Musicman20

Shame....I'm shocked they didn't do much with the new store. Times are indeed hard.

[quote name='drTStingray' timestamp='1364173843' post='2022874'] Yeah I'm with you on this, Gareth - my SR5 natural was £995 new, ten years ago. The pound is very low against the dollar at the moment (1.49 last time I looked - when I was thinking of buying a nice late 80s Stingray from a shop in USA). If this continues, it will put prices of US made musical equipment up even more. [/quote] Yes, and it applies across the board. It IS worrying. At a time when other products are dropping prices and making less profit, just to shift units, musical instruments, etc, are increasing prices. For instance, I was born into the Nintendo generation, having the first proper Nintendo 8 bit console back in the late 80s, (approx!). This casual hobby has stayed with me, and the video game market has grown to even have huge adverts on prime time television. The gaming industry is one that seems to stay, no matter what the economy thinks. However, Nintendo released a new console in late 2012, and it hasn't shifted the units expected. This is probably due to the fact they need more games for it, and the simple fact that people cannot afford to splash out. Less than 6 months ago, it was £300+. The games were about £40+. Now? Game prices are dropping to £30 or less, and the console bundle I just bought used to be £350.00, and was only £199.99. £150.00 OFF the original price for a brand new console. Just saved myself a lot of money, and it worked, as the lower price means I'm now tied to buying games for it. THIS drives sales. I've no idea how the instrument market works, but I've seen some trade pricing sheets for various bass amp manufacturers, and if they drop some of the prices, more people will bite. But, I agree, £1300 for a new Ray H seems reasonable considering they used to be £1000 without a case over 10 years ago. I imagine they can't afford to keep them at that price though. I expect Fenders to go up soon as well. On the other hand, Gallien amps have come DOWN in price, yet they make them ALL in the USA, instead of their previous overseas factory. Weird. I do wish we had a large manufacturer of basses over here in the UK, so we could pay less!

New normal Rays are about £1400+ now. I guess when I bought my Stingray natural 3 EQ over ten years ago for £1000, I now have that figure stuck in my head. After that amount of time, of course they go up.

[quote name='ebenezer' timestamp='1364144150' post='2022424'] yes, look to be nice cabs . .with the 7oz magnet wattage will be around 250 to 300 imo 11oz and 4 to 500watts might have been good(barefaced 12s) i have ht112er and happy with muscular tone with good midrange although on heavy side 44lbs . . might swap 12s for kappalites . [/quote] 700 for the 212.

[quote name='Paul_1991' timestamp='1364146781' post='2022480'] Totally agree with the above and thanks for the replies. Guitar Village had one in a sale at £1599 with a retail at around £2500. Bass Gallery also have one for around £2100. Guitar Village got back to me and said even though their sale had finished, they would still sell it to me at the sale price. I mean, seems a good price for a bass of that standard, it's new and cheaper than the Classis MM series. I'll mull it over. Paul [/quote] I was gonna pick up the Natural Classic but couldn't bring myself to spend £1600 plus in the end, without playing it.

[quote name='Dave Vader' timestamp='1364148505' post='2022522'] My first bass, still my main bass, looks a bit different these days, but came from an Argos catalogue. Sad times if they don't have any anymore..... [/quote] Like the Descendents sticker!

I've see the GK MB500 for £400 new!!

[quote name='stingrayPete1977' timestamp='1363985167' post='2020690'] I know, its not just the Ray connections I feel drawn to modulus in their own right but not got any love for a status [/quote] + 1

[quote name='wateroftyne' timestamp='1363985712' post='2020702'] Helloooooooo! I reckon Jim Bergantino rules the roost when it comes to build quality. [/quote] Absolutely! He also has that eye for style as do Aguilar. I need to hear the 212...

[quote name='The Dark Lord' timestamp='1363970230' post='2020356'] I see that the 1x12 is a little bit heavier than Barefaced's Compact 1x15. [/quote] I don't think any of these cabs are a problem to shift. It all depends on tone and quality, so choose whichever floats your boat

Almost tempted to finally get a lightweight 2x12....very close to making a deposit.

