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Two whole decades after my last bass guitar purchase I've finally lashed out and increased my collection by 100%. But - you ask - what can it be? A classy Fodera? A Wal? An original stack-knob Jazz with OHSC?

Just spotted this. To add a little context - although it's not an excuse as such - you caught me on an exceedingly bad year, with my wife going through chemotherapy and me trying to run the company single handed I just could not keep on top of admin, especially when it fell outside the usual workflow. Yours is not the only case of this, I just didn't cope with keeping on top of this stuff. We are also REALLY struggling with backorders/stock so it'd be very difficult to switch it out without having anything physically in our hands to switch it out for. Our rep is rightfully taking a bit of a hit for this, with some orders having had to wait as long as from August 2018 ... Left handed bassists! Grrr 😉 Hopefully we'll see you back for a bass in the future, although if not - I'd totally understand.

OFC (harrumph) this list is useless because it doesn't break Metal down into it's 19 true sub-genres, 14 associated moods and 5 extra dark undiscovered corners. /tongue

Bass arrived today...sent to my office with the neck off, for safety reasons...wanted to put it together there and then but unfortunately the thing they pay me for got in the way...bl00dy work!!! They say "the camera never lies"...I say "poppycock"...no reflection on @Andyjr1515's ability to take photos but the bass is infinitely (well, "much better" anyway) in the flesh/timber than in the photos. Neck feels luvverly ...so smooth and playable. Along with the light (40-100) Warwick strings, it invites you to play it more...or is it playing itself??? I spent about a minute trying to feel where the veneer joins the body - pointless exercise - smooth as a newborn's backside. This really doesn't feel like a £200 bass with the @Andyjr1515 touch...it feels high end, as good as anything else I own or have owned (big claim there) - check the "a few of TheGreeks" thread for details of what's on the list (including my two previous builds by Andy). Not a secret how much I love the Nanyo SGC basses - IMO well balanced, great tonal palette, in fact still very under-rated even though they do have a big following. What Andy has done is take a plain looking bass and made it beautiful - has added a few per cent to the quality of what is already a good bass and pushed it into another league. I could go on...but, instead, I'm going to plug it in and bash out a few licks for the next hour or so. My thanks and appreciation to @Andyjr1515 for another fine job, well done. Has exceeded my expectations yet again...

Either of Richard Baker or Ted Rogers in a ginger wig would do. Skank's not that fussy...

I think we can rely on Skank to keep any adornments tasteful. A bit like this, perhaps....

Update: I've shimmed the neck to drop the action a touch, tweaked the relief and filed the nut a bit lower. It was already a nice easy player but now it's exactly how I want it. Sorting the intonation required the Telecaster compromise where one string is very slightly flat at the 12th and the other similarly sharp. Maybe a cent or two out and therefore not audibly a problem. IMO, 2-saddle bridges not a problem (for me). So half an hour's work and it's spot on for my purposes. Other things: immaculate paint job; really nice neck profile with a pleasant satin finish; smooth and tidy fret ends; supposedly 'cheapo' tuners actually feel perfectly solid. Minor issues: a bridge plate screw is slightly squint and the neck pocket's a bit rough. Slight fret buzz at 11 on the G but I won't often be going up the dusty end. That's the geometry sorted. Next step, the sonics, then bling it up. Still happy

And perhaps the best reply ever too! https://www.joinmyband.co.uk/classifieds/im-handsome-like-phoenix-and-play-all-instruments-t1171843.html

Such an article must surely have occurred after the following exchange at the office: Editor: 'Folks, we are on a tight deadline and we need some bass content urgently. Rob, can you just draw up some kind of list thingy based off your own preconceptions which requires no research whatsoever?' Rob: 'Sure thing boss, I will get right on it after I finish this Pot Noodle.'

I attach a recent photograph:

Well, NBBW really... And oh dear. I joined the bandwagon. I’d been gassing for a 5-string PJ and some of you recommended a BB. Of course, it was only a matter of time before a BB435 came along and I just couldn’t resist... Initially, I thought the neck and string spacing were too wide, but after a few days getting used to it, it seems like I can play a lot faster... it’s an odd sensation. The overall balance of the strings across the fretboard is OK. I wish the E and B stings were a bit snappier around the middle of the neck, but then I realise this is an entry-level bass. Overall I’m impressed by the quality at this price-point. It’s well-designed, with the right attention to detail. It plays great and the pickups sound brilliant. The bridge is the only thing about it that feels a little underwhelming. It’s not a deal-breaker, but anybody know of any drop-in replacements? Anyway, I didn’t like a few specific things about the 735 - plus there are some big changes happening in my life - so I decided not to go for a more expensive bass. Time will tell if that was the right thing to do. Until then at least it’s a lot of fun to play!

I'd happily see at least 16 of those, and there's far more to see than the ones on the poster.

Baker or Rogers??

There is much to admire about the 'explosion in a Swarovski crystal factory' approach but it would clash with my intention to pair the instrument with a stage costume comprising white tie and tails, this in keeping with my plans for a one man Fred Astaire tribute act. Tappa tappa!

This is broadly where we're headed...

Yay! Thanks Johnny. You win first prize -- a visit to Cearnafon castle (as long as it's free to get in!). 😀

It's that Chaka Khan song, isn't it? Can't remember the title but it's sampled from the Fatback Band's "Do the Bus Stop". Disclaimer: I'm currently camping in a field near Caernarfon so am unable to contribute a new clip. Edit: very nicely played too! 👍🏻

No. But I have some of these:

Me too, never had one then, and nature/middle age has decreed I can’t have one now!

