PaulKing

You rumbled me. Its all miming. I play to a backing track. Dont tell....

Damn right they do. I've got 3 of the blighters too. Need to pass on one of them, the G50 I think.

PS I think Mr Jack has a bridge?

Just chipping in on strings. I've been having this very conversation (how to get best of both worlds, gut tone and slappability with articulation and definition) for about 15 years now, and I have a shoebox stuffed with more sets of trial strrings than my wife needs to know about. Whackers, slap happy or any other, do a grand job for slap and roots. But if you want to get a bit more definition and articulation in th eE and A for pizz and more modern roots sound - forget it. Premium brands like SBW and Cordes Lamberts (if you can find them) are streets ahead of most other whackers. I dont know the premium Slap Happy's. Rotosound4000 are a step up - possibly these are what was on that show bass you mention. Great strings much loved by rockailly slappers for decades ... but very rubber bandy so lack definition for pizz. I don't like them much, but they're easy to play.. I'd choose Cordes Lamberts any day. Innovation (Gold/Silver Slaps / Rockabillies / Super Silvers) are a MUCH better all rounder for a newbie who wants a gut like tone and easy tension, but still be able to jazz it up. A few tonal subtleties that'll annoy a perfectionist but when amplified they all disappear. Presto (= Eurosonic) Ultralight are pretty much the same. Also Innovation rope-core SOLO set, bumped down to orchestral, make a fabulous all round set with real punch and definition, but slap easily and have well-matched gut-like click. This set up never seems to have caught on but I seriously recommend it as a well hidden-secret that's very similar to the next step up... ... which is Pirastro's Evah Pirazzi, either Slap set with optional gut GD (£££) or Weich set. Great tone, damn good slapping, easy tension. Not quite Marshall Lyttle but sorry, you CAN'T have it all. All the above can be combined with gut G and/or D. Slappity thud. Other strings are available. .

A beer at the next gig should do it (err ... which is Sunday afternoon actually ... at an infamous dogging layby / roadside cafe near Guildford!) Maybe I'll do a video for yas! Or you could swing by one afternoon while I'm dossing out of work..

Aye - nice strings. Keeping EPSlap EAD with a gut G on my Kay for now ... EPweich EAD + gut G on the Mortone (slightly higher tension, punchier sound). Sounds like you need a lesson in changing strings ... two people? Effort? Faffing? What are you playing at man!!? EPs are a dream to string up...

Yeh yeh gutsy!!

I think I put myself off reading around! Don't sound quite like what I like... If they were on a bass I'd be fascinated to try out, but overall, nope. Ta though!

Ah this takes me back ... early trials with Cordes Lambert. Fantastic for slappity thunk...

EP Slaps are noticeably lower tension than EP weichs. Makes those little drags and quads a doddle.

Gadzooks! Went off reading posts. Sound a bit tensiony. And wait, ROUND wound? Like OLD school. I'll stick with the EP weichs. And prompted by this I just put EP Slap E&A back on the Kay to go back to that really slap-friendly gut thump. And noticed Pirastro started doing D&G Slap in synthetic/chrome too. weren't available when I got the E&A. So bought me a D on the spot. That set is gonna sound sweet with a gut G.

Hmmm ... reading this with interest. I SO expected it to turn out different! Evah Slap E&A get a thumbs up from me. Not as low tension as you might hope. I've swung towards EP weichs though recently, to get more punch and definition. They still slap pretty well, but maybe not for trad rockabilly - a bit too stiff and just slightly metallic on the click where you want soft organic thunk. But in reality they arent much different from EP Slaps. They all settle and hold tuning easy as pie! So, obvs I'm keen to try the Gamuts, just. because. Got any interest in them? Clarky nabbed yet? Out of interest, do you stretch them when putting on? WIth gut and nylon I give them a good old pull and waggle about when on new .. a good inch or more off the fingerboard like I'm about to fire an arrow off the string...

Note the excited and very pleased crowd.

Ha, 'tis me Mr 'Mandrel'! Not so much rockabilly these days, but definitely still a lot of this...

Such fun to play. You nailed it. its quite a work out on upright....

Gaz's Rockin Blues this Thursday, late. Though I might take the Kay instead. Bit of a lull til Feb then. Ooh, got a night with Oli Darling on 8 Feb in St Johns Wood. Jump 66 Gig list .... http://www.jump66blues.com/gigs/4573404851 THU 30 JAN Gaz's Rockin' Blues, St Moritz Club, Wardour St, Soho FRI 28 FEB Old Station House, Chiswick SAT 14 MAR Ram Jam Records @ The Grey Horse, Kingston FRI 27 MAR Old Station House, Chiswick FRI 1 MAY Old Station House, Chiswick SAT 2 MAY Ram Jam Records @ The Grey Horse, Kingston FRI 29 MAY Old Station House, Chiswick SAT 30 MAY The Bull at Barnes FRI 5 JUN Green Banana Blues Club, Worcester Park SAT 18 JUL Ram Jam Records @ The Grey Horse, Kingston SAT 17 OCT Ram Jam Records @ The Grey Horse, Kingston

Heh, almost certainly not. It was a labour of love, over a couple of weeks. Can’t afford to take that time off work!! Would love to though, if I could afford the time. I can see why luthiers charge a couple of grand to do one... probly

Oh go on then, just one more wafer thin picture ...

It’s silent ... gotta leave the lacquer to harden a few weeks before tuning up. No tension on those strings yet. im sure it'll sound exactly the same as before!

Comparing the ‘37 factory version with my diy: 1937 2020: 1937: 2920:

Ta, and as it were, da: Looks even better with some sunshine on. I’m pleased with the result. Followed the pattern of Keeponehandloose’s ex-bass from same year, roughly:

Happy New Year

Ha, I’m risking living on my own! actually it’s not bad ... I just disappear for 5mins now and then. Tiny spray, shut the door ... leave for an hour. It’s fitted really easy around slobby family Christmas.!

Ready for top coat clear lacquer