Kiwi

[quote name='foal30' post='343574' date='Dec 2 2008, 09:56 PM']er, possibly I think the idea is to make it competitive to share that's evolution I can bear.[/quote] So what you mean is a society that values altruistic acts above its own collective survival? [quote name='foal30' post='343574' date='Dec 2 2008, 09:56 PM']If society's purpose is acquisition and it has designated enemies then a level of forwardness is required.[/quote] There is a big assumption under pinning that statement! [quote name='foal30' post='343574' date='Dec 2 2008, 09:56 PM']what you've described shows the history of free-market capitalism well.[/quote] If you look at the bigger picture, its how the whole biosphere has essentially functioned since life evolved. [quote name='foal30' post='343574' date='Dec 2 2008, 09:56 PM']Do we need evolution if this is the outcome?[/quote] Aren't you assuming that there's a choice? In the context of a society that represses economic activity as its basis, to quote that geeky bloke in Jurassic Park, "nature finds a way"...? [quote name='Musky' post='343667' date='Dec 2 2008, 11:23 PM']I think you've rather mistaken the left's antipathy to competition Kiwi. It's not competition per se that most groups are against, but competition as the basis for economic activity.[/quote] Ah ok. So what I can't understand is why a society that represses competition as the basis for economic activity believes that this is a sustainable practice if competition in other aspects is what we and pretty much every other living species on the planet owes its survival too...? Lets not forget there's not only competition between people, but also competition between species. Anyone who has dealt with a pest infestation of some kind will have experienced this first hand, I'm sure. Seems to me there's a fundamental conflict/incompatibility between moral ideals and economic realities maybe?

A stingray and a valve amp is a fantastic combination. Welcome to basschat Jim. Pics of your gear are always welcome!

[quote name='foal30' post='343512' date='Dec 2 2008, 09:09 PM']No, I think not. and if "competitiveness" is going to be the acknowledged driver of Society, by Society then those advocating such a system need to be at the forefront of leveling out the current inequalities. Not likely?[/quote] Competitiveness wouldn't exist without inequality. Without inequality, species wouldn't adapt and we wouldn't have evolution. Therefore a non-competitive society wouldn't survive for very long (and by that I don't mean the society would die, but its state of non-competitiveness wouldn't perpetuate.)

Many socialist political theories avoid or repress the issue of competitiveness. Isn't that what it all boils down to at the end of the day? Is it possible for a society to repress its collective, competitive urges?

[quote name='alexclaber' post='342989' date='Dec 2 2008, 01:33 PM']I didn't think you played double bass...[/quote] I don't really mate, nearly bought one of those NS Wav's a couple of years ago but it was going to take me 6 months to get comfortable on it and I didn't really have the time or motivation. I was more interested in knowing whether you still had plans for the angled cabs we discussed once.

[quote name='alexclaber' post='342919' date='Dec 2 2008, 12:31 PM']No, it'll be like The Compact in shape but smaller, and will have dual midrange drivers with different crossover points and unusual placement to give near omnidirectional output just like an unamplified double bass. Target weight of 20lbs and price of £350.[/quote] I'm disappointed

[quote name='alexclaber' post='342876' date='Dec 2 2008, 11:52 AM']I'm also working on a very small and light design for upright bassists as there's a lot of lightweight amps out there but not a lot of choice when it comes to reasonably priced cabs with the kind of polar response an upright needs. Initial investigations are proving promising![/quote] Is it going to be wedge shaped?

Oh wow! A short scale, piccolo 6 string bass!

The best way to do it is probably to find a company that has a water jet cutting machine. If you can get the outline you want as an EPS, DXF or DWG file and can supply them with the plastic material, it should be straight forward enough for them. Industrial design or architecture departments at university sometimes have one too depending on how well resourced they are.

[quote name='4000' post='340193' date='Nov 29 2008, 12:46 AM']Crazykiwi, what sort of ballpark tonally is that 4 in? Any idea what the woods are? The pic on the site is unfortunately rather poor...[/quote] I'm not sure what the woods are but it feels like the neck could be maple and wenge and the lightness of the body suggests maybe wings of swamp ash. To me it had the growl of a status series 2000 but with a less aggressive attack and a smidgin more warmth. I told Alex that if it was a 5 string, I would have bought it without hesitation.

At various points I had a choice between buying a really nice car and sinking the money into basses. I chose basses because the depreciation was less if not negligible in some cases. One day I'll have the car, when I've got other financial priorities sorted out.

[quote name='Tinman' post='341011' date='Nov 30 2008, 11:52 AM']I do hope not. That certainly wasn't my intention. I was merely commenting on the statement about God taking a Fender player to sit at his right hand. Certainly no insult intended[/quote] why would anyone want someone to sit on their right hand? Is it cold up in heaven?

to paraphase the [url="http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/A11687844"]H2G2[/url] [i]"It is generally accepted that all physical objects can be classified as either animate (i.e. capable of movement without the application of external forces) or inanimate (with regard to location of the whole or parts, static). However, as many people have observed, supposedly inanimate objects often demonstrate a surprising ability to animate themselves. This usually manifests as an inanimate object moving without obvious means of locomotion. For example, a potted plant balanced on a window ledge on a day when the air is still, will inexplicably topple and fall. Another familiar example is the case of someone who knows where they left an inanimate object but on going to retrieve it, is unable to find it. Questioning of household members indicates that nobody removed the object, but it is later found in a different location than originally expected. If the obvious possibilities are precluded, i.e. (a ) the person misplaced the object because of a flawed memory (b ) at least one member of the household is not being truthful then however implausible it may seem, the object must have moved itself. This proposition raises the question of whether any object can truly be considered inanimate. This tendency of inanimate objects to animate themselves unexpectedly has led at least one researcher to conclude that Biros slip away through wormholes in space to a Biro planet where they can lead a Biroid-lifestyle. The same thing is presumably the case for other objects that go missing randomly, such as the lids of plastic food containers, and individual socks..."[/i] ...and basses?