The Repairs and Technical and Build Diaries sections of Basschat can be very useful.

Late addition to the bill...

Go for it* *He said, with no authority whatsoever

So, I was right, and this leads on to my next point. Do you have the falcon?

Hah! No, sorry, didn't mean for it to come out like that. I'm a serial gear flipper but a (my) 1001ii is one of the very few things I regret selling and I wish I'd held onto it. There's enough out there that I'll just wait until I need an amp again before buying another one, but if I ever do see mine for sale I'm buying it back whether I need it or not.

Well, I finally lost the plot and did what I knew I'd do the minute I bought the half a kg trace elliot elf amp ..... I bought a 40kg all valve amp to replace it! I've been after one of these for ages. By nature I never really go for the obvious choices in anything - cars, music, clothes - my main gigging amp is a quilter and my bass a g&l, so in a weird way Laney becomes a much more attractive amp for me than say an Ampeg, Trace, Fender etc. I got it in pretty much unused condition and I'm chuffed to bits with it. I've never had a full valve amp before. I've had ashdown abms with the one valve preamp, but nothing else. But this, this has 12 valves! Massive ones at that. The control panel despite looking confusing is very simple. Pretty much all of it is standard, but the panel has extra options in switchable lo mid and hi mid frequencies and boosts and cuts (I love the fact its covered both mids) and a 6 band switchable graphic too. On top of that it has a presence dial, which helps bring the mids and top end more to the fore. Likewise a deep dial which is used to tighten the bottom end. Theres also a one knob compressor that seems to work really well and also add a bit of bite. The tube option has both a tube drive and a tube level, so you can get more out of the tubes at lower volumes. Now, heres the brilliant bonus....not only does it have an awesome valve section, it also has a fantastic fet section, so you can run it just fet, just valve, or have a combination of both! Love it! I'd wager this is also a fantastic saver should anything go wrong with either section. Simply switch to just the other. Sound wise....gees, its unbelievable. Paired with my laney n410 it's really really powerful. Even at its lowest level, with the bass guitar turned right down and the pad button in, I can feel the bass vibrate through my legs! Real real heft if ever I felt it. Gorgeous tone so far, with lots of tone shaping options. I simply cant wait to get it in a practice room soon!

Aren't you sleeping on your '66' under the bed? 😉

As above, could be the valve has worked loose a little which would be the first thing to check, just open up the head by undoing the top 4 screws and sliding the head unit out of the sleeve. Just check the valve is seated nice and tight and give it a wiggle. If that doesn’t solve the issue then the valve may need replacing so pop in a quality 12AX7. If that doesn’t solve it(it should) then just give us a call 01621 857853. Let us know how you get on. Good luck!

I guess Lee didnt post the bits to me as promised, so in the end i scooted off to a local nut n bolt supplier only 1/2 mile away and not only did he have the corrrect allen key grub screws for saddle height and the intonations screws, he supplied the grub screws in stainless and the other screws in zinc plated, which is a bonus over the mild steel originals which were rusting. The only parts he couldnt find were the intonations springs, but i found a bass bridge in one of my chest of draws and robbed the springs from that, so its job done The SB 900 bridge is now buffed and refitted.

Thank you and a Great tune Frank 👍, I’m liking this at the mo

Dale Watson and his Lone Stars, at the Exchange in Bristol. This guy is phenomenal. His style is somewhere between Bakersfield and Sun Studios. He plays excellent country guitar and sings at the same time, and is also hugely entertaining. His band (drums, upright bass, pedal steel) are tight as a gnat's chuff*. The bass player was a guy called Chris Crepps, who also sang high harmonies. *gnat's chuff - unit of measurement for the adjustment of action at the nut on certain modified guitars

Who gets to play Ginger?

Ooooo, I hadn't seen this one...here's mine 😀

The licensed Ultralites are genuinely great, I had them on a Cort B5 and they were absolutely rock solid and very smooth. One screw hole though so on a Sire you'd have exposed holes, with the Schallers you have to drill 2 new holes per tuner IIRC as two existing ones line up, the old ones are covered by the base plate though so once they're installed everything looks fine. You'll need the 11/16" nuts for Ultralites btw, they only seem to be available in 1/2" (13mm) or 3/8" (10mm) on Bass Direct, or just use some tape! I kept all the original parts as modded budget basses tend to be hard to sell for their composite value. Don't envisage selling it any time soon but you never know.

I've never owned or played a bad Stingray. Well designed, well built and great sounding instruments the lot of them

Damn, I was about to correct my post but you beat me to it! GARY. Sorry.

@BassBunny That's the preamp in my BC. Using your 1st photo and working L-R Bridge pickup hot. Neck pickup hot, Red to battery clip.Next 3 solder lugs are grounds (mine are pushed together with a big blob of solder covering them). A very fine yellow (2nd in from right) to jack socket. Far right black to jack socket.

I'm slightly confused and if I'm honest I am solely responsible for my confusion. We have never met, are unlikely to meet and in addition, I have never seen a picture of you. Yet, I've somehow always imagined ( as one usually does conjur a mental image of others based purely on their ramblings within these forums) that you were a rather large Nicholas Soames /Patrick Moore type look-alike. Based on that assumption being correct, this bass is far too small for you.

Lovely! I'd be tempted if it had an extra string, a rosewood board, and was a different colour.

A mellow one from Bunny wailer from 1987