BassBus

As usual Rob Green has been beavering away at building lots of basses but he has once again excelled himself with one particular new commision. Our friend Todd in Canada, and Statii.com, commisioned a headless KBII. Facing wood is what Rob described as "strange black claro walnut". Pickups are neck 'J' with custom wired bridge soap bar which splits for humbucking and single coil 'J'. 16.5 string spacing and bendwell.

[quote name='Spoombung' post='533693' date='Jul 6 2009, 12:37 PM']Well, I take your point of course, but I think asking a drummer to keep the beat and not take a nap while the solo is in progress (for instance) is hardly 'stifling' the poor guy's creativity - I mean it's quite handy to know another musician's likes and dislikes before you begin playing with them - that's if you accept you're in a dynamic relationship with them (for a short while) and that expressing a simple opinion about a minor matter won't make them sulk and protest about their creativity being compromised.[/quote] Nicely put, sir.

I think that puts the point very clearly bilbo. We are, after all, creating something when we play, particularly in jazz, so just talking is not always going to bring out the best. Sometimes you just have to let it go, within reason, and see what comes up. [quote name='Spoombung' post='533505' date='Jul 6 2009, 07:52 AM']Oh, you can't always rely on a listening. Talking first means you set some preferences (like [i]please[/i] keep playing when I play my bass solo)[/quote] In my earlier post I related my experience of sitting down and talking to the drummer which achieved precisely nothing. That brings me back to listening and bilbo makes a good point about stifling the creativity of others by stating what I want.

[quote name='Spoombung' post='531595' date='Jul 3 2009, 12:32 PM']- they rarely sit down and discuss each others likes and dislikes - they try and rely on some sort of romantic idea of musical telepathy instead -[/quote] "Musical telepathy"? It's called listening. You should try it some time, it actually makes music fun.

Major, your scenario sounds as if it comes from poor leadership on the part of the B'leader (I love that description). In an ideal world the leader should check with everyone to see how they like to be accompanied, but as AdamWoodBass said that depends on the b'leader's ego. I once played with a drummer who hammered away at his kit regardless. I asked gently if he could keep off his snare during bass solos. Next tune? You guessed it, same as before. Probably the best drummer I played with in that band was a 17 year old. Really sensitive playing and listened. Unfortunately he's away to music college in September. I don't know what the answer is. When you are new in a band you don't want to rock the boat by laying down the law. Then again when you're established in the band b'leader might go all huffy if you try to make your feelings felt.

[quote name='BassBod' post='523151' date='Jun 24 2009, 11:28 PM']I've used one for years with no problem - but I have seen the Talkbass comments. If its humming then its probably dead and time for a replacement. I'd contact David Gage though - they may be able to help? Also worth a call/email to Mo Clifton, as he's been fitting them for a long time so would probably know what's fixable and what isn't? good luck BB[/quote] That's exactly the advice I was given when my Realist gave up. I was also told that they don't last forever as the TB thread seems to suggest. I also tried plugging the bass through my SansAmp BDDI which helped a lot. Eventually I gave up and bought a Shadow instead and have had no problem with that.

Fairdoos, I'm just not aggresive player so don't get a chance to hear those tones.

[quote name='dannybuoy' post='522803' date='Jun 24 2009, 06:21 PM'][url="http://www.status-graphite.com"]Status Hotwire Halfrounds[/url] They are rounds that are then ground down to be as smooth as flats. They are very smooth indeed, so no finger noise and they're kind to your fretboard, but they have a bit more sing and sustain to them than regular flats which is great for fretless. Bags of mwah with these - only £16.99 too![/quote] I'll second Hot Wires halfwounds. I've had them on all my fretless electrics at one point or another and they just bring the bass alive. I also have TI jazz flats on my Spectorcore and they are really nice. Smotth to play and a lovely warm, rounded sound. You can hear the Hot Wires on my ReverbNation page on the tune 'Maple Leaf Angel'. Link below.

