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[quote name='Jimmyp28' post='1164284' date='Mar 16 2011, 12:08 PM']just wondering but what custom bass did you play? I only ask because i saw that you where at the bass show, and had a go on a GB and if thats the case that bass you played with an ebony board might have been mine I love ebony to me it feels like the black maple, its so smooth and you get a real mid growl with it.[/quote] I wasnt actually at the show, just made enquiries about the GB basses that were there. The custom guitar I played was actually a Guitar, a custom built JJ Hucke and it was amazing. Very very jealous of you having a GB with Ebody board though. So it seems the general consensus is that Ebody makes no difference really! Well it still looks and feels beautiful so I think I would still like a Ebody necked bass. Currently eyeing up the roasted neck, ebody board Ball Family Reserve Stingray!

[quote name='EBS_freak' post='1162693' date='Mar 15 2011, 08:19 AM']No, they aren't stock - they were borrowed for the show. A few of them are a work in progress - e.g. backplates still to be made. The ones in the sale section on the website are show basses - he builds a couple of those every so often so he can add a bit of variety - for example, the current trend is walnut - so the flame/burr/spalted maple top one for example, was done to take to shows to add a bit more variety.[/quote] I thought I recognised a few of those basses, i thought it would be a little strange to have that many basses about at one time. I noticed a trend for the walnut, it is very nice though, I wouldnt say no. Just out of interest has Bernie ever made a bass with Buckeye Burl top? I have always wanted a bass made with it, it seems popular amongst some american luthiers like Elrick, Michael Tobias and Roscoe but I have not really seen it used by British builders much.

Still paying one off at the moment....bugger wont be able to get back in there for another purchase unless anyone knows a way you can do two simultaniously.

[quote name='EBS_freak' post='1159775' date='Mar 12 2011, 08:01 PM']London Bass Guitar Show GB stand porn![/quote] I wish I had managed to get to the show, had to go to a wedding . I have had the pleasure of spending time with two Spitfires and completely fell for both of them. This thread along with the show pictures has just reignited my GAS for a Spitfire. Out of interest are all of the basses from the show "stock" or were they borrowed from their owners? I have found the for sale section on the site but was wondering if there would be any more added?

I dont think your the only one who has and does feel like this. I used to be seriously over protective of gear and to an extent I still am. I hate other people playing my bass and i watch it like a hawk when I set up for a gig. I think you have done the right thing and got your gear insured, that is the best safety net you can have. When taking my best bass out I just thought "what is the worst that can happen" if it gets stolen or broken insurance wil pay for a new one, yes I would be gutted but it can be resolved andI get a new bass. Warwicks are still being made as are my basses so it is not as if you would never find one again, not like losing a 69 Jazz or something. Enjoy your bass, that is what it is there for, get a good lockable case if you dont have one and keep it in that at gigs right up until you play, there is less chance of someone wondering up and fiddling with it.

I would say try and find a friendly basschatter with one near you or take a road trip and visit Mark at Bass Direct as he seems to have a few in at the moment.

if you have 2-2.5k to spend on a string you have a MASSIVE range of options. Here is what I would look at if I was you based on what I have actually played (not in order of preference): 1. Nordstrand - I have played a few and they are awesome basses, stunning build quality and great sound, the Nordy pickups and preamp are superb. 2. Sadowsky - I have played the Metros and they are great but for the price of a new top spec Metro you could quite easily get a secondhand USA and that is what I would get. If it has Sadowsky on it, I want it from Roger Sadowskys workshop. 3. Elrick - I recently played one at Bass Direct and my jaw hit the floor. The build, the playability, the craftmanship (just a one man band apparently) just a stunning instrument in every way. They do a Jazz inspired model if you dont dig their designs. 4. Dingwall - Wicked basses, easy to get scared by the fanned frets but believe me it takes no time to get used to, its easier not to look and just play and you wont put a finger wrong. Great B string. 5. Overwater - I have had 2 now both Progress and Jazz. Fantastic basses and just unbelievable workmanship and playability. My Jazz played like butter and the best bit is they are in the UK if you have any questions. 6. GB - Again fantastic in every way, the ones I have played have been very modern sounding but extremely versatile. I loved the EQ but it is not for everyone. 7. Alleva Coppollo - Not my favourite out of all of these makes but still a very very nice bit of kit. If you want a classic Jazz with some modern tweaks and a old Fender feel, this is the daddy. You will no doubt get loads of replies with varying opinions, the best advice as always is to try as many as you can. Mark at Bass Direct in Warwick is an absolute gent and will give you time and plenty of advice as will the chaps at The Bass Gallery. Final thought for what it is worth, a lot of these basses drop their value dramatically if you decide to sell them or dont get on with them. I have seen Nordstrands for under 1k, NY Sadowsky's for under 2k, Overwater Jazz basses for £800, and so on. I would buy secondhand almost all of the time unless you really want to go custom, you get to play it first, dont risk having a bass you dont actually like and if you do get bored (most of us do) someone else has taken the hit on the value.

