Beedster

QC on Fender Custom Shop instruments used to be just as hit and miss as the US stock versions. Seems the teams responsible for QC on US stock instruments have recently upped their game to the point at which I'd say the chances of dodgy workmanship are greater with CS models than stock. Materials, paint finishes etc might be more desirable on CS for sure, but the quality control of the instruments that come out is clearly simply not up to scratch. Either that or FCS actually don't care.

This ^

Yes, compared to EB an upright is easy to covert although I'd recommend you get the nut and bridge professionally cut and fitted. My old EUB had been converted to LH then back to RH. Be cautious in choosing an instrument however as there there may be specific models that won't convert or won't convert well (for example the Yamaha SLB-100 has the frame on the player side of the body, you would need to either play it without the frame or have a left handed frame built). The advantages of buying an RH EUB is that there will be more choice (especially on the used market) and it will likely be easier to sell if you need to Good luck Chris

I play some right dodgy pubs at times, often playing nothing more the root/5ths in pretty crude bands using what has been described as a somewhat agricultural playing style. Therefore, my Martin, my SLB-200 and my recently departed Bespoke Superlight are/were often a little too nice for the job at hand. So, when I saw this lump of wood up for auction on eBay the other day, I jumped. It's 6 foot tall, weighs more than my car, looks like it was designed by a second rate 1970's East German car manufacturer, and was finished by a four year old with a can of Halfords budget black. But, this is actually a nice lump of wood, albeit possibly ply. Anyway, £30 got me the body/neck/board, tailpiece and bridge, I've a nice Kent Armstrong mag PUP sitting here, so tuners, tailpiece etc, nut and strings and i'm ready to go. Hoping the whole will cost less than £200, and that I can sling it over my shoulder and walk into town to gig without fear of loss (I doubt anyone would get more than 20 feet with it given its weight), damage (it's clearly made of kryptonite), or personal harm (this makes Simenon's Precision look like a make up brush and is probably legally a lethal weapon). I'll keep y'all posted on progress in a kinda build/pulling together bit of bass diary style. I think I already have a sort spot for this old thing! Some pics [url="http://s80.photobucket.com/user/Beedster/media/IMG_2427_zpsb7de00c5.jpg.html"][/url] [url="http://s80.photobucket.com/user/Beedster/media/IMG_2426_zps4ffcb02a.jpg.html"][/url] [url="http://s80.photobucket.com/user/Beedster/media/IMG_2431_zps871c7bd8.jpg.html"][/url] C PS it's called Clarkson because it's tall, crude, ugly and a bit out of date, but will despite this be damn good at what it does and not really give a f**k either way

[quote name='steve-bbb' timestamp='1399450293' post='2444270'] oh and congrats on your 7000th post [/quote] And.......................................... ......................... here it is 7000. 6888 of them are probably in the FS sections as well [b]EDIT: [/b] [b]I'm going to have a go at breaking the record for not posting! How long do you reckon I can keep it at 7000? [/b]

[quote name='BassBod' timestamp='1399446936' post='2444231'] Been using an S-15D for a few years...small and very good all rounder, but old school weight. Gives all the stuff you need to hear on stage, but does miss the real low end - actually works as a benefit when you DI, as you get turned up a bit louder in the house! I'd love to use a pair of these cabs for louder gigs but I've never found another cheap enough to do it. Old school, but a solid performer. [/quote] Yep, agree with all that but would like to add that there's a little something special about these cabs. I had the pleasure of running 2xS-15D's under a Mesa M-Pulse head for a while and loved it, plenty of bass for me (Fender P with flats run clean). Something I really didn't like about them was the fact that they were narrower than the head, which kinda ruined the 'stack' aesthetic for me

I seem to remember reading on here that someone was planning to do this at an upcoming Bass Bash? If so, could the person doing it get in touch by PM? Cheers Chris

Well I'm gutted to report that despite mine and Alan's best efforts, Parcel Monkey - a trading name that in many respects suggest pretty clearly what they actually do, that is take a parcel and give it to a bunch of monkeys in the hope that if they sufficient parcels are handed to sufficient monkeys, the laws of statistics dictate that a parcel will eventually arrive at its intended destination - managed to not deliver it twice, and then after agreeing to deliver it to my office, failed to do that also. This is made all the more annoying as I was really very excited about owning my first double P-PUP bass. However, on the basis that I'm on my travels for the next few weeks and the degrees of freedom have just increased exponentially, Alan, being a complete gent, offered to refund me the money and relist the bass. So, in short, a top guy to deal with.

I've had my Martin Concerto about 9 months now and I have to say I'm extremely happy, it really is a lovely instrument.

