glassmoon

Perhaps they have the same reputation as that once held by (classic) Trace Elliot. I remember well (back in South Africa) how so many bassists absolutely hated TE kit... yet would quite happily gear that I thought was awful. Lids for pots i say. IMHO Ashdown is amazing. I've played with the EQ on the OriginalAL a lot since my last post here, and while I am not blown away or dazed by the splendor of its tone, I am never found wanting. It just "does" what it says on the tin. Could it push some more out? Sure. Does it realistically need to? Probably not. My 10c on Mark Bass is best left for another forum hahahaha

The RAy 5... as requested (a sock picture BTW) The cavity is tiny - but it doesn't need to be a big one, it just needs the J pickup routed with a channel drilled for the wiring.

One thing I am considering... well... two things really... 1. I take my existing 2workingman's bass", a Ray5, and change the pickups to a MM/J config - it will require a qualified tech to route. The immediate issue I see is that the MM pickup is in the "sweet spot" and thus quite a bit closer to the neck than a traditional "bridge" pickup The other is that if I am off by even a millimeter or so, it could radically impact the tone 2. Get my hands on (e.g.) a Cort GB35 and just replace the pickups and EQ They are stunningly well made basses, but lack in the pickup/preamp department IMHO (I've owned one before) Neither of these is technically a DIY build - so it's just playing with gear really... sigh... I have zero DIY skills myself, so this would be a bit of fun with a realistic end goal... but perhaps a bridge too far. Anyone got a GB35 laying about hahahahaha

I will most definitely look more - I used their online contact form, which blitzed on me - but will email my request

Wow - it's been a while since I saw anything new for HB - this is terrific!

Niiiiice... From whence cometh these?

Hey - that's super cool!!! I will contact them and ask specifically whether I can get the neck without block inlays (which I do not like at all) Oh - one thing... these bodies are not painted, but I should be able to do a "tung oil" finish, yes?

Ah, thanks you lot for the terrific insights and ideas. I just want to qualify why this bass appeals... it is the only Lakland style bass that I have found - as in the MM/J config - but I'd be VERY open to other options.... I have a Ray5, which I bunged a Delano pickup and a Seymour Duncan preamp into... and it's my bread n' butter bass.... but I do miss the 2nd (neck) pickup adding the umph, the lower end woomph... Sooooooooooo... I guess the question is... for a Lakland style (as in a sorta, kinda, like a P bass body with MM/J pickup config) ... where do I look? I am not flush with loads of ££££s.... hence the kit route. if I can build up a decent-enough-to-use-in-public bass over 6 to 12 months, I'm a happy camper Oh, and if Harley Benton had a MM/J bass... I would have a Harley Benton hahahaha

Hi all, I'm looking at a DIY kit on Amazon [LINK], that looks decent enough (as in it's not made from MDF and plywood), albeit shockingly badly worded (it lists 6 strings for a 5 string bass). Are these kits worth it? I've no doubt that the pickups and EQ will be shockingly inadequate, but thankfully I have a plan there already. My thinking is that if the wood is decent and the neck is not a complete wreck, then upgrading the pickups and slotting in a half-way decent preamp might net me a pretty good bass. Anyone ever buy one of these and make a go of it? My thanks in advance... Julian

Have delay, will travel