Musicman20

[quote name='Sibob' post='914375' date='Aug 3 2010, 10:23 PM']Instantly, thoughts on this? I know its not a great picture, have requested more! [url="http://img819.imageshack.us/i/preebstingray.jpg/"][/url] Cheers Si[/quote] WOW!

Both nice cabinets, both light, and both with great form factor. There is a slight nasal tone to the MB cabinets, but as mentioned, some players love it. The TC is more vintage-meets-modern with a fantastic sweet high end. If you opt for TC, Id suggest the cover, as I would for ANY spray finish cabinet. Its only about £18.

[quote name='dave_bass5' post='913860' date='Aug 3 2010, 01:51 PM']They have a Black/maple on hold for me for when they get this one back. Im happy to have the Black (it was my first choice anyway) According to their website they wont get a SB/maple in until the end of the month. Im not waiting that long. For me the colour isnt a big deal. I'd even be happy with Red/maple.[/quote] Ah, and youll get a small refund as well! Id swap it out Dave. Itll play on your mind even if they fix it.

[quote name='dave_bass5' post='913816' date='Aug 3 2010, 01:13 PM']Thanks Chris. The shop seem really cool about it so far. They have been great to deal with. My only worry is im going to be without it this weekend and i have two gigs. Just as well i have the Squier i guess.[/quote] Its good that they are willing to sort it. If you arent happy, I reckon swap it for another. The shop wont lose out, only Fender will and its not like thats going to be an issue. I enquired about a Burst/Rosewood and the UK supplier is out of stock of Burst until September.....but at least you know youd be getting a brand new one.

[quote name='cetera' post='913650' date='Aug 3 2010, 11:03 AM']One VERY simple answer to all this. Get a Sansamp Bass Driver or VT Bass pedal. It's all you need, whatever bass you're playing....[/quote] +1....this will give you a modern aggressive tone.

Bump

Waste of time, yet again. Not impressed with the band scene so far up here. Basically, they can't make a decision but want to leave it for 8 weeks or so. It's times like these you have to ask yourself is it all worth it? Eg the effort and practice in making yourself stand out from the usual dull root root ex rhythm guitarist bass players. Not impressed.

Well, I did a second practice and Im still awaiting some information. I was 90% confident id nailed this, due to the fact I gave them everything they expected and more, but now Im waiting for an answer and getting anxious. The work situation has improved 100% so thats something to be positive about. Id be extremely happy if I managed to get into this band, as they sound fantastic live and in the rehearsal room. Its the first time ive sang so many harmonies so Im on my toes/a little nervous which in my experience is a good thing. My only worry is that I tend to over play some lines and add the odd little slide/run and Im hoping this sudden change from the normal root note playing hasnt put them off. I played the lines exactly as they recorded them previously, but with more dynamics with the drummer, (eg when they have a louder section, playing the odd chord to fill it out). Knowing my current run of bad luck with bands though....

+1 Mids!

[quote name='dave_bass5' post='912528' date='Aug 2 2010, 09:44 AM']Yeah, you've had some pretty bad luck with the Laklands. I feel im starting down that path with the fenders. For what its worth my DJ5 was perfect, as were doth my DD's and 55-01. Ive had a email from the shop and they are picking it up tomorrow. I dont know what their plans are but for now they seem happy to try and sort it out. I hope its not going to drag on as ive only had it for just over a week. I guess it might be back to the Squier for a few gigs.[/quote] Hmm, are they planning on swapping it out? Exactly my thoughts. A lot of players have had great Laklands....which is why I thought I would have no problem getting one.

[quote name='chris_b' post='912422' date='Aug 2 2010, 01:42 AM']So every Lakland you've tried has had faults that required the bass to be returned! That is unlucky!![/quote] Believe it or not, yes! Incredibly bad luck, or im expecting more. At first I just thought I was being picky, then, for example, when I showed the last JO4 I tried to buy to the store, they could not believe the size of the neck pocket. It was HUGE. I have in fact spoken to John @ Lakland and he is shocked but agrees that every fault I found is not acceptable on an instrument between £900-£1200 (JO4-DJ5 price range). But, as Dave has found, there are new Fenders with similar problems. I expect good things when the hype around products is high, but now Im learning I need to just ignore it and try one first, (whether that be amp, cab or bass).

[quote name='gjones' post='912389' date='Aug 2 2010, 12:24 AM']Hmmmm, if you're not paying for attention to detail when you pay £400 to £500 extra for a MIA Fender what are you paying for? Billy Bob and Betty Lou's health and pension plans I assume?[/quote] I agree, you still have to make sure you get a good bass, eg check it over. But I'd apply that to virtually all basses now. Shame really.

[quote name='chris_b' post='912374' date='Aug 1 2010, 11:49 PM']Have you found a Lakland that didn't have any faults?[/quote] Unfortunately not. One was very close to the standard I'd expect for the amount of players who state they never have issues with them. The price point of some of them just don't really match the level of attention they give the Skylines. Pre 08 modern Fenders probably let Lakland gain a huge following, and I still like their basses, but I've been unlucky. Personally I think before the Skylines became quite commercially accepted, they were given much better attention to detail.

[quote name='Linus27' post='912295' date='Aug 1 2010, 10:01 PM']Yep, I also got that message in response to my wanted add. I also ignored it.[/quote] +1, got one yesterday. I deleted it.

[quote name='chris_b' post='912123' date='Aug 1 2010, 06:54 PM']How many Laklands have you seen which have this problem?[/quote] Two so far, one a DJ5 early this year and recently a JO4. Really bad pickup cutouts on the guards as well. So far I've tried to buy 5 Laklands and sent them all back.

