prowla

[quote name='TheGreek' timestamp='1492447311' post='3280310'] I had a Hohner fretless with Select pups and Ebanol board back in the 80s - one of the few basses I do NOT regret selling. Couldn't own another.... [/quote] I had one of those; the main thing was that it was black and had a red strap, so it matched the outfits our band wore for the 2nd set.

I kindof like the Bongo - it shouldn't look good, but somehow it does.

[quote name='Vinny' timestamp='1492778368' post='3283151'] According to recent studies (despite many years of contrary reports) they do not in fact, drink it in the Congo. [/quote] They did whilst they were making the advert. Or at least, so they say.

Status do graphite necks - here's a fretless one I've got on a Warmoth body.

I've got two fretless basses: one lined and one unlined; I prefer the unlined one, because it feels less restrictive.

Just a further update - I did buy the fretless too... I think I prefer the fretted one, so am thinking of swapping the neck on this one for a fretted, or maybe just selling the bass so I can move on to my next thing.

I think that the UK importer of Rockinbetters was/is a company called "Tokai", but it's not the Japanese company who make guitars and so can be confusing. As for those Rockinbetters and other Chickenbackers, I really don't like them, not one bit. I respect Rickenbacker for protecting their brand; why can't companies show a bit of originality and make their own designs? That said, I've got a Matsumoku Ric copy and it is a quite nice bass; I got it incomplete in bits for a bit of fun and just need to do the TRC for it to be complete (the fool who had it before stripped of the original brand and replaced it with the "R" word). It sounds pretty damn Ric-like! (Mind you, I've also got two real Rics, so my bonafides are alright.)

[quote name='Lysdexia' timestamp='1491298143' post='3271856'] Hi - any help much appreciated. [/quote] Congratulations for starting the most generic thread ever!

I have a 4-string one of those.

I keep meaning to do something like that! Sounds like Stu Hamm after a few beers...

Well, if the bridge is near the end of the body, then the overall length is the same regardless of how many frets, surely. Me, I've got a Status 5-string, which doesn't seem large. (But it does have 24 frets.)

At the moment I have a pair of very similar J-basses, but one is fretted and one fretless. I think that fretless is better for more expressive playing, but less suited to punchy/attacking parts, where the strings just clatter against the neck. Jazz is the most obvious place for fretless, and heavy metal probably the least. But it's not black and white - many jazz-rockers play fretted and Mo Foster used a fretless on the first MSG album. With original material, I guess the bass player can do what fits.

I've posted these before The one on the left I bought like that: Warmoth body, John East pre-amp, Badass bridge, Status Graphite neck, 3 Schallers and a Hipshot D-tuner/eXtender, Schaller straplocks. The one on the right I made up from parts: Squier body, Mighty Mite fretless neck, Shadow pickup, my wiring assembly (CTS pots, Sprague cap & Switchcraft socket), 3 Wilkinson & a Hipshot D-tuner/eXtender, Schaller straplocks. (I have a custom "Prowla" logo transfer for the headstock, when I get around to it.) The one on the left has a fretless sibling too: Warmoth Body, Status Graphite neck, 4 Schallers, EMG pickups. I don't have a picture of it just now.

I saw Nick Kershaw with Steve Hackett a few years back.

[quote name='Woodinblack' timestamp='1489879318' post='3260588'] Well, that is ok, they aren't and never had been made by Tokai so largely irrelevant. I tried a new tokai strat a few months ago and it was rather nice, but haven't tried a newer bass, just an old explorer. [/quote] OK - there's a thread about this on the site... http://basschat.co.uk/topic/190096-so-a-rockinbetter-isnt-a-rickenbacker-a-rockinbetter-isnt-a-tokai/page__st__60 Apparently, it says, the UK company who import Rockinbetters is called Tokai, but it has nothing to do with the Japanese company called Tokai who make guitars.

I do not like the Rockingbetters. I've never checked out the other current models.

You could buy a cheapie in Italy...

[quote name='charic' timestamp='1489491596' post='3257334'] I remember you!! When we were setting up things were a mix of stressful / hilarious there's some pics I'll have to dig out of that It was also me you mentioned the relic'd instruments thread too (I've not looked at it!) 3rd time I don't think was me but if it was loud and the last day my voice was shot by then [/quote] Ah well - it's good to be noticed!

When I got out my old Ric after maybe 10 years and used a plectrum, I suddenly thought "Crikey - that's good!".

[quote name='bazztard' timestamp='1488935223' post='3253115'] I bet no frets on the G and D strings are worn, or any above the 5th fret ROTFL PMSL LOL [/quote] Just what I was thinking - it'll be pristine higher up the neck!

As an aside, I have a Mighty Mite neck on a P-bass and it is really (really!) good.

[quote name='ped' timestamp='1488912158' post='3252898'] OK, well you did mention relics... [/quote] Memo to self: don't mention relics...

[quote name='ped' timestamp='1488892280' post='3252677'] Genuinely surprised at this - we made a massive effort to engage with anyone who even made eye contact, so much so I was fully shattered after each day. Did you come over to the stand and say hello? Sorry if I/we missed you [/quote] Yes, I dropped by 3 times and had a quick word, but didn't feel particularly engaged. First time one person said "We're just setting up" and then carried on speaking to one of the others, so I wandered off (it was at least 10:30, maybe 11 on the Saturday). Next I mentioned I'd started the "Is anybody getting bored of "reliced" instruments?" and one of the people said "Which one - we have lots of them?" and that was that (it's now at 190 posts). The 3rd time I said "It's loud here!" and someone said they had been giving earplugs out on the way in and that was about it. So others may have chatted and so-on, but that's how it was for me - no real conversation.

[quote name='Merton' timestamp='1488803534' post='3251856'] ...Groan! [/quote] Thankyouverymuchindeed!

[quote name='bluejay' timestamp='1488832769' post='3252239'] Different angle and light: [/quote] I think of that as the Pretzel bass...