skej21

[quote name='mickster' timestamp='1409224656' post='2537656'] OK I'll have a stab: USA Standard: Latest version of the same classic P bass that has been made since the late 1950s. Highlights include custom shop pickup, rolled edges on neck, satin finish on back of neck, graphite support rods to strengthen neck. Traditional P bass tone circuit. Through body stringing. Hi-Mass bridge allows thru-body or top load stringing. Comes with good quality hard case (at least my 2012 model did). USA Special: Cheaper version than std, but still made in USA instead of Mexcico / Indonesia / China. 'Greasebucket' tone control, standard mass-produced pickup, traditional BBOT bridge. Not drilled for thru-body stringing. Still has graphite rods in neck (?). Gloss finish on neck. Neck edges not hand rolled. Allegedly cheaper hardware (tuners, nobs, electronics). Allegedly bodies use slightly more bits of wood than USA Stds - can't confirm this by experience. No hard case. Never heard of a USA Series. The other range is the USA 'American Vintage' series: These are recreations of original USA Stds from the 50's/60's/70's. Hardware is recreated as per the original model, and subtle issues like body & neck shape conform to vintage specs. These are finished in Nitro, which is thinner and wears much quicker / differently than the poly based finishes in the 2 modern models above. These come in sexy (but less practical IMO) original style hard cases. Hope this gets you started. There'll probably be someone along soon with more specific info / opinions on the diffs & whether they're important or not.I have a US Std & am very pleased with it FWIW. Take a look in the BC for sale section, as will be lots cheaper than buying new. [/quote] The US special models come with deluxe gig bags instead of hard cases. It's also the fingerboard edges that are rolled. Lower end US models (standards or specials) are 2-3 bits of wood in the body (it's the Mexican factory that have no wood waste and can have as many bits of wood as it takes to make a body). The USA deluxe models have 2 or less bits of wood. So do the US American vintage basses (2 bits or less) but feature side seaming to hide the join.

[quote name='wateroftyne' timestamp='1409143508' post='2536757'] When the OP specified that they weren't using drums... [/quote]

[quote name='andydye' timestamp='1409054724' post='2535797'] this will eventually be my position when I've played around Sheff a bit more and know a few more bands, I'm relatively new to this local scene so don't know many other bass players yet to be able to do this... [/quote] We always provide contracts for any gigs to ensure we're covered for payment. These also include additional contracts for hire of our equipment at festivals or shared gigs etc. If the venue choose to use our stuff and sign the contract, they agree to pay for the hire and cover damages by other bands/acts using the equipment. If they choose to not sign and use someone else's gear, we have them sign a different contract that allows us to use out gear and remove it from use for any other bands, meaning we can politely say 'the promoter has provided that back line gear for you' to anyone else whilst packing away our gear. It's fairly easy to cover yourself if you plan ahead. Musicians Union have some great pre-existing contracts and contract templates to use (and also a great legal team who can help you when someone does eventually try to bend the rules on parent of equipment use etc).

[quote name='Cameronj279' timestamp='1408997847' post='2535422'] Going to invest in a pedaltrain mini board and was looking into a decent power supply that won't break the bank (too much). I like the idea I'd this but do worry about it being essentially a large battery and worry a little about the battery life and how it operates when the battery isn't fully charged. At most I would be using it for maybe 6 hours a day and it would be powering 4-5 pedals (Tc Polytune, Darkglass B3K, MXR bass compressor (almost always on), MXR Envelope filter and possibly another pedal at some point) Opinions from people who have used this before would be appreciated before I take a plunge [/quote] I'll try and keep to the info but this is what I thought after using it: Plus points are that it's not tied to a socket and can be recharged easily and quite quickly. Negative points are that, due to it being a battery, the second you turn anything on you're not running at full whack. Additionally, the more pedals you use (or more power they require, like my 18v Aguilar TH pre amp pedal) the quicker it runs out. My test of the volto lasted approx 40 mins continuously using the Aguilar TH pre amp and TLC compressor. The BIGGEST downside for me is that when the battery does run out, you cannot simply plug it back in and continue using it. It's kind of like having an iPhone. If you run the battery so low that the device turns off, you have a waiting time whilst it is on the charger before it will boot up and allow you to leave it plugged in AND use it. The volto is the same. So you somehow have to catch it before that point and plug it in if you think it is about to fail. It's great in short bursts and I imagine it'd be great if your are a sales rep travelling and showing off pedals in short bursts or only use pedals for one or two songs in a set and don't require them to be on continuously. For me, that wasn't the case so I ended up getting an MXR DC power brick which sits nicely in the recess under my pedaltrain nano :-) Hope that's at all useful!

