Musicman20

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!

To be honest, for £200.00, you can't expect it to be absolutely amazing, considering some 1x12 neo drivers cost more than that just for the driver! But, I bet it will be quite a good cabinet. Light, small profile, and a good price. GK manufacture their own paragon speakers so they save money that way. I think for £200.00 you've made a good choice. I would have recommended a TC Electronics RS210 but your amp wouldn't sit on it, and its about £400.00.

The FET channel is stunning.

For £200 I'd easy get the GK cab. It's on offer as they have a revised version coming out.

Great choice! A damn good value and well performing combo and an excellent bass. Seriously, Fender haven't made basses like they are now (as in value for money and tone/build quality) since the 60s, IMO. The 2008 - will be a golden era for Fender in 20 years time.

The Max 9.2 is a fairly large amp but has a lot crammed on it! I still think its crazy light.

[quote name='KiOgon' timestamp='1353933010' post='1879808'] I'm very tempted by the American Std 2012 Fretless Jazz but don't really want another 3TS or Black. Why such a limited choice in fretless Fender? [/quote] Ah I see! Just realised you said fretless. I've looked into it and some retailers are able to do them for about £1k for non-burst and dv247 give you a 4 year warranty!!! I was about to plunge into another Bongo order but I think the one I have due any day is enough as I have loads of fantastic Musicman basses. I played my Jazz (2011) last night and loved it. Don't get me wrong it's taken me a long time to bond with the Jazz neck but that back pickup sounds SO good. I was looking at boutique Fender copies but why bother when the Fenders are so good?! As mentioned in another thread, keep it stock and use the Aguilar TH pedal and you have the best if both worlds.

[url="http://www.fender.com/en-GB/products/custom-shop-60s-jazz-bass-pickups"]http://www.fender.com/en-GB/products/custom-shop-60s-jazz-bass-pickups[/url]

Not sure what they are. Apparently they are custom shop spec pickups. To be fair, my current two sound fantastic and I have no intention of changing them!

A 2x10 will only go so far. Firing all those watts at one will probably lead to failure. I'd say your best bet is a flexible 2 x 2x10 (8 ohms).

I have a J and P from the 08 series (2011 and 2009) and both are rosewood. I was thinking of getting a 2012 with a maple board if the pups were decent

[quote name='Lozz196' timestamp='1353673747' post='1877221'] I`ve just aquired a 2011 Precision. Olympic white/tort/rosewood. PMT had them at £786 - probably due to the 2012 Series getting such rave reviews. Anyway, £786, I couldn`t turn that down, as although I`m very pleased with my MIJ Precision, US Standards are my fave. And have to say that these really are great basses. It is so easy to play, and the sound is all that I want from a Precision - just got to wait for the strings to die a bit, not keen on new strings. The weight is also very good - over a 2 hour band practice it becomes noticeable as to how heavy it isn`t - much more friendly on those of us with bad backs. So if the 2012 is an upgrade, I`d like to hear one, however this bass has the playability and tone that I want, so I`m sticking with it. [/quote] Still very happy with my 2009 P Bass, it's a very nice instrument. I managed to get a matching Jazz last year in 2011, and its stunning. Brilliant low weight, lots of growl, and very pretty! I am contemplating picking up a 2012 P now to see how different it is. The 09 is staying though.

They are also a good distortion pedal and very high quality DI. So, even if you keep it flat, it's good for other uses. It does sound fantastic with a passive bass though!

If so, any views on how they sound? Cheers

[quote name='BluRay' timestamp='1353859560' post='1879053'] UPDATE! [color=#454545][font=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][size=3]following a visit to to the lovely-but-evil Bass Direct yesterday I walked out with....wait for it.... a Yamaha 2024x!!! Jet black and cool as hell.[/size][/font][/color] [color=#454545][font=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][size=3]Well as planned I tried the VM4 first, already convinced I was going to place my custom order (the candy apple red one in the store wasn't the one for me, and I'd got hooked on the custom configurator on their site). Anyhow....wow. What a superb instrument, and everything I was expecting. I was especially impressed with the neck which was so comfortable and fast, but without feeling skinny. Slightly more comfy than the neck on my Ray. Juuuust right. Kinda felt more like moulded plastic rather than wood (but in a good way, if that makes sense). Nice mid weight, felt substantial without being hefty. Amazing range of tones - but not especially MM from the bridge as might be expected. Super low action - but maybe a bit too much string rattle. Some easy adjustment would sort that out. Lovely rich P tone. I absolutely loved it. I reckon the 5 month waiting list is justified. [/size][/font][/color] [color=#454545][font=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][size=3]But then I tried the yammy. I'd guessed Mark might spring that on me - so was sort of prepared. I've played one before, so knew it might sway me. In fairness, terms of finish and feel there really wasn't much in it. Both basses were fantastic. But after about an hour switching between them, I found I kept trying to make the sandberg sound like the yamaha. Seemed the 2024 was the sound in my head. It was a very tough call. I wanted both. Also - the Yammy is quite assertive and just knows its tone. You plug it in and there it is. Take it or leave it. The VM4 is clearly more versitile, but the downside of that is quite a lot of fiddling arround to find the sound I was looking for. Dare say I'd have it sussed given more time - so in no way a bad thing. But the yammy just grabbed me by the throat and that was that. [/size][/font][/color] [color=#454545][font=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][size=3]I'd done my homework before visiting the store and think I got a fair price from Mark (I actually don't think there would have been [i]too much [/i]in it price wise between the two - by the time I'd spec-ed the sandberg and got carried away with the extras), and great buying experience all round. Mark knows his products sell themselves - and customers just need a little time to come to their on conclusions, with just a little advice and gentle guidance.[/size][/font][/color] [color=#454545][font=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][size=3]My only slight uncertainty is around the level of buzz that the j pup introduces - very pronounced soloed, and also "there" with both pups together. That might just be my paranoia! We shall see.[/size][/font][/color] [color=#454545][font=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][size=3]Anyway so far I'm very happy. And poor. Band practice tonight!!! Pics and discription to follow at some point.[/size][/font][/color] [/quote] Cool, you got one of the proper Japanese hand made Yammies?! They look great. I really like the sunburst ones. Apparently that hum is present on all of them. Yamaha chose to leave it like it is, probably because they wanted a true vintage J sounding pup (which has its hum but also has glorious tone!). I also had a quick check over a Sandberg on Friday (relic TM4). To be honest, I felt myself straying further away the more I held it. Nice bass, well made, the relic isn't my thing at all, and it looked a bit fake, but I haven't seen a non-relic one yet in the flesh. My worry with the Sandberg is the delano pups and the pre-amp....I know i'd end up just wanting to use a classic passive P or J bass, or a Musicman. If I wanted an active EQ I have the Aguilar TH pedal which is their active EQ in pedal format with drive and DI/etc, so if I get another J or P bass I want it to be stock passive. It's good to try these things, as it gives you a proper perspective.