TRBboy

[quote name='Ou7shined' post='1174555' date='Mar 24 2011, 01:13 PM']It's a simple matter of necessity, convenience against the ability to cope with the situation differently. Tuners go on the fritz too (arguable more frequently than you snap strings at gigs) yet I doubt anyone on here would look down their nose at you for not taking 2 tuners to a gig. The concept of a backup bass is good and if it works for you then fine but the implication that you are not doing all you can by not taking a backup is IMO not so good.[/quote] I don't think it's fair to make the assumption that just because I take a backup bass, I don't know how to look after my gear! I've always really looked after my instruments and I make sure that they're well serviced, set-up and gig ready but I like to take a spare just for that added peace of mind. I always take strings and tools anyway, and touch wood, I've never had a catastrophic failure during a gig but I figure it doesn't take up much more space in the car to take a spare bass. I always want to appear professional, even if it's just a local pub gig, and make sure that we'll get asked back again, and having a disastrous breakdown mid-set could leave a bad impression. I'm more worried about unpredictable, freak gear failures instead of broken strings etc. If something does go catastrophically wrong and you've only got one bass, you're up s@#t creek. Just because you look after your car and service it, does that mean you shouldn't bother carrying a spare tyre?

BCer Nugget is from Worcester, and I asked him the other day about Luthiers in our area. It turns out that he builds basses and does setups and stuff, so I'm gonna let him have a go at my jazz, which needs some work doing. I'll let you know how it goes.

I always take a backup just in case of unforeseen occurrences or string breakage. Sure, it's fairly quick to change a string, but it's much quicker just to pick up another bass! The main question I'm asking myself reading this thread is; If you own more than one bass anyway, why wouldn't you take a backup?

I LOVE my Sandberg Basic 4, and now I'm kinda eyeing up the Ken Taylor....... I like the idea of two Humbuckers and the fact that you can spilt them to single coil, so in theory you should have a massive choice of sounds. Just wondered really if anyone's got any opinions on them?

[quote name='TRBboy' post='1155187' date='Mar 9 2011, 12:40 PM']I would never sell my Jazz bass unless I absolutely had to. Other basses have come and gone, but it has been my mainstay for the last 14 years or so and has never let me down.[/quote] I know I made the above statement a couple of weeks ago, but since then I have been glued to my Sandberg and it has ruined all of my other basses for me! Right now, I feel like selling everything else just to buy another Sandberg.........

[quote]date type description remarks 21.03.2011 Invoice Receipt # 10928212 issued for 554.24 EUR. 21.03.2011 15:31 Shipping Parcel shipped (23.08kg by Post/DHL International) contents: 1x 147145 SWR LA15 parcel number: 166616761741 21.03.2011 15:34 Shipping Parcel shipped (2.14kg by Post/DHL International) contents: 1x 128550 THE SSSNAKE IPP1060 1x 104761 GHS FAST FRET 1x 255947 HERCULES STANDS GS302B E-Guitar/Bass parcel number: 166616761987[/quote] Is this what the delivery note says? If you haven't signed for it then it's not your problem. I would keep on at them until they either promise you that it will arrive soon (and fix a date), or give you a refund for it.

I know there's Kim Seabourne in Worcester on the recommended Luthier list, but it looks as though the Bassurgery website has been gone for years so I don't know if he's still going. Any suggestions?

Ah, I see...... Personally, I would kick up a fuss about it. You have confirmation email, etc. from when you ordered right? Ask whether they do have stock or not. If yes, ask why your bass has not been delivered and demand it to be shipped tomorrow on the fastest delivery service. If they don't have stock, ask why was their website incorrect. Tell them that you ordered from them because the website said they had it in stock, and you needed it in a hurry. Tell them that if they can't tell you when it will be with you, you would like a full refund immediately and will buy from elsewhere. If they say it's going to be weeks, it's up to you to make a decision on what you want to do. I think if their website was wrong, you'd be quite within your rights to ask for a refund.

Might be worth checking out Sandberg too. I bought one recently after being blown away by them. The Basic series is more original I suppose, and the California's are more traditional, but they're all great. All hand built (apart from cutting rough body shape), quality materials and great electronics with a variety of pickup options and finishes. I'm pretty sure most models are comfortably within your budget too.

I agree with what others have said; as long as you enjoy playing it, that's all that matters. Apart from the fact I can't afford expensive boutique basses, I don't feel that I could ever justify spending megabucks on a bass unless I was filthy rich, or making a good living out of playing bass (both highly unlikely!). I've always felt that there is only so good a bass can get. Of course a handbuilt bass will usually feel nicer to play than something mass produced, but the bass is a pretty simple instrument as instruments go. At what point do you stop paying for the functionality of a bass and start paying purely for looks? I also agree with what other people have said in that perhaps there is a certain placebo effect with boutique basses. Perhaps we just perceive them to be much better because we want them to be better and we feel they should be for the money they cost. Who knows..... I like redstripers suggestion of testing some back to back. All that said, if I dropped the lottery next week, I would go out and buy some expensive basses!

Very, very, very nice! I'd love to hear some clips if poss.

Fair enough, if Thomann pay for all the costs and organise collection there's nothing to lose really!

