Scanbran

I just received mine from Thomann this week. First impressions are that it really is a handsome looking instrument. Very nicely finished, the glossed fretboard is stunning. The chrome and brass hardware is nice, but is slightly tarnished (probably from sitting in the warehouse for a while) so this might need to be buffed up if I can be bothered. Lifting the bass, I was taken aback by the weight of it - it didn't seem quite so heavy in the box, but hefting it onto my lap, it's a fairly beefy hunk of wood alright! Certainly much heavier than the Tanglewood Rebel I was used to. Plugging in to the amp (Kustom 100W) was wonderful. Low hum, no crackling. The pickups seem quite powerful, and everything is much louder and sharper than on the Tanglewood. Although I try to play with fingers, I have nails (for guitar), and while I didn;t notice too much on the old bass, on this the nail effect really comes through, making the sound very crisp indeed. What I have noticed as well is that compared with the Tanglewood, I have a lot of 'acoustic fretting noise' on the Fender. I don't know if this is down to the new strings, the maple fingerboard, the frets, the setup or some combination of them all, but it is a bit off-putting when playing and hearing such a clacking, fizzing racket in my left ear. The action seems low (2mm at 12th low E) but does seem to clear the frets up and down the board, and the relief seems fine (perhaps it could be loosened a 'little'). I'm hoping it's a new string thing and that it dies down after a bit of time. So overall I'm well impressed with the look and sound of the Fender. The weight is a bit startling for me as a beginner, but I'm sure I'll get used to it. Also alarming is the fretting noise I'm getting (down to my inexperience with bass guitars I hope), but it plays very nicely and the neck is solid and smooth. For the £330 or so I spent on it, I'd say it was a bargain.

I just received this bass today from Thomann, and while it looks fantastic in the overall quality of the finish, the nut drew my eye almost immediately. At the side there is a significant mark, which could be a join or excess gloss mark. It might be obvious, but as a new bass player I'm unsure, so I hoped for a little advice. Also, the nut itself is a bit rough and ready in it's execution, with debris from where it has been cut still lying on the upper side of it, and the slots appearing quite big. Is there anything to worry about or is it fine? [IMG]http://i681.photobucket.com/albums/vv175/Scanbran/IMAG0347.jpg[/IMG] [IMG]http://i681.photobucket.com/albums/vv175/Scanbran/IMAG0348.jpg[/IMG] [IMG]http://i681.photobucket.com/albums/vv175/Scanbran/IMAG0349.jpg[/IMG] [IMG]http://i681.photobucket.com/albums/vv175/Scanbran/IMAG0350.jpg[/IMG]

Thanks

[quote name='mart' timestamp='1347346290' post='1799496'] I got my son the very short scale Harley Benton off Thomann, for the princely sum of £60. For the money it's absolutely fantastic. Incidentally, it's also got an FSC sticker on it, which made me laugh when Warwick introduced an FSC bass and charged megabucks because of its certification. [/quote] Glad to hear this - I just bought my 10 year old daughter this bass (the value package actually with amp, lead and strap) for £70. It's not arrived yet, though

Thanks for the welcome

I have been enjoying browsing the forum here, and thought I might as well introduce myself too! I've played guitar for around 25 years (electric to begin with but now only acoustic), and also play banjo and mandolin, but recently I had an urge to try the electric bass. No idea why, but I found a very cheap deal locally for a Tanglewood bass and practice amp and got stuck in. I just love it, and I've now ordered a Fender Modern Player Jaguar bass and Kustom 100W amp! My daughter has taken to it too, so she's getting a short scale to learn along with me! I'm happy to learn for the sake of it, but would love to be able to find people nearby to jam with. Might be tough though, since I've hit 40 and am out of the loop as far as that sort of thing is concerned Anyway, I hope to hang around a bit here and pick up some tips

I've just ordered one of these - looking forward to trying it out!

I love the Steampunk look. Those guitars are amazing looking!