thisnameistaken

These sorts of things always look more like gimmicky christmas presents for young players than actual useful amps. Like those old hi-fis in the '80s that were in the shape of a coke can.

I used to have a lined-ish fretless (removed the frets myself and tried to match the rosewood with the filler but it wasn't quite spot-on) but I always preferred unlined boards, they just look much classier to me. I don't think it makes any difference if you play it often enough, you'll (or your fingers will) know where the notes are. Unless you're tone-deaf in which case you shouldn't be playing any instrument at all...

I see where you're coming from but I don't really want to lug my whole bass rig (compact as it might be, my cab is still a two-handed carry, then there's the head, and a bass...) around with me in the street if I can help it. What I want, ideally, is a little reinforcement for very little effort.

Bump! I'm looking for something mega-portable, battery-powered, doesn't have to be especially loud, and I've been looking at the Roland Micro Cube RX too. Anyone got any other suggestions? It seems a lot of money for a tiny little combo, and I don't really need or want all the COSM guff they bundled in.

For some reason I've got an urge to learn to read music.

Congratulations on narrowly avoiding joining a cover band!

Well I spoke to the seller (a local bass teacher called Christian Topman, who hopefully will take me on for some lessons too) today and he told me the neck break happened a few years ago and was repaired by Scheerers in Leeds. It doesn't look pretty but it doesn't look like a problem either so I'm not too bothered. Also turns out the strings are Pirastro Evah Pirazzis, but he's going to bung in an old set of steels too in case I want to try a more modern sound but to be honest I like this thick and boomy old-school sound so far, it's quite appropriate for what I'll be doing with it (old soul and rocksteady stuff mostly). The bridge is apparently quite new and was indeed fitted by Jan at Chapel Allerton, he's also seen to the fingerboard which I assume is why it plays so easily. I've decided I'm having it. Looking past the old damage it's way more bass than I would get for that money elsewhere, it sounds good and it was comfortable to play from the first hour I had it, and I can do without the stress of trying not to get done over by sellers who I don't know, who might be less than entirely honest about what they're selling me. Plus I actually wanted a bass that I wouldn't be too scared about damaging myself, so a few war wounds makes me feel more comfortable! Thanks again to you all for your help, I am a very stoked newbie DB botherer.

[quote name='TPJ' post='741101' date='Feb 10 2010, 03:08 PM']Try Jan at [url="http://www.chapel-allerton.org.uk/"]Chappel Allerton Strings[/url]. He works on my bass and is a cool guy. He's in North Leeds which maybe easier to get to from your neck of the woods. This is how Jan carved my new bridge. I think it's probably ok, but get it checked out to be sure.[/quote] Ah. The guy who's selling me this bass uses him, so it's likely he fitted this bridge. That's me done with worrying about the bridge then. Thanks.

Actually I've just had another look at the bridge and it looks like it was cut into that shape - one side is a flat plane, the other side is rounded. It isn't bent or warped. I also would've thought that a bridge would typically turn towards the fingerboard rather than the tailpiece, just from tuning up and stuff? I remember my last DB when I put new strings on it I had to keep re-setting the bridge because it was being pulled towards the f/board by the strings.

[quote name='TPJ' post='740965' date='Feb 10 2010, 01:35 PM']Is there a luthier in your area to take it for inspection? That'd give you a valuation as well. Maybe make it a condition of the sale. You'll buy it at that price if he allows you to take it to get it inspected.[/quote] When my guitars need work I usually take them down to Shane Haigh in Horbury, who does do work on violins and stuff AFAIK, but it's a bit far to go. I've got a couple of mates who did the musical instrument tech BTEC at Leeds...? TBH I do trust the seller, we have a lot of mutual acquaintances and I don't think he'd rip me off. You're right though it would be good to get it looked over just to be on the safe side, I'm just trying to think where/when I could do that.

Yep understood. TPJ I think you must be right about the strings too, he did mention that the strings were "hybrids" when he dropped it off yesterday. Right just need to speak to him about the heel joint then I guess. Thanks again everybody.

Added myself as a hopeful - not sure what the band schedule will be, we often rehearse on Sunday afternoons but I'd like to come. 1. Born 2B Mild 2. yorks5stringer 3. Al Heeley 4. Wonderhorse 5. simon1964 6. Tait 7. Mikey R 8. budget bassist 9. Jake_tenfloors 10. Soopercrip 11. timloudon 12. Kirky 13. Huwberry 14. Conan ? 15. Gnasher? 16. J3ster? 17. bigevilman? 18. Keefman? 19. Josh3184? 20. Prosebass 21. richardd 22. Anthony Joseph W? 23. sifi 2112 24. Guybrushthreepw? 25. retroman 26 thisnameistaken ?