Can I just ask, as I think it's in the interest of basschatters with money to spend. On previous threads, there were a number of unhappy members who had dealt with Jon who have not made an appearance in this thread. Is this due to issues being resolved as promised or restrictions by moderators? Surely it is beneficial to us as prospective customers who base our decisions to use ANY company on the input of those who have already used it, to hear both sides of the story? Additionally, if Jon has completed the orders like he promised, that's a really positive and important thing so it's be great to share that here. However, there seems to be a distinct presence of those members who did not have a positive experience and had been promised basses by Jon. I am aware that previous threads have been closed due to negative content but surely those members with negative experiences are as valuable and important in these discussions as those who have positive views?

I tried strap locks for a while but found that I was being way more clumsy and careless (ie, leaning over to tweak pedals with bass attached, swinging all over or putting it around my back while I was looking at stuff) and putting way too much confidence in the fact I had strap locks... Until one went! I went back to grolsch rubber seals and they've never failed and I'm much more cautious.

Unreal. Mark is a genius!!

[quote name='tom1946' timestamp='1408732524' post='2533093'] Do the necks have rolled edges on these? [/quote] Mine does :-)

Tell them to jog on. They just want you to do all the hard work and take all the money because they think you're happy with the kudos of saying 'I'm gigging in London'... Gigging in a sh!thole that rips you off is a venue to avoid no matter where it is located!

[quote name='Greggo' timestamp='1408644045' post='2532198'] Yum! That's lovely.Only thing I'd change is losing the budgie perch :-) [/quote] But where would little Billy sit when I'm playing?!

[quote name='afterimage' timestamp='1408734211' post='2533118'] Thanks went along to dawsons in Liverpool to try one out wasn't happy with the construction. Fit and finish left a lot to be desired. On the thunderbird Gibson the epiphone. Was finished better. Also tried a eb basswasnt happy with that either but Nice sounds from both. Glanced. Over to fender rack. All looked. Better finished. And fit [/quote] If you like a thunderbird, get an Epiphone thunderbird classic IV. Gibson USA pickups but less than £400 and similar quality control. About £450 if you get a case too. Much better than the price tag for the Gibson model!

[quote name='wateroftyne' timestamp='1408655777' post='2532360'] Cheers! It's been #1 since I got it, which - considering it's a J - is remarkable...! [/quote] It's the nitro for me. It just so damn comfortable and worn in. The fact that it sounds killer helps too but the feel of my limelight bass is just lovely.

Go on then, I'll play :-) my '64 lightly relic'd precision with jazz profile neck. http://youtu.be/_ta-7TIq7e0 More info here: http://basschat.co.uk/topic/241445-nbd-limelight-64-precision-bass/page__hl__limelight%2064

[quote name='Greggo' timestamp='1408639579' post='2532145'] Goodness me I never really got whole relic/roadworn thing but seeing this thread has made me appreciate them in a new light. What a stunning instrument! I'd love a white and tort p with jazz neck and light relicking if I had to custom choose my own bass from him [/quote] Like mine? http://basschat.co.uk/topic/241445-nbd-limelight-64-precision-bass/page__hl__limelight%2064 [url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/63696245@N07/14784181985/][/url] [url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/63696245@N07/14784181985/]Body Front[/url] by [url=https://www.flickr.com/people/63696245@N07/] [url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/63696245@N07/14783830512/][/url]

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1408624590' post='2531900'] Quite. And this morning the current mrs discreet mixed some 'I Can't Believe It's Not Butter' with real butter, so now I don't know [i]what[/i] to believe. [/quote] 'I can't believe it plays like butter but isn't Fender butter, butter'...

