The Last Bass Outpost

This is for anyone who is interested in Peter Cook and Ned Callan.

Kenny. . . . . Hi.



This is an honest example that is perhaps best described as slightly battered!!
The important bits - neck, board and electrics are fine.

I am going to do a big feature in my blog and describe it in detail.

One thing I can say is. . . . It is nothing like I expected.
I have a '63 Gibson EBO, which sounds as you would expect an EBO to sound. . . .
Thud, Thud, Thud!!!

The Ned. . . .  NOTHING like that!!!!!!!!!
Bright, punchy and full of harmonics.
How, I'm not sure, it was a real shock!

Hard to believe but I drifted into slap, playing the Chili's "Higher Ground" and it
sounding perfect.
Start to roll the tone off and things get a bit more mellow and then roll it all the way
and you get near to EBO. . . except and this is really hard to believe. . . . . . . . . .
it is not a "Diver".
Let the neck go and. . . . . . . it stays where you left it!!
Mmmmm, how does that work???

Well, more to come later, so I'll leave it at that for now.

Cheers.

Hi to all you Outposters.


Hot off the press!!!!!!!!!!!!

Go Here

http://www.229thevenue.com/



PETER COOK, GUITAR BUILD, LUTHIER AND MUSICIAN - LIVE WITH "JULY"

Peter has just come back from Spain - playing live with July and has told me about the
gig on the 22nd of October - also sent me this artwork.

If you fancy seeing Peter Playing live, register and get your tickets.
Simple enought to do. . . . . I've just managed it!!


All the best.

Cheers.

Hi to all you Outposters.

Just thought I'd drop you a line to let you know that I'm still around.

I do pop in a couple of times a week, just to see what you are all up to
but haven't really made any contributions.
So, with my hand operation just around the corner. . . . . I thought I had
better write a few words while I can still type at a reasonable speed.

Had to cancel some gigs (Oh No!!) one of which we have been looking forward
to for ages - Outdoor thing in a Marquee at a local Steam Rally. 
They have been very good about it and want us to come back next year.

Hey Ho.

For those not in the UK. . . . most of us seem facinated by steam.
This is what it's all about.
http://www.rempstonesteam.org/

Anyway, I'll be out of playing action for 4 - 6 weeks, they say and typing
with only one one hand will probably edn up lokin smthng lik ths!!

I am still keep up with my blog and am now trying to arrange a get together
with Peter Cook and all the owners I've found.
Kenny, "Stand by your bed". . . . . I'll be in touch - or it would probably read
il b n tch!

All the best to everyone.

Cheers.

Hi to all out there and in particular, Kenny.

I have, after some time, managed to meet Peter, have lunch and
coffee with him, whislt we meandered through the 60's, 70's and 80's.

I have started off a section in my blog and as soon as I can, I will
update it.

http://flatericbassandguitar.blogspot.com/2010/12/peter-cook-guitar-builder-eric-and.html

As I said in my blog post, a great day!

Sit tight and I'll keep you posted - I have promised not to detail anything without
checking with him, so Kenny - mum's the word, for the moment, on what we discussed. OK. Ta.

Cheers.

This is mainly for Kenny, as I know he is a big fan and custodian of the Marque!

I am doing a whole load of pics for my collection project and finally got round
to taking some of the Axis.
These are after a gentle rub down, putting the bridge the right way round and
gigging the beast!
It is a credit to the previous owner, who I am very grateful to, for looking after
it so well.









There you go mate - you can go and 'ave a lie down now!

This thing is AWESOME, which is a word I do not use lightly!!!
Look at the thickness of the body!

The sounds you can get out of this thing are infinate and I do mean Infiate!

Trying to get my head around what these "apparently" few simple controls
had me baffled, until I received this from a fellow Four-Stringer.


Eric!!!!
I've found the book and it mentions the controls!

Here you go:

1. volume knob (near back p/up)

2. cut/boost knob offering 15dB cut/boost

3. Frequency knob which works in turn with cut/boost knob (essentially, you've got
a parametric system - freq range of 80Hz to 20KHz).

4. pickup selector switch

5. pickup phase mini toggle switch

6. Active/Passive mode mini toggle switch - I assume this is a 3 way job as it says
that you get `passive with top cut, full normal passive and active on'.

Here's the actual text from the book;

The three rotary controls govern volume (aided by a pickup selector switch) but the
further two tone pots are not in use when the bass is set passive. When active, the
final two pots offer cut/boost of +/- 15dB and the frequency selected on, what is in
effect, a parametric eq system. The switches offer pickup selection, pickup phase
and active/passive mode control; which means passive with top cut, full normal passive
and active on. Overall, the frequency range covered is 80Hz to 20KHz.
Soundwise, the Axis is possibly the most versatile active bass produced in the UK.
A staggering variety of tones is obtainable; a far cry from from some of the less than
phenomenally ranging active basses of recent years.
If you can memorise these functions and avoid setting unusable tones, then the overall
potential is incredible.

Hope this is of use mate!

Cheers!
Nick

There. . . . have you got that??

Here is a pic of the man himself with "some other bloke" and a shot of his old shop.
Very little is documented about Peter, which is a real shame.
Something should be done about it, which I have tried but to date, I have not got very far.




Would love to see another one.

All the best.
Cheers.

Flat Eric.

Just pooped in to see what you are all up to.

It would seem, from a quick glance, that in Kenny's advancing years, he has developed "post fever"

Looking at al the last replies in the column, it is mostly listed from Mr 51st State.

Keep it up lad!!!

This is my Rare Ibanez Destroyer 2495B, 1976 and
after searching for the last couple of years, I have found a
case that fits it perfectly. Yipee!! So. . . . . I can gig with it now!
Well, perhaps.

For all you seasoned Firebird players and similar basses, you
are no doubt used to it being a little neck heavy. Yes?
Well, somewhere I have seen an "S" shaped strap that
helps ease the problem and makes it much more stable.
The thing is. . . I can't remember who does it/where I have
seen it! I think it is a USA product.
Any Ideas??

Hoping you can help.

Cheers. 

Anyone else got one? Would love to see some pics.

Hi to all.
Many thanks to Kenny Five_O for his advice on where to put all the pics.
I explained that there were all sorts and he said the best place would be
in here and add to it, so, hoping I have got it right, here goes.
My Firebird Twin, is in Guitars and there is a Canadian Oddyssey and some
T-40's in "Other brands"
I have been collecting, on and off, for around 35 years and in all that time,
only sold around 15, or so, of them!
As Kenny knows, I am relatively new to this forum stuff but would love to hear
from anyone who has what I have, to see if their take on it is the same as mine.

Ok, let's start with a couple to get going - off to the pub soon and then Sunday
lunch, Mmmm, so I will only post two up.

Greco GOB II Bass. If you ever see one of these up for grabs. . 
Tell no one, only ME!
If anyone has played one of these, you are a lucky person. Such a great Bass.
Even balance on all strings, hangs perfectly and compared to other stuff I have, is nice
and light. Lovely neck.





Ibanez 8 String You don't see many of these!
This is now 30 years old and is in supurb condition. I have done little to it, oiled
the board set the action and intonation and plugged it in.
Anyone who has an 8, will tel you that when you go back to a 4 the sound is a
little. . . .  empty! Huge piano-like tones, with a whole host of variation on the
controls - with active, as well. 






Hope these have brightened up your Sunday. Off to the pub, now.
Cheers.