Musicman20

[quote name='JohnFitzgerald' timestamp='1354366283' post='1885217'] My preference is try before you buy. Two sealed boxes with ostensibly the same instrument inside could be entirely inside the box. A sealed box holds no attraction for me at all. Merchant City Music in Glasgow set up every guitar before it goes in sale. How it should be. [/quote] Hence the good returns policies. Sealed box...crap bass? Send it back at no cost.

[quote name='Dingus' timestamp='1354312647' post='1884850'] If I remember correctly , didn't you buy a Am St P in white that had a gaping neck pocket gap ? [/quote] Indeed! Some time back now...it looked like a 'Friday' afternoon job to be honest. But...as is with Fender....you kinda have to make sure you are picky until you get a good un.

[quote name='Dingus' timestamp='1354307644' post='1884758'] You can't beat Olympic White for a Fender, either with rosewood or maple . Strange as this may sound though , my experience has been that when it comes to the much -vaunted Fender lottery , the sunburst basses fare much better than the white ones . I looked at five Olympic White Jazz Basses that were all wrong in one way or another before giving up . The sunbursts were all pretty much perfect in all respects - nut slots . fret work , neck pocket , weight ect . Coincidence ? [/quote] I reckon neck pocket wise it's just loads more obvious if its a touch out on a white bass. But yeah that is odd!

Not only that, compare it to say a Lull or Sadowsky which are double the price or more, and it makes the P5 a bargain with the new cases.

[quote name='Dingus' timestamp='1354306841' post='1884750'] I really like the look of these basses and would love to try one , but all the recent Fender price hikes coupled with the fact that the 5 string Am St. basses missed out on the 2012 pickup upograde ( but still copped the price increase ) means that I would always be kicking myself for not buying the same bass cheaper when they came out . Still like 'em though . [/quote] Agreed! I'm thinking of getting a P4 and J4 in that colour combo though...it was stunning.

The chaps at JG Windows in Newcastle had a lovely new P5 in when I popped in today. White/Tort/Rosewood. Stunningly light and great paint job. Not a perfect neck pocket but very damn close. The neck profile is brilliant. 18mm spacing, sounds like a P. The B string blends with the other strings which is, IMO, better than the over powering Bs some players like. Compared to, for example, my Ray 5HS, the B wasn't as punchy, but to be fair it's a passive P bass. Very easy to play and super light. Very impressed with it. If you are on the fence about one, id suggest you try one ASAP. The store isn't the cheapest but the staff were really nice and helpful. No pressure, no pushy sales technique.

Cool story.

[quote name='The Dark Lord' timestamp='1354192844' post='1883316'] No. Turn on. Rock. [/quote] Boom Boom Pow. This dude is right. No need for all that messing about.

[quote name='Dingus' timestamp='1354209162' post='1883678'] Have you ever noticed that Nottingham and Leeds are like the same city just rearranged a bit differently ? On the subject of the online retailers , one of the very best is MB Music . Decent , honest and straightforward to deal with , in my experience . [/quote] Absolutely. I find a lot of cities blend into one another. I think Leeds edges it for up and coming trendy places to live, but Nottingham has a brilliant music scene....really good bands. I was probably at my peak of 'wow, Im actually in a good band' in Nottingham. Granted, I've been in busier bands since, but that band I had in Nottingham were really, really good. A cross between The Mars Volta and Radiohead. Anyway, Leeds bass stores? I used goto Soundconrol, (now PMT)....I don't like PMT now. Nottingham? There isn't that much there in terms of instrument stores unfortunately.

[quote name='Conan' timestamp='1354206319' post='1883627'] [/quote] From my point of view, coming from a quiet but nice village, next to an awful town (Grimsby), Newcastle is absolutely brilliant. The city itself offers something I can't quite put my finger. It just seems 'energetic'....probably helped by all the students, plenty of partying, and the amount of things to do. Leeds is great, Nottingham is alight, but Newcastle is where I feel at home (even though it isn't my home town). Think that makes sense?! We need bass specialist store up here. Didn't the Bass Doc used to run one?

