Tripehound

[quote name='Geek99' timestamp='1332147825' post='1583771']
Might be interested - was looking for a five string but hadn't thought of this. I'm at j28 m1
[/quote]

Feel free to pop by and have a look! Don't have a bass amp at home - just a pod and a guitar amp - which would let you get a decent idea of what you would be getting. You can e-mail me direct at [email protected]......

[b][size=6]SOLD[/size][/b]

Price reduced to £400 - seen something I like and I can't act in a patient grown-up fashion....

[font=lucida sans unicode,lucida grande,sans-serif][size=2][color=#000000]Taken a long time to decide to sell this but an uncompromising one-in one-out policy now exists and I have my eye on something else.[/color][/size][/font]

[color=#000000][font=lucida sans unicode,lucida grande,sans-serif][size=2]Up for grabs is a (rare they tell me) Line 6 Variax bass, a fantastic recording instrument that models a range of classic bass guitars, both acoustic and electric, with a couple of synths thrown in for good measure.[/size][/font][/color]

[color=#000000][font=lucida sans unicode,lucida grande,sans-serif][size=2]Includes the original gig bag - one of the best I've ever seen - the cables, power adaptor, manual - the lot.[/size][/font][/color]

[color=#000000][font=lucida sans unicode,lucida grande,sans-serif][size=2]The only flaw I'm aware of is a tiny blemish on the back of the neck which I've tried to photograph and which has no impact on playability or feel. Aside from that, it's pretty much immaculate - I only hesitate to say mint in case there's something utterly tiny that I've missed in the years of owning this fine instrument. It's been looked after - no dings and no 'buckle rash' that I can see (wear a shirt over your belt people).[/size] [/font][/color]

[color=#000000][font=lucida sans unicode,lucida grande,sans-serif][b]£400[/b][/font][/color]

[color=#000000][size=3][font=lucida sans unicode,lucida grande,sans-serif]Pretty reasonable I'd say considering you will then 'own' the following:-[/font][/size][/color]




[color=#000000][color=#000000] Pair Name Green Bank Red Bank VINJ 1961 Fender Jazz 1960 Fender Jazz (flat-wound strings) MODJ 2004 Fender Deluxe Jazz 1961 Fender Jazz Fretless PREBASS 1963 Precision Bass 1958 Precision Bass (flat-wound strings) MANTA 1977 Musicman Stingray 2003 Modulus Flea CLANG 1971 Rickenbacker 4001 1963 Rickenbacker 4001 (flat-wound strings) HOLLOW 1966 Danelectro Longhorn 1963 Hofner 500/1 (flat-wound strings) THUMP 1963 Gibson Thunderbird 1966 Gibson EB2D (flat-wound strings) MODERN 2002 MTD 535 2003 Warwick Thumb ALCHEMY 1978 Alembic Long Scale 1984 Steinberger XL2 8 & 12 1968 Hagström H8 1994 Hamer B12A ACOUSTIC Tacoma Thunderchief Kay M1 Double Bass SYNTH Mini Moog Modern Bass Synth [/color][/color]

[color=#000000][font=lucida sans unicode,lucida grande,sans-serif]Collection only I'm afraid - but the good news is that we're a mile from Junction 25 of the M1.[/font][/color]

Mate of mine just bought a Bach direct from the manufacturer - a Telecaster (6 string) copy. 200 euro or thereabouts. For the money, the quality is extraordinarily good. Those Czechs know a bit about engineering....

That Spector still up for sale?

How about selling?

I know the answer is probably going to be along the lines of 'whatever someone is prepared to pay' but I wonder if anyone could take a wild stab at putting a value on my old bass which I'm contemplating putting up for sale to raise funds for the latest object of my lust...

It's an Eighties US-made S.D. Curlee with Di Marzios, Badass bridge, Grover machine heads etc. Very, very 'roadworn' as I believe it's in vogue to say - which in my language means extensively scratched (not by me I must add - it's a long story involving a regretable extended loan) but not actually dented as such. It's still very playable and sounds terrific.

What on earth should I pitch an asking price at? Is it a collectors item or just an obscurity?

