Gilby

Just goes to show that there are some good souls around. I'm selling off a broken up tele on another forum and mentioned I'd take a decent gig bag for a bass in exchange. Lo and behold I get an offer of a free fender gig bag, just cover the postage. I've offered him some d'addarios for for it (I won't be needing them anymore I think) as I believe every good turn deserves some reward. Ok, Internet forums can bring out the trolls but the also bring out some very fine folk. Some people are just cool.

Headstock is similar to a Watkins rapier, I knew someone who had a six string rapier years ago but can't recall if the basses were in the same style.

Thanks for all the input guys. Reading the comments on guitar forums, there's a lot of love for the LP types from the same stable apart from the dubious pots and switches and the nut which can be poorly cut. Seems there is less concerns about the basses from vintage. I'm no brand snob, tbh I have been toying with a p bass build with nowt on the headstock but for the money I'm certain I'm better of with something from Vintage. For the prices they go second hand they seem to be a no brainer. Got a couple I've got my eye on from evil bay, one's quite local so maybe I'll be back amongst the four string brigade very soon.

My last forays into bass was with a shortscale and it really didn't do it for me, mainly as I'm a woose and couldn't get on with putting heavier strings to get a better, tighter sound. So off I retreated to the world of six strings and fuzz boxes to hide my limitations, which in turn led to more disillusionment. Now I play only my accoustic 6 string and although I do enjoy it more and find myself improving, I still yearn to play bass. So, being a poor sod, having recently gone through one crisis to another financially, I may have some spare cash soon ! (Woo hoo). I keep seeing these vintage av4 basses for little money, either used or stock clearance. I'm actually quite taken by the slightly reworked jazz look. I know vintage are a budgety guitar, usually let down by pots, switches etc, which are easy to do, but are these basses any cop? Cheers in advance.

Speaking as primarily a guitarist (sorry), the big aversion to 7.5 radius is the "choking" of bent notes. Bend a string and the note dies as it touches the fret board due to the extra curvature of the neck. Something that be counteracted be raising the action (height of strings). I've tried a couple of 7.5 radii guitars and didn't really see what the fuss was all about. The big advantage is that it does fell more comfortable playing chords. The bigger the number, the flatter the neck. Profiles. This is the shape of the back of the neck itself, not the fretboard (which would be the radius). So that's you C shape or D shape. It's not as simple as just that as there is a "modern" and "traditional" C shape, the traditional be deeper or "chunkier". It's back to the old expression, try before you buy. It's a personal thing.

[quote name='grumble' timestamp='1351383507' post='1850775'] A little common sense creeping into an internet forum ? We will have none of that here sir (or madam), get back to the traditional spleen venting that is expected on forums. [/quote] I apologise profusely sir. Why would anyone want to buy a cheap musical instrument with such a crap manufacturers name in the first place? No wonder there's a market for fecker decals !

Regardless as to wether the op is spamming or not, I'm certain that any guitar taken to a show as a demo piece is going to be cherry picked from stock, set up and fret dressed immaculately. What arrives in the box is another story altogether.

Pointless YouTube but ....... Final countdown has to be covered with contempt and kazoos http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X2Btg7lFlig&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Not sure if this is the correct doing the (and I am in no way connected to the store) but just noticed that GAK have a RV4 in blue burst in the second hand section for a quid shy of £200. Just thought it may interest anyone who missed out on these.

Top job there. Pleased it all came together nicely.