[quote name='Rayman' timestamp='1363950074' post='2019937'] Yeah I always wanted one too. I've had a few Stingrays in my time, but I always wondered how they compared to each other? [/quote] From what I have heard, they are more 'hifi' and clear. Less of the tradtional Stingray rasp, more of a very clear and precise tone.

ALWAYS wanted one of these.

Genz Shuttlemax 9.2. I owned a Trace GP12 400 SMX for years and I found it very loud and clear, with a tight low end and sparkly highs. The Genz is the closest I've heard in micro format.

[quote name='dodge_bass' timestamp='1363821705' post='2018333'] Sure I sent it fully wrapped in a lot of bubble wrap having being read on this forum that it was probably better to send it with the handle showing (and therefore clearly an instrument) as opposed to a big box which could contain anything. Perhaps I was wrong (and happy to be so) but the other bass I sent to Europe similarly wrapped arrived fine and I've received multiple basses similarly packaged with no damage to their hard cases. I've also flown with my bass in lite-flight case only (not wrapped / packed) and put in the hold and only once in about 30 flights have I had any damage done to the case. I've also seen my bass from the aircraft window being lobbed down by the ground crew unloading and watched it drop down and clunk round a luggage conveyor.... *slightly defensive rant over* So...it's probably the luck of the draw I suspect with this kinda of thing. Also isn't this why we put instruments in flight cases - so the case, not the instrument, takes the damage when people throw it around, drop things on, its shifts in transit etc etc. Faithless - I'm happy to provide you with backup re.the case although I don't have any photos of the actual case which probably doesn't help. Email if there's anything I can do to help at all on this - sorry its proving a problem at your end. I never anticipated that you would have to claim on the flight case being damaged and that it would end up being the hassle its seeming to be. Cheers Ian [/quote] Ian - I wasn't attacking anyone on this, I was just shocked anything was sent without a proper box. Heck, when I ordered a very lightweight and super strong £140 hybrid case, it was packed inside a box, and bubbled inside the box. I can see that a lot of wrapping of bubble wrap could help, but it would not stop proper force from damaging the case or indeed breaking the handle/badly scratching the case. Yes, cases are built to protect the bass, but not to be subjected to couriers without proper protection. We all know what they are like!

Cover bands are great, but also 'soul destroying' if you are the typical run of the mill, recreating a few tired rock songs then being of so [b]incredibly exciting[/b] with a very lacklustre cover of an early Green Day song. If I had the choice? My own/my own bands material, EVERY time. Unless its a high profile covers band who really are good at nailing a lot of different styles. When I've gigged in covers bands, I've often felt quite fake. If you want to play your own music, concentrate on months of getting it right, and don't gig every gig you get offered.

Most basswood MIJ Fenders are quite light, although £400+ used. Squier CV P or J should be basswood, and the P may be lighter? I would suggest checking out the MTD Kingston basses at Bass Direct. They not only look great, but they are superb value IMO. Even I want one and I don't usually dig modern looking basses. I used to own a Bass Collection 4 string P/J. It was featherlight, and VERY fast and easy to play. Sometimes I wish I still had it!

Best 2x12 I've experienced so far.

I just absolutely love the body shape of the big E335's/Casino's. It's been years since I wanted a new 6 string, and at the moment its between a Strat, another Tele, or possibly a big ol' Gibson/Epiphone semi-hollow type guitar. Can anyone recommend an Epiphone Casino model? Pref. current. There are about 3-4 versions at the moment. Any other recommendations? I don't want to spend more than about £1000...really....

Put a new ad ups since I posted. Now meeting up with a potential new band. Hopefully...they will be on the right track!

Matt at Fender UK is great. I've dealt with who Lozz mentioned, and had issues. So, never been back. You should definitely get a pack with all the tools mentioned, brochures, key and duster, etc.

It was sent without a proper box?!

My last bass arrrived with a crack in the case, which could have happened at any point. Luckily it was new, so I just got a new case, but it is, I agree, a total pain. How they break a hardcase is anyone's guess! Good luck.