Clarky

Afraid I can't make it (I'm off to Sonisphere festival that day to see Metallica, Slayer and Megadeth) but hope its a roaring success, Ad

The two cocobolo tops are just stunning, Loz, such an attractive and rich looking wood

[quote name='thisnameistaken' post='1292758' date='Jul 4 2011, 09:41 PM']I had a tone skull for a while, really improved the timbre of my bass, turned it around for £5000 in a hi-fi shop.[/quote] Fodera offer it as a £15,000 option so 5k was a bargain

[quote name='molan' post='1292749' date='Jul 4 2011, 09:34 PM']So how's the TH now you've had it a while Clarky? Very tempted by one of these now that BassGear has a few in stock [/quote] I've not really explored it's potential yet as I have had band rehearsals each of last two weekends (we are getting ready for the Upton Blues festival) so it's been full-on DB time. I have spent an hour or two with it and my Jazz bass. It has a lovely smooth tone, not as tube-y as my old Mesa or the TC 450 but nice and round all the same and with the potential to go clean or gnarly. It looks very classy and seems to me a great rock amp. For more clean hifi or modern sounds it's probably not as appropriate as my old MarkBass F1. The true test is gigging it of course but thats a bit tricky given that I only play DB in my band. Based on my limited experience so far though I am very pleased with it and do not envisage me moving it on as it sounds good, looks great and has the simplicity of controls that I like in an amp.

[quote name='ficelles' post='1292420' date='Jul 4 2011, 04:53 PM']Just wondering though, what do you use the skull for?[/quote] I am surprised noone spotted that before! I have wedged the (plastic) skull on the headstock of my double bass at our last couple of gigs - fits with the zombie/voodoo vibe!

[quote name='apa' post='1291740' date='Jul 4 2011, 07:12 AM']I thought they all came with bronzes!! lol. Anyway you can put what ever string you like on them (within the relms of sanity) That metalic zing of rounds and bronzes on an acoustic has a certain charme but when you put Black Nylon wounds on............ Once you've tried Black you'll never go back A[/quote] OT but which black nylons do you use? I tried some Roto TruBass on my Eko fretless acoustic and they were too plasticky sounding. I'm currently using TI Flats on it

[quote name='Gareth Hughes' post='1291539' date='Jul 3 2011, 10:19 PM']But that's easy - you just hold your falsies like they're a pick.[/quote] I swallowed them first

[quote name='Gareth Hughes' post='1291526' date='Jul 3 2011, 10:14 PM']Lightweight [/quote] I played the bass with my teeth

Postscript: I didn't burst the blisters and applied Germolene New Skin as suggested by one of the posters on the thread (Boots was out of surgical spirit). Seems to have done the trick as went through another four-hour rehearsal on the DB this afternoon with no problems whatsoever. Thanks all!

Another deal with Jack, whereby I bought his Alleva P5. As always a gent to deal with .. And really looks after his gear

[quote name='Pete Academy' post='1291328' date='Jul 3 2011, 07:16 PM']Number 3 is spot on. I generally pluck an open string to demonstrate the controls on an active bass - volume, pan, bass, mid , treble. Never make the customer feel insecure.[/quote] And number 4 is me

Superb job Wayne. Given that decent re-fins costs several hundred quid, why don't you start up a nice little earner sideline in custom re-fins? Would help pay for your Ampeg habit

[quote name='Old Horse Murphy' post='1290407' date='Jul 2 2011, 07:36 PM']Nice one (or two) mate. Where does that leave your old Zeller?[/quote] Sat a bit sadly in the corner. I am not allowed to move it on though as it has sentimental associations (I used it in lessons about 10-15 years ago with this lovely old jazzer, Phil Bates [played with Grapelli and Tubby Hayes], who sadly passed away a couple of years ago and the bass reminds Mrs C of him) Edit: hmmm, Mrs C seems more amenable to be moving this on as three double basses are taking up too much of the sitting room!

I met Mr_Bassman (Keith) a week or so back and we did a trade which involved my Eminence EUB going his way and his 1960s Ampeg Baby Bass and Kolstein Busetto travel bass coming my way - the second one was a bit of a surprise as Keith had only brought it along to show me .. but I fell in love with the tone and sheer beauty of the bass. Mind you, I don't think Keith expected to be going home with the Eminence either! Dangerous, these dodgy car park meet-ups The Baby Bass is in amazing condition for its age, looks fabulously retro and is about as feedback-proof as a DB gets so this will be my regular gigging bass for Rattlin Bone. The Kolstein will (for now, at least) stay at home while I enjoy playing it and the sheer gorgeousness of its tone. I intend to use this for gigs which are more intimate, with lower volumes. Anyway, at the risk of annoying the mods with a large picture (2Mb) here they are and there are a few more pics if you click on the 'porn pics' link in my signature below. [attachment=83893:P1040316.JPG]

Double post

Phwoar. Nice score! I miss my old one

You have three main choices of transducer - piezo (picks up vibrations, which you already have), magnetic ('mag') which needs steel strings and is just like an electric bass pickup (usually attaches to end of fingerboard), amd microphone. The most suitable depends on what type of sitaution you are in - if you are in a loud rock or rockabilly band, go for a mag as it cuts out feedback (which is a problem at high volumes with other transducer types), if you ar recording a mic sounds nicest, but for most situations a piezo is best. I use a Shadow 950, which is similar to an Underwood and slots into the bridge wings. Preamps are really useful for making your DB sound more like a DB and for controlling feedback. A Fishman (most prefer the Plat Pro Bass EQ like Happy Jack just bought) or an LR Baggs are popular as these are simple to use and most have phase switches (help to control feedback) as well as notch filters (which try to eliminate the frequency that is producing the feedback). You can usually plug your preamp into the FX return socket of your amp which turns it into a power amp so that the Fishman/Baggs/other preamp acts as the EQ section. Alternatively just plug into the front of the amp and run flat. There are acoustic/DB specific amps that are very clean sounding but these are quite pricey (Acoustic Image are superb, I have the Clarus+ head, but boy did it cost me; Phil Jones amps are very clean and can slot in nicely here too I believe) The speaker choice is by taste. Many DB'ers swer a 10" is best to convey a DB sound but 12" is also popular. There are DB tailored speakers (eg Euphonic Audio Wizzy 10 and 12) but frankly most modern speakers should be up to the job. I've been down the same road as you, about 9 months ahead. I have ended up using an LR Baggs Venue DI preamp (useful as it has a tuner and mute on it) into an Acoustic Image head and Wizzy 12 speaker. If I am playing a really loud gig I use a Mackie 10" PA speaker on a stand to hear myself and to try to control feedback (as its pointed at my head not the body of the DB) Good luck!

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