Marc S

Blunt cheese grater?

Replacement speaker / port grille?

Keep your eye on the marketplace here Also, re that Zellar bass selling - perhaps it will have sold, by the time you have saved enough cash ... but DB's tend not to be as fast selling as some bass guitars - so you never know - keep your eye on it, or at least message the seller and register your interest.... Good luck with your search

Yes, Tina Weymouth is awesome! BTW Suzi, don't know whether you've seen this? I don't know the seller, and haven't physically seen the neck But I was just wondering whether something like this might be a good idea? Perhaps with a second-hand Short Scale Squier? interchangeble necks? - if it would fit, that is..... That way, you can try out fretted and fretless short scale, and see what you prefer... Be sure to get the Short Scale Squier Jaguar though - they also do a long scale version! EDIT: BTW, I have dealt with the seller, and he's a good BC'er

If full scale 34" is a bit of a stretch for you, then perhaps 32" or 30" may be the way to go. Personally, for me 34" scale is still fine - but I can appreciate how, as one gets older stretching can become more difficult as joints age. I've spoken to a few older bassists who have migrated to short scale It's tricky to asses just how the 30" scale Jazz compares to a 34" Jazz, suzi9mm - as it has a P/J pickup arrangement. So it sounds more akin to my P/J Precisions than it does a 34" Jazz.... It's also wearing rather different strings to anything else I play. However, I think it's just a little bit "lighter" on the lows than my 34" P/J basses. The mids are a little more pronounced too, I think Years ago, I had a US Musicmaster, which was a bit too "middy" for my liking, and it lacked a bit of bottom-end "heft", though at the time Fender fitted the Musicmaster bass with guitar pickups, not ones designed for bass. Also, these days there is more variety in string types readily available, so a bit of experimentation can help you find a better sound and feel, more suited to what you're after, and suited to your bass. Back in the day, local shops only stocked one brand, one gauge of string for my old short scale - and they usually only had one set! lol My 30" Jazz certainly sounds much "bigger", "fuller" and has a wider range of tones than my old Musicmaster did - hope that helps PS. I don't see many fretless basses around in shops, either new or used, and I don't think I've ever seen a 30" fretless in any shops near me - so you might be better off trying to find one on here, or perhaps get a 30" bass de-fretted Either way, let us know what you decide, and how you find the switch from 34" to short scale....

To me, both the Stagg and the Harley look to be quite similar. If it was a choice just between those two, then I personally would say the Stagg - purely because I've not tried a Harley Harley Benton get some good reviews on quality of their bass guitars though - so the Harley upright might well be really good.... I'm guessing that if you bought either 2nd hand, there wouldn't be too much in it, and you wouldn't lose much if you decided either wasn't for you. If you can try either before buying, then I would recommend doing just that. But also, keep a look out for other instruments, in the marketplace here

Yes, the SLB does look and sound good (at least from sound clips I've heard of them) I wouldn't want to put anyone off buying a Stagg - they are great value for money (esp send hand) and a good intro into upright playing - at least, they give you a bit of a flavour for it But I definitely agree about the "body" attachments - I bought one as a bass guitar player, and didn't get on with those attachments at all. I found them very awkward, and later found them to be very unlike the shape and feel of an acoustic DB body which they are supposed to replicate / represent. Again, that may be just me, some folks might find them useful.... Definitely take your time ChrisF, and play as many as you can. The only thing is, you may have to travel a fair bit, and be quite patient - as there aren't too many shops that stock EUB's. And those that do will probably only have one..... Ask if any kindly BC members who live near you, are willing to let you try their EUB. Good luck with your search

