Cairobill

Thompson's playing is a great inspiration to me...love it...his playing (alongside Eberhard Weber) on Hounds of Love by Kate Bush is just the greatest pop upright playing imaginable. Awesome...the bass is almost a lead instrument on these tracks, but he doesn't overdo it. Jaco's playing on Hejira inhabits the same space - lyrical, melodic, emotional and just f**ing far out... Nick

Oh yeah - I tried that Zon - it was a bit polite which is probably down to the pre. I had a fretless Special which sounded great and is doing the rounds on basschat... I've got a Zon but the Polyfusion pre has been swapped out for a McKeen pre and it sounds amazing. Huge with the real presence and a bit of growl if you hit it right. A good Zon is an amazing bass... I really like the Gallery - they are very straight shooters... Nick

Great review Sibob I tried that Celinder - it's amazingly good if, ahem, spenny. Really the best jazz in the place - a similar beef to the tone of my old Nash (the red one which has gone to Richardd not the natural that's there at the moment). I tried the DJ too - I remember liking one I played about 5 years ago but was very underwhelmed by the one there. It had no life or balls in it for some reason. Did you try Adam Clayton's Oly White 65 J? That was a nice bass with a beautiful thin old neck. Again, expensive... I just bought a Bravewood which has exactly that profile - utterly awesome jazz bass... Nick

I recognise the gentleman in the photo above (with his nice new Wal). One of the few bass players who played a fretless and didn't sound like Karn or Pastorius in the process. For those who don't recognise him, Mr Spoombung is a Wal player of note and a central figure in a totally brilliant much missed Anglo/Irish band. We do indeed have some interesting people on this forum Nick

It's good to see that they're back in production - maybe the Stateside hysteria will die down and they can be assessed on their real merits. I have played many Wals over the years (and borrowed a couple for extended periods but not owned) and while they have a cool sound the examples I played were not 'perfect' - they're a unique bass but I don't think that they're the holy grail - not that any bass really is of course...

This bass is a total beast. It eats other basses for breakfast. Thickest J tone I've ever experienced. This bass is a QED for the Nash ethos - tone, tone, tone... Would not have let it go if I hadn't had a new fretless Bravewood wend it's mystical way into my house. Glad to hear it's getting played loud! Nick

I would think that with the volumes Fender ship, any weeding out of the good stuff to keep in the States would be too labour intensive nowadays. My recent brushes with Fender have been a bit disappointing. However, my brother has one of the the new 2009 Strats and it is a really, really good guitar. Whether custom shop is worth it? That's tricky...

I must echo all of the above sentiments. Lovely bloke and a pleasure to deal with. I hope the Nash ends your jazz bass quest - it is the ultimate J! Best Nick

There's nothing like a big fat ramp whacked over a coffee table top between two single coils...in the morning... [attachment=33353:Photo_on...16.57__2.jpg]

I have bought basses from the States in the past when the exchange rate was 2 dollars to the pound and scored some amazing deals. But with the rate the way it is at the moment, it's not really that cost effective - buying basses second hand on basschat is probably the best way to go at the moment. Nick

Hey nice bass mr Wateroftyne! Very classy - how does it compare to your last one (was it a 73?) if that's not a tricky question? I seem to remember almost buying it (your old one about 2 years ago) but for some reason bought my Nash instead...can't remember why....Nick

Here's a funny story - I bought an XL-2 in San Francisco a couple of years ago for 400 quid... It was missing the pivot on the back (which I replaced with a Steinberger designed 'boomerang') but was still in pretty good nick. The guy selling it had bought it for next to nothing in the nineties... It was a wonderful feeling bass with a huge, clean tone - very piano like, with endless sustain. The neck was narrow and deep (apparently Stanley Clarke advised Steinberger on the profile) and very comfortable. It was heavy in that it was dense, but the body was tiny, so there were no fatigue issues. It was a great fun bass but I sold it to make a profit to invest in a nice j bass. I don't really regret selling it apart from not being able to say I own a bit of eighties retro design - I just didn't really need what it offered tonally. In retrospect I'm glad I got the Steiny thing out of my system. They are great, but they certainly don't replace a good P or J, which have more tonal character in my opinion. Tonewise, they are an acquired taste in rock - while people like Geddy and Sting used Steinbergers at certain points their tone was a bit hifi and vanilla in my opinion. For Dub, though, they are f***ing amazing - just ask Robby Shakespeare or Bill Laswell! There is so much lo end in a Steinie. And to answer your original question - the reissues and old skool lookalikes are absolutely nothing like the original Steinies in tone or feel. Nick