knirirr

In case it's of interest, here's something from a 1976 (?) interview with Monk Montgomery (Guitar Player magazine):

I bought a custom Bee bass from Ben - all went very well, thanks!

I've got one of these and used it to learn DB technique, when I got an acoustic bass after 8 months I found that the transition was very easy. It's still useful for rehearsals. Beware that the end pin is quite short so it may not be useful if you're 6' or more; I used a copper pipe slipped over it to increase the height. Due to using BG tuners DB strings don't fit very well, but Warwick offer replacement strings. N.B. the Triumph has an Eb neck.

Funnily enough, I was in a similar situation. For much of that gig the guitarist would whisper the key/chords to me whilst the trumpeter introduced the next one. 😉

Managed a pleasant outdoor gig in Charlbury last night; somewhat jazz, but rather ska influenced. The audience seemed to enjoy it, and the whip-round afterwards will more than cover fuel and a pint each.

This fretless Encore was actually rather good IIRC, but I sold it to raise money for an EUB I shouldn't have bought. The first bass I had, and played at the first proper gig I ever did.

More the equivalent of a colour party in 17th/18th century warfare IIRC. The mention of pipes reminds me of a time probably 10-15 years ago when I was taking a long break from bass. My partner and I ended up going to a local folk night where she was persuaded to sing (being Welsh), and they tried to rope me in as well. As I admitted I lived just around the corner and had a "folk instrument" there they asked me to fetch it and perform, which resulted in them being subjected to an abridged version of the tune at the link below at around 102 dBA in a small pub back room (I wore earplugs). They didn't ask again. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i8H2HHs6Iqg Outdoors, though, this sort of thing sounds great. Very relaxing.

The one that really winds me up is "call for/to". So, I'd have to ban this thread.

FWIW, I started learning "proper" upright technique on a Warwick Triumph (the cheaper Rockbass version) and found that it was extremely easy to transition to an acoustic after. It's an Eb neck, but so is my acoustic. I had it modified by a luthier with DB tuners instead of the BG ones it came with, so I could put DB strings on it. When it's packed up in its gig bag it's not much more bulky than a bass guitar. If you are over 6' tall you might find the end pin too short, but I solved this by slipping a length of copper pipe over it and putting a walking stick rubber ferrule on the end.

It's hard to find but if you see a copy of Monk Montgomery's electric bass method at a reasonable price then that might be worth getting. It's pretty much entirely scales, études etc., plus some transcriptions from some of his recording. Dots only.

I've seen some replica items used for reenactment where the original military stamps and makers marks are replicated, but using fake dates/serial numbers (e.g. manufactured on 31st February).

I've got one where the small print under the fake "Fender" logo, where you'd expect to see the serial number etc., is an admission that it's assembled from WD Music parts. One reason is that the "Fender" part is sometimes noticed when having the "have you thought of getting a proper bass" discussion at jazz jams ("well, at least it's Fender/fretless/both"). No-one's ever commented on the small print and I suspect they've not noticed. Now I have a "proper bass" this doesn't really matter any more. The fake logo should come off easily with some wire wool should I so wish.

This one: At the time it would have been ideal, but someone else got there first.

I bought one (carved top) during lockdown and it turned out to be very good indeed. Luckily it was for sale locally and I was able to borrow it for a couple of days to try before spending the money.

The singer of that horror was attempting to parody the original, where Cliff lyrics seem to be "ballads and calypsos have got nothing on, real country music that just drives along" AFAICT.

Could this be a crime against rhyme? Surely it's criminal somehow. At least I didn't have to be the one out in front singing it. The tune.

Orange Terror (with 1x12 cab) for jazz. Sounds good and is much easier to transport than the Trace Elliot I used to use.

Here, the walls are a foot thick; one neighbour says they can't hear anything and the other has not mentioned bass practice, but does have a dog that can be heard barking and howling frequently through my living room wall. If they can hear anything then I think that makes it even. I am reminded of a singer I performed with once (that gig came up in a "worst ever gigs" thread) who awoke his neighbour by putting up a picture on an adjoining wall at around 3-4am. The neighbour came to his door to complain and, upon being told to f**k off, punched him. When the police then arrived at the singer's summons they found his flat to contain a significant number of road signs etc., resulting in a charge of "theft of street furniture".

All of these are instruments I'm never likely to sell. The black Jazz because I've been after a proper Fender unlined fretless jazz since the 90s, and now I finally have one I'll be keeping it. The others because no-one would ever offer me enough money to make up for the amount spent modifying them, so I might as well keep hold of them.

Lots of practice has meant that at the beginning of the lockdown I could not play a DB at all and now I am studying grade 5 material on one. Still, missing the boost gained from jam sessions etc.

I have one and like it - it's easy to carry around, which is an important consideration. All I've used it for is relatively quite jazz jams with the clean switch on and volume and gain at around 1/3 so I have no idea how it will behave at high volume. It sounds fine with BG and EUB live and might even be tolerable with DB but I've had no chance to try it yet. Possible drawbacks: * At bedroom volumes there's noticeable fan noise once it warms up. * Noisy effects loop: https://www.basschat.co.uk/topic/408341-effects-loop-noise/?tab=comments#comment-4031885 * The first one I had rattled a bit (see the cloth padding on the photo below) but PMT replaced it without any complaint and the replacement was fine. https://www.basschat.co.uk/topic/10285-show-us-your-rig/page/149/?tab=comments#comment-4016716

I don't recall that - do you recall how it differed from the basic model?