PaulKing

[quote name='owen' timestamp='1334764124' post='1620874'] I have been looking at the Cordes Lambert site but cannot actually make it work [/quote] Yeah, those guys are not the best at technology... Ivan put up that website ages ago and has never got round to finishing it. To say it's a cottage industry is putting it mildly. I've lucked out and got a few sets on various basses (actually that's me on their website, plucking away in my bedroom, madam). They are great strings, it has to be said. Latest version are higher tension than earlier versions, and pack a harder punch - though that makes them more effort to play. I've played them alongside Lenzner guts and the G and D are indistinguishable, at least on my vintage ply basses. Depending on the bass, you can get a reasonable approximation of the tone from Innovation strings, Velvets, Prestos etc ... but the acid test is always arco 9if that's your thing) or slapping (if that's your thing). Lamberts, to me, really pay off when it comes to slapping, because they have no clatter or twang or nasal honk.

Supersilvers to match the tension of the solos, as Supersilvers are slightly higher tension than Silverslaps. But Silverslaps are better for slap ... for once they got the name right on that one!

[size=3]Underwood AND fishman? Why not I suppose.[/size] [size=3]Anyway, K+K is ok, but fiddly. I found LR Baggs just sounded a bit nicer on my bass, though maybe it was just the fabrication of the pre-amp, much nicer design. Could affect psychology quite a lot. I have the MixPro, and though i only used it for a while I loved the sound it gave, nicer, more transparent than K+K. I used to mix Bassmax and a neck clicky with it.[/size]

You can fix a warped bridge. Steam it in a vegetable steamer for 10 mins, with lid on. Not submerged in the water, but held above the water bathed in steam While it's still hot, lay it on a flat surface, put a flat bit of wood over the top and pile as many heavy things on as you can. Leave it a few hours ... Bingo.

Good stuff! Can't deny playing this thing brings out the show off in anyone. I never tire of the looks you get carrying it into a gig, then all the second looks when what comes out the speakers not chamber music but that huge ground shaking clatter, and yes it's so physical and dynamic to play people just have to watch. I love playing this thing, however mediocre i am.

Presto strings work with mag pick up, very similar to innovation in every other way. Innovation are working on a nylon set with steel winding inside. Fhole plugs work very well for small-mid sized gigs, and the few times I've played on bigger outdoor stages too, but I've not really tested on big rigs. Got a few festivals this summer, I'll let you know!

Get a pre-amp. Keep your gain levels down, get your volume from master output levels. Block your f-holes. (Funnily enough I can rustle you up some smart f-hole plugs for a price...) Get an Underwood pickup. Or magnetic.... (

PMed.

[quote name='ahpook' timestamp='1328606555' post='1529715'] very tidy work - what kind of foam did you use ? [/quote] That'd be a trade secret. aka High Density EVA.

[quote name='Clarky' timestamp='1328603635' post='1529673'] ... they were'nt a perfect fit ... . They, incidentally, looked absolutely identical the ones you have crafted... [/quote] If they're too big, some medium grain sandpaper will take off the excess neatly. If they're too small ... doh. Identical? Gosh, what are the chances of that? Just to be cear and fair ... I'm not going into business, so Mr Plug is still the man to go to for a pro product!.

I've seen these for sale in the states, but they ain't cheap. I've been using a scruffy DIY version for a year or two and they work absolutely brilliantly (for piezo pick ups). Fitted and removed in 2 seconds flat. So I splashed out on some pucker materials and the right tools for the job. This is the first set, they actually look neater in real life than the photos do justice to. I'll be making a set for each of my basses ... but reckon I'll have enough materials left over to make another dozen sets at least. it's quite a faff, takes a good 2-3 hours to make each set ... but if enough people were interested I might consider doing a few bespoke sets at a fair price. All I'd need is a precise outline of your f-hole. If there's any interest, shout below. Hope this doesn't qualify as a commercial advert???

It always depends what style you are playing. I presume not orchestral ... where this might let you down, at least in terms of losing face, if not necessarily in sound. For jazz or anything else, hell 70s Czech basses were great basses. Strunal is a bloody decent factory, still making great factory instruments. Decent ply, not too thick, can produce a perfectly good tone. It might well be better than some cheap solid wood, but any older decent solid is going to have a complexity and projection even beyond a decent plywood like this. It's also going to cost you WAY over £1000 I have a 60s/70s Czech ply, beautiful sound. Likely made at Strunal factory before it became Strunal. Worth about a grand I reckon... so for £400 I'd take his hand off. Play before buying.

A lot of slappers use them, but they can be a bit harsh on your fingerboard i believe, as they are round wound. Innovations are half-round wound, so feel smoother to the touch. But the new Cordes Lambert are round wound and I have no problem with them. One prototype set did mark my fingerboard, but not the real things. I'll be interested to know how you think they compare to innovations.

Thomann Rockabilly basses are not amazing, but I've heard from a number of people that they are perfectly decent for someone who wants to play rock/blues/billy whatever. There is always a downside to basses that are a bit rough ... the poor sound can disguise your technique and make it harder to play, or slow down your progress. But for hammering out 12 bars I've heard people who have been happy enough with Thomann Rockabillies. A bit higher in their range (Thoman 111) the basses are made by Strunal - they're really very good beginner basses, but start around £1000. Thomann are a good company ... just get the most expensive one you can afford. But yes, remember you'll need to spend £80+ on strings (get Innovation Silver Slaps as your starter string, even if you don't want to slap - Thomann may put them on for you). And you may need to spend more on set up (adjusting string height etc), though Thomann will do a simple set up for you I believe. Bass care: Get one thing clear - you're talking about a plywood bass here, not a carved instrument, or hybrid one (plywood with wood front, either carved or pressed into shape). They don't like radiators much, but they're not gonna crack like a carved instrument. They're much more robust. Keep it propped up in a corner, out of direct sunlight, away from radiators. Or even better, lying on its side if you've space. And buy a vinyl gig bag at least if you're ever going to take it out of the house. Learn how to move it ... hold the neck and the upper lip of the C-bout (the scoop in the 'waist' of the bass). Never knock, pull or lift using the bridge. Read up on how to change strings - you can do a lot of damage if you fiddle before you know what you're doing. The bass is held together by the string tension, and bits start falling off if you undo without care! Learn where the bridge should stand, and how to ensure it is vertical, so you can check it's not falling when you change strings. Learn what the bits are called ... you need to know whats going on with your tailgut, endpin, tailpiece, bridge feet, nut, fingerboard, sound post, bass bar... it's a world of fun! enough for now...

Sweet. Happy days.

Bassmax, great pick up Once you've settled for that style of wing piezo they all sound pretty similar, and very easy to use and dial in. They all have subtle differences that suit different basses and different ears and different playing styles. Underwood Shadow Schatten Planet Revolution Solo TM... you might end up trying them all eventually. I settled on Bassmax for a long time, then I switched to Underwood for simplicity and transparency of tone. Currently running 3 Underwoods on 3 basses, and a Bassmax on one. I'm about to try a Planet now,...

I want to try one. Anyone got one they want to pass on? Lend out even....?