Cosmo Valdemar

I had a similar experience to the OP - a duff A string in a brand new set. Emailed Rotosound about it, got an apologetic reply from Jason within minutes offering to send a replacement set. He didn't even want proof of purchase or the duff string returned which I was expecting. Great stuff.

There was a chap I kept seeing at the show who I recognised but couldn't place... It's been haunting me for days. Just realised who it was (or who I think it was) - I'm sure it was the psychologist/therapist chap from the Jeremy Kyle show... Or is that just a bit too weird? Perhaps playing the bass is his release valve.

[quote name='bassman344' timestamp='1361997544' post='1994301'] I wonder what a F# string would sound like on a Dingwall? Crazy idea here - drop tune it like you would for a B string to low A and you would have a super low E? mmmmm. [/quote] There was a Dingwall Combustion at the bass show set up F# B E A D. Astonishing instrument. The F# open was a little difficult to hear correctly(probably more to do with the range of human hearing more than the bass itself) but fretted notes were astounding. Bear in mind also that I only heard it through headphones - a good amp would make a difference. And Mr Dingwall himself is a very friendly and approachable chap.

I wish I was going. Love his new teeth too. I assumed that bass was a Squier, the signature bass of the guy from My Chemical Romance, so I'm very pleased to discover that it isn't*. Slur against MCR, not Squier.

Slightly OT but many moons ago I was the bass player in a Pantera-style metal band. The guitarist knew someone who worked at the local paper who agreed to put us in the gig listings complete with a picture. Well, the picture was printed as promised - a fine shot of 4 long-haired musical hoodlums - but the caption underneath stated we were called Rumours of Fleetwood Mac (who were playing elsewhere). My mum was so proud she cut it out and put it on the fridge.

[quote name='Billy Apple' timestamp='1362344623' post='1998766'] Grand Wazoo's spilled the beans over on the other thread, but in the mean-time, how was it? [/quote] It was nice enough, but I didn't get to spend ages with i as it was so busy in there, and I was paying more attention to the basses. Intriguing though. I was assured they were very much prototypes so we'll see how they develop!

That was the best weekend I've had in ages. Lovely to meet some of you, in fact I think I enjoyed this side of things more than the basses! I had a good long chat with Sheldon Dingwall after trying a frankly astonishing Combustion bass. Splendid chap. And he can build a bass with an audible and tight low f#! Roll on next year. Bravo to all involved.

[quote name='Billy Apple' timestamp='1362321983' post='1998318'] [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]Apparently Matamp had a demo model of their new 500 hybrid, but in an unmarked box. It is going to be sold through a distributor who's stand it was on, and labelled as the distributors product. Anyone see it, or know who the distributor is?[/font][/color] [/quote] I do, and played through it at length but have been sworn to secrecy...

Never played one but the new Fender VI reissue might be up your street...

My top hint - if something takes your eye, don't wait around to get permission from the Mrs, as it will probably be gone when you go back to get it

Musically good, vocals ridiculous - not because of the vocal style (although it was a bit much for the music) but the fact that the vocalist is utterly inept and unable to pull it off. It's a very difficult vocal style to do well and not end up risible. But, because it's extreme and difficult to understand, it's very easy to poke fun at.

[quote name='quimbymeat' timestamp='1361983920' post='1994050'] were those bass 4x12 cabinets? any good? [/quote] They were bass cabs, but designed to replicate old Marshall speakers to match the Superbass I had at the time. I can't fault the cabs but they just weren't for me - in the end I sold the whole rig to a guitarist friend. Bear in mind they weren't standard Matamp bass cabs so my experience probably isn't an accurate reflection of their usual output.

Great basses. I would love to own one! I have it's bigger brother, the NS2000/4. You should get some great fretless tones form it with that pickup placement. Is it a fretless model or has it been defretted?

The Tonepump isn't boost only, but annoyingly it doesn't have detents to let you know where 'flat' is. I know you should just adjust until you find the tone you like but I always like having the little click for reference. That's my only niggle - I can't fault anything else about them!

I had Matamp build me a couple of 4x12s a few years ago - beyond friendly and helpful, and very reasonably priced. Beware though, only ring Jeff if you've got an hour to spare, he does like a chat! Sound as a pound. Incidentally, the guitarist in a band we played with in Leeds years ago had a 50w Matamp head. The sound was so intense our drummer had to go outside to throw up. Truly gut-loosening.

Is that the single pickup passive model?

[quote name='Dad3353' timestamp='1361888152' post='1992473'] Good afternoon, all... It's already been done, and the result was pretty impressive... [url="http://www.vintagehofner.co.uk/gallery/bass/bas78.html"]http://www.vintageho...bass/bas78.html[/url] ...I have the guitar version, but would definitely play one of these. (...and 4 strings is fine... ) [/quote] That's almost exactly what I imagined we would come up with!

[quote name='chrismuzz' timestamp='1361411351' post='1985696'] Looks pretty well made! A bit "70s" for me but very cool. A bit confused as to why the top half is a 6 string instead of an 8 though. [/quote] It was originally a 6 string guitar if I remember correctly... The original was built for Roger Newell of Rick Wakeman's band - when Chris Squire got hold of it he had no use for the guitar part so had it converted to it's present arrangement. It's a ridiculous looking beast but Squire does justify it's use - on 'Awaken' he needs to use it all!

[quote name='Chris2112' timestamp='1361056389' post='1980580'] His best record, I reckon, and the best place to start with Stan, is [i]The Toys Of Men. [/i]It is absolutely superb stuff, top drawer music. It shows everything that Stan does, from bombastic fusion epics, to cool mood pieces on upright and acoustic basses, to funky, driving slap tunes. The production is top class and the cast list is as good as it gets. Truly, the stars had aligned for Stanley there! It still blows me away to listen to now. [/quote] How could I forget this one?! Amazing album, it's got it all - even Esperanza Spaulding.

I am attending both days - my first time. I will probably hover about the place looking very awkward and be too embarrassed to speak to anyone or try anything out. The credit card is definitely staying at home.

Journey to Love for me because Jeff Beck's on it and it's a bit more rock than the others. Closely followed by the debut and School Days I reckon.

I've just watched it - it started well but soon slipped into mediocrity. Please Please me was horrendous, they left half the chords out! The covers I seemed to enjoy the most were the ones by the artists I normally have little time for - Hucknall was fantastic. Fave performance was probably by the guys from The Fourmost, Merseybeats etc - a bit rusty but very authentic.