[quote name='velvetkevorkian' post='740488' date='Feb 9 2010, 11:34 PM']To me it looks like the top of the bridge is starting to lean towards the floor more than it should- the pics make it look like the lower side is significantly straighter. I've attached an awesomely Painted version to try and show what I mean.[/quote] You are right of course. It's been so long since I've seen a DB up close I couldn't remember if they were supposed to be symmetrical, but this one definitely isn't. Is this likely to need replacing soon, do you think? Only I've seen the price of adjustable bridges so I think it would be an issue worth raising! [quote name='PedalB' post='740512' date='Feb 10 2010, 12:01 AM']of more concern is that neck joint and that potential crack at the top of the neck- research into the basses history is needed here . Most reputable luthiers would make a much tidier job of this kind of repair so more questions need to be asked.[/quote] I will ask about the neck joint. The crack at the top looks like it's been like that for a long time - it's dirty - so it's probably OK. It certainly doesn't move. The neck joint - again - doesn't move, but it looks a bit scruffy like you said and it looks almost filled in a couple of spots, I'm wondering if it's more recent. I will ask about that. [quote name='PedalB' post='740512' date='Feb 10 2010, 12:01 AM']Dont know of this maker myself but am very dubious of ply instruments in general,in order to enjoy your bass playing get the best bass your budget to will stretch and some decent strings.Whilst I recognise there are differing opinions on ply basses , my experience is that they tend to be a bit dull and lacking in resonance . Sorry if this sounds a bit negative but it look like caution is needed with this instrument .[/quote] I appreciate your feedback, it's exactly what I wanted - honest appraisal. But I do want a ply bass, I'd be too worried about looking after a carved bass properly and my budget wouldn't stretch to one anyway. But I do want to make sure I'm not paying too much for this one in case I want to shift it and upgrade to something else later. In terms of how it plays, it only took me about an hour to get fairly comfortable with it (although I haven't ventured past "the ninth fret" or whatever I'm supposed to call it - the first two octaves ) and start bashing out tunes without struggling. This is as an absolute novice, so I think it's an easy bass to play, so potentially good to study on? I'm not sure about the way the A and E strings sound though, they're a little muddy compared to the other two and it's difficult to hear intonation on lower notes sometimes, but I don't know if that's strings or bass, or just me being unfamiliar with how deep a DB sounds compared to a bass guitar / fretless. Anyway, long and short of it, the geezer wants £500 for it. So currently I'm thinking does the bridge need replacing, are they like cheap strings that your mum would buy on the market if she was a gypsy or something like that, and is the neck joint safe. If all of those come back "they're probably fine" then I think I'll have it, but I'm trying to weigh up what I'll (potentially) need to spend on it in the near future. Given that I already need a pickup. Thanks for the responses so far, very valuable.

In case it's not clear in the photos, the bridge is straight, perpendicular to the body on the lower side - it doesn't look twisted or bent. Is that what you mean?

Some photos (phone with no flash, artificial light, sorry) in case there's anything that looks totally wrong that I haven't spotted. There is a dent in one of the ribs, about the width of my thumb, that's the only un-treated damage I can find. Does the bridge look OK, stuff like that? Anything structurally iffy? And does anybody what these strings are? The windings at the other end are different colours - red, blue, yellow and green.

Anyone heard of these? One just turned up at my house and I'm busy enjoying struggling to get actual music out of the thing at the moment. Looks like the neck joint might've had damage at some point, not sure about the top either it looks strangely curved around the F holes to me but I'll take some snaps for the experts to cast eyes over in a bit - need to figure out how to play it first! Is there anything in particular I should be doing to figure out whether I ought to buy this bass? In terms of obvious stuff to check, etc.? Feels quite heavy. It's been over 10 years since I last had a DB (and that was short-lived) but I'm sure mine was lighter than this last time!

[quote name='bilbo230763' post='739043' date='Feb 8 2010, 04:01 PM']I am a fan of Alexander Technique[/quote] My drummer does that. Shameful. Whatever happened to good, honest mucky mags off the top shelf?

Nice to see some good news for New Orleans for a change. Is that the first time the Saints have reached the superbowl?

That's a really pretty bass, nice one! I've got a guy coming over on Tuesday with a bass he thinks I might like, so I might be in the club next week too. Quite excited!

Ooh they're nice pic. Hey Ped I just looked at my Thumb on the way into the room and actually the shape's not that much different to your Vigier, pickup positions aren't that different either, maybe I ought to like them more.

Looks like a Guild on the Atkins.

It's a nice pic, don't go all OCD over it. I don't usually like Vigiers but that particular one is really nice. Maybe it's because you take so many nice photographs of it - maybe in the flesh I would be all "Eww!"

[quote name='ped' post='736791' date='Feb 5 2010, 11:28 PM']Shame the bass isn't straight in the chair, the legs of the chair aren't rotated to be square with the wall and the skirting board isn't straight along the bottom of the pic...[/quote] FWD to my psychiatrist, he'll be in touch.

TBH my stuff is generally well looked-after. I've got a Jazz here that has a couple of dings in the back of the neck and that sort of damage always surprises me - I'm always really careful especially with necks. But no matter - I don't notice it, the thing still sounds good. I do know a couple of people who grew up in quite wealthy households who don't seem to understand the value of things very well. The sort of people who'll get angry and smash something, or borrow to buy the things they want, just generally treat things as being disposable. I think I take care of stuff because when I was a kid if something broke it didn't get replaced. My mum and my sister were having a go at me the other day saying I used to take electronics apart when I was a kid and they never worked properly afterwards. In actual fact it was usually stuff like cheap hi-fis / cassette recorders / walkmans that had already stopped working and I got them going again. I was shocked that they thought I was just randomly breaking stuff out of curiosity.

[quote name='jakesbass' post='735702' date='Feb 5 2010, 12:36 AM']The one thing that playing in various places across the world has taught me is that there can be a time and a moment where everything drops into place and it all just goes right... ... For my part I think that comes mostly from the player....[/quote] I am so relieved you didn't conclude with "... and I think without my fancy onboard preamp that magic could never happen"