Beedster

I reckon there'd have been an Oly White Telecaster Bass (mudbucker version) in there somewhere also?

[quote name='Count Bassy' timestamp='1387797973' post='2315693'] Not excusing his behaviour, but if he knew that his business was on the way out (which he must have done if it went a few weeks later), then his stress levels must have been Sky high when he ranted at you, and if that was the case then I feel for him. Then again he may have been a regular ranter, hence the business collapsing in the first place. [/quote] A generous interpretation CB, I would have said - stress or no stress - "thanks for bringing your bass here to have the work done" and I might have been thinking as I said it "despite our extremely high prices for relatively simple jobs and despite the fact it takes our technician over a month to rewire a bass and despite the fact that even when he has the controls don't work properly and I have to ask him to sit down with the customer and let him explain how to do the job".

Right back at ya Dale, hope all's well mate Chris

If I had a pound for every time someone on here has done me a huge favour I'be be able to buy another Precision. Hats of to the many great people on this forum and the friendliness towards - and respect for - other members that's on show here 99.99% of the time. Happy Christmas folks Chris

[quote name='TheRev' timestamp='1387838944' post='2316436'] ...and with serious cramp in his left arm from holding baby all evening. [/quote] It's criminal the degree to which women overlook the pain a father endures in childbirth Congrats mate, a new baby, the only thing in the world better than a new DB C

I've given this a lot of thought and can't help thinking that, although I was looking to put about £500 into building a really special fretless bass, I might just be wasting my money. OK, I've got a lovely old Wal screaming out to be restored to its former glory, and even though I didn't like my old Wal very much, this could be an awesome fretless bass. Problem is, it's currently sporting the original (fretted) board, and a refret would get the neck back to close to original. Also I think I'm going to spend a lot of money getting the poor thing to sound pretty much like an active fretless Precision, and a P-Retro in my current '78FL would do that. In short, whilst I'm going to give it a bit more thought, if anyone fancies a Wal project for what I paid for it (£850 in original and good condition case), let me know. I'll post a FS thread in the morning once I've thought about it a bit more. C

Love the films and the soundtracks. I've been listening to them for the past few days and there's some great bass parts, both DB and electric on all of them (amongst some pretty average track to be sure but that's soundtracks for you). Anyone know anything about them, I assume it's a one-man show recording wise?

I'm having an old fretless Wal bought back to something resembling life http://basschat.co.uk/topic/224386-waljazz-mongrel/page__fromsearch__1 I'm keen to know what I should be looking at PUPs/circuit-wise? Things you need to know.... 1. I've decided that I want to go for the most versatile PUP/circuit option. 2. I'm guessing this will need two PUPs but would be happy to hear I could do it with one 3. I wasn't a great fan of the Wal circuit when I owned one, as I always felt I was hearing the circuit and not the bass. 4. I tend to be a fan of Precisions and Rays. Thoughts? C

Well known fact that LBs don't work on string through bridges (several posts on this forum and I think a statement on the string packaging).

[quote name='drTStingray' timestamp='1387623260' post='2313853'] Cripes - couldn't agree more - the following simple adage normally applies to selected owners of the six string variety of guitar (not bass) - but obviously applies to some bassists as well. 'Some people should not be allowed to own guitars!' This crime is akin to removing the engine of a Classic Ferrari and replacing it with a souped up Ford Anglia engine. Hope you manage to get it back to former glories. Wouldn't Wal be willing to do it? [/quote] It's going to be restored to former glory in many respects but with a more personalised touch in that I wasn't a huge fan of the Wal circuit or of two PUPs. I'm leaning towards the Wal/ray configuration above at present. Had really helpful replies from Bass Doc, John East, and Martin Sims re this bass, no reply from Wal as yet so I'm guessing Paul's still in shock having seen the pics

[quote name='SlipperySquid' timestamp='1387559035' post='2313401'] Hi again all! Thought I'd hit you with an update! So managed to go to the shop on my dinner break (really hate missing my lunch....so was not in the best of moods on arrival!). Managed to take said poorly re-fret dressed guitar with me. Now the shop assistant that I saw that day was more than apologetic about what had gone on, looked over the guitar and said he would like to send it back to the luthier to get a better job done. I (as most of your good selves would) refused as I didn't want the said luthier anywhere near it. This went on for about ten minutes with me pointing out what was wrong and him trying to explain what happened. (the luthier would sooner leave a divet in the fret then have to file it down as he'd have to file all the others to compensate which could take a few years out of the life of the frets, to which I said, why not replace the fret?) As to the poor setup of the guitar etc he said that he probably hadn't done it as he was not told to. I showed him the receipt which showed all the work I wanted carrying out, poor chap didn't have an answer. Anyway then I went on to say how I didn't expect to be lied to by the other assistant and that when a shop says it will call you back it should. He agreed. Then the fun started when the owner of the shop appeared! Of course he was sticking up for his assistant as any good boss should, but unfortunately didn't have a clue what the problems where and just jumped in. He said that they had offered to send the guitar back what more did I want? I said that I didn't want the want the guitar to have to go away again nor did I want the luthier to work on it again. He then turned and walked off muttering a comment, then I lost my sh*t. Told him what I thought of his customer service,his attitude and what a great show for his employees and customers (there where a couple of people in the shop obviously embarrassed). Anyway he stormed back ask me what I wanted, I said refund so I could take it to a competent luthier that would get the job done first time. He said give him it....and stormed off, not before I got his name and confirmed he was the owner. He didn't seem to understand that I was pissed off and it was more my fault then there own? as they had offered a resolution.....but not my I say an apology. At the end of it all, I have the amp back that works and the guitar will be going to another luthier in the new year to get a full refret and setup (no point messing about) The assistant giving the refund said he totally understood where I was coming from and I apologised for having him in the middle of something that was not personally his fault. Anyway, about 20 mins later I had the owner phoning me and apologising saying what he did was inexcusable. To little to late for me I'm afraid. So anyone that visits the good old city of Hull, please remember to not visit Antone Guitars on Beverley Road. Nor should they talk to the owner "Tony" or believe anything the assistant "Phil" has to tell you as he's more interested in surfing the net. The other lad (can't remember his name) that tried to help me on the other hand is a good lad! I really will be buying online from now on. Sorry for the long post, Merry Christmas to all! [/quote] Well done for getting the right outcome. Doesn't sound like the shop has long for this world anyway if that's how they operate. The owner of a music shop ranted at me a few years back for having the audacity to buy an old bass on eBay and then bring it into his shop intending to pay for a decent checkover, setup and rewire (he didn't appear to understand that I wasn't interested in buying any of the £100-£150 instruments in the shop). He performed his rant on a Saturday morning about a week before Christmas and in full view of about 6 potential customers and their mums and dads, all of whom left sharpish. He went out of business a few weeks later.

