BigRedX

J- and U-retro controls look exactly the same to me AFAICS...

I was under the impression that the U-retro was simply a J-retro without the control plate and longer threads on the pots for through-body mounting.

I would love to be able to support my local musical instrument shops, but my tastes are too esoteric for most new stock and eBay has pretty much killed off the second hand market for shops.

Even when it comes down to the smaller items - strings, picks, straps even then the choice in store is too small. Last week I needed a spare set of 5-string strings. Not one of the 3 local shops had any in stock. Trying to get my favourite picks as a special order a year ago turned into a nightmare. When faced with this it's hard not to turn to the internet for everything. It might be that I've had 35 years to refine my tastes and know exactly what I want, but I thinks it's pretty poor when you can't buy any set of strings for a 5-string.

The problem is that forums like this and the internet in general have broadened our horizons when it comes to instruments, amps and other gear, whereas shops seem still in the world of the early 90s, stuck in dealer networks and playing too safe by only stocking what they know will sell.

I take it both Jeff Finch & Pete Stroud are ex-luthiers. I can't find web sites for either.

MD = [url="http://web.ukonline.co.uk/mdguitars/"]Martin Dixon[/url]

Anyone got a URL for Finch? The only bass related links I can find lead back to this forum.

IMO in the early days, apart from the EB1 Gibson have been anything but conservative. From 1963 when the first Thunderbirds were made up until the beginning of the 80s they've been trying to do something different with the bass guitar. In fact I'd class the Victory as probably the most conservative bass they've made since it was design to be a Gibson replacement for the Fender P and J style basses.

Also forgot Ashley Pangborn who has a [url="http://www.geocities.com/yobrode/"]fan site here[/url] although with it being on Geocities it won't be around much longer.

[quote name='JanSpeeltBas' post='552582' date='Jul 27 2009, 01:20 PM']Staccato was financed by Bill Wyman and the Jagger family (Mick's brother being one of the owners along with inventor/luthier Pat Townshend). The project failed but I understand there are still parts available today for assembling these basses.[/quote]

That sounds interesting. Do you know who I need to speak to, in order to find out about a Staccato NOS bass?

[quote name='Lorne' post='552540' date='Jul 27 2009, 12:51 PM']Cool to see someone added the link to Chris Eccleshall,just don't slow him down,he's working on one of my B.C.Rich Widows,then I need him to work on my B.C.Rich Ironbird [/quote]


So that will be why he hasn't got around to answering my enquiry about the possibility of a 5-string version of the Peter Hook bass.

Considering your comment re the ACG pre-amp it looks like you got a good deal on your GW bass. Was this new (in which case where and do they have any more?) or second hand?

Forgot [url="http://www.freewebs.com/ebasses/"]E Basses[/url]

It's been running for years IIRC.

Maybe tBBC is right and Warwicks really do give you cancer.

Links for those that are missing...

[url="http://www.chrislarkinguitars.com/"]Chris Larkin[/url]
[url="http://www.crimsonguitars.com/"]Crimson Guitars[/url]
[url="http://gedgreen.co.uk/"]Ged Green[/url]
[url="http://www.kevinchilcott-luthier.co.uk/"]Kevin Chilcott[/url]
[url="http://www.mcintyreguitars.com"]McIntyre Guitars[/url]
[url="http://www.moonguitars.co.uk/"]Moon Guitars[/url]
[url="http://www.prosebass.com/"]Prose Bass[/url]
[url="http://www.siggeryguitars.co.uk"]Siggery[/url]

It would be useful if everyone who's suggesting luthiers could post a link as well. While the presence of a web site is by no means a guarantee that the company/individual are still in business, the absence of one would suggest that they are not.

My list of currently operating UK bass manufacturers and luthiers. By no means exhaustive. But with links.

[url="http://www.acguitars.co.uk/index.php"]ACG[/url]
[url="http://www.eccleshallguitars.co.uk/"]Eccleshall[/url]
[url="http://www.enfieldguitars.com/"]Enfield[/url]
[url="http://www.fret-king.com/greenlabel_series.htm"]Fret-King Green Label[/url]
[url="http://www.gbguitars.co.uk/"]GB[/url]
[url="http://www.gusguitars.com/"]Gus[/url]
[url="http://www.jaydeeguitars.com/"]Jaydee[/url]
[url="http://www.jimfleetingguitars.com/"]Jim Fleeting[/url]
[url="http://homepage.ntlworld.com/john.carling1/"]John Birch[/url]
[url="http://www.lodestoneguitars.com/"]Lodestone[/url]
[url="http://www.mansonguitars.co.uk/"]Manson[/url]
[url="http://www.overwaterbasses.com/"]Overwater[/url]
[url="http://www.rimcustombasses.co.uk/"]RIM[/url]
[url="http://www.seibass.com/"]Sei[/url]
[url="http://www.shukerguitars.co.uk/index.htm"]Shuker[/url]
[url="http://www.simonleeguitars.com/"]Simon Lee[/url]
[url="http://www.status-graphite.com/"]Status[/url]
[url="http://www.streetguitars.co.uk/"]Street Guitars[/url]
[url="http://www.walbass.co.uk/"]Wal[/url]
[url="http://www.zootbass.co.uk/1.html"]Zoot[/url]

[quote name='neepheid' post='552109' date='Jul 26 2009, 09:50 PM']You are wrong. Also, I hate generalisations.[/quote]

also pop groups are/have more fun.

