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Hi My Name Is Bassguy
(hi bassguy)
and I'm addicted to straight razors.
I like the way they look, I like the way they smell...
All I ever really wanted was a irritation free shave.
Now I can't stop looking for a few great shiny ones to own.
Could be worse though, I could be hooked on the 3 H's:
Hooch, Hoes, Heroin.
welcome looks like you've already contracted RAD :gl:
There is only one thing that offers TEMPORARY relief for your ailment,,,,,ANOTHER RAZOR!!!
just wait, spend enough time here and you'll get hooked on:Quote:
Originally Posted by bassguy
Hones, Henckels and Harris :)
welcome!
A.K.A. the hair of the dog that bit you. :DQuote:
Originally Posted by coachmike
yea, every time you think you have as much as you need and think you are leaving this addiction something happens and they just draw you back in.
Luckily, I have two really good razors already, so even though I've tried a couple real pretty ones, they can't compare to my sporty Helje and medieval Fili. So far. I'm still going to try as many razors as I can get my paws on, and hopefully keep no more than 3. To think: three months ago I custom ordered a japanese razor from Murray Carter (of camping knife and machete shave video fame) and thought I'd try Western straights while I wait for my name to come up in the queue. By the time that happens, who knows where my collection will be. Thanks for the encouragement though. Where were you guys when I was quitting hand rolled cigarettes?!?
But why, at the cigar lounge, of course :roflmao:roflmao:roflmaoQuote:
Originally Posted by bassguy
Yep...Quote:
Originally Posted by thebigspendur
I think the Sicilians started Straight Razor Shaving.
<insert cheesy Al Pacino 'Godfather' movie quote here>
Unfortunately there is no cure for those AD's.
It's going to be an expensive ride!
:)
Don't know much about the straight razor but from what i have been able to learn you need to be a bit more specific in terms of what you are looking for. Straight razors tend to be a very individualistic and are an expression of the man's individual tastes and likes and dislikes, unlike the cartridge razors of today.
What suits your fancy? Do you like the look of the round tip, the spike point, or how about the sheath? Do you like a bone handle, how about a colorful handle or a solid color in white or perhaps black? Its more like what is to your likeing.
Yeah,Right.....:rofl2::rofl2::rofl2:Quote:
and hopefully keep no more than 3
I only have two, one carbon and one stainless. I haven't been afflicted by RAD yet.
It's a lot like musical instruments for me. I know as soon as I hit the first string whether it works for me or not. With with my upright bass (Grace), I bought it brand new 7 years ago. It didn't exactly ring any bells, but over time it has developed a character and tone that make me quite proud to own it; no other bass sounds like mine, and it will only improve with age.Quote:
Originally Posted by jbcohen
My electric bass on the other hand, is a 1968 Fender Precision Bass, bought as a gift a few years back. I knew as soon as I put it in my hands that this was a special fit. There were other vintage P basses on the wall I could have chosen from, even one from '63 that played a little better, but this one just complemented my hands and touch in a way that only seems mystical because it's hard to explain.
Bottom line, to quote my jazz mentor Roy James, "What do it sound like?"
I had just that experience with my Fili 13, and in a different way the Helje 31, two totally different razors in size, shape, steel, and scales.
I tend towards natural materials and excellent craftsmanship. If someone made it by hand I have a lot more respect for it. I think steel quality and functionality are higher on my list than what the point is. Collectibility is the enemy sometimes, because it drives the price of razors way out of proportion to how they actually shave, which is different for each person. Grace is beat up, scratched, flawed, and my most prized acoustic possession. My Fili will lose its etching and original scales when Max cleans it up for me, but it shaves me the best (so far).
In short, "What do it shave like?"
How did that happen? I somehow passed the 2 year and 1000 posts mile marker without noticing. How silly I was then. And now. At least my irritation and ingrowns are practically a thing of the past.
Hey! You look familiar, havent I seen you around here before? Congrats on the milestones!
Quote:
Originally Posted by bassguy
Way to resurrect, eh?
I was going to ask whether you were bassguy like the fish or bassguy like the awesome roaring foundation of any well-made song.
My P-Bass is a 2008 American Standard, which I bought after 25 years of being a Fender naysayer. I also have a 5-string Lakland which has a great neck, and I just unloaded a Godin A5 fretted.
I've dreamed of getting an upright since I first started playing, but I realised this year that they're really two separate instruments, and have elected to let go and just concentrate on getting better on the electric. Letting go of a dream happens with a jolt, but I'm okay with it now. So I'm putting 4 grand down on a NYC Sadowsky 5-string in September. Should be ready for my 40th birthday next May.
