wide enough, that is[/font][/color][/left] [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]The weight issue has been a USP in the spec. I've had a few motorcycle crashes and taken the brunt on my left shoulder, this is why I love my light weight TBird. So along with the light weight Limba, Alan is carving it as much as possible, but also with touches like having the padauk top and back at 5mm. [/font][/color] [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]Originally I was after an even wenge/maple/padauk neck, but Alan suggested thinning down the maple to a 3mm veneer to save weight, but still get the accent between the red and the black.[/font][/color] [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]The reversed headstock is to achieve the same angle from the back to the front of the guitar. My mate did a mock-up, to give an idea....[/font][/color] [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]So the 'Slash' on the rear, upper horn and head are all the same. The elongated headstock is a nod to the long TBird look (not on mock-up), Alan is concious about weight and balance. All I've asked him for is to try his best, and to go for that aesthetic.[/font][/color] [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]I went for the Skelf shape as it seems the road less travelled, and I like that. But also there is more 'meat' round the top and back of the bridge,where I rest my forearm. I also think it is a most original and inventive body shape.[/font][/color] [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]So there it is, the sleeked out ACG Skelf Rock n' Roll Missile..[/font][/color] [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]Here she is at the moment in the ACG workshop...[/font][/color] [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]Only 11 months to go...[/font][/color] [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]I'll keep you posted[/font][/color] [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]Edit: More spec info [/font][/color]