Steve Browning

Standard practice in all agencies, the police too. Quite obviously the wheels came off on this occasion but generally, stuff that comes into the hands of Govt departments (in my day it was H M Customs & Excise) is sold at auction, without reserve. The guy that bought is obviously aware of this and clearly is able to check the auction house to see what's for sale and 'without reserve' means there's a bargain to be had possibly. Nothing shady about the principle at all. I remember a music shop in Worthing being closed down and a load of stock seized to settle a huge VAT debt. I had a bass in there at the time and was able to retrieve it from the auction house. EDIT - I appear to have caused some offence with this. Quite obviously, that would never be my intention.

It gets said often but is no less true. Current events have left the entire logistics business in a real state. If you get stuff quickly then that would probably count as a bonus. I would not take any assurance of delivery at face value at this time. No hint of dishonesty but struggling with a creaking system and new rules.

I wonder what you had before? I have suffered something similar in the past. Being a fingerstyle player, I always rest my thumb on the pickup cover. Being a dyed in the wool Precision player, I found the fact that I was further down the string affected the amount of travel in the string and the position of my arm also changed in relation to the bass. These combined to get me to ditch the old Stingray I had. I bought the SUB so I could have the sound without an almighty investment - and possible repeat of the disappointment.

I just saw this. Interesting. In fairness, the person isn't trying to pull the wool over anyone's eyes but it's a mongrel for sure.

For my sins 'shredding' and 'staggering fast' are both guaranteed to make me pass. I would doubtless appreciate the technique but not enough to want to listen.

I have the single p/up version of this and cannot praise the Retrovibe Stinger pre-amp highly enough.

Anything non-standard about it? Just curious.

You can now get a full time job changing the fuses in Yngwie Malmsteens rig.

Small flat blade screwdriver. It may slightly distort the plastic but as long as the fuse seats ok there's nothing to worry about.

Don't quote me but I think the US models have the larger backplate on the tuners and the domestic ones have a smaller back plate. More knowledgeable folk will doubtless be along.

I don't actually know. Give Steve a ring and ask him. I know he's selling it on commission. He's a good guy but obviously slightly tied by what the seller might be expecting.

... and you got one of the rare ones with the ATL decal. 🙂

Lovely bass and congratulations. You have a bass for life there. No surprise you're happy, you have noted the build quality. They're exceptional and I've not seen a bad one.

Southsea Guitar Centre has one available at the moment. I saw it in there just yesterday.

Reminds me of a story about the first batch of Datsun cars imported to the UK via Shoreham (Datsun were HQ'd in Worthing). With great ceremony, the first 6 cars were unloaded and driven onto a transporter - never to be seen again. There's seemingly nothing that audaciousness can't overcome.

My point wasn't about legality. I meant that both affect the cost and we can't influence either, so no point worrying about it.

It's ultimately a personal decision that no-one else is entitled to criticise. A bar is a commercial enterprise and so should expect to pay for anything it uses in order to generate a profit. If it can blag a freebie then it will. In these odd times I would be prepared to help out a venue that's supported me over the years (a bit of mutual back-scratching). Experience tells me that exposure is an empty 'promise' and is a scam. The live music scene is a free market. Cheap bands drive down the price for other bands, that's a fact as a matter of simple economics but it won't ever stop. Everyone has to accept it in the same way uninsured drivers drive up the cost of insurance. We may not approve but we won't stop it.

The horrible cynic in me is wondering if they'll actually happen, as keeping to promises doesn't seem a high priority.

He'll be hoping you don't change to flats!!

Nicky Wire used one of their basses on Your Love Alone. They seem to have had the video taken down from YouTube.

Rotosound, as a company, support the Guitarwrist fundraising enterprise. Ian Rendall (the founder) receives donations of used strings and, with the help of other jewellery makers, turns the strings into items of (you guessed it) jewellery. It is not just Rotosound strings that are used and any profits are distributed to the charity of the donor's choosing. I am attaching a link so you can see what they do and the results. There are some very imaginative uses of the strings and they make some exceedingly nice pieces with stuff you'd usually bin. Follow the link, if you feel you want to support this excellent initiative yourselves, send Ian your old strings and help fund charities at a time when they really need the help. He accepts any make of strings, Rotosound are mentioned because they endorse the enterprise and mentioned it when sending my latest batch. I am hoping the mods are ok with this? Other than being a Rotosound artist, I have no connection with Ian or Guitarwrist. https://theguitarwrist.co.uk/#whatwedo

I have a Sterling SUB and had intended to replace the preamp and pickup. Having changed the preamp I have found the sound is fine. May I suggest you do your preamp swap and regroup. You may find (may!) that your have what you want and the pickup swap is unnecessary.

I have had a few Fender Japan Precisions and always go for the PB70 model. The neck profile is the same as the B profile which is, as you say, between a Jazz and a 'standard' P bass. Exceptional instruments. I always swapped out the pickup for a Kent Armstrong Vintage P but there are loads to choose from.

There was a clear sonic difference. No lack of 'heft' but a clear difference. Of course the modus operandi of each amp is different. In some senses a comparison with a WD-800 would have been expected to be a better comparison. The TT sets out to emulate a different tone stack. Both amps sounded great though. I was perfectly happy with my M-Pulses and would have continued to be so, had I kept them. In my post I proclaimed the comparison to be a draw and I think that's a fair result and a huge thumbs up to Andy and the guys at Mesa. The ability to get a genuinely vintage sound out of state of the art package (valves notwithstanding). The tonal difference in the cables was probably the bigger surprise. I had experienced it with Robs' Lyric cable but the clarity was very evident and unmistakable. The same with the balance across the fingerboard. I can hear a lot of people thinking it's cobblers but I have to disagree. Whether or not you feel you can justify the expense is another matter but I figured if people who could afford to use anything chose that then there must be something in it. I am firmly in that camp now.