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1408615310' post='2531761'] Wahey! Another NBD thread, then... [/quote] Another 'the best Fender I ever played isn't a Fender' thread ;-)

[quote name='M@23' timestamp='1408567994' post='2531492'] A mate of mine loves Rickenbackers and has a 4001 as well as 12 and 6 strings guitars. I just don't get it. They really do feel cheap and plastic to me as well as being expensive and twangy sounding. But, like you, I love Fenders, which many would also say I'm a mug for! Choice is a wonderful thing. 1st world problems and all that... [/quote] Totally agree! I think the existence of various basses is important. Without what I consider to be horrible basses I'd not like what I have so much :-)

[quote name='RhysP' timestamp='1408561066' post='2531412'] That's exactly the way I've always found them; they just feel cheap & mass produced to me, not to mention big, heavy & cumbersome. The Stingray 5 I had was one of the biggest disappointments of any bass I've owned; I got it "as new" for an incredibly low price & still felt that it wasn't worth the money. [/quote] I feel the same. The ones I've played all felt very cheap and always disappointed, weight wise, tonally and aestheically. I've played sub £300 Epiphone basses that are built to a higher standard and have a better tone and that's saying something. They are a big company so will always have the fanboys who love them but I just don't get it. Saying all that, I like Fender. I imagine the guys who love Stingrays etc will think I'm a mug for liking Fender. Different strokes and all that jazz :-)

My Precision is just under 9lbs :-)

[quote name='thebassist' timestamp='1408461318' post='2530417'] "it will be used for reading gigs and gigs where I need to be able to play a large range of repertoire, meaning I would like a large tonal palette" Would you want it EADGC or BEADG? [/quote] BEADG. I do too many theatre gigs with low Ds and Cs to not have the low B string. As far as tone goes, i need to be able to dial in passive precision style sounds to slap tones and modern mid-heavy jazz tones. The SD video would seem to show that the bass overs exactly that!

[quote name='BassBus' timestamp='1408456199' post='2530343'] If Overwater build it for you you can have anything you want, within reason. They are fantastic basses! Having the pickups in that position just means it doesn't quite have the breadth of tone that others with wider spaced pickups might have. You can't move the neck pickup any closer to the neck as it sits right up against the neck pocket. The bridge pickup could be moved if you want. They are not cheap basses but they are worth every penny. When I ordered mine I spent three hours with Chris and Martin discussing the options. I adore mine and wouldn't be parted from it. [/quote] Money is not an issue. I've been looking at specs and pricing a number of custom basses if I can find what I like. Out of all of them, the Scott Devine really caught my eye as the 16.5mm string spacing is the one thing I consider essential. Outside of that, I'd choose to have walnut or buckeye top (the walnut is already standard on the SD model) and I like the idea of the 33" scale length. I also like the idea of buying British. Outside of that, I would quite like the scope to have a versatile bass tonally as it will be used for reading gigs and gigs where I need to be able to play a large range of repertoire, meaning I would like a large tonal palette. As such, I'd quite like to have the 'bridge' pickup slightly closer to the bridge. Might be time to really settle on spec and get an email off!

[quote name='GregBlach' timestamp='1392488872' post='2369400'] Thanks for the inputs, gents. Visog, as I wrote I was looking for real-life user experience and honest opinions. The specs were great and the video too, but still nice to get an honest and direct review. Anyway, as it turned out I really, really liked the bass and bought it. Great playability and gorgeous tone controls. [/quote] Sorry to resurrect this thread but do you know if the SD signature is customisable? Every spec on this bass is pointing towards being the perfect bass for me but the one thing id want to change is the pickup placement. Does anyone know if it is possible to have them further apart, more like a traditional overwater pickup setup? To be honest, if someone who owns one could give me feedback on how the pickup placement works/sounds, I might even be convinced to keep it as is. Any feedback would be great as I don't really want to bother the folks at overwater with such a small thing!