I too started with a Stagg EUB. It was a great introduction to upright playing for me, and it fuelled my desire to get a "proper" acoustic upright The stagg is cheap as chips (especially 2nd hand) and fairly light, and nice & easy to lug around, set up and use However, I never got it to sound too much like a Double bass, it always sounded more like a fretless, and to my mind, it never really felt like any DB I subsequently played That said, as I mentioned, it was a great intro to the world of upright, and I got back what I'd paid for it.... The best sounding IMO, was my Eminence - though as has already been said, you could define it as an acoustic DB with a very small body / acoustic chamber and not actually an EUB at all.... I've not played a Yamaha SLB, but from sound clips I've heard, where the players have stated that the sound has been unaltered, the SLB does sound superb NS Design EUBs do look as though they're nice, light & portable - though I think the dots for every note would probably distract me (perhaps these could be masked, using tiny pieces of black masking tape? or felt pen?) I've got a KK Baby bass (bought from Happy Jack on here) and it is possible to get closer to a natural DB sound from it - though it's still not quite there, like the Eminence one drawback with the KK baby bass is, that they're still quite heavy (perhaps the heaviness of their structure helps the sound?) though, in truth, I find that it's as much the bulk of an acoustic DB that makes them awkward to carry, as does their weight They can all be played slap stlye - depending on how they are set up. The type of string also dictates and helps here.... Generally, you'd need a slightly higher action for slap stlye One word here - get a DB / EUB with an adjustable bridge, if you want to play different styles - being able to easily adjust the bridge height will be a real bonus Another plus for the KK Baby bass - adjustment is even easier, as there's an allen key at the back of the neck. This adjusts not bridge height, but it adjusts the angle of the neck I find it so quick and simple to do Sorry, I've probably given you too much info - I am known to ramble on a bit.... But the suggestion of trying as many as you can, and visiting a DB bass bash is the best way forward I think You don't way where you live - perhaps it would be a good idea to update your profile with that info or you could ask local BC members who own EUB's for a huge favour, and try their basses? We're a friendly bunch, and I know I'd be happy for you to pop in if you're anywhere near Cardiff Cheers now, and best of luck with your search

I once had a bitsa P bass which had a Mighty Mite neck The neck was so nice, I was genuinely surprised at just how good it was

Argh. I've got two lying around - you could have had either of them, tsk tsk Actually, I might even have three..... lol But you're quite right - the 2 holes are screaming for a thumbrest

I'm a fan of tort guards, on black.....or white, erm and sunburst too But I must say Lewis, that looks rather nice - much more so than I'd expected Looks great with the maple board too. I want my gold guard back now! lol EDIT: PS. Although it was a tarnished guard, from a Roadworn P, it has polished up rather nicely What did you use to clean it up Lewis?

Hmmmm, no I think I will join you on this one Ian. I think I do too.... Or should I now buy another unlined fretless? Does a lined fretless sound different to an unlined fretless? Can I convince Mrs S I now need another bass? lol

Cheers for popping in Lewis - it was great to see you, and your new bass However, I only just realised..... I didn't make you a cup of tea! What a heinous, un-BC-like crime I promise you can have one next time, and even a chocolate biscuit, as long as you don't tell anyone It's a great bass for the money Lewis. I was really impressed with the quality, feel and finish, and even more impressed with the sound I bet once the action / truss-rod have been adjusted and allowed to "settle" it will feel even better. Love the colour too, really nice, rich 3TSB and in great nick too As I said yesterday eve, the dots in every position on the edge of the neck would probably confuse me - but that's more to do with the fact I'm all too easily confused lol I'm sure you could get used to them, or just dab some felt pen or acrylic paint over the ones you want to black out..... Let us know how you're getting on with it matey. You were right when we were discussing how you alter your playing style when playing fretless I had a quick go on mine just after you left. Cheers, and enjoy your NFBD Lewis

There's a button for "like" "thanks" "ha ha" "confused" and "sad" .... but not for "groan"

Thanks for posting that info + pic Jimothey. Looks like you've done a nice job putting that together and especially the finish Is the wood quite soft, or is it a harder type? Was it treated at all?

Was your J body from the same seller as the people who sell those kits?

I'm looking forward to seeing how you get on with this project. Cheers, and don't forget to post some pics and your progress with painting it Really interested to see what paints you use, and how you get on with them I'd seen some paulownia Jazz bodies on ebay, before buying mine, and wondered what they were like..... Does the eBay shop you got it from sell lots of them, and kits for whole Jazz basses Geek99?