Manwithvan

Previous post a bit confusing. My thumb is a bit beyond the end of the board i.e. I'm not striking down onto any frets.

An, interesting point. The Fender and Sandberg are both passive/active. The Yamaha and Ibanez are active only. To back up the 'strings hitting pickup poles theory' my thumb tends to be just above the end of the fretboard, allowing some extra travel for the string.

The fact is I rather like it - you certainly make your presence felt - and wish I could get the Yamaha to do it.

No, the usual sound you might expect is there too!

I use double-thumbing a lot, but now and again want to bounce off a low string, and there's a question I can't find an answer to anywhere. On some basses a hard slap gives a percussive 'whump', and on others not. Why? It's almost like the attack from a compressor, but a brief woody thud rather than a string tone. All my basses are set up the same. Medium-low action, nearly straight neck. Fret buzz if you play hard. Fender Jazz (maple neck), Sandberg California (rosewood neck) do it. The effect is more noticeable on the neck pickup. Ibanez SR500, Yamaha BB1500A don't. I have a vague theory about exposed pole pieces but it's not a very good one. Any ideas, anyone?

Gong at some pub in Leicester around 2000. Awful sound which rendered their space noises ludicrous. Sad to say this, as I saw them in the mid 70s at Northampton County Ground. One of my first gigs - I was 14 or 15 and loved it.

The inlays seem to be the same as on the HB I'm looking at right now but as AT says it does have bare polepieces. The HB is 'only' 5kg, and in another important difference, it comes with a battery supplied, unlike the Quincy. I like this: [color=#000000]2 strap buttons are already attached and this item is supplied with a FREE budget lead and allen key (to adjust truss rod if required for an advanced set up)[/color]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Pittsburgh-By-QUINCY-6-string-bass-guitar-electric-Active-Pick-ups-BLACK-monster-/321769430013?roken=cUgayN via @eBay_UK The HB retails at about £110.

[quote name='paul_5' timestamp='1380804269' post='2230786'] I, erm, fashined them out of some old nuts that had the right inside diameter. I held them in a pair of pliers and filed the corners off. By hand. Worked a treat. [/quote] I found an old nut with slightly smaller diameter and filed away the inner thread. By hand. Also worked a treat. Total repair time about 20 minutes. Total time in pre-op indecision mode - about five weeks.

[quote name='Mykesbass' timestamp='1444387254' post='2882767'] He who must not be mentioned on here (before the mods rap your knuckles) [/quote] Yikes! Throw me a lifebelt (I'm way out of my depth)!

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Bass-guitar-by-Lindo-with-Ibanez-P-bass-pup-and-full-set-up-/191711391027?hash=item2ca2e3ad33 It's a fine job, to be sure. I'm only worried that his main tools are a hammer and toothbrush

I've been away for a couple of weeks but have contacted Super Al who is local to me to see if we can get together and work out how to move the idea on. Thanks for all your interest!

[quote name='FinnDave' timestamp='1436450385' post='2818254'] Oxford's right on my doorstep, could be an interesting experiment. [/quote] Do you know of any rehearsal spaces in the area? It might be an idea to suggest a time and place and see who'd be prepared to travel?

Pleased to get more than 300 views, still far less than "Sick bass player wanted" but there's a lesson in marketing for us all there. The geography is a bit of a challenge. The centre point of all those interested looks like Oxford which is a long way for everyone to travel when you've no idea of the outcome. It's an intriguing prospect to bring together the lyrical CamdenRob with the ambient experimentalist, er..Ambient, though. Thanks for all the examples mentioned.. I only knew of SMV and wasn't thinking of setting out to knock them off their perch! Not yet. About me (as I haven't posted anything on BC): Mature (ahem, own hair and teeth), ex guitarist, I started taking bass seriously only last year. I've often ended up playing bass in bands for various reasons (only slot available/least talented guitarist/most competent musician/only member who could count up to 4). Played rock/blues in pubs, and jazz in wine bars etc for many years. At the moment I've started an improvising group working with dance and street performers. I see it as an opportunity to something original, and 'punch above my weight'. The idea for a bass-only band came about as I became more aware of the range of sounds available to us. I hadn't even thought of bowed bass. I have 4, 5 and 6 string and fretless basses, and can't play any of them properly, but I like a challenge.

Great stuff Rob, and you even have time for the odd slurp or two. Maybe there's more Londoners who are up for it?

I've been musing about the 'ideal' band. You wouldn't want any prima donnas - so no singers, or guitarists for that matter. And you'd want proper musicians - so no drummers. But seriously... I'd be interested in starting a band project composed entirely of bass players. It's already been done, but in the metal genre. We have a wide range of sounds to use: from double bass, U bass, slap, six-string etc. I reckon four players would be easy enough to arrange, providing percussion, melody, chords and well, just bass. I'm thinking jazz rather than rock, but who knows? I'm based in Salisbury, but willing to travel an hour for a meet.

Delighted to now own flippyfloop's old Yamaha BB1500A. In great order, and it sounds fantastic. We had a very pleasant handing over in a McDonald's car park, and I found Andre to be a thoroughly good bloke who made everything easy.

Phil braved Friday night rush hour traffic for a pleasant transaction in the Travelodge car park near Oxford. Great bloke to deal with. I bought his Sandberg in immaculate condition and am chuffed to bits. Even the wife seemed pleased!

I bought Graham's Spectorcore 4 Fretless. It arrived in the post safely packed and in good order, and in very good condition, as described.