skej21

[quote name='dood' timestamp='1388597886' post='2323869'] I totally understand that they make pickups in all the sizes that sell best, but it really messes with my pseudo-OCD! Take EMG for example. I like their blade design active pickups such as the DC soap bar - but, I've a crazy pang to have an MM pickup put in one of my bass guitars that has a pair of DCs in already. My problem is that none of their MM pickups are the same size (length) as the DCs. Once installed, they will look untidy and unmatched. Delano again do a range of really nice pickups and I have a pair of SBC 'driver' soap bars in another bass that are the Bart P2 size. Again, looking at that bass instead - and having a pang for an MM sound - none of the MM size pickups they make as standard are the same length as the available soap bars. Am i too fussy?? I just like all my pickups to look even you see. Not too much to ask! I'd love to have custom pickups made, sure, but the one-off tooling would be costly. Thoughts? [/quote] Well if the hints coming from the Facebook page are anything to go by, it looks like Aguilar are releasing a soapbar MM style pickup, possibly at NAMM. Might be worth checking the dimensions and they could be another option to consider?

Unless Gareth was the one who logged in to the item listing and ended the auction, you don't really have an argument. It's the seller that you have the problem with because they are no longer willing to sell it for what you want to pay. Either pay what the seller wants or find another bass that is for sale at the amount you want to spend. To publicly blame Gareth for a decision that the seller made is unfair and more importantly unproven.

[quote name='gjones' timestamp='1388837701' post='2326596'] Actually I know the story of that one. It was picked up on gumtree by a basschatter for £150 (by another clueless seller) and put up for auction on ebay the very next day for £665. I don't know if he still has it or not as it's not listed on his profile any longer. [/quote] It's a scam, Jim but not as we know it!

[quote name='Wooks79' timestamp='1388834885' post='2326536'] Thing with this is, either way round, regardless of its 'worth'* if someones not happy, then they don't have to buy it/sell it? (*I put this next to worth, cos isnt anything only worth what someone is willing to pay at the time you sell? If I have a one off vinyl, that is so rare its 'worth' a million, but I don't want it, and I only get offered a thousand pounds, is that not good to me still? If I was happy to accept, I would be £1000 better off!) [/quote] The point is, you would know its a rare one off and would make a judgement on what it's worth based on that. If you had inherited a vinyl collection, took it to be valued and the valuer/buyer said 'it's all just average stuff, I'll give you £100 for the lot' knowing that there was in fact a rare one off vinyl in your collection worth £1000, he's essentially scamming you, knowing you'll base your decision on what YOU think it's worth and what you'd be RELATIVELY happy with. IF the same valuer said 'you've got a £1000 vinyl in here!' your expectation would immediately change, and rightly so. Buying an item from a clueless seller on ebay who is selling on behalf of a friend (therefore having no knowledge of what they are selling) whilst knowing its true value but trying to take advantage is up to you and your moral compass. However, you can't complain if someone with different morals then informs the seller and they change the expectations of what they want for it (however accurate their new idea of its value is) as that's the seller's right.

[quote name='Wooks79' timestamp='1388833900' post='2326523'] Also, considering I kind of pointed the conversation in this direction, I would rather it moved away from pointing at gjones in this instance, and was more about the actual idea of people getting involved in sales threads/ebay/gumtree etc. when they have no interest in buying themselves, and may be giving good/bad advice, as that is what I feel is actually making an interesting conversation here, and I don't wanna see the thread get locked... Lets play nice, cos everyone whinges when a good thread get locked [/quote] Fair point. At the end of the day, I don't see any difference between knowingly offering less money for an item than I know it's worth (ie, knowingly ripping someone off) and someone trying to sell me something that's worth less than they ask (knowingly ripping me off). Sites like ebay just offer an environment in which people can take advantage of others, in both directions. If they have a 'report' button to allow ANYONE to inform ebay of a seller who is trying to scam someone, surely it's just as acceptable for ANYONE to inform a seller to offer them similar protection in the sale of the item?

