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East Tennessee Talkbass

#301
Hey all- I need a recommendation on DB-qualified luthiers in the Knoxville (not Nashville) area. I've got this posted in the DB forum but thought I needed to get it in here also for my ETTB brethren to see.

I have a fretless electric bass, the Douglas WVEB violin bass, that needs to have some planing work on the fingerboard. I'd rather go to a DB luthier for this type of work instead of Guitar Center, or someplace like that. It's an inexpensive bass, so I don't want to drop $200 on it, but since this isn't a big double bass ebony board, I figure a skilled tech can do this in just a matter of minutes, so maybe under $100, hopefully.

I do know that Wilhite Strings is still in business, but they said Bruce isn't doing the shop work anymore, they have someone doing it for them. I've also left a message with The String Workshop in Oak Ridge, since they are only open Tues-Thurs these days.

Any other recommendations?
 
#303
iamoldschool said:
Michael, if you don't find someone soon, let me know via PM and I'll check with Tommy @ The Trade Center. He's a good local DB player and may know someone.
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Richard, I may take you up on that. I will be checking back with some folks on Tuesday after the holiday, but don't know if I'm going to find somebody who will do the job for cheaply enough to consider it.

The bass cost me $140, so I'd like to find someone who would do it for $30-40 or so. This may be hard to find. But if someone has the right radiused sanding blocks, it'd only take about 10 minutes or so to do.
 
#304
Probably next Tuesday, I'm going to take the bass over to Oak Ridge to The String Workshop in Jackson Square. Seems fitting, since I see that place every time I play a show at the Playhouse.

I talked with the owner on Tuesday and he said that he can do the planing/radiusing job for $60-80 or thereabouts. He does a lot of string instrument work for the Oak Ridge band students each year, just getting finishing with the back-to-school work glut. He also does a lot of work for both the Oak Ridge and Knoxville symphonies.

I was hoping to find a luthier who works primarily on string instruments, because in some respects this violin bass of mine is more one of those than it is a regular bass.

I'll keep you all posted on how this goes next week and how the bass plays when it's done.

Also, I have a bid on eBay going right now for an Allparts Hofner-style rosewood bridge. If I win that, it will be a nice upgrade over the stock bridge, which is cheapola.
 
#305
You're going to love the work done there. Anything acoustic I own goes through his shop if it needs repair. If he ever retires, I'll be lost as to where to go. Top notch work and reasonably priced.

MichaelVee said:
Probably next Tuesday, I'm going to take the bass over to Oak Ridge to The String Workshop in Jackson Square. Seems fitting, since I see that place every time I play a show at the Playhouse.

I talked with the owner on Tuesday and he said that he can do the planing/radiusing job for $60-80 or thereabouts. He does a lot of string instrument work for the Oak Ridge band students each year, just getting finishing with the back-to-school work glut. He also does a lot of work for both the Oak Ridge and Knoxville symphonies.

I was hoping to find a luthier who works primarily on string instruments, because in some respects this violin bass of mine is more one of those than it is a regular bass.

I'll keep you all posted on how this goes next week and how the bass plays when it's done.

Also, I have a bid on eBay going right now for an Allparts Hofner-style rosewood bridge. If I win that, it will be a nice upgrade over the stock bridge, which is cheapola.
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#311
Tigger Bangdang said:
So, any recommendations for an East TN GTG? maybe this fall?
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Hey Tyler- welcome to the ETTB thread/club! I just replied to your PM.

We've talked about doing an ETTB GTG, but haven't pulled it off yet. Several of us, Richard (iamoldschool) and Jeff (rollerberg2000) especially, have suggested some of us meet at one of their gigs and do a hangout there. That'd probably be the easiest thing to do as long as those of us with gigs keep posting the dates and times here ahead of time. A few of us would need to commit to going so we could expect it to happen.

The other possibility is the classic "gear GTG" which is what a lot of the TB area clubs do. It does take a lot of space to do that, and obviously it has to be in a living space or a business space where the amplified playing won't disturb neighbors. So, if someone with a good-sized living space in their house might be interested in hosting a gear GTG, we can talk that up as well.

I would expect that any GTG we have would not be dozens of people. I'm guessing with schedules and all, we might have ten or so at most, so that would not be an army in someone's house. And it'd be a good tableful at a gig. We have quite a few people who've passed through this thread on TB, but probably would not come out in person for something. We definitely have a good number of regulars who would, though.

I'd encourage all of you with an ongoing interest in the ETTB thread to make sure you're subscribed to it so you won't miss any news on gigs or GTG's, new gear days, etc. Click this link to subscribe.

Michael
 
#312
I'm sure we could do it at our church building in Maryville, it comfortably holds 200 people! Probably have to leave the adult beverages at home tho....:p

Soul Driver is way up in Scott County this weekend, next Friday we play in Powell at Spicy's. Nice place and good food, not crazy about the stage though.
 

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