[quote name='dave_bass5' post='912068' date='Aug 1 2010, 05:54 PM']Yeah, its starting to get like that. Just a quick update. I've got the pup in a better position. I just took the screws out, re positioned the pup and re screwed, letting the screws make the new holes. And they were far enough away from the originals that they didn't need filling. The only issue is that while my black pickguard fits, the cut outs where the screws go need a fit of filing down because as soon as I rest my thumb on the pup it pushes it down but the tight fit stops it from springing back up evenly. A bit of a pain but I can probably sort it out. Im still waiting on the shop to get back to me so im going to leave it all as it came for now. This is how it looked before i put the original PG back on. I much prefer the black PG anyway. [attachment=55447:IMG_2128.JPG][/quote] Now that's more like it and similar to mine. Shocked it wasn't qc'd. Are Fender letting things slip again?

[quote name='Prime_BASS' post='909783' date='Jul 29 2010, 11:50 PM']Aye you are right. The thing is it's only gonna drive prices up of pre-EBs. Also I'm more interested more in how it sounds compared to; modern stingray 2 and 3eq, a pre-EB ray and maybe one or 2 others. If it's not significant or "better" I don't see the point. I'd rather have a reflex or big al, for the same money. Holding out for a used big al 4 fingers crossed.[/quote] To me, NOTHING is like a Ray. Not a Sterling, Reflex, Big Al, Bongo, etc etc. They all do different things in there own individual way. Thats a good thing! BUT, if you want a flat out awesome Stingray, you need to just buy a Stingray, whether it be a normal or a Classic. I am trapped in Precision/Jazz/Ray territory, but I dont mind whatsoever. They are the key tones Ive always liked.

Hi! Might be stretching it a bit, but if I were to purchase a combo now, Id get an Ibanez Promethean. £500 with a gig bag, removable 500W amp head, 10" cabinet, pretty damn light, headphones and aux in. Similar to the MB sound apparently.

[quote name='dave_bass5' post='911066' date='Jul 31 2010, 11:17 AM']Yeah. At the moment the string to string spacing is ideal. I would rather not have to change it. As you can see, its fine over the bridge pup. I can understnad that you cant always get the strings dead centre, and i wouldnt expect it but the neck pup should be centred with the bridge pup. As its slightly shorter, both ends should be inside the length of the bridge pup but the top end of the neck pup is higher. Poor workmandship no doubt but its a hard one, especially if it doenst seem to affect the tone.[/quote] I know what you mean. I just checked mine (and I was lucky to get three Fenders like this) and the strings seem to line up pretty damn well. It is worth noting the pickguard on mine has little room, if any, for the pickup to be moved. Its pretty damn tight. Again, I can understand your frustration. I hope they can do something to put it right. I know im QC mad, and this has led to very difficult purchases as nothing in the bass/guitar world is ever perfect, but what I do now on Fenders is check the lot...eg neck pocket first, then pickup positioning, then I plug them in, and lastly the overall finish and paintwork etc. When I picked up my two maple necked basses, I was very happy to get such good QC. The rosewood one was a gamble as the store would have charged me for a return, but by heck its really really good!

I just checked your other photo. Am I correct in thinking if you move the strings on the saddles it will take the string positioning on the other (bridge) pup quite far out? I have seen it on a Warwick this bad before....hmm. I would ring them Dave and see where you stand. Here is a pic I found: [url="http://www.drumcityguitarland.com/drumcitygl/stores/1/Fender-USA-American-Standard-Jazz-Bass-Rosewood-3-Color-Sunburst-4-String-Electric-Bass-P1459C146.aspx"]http://www.drumcityguitarland.com/drumcity...-P1459C146.aspx[/url] Notice you will NEVER seem to get it literally 100% accurate...there will always be one going slightly (and it should only be slightly) higher or lower than it ideally should be for perfection sake. Here is a 5 that is nigh on perfection: [url="http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http://www.doctorbass.net/imagftp/imagAux1_Cuerpo%2520fender.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.doctorbass.net/en/producto.asp%3Fid%3D1000171996%26idfam%3D&usg=__2a9ltSPwOj4jRqJLnPj3PsQ-rE8=&h=399&w=600&sz=50&hl=en&start=176&tbnid=8HlXLwpmB_uryM:&tbnh=153&tbnw=205&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dfender%2Bjazz%2B2008%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26client%3Dsafari%26sa%3DN%26rls%3Den%26biw%3D1671%26bih%3D952%26tbs%3Disch:10%2C3240&um=1&itbs=1&ei=zvdTTJSzGZm60gSptcCDAw&iact=rc&dur=412&page=5&ndsp=44&ved=1t:429,r:7,s:176&tx=61&ty=59&biw=1671&bih=952"]http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http...671&bih=952[/url] Ive even seen EBMM basses with it ever so slightly off. It depends on how far it is off in the flesh so to speak, as I can only see from the 2 pics you have posted. Again, any doubt Dave just contact the store as its still extremely new.

[quote name='dave_bass5' post='910999' date='Jul 31 2010, 10:20 AM']Well the only other Fender ive got is a Squier and thats perfect. As was my HW1 and My Lakland DJ5. Ive had a look through the Jazz bass megathread on TB and none seem to be as bad as this. I know what your getting though. It does indeed sound fine at the moment and maybe i should leave it, but at £960 i shouldn't really have to I did email the shop last night to see what they say. Getting it changed is going to be a gamble and i could end up with a bass that has a major issue.[/quote] If its quite far out, then yep, contact the shop and send the photos. I checked my Jazz and it seems pretty much 99% spot on. What seems odd on your photos is the fact the a string is in line..?!

Can you switch the string position on the d up a groove?

Hmm I've seen this on Laklands. These Fenders have the adjustable bridge to allow you to tweak it. I'm not sure what I'd do in this position. The D seems odd...maybe it's the angle...hmmm. Can you contact the store?