misrule

Here comes the predictable reply ... Smoke a chunk of it first, and it'll sound wonderful Cheers Mark

Nice woods -- I'm a great fan of limba. Cheers Mark

Bud has posted pics of my bass on his website at: [url="http://www.lecomptebass.com/st4/"]www.lecomptebass.com[/url] And he's due to send it tomorrow (Thurs). Hoorah. Now I only have to stump up for the tax and duty ... Cheers Mark

Duty is 3.9 per cent and VAT 17.5 per cent on the total, including shipping. I'm facing the same bill myself in a few days ... Cheers Mark

Relax and enjoy the fried cheese with honey. Yum. Cheers Mark

[quote name='EdwardHimself' post='53332' date='Aug 31 2007, 01:22 PM']^you can see why he wanted it a week now then, to sort out any problems like that.[/quote] Yup, I realised that He seems to have sorted it. Fingers crossed. Cheers Mark

[quote name='EdwardHimself' post='49957' date='Aug 24 2007, 09:18 AM']Ever watched grand designs? Things ALWAYS take longer than expected.[/quote] Oh, yes -- and nothing's ever easy. There's a problem with the finish on the back now, due to the wood shrinking. So Bud's got to sort that out before he sends it. I don't blame him -- these things happen. Cheers Mark

[quote name='cetera' post='50235' date='Aug 24 2007, 04:21 PM']Wow.... that's the opposite of what they say on www.talkbass.com.... [/quote] Yup, at first I thought Mr Gilmour was being sarcastic. Cheers Mark

What's that on the headstock? A Baloo the bear tuner-warmer? That's a lovely bass, by the way. Cheers Mark

[quote name='steve-soar' post='49805' date='Aug 23 2007, 09:07 PM']That is one very special bass. Bud has nailled that colour, spot on.[/quote] He's one very skilled bloke. He's also honest, helpful and communicative. I've had 68 progress pictures from him since March. His build-time estimates are a bit off -- he said three and a half to four months originally and it's now over six. But his workload has soared in the meantime and I'm in no great hurry. Cheers Mark

For those who've missed it ... my LeCompte ST-4 due in about three weeks. Cheers Mark

[quote name='craigonbass' post='49629' date='Aug 23 2007, 04:09 PM']Hi Mark, good to meet you at the Guildford bash on saturday, the finished bass looks fantastic, well worth the long wait. Many thanks for the beers!!!! Craig[/quote] Good to meet you, too -- and I'm glad you enjoyed a drink. The long wait continues, I'm afraid, but I'm sure it will be worthwhile. Cheers Mark

[quote name='lowhand_mike' post='49670' date='Aug 23 2007, 05:01 PM']and what to do if the band has built up quite a bit of equipment?[/quote] You've got the same situation as a relationship. You either buy them out or sell it. It's probably best to have demarcation lines from the beginning. Let individuals buy different things and take them when you split. Cheers Mark

I have a slightly different situation, in that I have to tell other people they suck. A friend of mine is a band manager who asks my opinion on various acts he has dealings with. The latest one is dull and devoid of emotion, and that's what I told him. The same goes for anybody else I have to criticise -- I'm polite but honest. I wouldn't slag off my current band, which was set up purely for fun, but people in a serious project would know what I felt. And I'd expect the same if I wasn't pulling my weight. Cheers Mark

Here we are -- I'm going to sit on the fence. I would rather watch a sh*t originals, cover or any other kind of band than sit at home. I get out to gigs so little, due to having small kids, that I even rocked up to church last Sunday because somebody was setting up a stage the day before. I don't remember the last originals gig I saw -- probably Kate Rusby in Norwich *blushes*. The last tribute band I saw was Quo-caine in Rudgwick, West Sussex -- hello Bassmurf! I'm not a great Quo fan, the weather was awful, the crowd was 20-strong in a swamp but I could still watch decent musicians having fun. Cheers Mark

