Sean

Also, just thought. The Japanese manufacturers like Ibanez and Yamaha don't do this kind of multiple brand approach; you can go out and buy a £200 Yamaha and a £2500 Yamaha, they just have different model designations and it works beautifully for them. Same for Ibanez, they just stick [i]Prestige[/i] or [i]Premium[/i] of [i]Gio on the model name and don't have a compeltely different go-to-maket scheme. [/i]I find it much easier and personally I do not have a problem owning a bass that costs £2500 when it has £200 siblings with the same name on the headstock and seemingly not many people do judging by Yamaha and Ibanez sales of their high-end instruments.

I'm confused. My USA Sterling does me fine and I love it. Why should anyone buy a [i]Sterling by Musicman[/i] instrument over a [i]SUB Series Sterling by Musicman[/i]? I know this is comparable to Squier/Fender Mex/Fender US but it makes less sense to me. Imagine if Fender introduced a brand called [i]Telecaster by Fender[/i] then you would have [i]Telecaster by Fender [/i]Telecasters, [i]Telecaster by Fender [/i]Precisions, [i]Telecaster by Fender [/i]Jazz[i]. [/i]And then on top of that imagine [i]Squier Series[/i] [i]Telecaster by Fender[/i] Telecaster, [i]Squier Series[/i] [i]Telecaster by Fender [/i]Precision. It makes no sense to me and I'm a product manager that does this kind of thing for a living. It is important to differentiate your products easily in the market and sadly Ernie Ball is creating confusion and I think are in danger of diluting the power of the premium brand especially since from what I've seen the [i]Sterling [/i]branded stuff is really nicely made[i]. [/i] I'd be interested in any views that clarify this situation or what their strategis thinking is. I'm not a MM fanboy, although I'm a very happy MM owner and probable future customer so no axe to grind. Sean

What pickup did you upgrade to? Was it an straight replacement? My BB400s has a proprietary reverse P in it that has a plate around it, changing the pickup meant I have to get a scratch plate fitted. I put a Wizard P pickup in mine which is a tiny bit hotter than the original but not much.

[quote name='Grand Wazoo' timestamp='1335400381' post='1630638'] this one is yummy if it had a maple fingerboard I'd be all over it. [url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Fender-Aerodyne-jazz-Bass-japanese-import-Candy-Apple-Red-/330720239648?pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item4d00766020"]http://www.ebay.co.u...=item4d00766020[/url] [/quote] That's the colour I had. Very nice indeed.

I had one with Fralins in and it was great. I wasn't that keen on the stained fretboard, though, it made it look a bit cheap. There were a couple of weird things too that you ought to know, the bridge is in a routed recess of its own so it would difficult to fit a replacement bridge without doing some woodwork however the bridge is way more substantial than the classic Fender bent bit o' tin. The other thing is depending on the height at which you string it, it can prove to be uncomfortable to play with a pick; you get the upper shoulder of the body digging in to your forearm. Very minor things and shouldn't bother most people. I ended up selling mine because someone bugged me about it so much and ended up offering me what I'd paid so it was job done. I would never say never again about any Japanese Fender, they rock.

Gus sorted me out with a lil pickup that I once owned and needed back. Top bloke, excellent communications, painless transaction, pure Basschat magic. Can't thank you and your missus enough for digging out that old pup for me!

Bit of a dodgy listing AFAIC but someone could have had a mega-bargain. Low feedback score, no photos, crap description. Was it really a BB424? [url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/yamaha-bass-guitar-/280865650842?pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item4164e5b89a&autorefresh=true#ht_500wt_1413"]HERE[/url]

I've just ordered a set of Status Black Nylon strings and also a set of Status Flats for my BB400s (P type bass) just to try. I have no experience of Status strings or black nylon so I'll post some clips when I get them. Anyone have any input on Status flats or nylons?

[quote name='bassmachine2112' timestamp='1335081595' post='1625392'] What about legacy from strings direct,aren,t they supposed to be made in the rotosound factory ? [/quote] [quote name='EssentialTension' timestamp='1335082257' post='1625396'] I've never noticed those before. It does say: 'Legacy Nickel Electric Bass Guitar Strings are made for us in the UK to our own exacting specifications' [/quote] The Legacy strings are Rotosound Rotobass in different packaging. Amazing value for money at £7.95 compared to £11-14 for the Rotosound version.

The one for me is my BB2024x. Why? It looks totally rawk! It cuts through the mix even better than my Sterling. It's outrageously brutal in the best kind of way. The pickups are jaw-droppingly hot. So much so that I think other basses are faulty when I initially play them. It proves beyond all doubt the the P/J configuration is a valid pickup combination and not a P with a placebo. It's the most resonant solid body I've ever played. It feels just perfect. It's full of techy gadgety magic nonsense and I love that kind of pseudo-science.

[quote name='dannybuoy' timestamp='1334930848' post='1623660'] Only James Lomenzo's custom jobbies have the maple board. [/quote] I don't know whether I'm more surprised that James Lomenzo has bespoke faeces or that said faeces have a maple board!

[quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1334907457' post='1623161'] Your band like all the other suppliers (PA, catering, bar etc.) are adding value to the event. Therefore you should get paid. If the others have reduced their fees to reflect the nature of the event then you should too, but none of them are going to be out of pocket at the end so why should you? [/quote] [quote name='silddx' timestamp='1334915872' post='1623331'] I don't think you have grasped the situation here. There seems to be a prevailing attitude that musicians will/should perform for free 'for the exposure', or because musicians would do it anyway because it's a vocation. The musicians are part of the 'service' providing the audience at the event with entertainment to go with their food and chit chat. The other service providers are getting paid. So should the musicians be. If it's a charity event, then why are the other service providers getting paid? It's unfair and unequitable. [/quote] My previous band were constantly asked to do charity events for no fee and we would go through a check list of questions before agreeing to do them: Will all bar and catering staff at the event be giving their services FOC? Are all profits from the bar and kitchens being given to charity? Are any of the other service providers being paid? Are our travelling and subsistence expenses paid? The usual reaction was disbelief that we were being so cheeky and unreasonable. The best charity events we played were ones where we were paid a substantial function band fee for being part of a well organised event that raised a lot of cash. Better entertainment = more money raised. One time there was a magician on the same bill who was getting a fee but we were being expected to a freebie. No chance. [quote name='Conan' timestamp='1334922515' post='1623477'] The problem with "one offs" is that they can be seen as custom and practice. [/quote] I totally agree, it sets a precedent. [quote name='MetricMike' timestamp='1334933616' post='1623729'] I think that you also have to consider that people do not value what they do not pay for. My personal experience is that unless the event is organised by someone who is a musician or who understands the work/time/effort that goes into a band then you will inevitably be messed around to the point where it may well spoil the event for you (and potentially mar it for the audience). [/quote] I concur absolutely. You have to put a value on yourself and you get taken more seriously and command more respect otherwise you end up being treated like an overgrown child that is being humoured by being let to play with his favourite toys. On principle given the fact that everyone else involved is cashing in on the event (and good luck to them) I would have politely refused but only after employing charm and salesmanship to try to get a decent fee.

+1

John at Dearnaley Guitars in Cardiff has always been good too.

Where can I get a custom scratch plate done? I need a simple three-ply black/white/black cut to a suit. Would I need to send the bass (body) away to someone who could do that for me? FYI, this is the shape I want (or near enough would do):

Absolutely gorgeous! Well bought!

[quote name='hamfist' timestamp='1334504319' post='1616919'] Also plays as nicely as most USA Fenders too. [/quote] Oh, I'm really sorry about that. Did you drop it in front of a speeding bus?