Cairobill

I would think that with the volumes Fender ship, any weeding out of the good stuff to keep in the States would be too labour intensive nowadays. My recent brushes with Fender have been a bit disappointing. However, my brother has one of the the new 2009 Strats and it is a really, really good guitar. Whether custom shop is worth it? That's tricky...

I must echo all of the above sentiments. Lovely bloke and a pleasure to deal with. I hope the Nash ends your jazz bass quest - it is the ultimate J! Best Nick

There's nothing like a big fat ramp whacked over a coffee table top between two single coils...in the morning... [attachment=33353:Photo_on...16.57__2.jpg]

I have bought basses from the States in the past when the exchange rate was 2 dollars to the pound and scored some amazing deals. But with the rate the way it is at the moment, it's not really that cost effective - buying basses second hand on basschat is probably the best way to go at the moment. Nick

Hey nice bass mr Wateroftyne! Very classy - how does it compare to your last one (was it a 73?) if that's not a tricky question? I seem to remember almost buying it (your old one about 2 years ago) but for some reason bought my Nash instead...can't remember why....Nick

Here's a funny story - I bought an XL-2 in San Francisco a couple of years ago for 400 quid... It was missing the pivot on the back (which I replaced with a Steinberger designed 'boomerang') but was still in pretty good nick. The guy selling it had bought it for next to nothing in the nineties... It was a wonderful feeling bass with a huge, clean tone - very piano like, with endless sustain. The neck was narrow and deep (apparently Stanley Clarke advised Steinberger on the profile) and very comfortable. It was heavy in that it was dense, but the body was tiny, so there were no fatigue issues. It was a great fun bass but I sold it to make a profit to invest in a nice j bass. I don't really regret selling it apart from not being able to say I own a bit of eighties retro design - I just didn't really need what it offered tonally. In retrospect I'm glad I got the Steiny thing out of my system. They are great, but they certainly don't replace a good P or J, which have more tonal character in my opinion. Tonewise, they are an acquired taste in rock - while people like Geddy and Sting used Steinbergers at certain points their tone was a bit hifi and vanilla in my opinion. For Dub, though, they are f***ing amazing - just ask Robby Shakespeare or Bill Laswell! There is so much lo end in a Steinie. And to answer your original question - the reissues and old skool lookalikes are absolutely nothing like the original Steinies in tone or feel. Nick