Doctor J

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Paraboo-fluorescent-Stickers-beautiful-decoration/dp/B077FJGMDC

Clearly a lefty cymbal set

You need to show the neck pocket. Measure the width. The Schecter has a fretboard extension which is covering the important bit, how the butt of the neck fits the neck pocket.

See the standard Fender shape and dimensions here and compare to what you have.

https://warmoth.com/bass-neck-fit

1 hour ago, Rexel Matador said:

Playing devil's advocate for a second (though to be clear I agree with everything you said), when they do try something new nobody wants it. Remember the dimension bass?

Perhaps if they tried something which offered a reason to buy it, a unique selling point, something like that. What was the point of the Dimension, what did it do that hundreds of other basses don't already do?

Oranges are tasty.

Dreadful. Utterly dreadful, but at least they can tour for another couple of years before anyone notices.

It's a bit of a gamble, for sure, getting the good stuff. When it comes to... ehhh... mint Streetwood, you've got to ask yourself one question: “Do I feel lucky?”

I hear they're good for punk.

A taut string is basically a straight line. Hold the E string down at the first fret and last fret and observe the gap between the bottom of the string and the tops of the frets along the neck. Repeat the process on the treble side with the G string. Do you notice any difference between the two sides?

You don't need a 5-string to try a longer scale, the Yamaha TRBii is a 35" scale 4 string and would be well under your budget. I can't say a noticed a huge difference when I had one and am back using a 34" scale ESP jazz tuned ADGC.

edit -> bear in mind the patron saint of low tuning (and many of his flock) uses a 33.25" scale Rickenbacker

"Dear Customer"

If your name isn't specified, stick it in the bin.

Edit -> Now that I've read the rest of it, tell them to keep the money and spend it on English lessons.

Nice 🤘

39 minutes ago, Misdee said:

Am I right in thinking that very few of their basses are made in Japan nowadays, though? 

 

No.

Like any large scale manufacturer they have diversified production locations to accommodate different budgets. There are plenty of Japanese models still, their high-end offerings like Prestige and J-Custom and are, generally, exceptionally well conceived and designed instruments.

I love the colour but the pickup move is an abomination. Aside from the fugly black rectangle, the pickup positioning is the great thing about the Passion.

Thoughts and prayers for any of the young people whose life this is the soundtrack to.

Interesting. Loose Lips were from California too, according to this, and their singer was in another band called The Rip-Offs 🤷🏻‍♂️

http://grunnenrocks.nl/bands/l/looselips.htm

It should be on the neck plate.

Isn't it clear?

Not quite the complete picture. Add shipping and then calculate the VAT and import duty on that figure.

Bottom line is anything bought in the EU from the UK is now 25% more expensive than market value and vice-versa.

3 minutes ago, chris_b said:

From small clubs and pubs to nationwide tours, pay to play has been around since the 60's at least.

 

It's just another way for lazy promoters to screw musicians.

It's not pay-to-play, it's pay-to-possibly-be-put-on-a-list-to-be-considered-maybe-for-a-support-slot

15 minutes ago, Rich said:

That one venue could give them enough material for a whole double album.

One they hopefully never have the money to record.

It's country music, the artist is supposed to be broke and miserable.

Embrace the tragedy. Put a sticker with a spelling mistake on.

They continually refine what they do and don't allow themselves to get stuck in a rut, like most Japanaese companies, a very different business model to the regurgitators.

Japanese Ibanez have been consistently superb. The old basses are very different to what they offer now but in no way better... or worse, for that matter.