Musicman20

I'd keep both as they aren't manufactured anymore! If I had to choose one it would be the Shuttle.

New to the Manc/Cheshire area. I'm in South Manc/Cheshire so I'm up for it!

That is stunning!

[quote name='wateroftyne' timestamp='1433508014' post='2791682'] Yep - I noticed you'd been quiet recently! I hope all's grand. It was this side of £900 including shipping. To put in in perspecitive, the far-east production line lower-spec Skyline I linked to in my OP is nearly a grand, and the Fender CS is silly money (and probably more production line, to be honest). Incredible. I forgot to mention, in the early days of the order, I sent Adrian links to examples of his basses that had the kind of sunburst I prefer, and he nailed it. Amazing attention to detail. [/quote] Thanks - super busy work wise but barely any time for music. Making a change to this now though. That burst is great!

After a good 9 months or more of barely posting, I have to say that this bass is extremely pretty. I've had a very busy period of moving house (twice) and a new job, and playing a lot more guitar. I'm now finding myself needing to get into how I used to be with bass and this post lured me in. Just out of interest, what 'roughly' do they charge for such a bass? Obviously you don't have to disclose anything, I'm just wondering what ballpark figures they cost.

If that was me I'd give up for now...and get a refund. Not acceptable for Thomann or Sandberg. The good thing is, Thomann are great with returns.

[quote name='molan' timestamp='1406498926' post='2512001'] My understanding was that Genz used the same power module but effectively squeezed every last drop out of it to get the 900w rating and this then only comes in short sharp spikes. Whereas the other manufacturer sets it up differently to be operating at more of its genuinely 'usable' power around the 500w mark. Of course this could just be one manufacturer 'dissing' another's products but certainly some of the early Genz 900w heads had quite a rep for over-heating and, to my ears, they all start sounding a bit harsh when really wound up loud [/quote] I think the part about Genz getting more out of a power section is true. It is also true of Gallien K. Their 800W micros apparently have the same power section as the Aguilar TH500. Unless I'm mistaken, the GK amp in question was tested and did indeed push out that much power. This all seems clear that with clever power management, and proper limiting, (and obviously years of experience in this area of work) then the power section is only a very small part of the story. It's also clear that more mid forward amps will always sound louder, just because of the way mids work. Less wattage wasted on deep bass that just damages speakers if you push it. I've not (fingers crossed) experienced or seen hardly any Genz problems with the power section, apart from when people get the voltage switch wrong.

I doubt anyone plays venues big enough that require the headroom we all talk about. I'm just as guilty. My Orange tube amp sounds beautiful but the power tubes will just push and push to crazy volumes (not clean obviously). The power sections don't really tell the full story. Genz and Aguilar have great power managent but Genz push the section harder.

[quote name='GrammeFriday' timestamp='1406461549' post='2511593'] but every time I plug in the Ray I get the same "[i]Whoah,[/i] [i]f**k yeah[/i]!' thrill that no other bass seems to be able to deliver. [/quote] Oh yes!

Great 2TS body, 2 pieces, ash - check Pickups receiving excellent reviews - check Normal American Standard price, yet in the USA, $200 more than the AS! - Check Beautiful case - Check Gold hardware - Not sure yet... Has anyone played one of these? I am about to buy a new Strat (my first) and I want an American Standard. Not fussed about nitro/vintage specs, I want a guitar that looks like a Strat should, sounds like a Strat, but isn't fussy with how you look after it and what stand you use, etc. I hate nitro finish checking! Has anyone tried one of these?? I'm not sold on the gold but I find it actually seems to suit the colour of the body...

I'm guessing they will be 8 ohms? I could of course be totally wrong!

That looks like a nice compact one cab setup for most gigs!

