Beedster

Posted this vid in the Roxy Music thread, but suspect he deserves his own spotlight having played in some important bands of the time - Adam & The Ants, Vibrators two name two. I think I learned more about playing bass from hearing and studying this bass line than I learned in the following 5-years. As I said in the other thread, it's tight, present, and insistent. Nothing special in itself, but it doesn't just suit the song, it drives it along powerfully. Glorious

I love the fact that he gets so much video real estate in that clip, especially when you consider he was the 20-year old newbie in a pretty established band with some pretty serious musicians. Having said that, IIRC even given his youth he'd already done stints with Vibrators and Adam and the Ants, so some decent experience. But man, the first time I heard that bassline I was hooked for life, so tight, present, and insistent. Beautiful work 👍

This is not just good advice but is essential advice. However, the fact that a manufacturer can provide the documentation doesn't mean that US Customs will accept it as fact. Also, as I found, not even the best instrument builders can always provide evidence as to - for example - the mother of pearl used in neck inlays was sourced from. I would suggest that you either get the owner to sort all of the processes from the US so that they get to deal with the fun, or you work with a UK builder/dealer who regularly ships to the US and who is a) therefore trusted by US Customs and b) familiar with the madness of US Customs

Gary Tibbs' bass line on Trash makes me fall in love with bass again every time I hear it, nothing special technically but perfect for the track, what bass is all about 👍

How did you listen to it, live, recorded, and if the latter, a trusted source? Could be a modded instrument with a bridge PUP or similar installed? I've tried guts and gut-a-likes on EUBs before without much success, even with decent PUPs. Only way you'll know is if you try for yourself though 👍

The fact that he owns them doesn't protect you from the hell of US Customs. If I had to send a bass to the US again I would convert the case into a boat and row the Atlantic to avoid dealing with both US Customs and the frankly unbelievable mess that US couriers make of dealing with US Customs. As an indication, I received 64 emails from UPS requesting information about the bass last time I did it

I'm sure AI can do that for you Jack In fact it can probably do the gig for you

Pretty much everything from Rubber Soul to Abbey Road sounds SO much better on a Ric, irrespective of what Macca (or not Macca) actually played on the track 👍

Love that pic @BaggyMan 👍 And in answer to your question..... Modulus Sonic Hammer Fretless Ric 4003 Lakland Decade

I love Dimarzio Precision PUPs, they have a lovely mix of clarity and grunt. But yes, a lot of wires to find a home for. Worth the struggle though 👍

Ha ha, I’m honoured Steve, that’s a winning combination of two very nice pieces of Warmoth at their very best and some nice components finishing it off. Also possibly the most edible looking bass I can remember seeing 😀

I see the two dl=1 images albeit the second is rotated, can't see the other two at all

Must admit I felt the same, E on Precisions and G on 'Ray especially so, never made the instrument unplayable, just had to modify my approach slightly 👍

I'm not sure that all of the words in this sentence were necessary...... ...and i'd like to have seen Mr Nifield say this face to face to the band themselves

It didn't seem that big to me but I'm happy to be proved wrong 👍

I was about to agree with this but realised @tegs07 was largely agreeing with me in the first place. But yes, this is 100% the route of least pain 👍

If it's the bass I think it is, the sound-clips - if they're honest - don't suggest a significant issue (by 'if they're honest' I mean that, as stated in the listing, there's no compression on the audio file)? I'm sure that while this is disappointing, it is easily resolved one way or another, good luck whichever way you go 👍

Yep, as I thought, it looks like the builder did what they were asked to do 'Custom made to my specifications, I received it in April 2024'

You and me both mate Fair points, perhaps shows how we all tend to pick out of a thread's core topic the elements that are personal to us 👍

I just reread the original post and noticed how recently this bass was built, which I didn't initially pick up (geddit....?) Given that, I suspect it would be easier for people here to help if you provided more details e.g., the make and model, which would allow people here to advise on the technical side, for example which PUPs should be in the bass. Re the legal side, @RhythmJunky is probably correct in terms of warranty, and given it was built in 2024 this might still be a legally enforceable path you could take, but as @warwickhunt suggested, probably best to try diplomacy first! But it sounds like you might have tried diplomacy and the builder has pushed back. So, if this is - as appears to be the case - an error in design or build, a little pressure applied on this forum would do no harm, whoever the builder is, it's likely a significant percentage of his market read this forum (although given it was a UK builder it's possible it was a custom order which might make things more problematic).

...why do I get the sense I can guess the maker......?