[quote name='xgsjx' timestamp='1354203493' post='1883556'] But what about the bass??? That's the bit that bassists really need. [/quote] Too much bass is not good. It ends up being a huge thuddy mess. I prefer a tight low end with really punchy low mids/mid mids. Treble to taste. Let the PA do the really low bass.

At his level he has enough money and time to have whatever he wants. I'm surprised at 4 x 15 though? As pointed out...it makes no different really as his tone is satured in effects.

If you switch to Talkbass, the Baer 112 cabs are getting stellar reviews all the time. Apparently the treble in 'just right', and the mids are stunning. They are also, IMO, fantastically well designed from an aesthetics view point. When you are spending big money, aesthetics HAVE to be considered. It is worth noting that the fearful cabs have a very 'PA' like type 'tone'....they say they are fairly neutral, but apparently they sound very different to a normal bass cab. They have a HUGE low end eith polite mids. From what I have heard, its nothing like what I'm used to and I'd probably dislike it.

It's also worth nothing that, to be honest, where is the relegation? I'd actually argue that playing bass 'well' as in properly, and having appreciation for what bass is about is no easy task. Then we have the 5/6 string argument....slapping on a 5 string 17.5 mm spacing bass? Not that easy.

Bass player, first and foremost. Always. I have a nice Tele and Orange guitar amp, but I always pick up bass over guitar. I prefer the way it fits with the drums. One of my old band mates said to me: 'If I wasn't a drummer, I'd play bass, because its close to the drums, and its cooler'. I agreed 100%. It is a dead cool instrument, unless you play a headless.

[quote name='mentalextra' timestamp='1354186519' post='1883160'] I dont want to turn this into a north and south thread but as a Londoner I have yet to experience this "friendly northern welcome". I keep on hearing about it but mostly from northerners. I have a good friend who lives in Bolton and I get the usual banter from him about living down south. But, his young lady works in London frequently and I have often pointed out that in a metropolitan city like this you are not judged by your accent or culture. I live in a road of maybe 100 houses and there are in excess of 30 different nationalites and religious faiths but we all bump along nicely. But, when I go to my mate in Bolton and open my mouth in his local corner shop its like a 'western' when the stranger walks in the saloon and the piano stops playing! My brother in law lived in Holmsforth for over 10yrs. He is a librarian and loves the countryside. He was literally hounded out of his home because of small minded idiots. [/quote] I wasn't for a second trying to say anything other than 'most of the people I've met in Newcastle are REALLY friendly'. That's the truth. I've lived in Leeds, Nottingham, Grimsby and Newcastle. Grimsby is the home town (unfortunately) but I won't be moving back. No city offers a life like Newcastle.

[quote name='Matt P' timestamp='1354184879' post='1883124'] i But i've yet to have any joy in Guitar Guitar, i get ignored most of the time and when i do ask questions it feels like i'm only being spoken to in the hope that i'll go away! i've been in there with cash in my pocket ready to buy and then just walked out because of the service, it's as if they don't actually want to sell you any of their precious instruments! Matt [/quote] Plus one. I love northerners, but the usual friendly atmosphere does not extend into their shop.

[quote name='Joker2807' timestamp='1354183052' post='1883084'] well update on my situation... i still don't have my bass. i'm really starting to lose my patience now... if it doesn't come today I am demanding a refund ... [/quote] if they mess you about today, get your money back and shop elsewhere. Soundslive have some of the 2011 Fender's left still, and Im sure they will match the price. In fact, loads of the stores have them on sale.