The whole 'class' of amps has limited results on the actual end tone. It is the pre amp and the design that makes the tone. There will be many all tube heavyweight amps that get lost in the mix as they might have an inherent mid scoop. There will be many Class D amps that do exactly the same. The Streamliner is this: Extremely well designed, very warm and nicely balanced 'high end tube pre amp into a recording desk' type tone, lightweight, extremely loud, very 'clear' (IME - not at all muddy...the opposite!) but it does have a mid scoop colour at all controls at 12. All controls at 12 is all controls at 12. That is why you have controls, to move it into non-scooped / flatter / mids boosted territory. Boost those mids as much as you want...it never becomes an 'ugly' tone. The treble control is fantastic. You can have sharp pingy highs with lots of clarity if you like that, or drop it for a more subdued 'flats' type tone. Genz are experts at bass amps, and they will be back in some form. (Apparently one of them is now with Mesa??)

[quote name='Grand Wazoo' timestamp='1406231196' post='2509656'] You don't listen do you Gareth? I said already I'm not even contemplating making money on my Dingwall basses, they are here to stay, besides I'm good enough with money and I don't need to make more [/quote] That's great. Just enjoy what you've got. I spend less time on bass forums because of these types of outcomes. Probably a good thing because I've realised none of this actually matters.

[quote name='Grand Wazoo' timestamp='1406179271' post='2509018'] Gareth, it might not matter to you, but if you set on a search for the ultimate bass, [b]knowing well in advance[/b] that this will involve buying and reselling lots of basses, by getting rid of those that didn't meet your expectations, you don't want to do that at a loss do you, you clever clog? Which is why it makes sense that you must try and get most of your money back if not all of it. That my friend, it's simple mathematics and the only way you keep afloat in the game of buying & selling for the purpose of the search which I've described above! One of the [b]many[/b] differences between me and you Gareth, is that I would flog a bass that I've bought and not liked, while you would send it back because there is a scratch on the cardboard box it came in or the box was the wrong colour and the shipping label was glued at a funny angle, or maybe because Strings & Things didn't include Nectar points for your loyalty card. [/quote] I don't think anything I said was a personal vendetta, but I didn't expect anything less from you. Get a grip man. You sold all your basses that you praised because you fell out with the company. You praised the Bongo for years. End of. I wish you well with Dingwall but they are boutique instruments, and rare. You will not make money on them. That isn't the point. Money is not everything in life. I'll tell you what the difference is between me and you, I'm polite and I don't bring things up of forums that I don't understand. I'm probably too nice for my own good. Please don't try to belittle me; it won't work.

My home town is Grimsby, where my parents etc all still live. I have some good friends in Immingham! Welcome!

Pete - I've had mine for 3 years now and still find great tones. The middle P pup on its own is amazing is passive, the back bridge pup is a really nice tight snappy tone. I still find great tones. It sounds great iin anything from funk to heavier styles of music. Personally, I love it. Not sure whether it matters whether you 'make' money on a bass....that isn't why it do it personally. The UK market is quite 'conservative'.

Musicians pay tax? .... I thought they just 'avoided it' (note I didn't say evade).

[quote name='molan' timestamp='1406034171' post='2507677'] £50K a year each is less than most lawyers I know but the lawyers do put in more hours than the musicians [/quote] Depends on the region, which again makes the differences with the fees paid for gigs. Northern gigs pay (usually) less than southern gigs (not sure where the lines stops) but thats probably obvious. Much much much cheaper cost of living up here. I think most people would be suprised at the usual salary for a solicitor.

[quote name='molan' timestamp='1406031609' post='2507635'] OK - maybe I'm just being too literal. When I said "I have a good friend who is in a jazz covers outfit with his wife who earns - they pull in about £100K a year" it was a simple statement of fact and not an opinion so I didn't understand the reference. This was a direct answer to the OP who didn't ask about lifestyles so it seemed a simple answer. The couple in question are married with one kid, own a flat in North London (which they rent), a house in Bedford (where they live) and another house fairly nearby that they bought as an investment and also lease. They drive a Merc and live a pretty decent lifestyle that's funded by playing covers around 4-5 nights a week plus some additional income from teaching during the day. They are very good at what they do and have built up a strong client base for weddings, corporate functions and cafe/restaurant type gigs - hence the relatively high income for a duo working as covers players [/quote] I'm in the wrong game hahah! They seem to be earning more than a doctor/lawyer!