[quote name='Paul S' timestamp='1388833223' post='2326506'] Personally I am saddened to see the flack Gareth is taking here. He *did the right thing* and acted with altruism. Something, it seems, that is not acceptable with the greedy folks these days. A reflection of how society is going down the tubes, maybe. Every man for himself and sod everyone else. [/quote] My point exactly. If I found a rare bass in a shop or for sale by another (knowledgable) basschatter i'd expect to pay a FAIR price but some people are just out to get whatever they can at everyone's expense but their own and then have the nerve to complain when the victim gets wise. Very sad.

This raises some interesting opinions I must say! People are VERY quick to judge a seller if it's deemed that they might be trying to scam buyers on ebay (exploiting a potential buyer's ignorance of an item by selling it as something it isn't) but some members think it's more than acceptable for the reverse to happen (exploiting a seller's ignorance of an item by buying it as something it isn't!) IMO, gjones has simply informed the seller of what they have, giving them the chance to make their own judgement on what they should ask for it and avoid a more knowledgable buyer trying to take advantage. If they come to the wrong conclusion through their research and price themselves out of a sale, that is nobodies fault but their own. It's funny that taking advantage of someone's lack of knowledgable (which is really why sites like ebay are so popular!) is so acceptable if you're benefiting but not if you're on the receiving end! It's a crazy world.

[quote name='geofio' timestamp='1388704948' post='2325233'] nice i got the 75 pj re issue and the neck is wonderful on that bass.beats any of the american basses around at the moment. sheer class. and i am a £1000 poorer too but well worth the dosh. [/quote] Personally, I think the Japanese Fender stock is often better than the US standard stuff which is why they're so difficult to get hold of (and why Fender restrict the exportation of them as they undercut the US standard models for price/quality). This is another example of that. For less notes than a US (bog)standard Jazz, the detail and style makes that a real stunner!

I played the sunburst TC6 that they had in Coda music and it was unbelievable. Go and try one out as they're worth every penny!

[quote name='paul_5' timestamp='1388787869' post='2326192'] Bakithi Kumalo… http://youtu.be/nAgd9Ijw6WI [/quote] What an absolute legend. Boy in the bubble is just perfect. 100,000,000 bassists could try and put a track down for that and none of then would play something better suited IMO.

[quote name='ambient' timestamp='1388785833' post='2326159'] Probably my favourite bass player. Here's a great clip of him player solo. Don't bother watching if you don't like solo bass or his bass has too many strings . [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6zPyauaJpWQ&feature=related"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6zPyauaJpWQ&feature=related[/url] [/quote] Absolutely fantastic (both the playing and your choice of thread title!)

[quote name='bassmachine2112' timestamp='1388775548' post='2325993'] [sub]Sideboard with to many strings[/sub] [/quote] Sideboard with TOO many strings :-p Sly insults from those who cannot spell correctly will not be accepted :-)

Owning two sig basses, I actually feel mixed about them. In principle, I find the idea of owning a replica of someone else's bass odd (unless you're in a tribute band or a HUGE fan!) so I went for the whole 'go in and try as many as possible and buy the one that is best!' idea. Both times that turned out to be the signature model. There isn't a jazz bass I've played with a neck quite like the Geddy. For me, I loved it and wouldn't have had that profile on a standard production model. Similarly, I went for the Nate Mendel precision because the neck profile is so different to the other standard precision neck profiles and the addition of the bad ass bridge, quarter pounder and nitro finish swung it. I suppose the feel and sound rather than the signature on the headstock made the decision for me.

[quote name='molan' timestamp='1388611293' post='2324083'] To be fair I don't think anyone has said I shouldn't fit flats to an expensive bass. I think the core 'thrust' of this thread is the old favourite 'spending any more than £200 on a bass is a waste of money because my bass sounds perfect and that's all I spent'. It comes up again and again, often with a slightly different slant, but that's generally the gist of it. . . [/quote] Nobody has said it but the title hints that it's a negative thing to put flats on an expensive bass, presumably due to your 'great leveller' theory and how fitting them will somehow make the expensive bass sound like a £200 bass with the same strings.

