Musicman20

[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?

[quote name='faceman' post='910165' date='Jul 30 2010, 12:30 PM']Afternoon folks, I'm on the look out for a more portable cabinet. My past two have been an Ampeg SVT-15E (currently for sale!) and an Ampeg MAG 4x10, both of which were very large and heavy to lump around. However, I'm moving to London in September and want something far more portable. Not that I'm planning to lump it around the tube but something that is easier and lighter. The only requirements are that it isn't too heavy and can cope with small-medium gigs on its own, as most of the gigs I do don't bother with PA support for the instruments. I've been looking around but all the light-weight ones aren't in my price range. I've seen the TC Electronics ones and they seem to be good value for money. The RS212 for sale I'm strongly considering but I was wondering how it will cope on its own, as most pair it with a RS210...which would be better for just one amp? Obviously in the future I could add a second one if required. Will be running through a Little Mark II head. Thanks [/quote] Those cabs work well with the MB amps. KJung on Talkbass did a comparison video and he rated the RS210 with MB very well. Obviously they also work well with the RH450. Description: RS210 - Tight, punchy, full mids, sweet high end. VERY easy to move around, great price, and I have done rehearsals with just one no problem. RS212 - Fuller in the low mids and lots of low end should you want it. Quite a 'chewy' typical 12s sound, with again a nice sweet high end. A louder cabinet, a little larger front to back, but still quite light and probably a 'fuller' one cab solution. Will handle gigs NO problem.

[quote name='Legion' post='909536' date='Jul 29 2010, 07:13 PM']You know what I took a much closer look outside in daylight and found the same thing - glad you brought this up. Very very slight hairline cracks in most of the buttons. I will contact Daz tomorrow and see if a replacement is in order.[/quote] I just checked mine and 1 of the buttons has a join line but no actual hairline crack and/or real crack. Hopefully Im not going to find the problem occurs later down the line. Let me know what Darren thinks, cheers.

They are all nice cabinets, but IMO Id stick with the GB cabs as they get VERY good reviews, so no real reason to change them. If you get the AE112, Im sure they will sound as big. It all depends. The HT112ER/EX are extremely good cabinets, but Talkbass has users who state some of the micros just havent got enough ommph to drive them. Ive no idea if thats true. They are ceramic as well therefore will be fairly heavy,

Epiphone seem to get a lot of votes!

[quote name='Prime_BASS' post='908999' date='Jul 29 2010, 10:56 AM']I'm sure I sure they had the SLO neck option on the classics on the website, but can't remember. To be honest they should re-issue the Sabre bass.[/quote] I THINK you can only get the Classic Ray or Classic Sterling.

[quote name='JD1' post='908858' date='Jul 29 2010, 07:44 AM']I bought one. I only play 5 strings and wanted a "proper" Stingray. Took ages to come through. Ordered it back in January - didn't arrive until June. Tobacco with birdseye maple fingerboard. Neck is nicely figured but not AAAAA or anyhthing and certainly not like some of the first photos of them. That said I wasn't really expecting it to. Fingerboard radius is nice - similar to the Marcus Miller, and as ever the build quality is excellent. I'm very pleased with it, but I have to say I'm struggling to see where the extra cost is justified. Oh - and if anyone gets one and uses Elixirs - the standard scale B doesn't work due to the through body stringing (and no through bridge option) [/quote] Nice choice with the colour! That colour seems to look the best from the bunch when its in the flesh. The Powder Blue would be nice if it was a little more 'sonic' blue. I agree though, they dont look as spectacular as the press shots, which is usually the norm. If I ever bought one again Id want a close shot of the birdseye on the neck as thats part of the price. As we are in the UK, there is this big deal about them being fairly rare, which they are to us, but they are not in the USA. They get their choice as to which they want with weight and figured neck! Some of their stores carry a fair few and we tend to just get what we are given which is not a good thing when its £1600. Dont get me wrong, Im 100% confident EB will ship a good bass, but we are allowed to be picky esp at this price point.

A MIA Jazz, era 1999/2000. Absolutely dire. Poor QC and didnt have ANY grunt. That put me off a new Fender for a long time, until 2008 gave us the new versions.