Chris Sharman

...and I can vouch for Andy's work having seen the Jazz in person last night. It looks better in the flesh (wood?) if that were possible.

My previously and publicly lamented Westone Thunder 3 fretted as mentioned in my thread "The one that got away". Pain eased recently by obtaining its fretless counterpart. I had a Washburn Bantam once. Sounded thinner than Kate Moss run over by a steam roller. Could not get a good sound out of it. Sold at a loss, smiled as it left. Smiling now at the fact I STILL don't own it.

Played a 45 minute set at the Swadlincote Sausage and Cider Festival. Perfect time of the evening 6:45 to 7:30 just as the sun was full on the stage, bright sunshine, loads of people who seemed to have consumed a 'fair quantity' of cider and a big heaping of Ska served up by us. There were quite a group dancing at the front and as far as we could see small pockets of people dancing all across the field. Uttered the first two words of the intro to One Step Beyond as our last track and the place went wild (just like last week) left us ending on a massive buzz. Absolutely loved it. There were a number of problems with the organisation of the event (first of it's kind) along the lines of the bar and food queues being massive, running out of vegetarian food by the middle of the first afternoon, and other organisational difficulties which I have to say may be well founded. However with the weather as it was they should have expected the turn out they had, it was rammed. They are learning though and have already announced some changes for the second day. I hope they do it again next year as we have been told we would be up for a later spot if they do.

Fresh from our first ever appearance at the farm I used to live at The Badly Stuffed Bears will be playing at the Swadlincote Sausage and Cider Family festival in South Derbyshire. Really looking forward to it. I mean, what better way to spend your afternoon than drinking cider, eating snorkers and listening to some live music. and there is a sausage eating competition! We are on from 6:45 until 7:30. Should be a laugh.

First gig slot with my new covers band The Badly Stuffed Bears. Played at a private party at the farm i used to live at in rural Derbyshire. We played a 45 minute spot in between the two 1 hour spots of the main act. The main act from Sleaford had been booked via an agent who obviously painted a slightly grander picture of what was actually happening hence them turning up with a 3K PA and all the kit for a marquee event on a grand scale not on the lawn of a house. We had to fit in around them but I think we all coped admirably, as soon as we had done our set we cleared the stage of all our kit for their second slot to the finish at which point I hit the beer (3 barrels of differnet IPA's from a couple of breweries). Any-whoo our mix of Ska, reggae, and one or two other genres went down a storm with dancing from the first note it seemed and we were called back for one more ending up with me donning the sunglasses and doing the intro to a busked version of One Step Beyond which nearly took the roof off! Still buzzing!

Part 2 of the Water for Dogs weekender saw us doing a spot at the Ripley Music Festival. Ma-hoo-sive stage on Crossley park great set up and sound courtesy of all the volunteers that run the festival. Unfortunately one of the DI's went down during the first track costing us the keyboard that provides the main melody for that track however they jumped straight to it and swapped it out whilst we kept the rhythm and guitars running with the keyboard player filling in on one of his other keyboards so we just about got away with it. Other than that the set went well, people came to speak to us afterwards and we gained another 10% on our facebook "likes" (although that's not saying much). We also found out just after our set that we have been asked to perform at another festival in 3 weeks time with an hours slot between 9 and 10 pm. Things are definitely picking up for the dogs... There are some photos of both this gig and Friday on the WfD Facebook page.

That's Ripley for you! We play Ripley music festival tomorrow at Crossley Park. Small world. As to last nights gig we opened the Progadelic festival at the Haberdashers Arms in Adbaston, Staffordshire. A beautiful country location, gorgeous weather and cider. Lots of cider! The guys did a great job on the sound and although the bass was a little lost on the foldback it all sounded pretty good FOH. We were on at 6:30 so there wasn't a lot of people there but those that were (good to see KevB there) seemed to enjoy us and we got a lot of good feedback from the other bands that were there. The other bands that were on last night (Third Quadrant, Ros Bruce and Sonic Tapestry) were all really good. And the cider was nice. I haven't stayed for the whole weekend but the rest of the band have, hopefully they'll be back by Sunday afternoon other wise our set at Ripley will consist of me and my amp with neither basses or bandmates to accompany me. Better pack my sax just in case...

Hello again, Water for Dogs complete our weekend festivities with an appearance at the Ripley Music Festivals ROMfest on Sunday 13th July in Crossley Park, Ripley. Ripley Music festival runs for an entire week with different events on different days/evenings throughout the town from Brass bands to school recitals, choirs to Rock and Roll nights. ROMfest is the last day when local original music bands take to the stage and we are on stage last but one so a good slot for a band like us with little (err..no) following and only a couple of gigs under our belt. Since bands at ROMfest only have a 35 minute slot (which equates to 5 tracks for us!) we have decided to dump ALL of our slower, more mellow tunes and go for the most intense set we can. Let's have it!

