Musicman20

[quote name='tonyf' timestamp='1473094891' post='3126893'] Sorry, only just back from holibobs in Florida so have been catching up on BC posting I've missed since I've been away. Coincidently, went to Bass Central in Orlando and got to play both back to back. The Flea absolutely knocked me out. The Flea with the 64s is definitely louder and more aggressive. That "angry" tone. Loved it. The RW was a little more old skool and reserved. Guess it comes down to what rings your bell. Personally, I really liked the Flea, just felt better, played better and was more upfront. [/quote] Exactly what I thought!

[quote name='EBS_freak' timestamp='1472658516' post='3123017'] and a decent headstock. [/quote] It is awful. Like a boat paddle?!

[quote name='stingrayPete1977' timestamp='1472675848' post='3123259'] I still want a 55-94 or a super rare 55-76 , if we slag them off enough I might be able to aford one sooner! [/quote] hahahahahahaha

Well that was unexpected. A very friendly and honest chap came along after seeing it on Gumtree of all places and had a test, and paid exactly what I wanted for it! I did think I might get a few low ball offers from others before hand, but nope. Oh well. The last moments of carrying it down a few flights of stairs with him is definitely helping me think I made the right decision.

I now have interest in it locally and I'm sat here thinking 'will I miss it?' To be honest...I have too many bass amps...and I don't use it due to the size/weight. But, it is a fantastic amp. If it does go I think I'll use the money for guitar related gear and effects...I really do need to work on having less bass related amps and cabs.

I must admit I was quite interested in the D Lakin basses, but they do not seem to have taken off...even in the USA. Who knows why. There was an issue on Talkbass about essentially getting discount/commission (or similar?!)....and then I barely saw a post about them.

Digitech Dirty Robot? Lots of flexibility!

[quote name='Misdee' timestamp='1472497512' post='3121615'] It would be no problem to get a US Lakland in any of the colours you fancy, but you are looking at spending closer to four grand than the 2,300 quid you are currently balking at. Don't just blame Lakland though, blame Boris, Nigel et al. Regarding the colour choices, you may be averse to black, but all bass makers will tell you that it is a perennially popularchoice. [/quote] I agree 100% that Brexit will continue to affect instruments such as this. I also agree that black is no doubt THE most popular guitar and bass colour, it is just not for me. It isn't just the colour though, they just look extremely plain. I would be interested to know exactly what the differences are to a Skyline, that make it's more than double (I think?) the price. Electronics? Frets? Figured woods on the neck? Maybe it is just poor marketing. Do you get a good quality Lakland hardcase? It looks like you get the same pickups on the passive models....

[quote name='Misdee' timestamp='1472324697' post='3120400'] If I might say, my friend, you seem preoccupied with largely irrelevant and superfluous details. Flamboyant colours and nitro finishes are not what separates a run of the mill instrument from a superior quality one. Besides which one man's "boring" is another man's "elegantly understated". [/quote] In your opinion. Personally, I love interesting pastel colours such as surf green and sonic blue. Black? Nope. Let's be honest, you should be looking at details in a bass, especially £2300. It's all in the details.

I'm in the USA soon so I might take a look!

That's exactly what I mean! The 2 comparisons above provide perfect examples.

NOFX. I still go to their gigs now and keep up to date with their releases.

[quote name='AndyTravis' timestamp='1472078586' post='3118422'] My wife thinks I'm mad because I never keep hold of stuff... She loves the gear, allocated me a room in the new house, encourages, supports, and actively presses me to play. She 'hates' the fact I sold my Custom Shop 55 to Beedster... She 'misses' a 1977 Precision bass I had... She laughs when gear turns up..."more bloody scratchplates and thingies have come in the post..." She comes to gigs, and tells me what she thinks. I'm a lucky bloke, and I'll be dead honest - I wouldn't stick around if someone made me feel like I had to stop or reduce my playing/gear. [/quote] Sounds like my circs....sounds good to me! Secretly, let's face it, most ladies like a guy to have a cool hobby. Music is cool, no matter what anyone thinks. Creating/playing/writing music is a good skill to have, and it shows you have an interesting side to your personality. And, to be balanced, if I dated/lived with a lady who played in a band and spent a lot of time on music, I would love it...it's an attractive attribute to be a musician. I have to also add this would also apply to same sex couples, obviously!

[quote name='dood' timestamp='1472118285' post='3118621'] I just wanted to quote this, because that's me. Music, Guitars, Drums, Music Software, Electronics, Playing, Seeing people play, Learning Music, Teaching Music, Reviewing gear, Everything, EVERYTHING. I'm totally consumed by it and wanting to know more about it all. You are quite right, no one [i]should[/i] stop you from doing something you love. Especially when it's what you do to keep a roof over the heads of your family. [/quote] Glad you agree!

