Dazed

I briefly owned a U.S. Sub, a 2 band Ray and a 34. The hands down winner for me was the Sub. The neck finish was quite worn so I sanded it off and oiled it. Lovely. The Ray, after many years of wanting to try one, came up at a really good price when I wasn't looking for one. I have to say it was really a bit of a disappointment even though it was near mint condition. The Sub felt and played nicer to me. Strangely I still get the odd gas pang when I see a natural finish Ray, especially an older pre EB. Usual words of advice - get out and try one.

Basslab do this, they have a full headstock without tuner. I can't get a decent pic of the string retainer though. https://www.talkbass.com/attachments/img_1671-jpg.1075502/

I'm using A PJB DoubleFour. It's 75 watts with 2 x 4" drivers. It's ridiculously small, like a shoebox. The sound is clean and uncoloured, you really get to hear the natural sound of the bass through it.

Spitfire! Be seated though when you check the price Here's a newly fitted P bass scratch plate. http://basschat.co.uk/topic/302235-new-spitfire-tort-for-my-64-precision https://spitfiretortoiseshellpickguards.wordpress.com/

SIT Silencers are quite a decent compromise between flats and rounds. I'm not sure what they are, maybe groundwound(?), but my P bass has had some on for a year or so. They're not as smooth as flats and not as scratchy as rounds if that makes sense. TI's as mentioned are nice but the tension can take some adjusting to especially if you tend to dig in often.

now I've read your description properly, at least the colours the same....!

This type of thing ? http://basschat.co.uk/topic/302142-music-man-stingray-1998-transredrosewood/page__pid__3256223#entry3256223

Nice being able to solely use a fretless. It is a requirement for the gig or your preference?

Dingwall? I haven't any personal experience but they seem to have a lot of love.

I don't understand what it is. Does the shape add something to the sound ? I own a wishbass too so I'm familiar with wishnevsky but that confuses me. Double neck. Harp. Huh?

Yeah that man has given me a few ear worms! Armin Metz has a great style and then I heard that fretless tone! I think I read the fretted was a Neuser and I forget the fretless. I really enjoyed the Nadishana trio , crazy instruments, and Mr Nadishana plays the sh*t out of all kinds of stuff. http://youtu.be/SbwCpO9XXTE

Wow what a stunner! Congratulations finding such a beauty that plays well.

Here's the U.S. prices. Not sure how up to date this is but I guess there'll be shipping and export/import duties built into the prices. Probably cheaper direct from Germany. http://www.basslabusa.com/products/basslab/price.html

[quote name='Cato' timestamp='1488216522' post='3246894'] Now I've got gas for something I didn't even know existed 2 minutes ago. Edit: I can't find any info on pricing but I'm guessing we're talking Ritter money? [/quote] Not quite Ritter prices but a couple of grand upwards. In a couple of years of looking I've found 5 used ones for sale, 2 x 6s, a jazz type 5 and 2 x 4s like this. One of the 6ers was in bass direct, that had a tag of £1500. It was the more unconventional looking L-Bow and had a Roland Midi pickup, so really not badly priced. There was a North American distributor that had prices a while back. I'll look it up.

I've been looking at Basslab instruments for a while now. http://basslab.de They build using their own recipe "tuneable composite" materials layered over a form which is later removed, leaving a hollow body (and neck!). They use automotive paint and lacquers even on fretless basses, where the fretboard is also often painted.

[quote name='Bridgehouse' timestamp='1488123282' post='3246037'] Cat. Pigeons. Lots of feathers. Played about 15 Jazz's today. Couple of old ones. A few 70s ones. A number of new ones and some alternates (Sandberg, Lakland etc..) Didn't like the thin neck on any of them. Sigh. Just didn't feel right. Played a '58 Precision briefly and a '64 Precision. Felt like home and they were both bloody beautiful to play. Ugh. Talk about a let down [/quote] Oh no! But also, great! You're beginning to find what you like. Now the fun begins........ The annoying thing (if you're like many of us) you might love the [i] next [/i] jazz you pick up

The guy I sold my gold top to a couple of years ago was Roses fan too. In Manchester. Enjoyed owning it. Nice looking thing.

While perusing CallowHill Basses site, looking into a bass I came across a rather relevant statement regarding custom orders. The whole site is interesting and the builder is very matter of fact. Here he's explaining how a custom order from Tim Lefevbre happened. It's worthy of a complete read IMO. It's here http://www.callowhillbass.com/lafave " [i] The initial request was that it be a vintage ’51 that cuts more, and maybe fiesta red or something. That was it. That’s all that was asked for. On its own, that request doesn’t really warrant any attention and it certainly doesn’t require a new model. Buy a cheap ’51 reissue and stick a pickup in it that has a little extra midrange character. Problem solved. I should point out that THAT is actually how all of the top level professional’s order stuff from me. “Uh, I want a five string and uh – I don’t know, maybe blue? Just make it cool.” There are no laundry lists of garbage with agonizing details about nut material and exact pickup placements and magnets. I swear half the guys who order like that just want content to cut and paste for when they sell it at a loss on TB a few days after they get it. [/i] "

Thanks guys. It's probably not worth the effort to get it. I kind of expected the answer but thought I'd throw it out there anyway. I have a fretless prose bass that's lovely to play and sounds great with elixirs on. I might look into that Callowhill as a bit or research.

Would that work on a bass? I've only ever played one short scale and didn't get on with it really. However I've come across a peculiar 30" bass that I'm quite taken by and wonder if it's possible that it could work with a low B. If I could I'd try it but it's in mainland Europe so I'd be buying it blind. Experience and opinions welcome good people!