Silvia Bluejay

Oh, and you've got a K at the start of the number, which is October. October 2005.

You've got RB (= Rockbass), SN (= Serial Number), a bunch of digits, and 05 at the end, which as you already knew means 2005. I can't read the whole serial number from your photo. If you post it or PM it to me, I'll enter it into the website and see what it says.

Anyway, one piece of info can be copied here:

The connection to that site is, apparently, not secure - as in, it's probably an http as opposed to https - but my Firefox reads it with no problems, and the site doesn't trigger any anti-malware or anti-virus alarms, so it's safe to force your browser to display it, if possible.

A quick search threw up THIS SITE.

Actually I think you're right, Matt. There were a lot of ongoing changes in the older Rockbass line, and the aim was, as you say, to bring it to line with the German models, so Peter's bass may well be an all-original, transitional one.

Oh, that's weird, on both counts. My Corvette has what I would call a normally thin neck, as in, identical in thickness to that of other small-bodied 4-stringers such as my Bass Collection, for instance. The Fortress has a thin, comfortable neck, but my newer Warwicks (Corvette Pro 5 fretted and fretless) have an even thinner, shallower neck. It doesn't make a lot of difference when I'm playing, I must say. The non-adjustable nut you have is almost certainly a replacement. All Warwicks have what they call their special "just-a-nut"; the cheapo models have it in plastic, the expensive ones in brass. I hate having to do without one on my non-Warwick basses.

Take no notice of right-handed players, Peter - they are not part of our élite! I've got a Rockbass Corvette from 2007 and a Rockbass Fortress (5 string) from 2005. Excellent basses, good construction, lovely thin necks with adjustable nuts (best invention since sliced bread). At the time they were also incredible value for money (I bought both new from Thomann). They both have the following couple of design issues, though: 1. The holes in the Warwick single-piece bridge are too narrow for some types of string; for instance, you can *just* fit in a flatwound E string, and you would struggle to fit most makes of low B if you had a fiver too. This problem was addressed later by Warwick by creating the two-piece bridge, but they're not interchangeable. 2. Watch out for the jack socket becoming loose with use (Warwick basses are apparently notorious for this). Tighten it up as soon as possible or the movement may dislodge or de-solder the wires from the pots/preamp. Other than that, they're great - enjoy your Corvette!

When that happens to one of my cheapos - and it happens periodically - I tend to take the view that the frets popped up by a fraction of a millimetre, as opposed to the fingerboard shrinking. It usually happens when I have to tweak the truss rod due to changes in the season. I take a piece of fine sandpaper to the frets' ends, smoothing them very carefully, then clean the area with a damp cloth, make sure it's undamaged, then oil the side of the fingerboard.

As you wish... 😎

One advantage of the Eminence is the endpin bar, which prevents it from spinning while you play, so the waist extension may not be entirely necessary for keeping the instrument in a comfortable playing position. I still prefer to use the extension, though.

Well, it does a job, but IMO it's a bit, well, minimalist. Small and not particularly versatile (see below). If you can source something better in the UK that's cheaper and fits the hole in the side of the body, I would go for that.

We've had a recent thread about headphones - THIS ONE. There's a further link to another useful thread in one of the posts.

And to you! Lockdown birthday... a decent excuse to have another celebration next month or whenever it is we'll finally regain freedom.

@Richard R IIRC you get that option when you reach either 500 or 1000 posts (can't remember which).

My understanding is that posts in OT don't add to our post count, but reactions received by any of our posts add up on our profile no matter where the post being reacted to is. I'm not sure what this Rank you guys are talking about is. Mine seems to be called Member Title. Or am I looking in the wrong place?

This is the other thread I was thinking about, but none of the posters had actually played a lefty Dingwall at that stage.

I was hoping you'd get some replies from actual owners, but since you're getting none at all, this is my take on the then new NG after a quick play at NAMM a couple of years ago. I was GASsing madly, but I discovered that a Dingwall is too big and heavy for me - and playing on fanned frets was to me, at least at first encounter, rather baffling and uncomfortable. Bear in mind that I am petite and my hands are tiny; all my basses are small-bodied, 34 inch scale, strings spacing 16.5mm at the bridge... you see where I'm going. Practically the opposite of that Dingwall. I do love looking at all their models, though, and coveting them no matter what. I think we have had a couple of threads about the lefty Dingwalls here - I'll have a search.

Dust is a problem anywhere you have uncovered stands, and especially in a bedroom. I haven't found any type of 'proper' duster (traditional or using static electricity) that actually works without leaving behind unwanted bits and strands; however, a big 'body bronzer'* brush I found at Primark for a few pounds does the job perfectly! *No, I haven't got the faintest what a body bronzer is - presumably a kind of makeup powder?

Since @Happy Jack and I can't play each other's basses - and wouldn't want to even if we could! - we store them separately, mostly for my convenience. He's got his bass guitars hanging from the walls of the music studio downstairs, where he rehearses with his bands. I've got them in my bedroom in the loft, where I can play along my records. I keep my favourite basses on stands, and those I play less often in gigbags leaning against the wall. One large acoustic bass guitar and the Hofner violin are missing from these pics, as they are stored in their cases in another room (still handy if I fancy playing them). The Eminence and the four bass guitars next to it are usually covered by a white sheet to shield them from the sun. The NS Design and the Ibanez are my go-to instruments at the moment, so they're uncovered, but stashed in a not-too-bright corner.

Start by having a look at THIS THREAD for general info, technical stuff, and some tips and tricks. And post there with any questions etc. and we'll be there replying in no time.