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[quote name='GreeneKing' date='Nov 21 2009, 02:17 PM' post='661016'] Nice tale, I'd love to see a photo of your original bass. One day I'll go through a massive drawer full of old photo's, but I can't remember any, maybe something taken in a dark corner at a gig in the back of a pub or club don't hold your breath Next thing my dad was pressured into making a left handed 6 string for our lead guitarist, that turned into the most gorgeous 'fusion' guitar you ever saw! 1/2 Strat, 1/2 Rickie with a sprinkling of Vox & very much 'cack handed', he loved it! Cheers!

I don't know the technical answers but I can tell you a little story, are you sitting comfortably - - - When I was 13/14 there were 4 of us, mates living within a stone throw of each other - who all got guitars about the same time, (I blame Hank Marvin & Bert Weedon mostly). So we started bashing it out together, (bad doesn't come close), but we tried & tried & tried again! Then Derek's big brother gave him his old drum kit, smashing - now we couldn't hear what we were playing. We knew someone had to get a bass but no-one had any money + we needed electric guitars + we needed amps! More weekday paper rounds & a Saturday butchers delivery job helped but there were so many things to spend it on, motorbikes, girls, beer, fags, music - in no particular order! Then I had a little crash on my bike & broke 3 fingers on my left hand. Hospitals were good in those days I remember the lovely nurse saying - in response to 'will I be able to play guitar again' - "probably not, you'd better get a bass, they've only got 4 strings!" My dad was a carpenter or to give him his full title, (I remember his headed paper), 'Cabinet Maker, Carpenter & Joiner', which was fully deserved, he did a 7 year apprenticeship at Harland & Wolves shipyard in Belfast, fitting cabins out on luxury liners with wood the quality of which I'm sure is something we can only dream of nowadays. Long story maybe - BUT - when I said 'Dad I need a bass guitar' & he said well we'll have to make one then! Next breath - [u][b]I'll have to find you some decent wood or it won't sound right[/b][/u][size="3"][/size] How he knew that I shall never know, he passed away in 1984 so I can't ask him now, but he came home later that week with some beautiful pieces of timber, I believe it was Iroko for the body, Sapele for the neck with Rosewood for the fret board. About that time I'd seen The Rolling Stones, probably on TOTP with Bill Wyman & Brian Jones using pear shaped or Teardrop guitars, so that was it - simple - no tricky cutaways - couldn't be easier! Many weeks in the workshop later, we had it made! I remember getting a catalogue from the local music shop showing the Vox teardrops, but mine was finished before I even saw that! I spent all my hard earnt on strings, single pup, T & V pots, bridge, nut & tuners, but couldn't get fret wire. Hours I spent calculating the fret positions, no calculators or computers then you know, then very carefully scribing the lines precisely on the rosewood. That was it - fingers getting better, no fret wire, so of course started playing it fretless - never looked back! Yes it sounded fantastic, it was the only bass I had for many years, many bands, many gigs - in fact until 1973 I think, when I had saved enough, (I thought), about £400 IIRC, to get my dream - A Rickenbacker. Went to that London, every frigginbacker I tried was a piece of crap compared to what I'd been playing, I was so gutted, my aspirations shattered. Eventually I found my new love - Blonde of course - Italian I'd never heard of, my lovely Gherson Blonde Jazz bass.

Hey Josh, I was asking the same question a while ago & got myself a Trace Elliot Boxer 65 for £77 in as new condition - it's great! Suits me sir - does everything I need, has a real good tone with plenty of punch & a touch of TE class. I'd seriously consider a Boxer 65 - 65W into a 12" or maybe even a Boxer 30 - 30W 10" (but I haven't tried one). Keep your eyes open on ebay, you might get lucky, there seems to be a lot of 'em around Essex way where are you? Good luck, John [quote name='JHBASS' post='642750' date='Nov 1 2009, 07:51 PM']Hey guys, I'm looking for a practise amp. But before we get started, Im looking for something similar to the Peavey TNT 100 or TKA range, in speaker size (bigger than 8" please!) and around 20-30watts (or above...sub 100 watts maybe). I've played through old Peaveys and I loved them! I need something around and less than £100 and older models (to be bought second hand) are also welcomed! So, if any of you have any ideas and tips (about the peaveys or other amps ) Ill be incredibly grateful! Cheers, Josh[/quote]

[quote name='GreeneKing' post='650713' date='Nov 10 2009, 03:09 PM']Nice idea. You do play a long way toward the neck too I notice. I find the floating thumb technique where you move the thumb down the strings as you change string, helps a lot in terms of locating, changing position along the length of the strings for tonal variety and damping strings. I used to play near the neck but find myself moving towards the bridge more lately, especially for rapid fingerstyle as there is less string movement.[/quote] Cheers - I find these days "rapid fingerstyle" is something my arthritic digits are not so happy with so not too much of a problem. I reckon I've got large to huge hands so plenty of reach without moving thumb down the strings too often.

