Musicman20

[quote name='Conan' timestamp='1404470659' post='2492883'] Yes!! BTW, is "sea foam green" the same as "surf green"? [/quote] No...I don't think so, I think there MAY be slight differences between manufacturers. I'm sure sea foam is lighter...I might be wrong!

[quote name='stingrayPete1977' timestamp='1404407406' post='2492397'] One of my work colleagues dropped down dead last week, he was 52, I have no concept of religion or afterlife etc, I came home that day and booked a holiday, I dont need a holiday as ive just been, I dont need 3 stingrays either. [/quote] My thoughts exactly Pete. It may seems a rather daft way to look at life to some people, but why shouldn't you spend and enjoy it??? If you've earnt it, spend it, whichever way you please! I mean, who wants to get to 70 (if we get that far) and have a stack of cash in the bank....and not be able to use it how you would in your 20s/30s/40s/50s etc. Just spend it. It's not selfish to spend your own money.

[quote name='Ma'Grass' timestamp='1404432821' post='2492684'] I honestly and clearly hate very much the stock preamp Ernie Ball sells the bass with, with that horrible sizzly sound and no tight lows. [/quote] The 2EQ DOES have more low end push, but it really is quite deep in the low end. The 3EQ has tighter lows, but part of the reason is that the realised all of those sub lows were doing very little unless you were going through a large PA that could handle it, otherwise you are just hammering your speakers with sub lows for no reason, as you will barely hear them. Sizzle? Rays love to sizzle. Stick flats on, drop the treble, no sizzle!

[quote name='Guinness21' timestamp='1404426330' post='2492643'] Congrats dude, I am currently in the process of saving for this exact american standard p bass - maple, tortoise shell and olympic white. Love the pickups in this year's model! I Considered mystic red and sticking on a black pickguard, but mystic red has got nothing on candy apple red. And then there's the fact that this looks stunning! [/quote] Aye, the Mystic Red isn't great, especially in the flesh. I think Fender will dump the new-ish Red/Blue soon...both awful! Fender, just please make American Standards in classic colours like LPB, sea foam green, fiesta red and sonic blue. You will sell a LOT.

The other side is, one of my most stunning looking and amazing playing/sounding basses is a Musicman Classic 5....it was not cheap...and they have risen to around £1900+.... I think its worth every penny.

I'm suprised Ashdown didn't send you 25p (or whatever they are) knobs!

£60-70 would have bought you a Sue Ryder P bass, and I gigged one of those just to see how it would stand up to gigging. It did, and it sounded like a P bass. Upto £1000 will buy you a nice (USED) American Standard Fender or (USED) Musicman Stingray 4 H. The reality is, prices are bumping fairly significantly at the moment, and have done for the past 3-4 years (more than I've seen for a fair while). New Fenders are reaching £1150+, and Musicman basses are around £1400 for a normal 2 or 3EQ Stingray H. Stingray 5s are £1500+. Yes, I keep seeing the same old argument that you can buy one used for half price, and you can in some respects, but it depends on age, condition, model, and whether the seller just wants to get rid quick. The market will change as new prices continue to rise. But yes, basses under £1000 are of course very good if you find a nice one, as is the same with a higher price bracket.

I have had EB Group III Flats on my 2009 P AS P Bass and they still have some bit, and feel lovely. The latest 2008 and 2012 onwards P and J basses are really really good. The best they've made in a long time. Zero mods required. Just get a good one and you are set. My P and J are in the 2008 versions of the cases, big SKB cases, the best cases I've ever owned if I'm being honest. Apparently Fender stopped dealing with SKB - possibly a fall out. They then started providing the ABS plastic cases which are great, but these are now for the American Deluxes models only. They now offer the more classic black Pro cases...which is still a good case! I'm about to get a 2013/14 Strat and Tele because I've resisted for years and now I've sold an old Tele, its time to strike.

Yeah, St Vicent seems to really be getting popular now. Rightly so...great band and totally original. I can't persuade the mrs to see her round the corner from us, so I'm going to go on my own if I have to.

All I can add is from using the TC amps in a band context, they sound even better in the mix (THE best DI I've used) but it all depends if you like the 'sealed 810 being pushed' tone.

DB!

I had an old Jackson as my second mid-range guitar, and it was superb for the money, but looked awful. Depends on what you like! The neck was SO fast it was unreal. I just hated the Floyd Rose licensed trem....awful to change strings. I think I paid £250 second hand and sold it for more than that in P/X against my recently sold Telecaster.