Any clues welcome!

[quote name='xgsjx' timestamp='1328558745' post='1529153']
I think that it might be a sign that there's better gear than the Fender for the same money?
[/quote]

I stand slightly to the aetheist side of agnostic but I do get the feeling sometimes that someone or something is telling me that the Bassman and I are not destined to be together in this life!

Straight from the horse's mouth today - I quote:

"The Bassman TV series has now been discontinued, though there is still free stock of both the Bassman TV Twelve and Duo Ten models. Your local dealer would be able to order one in for you and receive it within 5 working days."

No discounts I suppose......

[quote name='icastle' timestamp='1328479890' post='1527916']
Well if nothing else it'll highlight to Fender that there's a gap in the Midlands that they need to do something about if they expect to sell product through their dealerships.
[/quote]

Too right - their entire marketing effort on this product range seems to revolve around Mr Ed the Bass Whisperer and mail order....

[quote name='icastle' timestamp='1328465271' post='1527515']
Just a thought, and I'm not sure it would work, but have you considered contacting Fender in the UK and asking if they can tell you the nearest stockists that might have them in stock?

In the days before computerisation distributors had a pretty good idea of who was likely to have what so it might be a real easy task these days.

mail: [email="[email protected]"][email protected][/email]
tel: 01342 331700
[/quote]

Thanks - I have phoned every major music shop in Notts/Derby and Brum to no avail. Will definitely try that.

This Internet thing is all very well but here in Nottingham it's getting very difficult indeed to go into a music shop that carries any range of gear in stock. I went into Millenium the other day - Carlsboro once upon a time - which has always been the city's premier shop. It was a sad shadow of its former glory. Where once there had been a phalanx of 'assistants' who would sit behind the counter studiously ignoring the punters whilst trading fast guitar solos with whichever expensive guitar they'd borrowed, there now sat a bored looking teenager. I may have judged him purely on appearances, which I know is so wrong, but I just felt it probably wasn't worth asking any technical questions. As for gear, a bunch of generic stuff and a few Ashdown amps. Gone was the array of Fenders, Gibsons etc. The upper floors which once held all the techie-type wonders now appear to be closed off.

Depressing.

So is this what happens when everybody starts buying online? That we end up with a few music superstores (PMT etc) which become destination stores - rather like Ikea - plus a few local boutiques? How the hell do you buy anything and touch it first?

I'm moaning because I had to drive all the way to Birmingham to try an Ampeg out (PF500 - very nice) and nobody in a radius of 100 miles seems to have a Fender Bassman TV in stock (2 x 10 or 15) - the amp I really want to have a go on. I'm not parting with that amount of money on the basis of a few YouTube clips.

I'll stop moaning if someone can tell me where to find one....

[quote name='waynepunkdude' timestamp='1327779008' post='1516741']
I'd take the Orange but with a bigger cab, I've used mine with a TC RS210 ground shaking.
[/quote]

Yep - the only thing that puts me off about Orange is orange.

Thanks for the advice folks - I keep hearing good stuff about the Ampeg PF and it looks like it won't wreck my back. Anyone have an opinion on the Bassman TV (probably the 15 or 2x10)? Seduced by looks but suspect not better enough to justify the price differential?

Started shopping for a new amp in anger today. Tried the Orange Bass Terror with the SP212 - sounded very good indeed and for some unfathomable reason had low expectations. Next up the Ashdown ABM 500 2 x 10" and it came across to me as competent, flexible, well-made and - erm - not very exciting.

I live near Nottingham and it means a long drive to the next set of shops to try out the other possibles on my list - the Ampeg Pf300 or 500 fliptop - and the Fender Bassman TV.

Is it worth that long drive?

Fender Bassman TV Ten worth a look? V. Pretty and reputedly sounds top notch. Not too big but maybe a bit heavy. 2nd hand seem to go for 450-500 squids.

Is this still for sale? Suspect I live very near to you and off in a couple of weeks to try out a whole range of stuff including a new suitcase in Foulds....

