Clarky

[quote name='Prime_BASS' timestamp='1380746599' post='2230095'] Thanks for the nice comments guys, the girlfriend is an insecure one and she likes the positive reinforcement. [/quote] Sorry if my levity offended. Your girlfriend s is indeed a lovely lady, it was just a rather "surprising" photograph to unveil your new cab as the cab was hardly centre stage! No offence meant

Rouge noir, durrr!

Out of interest, what depilator do you use to keep your legs so smooth, Prime BASS?

Thats an impressive bit of kit. I love Chris Wood's DB sound (check out the wonderful 'Ways not to lose' album) which I have partly replicated with my string string setup (Oliv A/D/G; he uses an Obligato E, I have a Spiro). But blimey, he likes a high action! Could drive a bus under his G string (oo err)

Jack has taken my recommendation and replaced the Thomastik Superflexible Solo strings with Presto Nylon Wound Ultralights - fairly chunky gut-alike strings that feel more like an old time DB, are exceptionally easy on the hands, and also have a more warm tone IMHO. I have these on my Ampeg BB and like them very much. http://www.presto-strings.com/doublebass.html

Well, the diaphragm pickup on either original Ampeg or KK Baby Bass sounds very little like an acoustic bass - its ideal for bassy, driving salsa lines (Kris Kedzior takes out all the high mids and winds up the treble on his MarkBass combo, while having the tone rolled all the way off on his Baby Bass). For this reason I have added a Shadow SH950 piezo pickup to my Ampeg wedged into a replacement maple bridge (I have kept the original aluminium one of course). With careful EQing it sounds pretty good as an approximation of an amplified double bass (I use the word amplified deliberately here). KK basses are lighter and more bombproof than the original Ampeg I own (or the 'cheese bass' as my band call it), basically a more modern take. Given that they cost the same as (or only slightly more than) a Mexican factory churned-out Fender (£750-950 depending on options) I think they are excellent value for money. For me, the Ampeg is great as I gig in London and its more portable than my 'real' DB plus I never have to worry about feedback.

FWIW, Jon Letts hasn't been on BassChat since July so he won't read this thread at all unless someone points it out to him. He is still active though, as he posted some build pics this morning on FaceBook

Hey Andy, thanks again. I picked this up today. Looks like it will come in handy for when I need more protection than my gig bag can offer

Next up is headlining gig (10pm onstage) at Paper Dress Vintage in Shoreditch http://paperdressvintage.co.uk/ Here's the event page on FaceBook: https://www.facebook.com/events/527576327322616/

Thanks 4000 and lozbass. Looks like I need to track down a Brown Bass and forget the 'regular' SC. When one appears at a decent price that is

[quote name='4000' timestamp='1380412006' post='2225050'] FWIW my SC Deluxe weighed about 11lbs too. [/quote] I am guessing that was cocobolo faced then, as that wood (though my favourite looks-wise) weighs like an anchor! I was recently offered a Brown Bass from a US seller that weighed about 9 pounds but the issue was that - with import duty and shipping - it would have been sell-a-kidney expensive (about £4.5k)

I thoroughly enjoyed my Alembic Spoiler - apart from the weight (c.11lb) which forced me to sell it. Fabulous basses with amazing build quality and a unique sound. I would love to get hold of a short scale Stanley Clark or (even better) Brown bass but they come up for sale so infrequently and for more bucks than I can muster (if anyone ever wants to sell one for less than £3k drop me a PM)

Good spot! Thanks, I have sent a message but I am guessing its already gone

[quote name='SevenSeas' timestamp='1380370186' post='2224382'] Also can you buy strings individual? I might want to buy a D and G string Oliv but not want to pay £500 for the whole set. [/quote]google is your friend! Thomann and thestringzone.co.uk each sell individual Oliv strings

We played the Alleycat in Denmark Street. Tiny club which was jampacked. Unfortunately the band before us was a loud mod/Oasis type band with a pissed rowdy following. Throughout our half-hour set their drunken crew kept chanting "Zoots, Zoots, Zoots" (the band's name), leading to middle finger salutes from our lady singers. Shame as we had a fair few people who had come to see us and we played pretty well (not having played together for a month). I would play there again but only if the band line-up was better matched

Regarding Olivs, I haven't had them long but I understand they can last a couple of years. Slapping can shorten their life as I believe the principal risk is of the metal winding coming away from the gut. The nut and bridge also have to have appropriate sized slots so as not put pressure on the windings as you tune. Regarding tuning, mine can easily shift a half tone overnight if the temperature changes. To my mind this is the biggest nuisance with these otherwise wonderful sounding/playing strings. Lots of people seem to use Spirocore, Obligato or Evah E/A with Olivia D/G. I don't have a problem with the Oliv A so I use Oliv A/D/G with a Spiro Mittel E. If I did arco, I am guessing Evah E would be a better match. There's. ton of threads on Olivs on TalkBass. Just search the strings forum. Here's the link: http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f17/

good work Silvia!

tomorrow night, a 30 minute shortened set fairly early doors (9-9.30pm) at the Alleycat in Denmark St, if any BC'er happens to be around?

Best of luck Jack. Would have loved to have been there but wending my way back to UK from bella Italia (biz not pleasure). Root fifth. And repeat. Until the end

[quote name='Spoombung' timestamp='1380100716' post='2220683'] Congratulations, Clarky, this the clumsiest metaphor I have ever seen on Basschat! [/quote] yay! Do I win a prize? A roll of velcro seems popular round here, although I wouldn't mind a course in Scottish flamenco-country dancing

[quote name='Spoombung' timestamp='1380092409' post='2220576'] 'Celtic/flamenco mix'? I might throw up! [/quote] The world moves on Kev! You don't need to bash flints together to make fire any more

Just wow. Saw Vicente Amigo at the Union Chapel in Islington tonight. Played a bunch of older straight-ahead flamenco favorites and his latest celtic/flamenco mix album Tierra in its entirety (excerpt below). Utterly stunning musicianship and played with real fire and passion. SImply unforgettable gig You would probably have hated it Kev/Spoombung [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5F0t_3Z-Wpw[/media]

Yep, guess who? Roger bought a neat piezo-friendly DI pedal off me. As ever, seamless transaction

Cool, cheers Lozz. We should at least be rehearsed properly for that one - band practice tonight (first in over a month due to holidays) is off as drummer and one of two vocalists ill, so Alleycat gig will be a heroic success or not!