GreeneKing

of moving to a new area by yourself can be having no real social life and time off i.e. school holidays can be challenging. I can go days without speaking to anyone up here. Living out 'in the sticks' doensn't help either I've had a bass sort out as I can have up to 8 basses out at any one time. I'm sticking with 4 stringers at the mo so when Alan gets my 4 built an ACG will be out kinda permanantly. So here they are, none standard except for the Thumb. Ric is user friendly with a Hipshot bridge and a pickguardian pickup surround. Fleabass has a Badass II and an ACG pre-amp Warmoth is Darkstar's and ACG'd also. Oh and I've done a count, 19 with one being built by Alan. Peter

I know that this thread's getting derailed in terms of your requested custom options etc but, if the ACG was and still is your choice in terms of woods and specification I suspect Alan could get it up and running in less time that any luthier would build from scratch and the laquer issue would be firmly resolved. I think you'll struggle to do any better at any price. I particlarly love the side (sandwich) view of this bass, phenominal! Nope, I'd put my dosh with Alan every time, even in answer to your original question (so this isn't completely irrelevant). Great pre amp too. Peter

Blimmin gorgeous, congratulations on your new bass. Peter

Well you did ask. I'd say you should change your style now while it's early days. A good technique will enable you to play all music better. But if it's a case of 'should I change my style? Yes. I don't think I'll bother then'. Why ask? Maybe a couple of visits to a good tutor would be money well spent? Main thing is to enjoy it and I think good technique helps here Peter

+1 on the plain black, can't be beat imo. Peter

I have somewhere around 19 or 20 basses and 1 guitar but I do know someone who has numbers up into your realms of OCD'd ness I'll let him post if he wishes rather than name him:) I suspect if I had more income I'd also have more basses. Peter

[quote]I'm gob smacked....... !![/quote] Hehe, don't be Mark, the ACG filter pre is what I'm used to and it sounds remarkedly superb in the Flea, just ask Alan (Homer) Peter

Peter chiming in having just got back from my hols. Les Evans basses are quite amazing really, extremely well made in fact built to survive a nuclear holocaust more like. My LE is a real contrast in design being the most sexy smooth lines possible in the body and neck joined with an industrial 6 bolt fixing. It was originally for sale (only because basses too many have I) but I'm presently holding it until the original owner has the funds to buy it back. They are high quality instruments, made in Liverpool. Not much seems to be known about Les Evans himself. Mark (Bassculture) might like to step in and educate us all? Peter

[quote]I replaced a bartolini in a 97 Flea bass with an Aguilar OBP3 (18v 3 band)[/quote] Yes a great pre even though I replaced it yet again with an ACG filter based pre which sounds even better (i.e. totally awsome) to me, but it's a bit more than your £100. Peter

I'd obviously got the stories muddled, I had that down as the Macca one. Peter

[quote]didn't Chris Squire say that his unique tone was down to the number of times his Rick was stripped and re-sprayed that it ended up being thinner bodywise................[/quote] That I think you'll find was Macca's C64. I am fortunate to have a mint one of each Peter

Just to buck the trend I'd like to add my twopenneth on the Vista vs XP debate. My 1st homebuild PC was in the early days of XP and proved a nightmare to set up. The usual saga of instability ensued until SP2 was installed and seemed to sort things out. Vista on the other hand, with this much more suitable home built PC and my Vaio laptop has been absolute joy. So Vista? Bring it on And thanks for the link Peter

Many thanks for the update guys I'll visit shortly. Peter

Yep I've got one, great pedal but Vista not supported. Then again Line 6 refuse to provise Vista drivers for the Bass Pod XT live too Peter

Well I do like MM and I would say that one is sumptuous! Peter

Hiya Yep mine is the non export P/J and it's absolutely mint in that 'off white' colour (Olympic?) with black edging and scratchplate. It never gets played as I have about 19 other basses and only ever have 4 or 5 actually out of their cases. Every time I get it out I find myself wanting to hang on to it But, the right offer would make me consider letting it go to help fund Uni. Peter

I really enjoyed the earlier Level 42 stuff when MK happened to front a band called 'Level 42'. It then became 'MK slaps for attention' and lost it's appeal. Because of this it's become customary to knock all lvl 42 stuff methinks which I feel is a bit of a shame. Peter