BlueMoon

A stunner!! GLWTS.

OP/seller last visited the site back in April, so maybe not tracking as closely at present.

Nicely done. It looks great!

The pups and original preamp on these are some of the sweetest sounding combinations out there! I have both a 4 and 5 stringer......best modern era Fenders imho. 

To find a "Deluxe" case in this condition is also a big wow. GLWTS, Will!

16 hours ago, fretmeister said:

 

I think the control labels are on a removable clear sticker - designed to be taken off after buying the bass.

 

This ^^^^^^^

Great bass.....great seller!

It can go the other way, of course.

I had a chance during a business trip to the US to try out a range of different basses in a number of music shops (both large and small). I happened on a s/h Ricky 4003. The set up was OK - not ideal, but fine without any need to "fix" anything before I got it home. After a thorough in-store noodle, I took the bass to the very helpful sales assistant to finalise a deal. It was already cheap by European standards. The sales assistant goes through this whole spiel about how great these instruments are, and that he's a bass player too. He plays it just to show me, just in case - being European - that I hadn't registered his words. The conversation went something like : Assistant: "Oh, that action is way too high. I'll fix that for you while you wait". Me: "It's really OK for me actually". Assistant: "Are you kidding me? It'll only take a second".

Fast forward to the big "snap" sound, when the truss rod snapped as he went at it like a gorilla!

Assistant: "I guess you'll not be taking this one after all". Me: "You got that right!

Maybe I dodged a bullet that day.

Oh my!!!!! 

A real stunner. Bernie at his best. Love the sparkle as well.

^^^^^^^^^ this!!

Another shout out for Mark Morgan-Richards. Super nice guy to deal with.

I just love all of Bernie's stuff. He's a class act.

3 minutes ago, bubinga5 said:

I meant to ask you. You have a Suhr do you not.?

Yes, indeed. They are top quality instruments. The neck is up there with Sadowsky NYC.

I love this bass!! It's a stunning example.

Sadly, Brexit put the kybosh on me making you an offer.

GLWTS, Andrew

2 hours ago, Skybone said:

Nordstrand Rickenbocker.

I have tried one of these and it solves the OP's problem without affecting too much the classic Ricky sound. Good choice.

Yes, that's also been my experience. Not sure why.

Seller last visited the site on 23 February........my PM of 28 January remains unanswered. 

During the early 80s I had a Peavey 130 combo that had an 18" Black Widow speaker in it. The thing weighed a ton.......but I was young and knew little else at the time. I had progressed from a 60s Selmer cabinet with a Goodmans 18" in it. That was a cabinet almost shoulder high and also weighed like a boat anchor.

24 minutes ago, Beedster said:

It’s as if they’re suggesting you might have devised a cunning criminal plan to force them to deliver it to the wrong address to land a huge payout  

Glad it got sorted. Unfortunately, the insurance folks very quickly start from that premise (i.e. your're on the fiddle) and give you a hard time. I had a company car stolen (keyless entry) from outside of my house and the first reaction was to suspect me of an inside job. Wierd thing was.........the car was gone for around 6 months and then reappeared in the middle of the night. I'd since moved house and had a different car! Spooky.

3 hours ago, sgh said:

My chances are slim I know but is anyone looking to part with their GB Rumour (preferably with Sound to Light system) 4 string?

Rarer than hens teeth, I know!

Bernie has had a white one on his site for some time. I'm not sure it is still for sale, but might be worth giving him a call if you're interested. Not cheap, mind you.

https://www.gb-guitars.co.uk/sale/

PM me if you need his mobile number.

Shouldn't there be a "Made In U.S.A" visible on the decal? There is on my 4003.

I had the pleasure to buy a filter preamp from @Hellzero. Precise item description, effiecient follow up, speedy dispatch and the product was expertly packed. Overall a very enjoyable transaction. Thanks, Tony.

16 hours ago, Richard Jinman said:

Under no illusion I’m buying a collectible bass just want a solid jazz with ‘that’ tone.

If I recall correctly this was when John Suhr was still with Fender. I have a couple of Deluxe (active) jazz basses from that era and they are really nice instruments. Of course make your decision after you have played the particular instrument (if you can, that is). The "chain saw" hard case has a habit of snapping off hinges, but these are now more difficult to find in good condition. Overall, it sounds like a fair deal.

12 hours ago, Russ said:

Why couldn't they, at the very least, make the curve of the lettering match the curve of the headstock? Looks ridiculously tacky and cheap.

I've also seen this problem on some pics of Metroline basses as well. Maybe these were first batch examples, but I wouldn't shell out anywhere near that kind of cash for an instrument with a wonky decal. Looks like another QC problem.......and Metroline basses are now made in Germany, aren't they?

23 minutes ago, Kazan said:

(and wish I did as I'm in the EU and would have to tack on additional VAT if I were to buy one now)

I have a Bravewood SB Jazz and can thoroughly recommend his work. For the same reason as @Kazan this lovely P bass will sadly not be joining me though. Otherwise, I'd have been very tempted.

25 minutes ago, Doctor J said:

Did you notice much of a difference between the Levinson and Sadowsky pickups?

Thanks.

When I bought the Blade it had Bart pups and an East preamp, so I can't really comment on the difference between the Levinson pups and those from Sadowsky. I wanted a backup "Sadowsky sound" to my Metro, but without the stress of it attracting gig dinks. As it turns out, the Blade delivers in spades and is a great gigging bass................whenever that might happen in the future.