Grahambythesea

The Sandberg California II TT4 at Bass Direct weighs in at a ridiculous 2.8kg. That’s lighter than most semis. Love the dark tint on the roasted maple neck too.

Really attractive woods, they say the necks are phenomenal, enjoy.

Are you playing plectrum or fingers? You should try the opposite of what ever you’re doing and also try different positions. Sitting is rarely the best and when standing having a bass too low can cause problems. The scoop on the back is there for a reason, tuck it well into the body.

I had a Washburn AB5 fretless which wasn’t cheap. It was also useless unless plugged in. Both the low B and the E were little more than a thud acoustically and it would have struggled to hold its own against a soprano uke. To add insult to injury the neck was a proverbial tree trunk. As you can guess it’s put me off them for life.

I think your predictions are totally right Phil. I hope some musicians will be out there as I’m booked to take my grandkids on a Disney Cruise ( should have been last August but took the cruise credit ) and I really enjoy the quality of people cruise lines book to play in the bars. The main theatre bands are brill too, but Disney use backing tracks for their shows, I guess Mickey isn’t up to live singing. 🤣

And is the weight okay? The bridge looks like a fair copy of a Badass to me. Cory ought to be pretty good as they make just about everybody else’s basses 🥴

Very handsome woodwork. Will it be an improvement on Fodera or Wal, or is it just the need for an extra string?

Just before Lockdown 1 a Hofner Ignition Violin Bass (why do I want short scale 4 strings, I play 5 string long scales?). But is fun and noodling in lockdown has been good, it will get an outing or two. Then just before lockdown 2 a Taylor T5Z ( & sold my Taylor 314) which is a fantastic hybrid guitar capable of acoustic and electric sounds with an incredible shallow neck which makes everything else feel like a tree trunk. Then in lockdown or was it just prior a Prime Acoustic amp to compliment the T5Z, at a really good price which is okay, perhaps a little more treble than I’d have liked but saves putting guitar through bass amp.

Jack Cassidy uses his Epi, which didn’t cost a fortune. Admittedly he had a hand in the production, albeit adapting an earlier Gibson Les Paul bass. (Did LP design it or Gibson just use his name?)

Well you wouldn’t have to worry about fret levelling.

And less strings!

What, another Harley - may be a certain brand of motor cycle would be appropriate? If you must have anything 👎

I too thought mahogany heavy. I don’t want to put you off but I had an early Fender Jazz V (1996) with the 5 on one side tuners which I think increased neck dive ( tuner weight further out). Good luck I hope it produces what you want.

I used to have a very lightweight P style Ibanez Roadster bass. Single P pickup and maple board, really light and good to play. I found out that it was a ply body when I stripped the black pint off to make it a natural finish, but if you can find one 80’s vintage don’t let ply put you off it was a great sounding bass and light.

Smart! Needs that thumb rest and a pickup cover to complete the look.

What does it remind of? Oh yes a non reverse Thunderbird!

Given this revival in interest in short scale basses (there was a time when British “beat” groups played nothing else - Hofner and Epi. Rivoli) I am surprised that the new management of Gibson who have been pursuing reissues of classics relentlessly haven’t woken up to the idea of relaunching the EB2 or a Rivoli. It must be an easy option, they make 335 bodies, they make EBO necks, mudbucker pickups, and 3 point bridges they just need a pot of glue and a screwdriver to stick it all together. The ridiculous prices second hand ones sell for now is surely an indication of the interest and a potential market.

Is this your first encounter with fretless? If so 2 tips trust your ears and remember your fingers have to where the fret would have been, not behind it.

Ace!

I was going to say Ibanez Roadster too, but @tubbybloke68 beat me to it. The bound edge bodied versions are particularly handsome and very 80’s. Perhaps a Charvel Surfcaster as well ( but may be beyond the budget).

Headstock doubles as a bottle opener 🤣

So you even recreated your Serial number?

So to check for proud frets with a long level, do need to “flatten “ the neck relief?

I wish they’d offer it with an up the right way neck, the tuners pointing down looks really awkward.

The Korean made Spectors are amazing. A legend would do what you ask and don’t weigh a ton. The curved body is great.