oldslapper

[quote name='TPJ' post='1133692' date='Feb 19 2011, 07:02 PM']Nice one John. I've been in touch with Alan a couple of times about his carbon fibre portable double bass. He's just so far away that I haven't been able to get there to try them out. He creates some really cool and useful instruments, and yours in no exception. Enjoy [/quote] Cheers Tom, Alan does think outside the box, definitely. J

[quote name='Gareth Hughes' post='1133708' date='Feb 19 2011, 07:16 PM']John - check this out: [url="http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=127302877305858"]http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=127302877305858[/url] Might be an idea to look into to get back the rest of your fingerboard.[/quote] That is brilliant! Given me ideas.

[quote name='Gareth Hughes' post='1133612' date='Feb 19 2011, 05:28 PM']Loving the look of that John - fair play. Quite a bit of planning in that, I imagine. Any soundclips?[/quote] I don't know how to post sound clips Gareth. Is it the same way as photos? That K&K pup and pre is a huge sound! J

Thought I'd be brave and show my portable upright. This was put together by Alan Hatswell, and sent to me to do some finishing off, which entailed "finishing" the fingerboard, putting on the tuners, constructing the adjustable bridge and an adjustment of the end pin "block". I'm not that brave, so I sent it to the guy who does all my set ups and repairs. Anyway, it's a bit bonkers. Meet "Horace the half a bass". The neck and body, which is slightly smaller than a standard upright, are of a fiberglass/wood construction, so is as stable as a horses bedroom. So no weather related movement. It is chambered, so a bit of resonance, but that is where the beauty is. The neck is detachable, and so you can put the neck, bridge, tail piece, pickup and end pin, all into the body. The strings stay on via a velcro wrap at the nut. The body has a lid, and a recessed handle, so it becomes a suitcase. The neck is only 25" long so that it can be put into the body, so you can squeeze a Bb out on the G string. So it's not for your dusty end noodling/soloist. It does feel a bit weird having a full 41.5" scale, with 16" missing, but I'm a plain old thumper, so don't bother me. It has no inbuilt electronics, but I put a K&K double bass max (through the K&K preamp) on the bridge and it is sweet. Enough "chamber" to give character, but no feedback. Only issue is I'm 6'4", and although the nut is at eye level (as I prefer), the end pin is at full stretch, so it's a but "whippy" when I move around. But I'm hoping I'll get used to that, or I'll sit down. Anyway have a gander. Sadly now on Ebay [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=110653720536#ht_660wt_932"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...36#ht_660wt_932[/url]

Genius. Small, cheap, versatile, slides under the bed ... what's not to like. I have two of 'em. [/quote] 'swat I got 'n all.....gert good.

I thought the realist was bridge fitted? Do you put yours inside the body Jake? John

Anyone had experience of using a transducer (is a piezo the same??) of any sort for inside the body of an upright? If so any recommendations? Many thanks. John

Here's my butchered P. Now fretless with some flatwounds on and a cheap tort guard. Sounds nice and aggressive. Had a lot of fun hacking away at this.

Bought some strings from John. Packaged well, sent promptly. Easy deal, nice guy! Thanks, John

Yup, great guy to deal with is Gareth. Bought a K&K preamp goodie bag from G. Brilliantly packed and kept me informed all the way. Thanks, John

[quote name='henry norton' post='1125323' date='Feb 12 2011, 07:24 PM']If it's rosewood I'd leave it as it is. Oil it like you would a fretted and just 'play tha damn thang'. If it's maple then there are, eh.... options.[/quote] Thanks. I found an old bottle of lemon oil and rubbed that in. Looks nice. smells nice. Just need some flats to put on.

I've just done a defret on my Ryder P bass. Never done anything like this before, so had a go. I am a bit "industrial" when it comes to DIY, I don't have the patience, but I found it a lot of fun. Frets out, slots wood-filled, finger sanded. Now nice and smooth. But I'd like to put a seal on it. What's the best thing to use? Laquer? Which one? Satin/gloss Tru-oil? Anything else? Thanks, John

No at the moment, but it's exactly the same as this one, still got plastic on it. [url="http://www.suerydercareshop.com/"]http://www.suerydercareshop.com/[/url]

If your name begins with R, and you have a P bass.....this is the product for you.

Pm's replied to. Looks like this has gone.

[quote name='Sonic_Groove' post='1124353' date='Feb 11 2011, 08:57 PM']I think you will find Alan Spenner did all the studio bass -- Gary played live B[/quote] Indeed, worlds apart Spenner and Tibbs. Alan Spenner, wonderful player. Used to see him play with Kokomo. Played a Wal then. Tibbs.....pretty boy....brought in for the videos...got the Ants gig as he wasn't taller than Mr Ant.

One of these. Yours for the cost of postage, or pick it up for free. [url="http://www.wembleyguitarcentre.com/Catalogue/Guitar-Centre/Guitar-Stands/Stands-Hangers/Kinsman-Double-Hanging-Guitar-Stand-GS231"]http://www.wembleyguitarcentre.com/Catalog...tar-Stand-GS231[/url] John

For the cost of postage, it's yours! John

[quote name='Crimson Guitars' post='1114801' date='Feb 4 2011, 01:02 AM']Hey, just found this thread again so I thought I'd add a few photo's of the finished beastie.. my favourite bass out of our catalogue! (but then I'm a sucker for the les paul shape and always thought the gibson les paul bass could be so much better!) I'm even seriously considering building a few of these as the first of a range of stock basses and extended range instruments![/quote] These are beautiful, LP is the best looking shape, and that one is gorgeous! Martin from Ace Acoustics in Carey recommended Crimson to me when I said I fancied a custom jobbie! Gonna have to start selling some stuff....

Welcome to a fellow south wester! J

Hi Zach, glad you're getting out there and playing your upright. Sometimes it's helpful to know what bass you are using, which strings and what kind of music too. But for my pennies worth:- I'm not an expert, and I'm not a sophisticated player, I just like a good old thump. I have a Schaller on 2 of my double basses and I love them and so do the acts I play for. Thomann do them new for just under £100 + pp They're not everyones cup of tea, but there you go mate..... No feedback problems, but, for some, a piezo is the only way, I'll let the proper players talk about those. [url="http://www.thomann.de/gb/schaller_kontrabasspickup.htm"]http://www.thomann.de/gb/schaller_kontrabasspickup.htm[/url] John