There's quite a bit of his stuff on CCBaby. [url="http://cdbaby.com/found?allsearch=michael+manring"]http://cdbaby.com/found?allsearch=michael+manring[/url]

[quote name='Bobo_Grimmer' post='519980' date='Jun 21 2009, 03:05 PM']Tihs! I'm slightly scared that i may be heading for a long break................. [/quote] Only as long as it takes to find the new inspiration. That might come along next week, who knows.

[quote name='Bobo_Grimmer' post='519956' date='Jun 21 2009, 02:08 PM']You konw i love you guy's. I'd never come across Mr Manring till i Posted the link and now after reading back through this thread i know so much more. Thank you. Over the last few week's i'd lost music. I'd gone mad i think, i really thought i was done musically. I couldn't relax into my playing and i just stopped. I'd go out for a jam, get there set up and not be able to play. I didn't know what to do, confused, confidence gone, spent. Has anyone else ever had this? ............ But I think the reserve is refilling. [/quote] The same happened to me back in the mid 90s. I was so board with playing rock and pop. Nothing I could find to play on the instrument. I had seven years away from the bass but thanks to a whole series of coincidences in 2001 the inspiration came back in the form of jazz. Never looked back since. Thank God I didn't sell my gear.

Fit like BASSISACE. Great collection. Don't know which I like best as they're all beauties. You're right about the camera not doing the colour of the fretless justice, shame about that.

[quote name='ahpook' post='519777' date='Jun 21 2009, 09:26 AM']this is what it comes down to for me really - sure i can say 'yes, that's very skillful bassplaying', but it's the whole package for me - if the music doesn't engage me then that's about it. as an analogy - i find representational painting leaves me cold. i can appreciate the skill of the artist, but i certainly won't go to a gallery to look at an exhibition of it, whereas i'd be in like flynn if it were, say kandinsky.[/quote] I think we are all really saying the same thing in our own way and not quite meeting in the middle. I respect all your feelings on the matter. Great inventive player, just doesn't float your boat and that's OK.

I think it's a shame when people can't hear the quality of some music. I'm not a fan of a lot of orchestral music but that does not stop me hearing the quality and beauty that lies in it. Those two pieces that Oscar South posted are just what I said earlier, mesmerising. Maybe it's time for me to go out and buy some of his more recent stuff.

[quote name='BarnacleBob' post='519614' date='Jun 20 2009, 09:16 PM']Mebbe I'm just an old fashioned bump, bump, debump,bump bump guy [/quote] Nowt wrong with that, my friend. MM's music is not stuff I would go out to buy but he is a great player.

I don't think there is anyone else, musicians that is, not just bass players, who is quite as inventive as he is. I've always loved 'The Enormous Room'. Mesmerising!!!

The ACG is just gorgeous. What is the facing wood?

One for the Major. How do you apply your rosin, in one direction or both directions. I've tried both but I seem to get a better grip when I apply it from frog to tip only. I know it's another topic people get hot under the coler about.

I don't have any experience of them but here's a link to the BGM review some months ago. [url="http://bassguitarmagazine.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=102:tanglewood-canyon-i-ii-and-iii-four-string-basses-issue-29&catid=37:bassguitars"]http://bassguitarmagazine.com/index.php?op...=37:bassguitars[/url]

Thanks guys. The Tokai started out as a fretted but I had the frets taken out in the late 80s. Never really used it after that until I started playing in jazz in 2001. Set of halfwounds onit and a setup and it is just great now.

I've never felt a dogs whatsits but if they feel as good as the Spectorcore does then I've been missing out.

Never shown my fretted ones before so here they are. Columbus Series 3, Yamaha TRB6 II, Yamaha BB1100s, Washburn Status 1000, Hohner B2A (front) And the fretless ones for good measure. Back - Stentor Arcadia DB, NS CR4M Front - Spectorcore, Status S2, Tokai Jazzsound

Try going here, [url="http://www.statii.com/forum/downloads/Status_Bass_09_Inc-&-Ex.pdf"]http://www.statii.com/forum/downloads/Stat...nc-&-Ex.pdf[/url] for the current Status price list. T-bass is on page 5.

Japan, Czech Republic, Korea and the Toy Factory in Colchester. Continue to upsize!!

She's certainly very sexy dressed in black. Mmmm!