[quote name='Gwilym' post='49129' date='Aug 22 2007, 07:16 PM']that is very very nice, congrats! [/quote] Cheers, mate. Mark

[quote name='bass_ferret' post='49097' date='Aug 22 2007, 06:08 PM']Does it come with the bike? Pure sex Mark![/quote] Yup, he's sending the bike too. And included in the price, which I thought was pretty reasonable. I wish If Carlsberg made custom basses ... Cheers Mark

Thanks, guys. [quote name='Rich' post='48694' date='Aug 22 2007, 07:32 AM']Me, I'd have had the back woods on the front, if you see what I mean. Hope you can last 10 days without chewing your nails away to nothing [/quote] Bud still has a slab of that black limba, if you'd like it And my nails are long gone, I'm afraid. He's keeping the bass up to two weeks, then it will take a week to get here. Cheers Mark

[quote name='ped' post='48670' date='Aug 22 2007, 01:02 AM']Really? Owch. What is he expecting to happen over the next 10 days?[/quote] He just wants to adjust the neck now it's under tension and make sure everything works, since it's coming a long way. It's just his excuse to play it himself Cheers Mark

Here are some more shots. But the bad news is that Bud wants to keep it for ten days to two weeks so he can tweak it Cheers Mark

[quote name='ped' post='48614' date='Aug 21 2007, 10:45 PM']Very nice indeed - looks like you want to be careful with that stand on the lower cutaway though!! Looking forward to hearing it - a friend on TB has/had one of these and I remember hearing it and thinking it was very 'alive' sounding. ta ped[/quote] I'll be getting a stand to hold it by the neck. I don't know how it will sound, but it's built with plenty of maple in the hope of some Ric clank. It was supposed to be here for the South East bash. I came along for a couple of hours but had to return home for childcare duties. I'll try to arrange a viewing so people who want to try it can come along. Cheers Mark

I was sitting at work at about 10.30pm and spotted these on TalkBass. Ahhh! I guess the e-mail is waiting for me at home That's Bud's bike, not mine, by the way. And his lawn. I love how it's turned out. I just hope it has a safe and swift journey across the Atlantic. Cheers Mark

[quote name='woolleydick' post='48364' date='Aug 21 2007, 03:15 PM']Someone earlier said that not just musicians get GAS and I must agree. My wife gets it for anything to do with lettering (pens, ink, pencils, parchment, marble, chisels - the list goes on and on). Of course she is also partial to the occasional pair of shoes and a handbag but normally restricts herself to no more than one of each per week. When we flew back to Libya this week we had accumulated 125Kg of hold baggage between us and this time I did not actually get any new instruments, something of a record for me. My only problem is that she keeps on wanting me to buy horrible guitars and basses "because it looks good" normally because it is made from some outlandish material or finished in some extreme colour or texture. She just does not appreciate a fine piece of wood unless she can chisel a line of verse into it! So far I have managed to deflect all persuasions to purchase lime green perspex stratocasters, but am seriously worried as she has started carving letters in marble and Welsh slate. What will be the nextr suggestion - Fender Custom Shop Telecaster Limestone Cowboy Ltd Edition Bass? Does she not realise I have a bad back?[/quote] Get a blank wood bass body and get her to chisel some text on it. That would be win-win Cheers Mark

[quote name='Mike' post='47580' date='Aug 20 2007, 09:50 AM']Looks bloody magnificent Mark. Mine has yet to be routed & sprayed. So it looks like you've won this battle! I guess we'll need to have another custom built some other time![/quote] Bud hasn't finished quite yet -- he got busy again over the weekend. I'm hoping for something tonight ... As to another custom, I don't think my finances (or wife!) will allow it for a while. I'll be keeping an eye on how yours gets on. Cheers Mark

The flight case has arrived, Bud has wet-sanded the body and is polishing today (Sat). The whole thing should be finished by tonight See you in a few hours at the SE bash ... Cheers Mark