Musicman20

Sorry guys - I probably need to clarify a few things. The Musicman I was talking about that has risen in price very suddenly is the Musicman James Valentine guitar, not a bass. Originally the orders were around £2150. Now they are £2449. The pre-orders only went up a few months ago, during (approx.) the vote/result. Then, I decided to see if it is across the range...as I usually have a broad idea of what the prices are. A Classic Stingray in Natural used to be around £1799 about 18 months ago, depending where you shop. This jumped to around £1999, then continued to rise and then hit £2499. To put that into perspective even more, I have a Classic Stingray 5, which is the reason I picked the Classic to see what was going on. I did get a great price new, I admit, and the store said they were still getting a healthy sale, but it was almost £900 less than the current price of the 4 string now....and it's not that long ago. I think that makes sense. Thanks for the advice on a used one....if I was shopping around that is where my money would go now. It's quite funny that vinyl on Amazon is actually cheaper every now and then. Also, to look at other products, those that collect the expensive Lego sets (don't laugh - these expensive sets can be worth a fortune in a matter of 3-4 years!), they havent' risen in price. Maybe they will. I am glad I don't work in music instrument retail. They are going to have a very hard time now.

[quote name='Cato' timestamp='1478539320' post='3169725'] I've considered it, but if people are right about the pound finding it's natural level after being overvalued I think things will get worse before they get better. That and I'm really bad at delayed gratification. [/quote] I don't personally think it was. It dropped, as we know, straight after *ahem*.... Gosh, no idea what is going to happen. I intend to only buy pedals now anyway so it's not QUITE as bad.

US price: http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/StingRay4CNat Roughly £1680. Hmmm! That is with the current poor conversion rate.

[quote name='Cato' timestamp='1478537175' post='3169694'] I'm looking to make, what is for me, a fairly major bass purchase in January. It seems like every day I'm watching the prices of the basses I'm considering creep up. [/quote] I'd consider putting in on hold. Just my thoughts on it.

DB.

C'mon...what on EARTH is going on. https://www.gak.co.uk/en/music-man-stingray-classic-4-classic-natural/40030?gclid=CISQzp_8ltACFUS4Gwodkk8PrQ I've been looking at a Musicman guitar ( a Valentine, not this Classic Ray), and it's risen by £300 in a few weeks. It's now out of my range. Hence, I looked around at the range, and it's all bumped up....and this model by a lot more). It isn't a dig at the manufacturer...it seems to be everywhere. I know a big reason is the £, but this surely will just kill sales.

Sorry I'm not sure but I imagine if it's lead booker with ID you will be ok!

Anything made by Roland/Boss is usually insanely hardwearing. I'd get a Cube if I were you.

Was anyone successful in grabbing tickets for Manchester? They are playing TWO dates at the Arena. YES, it is an Arena show, it will be packed, but I'd rather that in comparison to a wet Glasto field. I need concentration to watch this band! I managed to get two seats....pretty good view. I think it is fantastic that they make you have ID and that the tickets require a name. From what I could see, See sold out in 2-3 mins, Ticketmaster had a huge queue and a colleague trying for me said she got through and it had no available tickets, but I tried EventIM and got two! Really happy.

I'd also look at Andertons, especially if you don't want to dive straight into boutique bass gear. If I were to start again, and I had your requirements, I'd probably aim for a decent quality 2x12, or 1x12 (x2) and a Class-D amp such as: TC Electronic BH-800 TC RH450/750 - Ampeg inspired Tech 21 VT Bass head - Ampeg inspired 2nd hand Genz Benz Streamliner 900 Mesa Boogie Subway The new Orange heads are still probably classed as light and compact compared to an old Trace! The Orange heads will give you plenty of warmth and grit...and lots of power...(they tend to be rated well and loud).

I have no room for more instruments but these are looking great. I can only imagine that in a few years we might see price jumps like Sandberg, especially if there are more stores involved.

I image in ten years or so these quite limited instruments will be valuable. Isn't it just a 2016 only offer?

Great! Pics please. I saw one in the flesh in Orlando last month and the colour is great. I presume the issue is that the backlog is massive? The guitar side seems to be ramping out and way outselling basses as well.

I have an ES-8 waiting for me at home. I wanted a switching system that is ultra flexible for the years ahead. This appears to be it.

http://www.mesaboogie.com/amplifiers/bass/subway-series/subway-d800-plus/index.html This looks fantastic. You can see where the ex-Genz engineer influence is. Available in the USA shortly for a great price. Available in the UK in around 24 months at more than double the price.

I prefer lbs.

[quote name='mikeswals' timestamp='1477953378' post='3165567'] I don't play guitar, but I'm really glad their guitar models finally took off and going strong. I grew up very near the factory, and back in the late 80's and 90's you never saw anyone in the wild playing a Musicman guitar, only saw a couple of pictures in magazines. [/quote] Ohh! I bet that was tempting to have a look around. Yeah I think they wanted to go after the 80s superstrat type thing, and now with the John Petrucci connection I think they have all the modern rock/metal/prog people flocking to the signtature instruments. They do have a very varied guitar lineup and some of them are extremely tempting.

If I was them I'd be looking at Andertons and thinking 'they must be doing something right' and change the demo video format at the same time!

The GAK website and ordering system seems so out of date. I never really know what is going on so I just don't bother. Unless they've changed it the return system is even worse. I'd ask to speak to management; whoever sent that out needs to be dealt with.

[quote name='AndyTravis' timestamp='1477870074' post='3165005'] Sterling HS? [/quote] THIS. Exactly.

[quote name='mikeswals' timestamp='1477849359' post='3164823'] The shape isnt very different from a Fender Jaguar. It didnt sell well because EBMM never advertised it. I had a 5SSS last year and it was a fabulous bass, the neck was great, and the tone very much like the Bongo was awesome. I need to find one again. [/quote] I find you can go from very Fender like tones to Musicman tones and inbetween...I love it. It's been with me for about 5 years now and it's still cool to look at...a shame they didn't keep them going as it must have cost a bit in R&D to get it out. I agree though, advertising was low...barely anything. Now they seem to have changed their approach and got with the modern day with Facebook/Insta etc and getting lots of smaller artists. Their guitar sales are apparently doing VERY well.

That is awful 'luck' and I hope it's just an error they can deal with quickly. I've had past issues with them, and equally some sales were ok (Genz Benz NX212T), but overall I prefer other stores now. There is always the same old 'oh but they have low margins'....well, that isn't really the customers problem is it? (Please note - not making a whinge about the post above - just a general feeling I get from music retailers). If they really did have incredibly low margins they wouldn't be in business. There are huge margins to be made on certain products...I know I've seen some trade pricing before (obviously VAT and returns are an issue). Brexit might be affecting them, but at the end of the day most manufacturers have just had a price rise to counteract. Good old customer ay! The ones keeping the business going luck out! Hope you get it sorted dude. I use Andertons now as they are getting better for bass gear and they are trying to out-service everyone...which is good!

The Fender Twin is an incredibly LOUD amp. It is made for Fender cleans and will only break up when ABSOLUTELY pushed. Most use the 'classic' Fender amp tone for the stunning cleans (which are then much more pristine with single coils) then use a great pedal board for the effects. Any tubescreamer type drive pedal and you have brilliant tone.

REAL are excellent....just the service you want when things go wrong.