scrumpymike

[quote name='Fisheth' timestamp='1476864729' post='3157805'] Custom Speesy. Been wanting a V bass for a while, but nobody really offered what I wanted! [/quote] Dohhh, I remember you posted earlier - must pay more attention. It is a long thread though - and rightly so

[quote name='ash' timestamp='1476784062' post='3157133'] Here is a picture of the back and control cavity now it's stripped of parts and the giant back plate. Unlike some JB basses the cavity is quite small. [/quote] Only just seen this thread, so fleabay link is dead. Can see from your back pic though that this is a really nice shape. Well done for taking a punt - you're braver than me but I bet you're chuffed to bits now. More pics when you can pls.

[quote name='Fisheth' timestamp='1476827796' post='3157694'] This isn't making the wait for my Mensinger any easier... [/quote] A few weeks now since I got mine and I love it - what did you go for?

Very nice too.

Thanks for the crash course in MK - very much appreciated.

My payments were 3 weeks apart and during that time the rate fell from an already low 1.19 to 1.15. For anyone who voted to stay in the EU, all this stuff is a bit hard to take.

They've already gone up since I bought mine, and looks like that trend will continue.

[quote name='ezbass' timestamp='1476439831' post='3154288'] [size=4][font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]Essential Polish: [color=#212121]Topem z klonu płomienistego, korpus jesion i klon szyjka z palisandrową pokładzie palec (courtesy of Google). [/color][/font][/size] [/quote] You can't beat a nice flamed-maple top though!

"Although...are we sure it's shop policy rather than the salesman seeing the opportunity to get the cost of a pint out of an unsuspecting punter?" I'm guessing you've hit the nail on the head there.

Great news - love mine! Wonder if they'll make some more...

My local independent store (well, nearest - it's 15 miles away) were happy to give me a nice box recently, no questions asked. Only things I've ever bought from them are a £150 bass and a few bits and pieces. Mind you, it could have been the most expensive box I've ever bought - had a play on a mint used Stingray they had in and loved it! Too big and heavy for me nowadays but what a sound - I was seriously tempted. Perhaps there's a moral in this story for GAK Brighton!

[quote name='mcnach' timestamp='1476393621' post='3154007'] Sounds good to me. My girlfriend is Polish so we travel in that direction from time to time anyway. Adding a bass-related reason would be perfect. She also plays bass, so she might even join! Did I say the beer is great too? [/quote] Neat! This trip could finally motivate me to take some Polish lessons - been meaning to do it for years but never got round to it.

[quote name='bubinga5' timestamp='1476375000' post='3153795'] [/quote] That's real class - 5er sounds good too!!

[quote name='KevB' timestamp='1476433364' post='3154179'] Mine's gone sticky but it's the only one I have and used every gig, can't really do without it at the moment so can't send it back for replacement until theres a break in gigs, maybe December. Its only the bit you briefly touch to lower and raise the centre shaft, it doesnt come in to contact with any instruments. The foam bits that touch the body and the headstock grabbers are all fine so far. [/quote] As far as I know, they don't ask for the faulty stand to be returned - certainly didn't with mine. Mind you, I did send a couple of pic's.

[quote name='mcnach' timestamp='1476360787' post='3153619'] AND flights to Poland are soooo cheap, and the beer soooo good... hmmmm. I [/quote] Too right! My feeling would be to wait until they're 'open to the public' in Poland. As it happens, it was the Polish connection that sparked the visit idea in the first place (my wife's suggestion would you believe!!). My dad came over from Poland in WW2 and she thought it would be great to kill 2 birds with one stone: factory visit and holiday in 'the land of my fathers'. She doesn't know much about basses but she's fallen in love with my new 'Cazzie' - yep, she's even given her a name.

[quote name='Woodinblack' timestamp='1476342773' post='3153405'] If I run a factory I wouldn't want people traipsing round it, it would kind of interfere with the process of building things, require someone to organise and provide a tour etc, and I am sure have an impact on your insurance price. [/quote] Could also be something to do with security/intellectual property - maybe they've developed some smart methods or equipment.

[quote name='mcnach' timestamp='1476294712' post='3153157'] right! who drives the van??? [/quote] The van would certainly be handy for bringing a few basses back

Had a quick look at the map and Aldenhoven is close to Germany's borders with the Netherlands and Belgium. Nearest cities with airports are Maastricht (36mls away), Dusseldorf (48mls) and Cologne-Bonn (also 48mls). I know I can fly from Bristol to Dusseldorf on BMi.

[quote name='pierreganseman' timestamp='1476292815' post='3153139'] the shop is at adrian's house in Germany, around one hour from me. The Factory is in Poland.... somewhere [/quote] Ah, my mistake - Germany will probably be easier/cheaper. Where's the nearest airport for cheap flights?

I thought the shop was at the factory. Anyway, while a factory tour would be nice, I wouldn't wish to disturb the Kobolds and Gnomes. All I really had in mind was a meeting with Adrian in the company of lots of finished basses, some of which I would hopefully be able to try out.

"The best bet is a sort of mass produced custom imo, if the luthier builds a random bass with funny pickup spacing and crap hardware because it's what the customer wants it will be crap but a luthier that has a sort of base model design that the customer works around then everyone wins and the builder has done things like the body cut, neck pocket and headstock/tuner layout many times." Totally agree with Pete on this. That's the 'Maruszczyk' way, which is why I bought from Adrian. They are a large-batch rather than mass producer and, because they build for stock as well as custom orders, I was able to look at hundreds of photos/specs on their website and then say: "I want you to build me a bass that looks like (quote the SKU reference number) but with the following changes." I had a price/delivery quote within a couple of days - and now I have the bass I wanted with no nasty surprises. Btw, I'm not implying that M are the only ones doing this as I don't know enough about the other options. There are obviously some great luthiers out there and with a bit of research it should be relatively easy to avoid making a costly mistake.