The Flea pickups are the American Pure Vintage 64 set. The standard Road Worn pickups are Mexican Standard Vintage Alnico pickups. Both sound great. I assume the Mexican pickups are different to the average Mexican Jazz bass. The 64 set are really really powerful IMO....exactly what I wanted a Jazz to sound like. Clear, aggressive when required, fat and warm when required. Which makes me wonder, despite the new price of £949, they are still a lot cheaper than a normal Road Worn Jazz. Makes no sense!

Ernie Ball nickel wound or flats. I do have some Cobalts that I haven't tried yet. I barely ever re-string these days!

Can I presume that we may start to see these basses at Bass Direct in the near future?

[quote name='elephantgrey' timestamp='1472042738' post='3117931'] It has a mids knob, but only a switch for the mids frequency. [/quote] To be fair, it's enough....otherwise you'll be tweaking forever.

[quote name='molan' timestamp='1472040187' post='3117907'] VAT on used goods is chargeable on the gross profit made not the full sale value. EG buy in a product at £1,000, sell at £1,500. Profit is £500 and VAT payable is 20% of £500 = £100. [/quote] I know there is no point me moaning, but I think paying VAT on a product that has already attracted VAT is just insane.

What exactly is ex-demo about them?

[quote name='Grangur' timestamp='1472030763' post='3117756'] How do you draw the line? When is it respectable to make a profit on something in life, and when is it wrong? If you do a gig in your town do you charge less than if you're driving 20 miles? If you get a lift to a gig from a mate, do you waive some of the money you'd be paid, because it's not right you should make anything out of it above what you'd normally get? If you were doing a gig in the pub across from your house, would you do it for free, as it cost you nothing? I'm not saying you dislike any profit being made in anything, but provided all parties in any deal are happy, what's wrong with profit? Some folk on here split down their basses and sell the parts separately as that way will get more money. Is that wrong? [/quote] As you've guessed I don't see a problem with profit generally, it is more the 'quick profit for basically nothing' I dislike. I come from a musical background of playing for a minimal amount to cover fuel, or sometimes £0. It's part of the modern punk DIY underground ethic, which I think is a great thing. What I don't like is the bands spending lots of time and maybe even their own cash on fuel, hotels (if required), food, etc, for a fun gig opportunity, for the organiser to then walk home with £500+ for basically putting flyers on facebook and taking advantage of people's good nature to play for fun. All depends what it is. A band who are obviously there as a 'job' is different, e.g. a wedding band set to play for a long time, songs that have been requested, it is a 'job'...so to speak. I've played in a few covers bands in my time, and not made huge amounts of cash, and I didn't expect to....I was there as a 'job', and fortunately for me I enjoyed it 95% of the time.

[quote name='karlfer' timestamp='1472031130' post='3117759'] I got some aggro on a sales thread (not pm!) a week or so back. I bought a cab at £550. I sold it on straight away at £650. The price was negotiable, especially somebody making it easy, coming to collect. In between buying and selling it, I drove 240 miles to collect it. I drove 260 miles to deliver it. I spent over 12 hours (mainly looking at exhausts on the M6) between buying and selling. I spent pushing £90 on fuel. So for my 12 hours of efforts, I profited by just over £10. The guy who publicly gave me a hard time wasn't so keen on it when it was originally up at £700, from the original seller. OH, and I sold it straight away because I'd misjudged how big it was. So, stupidity on my behalf. [/quote] That seems absolutely fair...and you are very detailed and upfront about it. It was more to cover very extensive costs.

Personally, I don't like to see anyone making a quick profit on here, especially if the seller sold it due to circumstances out of their control (e.g. sudden change of circs in life...whether good or bad). It certainly makes me feel completely opposite to how great the recent 'giving a bass to charity' thread has been...that is the side of humans I like to see. I can understand there are overheads for retailers, and no doubt someone bought it and it went straight to Bass Direct as they may not have liked it, but I also think the asking price of £1600 is very steep. If it sells, fair play. I don't like to see instruments bought on ebay then flipped on here for a profit. I've seen one or two people do it a few times, but hey, if they want to do that, that is for them to decide. The way I see it, I don't owe anyone an easy way to make money. I personally have a dislike for the typical aggressive businessman trying to make money at every opportunity. Of course I'm not saying anyone on here is like that, but that type of personality just does not sit well with me. Money isn't everything. A good trusted character is a rare find.

[quote name='elephantgrey' timestamp='1472022506' post='3117672'] Basically your looking for an overdrive or preamp. I use a zoom ms60b to simulate a sansamp bddi (but with a MIDs frequency knob) [/quote] Luckily you now get a mids knob on the new V2.