oldslapper Posted February 19, 2011 Share Posted February 19, 2011 (edited) 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] Edited February 25, 2011 by oldslapper Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RAY AGAINST THE MACHINE Posted February 19, 2011 Share Posted February 19, 2011 Looking good,but it'd be too big for my flat Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gareth Hughes Posted February 19, 2011 Share Posted February 19, 2011 Loving the look of that John - fair play. Quite a bit of planning in that, I imagine. Any soundclips? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geoffbassist Posted February 19, 2011 Share Posted February 19, 2011 Wow! Looks like a lot of thought has gone into it. Nice work! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TPJ Posted February 19, 2011 Share Posted February 19, 2011 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 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gareth Hughes Posted February 19, 2011 Share Posted February 19, 2011 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 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldslapper Posted February 19, 2011 Author Share Posted February 19, 2011 [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 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldslapper Posted February 19, 2011 Author Share Posted February 19, 2011 [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 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldslapper Posted February 19, 2011 Author Share Posted February 19, 2011 [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 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alyctes Posted February 19, 2011 Share Posted February 19, 2011 Nice Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldslapper Posted February 24, 2011 Author Share Posted February 24, 2011 (edited) Ok, so I've had this for a couple of weeks now, been playing it exclusively over my ADB's as (due to very sad circumstances) the Gents aren't gigging presently. I've been wondering why I'm not getting on with it. So did some measuring. The neck at the octave on my ADB is about 85mm and the portable is about 72mm. Nut width 50mm and 43mm respectively Just that difference is making my fingers fall over each other. I am a big guy with big hands, and the ADB width is very comfy. I din't try before I bought it, but was asked if I wanted to, so entirely down to my impatience.. So what to do? It sounds great, looks great, albeit eccentric, is a great bit of engineering. Can't believe I am going to have to sell so soon? Any suggestions before I possibly take that step please? Obviously if the board could be widened, it wouldn't fit in the body when folded down.... buggeration.... 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] Edited February 25, 2011 by oldslapper Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldslapper Posted February 25, 2011 Author Share Posted February 25, 2011 Now on Ebay....yes I am a knob! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TPJ Posted February 26, 2011 Share Posted February 26, 2011 That's a real shame John. Sorry it didn't work out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Bassman Posted February 26, 2011 Share Posted February 26, 2011 Hi John, would you consider selling the K&K pup? cheers Keith Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldslapper Posted February 28, 2011 Author Share Posted February 28, 2011 Hi, I've had lots of PM's on ebay about BIN with and without the pup. If someone buys it without the pup, I will more than likely keep the K&K as it is the best sounding piezo/oreamp combination I've owned, so far. And may drag me away from my beloved schallers....! So sorry no. John Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jean-Luc Pickguard Posted March 1, 2011 Share Posted March 1, 2011 Absolutely bonkers - love it! Shame I have no money Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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