Morning all, Water for Dogs have a couple of gigs this coming weekend beginning with this one. [url="https://www.facebook.com/HaberdashersProgadelicSummerFestival"]https://www.facebook.com/HaberdashersProgadelicSummerFestival[/url] We are scheduled to open the Progadelic festival at the Haberdashers Arms in Adbaston, Staffordshire. We are on at 6:30 pm on the Friday night so we are praying that a lot of people have had the Friday off or we will be playing to a very open field. Can. Not. Wait. Hope to see some of you there.

Nothing wrong with cheesy dance music (see my latest from Water for Dogs!) let me know when you will be gigging next (particularly if you ever cross the Watford Gap)

Thanks Mike, appreciate it. Love the phrase "left me with a smile in my ears" might have to put that on the album cover.

Dude! I LOVE this! As someone who has an abiding love of Ibiza chill-out music and is just coming to appreciate Jazz this is just up my street. I will definitely have to check you guys out live sometime (although your playing has just taken my Ego outside and given it a damn good kicking).

Ladies and gentlemen, I offer unto you the latest from Water for Dogs. Time Jump was recorded this Saturday in the peoples republic of Belper. The track has been around for a couple of months but this is the first time we have recorded it and I offer it here for your critique; [url="https://soundcloud.com/waterfordogs/time-jump"]https://soundcloud.com/waterfordogs/time-jump[/url] You'll be happy to see we have cut it down to 7:30 now so you won't be there all night.

PM sent

I would only want a signature model bass if it was something that I had personally specced up, used a lot, became famous and if the manufacturer turned up with a wheelbarrow full of cash! However if a 5-string Jaguar with Jazz neck in black with matching headstock and scratchplate and ebony unlined fretless fingerboard becomes available I will happily sign it for a free one (and the aforementioned garden soil transporter full of cash of course )

It was indeed zero9's jazz. Made me want to kit my jazz out with flats and pickup cover.

Mmmm...so many decisions. I have to say I find the tortoiseshell to sit very well with the rosewood but the black looks more dramatic and I think black would suit the pickup cover better but your photos have given me much food for thought. Thanks all, Keep 'em coming.

Evening, following on from the work I have just had done on my Westone fretless I am now looking at my MIM jazz with itchy wallet. The Jazz is green (sage?) and has a white scratchplate fitted. I was thinking about replacing it the moment I bought it with a black one but Mrs S has had her way until now and I have not done anything to it other than a re-string. I am now looking to restring with flats having tried and loved them on my fretless and also after playing them on a Jazz at the East Mids Bass Bash and I figured now is the ideal time to have a go and do some of the other stuff I have thought about doing. So, learned purveyors of low frequency groovage I ask for your opinion on; a) Black or tortoiseshell plate on a sage green Jazz with Rosewood fretboard? Bridge pickup cover; Yay or Nay? c) Recommended flats to go on a Jazz bearing in mind I am used to Rotosound 66 rounds so far on my Jazz and TI Jazz flats on my fretless. [size=2]Your votes do count and may be used to shape other services we offer. Steep hills can go up as well as down. Your house may be at risk if you drive a Land Rover through the dining room. Other smallprint may not be as funny as this, your experience may vary.[/size]

Cool photos Andy. It seems Mrs S would like me to put the bass down for a while and do some stuff around the house....I just can't!

Update: Andy has been round this morning and delivered the Westie back to me and I have to say I couldn't be more pleased with the results. It plays now how it always should have. The ifguring in the rosewood on the fretboard looks amazing and the action and intonation are spot on. Andy himself is not too happy with the finish on the headstock but I am more than happy with the work he has done. He has kindly offered that if I want it re-done to let him know but that is not going to be necessary I assure you. I can wholeheartedly recommend his work to anyone. I am now going to get him to price up a bit of work on my Jazz (set up etc) and will happily use his services for this and if that's not a ringing endorsement then nothing is. I would post up some pics but I understand Andy has taken some and they would be much better than mine so I shall leave him to have the last word on that front. Thanks again Andy.

Andy, That looks fantastic. On a day when I am suffering from seeing my beloved Derby County lose at Wembley, seeing my Westone in this state truly gladdens my heart. Feel free to take all the time to need, I am sure it will be worth the wait. C.

Oh My Dog!!!!! I can't believe the progress after this short amount of time. ...welling up already!

Update: over another pint of pedigree my fretless Japanese wonder has now entered Andy's care. I look forward to receiving it back in 10 days or so after a liberal dose of tlc and a fine top coat of magic have been lovingly applied. Really can't wait!

[quote name='allighatt0r' timestamp='1400067513' post='2450357'] AJR is a chap on here also (username is Andyjr1515). There's lots of pics of his work on his website www.ajrguitarmods.co.uk and he seems like a nice bloke from other threads he's been involved in: http://basschat.co.uk/topic/235818-westone-thunder-3-fretless-fingerboard-refinish-help/ [/quote] I can vouch for Andy being a top guy (since I am the owner of the Westone in the above thread) and I will be able to give you a personal review of his workmanship in a couple of weeks after he has worked his magic on the Westie. Judging by the work on his website though I can't wait to see the finished results. It should be noted though that he has a full time job as well so it may be worth PM'ing him here as well and giving him a little time to get back to you as he may be away on business.

I've played that bass also. Photographic evidence of which is on this very forum!