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They used to be happy to get something out of a box and weigh stuff, but now they don't. I suspect their new massive automated warehouse system would get in the way of wandering over to get one off a shelf. It's a shame but I kind of get it for them - they are probably warehousing hundreds of incoming basses a day. It would need a dedicated team to weight stuff on the way in and stick it on a site like smaller places can do. But it is also why I won't buy a bass from them anymore.

I'd like another Jazz Bass at some point. I used to have one but it didn't speak to me. I realise now that I didn't understand the nuances of how to dial in the pickups for different sounds/occasions - user error. This SBL vid is what has piqued my interest again... @17.40

@acidbass - you might be SOL there. They only seem to do them in black on their own website and seem to use Babicz solo rails on their own basses.

I'd like to make this same mod on my NG3 5 string, but I think BD only have the bridges in black. I'd love one in chrome. Time to email Payson I guess!

Bruce Springsteen and the mighty E Street Band last night at Co-Op Live in Manchester. Seen Bruce many times but not for a while so hoped he’d still be up for it, and he absolutely was! They played for over two and a half hours straight through, with no signs of tiredness or slowing down. As well as Bruce, incredible performances from all of the 17 piece band, especially Max Weinberg on drums and the very cool Gary W. Tallent on bass. Gary mainly used a short scale Spector, but also a Guild Starfire semi in natural which sounded immense. Nils Lofgen was also on fire, being given quite a few extended guitar solos. A great sound for such a large venue, and well organised inside too. Shame the parking was so hit and miss though - okay getting in but dreadful queues on the way out mainly caused by conflicting crowds from the Etihad stadium next door. The football crowd should have been gone before we left ( kickoff at 8pm) but in a brilliant lack of consideration there was an extra 30 mins or so added to the game ( a special leaving feature or something) which meant both arenas emptied at exactly the same time. 70,000+ people trying to get away simultaneously meant a lot of frustration for all. Then our journey home involved two lengthy diversions off the M62 so I got in around 2am. Still, an amazing evening with an amazing band, wonderful.

Well Thomann just lost out on a sale. They have a few Lionels in stock so I enquired on the weight of two of them - approximately 5kg for each was the response. I very much doubt that, clearly a figure plucked out of the air, but if they can`t be bothered to sort out the actual weight for a £1600+ transaction then they can go and brew theirselves a cupoffukoff.

It's generally a good idea to push the neck to position anyway and use the rod(s) to hold it in place. (Unless they're dual-action ones.) This chap explains the reasoning. Ric documentation used to say bend it over your knee, but using a bench and clamps is probably a bit more refined. On a Ric, keep both roughly in-step, ie. don't do all on one and have the other loose. Also, on a RIc, press on the fretboard (at the 1st fret), not on the headstock (since you've got the TRC off, you can see there's not a lot of wood there to be pushing against).

Manna machine. Stranglers

Right. I didn’t have the joy of configuring this one but apart from the bridge, it is what I would have chosen. TBH I mostly use it passive anyway. I had a play at configuring a medium scale Jake on Public Peace with two soap bars, chambered body and lots of other “name” parts. I nearly had a heart attack when I saw the price! Now I know the truss rod could be dodgy I certainly won’t be pulling the trigger.

P.S. I look forward to reading a review when someone takes the plunge. Obvious comparisons are going to be drawn against another British manufacturer’s products. BlueLine wins on looks IMO and I am sure the performance will be impressive.

Machine Messiah - Yes

I knew these were coming, having had a dialogue with @stevie when I bought my second Monza recently. They look great and I am sure the spec will appeal to a lot of folks. Well played @stevie!

We're playing at what's referred to as an "emerging band night" at a really nice venue in Rawtenstall, Lancs on Friday night. The flyer should be attached here... And then we're at the Darwen Live mini festival on Sunday (Sunbird Records 5.15pm) alongside loads of other good stuff. Music here: https://deadtenantmusic.com/

There is no standard, when configuring your bass it is there as an option to what preamp you want.

OK, now a bit more reading and I find out that all of that information was pre-1984 truss rods. Post 1984 truss rods work like any other truss rod, except there being two of them, so back to a bit more of a comfort zone, except for not having any imperial sockets!

Wow! Stumbled across this thread by accident. I had no idea that there are issues with Maruszczyk truss rods. I had seem comments about the quality of the screws used but truss rods? I also hated the standard bridge and it took ages to find a drop in replacement with screw adjustment for the intonation. Touch wood the rod on my Elwood 4a 32” has been OK so far. It has very little relief and I haven’t touched it since I bought it secondhand. It’s my main gigging bass for the Blues/Rock band I play in and I would be gutted if the rod broke. I’m not sure I could afford the kind of repair/upgrades you have had. BTW I think the Glockenlang preamp is the standard active offering. It certainly seems to be the unit used in my bass and the spec sheet doesn’t have a specific mention of a non-standard preamp. Anyway, I’m really pleased for you that you have your bass back intact and with the action where you want it. It really is a beauty!