eude

Ha ha, but of course! It's meant to be for my 40th birthday at the end of December, however I'll try and record a little noodle before I put it away till then. Watch this space Eude

Complete and utter filth in the best possible taste of course! I can't wait to get my grubby little paws on this bass, a dream brought to life, thank you @Andyjr1515! Eude

How about that? Not a Hybrid, but a great amp and lots of dirt options built in... Eude

This.

Could you go for the Ashdown Spyder and change the valve(s) to get more grit? Ashdown might be able to abvise you on that... Or, how about one of these? https://www.andertons.co.uk/bass-dept/bass-amps/bass-amp-heads/orange-4-stroke-500-bass-amp-head Eude

I'd second this. Neil can wind you a more regular feeling string with a thicker core to meet your requirements without feeling like you're playing on suspension bridge cables. Rig wise, shame you missed out on this >> That would've been the perfect solution to such an insanely low tuning, for very silly money. Eude

They're a custom set wound to 125TW 100 80 60 40 28 in Nickel, and they are wound to feel as close to those gauges on 34" as they can be at 31.5" scale. I believe they have thicker cores. I tried heavier and lighter strings, regular, tapered, and exposed core and the 125TW felt about right. I've played Nickel for a long old time, but I've just ordered a Stainless Steel set for one of my 6ers to maybe get a little more bite. All in, I can't recommend Newtone strings enough. I used to use DRs, mainly Sun Beams, but their quality control became appalling, and as much as I liked the Sun Beams, they were a little too mellow, and the Lo Riders, a little too much. The Newtone Nickels sit perfectly in between for me, the feel of Sun Beams, but with a little more edge and poke. They're hand made here in the UK, so using them supports a local business too is a nice extra as well. If anyone wants to hear how the B is on the shorter scale with these custom Netwone strings, here's some samples I did when I got my first ACG short(er) scale 6, apologies in advance for the playing >> Cheers, Eude

Andrew Gouche is an absolute legend!

I cannot even begin to explain how chuffed I am with this! Eude

The 5 string bits were a Stingray, right?

Theres no "product design process" at Fender not any more, no measurable innovation, no more original thinking, just new/reissued colours and occasionally, a failed mashup. I think they should at least be looking to what they build for their endorsers as CS instruments for some actual inspiration and fresher ideas, albeit still based on old school designs, Mike Kerr's input would probably generate something of interest >> I also think over £1000 for a new, hatcheted Mustang is crazy money when you could pick up an original late 70's one for similar money if you shop around. I should add, this is just my 2p, as a self confessed, extremely bored of Fender guy... Eude

I don't think you've got anything to worry about mate! Eude

I completely agree, that tone IS Flea. However, I've always loved his tone on BSSM, and that's a Wal...

Yup, I heard the same. I expect that's why he keeps the Modulus basses to hand, I can't expect any Fender will be more stable than a Stingray, same construction etcs. Eude

I totally agree. I can see where they are useful in some respects but if it means that appetite for a brand or product just dies off as a result of layers of margin, then manufacturers need to act to protect their own livelihood. Selling big brands at a loss simply isn't viable any more, not that it ever really was, if the big boys won't play nice, then they won't get invited any more... Eude

That is GORGEOUS!

By the current exchange rate, £1299 for the head, translates as roughly $1660. But, in the US it retails at $999, which is roughly £780, and it will sell for less in the shops. I'm not sure that can be blamed on the exchange rate, it's more like a good old fashioned bully ramming! Still I'll be there's money to be made bring some back from the US and selling them here... Eude

F!!! Me! Those prices are literally insane! £2175 for the 2x15 cab!? Can anyone think of any other companies that charge as much for cabs? The head, I guess, it's expensive, but you can justify that price a little more given all the R&D and resultant tech that's gone into the head, but the cabs?! Wow. Eude

Cool, will go check it out. EDIT: for anyone else that's interested, it's here >>

Thanks for the info, and yes I agree, given the spec of that bass, it could easily have been MIM. My personal experience of Fenders has been that it really makes no difference where they're made, there seems to be a random indeterminable QC factor that effects all Fenders, in fact the nicest P Bass I ever played was actually a Squier which used to belong to @sk8, several years back. Eude

Are there any significant differences between this and his personal CS basses? Do the CS ones have one of those Lane Poor pickups like Flea had in his Modulus basses?

I absolutely agree. I don't think there's anything particularly special about this new bass that precludes Fender from popping out a more affordable version, bar perhaps the Aguilar preamp. Fender's own pickup, hi mass bridge, fender branded tuners, this kind of kit appears on other Fender basses at a 3rd of the price. As you've said, I expect the real market for this kind of bass will be with fans of Flea and the Chillis. Your average bass player with £1500 to spend on an instrument is far less likely to buy a signature bass, plus you could buy a REAL Stingray for the same money, arguably the bass that Flea will forever be associated with, rather than this sideways "tribute". Just my 2p too... Eude

Mwah ha ha ha ha...

Yup, look here >> http://www.musewiki.org/Bass That particular amp features pretty heavily throughout Muse's recording and touring. They're beastly, in a good way, as far as I recall.