mcnach

Nice. I liked #1 and #2 the best, and #5 too. Probably #2 for me. I didn't like #3 or #4, especially #4.

what? miserly cheapskate? That's a bit harsh, @stewblack is a nice guy 😛

@Frank Blank They're good, and if you take your time to decide EXACTLY what you want, it can be a great way to get a really custom instrument for not a lot more than a new US Fender, which is crazy. However... communication can be a bit tricky at times, and customer service after the sale could be smoother. In contrast, Sandberg just seem very responsive and easy to deal with. I'm not saying don't buy a Maruszczyk (I owned three and still own one that I love), not at all, but if what you want can be made by Sandberg at a price you're happy with, Sandberg is probably the safest bet. If you want an extensive list of non standard specs, Sandberg can also do it but Maruszczyk will be more competitive in price. If you want an aged finish... then Sandberg all the way. I'm not a fan of aged finishes but the Sandberg ones look great and very realistic.

It's probably due to the finish. A glossy lacquered finish takes more time to do than a satin oil finish? When I was considering finishes for my VM4, I thought I'd try a non-aged version. That would put the price up a few hundred, apparently (it was a non-standard colour, so that might have also factored in), since small imperfections are ok in the aged versions, plus they don't need to buff them quite as thoroughly.

I thought that was the model name! "Sandberg Disuasion - the bass you'll never buy." Hmm, probably not a great idea. Sandberg and Disuasion don't go well together: there are lots of reasons why a Sandberg TT4 sounds like a good move, and I can't think of a single one against it...

Mint looks better, I think. Or black.

Well well well... The Squier Bullet Telecaster was sold out, and they told me they'd have another shipment in September. In September they had the Stratocaster but not Tele. It's ok. I don't need ANOTHER Tele, loving my red SX. However.... this? Classic Vibe range? Nice tinted and lacquered neck? I just ordered one. Thanks for the heads up!

You, sir, are my hero for the day

Yeah, I wouldn't state the gender restriction on my ad, you never know (and I am very surprised at having such restriction to start with), same with age. Late last year I started a new project, 8 of us, all above 50 except one trumpet player who is 27. Then we needed a drummer. One guy that got in touch was 18. I was not really keen, I admit purely on prejudice... too young, likely flakey, likely no transport, etc etc... but I'm so glad we asked him to audition. Not only he's a really good drummer, he fits in personality-wise very well, and he's just a really decent, mature for his age, reliable and considerate human being. I feel terrible I considered not even giving him an audition based on his age.

Of course I do not know this, but I suspect this originated from a couple of comments by somebody, not a general feeling. Or maybe the landlady didn't like the competition My personal experience (no statistical significance implied, just what I personally have seen) is that having females in the band does not get in the way, if anything the opposite: the band looks friendlier when it's mixed. Frankly, if I hear a pub has a rule against bands with female singers, I doubt it would be the kind of bar I'd enjoy.

No, you're not alone. While it's not the best piece of engineering... it works fine for me. I like the saddles with the little grooves that allows you to set the string-to-string spacing. It's a very agricultural method, but it works for me. Maybe I'm easy to please

You can find the date from the serial number here: https://www.music-man.com/serial-number-database edit: Boo! It doesn't work for preEB instruments

I checked this a while ago (years before the newer models came out) on the Ernie Ball forum: So it looks like it extends higher than some other preamps, but the maximum boost is still around 40 Hz. However the 3EQ has an HPF too, which will remove some of the lowest frequencies too (I was unable to find the specs of this HPF at the time).

Hmmm... Let's go one better and have both batteries installed, but with a switch for one or the other. When running low, switch to the other battery. Replace at your earliest convenience. Should be easy... although not as easy as leaving things as they are

A little dramatic (setting us up for failure0 but I agree: a bypass switch should be stock. Unless you like 'active pickups' where a bypass is not possible, but carrying a couple of 9V batteries in your gigbag is a pretty easy insurance policy, in addition to replacing batteries regularly (in my case, once a year). Disclaimer: no, I'm not perfect and my Stingray died on me, on stage, once. I had forgotten to replace the battery and it was almost 2 years going. Fortunately, I had a John East preamp that I asked to have a bypass switch installed. I finished the set, and put a fresh battery in during the break.

Hi Steff! Long time no seen! Yeah, my comments about sharp edges/corners is purely my visual impression as I never have had one in my hands. Same about the pins, they *look* to me like they would not be comfy but I defer to the experience of those who have actually managed to try one. I'm always a little sceptical about these things, but that was a nice video! Often demo videos show the bass in isolation, but you were playing along a mix, and yup, the clips with the new bridge do sound as if the bass is a bit better defined with better presence especially around the low mids, can't argue with that!

My VM4 doesn't, unless it's switched to passive. I found out the day I went to replace the battery and... forgot to put a new battery in. It took me a few minutes to realise the error, when I saw TWO batteries on my desk.

What the OP wanted to know is whether the covers can be replaced or not, which was amply ignored by the reply the OP was given.

That was exactly why I didn't buy a 48 in May last year. Got a VM4 instead. I really wanted to like the 48, but lacking that horn meant the playing position was all wrong for me and it didn't hang well enough for me (I tried two 48s and I wouldn't say the neck dive was terrible, they clearly have tried to address that as much as it is possible with that shape, but there's only so much you can do). This one will certainly improve those two aspects

If you can't get this fixed yourself, feel free to PM me (I'm in Edinburgh) and I could look at this for you.

I sold my last USA SUB last year. I've had three 4 string and one 5 string. All sold for about as much as I paid for, so 350-400. I feel I should have waited another year or so and could have made a few quid! Got my 2002 Stingray (2eq natural/maple) in 2010 for £700 with case. Immaculate. Those days a new one was about £1100-1200. Ten years later, new ones are almost twice that, and they're different (not worse, but different). So 950-1000 for a used one in good condition doesn't seem unreasonable, and you can't get those new anymore anyway. When you look at what you can get from Fender for that money, the Stingrays look like excellent value. I've been toying with the idea of a new one, I like the finishes, their lower weight, and the fact they are still unmistakeably a Stingray yet it sounds a little different. But the whole covid killing off gigs is making me reconsider, as live music was 90% of my playing.

Oh but it does! It just doesn't sound like a Jazz doing soft and subtle. But I think I know what you mean. I don't like the big body of a Jazz bass, or the skinny neck... but I've had more Jazz basses than any other kind, because there is just something about their sound that I always want to have one around. Or seven, as it once was.

NOW we're talking! This one should balance much better! 😍