Musicman20

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.

Seems Bass Direct have some now....

Want.

You know what is great, how Koko looks at it and almost knows what to do with it, knows to strum the strings, inspects it...fascinating !

I really like the Sunburst version as well, I should add.

I would love a simple passive Fiesta Red precision, normal scale, warm vintage pickup capable of growl if used with a plectrum, passive, rosewood board...I'm sure that can't be too expensive a build? Not now...maybe early next year.

[quote name='Marc S' timestamp='1471947481' post='3117128'] Also, anyone out there got / played one of these and a Roadworn Jazz? How do they compare? Are they similar build quality / sound / playability etc? [/quote] I played a Roadworn Jazz a few years back now...in fact I think I tried a few. I wanted one, and I should have gone for it. The wear and tear is very similar in terms of how it 'looks', but obviously the pattern is different and I think the Flea is a heavier relic. The feel is very similar. The worn in neck feels great, except all of the hardware is new, as you know. The differences? The rather fun v/t/v/t and the absolutely superb pickups....it really is one of the nicest passive jazz tones I've personally experienced. Oh, and I love Fiesta Red, but faded Shell Pink is amazing.

If you are keeping your main amp, then yeah, get the smallest/lightest one you can. All GK amps should be able to cover any genre as they are quite growly/trebly as they are, and taking that away is no problem...just use the EQ (lower the high mids/treble, boost the low mids) and if you need any more tweaks, use an EQ pedal to perfect it. It's adding sheen that can be a problem (e.g. the Tonehammer 500 - great amp, isn't really known for it's crystal clear sheen).

FYI - I have 2 band and 3 band Rays, 4s and 5s, and one Sterling, a 5HS. There is a small difference, in tone...small. It s mainly ergonomics. Ray - 2eq vs 3eq - well, at the time when I first got into Musicman basses (I was around 14/15, so 20 years ago!) barely anyone wanted a 2eq Ray when buying new. They came out roughly 1987, so I think it must have been a case of '3 band is now the standard' and the fascination with 2 band eqs had not really kicked in. Then, as with a lot of 'original designs', it seemed the players wanted to go back to 2eq. The Classic Stingray is a perfect way to get a 'high end' Musicman with classic appointments, yet modern build techniques. I like both! I don't see a problem with either of them.

[quote name='JTUK' timestamp='1471888259' post='3116746'] If you like the MM sound get one... but get full fat. [/quote] This I agree with.