HeadlessBassist

That Cort should be a good bet. I've got the Artisan Space Bass 5 and it's excellent for the money. The Fishman Fluence preamp will be good too. I've got a very nice Ibanez SR 1400 with the Nordstrand pickups for sale at the moment. I must list it on here this evening. Again, great basses for the money.

I'm going to have to sit down and do one of these in the next few days. 2025 has been a very expensive year, so far. Is it like a church confessional?

An odd weekend - On Friday evening I went to a little studio in Nottingham and played for the first time with a similarly aged keyboard player and drummer on some original tracks (sort of funky jazz with a dance beat). It's always interesting creating baselines to go with other people's music. I was particularly pleased with one track where my line made the track sound quite Flecktones-esque. (Not that I'm comparing myself to Mr.Wooten!) I was all set for a quiet Saturday evening when an old school mate Drummer (can't believe it's 40 years ago!) asked me to go to a local reopening of a pub with his son and daughter in the band and do a guest spot. Nothing too challenging, but I did have to figure out Elton John's "I'm Still Standing" on the spot - never played this before!

Thanks Michael. I may stop by the workshop next time I'm in Brum if I don't hear anything.

Well I've sent them an email re going down to the workshop and trying whatever they have to demo and to discuss options. We'll see what comes back...

Hi everyone, I'm thinking of ordering a new JayDee Supernatural. Since John Diggins died at the beginning of 2024, I understand that his two sons have continued the business. Has anyone commissioned/received a build in the last year or so? I'm wondering what the quality is currently like and whether or not I should take the plunge?

I like the look of that new 4 string version. My Space 5 has become invaluable. It lives in the boot of the car and is a nice light bass for carting round schools for teaching duties. The best part is that the monorails keep it in tune all the time. I've got a set of Elixir 40-125 strings on it and it sings very well. Sounds great live too. My only complaint is that the output is a little on the low side (about equivalent to a passive Jazz). I checked inside and there's no trim pot to turn up on the MarkBass preamp board, so I guess that's how it is.

The "Destructions" that came with my American Original stated that Nitro Cellulose finishes should be gently cleaned with a soft damp cloth only. Whether that includes when it's checked and failing in places, I'm not sure.

I was hoping to try out one of the new post-graphite basses (S-23 series), but there are now only a couple of stock instruments left. Apparently they made somewhere between 120 & 130 in total if the # numbers on the website actually correlate with production quantities.. There's one review knocking around on YouTube, and the owner seems highly complimentary. It sounds good too.

Lovely collection you have there prowla

I just always preferred the two-band, as that's what I had in my original 1988 Series-II and also later in a couple of Streamlines. I have board 302 and 303 in the current ones.

Onboard active preamps can be very variable, as they're all set at different frequencies, so some will sound very clean and others over boosted and artificial. I tend to use a small amount of treble and bass boost (just a little more than the centre detent) on the instrument and then do the main boost on the amplifier. This ensures a very clean and honest sound.

Oh, sorry! I thought you were replying to me re the Space Bass 5

Hey Terry, I've been nothing but pleased with it over the last year. My main basses (apart from the workhorse Jazz basses) are Status, so I have very high expectations from a headless bass. You have to drive the input gain on your amp a little, as the 9v MarkBass preamp is a little underpowered in output terms (there's no trim pot inside, either), but give it a chunk of bass boost and a touch of treble and you get some very nice sounds. It's very light and easy to play for a five-string too. For the money, I can't recommend it enough.

They look really nice. If my own Space Bass 5 is anything to go by, they’re doing some really good stuff these days. Congrats on your new purchase

I'd say the difference there is that the person on FB Marketplace needs the money. Tony clearly doesn't - I was at his house yesterday. Lovely drive through Holmfirth and across the moors coming back, too. I'm quite shocked at how negative some people have been on this thread. A guy with a bit of permanent GAS usually sells some nice basses (it's up to you whether or not you think they're expensive - that's down to you and the depth of your pockets.) So here was I thinking you'd all like to look at some nice instruments that a nice guy advertises on Gumtree and all you can all do is moan about his prices and make assumptions. It's all very sad, pathetic and typical social media. 😲

Picked this up today at the end of my GAS burst. First Ibanez I've had for about twenty years. A very nice condition 2017 SR1400 Premium. Spent the latter part of the evening setting it up, as someone had set the neck flat and raised all the bridge monorails to compensate! All fixed now with a low action

Looks like a nice piece of Alder to me... Here mine as a comparison. (Not a vintage, but a 2017 American Original.)

I'm watching the "All About The Bass" video as I type and my instant response is, "spend a little more on a Cort Artisan Space Bass 5." Mine has proved invaluable, and always lives in the car boot. (It's always in tune as well - There's a lot to be said for headless basses!). Great lightweight teaching bass and 'always at the ready' instrument. As for the HILS, I quite like the white/tort 5-string. Makes it a little more interesting, I suppose. The pickups sound a lot nicer than the ones in the Ibanez EHB range, but I don't particularly care for the shape. The white 30" scale 4-string passive one would pass for a headless 'Bootsy' bass.

A very valid point. I do about 25-30 dates a year with the three tribute live show & many other jobs, and when I need to take a vintage looking bass, it's always an American Fender (sometimes it's two!) They really are very hardy when you find a good one.

You would only be liable to taxation if you earned a profit on belongings you sold. I suspect most of these instruments are being sold at a loss, or at the break even point just like the rest of us.

At the end of the day, we all know there's a law of diminishing returns that applies to the more you spend. Is an American Standard Fender worth three times as much as a Squier Classic Vibe? Of course not. But if the bass feels right in your hands and the sound it makes is pleasing to your ears, then the amount of money is immaterial. I always tell students to try before they buy. I've played absolutely belting new £2-300 Squier Affinity basses and some very 'meh' £1500 basses (and also some lovely ones). It's usually down to which one fits your hands and ears. As others have already said, there's also a lot to go at on the used market for up to £1500. I, for one, will be interested to see what you eventually settle with. Good luck with your 'Bass Quest'.