Give me a pop group over a 'real man' any day.

[url="http://www2.gibson.com/Products/Electric-Guitars/Bass.aspx"]Gibson Basses[/url]

Thanks for the suggestions. However the more I look at the alternatives, the more I'm convinced it has to be a EB2-style symmetrical (or near symmetrical) doublecut.

I've tried a couple of of Veillette basses in the past one was fantastic although it wouldn't fit the bill for what I'm after at the moment, the other I really couldn't get on with at all. Strange that.

TBH I've never looked at Godins before as I can't get past the 'Telecaster' shape which unfortunately I don't find in the slightest bit attractive.

Born 2B Mild. Has Jim Fleeting built anything like the kind of bass I'm after before? I couldn't see anything on his web site. His work looks stunning, but IME for the best results for a custom build you need to find a luthier who's already making something pretty close to what you have in mind.

Interesting...

Not 100% sold on the body shape. I really want an EB2 style double cut, but overall it's not bad. Model seems to be discontinued as it's not on the Washburn site. Anyone know what the scale length is, and if there's anywhere in the UK that's got one I can try?

The Moog Electronics were in the Gibson RD.

See my semi-acoustic/hollowbody thread.

Interesting...

I'd settle for a shorter scale length than 34" (although I don't think I'd want to go below 32") provided that I had either tried one beforehand and was happy with the sound of the B string or if it was a custom build the luthier could guarantee a useable B as a condition of the spec.

The look is just important to me as the sound and playability. I already have a nice selection of 5-string basses that cover pretty much everything I need sonically, but I fancy something in an EB2 style to go with them.

As for that eBay bass... Looks pretty nasty as well as the fact that its a LP-style single cut. The other basses I use regularly are by Gus, Overwater, Pedulla and Sei. It doesn't have to be expensive, but I do expect a certain standard of fit and finish. I would also be happy to go custom, provided that the luthier has already made something similar before. I have no desire to be a beta-tester.

Thanks for those, unfortunately neither are at all what I'm looking for. I've played the Shuker Artist and it really didn't do it for me. I'm definitely looking for a more symmetrical EB2 style body. I'd consider a Lakland hollow body or a Jack Cassidy Sig Bass if either was available in a 5-string version, but I wouldn't want to go any more asymmetrical than that. Plus I simply don't get on with Fender-style bodies.

I'm sure that the Walbassist's acoustic bass is very nice but not at all what I'm looking for.

Any more ideas?

I'm hankering after a really nice semi-acoustic bass with the following specs:

Must be 5-string

EB2 style double-cut body shape

At least 32" scale (would prefer 34")

Neck/body join that allows easy access to at least 17th fret.

So far all I can see is the Warwick Starbass II. Unfortunately the only example I've played (4 string bubinga fretless) had the most horrible sharp fingerboard edges, and if I'm going to be paying the sorts of prices that new Warwicks are currently demanding (over £2k) I expect it to be perfect out of the box and not require any further luthier attention to get it right. Plus I'd probably feel compelled to do something about the ugly headstock.

I've fired off an email to Chris Eccleshall to see if he would make me a 5-string version of the Peter Hook bass.

So what else is out there?

[quote name='simon1964' post='550474' date='Jul 24 2009, 06:55 PM']Ah - didn't realise that.

Definately agree on the quality of their stock, and they seem pretty helpful. The old Sound Control, on the other hand, is even worse than it used to be![/quote]

If it wasn't for the fact that I've recently gone self employed and have to watch the pennies for the moment, plus I've decided that I shouldn't buy any more 4-string basses, I'd have been severely tempted by the Jack Cassidy Sig, Thunderbirds and Rics that they have in stock.

The old Sound Control shop is now part of Millennium Music. I've had to deal with them in the past when I wanted to buy a Nord keyboard and they were the only way of getting one in the UK at the time. It wasn't a particularly pleasant experience and I'm in no hurry to do that again.

They're not exactly a new shop - it's a second premises for Guitar Base.

Personally I hope they do well. Their stock is way more exciting than either the Drum and Guitar Centre or the offshoot of Millennium Music that's in the old Sound Control shop.

Fuzz in Nottingham had a Jetglo and a Mapleglo Ric 4001 last time I looked. Of course both were the full new list price...