What you said about collectability is true of more than just razors, Mr '68 P-Bass ;-)
.
First Post WOW
Hey, Bassguy, I'm holli4pirating. Welcome to the forum.
I used to play a beat up Warwick 5 string but eventually found its sound unsuitable for the blues/rock stuff I was doing at the time. I too was a Fender-Hater until someone put the P Bass in my hands and I was forced to come to terms with the incredible feel, tone, etc. I keep the P-Bass around because it was a gracious gift and I find it good for late night Bach readings now and again to get my ring finger a little workout. It's post CBS I think, so not super collectable, but it plays better than anything else I've ever held.Quote:
Originally Posted by Jes
Some time in the last 5 years however I decided, like you did, to devote myself to just one and I've been an upright bassist ever since. My upright is an 8 year old chinese fully carved bass, their top-of-the-student-line model. I've had gut G and D (and I firmly believe every bassist needs to spend a year playing guts, period) and Velvet Garbo A and E on there for a few years now and they work well enough for me in jazz or classical situations. I recently made my own sound post, endpin socket, and a series of endpins out of hardwoods like bubinga and kingwood. It's really made my bass louder and warmer, not to mention more personal. I haven't used an amp in at least 3 years.
The next step is turning these pieces of ivory I have into nuts and saddles. I'm also experimenting with using tagua, vegetable ivory, for nuts and saddles. I think these could be a great alternative to the synthetics they use, and possibly warmer sounding than ivory, fossil, etc.
Do you play finger style? What kind of amp do you use?
Wow, sounds cool about those endpins and such. It's amazing what you can do on one of those standups with some choice wood and a few skills, eh? I have a lot of respect for upright players, and if I'd taken the bass a lot more seriously a lot earlier, I might have been able to make the same decision you did. Of course, the kind of joints my band plays in are less than condusive to something that big, but still...Quote:
Originally Posted by bassguy
Wow, ivory? If I tried to import ivory into Canada, I'd have my wrist slapped hard. I think mammoth ivory's okay, as is walrus, though... I'd have to check on that. I'd kind of like a mammoth ivory nut on my Lakland.
I play mostly fingerstyle. there are a few covers we play that kind of call for a pick, but I'm generally less comfortable on the plectrum than with my fingers. I play two slap notes on a good night... or maybe that's a bad night: I'm a crappy slappist. Heh...
For the amp, I have an older, UK-built Ashdown EVO II 500 running into a 210 cab (a matching UK-built Ashdown). The series now been moved to a Chinese factory, so my old British EVO has a *little* bit of caché these days. I'd really like to find another, matching 210 cab one day, but most of my gigs these days involve going into the board and out to the house, so I don't get to use it as much as I'd like-- and can't really justify buying another cab.
Ron Carter came into my music store a few times in the past weeks, I might offer to make an endpin for him out of a nice choice piece of Mexican granadilla. I don't do much woodworking but the little bit I've done has been incredibly rewarding. I'll see if I can dig up some pictures somewhere...Quote:
Originally Posted by Jes
Yeah, slapping. Heh, not this guy either.
When I did use an amp I favored the Acme Low-B cabs, I had the mini 1x10 "pea shooter" and two 2x10 cabs powered by the humble Acoustic Image head or my buddy's Bassman. I have a Fender Showman and 2x15 cab back west in my parent's house in disrepair, I should probably get to that at some point.
The ivory I picked up from some crazy lady here in NYC who's dad restored brass and ivory carvings. Some of the pieces will make good wedges for scaling razors, some might make good nuts, who knows. I've been looking around for walrus ivory lately as a possible option for my bass AND scaling needs, but the export rules on it seem tough. PM me your address, I'll send you a few goodies.
If it's the ivory you showed me at the meet it's beautiful.
That was the tagua, or vegetable ivory. I've got some new stuff ;)
I may have to hit you up for some of that so I can make finger buttons for my 1957 Mt. Vernon Bach Strad.
Wow, that's a nice piece of wood.Quote:
Originally Posted by bassguy
Er, *the* Ron Carter? That's very cool. You don't see a guy like that walk into a MOntreal music store very often.
PM me about your store. I'm supposed to be headed down to MYC to visit the new Sadowsky shop and order my 40th birthday bass in Sept or Oct. I may end up havign to do it by phone instead, btu if I do go down, maybe I'll swing by your shop as well.
I hadn't realised that walrus ivory was resrtricted as well. I guess that changes things...