BassManGraham

I had no delivery or response from Stringbusters for an order worth £119 made online back in June 2017. I emailed twice and phoned several times, but got no response. After waiting a couple of weeks I reordered from Bass Direct, which although strings were a couple of quid more, they were delivered to Republic Of Ireland within the week. I raised a dispute through Paypal, and have only just been refunded around about 4 weeks after I raised the dispute and 8 weeks after my order. This experience is very disappointing, as I have had several successful orders from Stringbusters over the last few years. Lessons learned:- 1. I will not order from Stringbusters again 2. Always pay with a Visa Credit Card (In my experience they refund much quicker than Paypal) 3 Use Paypal as an additional level of buyer protection.

Are Stringbusters still in business? I have used Stringbusters several times over the years and always found good value and had prompt and efficient service. I placed an order for some bass strings (which were showing as being in stock) 3 or 4 weeks ago but have yet to receive them. I have tried e-mailing and phoned several times but have had no response? My Stringbusters account is showing items yet to be dispatched, but card payment was taken at time of order? Hoping this is just a glitch?

Thanks Chris. I am clearly a technophobe! Shame there's not a pic of rear with tasty neck thru body.

I owned a Spector Euro LX4 Poplar Burl finish for several years. A beautifully made, lovely to play great sounding neck thru bass with P & J type pick-ups. Excellent value for money. I sold it recently and now regret it! I have always loved Fender Jazzes as reliable work horses, but pound for pound the Spectors seem better built for my money.

[quote name='ezbass' timestamp='1489219232' post='3255211'] The 4 strings are 32.5 to 34.5, I can't see any info on the 5 string. [/quote] Adrian has just confirmed his standard 5 string Multi-scales are 850mm (33.5") G string 895mm (35.25") B string. Will sort pics when I can nab one of my girls phones or iPads!!

[quote name='ezbass' timestamp='1489162547' post='3254883'] Yeah, conventional fretting for me. 5 string scale length? I'm guessing a conventional 34" but custom, well the world is your oyster. How about some pics of your recent purchase G? [/quote] Sorry I was not explicit. I was talking about the scale lengths of Adrian's multiscale/fan fretted 5 stringers. My Dingwall AB and Zs low Bs are 37" and Gs are 34" whereas Dingwall Super Ps and Super Js have 35" B and 32" G. Can't seem to upload pics, my Mac software is getting obsolete!

Yo Mr Ez, vey nice Delano pick-ups. Great to get the jazz sound without the irritatingly noisey single coil hum! I am very inpressed with the Delano Extenders too. I assume you not going for multi-scale/fanned fret version? Great for a taut low B on 5 stringers yet to be convinced for 4 stringers? Anyone know the scale lengths for the Maruszczyk 5 string ???

I've just pushed the start button on a custom Omega 4A Headless Frog. Walnut Burl Top, Laminated Neck Thru Body, Delano Extenders, 3 band Delano Active EQ. Just have to wait now!!

[quote name='ezbass' timestamp='1487676072' post='3241687'] Elwood L, 33" scale, 41mm nut width, rosewood 'board, drop D tuner, Delano JSBC 4 HE pickups, passive. [url="http://s308.photobucket.com/user/ezbass/media/elw160287_zpsldsgwokr.jpg.html"][/url] I did the deed a little while back, now the waiting begins... [/quote] Very sweet indeed. What's the main body wood Ash? Alder?

[quote name='Spike Vincent' timestamp='1487935516' post='3244282'] Neck dive.Inherently unbalanced design, when you strap it on the headstock decides it wants to touch the floor. [/quote] I have never had a problem with neck dive on my T'birds. I sometimes loop my strap over the body, which holds the head/neck at any angle you want all day long.

I often use a Sansamp RBI preamp through a Crown power amp (1100W bridged at 4 ohm), through a pair of Vanderkleys 112MNTs or 210MNTs or mixture thereof. Sounds absolutely mega. Having said that in venues with PA and decent monitors the Sansamp alone would suffice. Being old-fashioned I like to be totally self sufficent and would never trust an untried venue/inhouse system, so having a decent rig is a failsafe.

That new Vintage Pro Epiphone looks great. I love the 60's chrome pick-up covers and if they are half decent I'd buy one. I'd love an old 64 Gibson T'bird or even a Bicentennial 76 one, with chrome pickups but they so many have neck/headstock repairs and they are very pricey. Later Gibsons 90's onwards etc can be found for very reasonable money. I have owned four Thunderbirds, started out with a cheap Epiphone with bolt on neck which was great for the money (about £230), having got a taste for them I then acquired three Gibsons, which were considerably better, two sunburst and one white. I would generally go for a Gibson over an Epiphone, but the new Epiphone through neck Pros with USA pickups are excellent for the money. Fingers crossed this new Vintage Pro Epi has good pickups in the right position an good quality control.

Wow that is sweet. What a bargain.

I have a MIM 70s Classic. As I am a sucker for block inlay fret boards and love the 70's P/U position, I. As it comes it is a very decent bass indeed and stands up well in head to head with my USA jazzes. If you can get a clean one for under £500 I would definitely go for it. Personally I find the C neck profile chunkier for my stubby fingers than my USA Standard and Deluxe Jazzes. I have made a few upgrades to it and now it blows away all Standard & Deluxe non modified USA models. Mods include an East J Retro Active Circuit, Badass II Bridge, Tortoise Shell Pickguard, Hipshot Drop D Xtender tuner. It sounds and looks great. However for the cost of the preowned bass and upgrades I could have probably ordered an Elwood! I think an Elwood or Headless Frog is next on my G.A.S list Good hunting

I'm just wondering if it's time to stock up on pre-wall (pre trade tarrif) Mexican Fenders they gotta being going up by 20% to pay for Donald's Wall. Could they become a thing of the past or the new pre CBS?

I tried the TX600 in GAK a couple of weeks back. Nice sounding Hartke amp, simple to use, great little amp for rehearsal/studio/recording/club gigs etc, but didn't seem to be very powerful/loud to me for larger gigs. I used a HA3500 backline hire in a theatre gig a couple of years ago and from memory it really packed a punch and seemed to have much more headroom. Obviously this was a subjective comparison as the rooms were very different and a long time between trails. I have always wanted an HA3500 but the weight put me off. I wish Larry Hartke put the HA series preamp/graphic with a more powerful class D lightweight power amp. That would be a win/win.

I always thought my Music Man Sterlings were a particularly great match for my CMD102P. Have you considered trying a John East J Retro deluxe preamp in your Jazz (so easy to fit ). it will breath new life into it for far less than cost of a new amp/rig. I always fit them to my Jazzes (sound like a jazz on steroids) as IMHO they are far superior to the Fender deluxe preamp circuits. If you want an amp change, try the Gallien Kruger MB500 (or MB800) head which was the best I found for a reasonably priced lightweight punchy bass amp. That said, the Fender Rumble 500 III (2x10 Combo) takes a lot of beating for the price too. Good luck