birdy

I have had this bass 4 days now and done a gig with it and I think it is the best bass I have ever played. Whether I will think that in 6 months time of course is another thing

Hi Geoff, Great setup you have there. I still wish I had my DB750 and the Berg cab is perfect!!!

[quote name='ezbass' post='506262' date='Jun 5 2009, 12:19 PM']I'm guessing that The Bass Merchant is feeling fairly happy with their stock movement. Both nice basses, but it's the P5 that really does it for it me.[/quote] The P5 is stunning in the flesh. I had my reservations about both basses when I saw the initial pictures. I wasn't going to buy the Jazz because I didn't like the colour/stripe at all. Steve (Flanker) assured me that it looked great in real life and so I went and checked it out and really liked it. I think both finishes were quite a bold move but both have worked really well. I believe the guy who does the AC finishes is an ex fender expert from way back who sure knows his stuff!! Steve

[quote name='Toasted' post='506142' date='Jun 5 2009, 10:05 AM']So - Steve (Flanker) you own the P, and Steve (Birdy) you own the J5? Gear moves fast![/quote] Thats right Joe!! Anytime you are passing through Birmingham you are welcome to have a play and a cuppa. Steve

Yes thanks for commenting Janek. I know you were put off posting on this forum due to some negative vibes but I think the majority on here welcome your input and advice. Steve

[quote name='EBS_freak' post='506046' date='Jun 5 2009, 02:18 AM']And what's that supposed to mean? Are you telling me that Jimmy has somehow managed to harvest power from the 50s? Perhaps he has been storing it in huge capacitors until the time comes to charge his own special batteries to get the sound [i]just[/i] right? PS - did you get a case? I didn't see it![/quote] No I think what he has done is replicated the batteries to simulate how the power may have been back in the 60's Case/gig bag was provided. If I was going to suggest one improvement it would be to provide a higher quality branded case in the same manner as Sadowsky etc. That's just me being ultra picky however. Steve

[quote name='EBS_freak' post='506043' date='Jun 5 2009, 02:12 AM']What's with the vintage battery??[/quote] Attention to detail

[quote name='EBS_freak' post='506034' date='Jun 5 2009, 01:44 AM']Just got back from a night out at birdy's. Oh my gosh. I am love. This is better than any F jazz bass clone that I have ever played. Better than US Lakland, Nordy, Sadowsky, Celinder... and actual Fender. I just picked it up and it just immediately felt right. The workmanship is spot on, the fretwork is absolutely perfect (we got the action down to my preference - e.g. super low - and not many basses will not do that without a serious fret dress to prevent buzzing and choking out) the paintjob is divine and the preamp is really, really good. It covers alot of bass tones from traditional old J bass sounds through to the more modern tones. That AC preamp really is something good. The control layout (the fact that you have two seperate volume controls for the pickups) make it a little more versatile than just having a standard pan. The noise level is exceptionally low for an active single coil jazz - especially when everything on the preamp is boosted to maximum. This is an exceptional jazz bass clone. I'm very, very impressed. I want one. I think it is quite possibly going to be on my list of basses that I need to save up for. And for those wondering in about the headstock - in the flesh it looks right... although in pictures it may seem a little large...? It certainly wouldn't bother me in the slightest anyway! Expect some porn section photos soon![/quote] ^^^^^^^^ That's why it is worth the money - Case Closed

I will start. Pics courtesy of EBS_Freak!!! [attachment=26563:35968524...0649c9_o.jpg] [attachment=26561:35968516...34891b_o.jpg] [attachment=26562:35968521...4cea19_o.jpg] [attachment=26551:35960426...db0f6d_o.jpg] [attachment=26560:35968512...93198b_o.jpg] [attachment=26559:35968511...fd33c4_o.jpg] [attachment=26557:35968508...85e2f3_o.jpg] [attachment=26558:35968509...ef230f_o.jpg] [attachment=26556:35968506...bbf5b8_o.jpg] [attachment=26555:35960442...7a523b_o.jpg] [attachment=26554:35960434...a3a6bc_o.jpg] [attachment=26553:35960430...160949_o.jpg] [attachment=26552:35960429...688bcd_o.jpg] [attachment=26565:35968532...c209bb_o.jpg] [attachment=26564:35968527...893e27_o.jpg] Enjoy!!

[quote name='EBS_freak' post='505585' date='Jun 4 2009, 04:46 PM']Steve - I'm bringing my Argos Encore round. It's time for a bass off.[/quote] No, please not your signature Encore

Wow! Looks like a beauty. Can't wait to see what you think when you plug her in!! Steve

[quote name='dood' post='504963' date='Jun 3 2009, 07:30 PM']Well, I think my take on it is that I *perceive* my 'Signature' instrument to be ..well.. like my *own* signature. I want my instrument (and all of MY personalisations that make it more comfortable for me to play than any other instrument) to be easily identified as mine.. in the same way that ..well.. my signature on a cheque would be. This is one of the reasons why both of my Shukers are a matched pair. I'm a big Queen fan, as a few of you may have realised lol - and I LOVE the idea that Brian May's guitar is instantly recogniseable. It is considered his 'signature' I feel. It was never designed with being mass produced in mind and I feel the same about my basses. I may feel different if *insert brand name major* were chucking out 1000's of mass produced 'Doodle-alikes'. It would be great to know that so many people would want to buy 'my design' But, I'm not so sure I would call every one of those a 'signature' instrument. that would be a +1million for the quality of Jon's work.[/quote] Hi Dood, Thanks for the reply. Its just a matter of terminology I guess. What you describe as your *signature* instrument I would see as being a *custom* instrument. A signature instrument to me is something like the 'Flea' bass , Sting bass, or the Victor Bailey etc etc. Either way as long as we are happy with what we get it doesn't matter how we label it does it? I merely thought that maybe Jon was going into that world of relatively mass produced 'Simon Rix' models - looks like he isn't :-) Steve

OK, I have had the bass long enough to get to know it well enough to comment on this thread and the pricing. Firstly it was not £4200. It may have been advertised as that but it was for sale on the bass merchant website at £3750 for a start. I am not going to divulge exactly what I did or didn't pay as that's between Darren and myself. I have owned a lot of high end basses such as Celinder, Sadowsky, Roscoe, Nordstrand, Overwater, GB etc etc. Its very subjective as to what is good or bad but in terms of overall quality I felt that Celinder, Roscoe and GB were at the top of the pile marginally. Sadowsky was pretty damn close but the other three just had a little something extra for me. This AC bass is as good if not better than any of the three brands I mention. Granted they may all come in marginally cheaper than the AC but you pays your money and takes your choice. The AC just sounds really really good. Flankers P bass which was a lot less than the Jazz I have also sounds amazing. When you quote $4500 for a new one from the states that equates to about £3000 but then add on taxes and shipping and I doubt there is much in it at all. Thats assuming you all pay your taxes of course ;-) Anyway, it is a very expensive bass but in this instance you get what you pay for. Also, there are quite a few well respected top players who play them and pay full price when they could choose various other brands. Thanks Steve