Musicman20

Another update - tested the pedal anyway - it is definitely not new. The factory presets were nothing like they should be (they can be changed via App - luckily I have products from this brand so I have some cables it needs), so I had no idea what the pedal actually sounds like. Factory reset, sounds great, so I still definitely want one but I want a new one!

I have no grudge against young musicians; I'm only 35 myself, but I've noticed they tend to have very young staff just ripping metal in their demos....and none of them seem very professional in terms of 'we are a business'. Manners and customer service can ruin a business if not used properly.

[quote name='joeystrange' timestamp='1486237607' post='3230308'] Did you try calling them? They're generally pretty good over the phone. The only odd thing they do is if you order over the phone you can only speak to the person that took your order about returns. Which isn't helpful if it's their day off or they're on holiday. [/quote] Tried and they said use the online returns form...which I had already done. One update is they have now reserved a replacement.

[quote name='wateroftyne' timestamp='1486215148' post='3230090'] LOL @ Fender pt. 2: [url="http://www.pmtonline.co.uk/fender-fsr-limited-edition-59-american-vintage-stratocaster-natural"]http://www.pmtonline...ocaster-natural[/url] They're trippin' big time. [/quote] Hideous! Seriously. WHY?!

Unfortunately, after giving the online store another chance, I've been let down again. I'm giving them a chance to rectify it, and I'll happily give them a good rating, but they are not helping themselves here. Item arrived quickly. Packaged well. Just an effects pedal. Nothing super expensive. I could have gone to Andertons but GAK seemed to have them in. Pedal arrived, box looked fine, opened it up, it's obviously been used - minor scratch. Power cable unraveled, missing manual, missing rubber feet, missing cable (links to iPhone)....I've bought a pedal from this series before and they've always come with these accessories and the online manual confirms it. Immediately start return process. They are open all day. They are posting on social media etc. No response. I try twitter. No response. I try their online chat - no manners from the online team, then they leave before I've asked them to reserve another for me whilst we wait for the returns people to deal with it. It's 2017. Why on earth they can't just say 'sorry, we messed up, I'll get this picked up immediately on Monday and have another with you with the courier?' No apology, no nothing. I've not tried to return an item I don't like. I want it! But, I paid new so I want new and I want to use the accessories it is meant to come with. I very much doubt I will give them a chance again. It's like a lottery.

Looks solid to me. Seems bizarrely cheap!

[quote name='andydye' timestamp='1486028430' post='3228579'] Thanks matey, beauty ain't she As I recall, I pushed the button in December and received the completed bass in early April? Just had another built very similar and that one started November and I collected yesterday [/quote] Wow, that is quick! Shuker sure know a good P bass! In these times of Fender prices being sky high, a hand made beauty lie this is appealing. Enjoy them!

Great amps! Drop the bass, boost the mids...voila...lovely!

To me, some of the heavier DG sounds go too far and just sound SUPER scooped and almost not like a bass...!

Those limited Musicman basses are far nicer than I imagined. They've really nailed the interesting finishes to the necks.

Sorry for lack of updates from me, but I doubt I can make it to this as the car will be being used by my partner...enjoy the day!

This is stunning. If you don't mind me asking, what was the total build time as an estimate?

[quote name='njr911' timestamp='1485962727' post='3228053'] it's 3/4 length which might explain the cost ? [/quote] Ahhh....aimed at younger players?

I'm certain the majority of these signatures basses are actually better than the American Standards....time will tell re the latest American Professional Series.

[quote name='chris_b' timestamp='1485957364' post='3227999'] Finally Fender come up with some great sounding and playing basses and all anyone can do now is gripe about the colours!! [/quote] Why not enjoy life in style? In addition, the 2008- onwards changes were significant to the American Standards. I have an 09' P and an 11' J. Both are superb. I have played many P basses and I would not in any way want to 'upgrade' to these latest models.

