Kiwi

Thanks Ash, Geert. :-)

Jon Shuker did pretty much the same thing to my Headless 6 using a belt sander with carbonundrum paper and he didn't even need to take out any frets.

Jon told me the other day that he's nearly cleared the backlog of instruments that built up after the flooding. So hopefully the delays will be decreasing.

Could someone maybe send him a link to this thread? It would be really great for him to do a build diary here as well. He's brilliant BTW, there are [url="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/7909014.stm"]some blokes out there[/url] who have built their own water cooled desktop PC's, so if the heat of the valves ever became an issue then it might be possible to build a cooling system along these lines. [url="http://www.vonslatt.com/proj-cc4.shtml"]http://www.vonslatt.com/proj-cc4.shtml[/url] [url="http://computer.howstuffworks.com/liquid-cooled-pc.htm"]http://computer.howstuffworks.com/liquid-cooled-pc.htm[/url] [url="http://www.watercoolinguk.co.uk/catalog/"]http://www.watercoolinguk.co.uk/catalog/[/url]

[quote name='BigRedX' post='534691' date='Jul 7 2009, 01:15 PM']I'm no longer convinced by on-board pre-amps of the traditional cut/boost variety because they don't do anything that the controls on your amp ought to do better. The only reason IMO to fit one would be: 1. You like to fiddle with the tone as you're playing 2. You prefer volume/balance as opposed to volume/volume on a 2 pick up bass. I've still not come across a decent passive balance control that sounds as smooth as a good active. 3. The pre-amp offers individual tone shaping for each pick up. What advantages are you hoping to get out of fitting a pre-amp to your bass?[/quote] I'm increasingly agree with this line of thinking. In my experience if the bass doesn't sound right in the first place, a preamp isn't going to make a lot of difference to be frank. Sure it will enhance whatever is there and maybe compensate for poor acoustics but there again, so will an amp. A preamp isn't really going to make a badly designed bass sound good. But I've just tried a few basses recently that were so 'right' that for the first time I thought, there was no need for an eq that couldn't just be done with the pickups and maybe a passive tone pot at most.

looks very nice, is that a brazilian rosewood fingerboard?

Thats sad, I have a friend who knew him well. She showed me some of the photos of him over the years and it sounds like he will be remembered fondly. I understand that Glasto was a bit of a highlight for him?

a bad?

[quote name='Lfalex v1.1' post='534386' date='Jul 7 2009, 07:46 AM']Herbie Rules! I'm not a great fan of the relic concept unless you did a DIY job over the course of 30 years or so. That'd make it a [i]real[/i] relic, but I do quite like that.[/quote] I tend to look at the relicing in the same way someone might look at a pair of stonewashed jeans. Its all cosmetic effect and Allan doesn't wear the basses so they pass inspection as a vintage instrument, he does it so they're more comfortable. So some of his basses have non-vintage features that a collector would spot immediately because they're there to help playability. BTW, no Fender logos either and he's happy to fit great sounding pickups like lollars. BTW, here's Herbie giving me a few pointers on the bass in question... [attachment=28475:herbie_flowers1.jpg]

[quote name='ben604' post='529407' date='Jul 1 2009, 10:31 AM']Radio Hauraki all the way![/quote] jeez, Kevin Black eh? BTW I've accepted a job offer. Had the best night's sleep last night that I've had in the last 12 months. Very interesting job too.

Its a Danish seller though, they'll be asking for fifty trillion dollars.

...reliced 1960 P and J basses in oxised LPB over Fiesta Red by Allan Knight (basically to match Herbie Flowers '59 jazz) and stainless steel fretboards for my fretless Shuker Headless 6 since seeing Wombatboters Le Fay basses. You...?

Well if there's any chance of you using both at a gig, then I think you shoudl get them made to be matching. Also, just found out about these pickups: [url="http://www.lollarguitars.com/default.htm"]http://www.lollarguitars.com/default.htm[/url] Apparently they're the proverbial for a nice warm vintage sound. I'm looking into a pair of reliced no-name P and J basses with these installed.

The Bedford, Balham in London Cafe de Paris, Leicester Square, London Loads of other venues like Leeds Town Hall but they were for private functions only.

Like I said in my original reply, I think it depends on how you'll use it.

I wasn't so keen on the Aura 6 that I tried. It was quite inconsistent in response across the strings - almost too much tonal character.

I really like how vividly they contrast with one another...in fact I'm kind of jealous I wouldn't mind another old NSCR5 myself.

I'd say it depends on whether you're likely to use both basses at the same gig. If you are then go for the matching fretless and you won't have to do so much knob twiddling on the amp when you swap over. If you'll be using the basses for separate gigs then I'd say the first choice would sound better.

its silly heavy and expensive the body would need to be deep enough to allow for the control knobs and a strong neck joint regardless of the weight, although you could chamber it.

Maybe get the caps looked at by a tech? If they've dried out then they could be the cause and will need replacing. I had a similar thing with one of my Burmans.

[quote name='Shaggy' post='531820' date='Jul 3 2009, 04:34 PM']There's a nice Spector Euro 5-string in blond flame maple that I seem to have seen at least 3 or 4 times[/quote] That would be mine now. I think its had maybe 6 owners? I can't understand why! Now I've sorted the neck with a fret dressing, its one of the best sounding basses I've ever played. I'd kill for a fretless version with a poly or stainless steel fingerboard.

Thanks again everyone, I'm pleased to report that I managed to get in touch with Maria last night and have just sent her a link to this thread along with Nick's log in details. It's been a nightmare for her and I'm sure she will be extremely appreciative of your kind words. Maria says that Nick's basketball game was at 5pm on June 9th so, given he last logged in at 4:23pm, catching up with Basschat was indeed one of the last things he ever did. Here's some pics from when Ari and I were at Nick's place in Pimlico a few years ago. Ari is playing Nick's Alembic Series II 5 string. [attachment=28185:IMAGE_00137.jpg] [attachment=28186:IMAGE_00138.jpg] Here's a shot of Nick at the Bassbash 17th March 2007 [attachment=28184:DSCF0786.JPG]

That is an inspired idea Alex.