hubrad

I would have thought that if you're used to a custom-built Wal that you've played for ages then the Artcore probably wouldn't quite cut it, nice as it looks. myspace.com/wordsofhopefulconsolation

Phil, sounds like you should get on the list for the prototypes trial.. bowable as Braided with the extra snap of Honeys. I'm 'gonna get me some'! If you're really into the Evahs I'm selling a couple of unused sets.. ;-)

This has got me thinking.. my 'project bitsa bass is currently heading in the MM/P direction. Due to a wish to experiment with pickup distance from bridge, my next plan is a rectangular rout so I can put anything anywhere. I'll have a go with MM/P and MM/reverseP at some point. Don't anyone hold your breath - this project has been on the go for a couple of years already!

To me, volume- and tone-wise, the experience was rather like that of having a brand new set of Honeys on, but with the bowability of the Braided. I'll be putting a brand new set of Honeys on in the next day or so, so will try to evaluate the difference there. Back soon..

Just heard back from Gareth; the strings are staying in Yorkshire for now - Keith, you're up next! Drop me a line with your address or we could meet up..

Part concentration and part having sung most of them alot myself.. Jake was (still is, really) one of my biggest musical and linguistic heroes. The one about the dog - Our Dog - is still relatively new to me, mind ;-)

Haha! I was in the support act! Last couple of nights were the first time I've seen him play bass in quite a while, and it struck me that, while I still knew him as one of my all-time top bassists, I'd forgotten just how blimmin' GOOD he is! Also he's the complete opposite of full of himself with it.

Excellent looking gig!

Hi all, Second impressions.. either I assassinate everyone else on the list and hang onto this set, or to make matters easier I'll just put myself down for a set once they're available! I managed to hang onto them for just long enough to play a couple of sets Weds and Thurs.. I occasionally get to play with this fine fellow www.fakethackray.com and while he's doing support for the Fairport Convention Winter Tour I bagged the chance to play with him on the local shows at Leeds and Burnley. A couple of weeks ago he mailed me to say I'd need to know Meet On The Ledge as we get dragged back on (kicking and screaming, of course!) to play with FC. He didn't mention until after soundcheck that, rather than a band swap-over, FC join HIM for the last Jake song then they keep going. Far smoother changeover. So there I am, playing a Jake Thackray song (bonus) with John (bonus) with Dave Pegg playing to my left and Gerry Conway drumming behind me. Grinning my bits off? Maybe a little.. So anyway, with photographic evidence to follow, I love these strings! I've long see-sawed between Honey Jazz and Braided Orchestral, The Honey have just that subtle extra bright edge of attack whereas the Braided have a subtle easier feel under the bow. This new set seems to combine the two. Daf, you were asking about feel, tension etc.. Having used Honeys the last couple of times I could barely tell any difference in feel when playing pizz. A really comfortable string for pizz. I just bowed a little on the gigs, more at home; I wouldn't claim to be an orchestral player, but I have had quite a few compliments on the kind of arco I get up to. Again, a really nice feel, with just that tad more richness than I remember from last time I used Braided. Easy to move with the bow, even under pressure and stage lights! I have a couple of sets of Honeys in hand (you must carry spares, n'est-ce pas?) so one of those is going on over the weekend so that I can pass the Protos on to Gareth Hughes. I'm now hoping that this becomes a production set before I get round to putting the second set on; I think I've just played my new favourite strings! Thanks to Daf for setting this trial up.

Nicely! I found that once I was playing double I had to really persuade bands to have the electric.. went ages without an electric gig at one point, but eventually got more balance back into it.

I was thinking ME-6B; on a quick search I found plenty of references to the 6B and 8B. Probably depends just which time slot you look at.

The strings are in Yorkshire! Managed to put them on at about 11.30p.m. so only chance for a quick footle across, but my first impressions back up Daf's comment re more focused and just a tad brighter. Anyone concerned about higher tension, I'd say the difference is only small, and these are still very comfortable to play, at least with my setup. The bass is 108cm scale, a 1960s Meinel. The set they've replaced is the standard Honey Jazz, well used. Got a couple of gigs next week, so once I've had a tryout at home they'll be on stage for the full treatment! More soon..

Ah, yes.. sorry, I meant to send a message to that effect!

I've not used Solo myself, but as solo tuning is one whole tone above standard, using solo strings at standard pitch means effectively de-tuning. Generally this means lighter tension - easier to press the strings down, but also easier to make them rattle if you dig in, and most likely a slightly softer tone with a touch less volume. Anyone with direct experience of this?

Excellent! Unlike most of these 'small child playing their ass off' vids, this lad actually seems to be really enjoying the whole thing.

I use Picato 766LHR-5 on a 35" scale Overwater.. just fit nicely! We sell them in the shop (I make sure of that!) but I notice only the 4-string set is on the website. We have the 5ers in anyway.

How cheap is cheap? Anything under a couple of hundred for a 5 string and I'd change the strings as a matter of course. If it's new, I'd have it back to the shop and let them worry about it! If it doesn't work properly it needs to be ridiculously cheap as a project..

You need to gain access to the back of the pot. Usually all the screws are in pretty logical places. Squirt Servisol into the back of the pot and give it a wiggle back and forth. Repeat a few times. If that doesn't work you're into amp repair territory.

Most likely a simple fix.. http://www.themusicroom-online.co.uk/product_info.php/products_id/2750 Servisol is one of my must-haves in the toolkit; I even rescued an amp one time! Bring the bass down to the shop in Cleckheaton some time and we'll give it a check over to make sure.

Tasty! Is this the one they've posted a couple of build pics of on Twitter/FB? http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=13808542&l=4228537d79&id=325141415745

Welcome aboard! You do realise, don't you, that hanging round BC means you'll probably play even less? Put down the computer and step away slowly.. that's good, now pick up the bass.. Oh, and another thing.. be very careful around the Marketplace. Temptation lurks within!

Maybe that's what an 'untseted' bass looks like with a few scratches..

Hard to be sure, but I once got that kind of sound coming from my Overwater - one of the really good ones! I was a bit freaked to start with, but then had a thought as such a problem had never occurred before.. I asked if there was one of those induction loop thingies for hearing aid wearers. Turned out there was, and as soon as that was turned off (not actually needed anyway, they switched it on in that hall as a matter of course) all was fine. Never had a re-occurence. Does your gear sound as expected again today? If so, I'd suspect the venue!

I occasionally play (occasionally enough to not have yet found the chance to ask him what he's doing!) with a guitarist/singer frontman who wears earplugs and has a 40W valve combo cranked to just breaking up - on the verge of painful, which is probably why he wears the plugs, and on it goes. Especially as he generally comes out way louder than the drummer, WHY???