Bigwan

[quote name='jakesbass' post='74440' date='Oct 15 2007, 09:36 AM']Save up and custom order an Alembic direct from the US. you will never play a better bass in your life (IMO)
Jake[/quote]

Play before you buy is the only way. That's Modulus and Alembic that've been recommended and I would never spend money on either of them myself... again that's just in my experience - maybe there's a modulus or alembic out there with my name on it/them, but none of the ones I've played yet have been worth tuppence of my hard earned cash!!!

[quote name='SMART' post='74207' date='Oct 14 2007, 04:37 PM']You lucky fella! They are one of the biggest groups in the USA currently and seem be picking up interest at long last. How was the bass end with Stefan on stage?

Ciao

Ian[/quote]

Don't drink the water rocked! The bass seemed to be cranked. Very punchy sound.

He seems to have cast off his Modulus basses though - didn't recognise what he was playing... Looked vaguely like an Esh but I don't think so.

[quote name='7string' post='74002' date='Oct 13 2007, 11:37 PM']Is the neck one piece, or laminates of wenge with the grain in different directions ?? (Personally, I'd go for a maple/wenge thru neck so you still have the highs from maple) How about a quilted headstock face to match the body instead of birdseye to match the neck.

Sounds like it's going to be a cool looking and very flexible instrument. The ACG pre seems to amaze all who have heard it !![/quote]

Last time I spoke to Jon about a custom bass (which was waylayed by a few years by an engagement ring ) he said he doesn't do one piece necks. So a multi-lam wenge neck it is (best sounding bass I've ever played is my Warwick Corvette with all wenge neck - sold my Wal as it wasn't getting used!). Was going to go all wenge (including fingerboard), but wanted to add a bit of the maple thing without changing the neck too much, and I like maple boards.

I had thought about the headstock matching - and I may change my mind about that yet!

[quote name='Alpha-Dave' post='74188' date='Oct 14 2007, 03:49 PM']As with the Sei thread, I'm pretty sure that Alan is happy to supply his pre to the US custom builders, but not the UK ones as they are his direct competitors. Still, his work is superb!

Also, I've met Jon many times and would have been very happy to go with his work, but it was the ACG pre that particularly swung it for me.

D.[/quote]

If I have to buy an ACG pre and install it myself then that's what I'll do...

I caught them in Dublin. They were class.

Also caught Dave acoustically in Belfast a while back too - also excellent. Made all the better by the fact we were in a restaurant opposite the venue before the show. My girlfriend turned to me and said - "Where do I know that guy over there from?"...

[quote name='SMART' post='73955' date='Oct 13 2007, 09:03 PM']Absolutely, totally agree with your view on your reply to Bassman7.

However, have you ever played a Q6 with Chechen fingerboard? What was it it that you did not like about the Modulus' you've tried? Be interesting to know!

Ian[/quote]

Good question and I'm afraid it's one I don't have a good answer for! I've played 3 over the past few years. One was Randy Hope Taylor's custom Flea (double Lane Poor MM pickups). They all felt... stiff and... plasticy - not a good description. They didn't sound lively to me. Not organic. I think it's just graphite necked basses in general as I don't like Status basses for the same reason (I'm gonna get flamed around here if I say that too loud!). I'm not saying I wouldn't give a Modulus another chance - but in my, admittedly, limited experience, they're not for me at any price, and especially not at their retail price!

I've never played a Q6 at all.

Hi Bassman7 - not sure if your Modulus recommendation is directed to me, but I've never played a modulus I actually liked. Each to their own I suppose! Wouldn't the world be so boring if we were all alike in our tastes!

I've been speaking to Jon about a custom 6 string over the past few weeks.

I'm currently thinking of the following spec:

6 string bolt-on
All wenge neck (pores filled for a smooth satin finish)
Birdseye maple board with matching birdseye head veneer
Solid bridge (probably Schaller 2000 on Jon's recommendations - to allow adjustable spacing) with 18mm centre spacing
Wenge body (35mm thick to keep weight down)
Quilted maple top with tiger eye gloss finish
EMG DC pickups
ACG/John East filter preamp (the one thing I miss about my Wal!)
Ramp (quilted maple to match body and finish)

Jon does a 20% discount for multiple bass orders at once... I've thrown the idea of an additional stingray style 5 string (maple neck, ash body) at him and he's putting together a spec for that and he'll be coming back with prices in the next few days... Now Jon accepts plastic as payment there could be a big bill on the way!!!

Edit: The following pic is the inspiration for my specs...

I'd love this, but it'd take me a while to come up with that sort of money unfortunately.....