I'm sure you can just order online and have a returns policy. You tend to find a lot of the usual general music stores won't concentrate on what is still a little bit of a niche product. No idea why as they are so small and light, they take up no room! Plus, imagine being a 13/14 year old lad/lass, walking into a store to try an amp that might be good enough to do small gigs with, and you find one that size. Parent's won't moan about helping you to gigs or storing your gear, (I've been there before, you can tell....when I had a huge Trace amp and cabs in my parents house).

I don't dig black guitar and basses, but that is kinda cool. I wonder what the deal is with the price? Is it MIM?

I totally understand that prices are higher with boutique gear, especially Darkglass (are they boutique now though? Becoming very popular now...) and high end compressors. This applies to the entire world. But, what we are saying above is that NOT ONLY are pedals increasingly expensive (I mean, £350 for a bass drive pedal is expensive, let's face it), the price has ALSO been increased here in the UK due to such a poor £, which is a direct result of you know what. The value dropped BECAUSE of that vote. There is no way you can say otherwise. So, the combination of normal manufacturer price increases, along with the fact pedals CAN be expensive, added to the fact we are paying more in the UK now....(e.g. Strymon pedals have gone up £40-50 due to the weak £) means it is, in reality, getting out of hand.

They just need to have a few exciting colours in the range. Like, every year, introduce one off the wall colour and one classic pastel. E.g. Off the wall - Purple metalflake Classic - Sea Foam Green or Sonic Blue (non metallic) I agree that the latest colours are just dull. I personally like Sunburst and White, but they NEED that tort guard they used for the American Standards. I don't own any black basses and I doubt I will. The new green and blue/grey and ok, but....meh....not exciting. Probably the most boring lineup I've ever seen them release. Good job because right now the last thing I need is more basses.

Hopefully it will calm down. I've experienced issues with my ears/dizziness through stress and it was awful, but it has got 95% better now the stress has calmed down. Strange how much stress can affect your body physically.

I used to have exactly this tone for years. It was almost a signature sound as all the bands I played with / shared stages with asked how I got the bright sound and cut over the guitars. I don't really do it as often now, but I could just with the following: - Bright settings on a clean/crisp amp. I used a Trace amp for those tones, and tended to have normal levels of bass and mids, but boosted lower treble and treble. Even some high mids can help. - Usually a cab that was fairly aggressive, if I could use one. Normally, a cab with a HF horn dialled in a little. - For me, new strings. I used Rotosounds back then. There are probably better strings available that do the same and stay bright. I was a student so I used to carefully boil my strings in washing up liquid after a few months, then re fit, and hey presto, they sounded basically new! There are even bright sounding flats... - Either an aggressive plec technique or heavy finger technique. If you want the strings to clank on the fretboard, a bit like Iron Maiden or old Face to Face, and you play with fingers, then play over the area a P pickup would be or closer to the beck. Dig in! - Lower action...the grind and clank on the fretboard adds to it. I didn't used any pedals or distortion to get that tone. For years I didn't bother with pedals. Pedals will work wonders though, e.g. the Tech 21 Sansamp BDDI or VT Bass.

I'd pickup either: - Flea Jazz Bass (fantastic example of a Jazz), - Musicman Stingray, in any format, e.g. 2EQ, 3EQ, then H, HS or HH. If you like a slimmer neck like a Jazz bass, a Stingray 'Slo Special' might be your thing, or you could get the Stingray's sleeker sister, a Sterling! I would opt for the more expensive instrument, then build up pedals.

They are the middlemen, surely?!

[quote name='Left Foot' timestamp='1485487790' post='3224349'] There's no way brexit has had any effect yet, that's lazy conjecture. [/quote] https://blog.andertons.co.uk/andertons/save-now-prices-increase Ermm. Well, seems quite a large retailer reported on this back in mid 2016. So yes, by now, it certainly HAS added to the price rise....significantly. Not in any way judging who voted what, but a lot of those who voted 'Leave' seem in denial about this fact. Obviously not insinuating what you voted.

[quote name='Kev' timestamp='1485435370' post='3223940'] Seems fairly in line with other official amp bags, like Markbass for example. [/quote] It is WAY too much. My TC bag cost me about half.