CameronJ

2 minutes ago, Old Horse Murphy said:

Thanks. I went in to it with my eyes open somewhat, knowing some of the QC issues others had with these. The playability has blown me away and I am happy with it overall. 
 

Compared to some top notch US-made guitars I've owned, the flaws are minor (well, I call them minor flaws but YMMV) and after a few rehearsals and gigs I'm likely to do worse to the bass anyway!

 

I bought a Martin OM21 last year and when I opened the case I almost felt like crying as it had that many blemishes and issues with the finish. The same was true with a Les Paul I bought. Both went back to the retailer sharpish. 

Bloody hell. You’d expect better from the likes of Martin and (perhaps to a lesser extent) Gibson. I’d be pretty devastated in your position with those instruments too!

10 hours ago, Friskydingo said:

Don't you be coming round these parts with your fancy 6 strings! We're a simple folk, with low end needs. 

I’ll be gone for a while to self-flagellate 

9 hours ago, cascanicoff said:

I bought myself a couple of bass books (I can't help it, I am a bookworm). But my real self-present was this beauty:

 

 

You can't figure out how happy I am with it. Or maybe you can indeed...

 

I’ve been intrigued by these Sadowsky Moderns myself lately! There was a lovely green one for sale here recently but it didn’t hang around long. I really love the shape.

I realise this is heresy but…

Ordered on Christmas morning and hopefully arriving tomorrow.

1 hour ago, pete.young said:

Yamaha BB435 might be worth a look, or a BB735 if you can find a used one.

I’d strongly recommend checking out a Yamaha BB735a. Very well made and great pickups/preamp combo. Obviously quite different from both the Spector and the Sadowsky you were looking at @Bilbo, but definitely worth a look nonetheless.

Didn’t last long…!

These basses will sound very different…is the sound in your head more of a single coil or a humbucker vibe?

Also, both have 2 band EQs and no passive tone controls - presumably you’re fine with that?

Personally I’d get down to BassDirect and try both basses in person.

Dare I ask what the guitar is that you’re thinking of parting ways with?

3 minutes ago, SumOne said:

I had a quick waza! 

 

All seems good. It's now got me straight onto the next bit of GAS though - a 5 string active Bass with front mounted jack socket (without the ££ of a Fodera or Alembic or tight string spacing of an Ibanez SR doesn't leave many options). 

First thing that comes to mind is a Jazz bass with a John East J-Retro (not the deluxe)

Very tempted to go for that deal myself. Although (and I realise this is blasphemy) I’m strongly considering getting myself an electric guitar, so maybe best to get the original WAZA Air as that is probably a better choice for both guitar and bass compared to the WAZA Bass which won’t be that great for electric guitar? Arghhh…

7 minutes ago, fretmeister said:

Scan are fine - well known PC company and they do other electricals these days too.

 

I'd have no probs buying from them.

Agreed!

4 hours ago, ChrisLovatt said:

 

Few mistakes and the only recording I got of my jazz before I fell out of love with it

That is 🔥 

Definitely making me wanna learn this line!

I’m sure they’ll sort it out quickly - my experience has always been very positive with them. Most notably a situation in which I had purchased (and activated) the wrong software and they bent over backwards to help me deactivate my license in order to allow me to return & refund the purchase...which was entirely my fault in the first place.

They’re easily in my personal top 3 music retailers of choice.

27 minutes ago, Mickyk said:

Lovely tones  my Friend,? what make are the flats bud.

Thanks! They are La Bella LTF (Low Tension Flats)

They have become my favourite flatwounds!

I may have missed it somewhere in the thread but does anyone have any issues with the transmitter in active basses? I know some “bug” type wireless transmitters don’t behave well with active electronics!

Can’t wait to read more of your thoughts! That compact Darkglass setup looks very tasty by the way!

He hasn’t been online since April. I would imagine this is either sold or no longer for sale…

These are really good cases. There’s a reason so many drummers use Protection Racket gear. It’s rock solid!

These are insanely gorgeous. I have no need for a 4 string but I’m lusting hard for this!

I’m a huge fan of Dingwall basses - I’ve had three in total and currently just own one. Phenomenal quality, innovation and attention to detail.

In more recent times I’ve discovered Xotic basses and am a serious lover of them. I currently have two of their “XJ” five string jazzes and absolutely love them. Made in Japan, flawlessly built, a neck profile that is perfect for my hands and proper “sound in my head” jazz tones.

For me it’s pretty much a combination of what suits the music and what frequencies I require to be able to hear myself clearly in the mix. If I’m playing at home I more heavily favour the former. If playing live I tend to more heavily favour the latter.
 

Having said that, on my passive basses I usually have the tone wide open as a starting point - my Dingwall Super PJ is a good example of this - but I rarely change strings and don’t typically favour a ton of high end in my sound as a rule. Unless of course the style demands it.

On my active basses, such as my Xotic XJs, I find myself tweaking the onboard preamp controls and the passive tone control on almost a constant basis from song to song. The tonal options on these basses are incredibly broad which I’m sure puts people off (“how many knobs?!”) - but the passive tone knob and the 3 band preamp controls interact in a really intuitive way. It’s pretty much impossible to produce a “bad” sound out of them, crazy though that may sound to some. 

A wise decision @Tripehound!

I believe @Musashimonkey has owned one of these before…?

I think this is a V7 “Vintage” - identifiable by the maple board with black blocks. Maybe worth adding to the title?

I’ve had their nickel rounds and really enjoyed them. Very reasonably priced, good feel, good tone. Zero complaints from me! I’ve been curious to try their flats for a while actually.