[quote name='Conan' timestamp='1354180741' post='1883030'] I think some music shops deserve to be experiencing hard times. Unless they respond to the current market with more sensitivity, they deserve to go under. [/quote] I agree. Harsh as it is. As I'm nowhere near Bass Direct or Bass Gear I can't go and try out there high end gear. The one time I was near one of them, I was late (totally out of my control, trying to get through London traffic) which made the reason I drove out of my way (heading to Manchester to see a band) pointless as I didn't have time to check things through properly. So, I still haven't really properly shopped in a Bass specialist store since the Bass Merchant was run by Darren. Now, going in non-specialist bass stores is just nowhere near as fun. They never have what you want, then moan when you want a different colour on a £1500 bass. I've been considering getting either another Bongo or a new Fender, but after waiting almost 6 months for the current Bongo I have incoming, Im sure I dare lay down half the money in this economy. If a store was to go down, with your deposit, do you get it back if you've put it on a credit card?

I can't stand rude arrogant staff. WE are the ones spending the money, keeping THEM in a job. If I spoke to my clients as rudely as some staff do in music stores do to their customers I'd be ashamed. I'd also get a roasting from my supervisor, which I would deserve. ...and here is another thing. If a customer is spending a fair whack, I would suggest never to let them down, because you might lose £5,000+ of sales over the next few years.

[quote name='Joker2807' timestamp='1354123813' post='1882411'] OK PMT LEEDS OFFICIALLY SUCK!!! they told me the amp and the bass would be ready to pick up tuesday morning. Tuesday: i ring up about midday, the guy said he would go see if it was there and ring me back in 2 minutes... i waited an hour. I then rung up again and got a different lad who said he would go find out and ring me back... this time i wait an hour and a half. I ring back a third time to be told that it wasn't there and that it would be there the following day. Wednesday (Today): i ring up at midday to be told that the amp had arrived but the bass had been sent to the Romford store instead of Leeds, so its going to be tomorrow now till i can get it.. I'm feeling a bit cheesed off now as i feel like i have had to chase this order all the way, there was also no apology regarding the mistake. I wouldn't mind but I've spent over a grand on this order and they just simply don't care. This will be the last time I order anything from them. [/quote] Oh no. I say this because I have never been back into that shop when they tried to sell me the same bass three times (I placed an order and they just wouldn't 'order'...they tried to shift old scratched stock one me). The manager out right lied to me and said the third one was brand new. Thing is, I knew the serial number. It wasn't new...it had been for a polish. I spoke to Fender UK. PMT had not once ordered this bass for me....so after being lied to three times I took my deposit back and I've never been in again. There was also a guy called Andy (who was also involved in the Jazz mess about) there who tried to say I wasn't allowed to order new Orange cabs in. I had to have the scuffed ones in the shop for the same retail price. I went to another shop and ordered one cheaper, brand new. I rang Orange. Orange said they will always ship new gear if the customer wants it boxed and new.

[quote name='Hobbayne' timestamp='1354126050' post='1882460'] You might find for future reference that some shops offer a beat best price policy. I have rang around a few shopswhen I was bass hunting, and asking them if they could beat a rival shops best price. DV247 offeredthe best prices. [/quote] I think I'm going to use DV247 for a new Fender soon. 4 year guarantee as well!

If you goto Alan at Synergy he matches the Thomann prices.

[quote name='Joker2807' timestamp='1354124339' post='1882423'] if they had a go at making a precision .. id be very very tempted but your new Jazz looks awesome man [/quote] They have! Check their website IMO, for my tone, I prefer the normal Fender P pickups over the Delano's, purely because the Delano's are quite precise and modern, and I prefer just a rough n ready P bass tone.

I must admit I like the Sandberg take on a P and J but I'm not into the relic look, no matter how good it is. BUT, for some reason I like the simple Fender Roadworn Jazz in Fiesta Red...weird. I was very close to ordering a custom order but I started to realise that for my kinda 'tone', I'm after either a Musicman, or a passive Fender P or J. The normal boring trio apart from the oddball Musicman basses I like. Sandbergs are very cool looking though. Nice basses in the pics!