[quote name='Beedster' timestamp='1388605926' post='2323993'] I think it's a logical assumption (flats being a WOT on a decent bass) until you try it. I was, to say the least, really surprised when I heard them on my Flea. Flats appear to sit in a rather retro/tame/vintage place on BC, I've heard that they're harder to play, that you can't play slap on them, that they don't work on active basses, and that they have no highs, all of which are wrong. The range of character, tone, frequency response, gauge, and tension of flats means that you probably can't generalise about them as a category anyway. In short, it was an understandable attitude [/quote] BIG plus 1! Also, does it really matter how great/sh!te flats sound on someone else's expensive bass? I like the sound of flats on my bass and that's all that matters. I'd never tell Molan/anyone that flats shouldn't be on his bass or suggest its a waste of his time, it's just pathetic (and mostly not based on any actual firsthand experience!)

I'm a big fan of the James Johnston Classic Vibe jazz bass. It looks great (lake placid blue is lovely IMO) and the quality is superb (the matching headstock is a nice touch too). I also really like the Classic Vibe '60s Precision too!

[quote name='hamfist' timestamp='1388601915' post='2323916'] There's no purple. It's a gloss black finish. What you think is purple is the reflection of a pink blanket in the finish. [/quote] Ah! That's what was putting me off. I imagine it looks nice on black :-) a greyscale Union Jack plate would look cool too!

[quote name='hamfist' timestamp='1388584828' post='2323645'] Am I the only bassist around with a love of flamboyant pickguards ? [/quote] I like the pickguard and I like the bass but together... Not for me I'm afraid. Purple (the finish) and blue (in the flag on the pick guard) just don't look right together for me!

I really enjoyed it (mostly)... I thought John Newman was unbelievably poor but enjoyed rudimentals without him. Lumineers were a bit pointless, they could have just put a YouTube clip on instead as it was pretty much an identical performance to the recording. Mel C has an alright voice and was ok but showed her popster approach to performance as she lacked any connection to the song and looking like her movements were a bit false, especially when compared to how amazing, soulful and natural Ruby and Charlie were. Dave swifts Fodera was HUGE and he's a big guy but it sounded great, his playing (as always) was brilliant and his Aguilar stack is just another source of GAS!! Everyone else was great. I particularly enjoyed Laura Mvula and pretty much watched it because of Haim! All in all, it was pretty good :-)

[quote name='Dom in Somerset' timestamp='1388579594' post='2323542'] I'm under the stage, I'm 6'2" , only 5' head room! [/quote] Ah. In which case, there's not much you can do. Most pits are uncomfortable, it's all part of the challenge/fun/experience lol!

I've had mine for a few weeks now. Totally stunning for the money! The nitro feels lovely, the quarter pounders are fantastic and have such a great range of tones (depending on where you attack the strings) and I'm actually really liking the black pickguard in the flesh! I am considering switching out the quarter pounder for something a bit less aggressive (I'm thinking maybe an aguilar ag4p-60) but that's a distant plan, I'm more than happy with the quarter pounder for the foreseeable future :-) If anyone is thinking about buying one of these, don't hesitate! Superb quality and a great price :-)

Jazz bass on a short strap for me. Sometimes precision depending on the sound needed (used it for hairspray as it was perfect!). Talk stalls (usually used by upright players) are good as you can sit in a half-standing position and it removes a number of issues. The bass sits well, you can see past people and you don't have to stand for the whole show. Worth a try?

[quote name='thisnameistaken' timestamp='1369167619' post='2085820'] I never go in Banks', although last time I did they had two of the Antigua reissues in which was surprising. I like the look of that bass, very surf-friendly. [/quote] Ah that's a shame! It'd be nice to have more bass players coming in for a chat, even if you don't fancy buying anything :-) (I do try and get as much stuff in that's interesting with my limited influence! Allen Woody rumblekat, Gibson EB13, Gibson SG Bass, Jack Casady, Nate Mendel precision, Antigua precision, Fender Lacquer classic 60s Jazz bass and Ibanez SR1200 have been a few of the cheeky highlights this year!) I am pushing VERY, VERY hard to get some Aguilar gear in but whether it materialises is out of my hands!