BigRedX

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...

[quote name='I am not excane' post='549633' date='Jul 24 2009, 12:56 AM'][/quote]

What's this bass? More details please?

Ta!

Just had a look and out of all the basses I use regularly only the Reverend Rumblefish doesn't have a 24 fret neck.

So, have a look at Gus, Sei, Born To Rock, Traben, Overwater, Pedulla or Lightwave.

AFAICS it's the the Fender derived styles that appear to be challenged in the fret department.

Does he have a web site?

I'd rather have both.

[url="http://www.acguitars.co.uk/shop/index.php?act=viewProd&productId=2"]ACG EQ02 3K/S[/url]

I have the EQ01 version on my Sei which is fiitted with 2 Gary Willis pickups. Sounds fantastic, and IMO the ACG is a great pre-amp for fretless.

Err the lasers and lights are part of the image.

Would you go to a gig if the band played behind a curtain in a dark room and there was nothing to look at at all?

Tune Korea still do a version of the [url="http://www.tuneguitars.com/store/wizmart.php?code=000701&lv=2"]Bass Maniac[/url]. Current price for a natural finish 4-string $972.

[quote name='crez5150' post='543953' date='Jul 18 2009, 01:26 PM']To be fair your not gonna need more than that.... how many times do you change your settings during a gig...??

It's nice to say have a setting for Finger style, one for Slap.... and another to what you choose..[/quote]

When I was the bass player in SugarBox I had a different setting for every song.

With my current originals band I play both fretted and fretless. There's a setting for each, plus a extra one for the fretted when I play it with a pick. Since my back up basses aren't identical the my main ones there's a setting to for each to compensate for the difference in tone. At some point I'm likely to add 8-string (4 course) to the live sound. That again will require its own setting (or two) as will its spare.

In the covers band I've joined I use four different settings ranging from muddy and deep to zingy and bright depending on the song, for each of the two basses I'm currently using plus a set for the spare. The guitarists spend quite a bit of time matching their guitar sounds to those on the record and I so should I not only to be fairly authentic but also so that the bass still balances with the guitars when their sound changes.

My first band used to have to borrow our bass guitar from one of two class-mates who owned them. One had a home-made P-ish shaped bass and the other had something that looked very much like the one pictured here and had a Kay badge on it. From what I recall the home-made bass was better (and that wasn't particularly good...)

As Jon said, bigger pictures please, and I'll try and find some photos of the version we used to use for comparison.

That's looking good!

Did you thin down the neck any? Reshape the body? And how long did all that work take you?

My problem with Wishbasses is the variable finish and the fact that Mr Wish doesn't appear to know when a straight line is actually a requirement.
There's potential in them as this one and the one that Thunderritter owns both show, but for me, I'm not sure that all the extra work is actually worth it.