Saying g'day and sharing my new acquisition

[Kevin zibell]

Hello bass people,

I just wanted to say hello from Ballarat Australia to the cyber bass community. I've played bass for about 45 years now, having started on an old Egmond that had a hard wired guitar lead! I'm left-handed so the carpenter next door used his circular saw to make an extra cutaway! We've come a long way in 45 years!

I've had a Noyce N4 fretless since 1978 and, late last year, took delivery of the second-produced Noyce-Howell semi-acoustic double bass. It's a wonderful thing, and will provide me with lots of new horizons.

I play in a surf band (the double bass provides an interesting dimension there, and I use it on about 50% of the repertoire in conjunction with the fretless!) and also in a 50's-60's rock 'n roll band where the sound of the double bass provides a fantastic authenticity that I hadn't really anticipated.

As you can probably tell, I'm thrilled with the Noyce-Howell. Its portability makes it an attractive proposition over a conventional double bass and, while it can't match the acoustic sound and volume of the conventional double, a small amount of electronic enhancement opens up all sorts of possibilities. I'm most impressed with the sustain and the depth of tone and just love playing it.

[drumsnbass]

can't say as I have ever seen or heard of your basses.
want to post a pic or two? where are they made?

[Jo-bass]

Hee Kevin Zibell,
I've been playing bass for 2 years and i like to play.
My question is: What's a surfband like? What kind of songs are in your repetoire? I play on a Ibanez soundgear, beginning bass. My amp is a hartke serial A100. I like the rock-sound of it, and in combination with my Ibanez it sounds very well.
Hope you can answer my question!

[Kevin zibell]

Hello Drumsnbass,

Sorry, got your name wrong first time!

easiest way to check out these basses is to go to the website:

www.noyceguitars.com

My double bass is pictured there. Hope you enjoy the views!

[Kevin zibell]

Hello Jo-bass,

The surf band I play in started playing a range of 60's guitar instrumentals (eg the Shadows, the Ventures, Dick Dale, the Chantays and Aussie band the Atlantics). More recently we have started to diversify and now include a fair few vocals with some more contemporary surf/cuban tunes (Los Straitjackets and some of Ry Cooder & Manuel Galban). We hope to incorporate some gipsy swing, maybe acoustic using the double bass, in future. The surf instrumentals are usually pretty fast and lots of fun to play. You might remember th etheme track from "Pulp Fiction". Good luck with your Ibanez!

[drumsnbass]

Originally Posted by Kevin zibell

Hello Drumsnbass,

Sorry, got your name wrong first time!

easiest way to check out these basses is to go to the website:

www.noyceguitars.com.au

My double bass is pictured there. Hope you enjoy the views!

for some reason that link would not open... oh well.

[Kevin zibell]

Sorry mate, my mistake, drop the "au" and you will be in business.

Go for :

www.noyceguitars.com

and look for my new bass on the SA Double Bass tab

[drumsnbass]

WICKED looking DB there! NICE!