shizznit

I had one for Xmas 4yrs ago. I used it for about 5mins for each hand for about 6 months. I didn't notice any significant change, but that wasn't the reason why I stopped using it. I looked like a pleb using it and folks were taking the mick out of me! Not as bad as this bloke though... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E0v05iaYZC0&sns=em

I used to do the same thing with my old Trace combo. I used to unplug the speaker cable, attach a female/female jack adapter and plug it into an EA iAmp 500 to it as I could handle the low mids a lot better than the Trace.

When I was playing in a rock band 12yrs ago I used to have the bass below my belt with the bass angled diagonally around 55 degrees. Think Rob Trujillo and you will get the picture! Now I play it just underneath rib cage and the angle of the bass is completely straight (horizontal). I have ditched the cool rock 'n' roll pose in favor of comfort. The older I get the sillier I look trying to be a rock star anyway!

Just one thing for me...curves! The overall aesthetics for the instrument has to be curvy and sleek. I can't stand pointy designs.

[quote name='BassPimp66' timestamp='1348310020' post='1812123'] OK, so they are generally trending cheaper. But, £55 retail price for a 5 set quoted by Amazon is the price from 8 years ago... [/quote] Nah...leave that alone. You can get them way cheaper than that if you shop around. I get mine from StringSlingers.co.uk . They stock every set and gauge available...including the tapered strings. I buy the .45-.130 set for £36 + £1.50 postage. They will often give you a discount if buying in bulk. I have been buying my strings from Paul for a very long time and he has never let down. Delivery has always been very quick and he never seems to run out of stock. If you like Elixirs, he's your man!

I have been meaning to check out that place for ages...I have an excuse to do so now! I'm off to round up some troops!

I love my EBS cabs. Very tight, clean and loud. The tweeters in those cabs are probably the quietest I have ever used. I used Hartke for a few years way back and I really liked the tone from the XL410 cabs I had. Not the loudest cabs in the world, but the response and attack from those speakers are amazing.

I have been using Elixirs on all of my basses constantly for 4yrs and they are dropping in price. I can remember buying my first set 8yrs when I bought my old Overwater Progress III by recommendation of a friend and that set cost me almost £50. Now, I buy a 4 string set for around £32 and a separate low B for about £7. I think they might have dropped the retail price to remain competitive in the market as there are quite a few string brands that produce coated strings now.

My percussionist bought one and was using it last night at a rehearsal. It folds up pretty neat and quite light. A bargain for 30 quid!

[quote name='johnthebassist' timestamp='1347906894' post='1806511'] I'm a massive fan of all things groovy. I think the funk shines out of Zender's headstock and I worship the ground Bootsy hovers over. Every morning I wake up and listen out for the sound of Louis Johnson's thumb smashing the thunk out of a Musicman, just in case he moved in next door during the night. It hasn't happened yet, but you can't blame a guy for hoping. The Funk is king. [/quote] I think you and I were separated at birth! Welcome to the forum J

I am so tempted to email him to ask if he can dress my frets and see what his reply is like. I bet even the simplest tech terms will confuse him. Or better still, make up my own tech terms and see if he understands what I am asking him.

[quote name='Jazzneck' timestamp='1347896098' post='1806300'] Sorry Schizznit, but it is lacquered, I can even see some of resin which has crystallized in a few very small areas - the waxy soft finish is exactly what I'm after. [/quote] Hmmm...that's nuts. Lacquer should never been seen on rosewood fingerboards (sorry Ricky owners!)

Looking forward to seeing the pics!

I just asked my girlfriend to read this auction. After reading it with a very uncomfortable look on her face she said "What!?". Though she has a little knowledge about guitars (despite my best efforts to educate her) even she thought he his talking out of his backside. It's great comedy reading his auctions.

I don't think its lacquered. You do often see quite waxy looking rosewood. The fingerboard on my J Deluxe looks quite waxy.

I thought the myrtle burl top on my old MTD 535 was a belter, but this one is just as nice on any £10k Fodera. Really impressed. Jon dug deep into his timber stock to find that piece and we barely had enough to work with...literally only an inch either side! A stroke of luck, but thank goodness as I would have been gutted if the piece was too small for this build and missed out on all this glory!

[quote name='Dingus' timestamp='1347890963' post='1806194'] [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]I just wish they had made it a slightly lighter shade of green so it looked like the big green chocolate triangle things in a box of Quality Street .[/font][/color] [/quote]

[quote name='lojo' timestamp='1347821730' post='1805482'] Should really slag it off, its advertised on the site ! [/quote] I take a different view. They should know what their customers think about new models released into the market. Not that I think its going to do any harm to them. After all, they are the biggest bass guitar manufacturer in Europe with dozens of other models on their list, so if this one doesn't sell...big deal.

Jon emailed me over the weekend with some pics! I will just upload the body for now as the headstock is not finished yet and I would rather show you when its done, but take my word for it...the neck looks amazing too! [attachment=118615:IMG_0692.JPG] The fundamental aim for this bass was to make it light weight and to focus on what I want from a bass when I perform live and the appearance was secondary, but I am glad that I decided to give the girl a nice a pretty face! Really chuffed about how the top looks and sits very well on the swamp ash. The shades of the neck and swamp ash are remarkably similar and everything is matching up very well. The freckles on the fingerboard from the birdseye maple really suits the overall cosmetic appearance of this instrument. I knew it was going to be a looker when Jon and I selected the timbers for this build, but this has certainly gone beyond my expectations. She is a beauty! Jon has really excelled himself as the top was not easy to work with due to so many holes to fill in and also being quite brittle at only 2mm thick, but the reward has certainly paid off. Simply exquisite! Jon does some fine work indeed.

I try to break up my practice and studying. This won't work for everyone, but I have a 6 month schedule whereby I concentrate on specific things for 3-4 weeks at a time. Example - 1st month (theory) 2nd month (technique) 3rd month (dexterity/strengthening) 4th month (music study) 5th month (composing) 6th month (combination of all and have a laugh). That sounds very rigid and regimented, but in reality I only get 4 or 5 days in the month whereby I have enough time to sit down to practice and study. Its the discipline that's important...very similar to going to the gym. Once you leave it for a while it's harder to motivate yourself to get off your backside. Above all, have patience. There are days I feel that I have gained something and feel on top of the world and other days whereby I feel like throwing my bass off my balcony, go to the nearest church tower, head to the top and take down anyone passing passing by with a sniper rifle. Thankfully, there isn't a church close by and I just have a cup of tea and a Jaffa Cake instead and harmony is restored! Learn not to be too hard on yourself if you struggle every once in a while.

Quote... "Untested and unsure if in working order. If it does work I don't know what it would sound like." I have a good idea how it will sound

Ken Lawrence Chamberbass (a work or art) Carl Thompson (because I am a Claypool fan) 60's Fender Jazz (a playable one!) Ken Smith BSR6 (never played a 6 string model. Many hail them as the king of 6'ers!) Fodera Imperial (I have played the Emperor and Monarch...never this model)