I bought mine ex-demo at a seriously reduced price (in top nick it has to be said) together with the Bass Pod I'd actually set out to buy, I'm not sure how many tonal variations that actually offers up but, after spending an hour in the shop (with a pair of headphones on so I could ditch the crippling self-conciousness that grips me whenever I go guitar shopping and want to try something out) I was completely seduced by all these possibilities. At the time I was mostly engaged in recording , these days it's live stuff so priorities have shifted.

Have to wonder though - flog off the Variax and it's most of the cash towards that Eastwood EEB I keep looking at - or maybe that Hofner Club - or maybe..... etc

It's a curse.

It was a swap involving a fretless Vintage which was gathering dust ever since I finally admitted that I might sound good on it on my own but was stretching the patience of others when trying to use it in a band context. The Hofner has lately become my bass of choice, usurping my Jazz and the Variax.

Another late arrival at the Variax Ball. I intermittently use one in our covers band because it's nice to be able to swap basses to suit the song. In practice this usually means a Precision, a fretless jazz, an Alembic and a Gibson EB-2D. However, it all begs the question as to whether the audience perceives this attention to detail or whether it would sound just as good using a more conventional guitar.

If not then the question is, do I think it's a decent instrument in its own right? Yes - terrific fun to play (ooh - look 12 string etc) but as I own a couple of basses this is meant to emulate I can say it's not a match for the real thing but then how could it be? Downsides - heavy, eats batteries and so means using extra power supply, anonymous looks. Upside - very good neck, low action, some solid sounds, great for recording.

I've acquired a lovely Hofner violin bass and am trying to establish exactly what it is....

Can't see a serial number - do they have one somewhere?

It's a sunburst and the finish on it I can best describe as flat which I'm guessing rules out the Contemporary series.

Can anyone offer me any clues as to how to identify which model/year etc?

I've got a US-made one I bought in (ummm) about 1983. Grover machine heads, DiMarzio pups, Badass bridge etc. Very very 'roadworn' - as in covered in scratches and nicks - but structurally sound and still plays and sounds terrific. Still use it at practice occasionally and my son did some YouTube cover vids using it which he tells me attracted several enquiries as to 'what was that bass dude?' - or however it is youngsters address each other these days. He's threatened to kill me if I sell it but I do sometime wonder if it's worth anything.

Hello from the Nottingham/Derby border folks (a little like the England/Scotland border but with a longer history of violence). First time poster here and already after free advice.....

I play in a six piece band doing a right old mix of stuff - from originals to pub-pleasing Stones/Mott/T.Rex/etc - with vocals/guitar/sax/keyboards/drums and me. We started out earnestly playing mostly our own earnest prog-new wave material (think Talking Heads/Bill Nelson but not anywhere near as good) to three-parts empty 'rock' venues before we discovered the joys of seeing people singing along and occaisionally dancing to more accessible material on the local pub scene. Only took 25 years for us to realise that......

Anyway - the inevitable gear question. I have a nice collection of guitars - a Jazz Deluxe, a Line 6 Variax bass, an ancient S.D. Curlee and current favourite, a Hofner violin. So far so good.

But like so many other musicians I meet, I spent next to nothing on my (current) amp - a Fender Rumble 100 bought off eBay for 60 or so squids. Half the sound gets a tenth of the overall investment. Don't get me wrong - it's a decent amp, nice sound, relatively light to shift, headphone socket etc - but a) I think it's underpowered for gigging (fine in rehearsal) and I could get a better tone.

Saving, flogging unused gear and gig money has brought the kitty up to £800 and it's time to make a move for a serious piece of kit. Criteria are:-

1) Must fit in back of Fiat Punto with seats down
2) Hold it's own in a band of this size with PA support a rarity - but let's be honest we're mostly talking pubs here
3) Must be easy to shift (goodbye fond dreams of Ampeg 8 x 10)
4) Must provide top notch tone - I like warmth but also a bit of top end definition

I'm very attracted by the Fender Bassman TV but wonder whether I have unrealistic expectations having only seen YouTube stuff. Other contenders seem to be the Ampeg PF fliptop and the Micro VR setups - but I'd welcome any advice or suggestions.....