rjb

Used to own the SGC Nanyo 320 version of this bass. Very easy and fun to play and the tone was pretty good.

I regret selling it, actually...

[quote]Like is said, i may not spend 4k on a bass, i know i can get a great bass for way less than that...[/quote]

New Celinders and Sadowskys go for alot less don't they?

You have a PM!

Please don't tell us you're swapping it for some old Fender!

[quote]Speak to Mr Shuker !!![/quote]

Or perhaps AGC, RIM Basses or Overwater.

All would build a serious bass for the money you have.

Celinder? Aren't they meant to be the mutt's proverbials?

You could go seriously bling with a Ritter, but you'd be afraid to take it out if its case!

[quote name='Doctor J' post='488769' date='May 15 2009, 12:25 PM']A US Standard P is mass produced to meet a specific price point. There are builders out there who are trying to build the best P possible, they're the ones who'll more likely give you your dream bass.[/quote]

This applies to vintage Fenders too - 2k+ on an old Fender that was bolted together on a Friday afternoon from a parts bin, or 2k+ on a handmade Celinder or Sadowsky.

I can tell you which I would choose.

[quote]...i may take the plunge and sell the sadowsky and 75 RI to get one...[/quote]

Really? I'll bet it won't sound better than the Sadowsky or the Fender 75 you have. Why trade two great basses just to come out of the deal with an older version of what you already have?

I'm very skeptical about the value placed on some of these old basses - there's a bit of a gold rush going on at the moment and prices can get silly.

Cheers Chargrilled.

[quote]The neck is straight as a die, yet still get fretbuzz even though the saddles are really high, which of course makes the action at the higher end terrible.[/quote]

Have you tried different strings? It might have a very light set on at the moment. This could get very rattly if you're a pick player....

As for the bridge, that's easily swapped for a Badass, of course.

I've played these basses in shops many times and have been very impressed for the price. I'm mulling picking one up but have some questions for those who have lived with them for a while:-

1. Does the stained brown finish hold up well? If the finsh did get damaged would the body stand up to being sanded back and oiled?

2. How is the intonation? I've heard that the bridge struggles to get good intonation on the five and six string models.

Cheers-

Err, I guess mine isn't hard to figure out.

I like them for the same reasons that others hate them - thick neck profile, natural woods, rounded shape and, of course, the low-midrange growl.

Bumfrog: [quote]Guess I'm just not that superficial to let a thing like a headstock logo (or car badge) get in the way of what are great things at great prices.
Each to their own I guess.[/quote]

Well I would happily consider buying one of the new Rockbasses, so it's not about snob value. For me it's a simply an aesthetic issue - the Rockbass logo was, to my eyes, a horrible design (as was the jack plate). I don't want to spend money on something I personally don't like the look of!

Eight: [quote]Well, as a new Warwick owner I'm a bit peeved. (Edit: that the Rockbasses will carry the W on the headstock)[/quote]

Doesn't bother me. They'll still be very different basses. The exotic woods will be reserved for the German models.

I have to agree - I guess I'm shallow too!

Warwick obviously did a bit of market research and finally figured this out. The new Fortress fretless looks pretty damn good, by the way. Will have a go on that when I can get my hands on one.

Here's the Warwick forum thread with the new 2009 range for those who haven't seen it.

[url="http://www.warwick.de/forum/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=9174&start=0"]http://www.warwick.de/forum/phpBB2/viewtop...174&start=0[/url]

(Why anyone would buy the T.M. Stevens monstrosity is beyond me.)

I'd wait if I were you. A new line of Rockbasses is coming out this summer.

They will have a two piece bridge and lose the cheesy "Rockbass" logo.

Have a look at this thread on the Warwick forum. Note the tasty looking fortress fretless.

[url="http://www.warwick.de/forum/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=9174&start=0"]http://www.warwick.de/forum/phpBB2/viewtop...174&start=0[/url]

Love this. The cutaway top is a lovely idea.

[quote name='silverfoxnik' post='475623' date='Apr 29 2009, 11:58 PM']There's some good news on that front... I was speaking to Paul Herman today and he says the new Wals are almost ready to go! [/quote]

Mmm. Just out of interest is there any info on the models he'll me making, the prices and the waiting times involved (years, I'll bet)?

Enfield. That was it!

They look very good, but they're very expensive. They really need to do some mid-range versions.

There [i]is[/i] a new luthier that makes basses like Wals. I'll try to remember the link...

In the meantime if you're in no hurry you could put your name down on the waiting list for a new Wal. Don't hold your breath, though - it could be a while...

[url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=26299"]http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=26299[/url]

Any pictures?

This looks like a great buy. I'm also loving the battery mod/cover. I'd leave it if I were you - it has a mojo all of it's own.

[quote]I have to say that of the folks who have contributed to your thread you'll find that 90% of them would buy an 'old' used Thumb over a new or nearly new bass any day of the week![/quote]

I'm a little skeptical about getting too hung up with vintage - nostalgia ain't what it used to be, as they say.

Anyway, nearly new was just fine for me. Never had a single problem with my noughtie 'wicks. The wider necks work for me and both are well put together.

I bought my 2005 NT for £900 secondhand from Music Ground in Manchester. It was as good as new.

I love these basses, but the RRPs are just silly.

Not a Spandau fan, but I have to say they sounded really slick overall. The drums and bass could be more fluid, but that will improve as they tour. They've clearly been putting in a bit of practice....

[quote]Just curious, but how from the pictures can you tell it's been defretted after purchasing (which is what I assume you mean)? Plus the seller says it came like that, so why do you doubt him?[/quote]

Well I'm in the wrong anyway.

Manufacturers usually make the lines much more distinctive if they add them, but having read up on these models it appears they did make them with very light fret lines, so there you go!

Good luck with the sale.