Paul S

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1401211242' post='2461262'] The Third Degree - Mercy [/quote] That is a superb cover. Everything the Duffy one should have been but wasn't. IMO etc. An oldie but Goodie - Vehicle, Ides of March? A bit heavier but certainly funky - Always on the Run, Lenny Kravits (and Slash) Edit - not reformed Elco Jones, by any chance, Warren?

^This^. i find it especially useful in a covers band where I want to change tone quite frequently without having to use pedals. Another good thing about the P retro is that it has a passive tone roll off, so you can get the bass/treble balance you like then just roll it off a bit to take the sharpness from it. Again, I don't have to vocabulary to describe it properly.

I have two. I would say they are all pros and no cons. I have one fitted in my Bitsa Precision that is my main gigging bass. MIJ body, Mighty Mite Jazz neck, Hipshot bridge, Wizard trad pup. Sounds superb played passively - great woody old school P bass tone. Click on the P Retro and suddenly the range of tones is expanded - like it was before but better, more articulate, greater depth, greater clarity. Difficult to explain empirically. P Bass on steroids. They are easy to fit, cause no damage to the guts so easily reversible, hold their value well secondhand. If the battery runs out you can flick back to passive. Easily and quickly recharged via the input jack. All good, really.

Motley Creuse Although I suppose that would mean having to play 'smoking dans le chambre des boys'

Low start, no reserve. [url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/360943400368?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649"]http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/360943400368?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649[/url] Be interesting to see what this makes!

Well, in my case the bass was £215, I was charged £43 VAT, no import duty and a £13.50 handling charge. I would have thought that would qualify for import duty, too. But I'm not complaining.

Looks like I am the first to leave feedback for Yasuhito and so, as such, will go into slightly more detail than i would normally I bought an Aria Pro II CSB 'Black N Gold' from him - I must admit it was with some trepidation, as I had never bought from overseas before and especially not from such a long way away! And especially as he has no feedback on here. But GAS is a cruel and relentless mistress... Yasuhito was flexible with his advertised price and had good comms throughout the transaction. Payment was conveniently via PayPal. The bass was dispatched very quickly by a good courier service - the tracking system worked efficiently and I could see the progress of the transit daily. The bass arrived in the UK after just 3 days, thereafter it took a week to clear customs. Once I got the bass I found it to be extremely well packaged, beautifully set up and in far better condition than I could have hoped for. One very small niggle - the tone control doesn't work but, as Yasuhito has been so straightforward in his dealings, I can only imagine this was a fault that developed as a result of handling in transit. I am certain that, had the tone not worked before sending it out, he would have mentioned it. And, to be honest, the price was so good that getting this sorted is really small beans. Overall I am really happy with the transaction and, if the occasion demanded, would have no hesitation in dealing with him again. The bass is totally fantastic. Thank you Yasuhito, it has been a pleasure!

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1400931413' post='2458266'] I always tune to the pitch after the attack, I find it easier, but I don't know if it's 'right' or not. [/quote] [quote name='Lozz196' timestamp='1400931683' post='2458268'] I always tune to the after-attack as well. [/quote] That's what I do as well. Reassuring.

Good point - I hadn't thought of that. The original is nice, isn't it - recessed and high mass.

I have one of the Planet Waves jobbies already. Also the version before but the newer one is an improvement - smaller and quicker with better controls. Maybe I am too heavy handed, as I often find tuners - headstock or pedal - don't work that well and take a long time to settle to a pitch after I have struck the string. The only one (of those I have tried) that seems to work quickly for me is the Korg Pitchblack or a small plug-in Korg one (which, although it works ok, is less convenient for checking tuning mid-gig). Maybe I should persevere with the headstock one as I like the idea of minimal kit. Question - and this is so elementary I can hardly believe I am asking it but I don't know! - do you tune to the pitch you get when you first strike the string or to the pitch once it has settled? It isn't always the same for me and the way I do it.

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1400918931' post='2458108'] Edit: Also have a mini headstock tuner which means I don't need a tuner pedal! [/quote] I find these difficult to use when everyone in the room is making a noise - it seems to pick up from everything else and get confused - have you found this, Mark, or have I got it placed on the wrong bit of the headstock? But, otherwise, at the moment I am bass>lead>amp (with tuner going into the back). I do like the simplicity of this set-up. Means a single trip to and from the car for rehearsals, too.

On eBay - white with black headstock. Looks nice. I have one of these and it is really nice - active with the same kind of bass boost/cut-treble boost/cut arrangement as the Westone Thunder basses. But can be flicked over to passive and they sound good like that. Under 9lbs, great neck. Postage is dear but, for anyone near Cornwall who can pick up, this could be a bargain. [url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/171338953993?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649"]http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/171338953993?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649[/url]

Can I have cash instead?

Same experience here, really. Put an Artec on board my old SGC Nanyo Bass Collection as one of the controls was a bit iffy and it did the job ok. But not in another bass - my Precision Lyte had a knackered preamp when I got it, put in an Artec, wasn't that happy with the sound. Put in an East U Retro and now it is gorgeous with a huge variety of sounds. But then the East unit was over £150 more expensive.

Also Parcelforce charge a handling fee. i just bought a bass from Japan and the handling fee was £13.50 on top of the VAT. No import duty for some reason, though.