[quote name='Beedster' timestamp='1387532898' post='2312941'] .....and I doubt he'd have made it fronting the average pub band (I'd like to have have seen him fronting the Average White Band though, that would have been something? [/quote] As it's Christmas, anyone know of any Ian Dury & Blockheads or AWB tribute acts. I feel like arranging an interesting gig

[quote name='PaulWarning' timestamp='1387536957' post='2313024'] you think that's bad, went to see Sham 69 once, no Jimmy Pursey, no announcement, we thought the replacement singer was a roadie, the other week Sham were advertised as being on in Derby, no Pursey or Parsons, just a couple of guitarist who played with them before they made it, I don't mind not seeing the original band as long as it's made perfectly clear on the promo material, if it's not it's a con [/quote] Ha ha, once again - and in similar vein to the question over the Blockheads with/without Dury - one is forced to ask whether the absence of Jimmy Pursey could ever be considered a bad thing

[quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1387527400' post='2312870'] TBH The Blockheads without Ian Dury (never mind NWR) seems a fairly pointless exercise to me. [/quote] [quote name='Beedster' timestamp='1387527676' post='2312872'] I remember seeing them in the 70's and thinking the opposite [/quote] [quote name='BetaFunk' timestamp='1387532101' post='2312930'] It does to me too in 2013 but in the 1970s The Blockheads were a great band even without Ian Dury. I saw them loads of times in pubs in London and they were up there with the best of them at the time. [/quote] I think that's the point I was making. IMO Ian Dury was outstanding, but so are many poets/songwriters who don't make it. The Blockheads made him for me. The rather surreal counterpoint of the extraordinary technical skills of the band and the monotonic vocals (albeit with some clever lyrics) was the magic of the whole, and I doubt he'd have made it fronting the average pub band (I'd like to have have seen him fronting the Average White Band though, that would have been something ). And whilst there are moments of genius ('What a Waste' and 'Rhythm Stick' being the obvious examples), there is a catalogue of very average songwriting and mediocre vocal performances that without those moments of genius would probably never have surfaced. Alongside Ian Dury and AWB, I'd love to have seen the Blockheads with someone equally mercurial but perhaps a little more vocally adept; Tom Waits and the Blockheads would have been interesting?

[quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1387527400' post='2312870'] TBH The Blockheads without Ian Dury (never mind NWR) seems a fairly pointless exercise to me. [/quote] I remember seeing them in the 70's and thinking the opposite

Thanks guys, the above makes sense so far (i.e., going back through my my PMs they're sets I've bought to try but not got around to trying yet). Sets 2 and 5 still elusive, I'll take a look at the threads you've identified above Cheers Chris

I've acquired a few strings over the last coupe of years and whilst I know what most of them are, I'm a few that are a mystery, all appear to be steel. I've got a few guts lying around also, I'm guessing there's not a lot of chance of identifying those? Set 1. Red silks at both ends. Set 2. Green and yellow silks at tail, red (G), yellow (D), black (A) and green (E) silks at head Set 3. Green and black silks at tail, brown (G), red (D), black (A) and green (E) silks at head Set 4. Red and black silks at tail, no silks at head Set 5. Red silks at tail, no silks at head Set 6. Blue silks at tail, red (G), yellow (D), blue (A), and green (E) silks at head Many thanks folks C

[quote name='shippo' timestamp='1387470720' post='2312385'] I'm not trying to have an arguement with anyone here, I just need a "Cheap and chearful" solution please. [/quote] Ha ha, if you don't want an argument, don't come onto a musicians' forum I think £70 probably is cheap and cheerful? I might be wrong.

'77 or '78, the most stunning Precision I've owned, and I've owned a few.... [url="http://s80.photobucket.com/user/Beedster/media/78Precision1_zps53b65159.jpg.html"][/url]

[quote name='shippo' timestamp='1387462578' post='2312230'] Hey all The entire Ampeg SVT-15EN only goes for about £125, so it really not worth spending £100 on a new speaker, nor is it worth getting it reconed etc. [/quote] They retail for over £500 new http://www.dv247.com/guitars/ampeg-svt15e-bass-guitar-extension-cabinet--49922 so I wouldn't class them as a cheap cab, I certainly don't class mine as such. Wind 'em up with some Ampeg tubes and they're rather impressive actually