[quote name='waynepunkdude' post='340103' date='Nov 28 2008, 10:08 PM']As much as you guys may love your Warwicks Sei's etc..... I think this guy is trying to get as close to that tone as possible with his current set up. No offence like.[/quote] Oish, if I had noticed that first I would have saved myself a load of typing. *slaps forehead*

[quote name='andyonbass' post='340019' date='Nov 28 2008, 07:44 PM']You could try [url="http://www.basslinepublishing.com/Books/FunkDiscoGrooves/tabid/60/Default.aspx"]This[/url], Phil, depending on how much time you have[/quote] I won a copy not so long ago and its a great book. Once I have my guitar back from Mr Shuker's I will be learning a few more Chic numbers. Its really accessible music, some nice jazzy chords but the changes are still quite simple.

I'm closing this thread. A lynching is just going to encourage people to dwell on things more than is probably necessary, so how about we move on and get back to normal? You all know who he is so its up to you all as individuals to decide whether you want to trade with him in the future. In fact, why don't we try to finish this episode on a high note? The bass is secure, I hope lessons have been learned on both sides, and its great that the forum and key individuals were able to help out so effectively. Don't forget though - CAVEAT EMPTOR.

I thought this issue is over? Aren't threads of this nature bordering on victimisation and bullying? If you were an admin, what would you hope to achieve by banning? There's nothing anyone can do to stop this from happening in the future so I don't see what point there is in banning anyone. If its additional security you're seeking, this is not the way to get it. Simple lesson is [u]don't take risks buying and selling[/u]. The internet is a scary place and the freedom it offers is a double edge sword. If you're not happy then don't hand over the money in the first place.

This question of growl is something of a life long quest for me. I still haven't worked it out but it depends very much on the neck and the manner of dampening. The maple/wenge combination in AGC, Sei, Shuker and other basses is a bit of a sure fire winner. However although the wenge is consistent, the maple isn't and its the maple which holds the key. Other experiences Ive had: Status Series 2000 (numerous), because its an all graphite instrument, the neck was as rigid as a Tory PM who has died from a viagra overdose, firm sounding and growly as hell. Smith BSR5GN (was mine), deliberately designed with maple and bubinga neck to be giving, and growly as hell but the growl is quite soft sounding and warm. AGC 4 bass (I don't remember which one), firm growl with a really nice maple and wenge combination neck, almost like a status but less aggressive Sei 4 string headless (Bass Gallery), very firm growl with a nice maple and wenge combination neck, sounded similar to the AGC but slightly more aggressive. Still less aggressive than a Status Series 2000. Celinder Update J (mine), birdseye maple neck, fairly growly, lots of player wear and the growl is quite soft. Most jazz basses sound growlier on the bridge pickup but this bass actually sounds growlier on the neck pickup! Musicman Stingray (mine), slab cut maple neck, very growly, loads of player wear, but the growl is quite soft. Ped's Vigier, the best of Status and Sei, very growly bass with nice firm midrange but not too aggressive in attack. Seems to me that the sound of wenge or some other wood to soften the mid range response of maple (perhaps by lowering one of the frequency peaks?) works quite well. The other thing I found was that Mark Bass speaker cabs are coloured to enhance the growl of jazz basses. However they don't suit all basses unfortunately, particularly if you have an instrument whose tonal character is significantly different to the colouring of the Mark Bass gear. My theory is that all instruments have a series of resonancy peaks and by managing the way in which the wood is combined allows some peaks to overlap at some points and other peaks to be dampened. Where this happens in the lower mids (250Hz or so) this gives the instrument its characteristic growl. However this is far from a science as every bit of wood is different and so the results can be unpredictable. There is one theory about tuning the 'knock' frequencies of selected woods which some luthiers subscribe to. Basically the frequencies of the ringing sound of a piece of wood when knocked with a knuckle is in some kind of harmonic relationship with all the other pieces of wood. What I don't understand is how this relationship is maintained when we all know that when you saw off chunks of a piece of lumber you make its resonancy frequencies change. It would change things in the same way that filling a glass with water changes the frequency of the glass when knocked. However I caveat that by saying although I've played hundreds if not thousands of instruments, and I've buggered about with swapping parts on the same instrument to see what happens, I've never made a bass yet. It just strikes me that anyone who can get consistent growl on a bass has to have been working with the same design for quite a long time because if there are different sized pieces of wood being used all the time its otherwise harder to predict using experience how mass, density and volume all interact with one another. Musicman are a great example of this, same body shape, same neck, more or less the same hardware, means that they can start to measure differences in weight and mass. They produce some very consistent instruments. Same with Celinder and they also produce some very consistent instruments. This is all just opinion though.

There's an awesome black headless Sei 4 in the gallery at the moment. Sounds gorgeous, light as a feather and the neck is near perfect with super, super low action.

how are those wedges coming along then Alex?

I'm personally ambivalent about it. We've operated a fairly loose definition of 'musically related' but have drawn the line at stuff like cars (for loading gear into). I don't personally see any problem with musically related books, DVD's and CD's but if any members were planning on using the forum for advertising basic household clearance (washing machines, beds, cracked vases, 80's style black ash furniture sets etc) it could be taking a bit of a liberty. Having said that Toasted, why not put a link in your sig to your own web page containing details of stuff you want to move on?