Grangur

I've been to 3 tutors and I guess I've been unfortunate. With the exception of picking up a few practice techniques and learning the bass line in a small selection of numbers I didn't gain a lot. My reason for finding a tutor has always been, at times when I've felt I was hitting a wall. I was hoping to find a new sense of direction. It never happened. In fairness, I'm not in a band and have little chance if being in a position to have time available to commit to a band. One "tutor" even told me that unless you can hold a position of 1 finger per fret in the first position, with all fingers firm on the fingerboard, thumb in the centre of the back, in relative comfort, you may as well give up. That was the message at the first lesson. I was 53 FFS. My fingers weren't equipped for that stretch without working at it. I gave him up and kept the bass. Other tutors have always started each lesson with the immortal question, "well, what do you want to learn?" Answer: "I don't know. If I did I wouldn't be here." So, I stick at it and sight read. I know, I'm odd.

That looks to me like it would be fragile.

I sometimes find videos don't appear on a mobile.

[quote name='tom1946' timestamp='1490701150' post='3267144'] I can only compare it to a precision and it holds up well to them. punchy and full. They do one with 2 pickups as well and it has the switch for £160 odd quid, bet it's awesome. [/quote] Regrettably the twin pup version doesn't have the matched headstock, but it's certainly interesting. Thanks for posting.... I think. This could cost me in the wallet!

[quote name='markstuk' timestamp='1490712991' post='3267301'] Actually the soundboard is a critical element of a pianos sound and is made of wood. [/quote] That's good. Is it suitable for a body?

[quote name='JoeEvans' timestamp='1490707396' post='3267221'] I'm not sure that pianos would have blocks of wood big enough for a one-piece bass body anyway? I took one to pieces once and it was all beams and panels, presumably built to allow for the seasonal movement of the wood. A lot of it was also made of very lightweight spruce (or similar), I'm guessing for acoustic reasons, but again not good for making a bass body. [/quote] Back in the 60s there uses to be team piano smashing competitions at local events. There wasn't a lot of solid wood evident at those events. Also, in TheGreek's post there was a link to an oval table with an curved edge and patchwork top. I'd expect that's not solid either. In most of those situations the wood will either be too heavy (oak for example) or veneer. There might be a chance of getting some mahogany that way. But then it will probably be too thin.

[quote name='SH73' timestamp='1490707221' post='3267217'] Thanks for your advice. I thought old pianos were built from solid wood. [/quote] Old pianos may be made of solid wood, but there's no knowing what species that might be. One thing you can be sure of is the veneer may be walnut, but the frame wood won't be. A piano's sound comes from the frame (usually metal) and the strings. There isn't much of a "tonewood" discussion in piano circles. So the wood covering is mainly aesthetics. So it won't be too solid.

When looking at old furniture and pianos to salvage them for a good, solid body, look out for funding end-grain. For example, on a table look at the ends of the table top to see if you see end grain, or does the grain go sideways unexpectedly. I say this because you don't want to find yourself cutting into a £90 "walnut" table only to find it's veneered ply or chip-board. For example, I've never seen end grain on a piano. I don't know about old pianos, but modern one's aren't likely to be solid wood unless they're made by some of the big names and cost accordingly.

[quote name='NickD' timestamp='1490611377' post='3266340'] Papa was a Rolling Stone... sooooo much with so little! [/quote] Beat me to it by 9 hours!

In which case it's well done for airing your dirty linen in public. What's this forum for if it's not to stop us making a plonker of ourselves?

I saw the beginnings of the thread about Andy's new spray booth but no more. I'm sure I'm not alone in jumping to the conclusion here that at least one person jumped in there and said there are factors in the construction which made the design illadvised? Isn't this a positive outcome? If it were not for that thread Andy could be scorched under a molten heap of plastic and chemicals or poisoned with interacting chemical forming gasses; whatever was the potential threat that he faced. I say, "well done Andy for posting. And well done to the other person for jumping in." Andys design for the booth was logical and a solution that was low cost and sensible; if you don't know better. There but for the grace of God go I. Thank you for this opportunity to learn.

Thanks Gary. Too much info me thinks, as it's nearly lunch time. Good luck Jack. We would come along but you're starting at my bedtime!

Damn! I missed it! I'd have enjoyed making that good.

I got this one today too. It's the old one of getting you to click a link.

[quote name='TimR' timestamp='1490110884' post='3262250'] Hanging around this forum will turn you into a grumpy old git if you're not careful. [/quote] I resemble that remark!

I agree with Happy Jack, which in itself is worrying. But to keep to the subject; it is an age thing. When you're young it's your duty to be young and foolish. If you don't you'll regret it. There's nothing good about being in the 2nd half of your life and have no stupid times to look back on. But once you have the "steady job" (if that actually exists, ever), the mortgage, the family/spouse, et al, you're tied down to grind-stone by commitments. The daunting fact is that with all the "media explosion" there's less chance of making it big now than there was in the past. Today singers get booked by the media moguls. The band is replaceable by the staff musos; with a few exceptions. http://youtu.be/kv_TA2S2z34

[quote name='AnthonyS' timestamp='1490099169' post='3262127'] Thanks for all your replies. I think it will be a while before I go gigging, but in any case, I found a 2nd hand Orange Crush 50 BXT. I've nothing to compare it with, but so far, it seems to do the job. It's got a quarter inch headphone jack which will be interesting to try once I've found an adapter. Cheers [/quote] Sounds like a result. Happy jamming!