Rich

Shout out to Bristol area bassists... who's up for this?? http://thefleece.co.uk/events/victor-wooten-full-live-band-show/ ---------- "VICTOR WOOTEN at The Fleece Tue 28 June 2016 from 7:30 pm Bass virtuoso and 5 time Grammy Award winner, VICTOR WOOTEN, finally makes his Bristol live debut! Known for his crucially acclaimed solo back catalogue as well as his work as a member of jazz and funk fusion supergroup Béla Fleck and the Flecktones, he has won almost every major award given to a bassist including being the only person to have won bassist of the year more than once from leading Bass Player Magazine. With UK dates a huge rarity, don't miss this opportunity to see one of the world's finest musicians up close and personal!"

Aww bless, he's back and has obviously looked up 'action' on wikipedia: [i]"That is very minor to me to pay attention to the that bass is professional bass not £200 bass the action was set since was new and I don't have to fiddle with it too much I'm very happy the way strings are on the bass, not too height or too low from the frets"[/i] EDIT. And there's more, and this is a cracker: [i]"The question you are asking me is unnecessary question you can check on Wal website the Mk II bass what is the number of the action I don't have time for that bro, sorry about this"[/i] Oh yes, we have a winner I've just replied with: [i]"Fair enough 'bro', if you can't be bothered then neither can I. Good luck with the sale."[/i]

Reply: [i]"I don't have to know that to be a bassist don't be narrow minded bro, the bass is here you can do any checks is you wish but only if you intend to buy it. Thanks"[/i] Yeah right. If he's the legal owner of this bass, I'm a jar of marmalade.

And his reply: [i]"I have been playing it for 10 yrs olive this bass guitar, is super,[/i] So I said: [i]"OK, thanks (not sure what you mean by olive though). Yes I do know about Wal basses, I have owned a 4 string one since 1986. Can you please tell me what the action is? thanks"[/i] He's come back with: [i]"Sorry olive was typing mistake, what do you mean action ?"[/i] Oh dear. I've replied: [i]"You've been a bassist for 10 years and you don't know what the action refers to..?"[/i]

I thought I'd ask a couple of similar questions, plus a vague technical one to see if he has the faintest idea about basses. Me: [i]"Hi -- I have a couple of questions. 1. The polepiece alignment looks a bit odd on the neck pickup. All the other Wal 5 strings I've seen have been fine, do you know why this one is different? 2. I'm very interested in this instrument [/i]<yeah, right> [i]but obviously I'd want to see it first. Can I inspect it? 3. What's the action like? Thanks." [/i] His reply: [i]"Hi thanks for your questions, the bass is fine maybe is the way you look the photo but the bass is perfect of course you can inspect it if you want but I don't know if you know the Wal bass guitar! Are made really well with amazing wood the oddness you are talking about can't happen in these guitar. Nothing wrong with it at all.is super amazing bass guitar 👍🏾" [/i] Total vagueness, borderline illiteracy and completely dodged the action question. So I pursued it. [i]"OK thanks. It does look lovely. Have you had it long? What's the actual action in terms of millimetres?" [/i] No reply yet. I expect he's googling 'action' to get an idea of the sort of number I'd be expecting. This all smells worse than a dead sperm whale in a heatwave.

I have two. Shuker custom 5 and Wal Pro 2E. If you held a gun to my head and told me to choose one or die, it'd be the Wal.

XTC's "Black Sea" -- another of those "christ I haven't listened to this for [i]years[/i]" gems. Wonderful..!

I can't believe that you're even contemplating a DIY spray-can refinish a} without stripping the parts first and b} on an Alembic of all things. But each to their own, it's your bass and your decision. If you go for it, I really hope it works out for you.

[quote name='Kex' timestamp='1461681769' post='3036700'] I can feel a trip to B&Q coming on [/quote] I'm hoping that you're kidding.

What's the bass?