[quote name='redstriper' post='1167320' date='Mar 18 2011, 03:55 PM']Every single bass is unique and buying anything blind is always a gamble, but I do not consider the price of this bass to be a huge risk, especially when there is the option to return it.[/quote] I think I would think twice about it, just because of the hassle of sending it back, and because the cost to ship it back might cost about 50% of the value of the instrument. I think that it's very important with 'unknown' brands that you're able to try the one you're going to buy. In my experience you're much more likely to get variation in quality between models from these sort of budget brands.

For that sort of budget, I would definitely want to try before I buy. I've had a couple of Warwicks (a thumb and a corvette), and they sound awesome and are very well put together. Although..... in the end, I parted with both of mine because there was just something not right. There wasn't anything wrong with either of the basses, there was just something slightly incompatible between me and them. I can't put my finger on what it was, but when it came down to it, they just didn't quite suit me I guess. You've got loads of options for your budget, so play as many as you can!

[quote name='skankdelvar' post='1166442' date='Mar 17 2011, 11:04 PM']S/H Squier VMJ from Basschat Marketplace? £180-200 + Plastikote Krystal gloss for neck @ £7. Depreciation - zero?[/quote] If the Squier VMJ goes for that price used, with zero further depreciation then there's something seriously wrong with the world! I know everyone loves the look of them, but are they a quality, value-for-money instrument? I've played quite a few of them, and all of them have not felt good for the money; awkward and uncomfortable and not as well finished as some other basses for the same price. I guess it depends what's more important to you; looks or feel and quality. With regard to returns and warranty claims, most companies have it written into their terms and conditions that you have to pay the shipping costs to return the item, no matter what reason. It's pretty standard.

[quote name='AttitudeCastle' post='1166208' date='Mar 17 2011, 08:11 PM']if you like t its amazing![/quote]

Blue definitely, especially with that gorgeous neck!

I know I'm getting boring now but........ Yamaha RBX270. Get a good condition used one for £70-£80. Awesome. Lots of potential for mods.

The Squier Bronco is not a bad little bass. [url="http://www.squierguitars.com/products/search.php?partno=0310902506"]http://www.squierguitars.com/products/sear...rtno=0310902506[/url]

I've just this second finished making one for my Sandberg. Got a strip of jet black silicone rubber (6mm thick) from work and stuck it on with double sided tape. Blends in beautifully with the black pickguard, no screws, and I can always take it off leaving no marks! Just remains to be seen how long it will stay there once it gets a bit of 'gig moisture' around it! Edit: By the way, I don't have enough pickups!

[quote name='Clarky' post='1162294' date='Mar 14 2011, 08:16 PM']I don't think you mean D'Addario's. They are only just launched. And they are 'normal' gauges (50-105). I suspect you mean Roto Tru Bass which are great thick black caterpillars of strings[/quote] My bad! Yeah you're right thinking about it, it was the Roto's. I've had the GHS ones in the past too and they were good. Black nylon tapewounds sound awesome on fretless! Anyway........... sorry ;-)

[quote name='Clarky' post='1161423' date='Mar 14 2011, 09:39 AM']Two sets of strings - a cheap-ish set of DR Sunbeams and a non-discounted set of the new D'Addario black nylon tapewounds (as I hadn't seen them before). Thats it! Would have been difficult to buy a bass there (at least on the Saturday) as the slapfest din was so deafening it was all but impossible to test drive a bass properly[/quote] The D'addario black nylon tapewounds are great strings but just a word of caution; I had them on my jazz bass for a while, and because they're a pretty hefty gauge they wore the grooves in the nut bigger. When I went back to regular strings my A string was rattling about like buggery in the groove and I had to get a new nut (although I did just play with some card packed underneath it for a couple of years!).

[quote name='pete.young' post='1161095' date='Mar 13 2011, 09:40 PM']You certain about that? I'm not. The Yamaha is made in China these days and I seem to recall that the cheaper Ibbys are made in Indonesia.[/quote] I think you're dead right about that. The Yamaha definitely isn't made in Japan, and I think the only Ibanez which are is the Prestige series.

I've had lots of experience with both the ibanez and yamaha, and although i'm a huge yamaha fan, i've gotta say that the Ibanez is a far better bass. It is built of better quality materials, feels better and sounds much better thanks to the Bartolini pickups and eq.

[quote name='Thunderpaws' post='1160937' date='Mar 13 2011, 08:11 PM']I would hate buy a new bass and have to take sandpaper to it to make it work for me. Schecter seem to have a wonderful custom build department but waaaay out of my league. I am going to try another Highway One and a G&L and another Lakland this week. The only thing about the Lakland is the aesthetics don't really do it for me, though the necks seem lovely.[/quote] I can understand your reluctance, i've done it before but only with a used bass not brand new. It's not a case of trying to take the varnish off, just lightly abrading it with very fine paper to turn the gloss finish into more like a satin finish. It worked well for me and left the neck feeling almost like a brand new MM neck. If the Highway One is badly set up, don't be afraid to tell the guys in the shop about it. Tell them you're potentially interested but would need to play it set up properly to make a decision. I worked in guitar shops for years and would've been embarrassed if a customer found a guitar in my shop that didn't play well!