edstraker123

I was just noodling on Amazon looking for sale bargains and came across the Ortega for £202 in the outlet. I didn't know much about the brand, but knew they were generally more expensive than this. A quick google later and I'd established it was less than half price and as it was the last one pulled the trigger. The box it arrived in was tiny but inside was the bass in its own quality gig bag. At a scale length of 24.6" I knew it would be small but it is absolutely tiny as can be seen against a conventional Ibanez acoustic. It was wildly out of tune and the machine heads were really loose, I tightened them up and began to play - something was banging against the body inside. I loosened the strings and found the battery box and volume control were just hanging loose inside the body. Some new sticky pads later and problem solved. The strings took some getting used to - they are silver plated copper wound on nylon silk - they are lovely to play, but it is extremely easy to bend a note out of tune. Acoustically , as would be expected, the bass is quiet - but perfect volume for a travel bass or just noodling unplugged on the couch. The low end is nothing like the Ibanez, but perfectly reasonable for what it is and through the Ashdown with a B3N I can get some really lovely tones out of it. For what I paid for it - I think it is excellent value even given the minor required fixes , at double I wouldn't be so sure - but will definitely be keeping an eye on Amazon outlet in future.

Excruciating ?

The famous band member who owned it needs a new guitar tech !

It's definitely in the eye of the beholder !!!

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Warwick-Custom-Shop-Streamer-LX4-Hand-Selected-Birdseye-Poplar-Top-4453/163239093364?_trkparms=aid%3D555018%26algo%3DPL.SIM%26ao%3D2%26asc%3D20140107083358%26meid%3D8c34930326a44cc4bcb758f49b2c85d0%26pid%3D100011%26rk%3D5%26rkt%3D12%26sd%3D123510336645%26itm%3D163239093364&_trksid=p2047675.c100011.m1850

Nice the way the E string hangs off the fretboard at the bridge end then curves back in to meet the nut. Great design if you've always wanted to control the volume with your armpit . Currently 4 bids !

I always sell musical equipment at my mums as she doesn't have the aladdins cave of basses and guitars that is my living room.

Buying and selling has become a bit of a minefield. The Warwick i picked up a couple of weeks ago was local collection but the seller wanted me to buy on ebay and pay through Paypal even though I offered cash on collection. He was really reluctant to give me his address, wanting me to make the payment first. In my head I was thinking he'll then claim I've had the bass (and not give me it)and I'm sure he was thinking if he gives me his address prior to payment I'll just go round and steal it ! We sorted it out in the end and when we met got on really well and talked about basses for ages. But the suspicion of being scammed on both sides almost ruined a brilliant deal.Not every one is out to scam you but caution is definitely the name of the game.

The Akai Deep Impact was my holy grail for a period of time - when I finally got one I was completely underwhelmed. You already know your Sterling will sound much better !

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Phil-Kubicki-Ex-Factor-Bass/173651269193?hash=item286e6c1649:g:SbIAAOSwJtJb8-vA:rk:45:pf:0

I've bought a few sets of strings from BD lately and the service has been excellent.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/bass-guitar-used/223029883454?hash=item33ed9df23e:g:nLsAAOSwhEVbKWbS

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Washburn-Taurus/273518759669?hash=item3faefd0ef5:g:L-QAAOSw2~ZbzI4K Shouldn't the carrier bag be 5p extra ?

I hate when sellers put New Other when it's used - the text in the description tells me he's used it !

If you wouldn't mind and you have time try the LGW Torzal if it's still in l and let us know what it was like to play . I'm really intrigued by the concept of the twisted neck - it makes perfect sense but I'm not sure what it would be like to play in reality.

Tried one today - I so wanted to like it but it was horrible it felt and sounded really cheap.

As my sparkly Talman electrics inexplicably died after 30 minutes of use, I took it back to store with the idea of exchanging it for an Orange 'O' - the O presumably stands for 'Orrible' so after 2 minutes I knew it wasn't for me . I looked for something in the same price range and saw an SR400EQM - as soon as I picked it up I was hooked . Amazing bass- I don't know how they do it for the money (£300). It now has a set of halfrounds on it and after a quarter turn on the truss rod is set up like an absolute dream.Obviously the pickups aren't in the same league as the Nordstrands on the SR premiums but with the 3 band eq and the power tap switch it has an amazing array of sounds and looks truly gorgeous.

Glad its working out for you Mike .

Maybe a natural wood one just in case !

My Talman has just died As it is a xmas present to myself I haven't really played it but thought I would put some halfrounds on it as the strings it came with are far too 'Clacky' Played for about 30 minutes and then the sound went weird ( I was playing through a B3N and headphones) so thought it was the battery in the headphones ) changed that and the battery in the bass but the output is still all over the place. Will have to take it back tomorrow - the shop I got it from aren't listing any more in stock either (it's a limited edition) 🤤

And yet there is a new country music channel - the world's gone mad !

Absolutely not !!!!!!! I love it .

I put Labella copper white nylon tapewounds on it last night and not only do they look brilliant they sound utterly amazing. I had to force myself to go to bed as I didn't want to put it down. I saw it on ebay locally for collection only at an amazing price (Gear4 music had it listed at £2266 !) and to be honest bought it with the intention of selling it on but fell in love with it. When I picked it up it was absolutely flawless and came in a quality Gator case rather than the gig bag Warwick sell it in - all case candy included. Probably my best bass purchase to date.