Just out of interest, I've weighed mine. Wal Pro 2E - 9lbs 12oz (amazed at this, it feels a lot more when I'm wearing it) Bitsa P bass - 9lbs 9oz (as per Wal, it feels a lot more after a couple of hours!) Sire V7 5-string - 9lbs 7oz Shuker custom 5-string - 8lbs 14oz Yamaha RBX765A - 7lbs 15oz OLP Ray - 8lbs 12oz Ibanez BTB 6-string - 9lbs 12oz Tanglewood acoustic bass - 5lbs 9oz

There's nothing simple about any refinish, least of all black. The slightest blemish will stick out like a sore thumb. You get what you pay for.

[quote name='Twincam' timestamp='1461626177' post='3036337'] No this is German Vith mein superior class D technologie I vill show zie whole world mein Heftenschlowisden! [/quote] It's actually "Viz mein zuperior" and "ze whole vurld", as any Teutonic stereotype will readily tell you.

[quote name='hubrad' timestamp='1461622030' post='3036298'] I'm a member of Archers Appreciation FB group re the radio series. Swearing is quite tolerable to most of the group. I think even our illustrious leader has been known to lapse into the vernacular occasionally! [/quote] I expect 98% of the swearing is aimed at Rob Titchener and/or the editor

[quote name='gapiro' timestamp='1461600063' post='3036019'] Thats german you fool! [/quote] You can turn it into French by simply adding "ow you say" before "eft".

Pretty much my last contribution to TB was on a thread about celebrities who play musical instruments. I mentioned that Tony Blair (who was PM at the time) played guitar at one time. That was all -- but it was enough to earn me a public bollocking for supposedly contravening their 'no politics' rule..!

So many to choose from. These will do for starters. [media]http://youtu.be/T8qoTE5AULM[/media] [media]http://youtu.be/ekcc2L9E_hc[/media]

[quote name='DarkHeart' timestamp='1460822049' post='3029106'] This is my bitsa, I started off as wanting a cheap jazz ended up with Wizard 84`s, Hipshot bridge, Fender tuners and a John East preamp off Neil Murray! I can honestly say I will never part with it. It needs a better plate though. [URL=http://s80.photobucket.com/user/jeffhop/media/P1060159_zpsushuvhon.jpg.html][IMG]http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j186/jeffhop/P1060159_zpsushuvhon.jpg[/IMG][/URL] [/quote] If you're after a darker tort, could I work in a cheeky plug for the one I'm selling? http://basschat.co.uk/topic/283339-jazz-bass-parts/page__view__findpost__p__3029905

This is my bitsa P. A solid no-name body with a Squier Jazz neck, Wilko pickup and EMG 2 band eq. And a slightly incorrect decal The decal isn't an issue as I won't be selling it -- as has been said by others, it's worth tuppence-ha'penny to anyone except me really.

IIRC Bunny Brunel uses piccolo tuning on his hex-equipped basses.

Ohh yes, an absolute cracker that. [quote name='White Cloud' timestamp='1461001489' post='3030550'] Lovely bass, Ibanez are on point right now. [/quote]Ain't that the truth. The SRF705 Portamento is the best off-the-peg fretless I've ever played. Bah. GAS.

[quote name='leschirons' timestamp='1461337308' post='3033847'] I believe the threat wasn't over the music but the use of the word Eagles in the band name. They didn't have to pay any money out in the end. I was told it was Don Henley who instigated it. [/quote] Presumably he'll be having a word with the Eagles Of Death Metal too then

[quote name='Muzz' timestamp='1461327024' post='3033706'] A pub I gig at now and again has reworked their menu as a tribute: The lamb koftas in a wrap are now Prince Of Persia The Southern fried chicken brioche is When Doves Fry The shared platter is Party Like It's ...£19.99 The 12oz rump steak is The Most Beautiful Grill In The World and the vegetarian special is Little Red Courgette [/quote] Brilliant

He died on 14th April last year.