such

hmm, I might just walk up there tomorrow

[quote name='molan' timestamp='1368723855' post='2080764']
I know two, very heavyweight, serious touring pros who both have DB750/751's for their big gigs and TH500's for club type venues.

If it's good enough for them. . .
[/quote]

I know one (probably same person as one of the two you know). I've seen him with DB750 (or 751, I'm not sure) and two GS410's, and I've seen him with TH500 and one or two SL112's. And also, most recently, TH500 plus TH350 and three SL112's on a metal gig I do hear the difference, so does he, but he says it's just too much trouble to carry it all around for some gigs when he can just pack the little rig to his little car.

I personally wouldn't swap.

of course Stuart Zender also sounded very badly on first three Jamiroquai albums, if anyone could hear the bass at all
Same with Andy Levy of The Brand New Heavies, Mike Inez of Alice In Chains and many others.
One can not like the tonal signature of a W, but I haven't experienced a 5-string Warwick with a weak B.

I don't think those artists would choose to play an instrument they consider bad, even if they got it for free. Other makers offer endorsement deals too, you know.

thanks, I'm looking to add a lightweight rig (based on two 112 cabs) to my big ABM stack and these are a serious contender. Didn't have a chance to try though, I hope they're not too muddy.

Anyways, that Marcus looks really sexy, I will also be getting one if something even better of this (70s styling and pickup spacing, maple fretboard etc) type doesn't come up in similar price range.

pretty! I would like to know everything about that cab though

I haven't been to the Bass Gallery so far, even though I moved to London a couple of weeks ago. On Denmark Street, unsurprisingly, I like Wunjo (not only they were happy for me to try as many basses as I wanted, they actually tried to make me stay longer and try more when I decided it was time to go) and the one - can't remember the name - that has a bass room with Schecters, Bill Nashes, Mesa amps and MXR pedal in the basement. Westside Distribution it is, just googled. Nice and friednly place, a bit less proactive than Wunjo, they just leave me to it and tell to try whatever I want as long as I take basic care not to ding basses.

I'd go with Yamaha. In fact, the BB415 is my only bass at the moment. I'm very happy with it, sound-wise and playability-wise, and I do have a decent frame of reference, having own several american Fenders in the past, several German Warwicks and more.

Prince's bassist, Ida Nielsen used BB414 as her main gigging bass for many years.

on the website now:

[url="http://www.fender.com/en-GB/basses/precision-bass/classic-series-50s-precision-bass-lacquer/"]http://www.fender.com/en-GB/basses/precision-bass/classic-series-50s-precision-bass-lacquer/[/url]

there isn't *yet*, there is a rumour of one being introduced soon.
Unless you go for a RoadWorn.

[quote name='skej21' timestamp='1365390092' post='2038920']
Isn't that just the new '63 American Vintage Precision model?
[/quote]

No basically seems like it will be an un-roadworn RoadWorn, which is pretty cool if the pricepoint isn't too steep. Reasonably priced Mendel sig allows some hope I hope they come up with more colours and do the same thing to the '60s and '70s Jazzes...

I've seen a rumour on talkbass about the MIM Classic '50s P being finished in nitro from now on (with a *new* price, which can only mean one thing). Also, supposedly it will only be available in black (?)
Apparently some user there was told all that by a well informed Fender rep.

man, if you still have it in two months from now, I'm in. Now the timing is a bit off, I'm just moving to London in a couple of weeks and just the transport will cost me this much :/

Anyway, good luck with the sale in the meantime, it's a good price and the bass looks amazing.

I'm following the thread just in case

Yamaha BB!

yeah I know and I'm OK with that. I'll manage the woodwork and the paintjob. The thing I can't do is fabricate things out of metal. In worst scenario, I'll just put that frame on upside down (someone here has done it) for a while, it will just have rougher sharper edges this way, and the screws won't be flush.
And your English is fine

does anybody know of anybody who would be able to custom make/machine one of those metal P pickup frames, but reversed? The spring is coming and as soon as it gets warmer and drier (well, -ish...) I want to get on with my modding and refinishing project on my BB415, including reversing the pickup, changing the bridge (not sure what will it be), putting string retainers on the headstock and most importantly, refinishing it in thin nitro - the lacquer now is f*kin 2mm thick and really hard.

There is that Squier jazz bass, it might be for sale, I might be buying it. Made in Japan in 1985, serial number starting with SQ, sort of cream-ish white colour, there is a "Fender" stamp in the neck pocket of the body. What would be a right price for something like this? I'm not sure if I am going to buy this, because that would mean deciding against another tempting option, plus the seller is a god friend and will probably be reading this, so don't want to screw him over, either.