I like it, no idea why, but I like it. If it was a Modulus Flea everyone would be saying 'wow'

The recent models weren't a patch on the old ones, I bought one new in 2009 and whilst it was an OK and well engineered bass, it didn't have the sonic mojo that may late 90's version had (or my Sonic Hammer for that matter). I certainly wouldn't pay more than £1000 for one new, and given the simplicity of the instrument - Modulus used widely available components from other manufacturers (Aguilar/Bartolini/Badass), and pretty similar standard aftermarket graphite necks are available from the likes of Status - you can put together a pretty good Flea-alike for less than the cost of a standard Fender Still, if you've got one in good nick, it ain't go to go down in value

[quote name='artisan' timestamp='1398950108' post='2439311'] lol this place seems to be turning into "Fenderchat" no other makes will be tolerated [/quote] That's why I moved to Yamaha, Fender is so 2013. It's the first time in about 20 years I haven't owned a Fender bass.

[quote name='charic' timestamp='1398950225' post='2439315'] The other thread is now open again. Please don't make me/us regret it [/quote] Thanks charic, would it be too ironic to suggest that this thread is now closed so that any relevant discussion is contained in the one (i.e., other) thread?

[quote name='charic' timestamp='1398937343' post='2439132'] Is unlocking the thread the resolution we are after here? If so I am happy to discuss this with the moderating team if you can offer your reasoning [/quote] I believe that reopening the thread with a clear statement from a mod about the type of discussion permitted - which should focus on the original issue (which let's face it was not simply a request for a phone number), and allow an indication of the degree to which that issue has been, or is being resolved - would set a good precedent and allow a reasoned and balanced resolution. It might of course make sense in doing so to move it to the feedback forum and personally I would see no issue with the comments regarding Brett - and perhaps from Brett - being removed. As was pointed out above, I doubt Letts would be very happy that anyone searching for their products/services might come across that thread given how it was sitting when it was closed. Furthermore, with that thread closed in that manner another will in due course pop up - that's the way here - and likely the same areas will be gone over again requiring the same responses from those involved.

[quote name='charic' timestamp='1398930067' post='2439044'] Guys, the previous thread was closed due to it veering incredibly close to bullying towards Brent. The post above [/quote] I can't help thinking the Brent rather brought that upon himself, and as the apparent point of contact for the customers with problems, he adopted an extremely poor approach. However, one justification for the thread remaining open would have been to allow him to pop back this morning and say "Guys, really sorry, I'd had avery long day.... Anyway, please feel free to call me today" etc. This is a far better outcome for everyone, and in this manner, the forum moderates itself. If it had escalated, then a warning and then a closure. I think it was an important thread for the community, for the members directly effected, and for the company/individuals at the centre of it. [quote name='charic' timestamp='1398930067' post='2439044'] ... the decision is always made with the best of intentions. [/quote] IMO a consistent moderation process should work alongside the best of intentions.

[quote name='Kev' timestamp='1398900223' post='2438962'] I wonder how some of you do not have better things to do than this! Notice that the participation of Rob or any of the other members affected by this situation is minimal? The situation is not ideal to say the least and it looks like through his personal problems he has made a bit of a hash of the business, but from everything that has been said things are on the up. How about a discussion such as this be considered in another 6 months time? If they are in the 'next step' as they say, then by this time everyone could have their completed bass. If they don't, then another discussion (prompted by an orderer or [i]genuine[/i] prospective orderer) may be warranted. Until then, perhaps worry about other things? [/quote] It's a bass forum on which about 90% of non OT threads relate to buying, selling or talking about new bass gear, what topics of conversation are you expecting...?

[quote name='icastle' timestamp='1398899397' post='2438956'] So in other words, neither of us are actually waiting for a bass but both of us want to see people who are waiting get theirs. [/quote] That's backtracking to the previous thread which you closed, I started this thread to question your closing it and to speculate that doing so my be counterproductive to everyone involved. As Nigel suggested, given time there's a tendency towards organic moderation here that is often undermined by the synthetic version. People are simply going to stop posting if moderation = closure, moderation should equal presenting a balanced perspective, then perhaps a gentle warning, and then closure. As I said, IMO your intervention wasn't helpful.

[quote name='icastle' timestamp='1398898333' post='2438944'] I don't, that's why I asked the question. [/quote] No, you were trying to escalate as opposed to moderate. I agree with most of the posts suggesting that this should be left alone, despite the poor response in the original thread, but not for the first time IMO your unhelpful intervention seems to be aimed at pushing things along as opposed to diffusing or resolving them

[quote name='icastle' timestamp='1398897394' post='2438931'] How long have you been waiting for your Letts bass now? [/quote] How do you know I'm not?