PS - My highlights so far are: Jake Bugg (hugely talented vocalist and song writer, and clever with the right amount of guitar lead etc), Interpol, St Vincent and Robert Plant. I'll watch last night's set tonight. I was disappointed with Jagwar Mar. Great on record but as has been referred to above, sometimes a festival isn't the right place to see a band. The band just sounded like they had zero soundcheck and couldn't hear anything. Blondie sounded bad...shame.

Rewind about 20 years ago, and I loved Metallica when I was learning about guitar bands (12/13 years old). I still think they have some absolute killer hooks and riffs, and its pretty amazing how they have kept going for so long. I just can't take metal very seriously, but it's inevitable that one day slightly rockier heavier bands would play Glasto. Have Foo Fighters headlned before? I reckon they will be next.

Ashdown amps have always, IMO, been pretty bulletproof and seem to be used and abused in practice rooms but STILL just keep on going. I think their recent tube amps look great. What do I want from Ashdown? Perhaps more expensive cabinets with higher power handling. A nice 600W rated 2x12 with high end speakers/crossover/tweeter with a decent weight would sell well in the UK. They may already make one, which makes this idea redundant.

Can we all move on now? It's a decal...I really don't see any issue we need to worry about. Enjoy the Limelight basses, or don't....simple as. Poir guy who runs it probably has, on the one hand, lots of interest, but on the other, lots of discussions about the ethics of his business.

How does this live up to guitarists expectations of pedals and effects? I'm no effects junkie but as I'm currently playing more guitar, (and probably will be until a decent band turns up needing a bassist) I'm starting to invest in more guitar gear. I have some decent TC guitar pedals, a nice enough Orange rig, tuner, and a quality multi power supply (T Rex Chameleon). I am more tempted to stick with buying a few nice guitar pedals if I'm honest, (I'd like a nice drive pedal such as the Crowther Hot Cake or Fulltone Plimsoul) and maybe more delay (TC) and more than likely a compressor/boost (TC Spark) but that is about it. As I'm already half setup with cables, power, other pedals, etc, I'm probably going to stick to that route, but it would be cool to know what the iOS option is like for guitar.

[quote name='yorks5stringer' timestamp='1404084866' post='2489214'] The voltage thing ( as well as protecting national distributors) was to stop people bringing them over from the USA where the voltage difference would fry it! Europe has never really been an issue. Best prices on MB are with Thomann at the moment.... [/quote] Agreed...absolute bargain price on Thomann. The UK market needs to react to those prices or they will lose sales. I suspect the argument will be 'well, you need to buy it in the UK to get a warranty' which is another ancient way of looking at buying products. If you buy it within the EU you should get a warranty in the EU. I suspect Thomann offer their own.

Contact one of the Genz chaps on Talkbass (Agedhorse?). I contacted re: LEDS for the Streamliner and they sent them out, no problems. This is post Genz-closure.

Metallica sound great and Rob is great but his bass is (as per most metal bands) low in the mix.

Sorry to hear that. Ruts happen. I've not played a gig in a year due to time wasters and work being very very busy. I still love bass but I'm focusing on guitars and writing now as I'm sick of meeting lazy songwriters! May as well do it myself.

...and getting sick of HAIM. Clearly a talented bunch of ladies (gent drumming?) but I get very tired of their music very quickly.

I've only been once and I'd like to go again...nice to see Interpol are playing again (hugely underrated melancholic post-punk)... http://www.bbc.co.uk/events/errnc8/acts/afzmxj#p021sbgd

[quote name='skej21' timestamp='1403785911' post='2486322'] Mark is not the first (or only) person to have built a business like this and he won't be the last. I don't see why a more general discussion about relic'd instruments and copyright had to turn into a witch hunt for one persons business... [/quote] Yeah originally the thread title may have seemed a little bit of a target, even if not meant that way.

I think the fact a Roadworn Jazz/Precision is now £1000+ has something to do with it. Not only that, it's the sheer choice/options available. I'd like a Fiesta Red/Tort/light relic/rosewood/P neck bass. If I go Fender, it's a Pino, and its money I don't want to invest. Fender make great basses but £3000 or whatever it is for a VERY basic design is just not my thing, (unless I suddenly throw caution to the wind).