Ian McFly

I just asked Adrian if he can offer a satin finish on a metallic colored body (Inca Silver for example, which Fender, Sadowsky or Valenti have done). he replied “no, it makes no sense, sorry” Ah. What?

Smaller body = risk of neck dive

I feel like my "chops" have slightly improved, as I've had more time than ever to practice at home... when I say practice, it usually is noodling around or playing along songs... I'm not much into scales and stuff.... I know I know.... But yeah, I feel a bit more confortable around the neck, it's hard to explain, I've been playing for 18 years but there's nothing to show for it haha! I really miss playing with my band, we got lucky to be able to rehearse (safely) between August and November, then obviously things changed again... I can't wait to get back in the practice room, and plan a gig! But I'm not like some of you who have stopped playing.... I'm quite the opposite, I pick up one of my basses as often as possible, and my GAS for a new bass is stronger than ever.

Bad move from EBMM.

Shuker’s work is good, but I came across one recently (a friend has one) and I didn’t really like the feel of it. Anyways.... When it comes to instruments, there’s millions of options on the planet, some overlap with each other.... A Shuker might end up being in the same ballpark as a Valenti, I just prefer what I can get from Valenti, that’s all. Personal taste and choice. I was saying that the M21-J4 starts at $2000, and yes options are chargeable. But you mentioned a 3000+ instrument, which is not the case here. @Kev he started by building off the shelf Warmoth kits yes. Nowadays, he gets his necks and bodies built to order by a small factory (akin to Warmoth but much smaller), he then puts them together and does the finishing job. See it as a company with the building workshop being miles away from the finishing workshop. Nino might not build the main parts himself, he still delivers great custom instruments.

He put some dodgy stuff on the back of the headstock.... Jimmy Coppolo that is. Nino Valenti is a sound, cool guy.

The prices you’re quoting are his high-end models. His entry model starts at $2000, and for that money you get a quality “super Jazz” made to your specs. After shipping and tax, it’s roughly £2000. Yes it’s pricey, but again, how much is a Stingray? Or even a Fender Ultra? The latter is in that same ballpark, for an american made factory instrument. All of Valenti’s work is made at a small scale, with minute attention to detail, with quality pickups and preamps such as Aguilar or Nordstrand. Again, I’d be more than happy to make a UK builder work, but I’ve yet to find one that would do a bass that has the specs Valenti can get me. In Europe, I could go cheaper with Maruszczyk (I already have a 5 string from them), but still, it wouldn’t be the same specs/finish/shape/electronics than the Valenti. Anyway, we’re way off topic.

Mehhh Not going full custom with a builder with zero reputation and ugly designs Why is everyone trying to change my mind? Valenti's bass are incredible value for money (less so here in the UK but still great instruments), Nino's communication has been top notch so far, and I want to support small builders... as long as they can offer what I request, and Nino does.

I've been through all the UK builders and none offer what I want to the letter. Valenti does. I am not going into full details, but it'll be a modern Jazz. Nothing classic like Limelight's work. And I don't like Shuker's stuff

Problem is, there's a strong psychological impact when it comes to prices. When they teased the new colours, I was SO keen to get myself a StingRay Special 4HH, spent hours on the SS topic on Talkbass to gather as much info as possible... got excited by that new Frost Green colour.... got myself in a mindset of "£2200 is expensive, but I guess I could afford that by the end of the year"... and THEN, saw the new prices. That very bass is £2899. That's £700 more than what I was expecting/ready to pay. I'm sorry, but I won't fork out almost 3K on a standard, factory made bass. Not when you have no say in any of the options. £2200 was steep enough, but 3K, no way. So yeah, as I said before, they lost my interest, and whilst I'm not the centre of the universe, I assume a lot of us have given up on the idea of getting a Stingray or Bongo this year. I'd be genuinely curious to see EBMM's sales volume by the end of this year, for the UK. I really, really doubt they'll sell loads of instruments. Heck, there will be very limited availability anyway. You'd be lucky if the model you want is even in stock before Christmas 2021! So yeah, for less than what I was planning to spend, I'll get a custom made Valenti bass. Jazz style, so more my thing in the end (not even sure I'd have bonded with a Stingray Special after all), and I will choose MY specs. And yeah, there are cheaper options in the UK (is there though?) as mentioned before in this thread, but I'm not interested.

Different strokes.... as long as you're happy I like my basses more discreet (ish). Anyway, the point was that the new prices are RIDICULOUS.

Well you sir have the weirdest taste in basses then

Well it's a good point... Look at the prices of these indonesian made Sterling basses: https://www.andertons.co.uk/stirling-by-music-man-sray-5-bass-hh-spalted-maple-top-natural-burst-satin-maple-neck https://www.andertons.co.uk/sterling-stingray-4-poplar-burl-top-neptune-blue-satin-rn Speaking of which, why that stubbornness in doing Stingray shaped basses with those funky wooden tops? It doesn't suit the model IMO. A Stingray body calls for a plain colour, or maybe a transparent finish on ash at best (again IMO). Same stubbornness in releasing the weirdest colours for their american models.... like a glittery pink with gold hardware... WHY? Who would seriously consider that colourway???

You beat me to it. Surely in a year or two, I can’t imagine them bringing the prices down. Unless they realise that they REALLY struggled to sell anything at that price point, and decide to lower prices a bit, but would that be fair for people who paid full price?

The Ernie Ball forum is the weirdest cult-like forum I've ever seen If you don't agree with summat there, you're dead.

Yeah, stock instruments ordered by dealers/local resellers. But when I ordered a US Sterling in 2016, it took 6/7 months to arrive and was made to order. Oh and I was able to choose a different pickguard colour.... and only paid £1400 for the bass brand new (but had discount as a friend worked for a music shop).

Plus, everything is made to order. They don’t produce for stock like Fender does. So, if you charge that much for an instrument, SURELY you could offer a choice of hardware colour, or fretboard... and some “basic” colours like white... if I fork out £3000 on a bass made to order, I’d like to choose my specs.

Hell, my Sterling by Music Man SUB Ray4 is made of Basswood and Maple.... cost me £350.

Surely, there’s also an increase in production costs involved (and supplies as well, ash wood might have become more expensive recently), and the fact they’re producing less so need to make up for it. BUT, the fact that the UK increase is three times the US one, well that is proper greed indeed.

Got any names? All the ones I know of don’t offer what I want

Repeating myself here, but Nino Valenti can build me a bass (Jazz style, not MM though) with MY specs for £2100, with premium components and building. And that’s after shipping from USA and includes UK VAT.... food for thought.

Unless you’re a “friend” of the company or an artist with decent exposure, you won’t get anything custom from MM. If you’re a famous YouTuber like Fluff and got friends at MM, you can get a Stingray guitar with a unique finish. Or if you play bass for a band like Neck Deep, you can have a pink Sterling. Otherwise, you have to pay an extortionate price for a standard instrument.

If you live in the US, Fender offers the Pro Mod service. Basically an American Std P or J with a choice of colour, neck wood and pickups... much cheaper than a Stingray, even imported (if you can find someone in the US to order it for you). Different animals though

£2899 and £2999 for the models I was interested in... it’ll be a hard pass for me!

Proof that it's all become a sh*tshow!