Sean

[quote name='paul_5' timestamp='1332574288' post='1590141'] OK, enough small talk, where are the pictures? [/quote] Just for you (and the rest of Basschat) I've commissioned some professional photographs of the Yamaha BB400S that I bought to complete this challenge. A friend of mine is a photographer and wanted some practise on something different and I half-jokingly said he could photograph my bass collection if he wanted something different to do and he lept at the chance so hopefully by the end of the week we should have some £200 Challenge Bass Porn. Hopefully I'll photos of my entire BB family too but this does not mean that I'll be joining one of the Talkbass-style clubs

I keep hearing and reading that bolt-on construction basses are generally considered better for slap. I've just acquired a neck-thru and it's the first one I've had for a few years and it got me thinking that for me there doesn't seem to be much difference, if any; as long as I have the right pickup settings and EQing it sounds great on any of my bolt-ons or neck-thru. Is there a "laws pf physics" reasoning to why bolt-on would be better? Do any of us have any strong opinions either way as to whether one or the other is better? If so, could you please explain your thinking? Many thanks

Effortless transaction done from halfway around the world; very easy guy to communicate with and returns messages really promptly. Easy to arrange a mutually beneficial pick up time too. Picked the bass up from Joe this morning an he's a great guy to deal with and it's an epic instrument. Many thanks.

I'm home tomorrow, I'll post them then!

This challenge needs a load of rules, strict parameters and a timescale otherwise it's not a challenge. The £500 budget alone takes a lot of the challenging aspects out of the challenge! If this really is a game, cut the budget in half for a start.

[quote name='mercuryl' timestamp='1332485922' post='1588913'] What's wrong with China. Everything we buy comes from there. They probably have higher prduction standards than UK or EU sourced products. [/quote] And this relates to the thread because...? If you mean, why were basses built in China eliminated from the challenge, then the answer is simple. It was because it is too easy to find a bass manufactured in China (or Taiwan, or Indonesia) that fulfills the other criteria. If Chinese-made basses had been allowed, it would not have been a challenge but a simple purchasing exercise.

Touché! I promise that when I get back from my work trip around Asia I'll post some pics and share my thoughts on the instrument and the challenge in general :-)

Touché! I promise that when I get back from my work trip around Asia I'll post some pics and share my thoughts on the instrument and the challenge in general :-)

Not all CIJ basses are basswood.

If you're very clever you can get an outstanding piece of Jap stuff for under £300, spend some money on upgrades and end up with a monster keeper. I'm a sucker for a certain kind of Jap bass and they are peanuts compared to what's out there from US manufacturers second hand and either equal or better in playability.

I think I'm like Leland without the wanderlust (I wish) ;-)

At £340 I'm sure it's great value for money and we all know CIJ Fenders are fantastic. I've had a few and they are hands down better than all bar one US Fender I've had. Personally the foto flame is a turn off but tats subjective.

For my recent £200 challenge I had a deadline, is there one in this case? I like the whole challenge with strict parameters thing, it's like solving a puzzle. I was really lucky and have scored a superb instrument that was an instant keeper for me. Good luck and I hope you end up falling I love with whatever you get :-)

For my recent £200 challenge I had a deadline, is there one in this case? I like the whole challenge with strict parameters thing, it's like solving a puzzle. I was really lucky and have scored a superb instrument that was an instant keeper for me. Good luck and I hope you end up falling I love with whatever you get :-)

I played a passive Dingwall 5 string at Bass Direct and was left thinking, "what CAN'T this bass do?" however it didn't feel like "me". It started me thinking that maybe in 20 years or so everyone will be using a fanned fret, multi-scale instrument. Some of the benefits are undeniable when you take the laws if physics and the constraints of manufacturing into consideration.

I've played a couple of Dingwall basses and I must admit I've been very impressed and not found the fanned fret thing to be alien at all. Is there anyone that has played one and really not liked it? I'd like to understand why that was. Leland Sklar sold most of his basses after switching to Dingwall but seems to have kept hold of some of his Yamaha BBs. Maybe that's a sentimental thing, I dunno. Has anyone that has bought one been fully converted and sold all their conventional basses as a result? As much as I see the benefit of the design and as much as I love technology I think that the aesthetic of them is a major stumbling block for me. Should I keep my BBs or go Dingwall? That's a rhetorical question obviously ;-)

Some of the posts in this thread remind me of the Rifleman's Creed. I've adapted it for bass... [indent=1][i]This is my bass. There are many like it, but this one is mine.[/i][/indent] [i] [/i] [indent=1][i]My bass is my best friend. It is my life. I must master it as I must master my life.[/i][/indent] [i] [/i] [indent=1][i]My bass, without me, is useless. Without my bass, I am useless. I must play my bass true.[/i][/indent] [i] [/i] [indent=1][i]My bass is human, even as I, because it is my life. Thus, I will learn it as a brother. I will learn its weaknesses, its strength, its parts, its accessories, its fretboard and its sounds.[/i][/indent] [i] [/i] [indent=1][i]I will keep my bass clean and ready, even as I am clean and ready. We will become part of each other. We will...[/i][/indent]

Shame it's been modified, really.

It's just passed £500. That's me out; it's a beautiful bit of kit but that's approaching BB3000 money. Good luck to whoever wins it, it looks absolutely stonking :-D

[quote name='pete.young' timestamp='1330716973' post='1562211'] Yamaha BB800 - I have had one of these since 1980 , better than any 1970s Fender precision. This looks like it will go for a song, someone please buy it to stop me! [url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Yamaha-BB800-Bass-Guitar-/160750712715?pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item256d7d378b"]http://www.ebay.co.u...=item256d7d378b[/url] [/quote] Someone had a bargain. Yet again I fell foul of trying to bid using my iPhone

I bought some PIO caps from Nick too! Nice bloke to deal with, nice easy transaction.

Bought a Yamaha from Dave. Excellent instrument, bombproof packing and a great experience all round. Thanks again