TrevorR

Very much doubt that would ever happen... but it nearly did once...! As he was getting increasingly ill around about 2003-4 Pete was in discussions with one of the big UK distributors (he never did say publicly which one) about doing a lower cost, far east Wal bass variant. I guess kinda like the Tanglewood Overwaters. Maybe even ultimately selling on the brand. However, he pulled out of the deal - I'm speculating wildly here but the logic holds - because I think he saw them as being kosher Far East Wals but taking advantage of more automated, cheaper Far East manufacturing costs and techniques. But still very much a Wal. I suspect that he was getting vibes from the distributor about them ending up with cheap mass produced plywood Wal shaped basses with BBOT bridges and off the shelf no-name pickups... Wals in name only. Can't see Paul going down that route!

Great example and I absolutely agree that it's an immensely personal thing. Another way of looking at it for me is that as soon as you are talking about paying a grand or two for a bass then all the non-subjective aspects should be ticked at a basic level and taken as read. Any "non-subjective improvement" beyond then is a matter of degree and subject to the law of diminishing returns. But that is where the subjective elements really kicks in. The question them becomes not "Which bass/builder is best?" but "Which bass/builder is best for me?"

..cough cough... ...Wal... ...cough cough...

Wasn't he one of Dennis the Menace's gang in the Beano?

Here you go... Elwray Bass pass around BC User name Name Location Date received Passed to (name and date) TheGreek Mick Tomazou Hatfield, Herts Grangur GaryMac TrevorR Trevor Raggatt Staines, Middlesex Edited 8 hours ago by TheGreek

Yes. Spot on. I also have the volume control on my bass on full and it’s not short of signal level! I set up my amp using the old method of setting all EQ flat and then increasing the input gain gradually while playing as hard as I can until I start to hear a tiny bit of distortion (or the input clipping light starts to flash on the loudest deepest notes). Then I back it off a smidge so that there is no distortion/clipping light at all how ever hard I play. Then the amp volume gives me whatever clean level of loudness I need. On my 500W MarkBass Little Mark II the input gain ends up being set at about 10 o’clock. And volume never needs to go above about noon through a compact ‘Traveler’ series 2x10 and 1x15 even on loud gigs with an enthusiastic drummer. My EQ is pretty much always flattish (set at noon of close) so that’s not adding much additional gain into the signal either. I always find this approach provides the maximum clean headroom and a great clean, punchy sound

The question that occurs to me is how do you set up your bass amp controls. You reference the bass vol and guitars... for me a bass amp gain knob does a completely different job to a guitar amp. With the bass vol on full it matches the bass signal to the amplifier so that it does not distort even when played as hard as possible... any distortion therefore will be from an over stretched power stage or speaker struggling to deliver the volume that’s being asked of it. What gear are are you using and in what circumstances?

Yes, Tonika, or more strictly TOHNKA according to the neck plate on this one... https://reverb.com/uk/brand/tonika http://cheesyguitars.com/tonika_bass.html

Oooooooh... sounding good!

Top idea Mr The Greek

Those basses do look fantastic! I'd certainly be interested in giving a fretted model a tinkle and passing on comments at the Bass Bash and, since I'm in N Surrey and therefore close to a number of other Bass Bashers, might also be up for the passaround! Family commitments mean delivery a distance away could be difficult but happy to make localish arrangements or do a central London handover...

It’s one of their “Masterpiece Aged” models. Looks like you’re paying an extra grand or so to have someone ruin a perfectly nice £1-2k bass for you.

Good spot! Early logo Schecter.... Cant find a photo of a slab bodied bound bass but they did guitars in the same style in that period.

A few more faves for me... Colibri - Incognito The Enemy Within - Rush (from the album “Rush does reggae”, LOL!) Whenever I see your smiling face - James Taylor Lee Sklar catches a little pinch of joy and sprinkles if over a pretty simple walking bass line. But his playing stil brings a smile to my face every time I hear it!

I do love this one... And this one too... The fabulous Johnny Gus on bass. Finally there is this cracker too...

There’s a few Elwood’s coming... hopefully one will volunteer.

Exactly... What is rock? Thin Lizzy, Tom Petty, Meshugga, Dire Straits, Iron Maiden, Yes, The Stones, Talking Heads, Nirvana, U2, Coldplay, Dr Feelgood, PJ Harvey... What is pop? Lady Gaga, The Human League, The Carpenters, Black Lace, Carly Simon, The Beatles, Taylor Swift, Dusty Springfield, Pet Shop Boys, The Beach Boys...

Loads of types... from 20-30s swing bands through Wes Montgomery and Dave Brubeck to Joe Pass, Larry Carlton, smooth jazz to souly, funky, acidy jazz... so many great artists and styles to explore.

PM’d too

Apropos of nothing... a while back I discovered that the grandad of one of my little boy’s chums was cello player in ELO. Left before all the big hits though...

Yes, that would round off the selection nicely. I wonder whether I'll be able to spot my own basses?

And bearing in mind that lead vocals, two guitars and a bass were probably all going to be going through that single Watkins Dominator! And the pick-up on at least one of those guitars would be the scavenged mic from an Army surplus field radio or an RAF flying helmet shoved into the f-hole.

Sounds like a cue for a song... "Grandad, Grandad, we'll miss you. That's what we all say to you..."

@NickD looking forward to having a look at your Elwood and seeing how the Freeze works in practice...

He was a pop star/writer before he was known as a film composer. Sadly not on iplayer at at the moment but this programme had a great section on John Barry, his move into cinema and the Bond soundtracks https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b03b965y