Any ideas?

ditto

Yamaha. New BB425 or anything second-hand, sometimes quite hi-end models sell within that budget. Schecters, Ibanez ATK, MusicMan SUB (the original American SUB)... if you like Warwicks, here on Basschat you can often find proper German ones within your budget - especially Corvettes or odd (but beautiful) models from late '90s like Streamer Pro-M or Fortress.

looks like it's the "normal" Squier Vintage Modified '77 or whatever it's called, with additional stickers/decals.

Electro Harmonix Mini POG does that, how natural it sounds though, you have to decide for yourself. Not very, imho, I don't believe I've heard better, though. It's purely a special effect too, cannot compensate for finger stubbiness

are you sure it wasn't Phil from Bass Gear? I had to google that Jeremy Kyle Show's guy, and he looks a tiny bit alike.

[quote name='TPJ' timestamp='1362606942' post='2002193']
Just wish they'd use V V T instead of that pickup switch
[/quote]

that's what I thought before I got my BB415. I had even bought the balance pot and arranged a soldering-skilled man to do the modification, but started liking the existing design very quickly.

Great basses, I'm getting one later this year. Tried many in shops, and last weekend at the London Bass Show thingy. The difference in quality/sound/finish between 1025 and 2025 is smaller than the difference in price, much smaller.

BB414 is a seriously good bass. I've got a 415 that I bought from a former Jethro Tull bassist, and I'm completely happy with it (will modify and refinish when spring comes, anyway )
424/425 have the same pickups and overall quality, but have a new 5-piece laminated maple/nato neck and a thru-body bridge. Both those changes should improve string tension, stability and clarity of the lower notes (especially B string in 425).

1024/2024/1025/2025 are of higher quality. They have different pickups to the lower series (identical between 102* and 202* though), and different hardware - bridge had angled saddles made of brass, coated in chrome in 102* and in nickel in 202*. Pieces of wood that body is made of, are spline-joint, to mimick sonic qualities of a one-piece body while improving mechanical stability. Nut is made of the same material as frets (as opposed to plastic in 42*). Finishes are different, imho nicer than in the cheaper series. Differences between 102* and 202*: maple/nato neck in 102*, maple/mahogany in 202*, chrome hardware in 102*, nickel in 202*; 102* are factory made in Indonesia (I think), 202* hand made in Japan - of course the amount of actual handmaking in "hand made" modern basses is a somewhat controversial subject. Plus 202* have those magical treatments called I.R.A. and A.I.R. if I recall correctly.
I've tried many of all those series extensively in stores and most recently at the LBGS. Conclusions: I'm keeping my BB415, but buying a 1024 or 1025 as well, as that will be a bit of an upgrade. The differences between 102* and 202* were very subtle at most.

except for the usual slappy noise, wasn't a bad show. One of my biggest impressions: those Finnish basses, Stenback. They only had four at their booth, and a preamp pedal, and that's about it (oh, and that cute tall blonde). Usual passive J-style basses, ash, maple/rosewood etc, nothing special, right? So I kept walking pass that booth until that blonde literally dragged me into it and told me to play, and, I kid you not, those basses have the most comfortable necks I've ever held. And I've owned some nice basses, Fenders, Warwicks, Yamahas, and played some nice ones, like Paul Turner's '66 Jazz many times, which is not only a very good specimen, but also well looked after and worn in and Plek'd, and seriously, those Stenbacks.... They have sold all four already on Saturday, and took orders and deposits for another four, which means something as they are like 3 grand each!

What else? Good news from Warwick is that there will be no more Pro-Series Star Bass - it will be Rockbass now (they've had a black fiver, I played it a lot), exactly the same except for the serial number starting with RB-*** instead of PS-***, and Chinese origin intead of Korean. Why is it good? Because of some £400 smaller RRP, that's why. I liked the bass a lot, sounded like a Jazz with more acoustic aspect, and the B string was SERIOUSLY good. Other than that, I re-established my opinion that Streamer LX is the best sounding Warwick model. Had a chat with Andy Irvine and Hans Peter Wilfer, lovely chaps. Chatted Bluejay up too, I forgot to say I'm a basschatter though. My private highlight: Andy Levy came over to the Warwick booth when I was playing that Star Bass, I started playing one of his Brand New Heavies lines, his smile was priceless