bass_ferret

[quote name='dazco' post='19996' date='Jun 19 2007, 01:05 AM']Just a quick load of questions from someone who knows nowt. Why would you have one made? Surely there is a bass out there for everyone. What if you have it made and it does not behave/play as you requested? Do you still have to go through with it, or do you fight them like you do with builders. What is the re-sale value on a custom build? If you did get a custom build and after a while you realised your old Warwick Streamer was better, would you bite the bullet and admit it? I wouldn't.[/quote] I had my first custom made cos I wanted a fretless with a neck exactly the same as my Ibanez Musician but half the weight. Thats what I got. I know Bernie had one difficult customer who wanted the neck thinner than he was prepared to make it - he gave the guy his money back. The guy gave him loads of grief cos the neck was thicker than his other customs that had all warped (I wonder why). I would have told him to profanity off! I think you have to have a very good idea of what you want and discuss your requirements at some length to make sure they have got it. It helps if you are local and can try/change things as the build progresses.

[quote name='binky_bass' post='20099' date='Jun 19 2007, 12:01 PM']extended range bass or ERB if you will, would be the correct term for the "instrument" in my avatar.[/quote] Waste of wood and strings is what I call it. Each to their own.

I can do the 11th but not the 18th (significant birthday party!). I'll commit to the 11th.

[quote name='chrisgil' post='19766' date='Jun 18 2007, 05:44 PM']Are there any decent Bass shops in London that stock all the high end gear where I could take my bass and try them out?[/quote] The Gallery is probably your best bet.

You wont get a GB, Overwater or Sei for that sort of money unless you get one used. Perhaps something like an Aerodyne Jazz with a P puppy might suit.

In my experience there is not usually much choice of where to put your rig - specially in pubs where there is usually only room for the drums. I usually put it just behind the drummer but sometimes it has to go next to him on small stages. On one stage I have to put it in front of the drummer because the reinforcement shags the sound completely.

One of the things I have noticed often gets omitted in discussions about string tension is the difference between having all the tuners on one side like a Fender or two a side like lots of other basses.

Might be useful to know whether it will be used in your bedroom or Wembly Stadium as well.

I would stick to lemon oil for the neck.

Ask Oxblood - our resident valve expert.

One is a Levy with EBS on it. One has got Harley Davidson on it - was the only long black leather strap in the shop. One black leather - no brand. Cant get excited about straps. Did think about a comfort strapp but thought it might be a bit too sweaty with all that foam. What do users think?

[quote name='alexclaber' post='19183' date='Jun 17 2007, 04:13 PM']I believe you totally overestimate the size of the market! I doubt even Ampeg sells that much gear... Alex[/quote] Yeah - probably - but dont under-estimate the size of the US market. The point remains though that if you are gonna sell a lot of gear direct you need lots of people for the admin and the cost has to be added to the price. The other problem with direct sellers is you cant try it first, unlike your unfriendly rip-off retailer or value adder depending on point of view.

I'd go along with the DI box with tone controls like the Sansamp or EBS Microbass II or many of the other options.

Its not cheating - are the LSO all cheats cas they read the dots. Lots of classical musicians cant improvise at all - but they can sight read Flight Of The Bumble Bee. Just do what you like.

Dont know - have you tried their web site?

[quote name='dave_bass5' post='19154' date='Jun 17 2007, 02:43 PM']I havent been there for ages. Do they still pay £90 for a mains lead over there [/quote] Only the cheap ones.

[quote name='obbm' post='19120' date='Jun 17 2007, 12:49 PM']Unfortunately that's the realities of the commercial world. Next you'll be wanting to buy directly for Fender, Gibson, EBMM, Warwick, Ampeg, Ashdown, EBS, Boss, Electro Harmonix, Line 6, etc., etc. If you could then their overheads would be so great that the prices would go up dramatically to cover the costs and you would save nothing. A small company like Schroeder can probably afford to do it at the moment but once they get larger and have a dealer network it will it will certainly stop.[/quote] Most manufacturers only have half a dozen customers - the US, European, Asian etc distributors. Therefore they dont need lots of staff to handle the sales that are all big sales. If you sell direct a small customer base you will need a few more people, maybe an office, so it costs a little more but you cut the retailer and distributor out so you can cope. I dont know how many cabs and amps epifani make a year but its surely in the tens of thousands. If these were all sold direct they would have tens of thousands of direct customers and would need a big office block full of people to do the sales admin, returns, warranties etc. The cost of which gets added to the price of course.

[quote name='dave_bass5' post='19122' date='Jun 17 2007, 12:53 PM']I was wondering if putting rubber feet on the cab made a difference. Have i decoupled the cab from the floor by doing this.[/quote] Have you seen all the fuss in domestic hi-fi over speaker stands, spikes, isolation feet etc. Its a minefield!

This was on bassworld - same conclusion!

Out of 800 BC users I bet we are the only two with a GB Fretless.

Nice bass - too many strings for me mind. Tried one of Bernie's 6 stings and found it very difficult to fret the bottom string. This one was extra wide at the customers request. Stick the pic's in [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=1340&st=20&start=20"]here[/url] or [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=128"]here[/url]

Tommy Shannon was also Jonny Winters bass player - two great gigs.

If you want a Jazz with nordstrand J's and Audure preamp I am sure Bernie Goodfellow, Jon Shuker, Martin Peterson or Chris May will be happy to buld it for you.

Dare I say OBBM?

As I use half rounds I change them about once a year whether they need it or not. even when I was gigging lots I still only changed them once a year. When I was using rounds some of them went [Fly a Kite] after the first gig. As for Elixirs, as they are coated with Gore-Tex I would recommend washing them with something like Nikwax, designed for washing Gore-Tex clothes.