[quote name='spacecowboy' post='650699' date='Nov 10 2009, 02:51 PM']I like that a lot! a very simple but effective solution! Congrats! Will the adhesive backing effect the wood finish if you ever took it off?[/quote] Hope not - time will tell Cheers

I'm playing 2 basses regularly now & on both I've found myself resting my r/h thumb on the side of fretboard/body area when finger plucking. My first concern was wearing away the finish in that specific area with constant rubbing & scratching with thumbnail. Secondly I was conscious of developing/improving my plucking by maybe forcing myself to use a standard position to suit my 'style'. Looking around I found a piece of woven carbon fibre sheet which is only about .0025" thick, with a adhesive backing & has a wonderful 'grippy' feel to it, due to the surface texture & the slightly soft under layer. This is what I came up with; a piece cut to pick shape, (for want of a better idea), bent & stuck in the right place! It works a treat

Sorted! After 1 phone call to Rotosound, nobody home except receptionist!, well it was poets day, 2 emails - no reply, another phone call - straight through to THE MAN! Almost 1/2 hour conversation - like you do - played the bum string down the phone to him - 2 days later, in the post today, as promised a replacement E string + another complete set as a good will gesture. Now that's what I call after sales customer care! A big WELL DONE to Rotosound, it's not often these days you get a result like that. Yes it was a faulty string - wateroftyne - you got it in one! Cheers, John

My first deal on basschat & it doesn't/can't get any better than this! Arrived today from Terry, well packed & protected, the beautiful Skjold EC4. Excellent bloke to deal with, bargain of the year? I'm so glad - I'm so glad - I'm glad I'm glad I'm glad I saw this for sale! I was just going to buy a Fender USA Jazz but hey - you can buy them any day! All the best Terry, it was a real pleasure dealing with you, many thanks. Cheers, John

Music week at Lidl - lots of cheap stuff - the Guitar stands are so good I went back for another @ £6.99 they're good quality, in fact better than the Stagg one I bought a few weeks back. They come nicely boxed too - could be a nice little Christmas pressie for someone. Just thought you might like to know Cheers, John

In brief; just fitted new Nexus 45s & was hoping to give a review on them but Houston, we have a problem! After mucho setting up I was feeling very happy with the black coated bu55ers, but then, picking the E string gave a horrible vibrating noise, it's ok played soft with fingers & thumb, but raise a pick or even a fingernail to it & it's just nasty! Any ideas? I've been through the whole machine, nothing vibrates anywhere with any other string. Cheers, John

Thanks for the words of wisdom guys. I still like the look of the new Ashdown five fifteen but I'm told it's not going to be out for another month or so! Being an impatient sort of a old bugger - I've taken the plunge & bought a 'as new' Trace Elliot Boxer 65 so really looking forward to getting it home. Cheers, John

[quote name='Peter Train' post='627570' date='Oct 16 2009, 09:03 AM']Welcome, Bass looks fine to me (They haven't seen mine)[/quote] Thanks for the welcome from all The Traben doesn't compare to the gear many of you guys have got I know but it will do for me, I got it for a good price & it's a whole lot better to play than my old Tanglewood. Who was it said:- It's not what you got, it's what you do with it that counts Cheers, John

Now you've got me looking at Ashdown & I think I'm in love with the new Ashdown five fifteen mini bass stack! Of course it's £50 over budget but WoW. What do the panel think? Cheers John

[quote name='Mumbles87' post='624200' date='Oct 12 2009, 05:46 PM']I'm currently using a Hartke, its quite nice. Has a good tight sound, one thing though there is a lot of hiss from the unit if you use it with headphones.[/quote] Hi mumbles - is that the A35? Any other pros or cons? Cheers

[quote name='sifi2112' post='624201' date='Oct 12 2009, 05:46 PM']I've an Eden Nemesis N8 which I bought for home practice but have hardly used. It was the best sounding small amp I could find but is no longer needed so I'd be willing to sell. You can come check it out if you like. [url="http://www.eden-electronics.com/products/discontinued/silverseries/indiv/n8.asp"]http://www.eden-electronics.com/products/d...es/indiv/n8.asp[/url] cheers Simon[/quote] Nice offer cheers Simon, but you're a long way from home! Looks good though my old school head tells me I want bigger than a 8" speaker really to handle the low Hz's, maybe I'm wrong? Thanks for the info so far, I'm still looking & now have a Warwick BlueCab 30 on my list of maybes, apparently weighing in at 46lb, Monster!

[quote name='yorick' post='624022' date='Oct 12 2009, 02:38 PM']Hideous bass, but welcome all the same [/quote] Well thanks (If you think that's hideous - good job I didn't put a self portrait up!)

Hi & help please, I'm only playing/practising at home so no need for big volume! I'm looking for a combo £150 max I suppose, would like something with at least 10" speaker, but want good sound quality at low volume settings, is there anything? Been looking at Hartke A35 or Orange Crush 35b, really open to offers though? The kickback style is appealing, but quality over horsepower is what I'd like. Currently using a Peavey microbass which is starting to annoy me, lots of hiss & a nasty vibrating from the speaker, even though I know it's never been thrashed it's beginning to sound like it has! BTW I'm playing a new Traben Neo Ltd & old Tanglewood TMO-B2. Cheers, John