I am just wondering if anyone out there owns or has played a bass with a fretted Ebony board? I know it is used on fretless basses quite a bit, but I dont see many fretted Ebony basses. Reason I ask is that I have a squier with "Ebanol" fingerboard which is like a dark simulated synthetic ebony and it has amazing punch and clarity and the strings seem to be permanantly bright on that bass. I just love it and want to know, if this is what Ebony sounds like, does it have similar charatersitics to what I loosely described? I played a custom guitar the other day with an ebony fretboard and it was beautiful and I now have real GAS for Ebony Jazz.

Yamaha RBX260 - awesome bass for £160 Started playing because i was a teenager and hoped being in band would make girls kiss me. It doesnt work but i fell in love with bass and was the only bass player in my school amongst god knows how many guitar players....bonus! i also thought bass would be easy, it wasnt.....

I have had my "thats it no more bands moments" in the past (like a sucker i always get tempted back) and if I was in that position again I would sell my big rig and get something small and powerful like the really sexy Mesa Combo which can have all sorts of fancy coverings. Its probably more attractive than my furniture so I would get something like that and keep it in the dining room, small, loud, attractive and capable if you ever get dragged back into a band.

Thanks for all the responses, seems to make sense that the pedal would drain battery even when 'bypassed'. Hmm, might just get the pedal and see how I get on with batteries, I have a feeling i read that a Korg Pitchblack could power one extra pedal from its mains adapter....where is that manual!

Cheers for that, just starting to read about the whole true bypass thing. I am looking at a pedal without so I guess I would be using battery up. I only really want it for a couple of songs and i dont really want to get into power supplies etc. Might have to fork out a bit more for a true bypass maybe.

I have never really used pedals before and have a rediculously stupid question about power. I really want and Octave Pedal, probably the EBS Octabass and was wondering, if I used a battery would the pedal drain it even if I had it disengaged? Would the battery last long? would I need to change the battery after every gig? Thanks all, dull question I know.

I feel the same at the moment. Been through a few basses, active EQs etc but I have a passive Jazz which just seems to work for everything. I was just thinking the other night at practice I could probably do away with the knobs on that to be honest and simplify things even more. Dont use tone, permanantly up, usually only use both pickups on and volume is either full or off. I think a jazz bass with a three way toggle for pickup options would be the most I would need. Big change from my Overwater progress with three band EQ and coil taps!

This is going to sound extremely vague so apologies in advance. A friend of mine has a maple necked Strat and he used to use some furniture polish/cleaner wipes, Mr Sheen or something. They came in a pack like wet wipes and it was amazing what they pulled off the neck. They only came from tescos so maybe have a look when you are there. Failing that, I used a very very light sandpaper on my old Stingray took off all the dirt and then sealed it up with Ernie Ball recommended Birchwood Casey Tru-Oil and Gun Stock Wax. It sealed the neck and gave it this semi gloss finish (although i did a lot of buffing and applied a lot) If it was me today I would plump for having the neck proffesionally finished, there is a luthier who is highly regarded on here who refinished a Sadowsky neck to gloss, sure he would clean up and finish a stingray neck.

I know exactly how you feel, I spent a long time thinking I needed/wanted a all singing all dancing custom built bass and then discovered that I actually get equally if not more enjoyment from my £150 Squier. I dont think it has anything to do with the bass being wasted on you or you not apprciating what it does, not all basses have to thrill everyone. Coincidently I was one of the previous owners of your Progress. It is a magnificent bass and the workmanship is stunning but I couldnt get on with it either. The preamp is the old type and I found it far too polite, there was just not enough grunt for me (I was coming from Jazz basses and Stingrays). Chris May can put the new preamp in it and I think that would make a difference, but if the bass doesnt connect, sell it and try something else. I have a USA standard Jazz which I picked up for a stupid low price and I love it. It just sings and resonates like mad, small price BIG pleasure.

[quote name='Machines' post='1132339' date='Feb 18 2011, 03:24 PM'][url="http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=Cheltenham+guitar+shop&aq=t&sll=51.896807,-2.079892&sspn=0.009719,0.053301&ie=UTF8&rq=2&ev=zo&split=1&hq=guitar+shop&hnear=Cheltenham,+United+Kingdom&ll=51.905043,-2.083712&spn=0,0.0739&z=14&layer=c&cbll=51.905113,-2.08396&panoid=3wOrQn_eAxtcpW2VF4KYBw&cbp=12,261.85,,1,8.94"]http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&sour...,261.85,,1,8.94[/url] Check out the sign on the window... kerching ![/quote] They used to open on Sundays for a while in the summer I think but they stopped doing it quite quickly, best give them a ring before you make an effort to find it.

There is one good shop in Chelters, Aroundabout Sound, the owner is a bass player so usually some good stuff lurking about like some Eden Amps, his 87 Stingray as well as the usual Squiers and Fenders. It won't be open on Sunday though!