molan

[quote name='Lozz196' timestamp='1328191655' post='1523324'] That seafoam green looks great with the tort scratchplate. [/quote] All original apart from the body finish (which was originally Seafoam).

Ok - so I've posted this elsewhere but couldn't resist as I've bought one of each in the past couple of weeks '63 Jazz in Seafoam Green: [url="http://www.flickr.com/photos/24576162@N00/6777452841/"][/url] '83 Fodera Monarch in curly ash:

And now I can add another incoming to the list! An original 1983 Fodera Monarch with JJ pickups, previously owned by Will Lee & played by Victor Wooten at the JVC Jazz Festival Tribute to Jaco Pastorius Concert at the Beacon Theatre on June 22nd, 2005:

'63 Jazz - Just heard that this one has arrived at my local post office! : Alleva Coppolo RA4: Loaded '62 Reissue Body - this will have the neck from the Steed fitted to it: Steed Herbie Flowers '59 Jazz Replica - this will have a new Brazilian Rosewood neck fitted:

Buy a Reflex Gareth - you know I can swing a good deal for you

Pedulla and Zon both make great fretless basses. I wonder if it's something in the respective construction that makes them 'sing' so well?

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1327779149' post='1516746'] I'm sorry - I'm sure it plays like a dream, but I don't like the shape, I don't like natural wood finishes, I don't like P/J pickup configurations, I don't like 2+2 tuner headstocks and it's got too many switches! Apart from that it's very nice. [/quote] Lol - the shape is actually great for long gigs, just kina feels 'right' after you've played it for a while. I'm also not blown away by the wood on this one, looks very '80's to me. The switches are actually really simple & surprisingly useful. 1 is a mute - either off or on, no in between settings 1 is active / passive, very slight volume boost in active mode but still very usable passive 1 is neck / both / bridge It has individual volume controls for each pickup but I find the ability to just flick the switch to the neck only P works really well, combine that with another fast flick to passive and you go from a fairly modern sounding bass to a good approximation of a P in seconds - perfect for functions band stuff when you suddenly need an older school Motown or funk sound Overall it's much mellower in sound to any of the modern Foderas I've tried so maybe not as far away from Fender as something like an Anthony Jackson Imperial Presentation model

And this is the Monarch the Fenders are up against: [url="http://www.flickr.com/photos/24576162@N00/6329776932/"][/url]

[quote name='bubinga5' timestamp='1327777576' post='1516707'] good god man youve got too many great basses!!! i would use the 73 jazz... how come we never see pics of these beauties? or have i missed them? [/quote] Thanks Andrew - I've just been really lazy about taking pics of my basses recently! The '73 is lovely, bit heavy (but not as heavy as the '79!). Shame my latest purchase hasn't arrived yet - '63 Jazz, all original apart from a refinish, in the original colour, seafoam green: [url="http://www.flickr.com/photos/24576162@N00/6777453395/"][/url]

[quote name='bubinga5' timestamp='1327777120' post='1516695'] i reckon take the Fender Barrie.. see how it pans out... [/quote] Yeah, but which one: '63 P '72 P '73 J '78 J '79 PJ '59 J replica build by Wes Steed (has a Fender neck & decal so just looks like a heavily relic'd J) Too many choices

So I have an audition on Monday & currently weighing up whether to take my trusty old Fodera, a vintage Fender P, my flashy red sparkle Alleva Coppolo P or my relic'd Steed/Fender stack knob J. Luckily the Ritter is out on loan as that's probably a bit too flash for an audition May have to try & suss out if the band are 'traditional' Fender/Gibson types or whether I can get away with the Fodera

I tried a MoMark last week through various different Bag End cabs - sounded great, really clean punchy sound. It was this one at Bassgear: http://www.bassgear.co.uk/products-page/bass-amps-cabs/mark-bass/momark-sd800/ It has the EQ module but was all solid state pre-amp. Loved it through the Bag End 4x10 http://www.bassgear.co.uk/products-page/bag-end1/bag-end-q-10-bx-d-low-bass-quad-10-ax-hi-drive/ I think all the Bag End cabs are super efficient so they tend to really make the most of whatever power source you're putting through them

Wow, that fretboard really does look amazing

I really like these, Bassgear in Twyford has the head & matching cab. They work really well together

As an owner of both I think it's a tough decision First thing I guess would be that Fodera can make you a bass that sounds like a Fender if you want but then allow i to have a ream of other tonal options as well. I heard a guy up close recently playing a modern Fodera Emperor 5 string. He really knew his Foderas having used one for years as his main bass and he's a top session player. With a few flicks of switches and adjusting knobs on the bass, plus maybe the odd amp tweaking, he managed to produce a great old sounding P bass growly thump & then all the way up through a 70's J bridge pickup sound to ultra-modern hi-fi jazzy tones. Certainly my old '86 Monarch can do a pretty good P bass sound with just the neck P pickup in the mix and tone wound back a bit. However a Fodera is never going to give you that lovely vibe you can get from a truly classic vintage Fender that you know has been around the block a few times & seen loads of gigs. Of course, with Fodera's history only going back as far as '83 then Fender have a good 20-30 years of additional history behind them to get that vibe. If the question was - a Fender no older than '83 or a Fodera then the Fodera would win every time.

[quote name='Tinman' timestamp='1327591091' post='1513874'] I know. Let's all pitch our tents in the Fodera workshop (Occupy stylee) that'll teach them to mess with us consumers! What a ridiculous thread. [/quote] Need to make sure we choose the right time of year - they have no air con so it's roasting in summer and the heating isn't great so it can get very cold in winter. It's also up a few flights of stairs with no lift so we'll need to be pretty fit to run up and down if we need the loo

[quote name='crez5150' timestamp='1327529897' post='1513086'] Typical Agency.... shortlist of one... [/quote] That's exactly what I said to my wife! Then she showed me a vid and I pointed out that the singer came in late and the horns were a) not playing the part correctly and fractionally ou of time. Probably wouldn't notice any of this live but my first thought was that if they can't be bothered to sort stuff like this on their promotional material how 'professional' are they really. . .

[quote name='kevin_lindsay' timestamp='1327530107' post='1513092'] http://www.swaytheband.com/meet_the_band.php Featuring my friend Nick Owen on bass. They're a great outfit - Richard Branson has used them quite a few times in various locations around the globe [/quote] I know Nick - great guy

My wife is working on a team that's booking a band for a big corporate event at the end of Feb. They've been given a shortlist of just 1 band from the agency running the bulk of the event and, having seen some of their material, I wasn't desperately impressed I'm not going to name names here just in case someone knows them! Anyway - she's interested in looking at alternatives so I thought I'd ask if anyone here wants to put themselves forward or recommend someone they think are really good. This is for a pretty high end, top dollar, corporate event - they've already booked a very expensive DJ to play after the band. Style of music isn't fixed but they will be looking for a fairly wide potential range of songs and some real showmanship as well. As an example the band they are currently looking at are an 11 piece with horn etc. Venue will be just outside and west of London. I'd love to try and point this the way of a fellow BC'er so hit me up if you fancy it Probably best to send details by PM