Beedster

[quote name='EssentialTension' timestamp='1382426602' post='2251869'] .. and the information that you can't in any real sense insure a musical instrument with Parcelforce is easily available here at Basschat as we have had this same conversation several, possibly many, times. [/quote] Hallelujah to that

[quote name='Clarky' timestamp='1382359380' post='2251084'] Last month I sent an EUB to BC'er Beedster (London to Wales) via ParcelForce (the only company that offers a 'large box' service). I put very prominent stickers on both sides of the box saying "Fragile - musical instrument". So Mrs Beedster comes home and finds a shredded box in her garden, with a big hole in one side, packing material blowing everywhere, and sat in the pouring rain. A covered porch was 10 feet away. Furthermore they forged Beedster's signature to pretend he had accepted delivery. Utter disgrace. Fortunately the bass was so heavily packed and solid it was unharmed. Otherwise this would really have kicked off [/quote] The evidence. [attachment=146665:IMG_1402.jpg] You can't see it in the pic but the box was also soaked through having been left as Clarky says, in the rain 10 feet from a covered porch. And yes, the scumbag forged my signature. Luckily I was in a lecture in front of 250 students at the exact time the package was signed for, but as Clarky said, the bass is built like a 1950 Russian tank so, much as I would have like to, we didn't pursue it.

Link here: [url="http://assets.peavey.com/literature/manuals/80300395.pdf"]http://assets.peavey...ls/80300395.pdf[/url] Picked this up in a trade with Greg/Shaggy in April. However, I've got far too many cabs here and a new Ampeg 15" incoming means this needs to go in order to convince Mrs Beedster that nothing has actually changed (one large black box goes into the car in the morning, a similar back box arrives home that evening, you know the score) It's a nice, light and quite deep cab, I used it for a dub sound with 300w of Amoeg tubes a while back and it was really quite impressive. Upside is that it's free, downside is that you will need to collect from Aberystwyth Chris EDIT I am [u]not[/u] able to courier or meet half way with this. It's free because I have zero time to meet up and am not prepared to wait in all day for a courier, sorry. If I had the time to do either I'd be selling it, one went for £120 recently on eBay

[quote name='Clarky' timestamp='1382048397' post='2247407'] ..... just in case I break a string - which may happen on the twelfth of never [/quote] Dude, you are so going to break a string tonight!

Just occurred to me that given my gear trading habits as well as those of the folks I tend to trade gear with, there's a pretty good chance this box is going to visit quite a few BCers one way or another

[quote name='owen' timestamp='1381933368' post='2245695'] Bows. The slipperiest slope of them all. [/quote] Ha ha, I'm getting that impression Owen, as I said above, back in the day it was a stick with some horse hair

[quote name='fatgoogle' timestamp='1381945797' post='2245917'] I'd just go ahead and order a finale french ow from the states. Nothing but good reviews. [/quote] Thanks FG, any thoughts on how they compare with the Col Legno available in thh UK http://www.cantabilemusic.co.uk/cubecart/Col+Legno+carbon+fibre+double+bass+bow+French.html as I guess the price would work out much the same after courier, imports duty etc? Cheers Chris

On the lookout for a used French bow up to £300, ideally carbon, posted in 'Items Wanted' also http://basschat.co.uk/topic/219859-wanted-double-bass-bow-french-up-to-l300/ Cheers C

Thanks very much for the above guys, I'll keep you posted on progress C

I've gigged both Stingray and Modulus Flea with flats and both sounded way better than they did with rounds to my ear. When you push the highs you lose a lot of the harshness of the rounds whilst maintaining the bite. In short, flats are surprisingly good on active basses, but I totally understand your thinking, when my Flea arrived it was strung with La Bellas, which I remember at the time struck me as a very odd thing to do! C

I've had some bad experiences with eBay and couriers recently. This guy renewed my faith in human nature Big wooden box [url="http://s80.photobucket.com/user/Beedster/media/IMG_1453_zpsa8edbf75.jpg.html"][/url] Big screws well screwed in (15 mins) [url="http://s80.photobucket.com/user/Beedster/media/IMG_1454_zps85d83c5a.jpg.html"][/url] Packaging [url="http://s80.photobucket.com/user/Beedster/media/IMG_1455_zps8ffdb987.jpg.html"][/url] More packaging [url="http://s80.photobucket.com/user/Beedster/media/IMG_1456_zps6cb650e2.jpg.html"][/url] Getting there [url="http://s80.photobucket.com/user/Beedster/media/IMG_1457_zpsf61edfd7.jpg.html"][/url] Voila.....! [url="http://s80.photobucket.com/user/Beedster/media/IMG_1458_zps6d1055e8.jpg.html"][/url]

I used to play violin and cello what seems like a million years ago and I never really paid a whole lot of attention to bows. I understand that things need to be a little different with DBs? So, I want to start bowing my new Martin Concerto, what do you folks recommend? C

[quote name='SparkBird' timestamp='1381476660' post='2239524'] I'm about the same age as you Thumper and maybe i've followed a vaguely similar route . Early on at 15 years old a Selmer TnB 50w you remember them ? (lovely little amp) paid a pair of old Levis and £10 for it haha , Marshall 100w, then Hiwatt , both with 4X12 cabs ,great thumping sounds but the cabs couldn't take the punishment and then a marshal 2X15 worst thing i ever owned i still hate 15's . So on to Yamaha 500w power amp (very heavy) and PB-1 good parametrics and in 1992 ish SWR SM400 and 2 4X10's Golliaths , still using them . Now want to go back to 100W valve head V4B or something because i still love the FAT valve sound . My point, there was a time when i wanted to play everything from Bootsy , to Jaco, to Marcus Miller and the newer hybrid amps could cover that with whistles and bells , but now i just want Thump again , with defintion , but thump . Been using my 63 Pbass with flats and even rolling the treble off on the bass, even guitarists are loving the sound . Am i getting old , or coming to my senses ? [/quote] Coming to your senses. I've come to mine - Precision, flats, Ampeg V4-B, Barefaced '69er, two cables. Nothing else needed

Thanks folks. Have to say I had no idea a DB could sound or play like this thing does. I've not played many DBs, but I've played enough to know that this instrument stands out, and at the price and age, humbles a lot of far more expensive and far more vintage instruments. Not sure if I got lucky, but if not, even at new prices, Martins represent incredible value for money C

[color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]Sorted, bought a used Martin Concerto, 18 months old, in budget (just) and absolutely bloody amazing, I'm completely blown away. It's an absolute joy to play and - even with me playing it - a joy to listen to. It meets every criteria in my first post above, and whilst very light, feels extremely robust.[/font][/color] [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]And looks-wise? Well check out the 360 degree option at [/font][/color][url="http://www.thomasmartin.co.uk/instrumentsforsale/martindoublebassesforsale"]http://www.thomasmar...lebassesforsale[/url] Thanks for all your help folks C