Have a bump instead!

I have one but have limited live experience with it as my band split as it was in transit to me.

All I can say is that the AG500SC is punchy and loud (in comparison to my Ashdown ABM), but IMO it doesn't do rock just as well as the Ashdown. Having both together is nice but totally not required. If I had to choose I'd say I'd keep the ABM... but I do have a sentimental attachment to it since I've had it so long. I wish I'd waited for the dual channel AG500, then it'd be a much closer call...

[quote name='lawriemacmillan' post='63706' date='Sep 21 2007, 05:09 PM']Tempting, but no :-D[/quote]

How about a nut... I have a spare...

Oh this's not good... I'm considering breaking into the just started MTD fund already...

[quote name='bnt' post='63749' date='Sep 21 2007, 07:04 PM']Spector all the way for me. The only Warwick shape I've ever liked is the Thumb bass, since I saw Jack Bruce with one. I thought about getting one, but was put off by the price, and the fact that that the body size might suit Jack, but not me, since I am about 18 inches taller than JB. [/quote]

...but the Streamer is the same shape as the spector? Licensed from them to be exact...

I'd go for the Warwick since I have one and love it to bits! Saying that they're both good basses, but not in hollowflash - that look gets old pretty quick!

Beautiful bass mate. Just a word of advice - 'offers' doesn't seem to work well around here for some reason. You'd maybe be better off just asking for what you want for it. I know it's not always easy or fun to do, especially if you're attached to an instrument...

Good luck!

And have a bump!

There's a Roscoe SKB 6 string on the bay. The guy is including a set of custom spaced Nordstrands (18mm) with it. Looks fab. Wish I had the money for it, but just payed off my credit card bill, so don't want to run it up again just yet! Sorry can't get a link from work but it's not hard to find...

I sold my Wal here a while back for about 1400. 2 weeks later it sold for 800 more to a punter in the US

Could make that moeny - just depends who'd looking at the time. Mine wasn't in the greatest condition either...

I remember you from the e-basses days - whatever happened about the the mag review/shipping/bass destruction issue? That was a total balls! I felt bad for you guys when that happened...

The new Ibanez ATK305 has 16.5mm spacing. It just goes to show. I'm a 4 string player and am on the lookout for a good 5er (I'm actually considering saving for a year or 2 for an MTD535 and getting this GAS sorted out once and for all - or maybe I'm kidding myself!), but want full 4 string spacing i.e. 19mm. I suppose it would really be boring if we were all the same!

Just spotted this too. Nice looking bass, but not sure I could get along with that body shape!

[quote name='markytbass' post='57849' date='Sep 9 2007, 06:51 PM']A 5 string ATK has just come up on ebay if anyone is interested. Item no 110168364520. It has the jazz pickup in addition to the 3coil bucker[/quote]

Yeah but zero feedback seller - always careful about that. Pitty since it's pretty much exactly what I'm looking for at the minute...

Look here quickly!:

[url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=2485"]http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=2485[/url]

[quote name='Sean' post='55632' date='Sep 4 2007, 11:06 PM']I got away with it twice using UPS from Bass Central.[/quote]

Yes but if you had planned on not having to pay it you would surely have ended up with a bill! Best to budget for the worst...

For example $1329 (bass) + $295 (shipping - which seems about double what you should be paying if you ask me. Speak to THE DUDE) + 5% (Import duty - rough, may be less) + VAT.

So (((1329+295)*1.05)*1.175)/2 = £1k

I say again, speak to Steve "Dude" Barr at the dudepit. He may be able to help you bring this down a bit. Alternatively buy the JO dudepit ltd edition in the for sale section. I've got one and it's a corker!

I spoke to Mike at Iceni about these. They're going to be stupid money in the UK by the sounds of things...

I know where there was an Ashdown ABM 500 watt 4x10 combo going for £400 if you don't mind a drive up north of the border to pick it up. PM me if you might be interested and I'll see if I can get hold of the guy...

[quote name='Russ' post='52695' date='Aug 30 2007, 11:31 AM']Lakland 55-02 with the Basslines pickups. Nails the MM tone, has 19mm string spacing at the bridge, and has a fair bit more versatility than a regular, single-pickup MM.[/quote]

My No.1 choice also but I would refer you to my comment above...

[quote name='Bigwan' post='52686' date='Aug 30 2007, 11:16 AM']The ones I can think of (without going custom) are MTD imports (kingston and heir), Lakland 5502 (out of my current pricerange), mid-90's ATKs...[/quote]

Well outside my £400 budget at the minute!

Would you flog your ATK Russ?