philw

La Bella White Nylons would be an interesting left-field choice (Bass DIrect have them I think). They sounded extraordinary on my Wal - very uprighty, but partly I wasn't really looking for that sound from the Wal, and partly I wasn't sure I liked the very low tension. P PS. Back in the day, Pete Stevens recommended Picato strings. They were standard fit on 80s Wals. I still use them on mine and they can often be found going for not much more than a song on eBay.

Yeah I'm sure stripping is a real pain. A car shop paint job looks the best bet, but of course it hadn't occurred to me be that they'd need to have the paint in stock (don't see many sort of surf green cars around). Otherwise I'd have to buy five litres of it and use a thimble-full. I need to find a friendly spray shop around Brighton. Hmmmmm. I'm starting to wonder in my black new £149 Squire Jaguar HB was such a good idea. Maybe I'll be happy with it just with a maple fingerboard and stick at that. P

[quote name='GrammeFriday' timestamp='1404745995' post='2495326'] Sims are well regarded, and even if you don't go with them you can use their pdf price list on the following page as a point of comparison: [url="http://www.simscustom.com/html/00sprayshop.htm"]http://www.simscusto...00sprayshop.htm[/url] Looks like it's not going to be cheap ... [/quote] Err, yeah, it does look expensive at Sims doesn't it. Hmmmm P

[quote name='Lozz196' timestamp='1404564161' post='2493774'] Terry Chapman of TJC Guitars did a very good job on a black to white Precision for me. He`s based in Stevenage which is a fair way from you, however even factoring in fuel/postage costs, I found his prices to be significanly better than anyone else I contacted (significatly so, I might add). [url="http://www.tjcguitars.com/"]http://www.tjcguitars.com/[/url] [/quote] Thanks both. Lozz, did the black have to be stripped off for white to work successfully? Phil

My new Squire Jaguar HB is black, but I'd quite like it to be green or maybe blue. So what's my best strategy for getting it re-finished? I'm quite capable of taking it apart and putting it back together, but I know very little about getting good solid colour paint finish to I need somebody professional to do it. Suggestions or recommendations anybody? Phil

Yes, it's active. Not sure how it compares to a Stingray 'cause I've never owned one and not played one for years, but I can report that the HB is certainly not short of nasal bite. Seems pretty versatile too but you can never really tell I reckon until you hear a bass used for real in a band context. Have a rehearsal next Wednesday so I'll report back. P

Just got one. £149 in GAK for a black one. The price is only available in store, only on the black ones, and they have two left. P

I succumbed to temptation in GAK today and walked out with a Squire Jag HB. It's not in colour I particularly like (but I was planning on a re-finish anyway), black, but it was just £149 (price only available in store and they have two left). So far I really like it, although along with the re-finish it's going to get a more P like and maple fingerboard neck at some stage.

Hmmm, I'm very tempted by one of these too. But long term for me it'd have to have a neck with a maple fingerboard (an d a body re-finish in a blue or green). Presumably any "stock" P or J bass neck would/should fit? Anybody? Phil

Possibly a long shot I know, but I've just sold a cheapo bass on eBay and before I faff about creating a box from scratch, or folding some reluctant carton into an approximately appropriate shape, I wondered if any Brighton based bass-chater has something unused and unloved at the back of the wardrobe or under the bed? Ta Phil

I had a go on a Ribbecke [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]Halfling[/font][/color] Boby Vega fretless at a NAMM show a few years back and despite the eye-watering price ticket my credit card was genuinely twitching. It was utterly gorgeous in every respect. Probably still the best bass I've ever played that I don't own. I'm sure the Ribbecke Diana will be a pretty extraordinary thing. P

Guy here wants £2275 for an 80s Ibanez P Bass copy. [url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Ibanez-Blazer-Bass-made-in-Japan-collectors-item-CAN-POST-OFFERS-INVITED-/271463634869?pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item3f347e57b5"]http://www.ebay.co.u...=item3f347e57b5[/url] Deranged doesn't even begin to describe….. P

That is truly extraordinary bass playing. He can't possibly be human! P

Black and gold looked right on a 1973 Lotus 72D (with Ronnie Peterson drifting it through Woodcote), and nothing else. The one rule with gold hardware is, "Never!".

Well I've never heard a bad word about Carey Nordstrand's work so there's a very good chance that it's a lovely bass. My gut feel though is that £1625 is on the high side. Have you played the bass? I'd get in touch with Nordstrand directly (http://www.nordstrandguitars.com/contact.html) and ask them about the details of the bass. Along with answers you'll hopefully also get a feel for the kind of people who built the instrument in the way that they respond. Phil

I want that! Damn! I bought a lottery ticket last weekend and manage to match NO NUMBERS AT ALL! Surely that deserves some kind of prize? P

The strings on the six string are upside down 'cause there's no room between the two necks to fit a hand without having it stuck there permanently. That's bloody fantastic that is - presumably the creative genius behind the thing only realised this small problem once the hacking about had begun. I would have loved to have been a fly on the wall inside his head when the awful realisation struck. That bit of the brain that handle the "Oh FFS" emotions would have been kicking-off like the best fireworks display ever. P

It is of course horses for courses, and possibly even one man's meat is another man's cliche. Flats on my Wal (ebony fingerboard) do have a lovely woody tone, it's just that it doesn't really cut through once the band kicks in. The softer leading edge of the notes with flats AND fretless is just too much. Having said all that of course, flats vary in tone just as much as basses do so it may well be that I haven't found the right flats yet (I mean the LaBella white nylons I raved about further up the thread are effectively flats). P

[quote name='Dingus' timestamp='1393776586' post='2384211'] I personally don't care for flats on a fretless. They don't give the same complex overtones as roundwounds and it is even more difficult to make the bass clearly audible and cut through in the mix with flats . For my tastes at least, all the classic fretless bass tones are with roundwounds. [/quote] I'm with you on that. I've never quite understood why you'd want to put conventional flats on a fretless. P

I've just had a period of using La Bells's new white nylon wrap (http://www.labella.com/category/products/bass/white-nylon-tape/) on my fretless Wal. Woody yet punchy tone to die for but not quite the right feel for faster finger-style playing up near the bridge. Phil PS. Bass direct have them in stock.

I was about to post the same link when in a new thread when I saw you'd beaten me to it. Marvellous playing. Makes me want give-up and inspires me in equal measure!