philw

[quote name='strtdv' timestamp='1418995278' post='2635554'] The prices are very cheap (£600 for a Stingray, '77 Jazz bass for £850), but I would imagine that getting them out of the country would be a challenge. [/quote] Anybody that is tempted to give it a go needs to remember the shipping cost (I'd guess around £100), the import duty (probably around 4%) and the VAT (20%) that will be added by HMRC. The shipping agent will almost certainly add some significant "handling" charges too.

Hmmm, seems to be a range of opinions here. I'm verging towards the, "it's possible if you do your research" opinion, but then it's not my money potentially at risk (although guitarbank appears to have some lovely basses at pretty good prices and I can feel GAS rising). I'd like to know a bit more about guitarbank. The website appears to be one of a professional, reputable organisation, but hey, we all know how easy that is! Do we have any Russian basschat members? P

All A mate of mine is hankering over a guitar being sold by Guitarbank.ru. Does anybody here have any experience guitarbank, or of buying from Russia generally? Ta Phil

Hmmm, I can kind of understand why the previous owner "customised" it on the back :-) P

[quote name='AndyTravis' timestamp='1417951367' post='2625308'] [url="http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item.view&alt=web&id=181603449956"]http://pages.ebay.co...id=181603449956[/url] Just spotted on eBay, not 100% perfect but cheap. [/quote] Thanks Andy, I saw that one and enquired about it. Thing is, I don't really want lined, and like most lined fretless, it has its side dots between the fret lines. which I think is one of the most stupid ideas known to "man". P

[quote name='Chiliwailer' timestamp='1417900670' post='2625010'] Wish I'd bought one of these years ago when I had the chance. [/quote] Me too. There was one in Andy's in Denmark St. that I had a go on a couple of times. I only used to visit Andy's very infrequently and played the Eccles twice at least so it must have lingered there for years (I'm pretty sure it was the same one each time). P

Some Shuker Uberhorn models do: [url="http://www.shukerguitars.co.uk/uberhorngallery.html"]http://www.shukergui...orngallery.html[/url] Phil

Kev's bass is truly gorgeous thing Chris but I don't have that kind of cash to spend I'm afraid. Also, the fretless neck I'm after would end up attached to the body of a Squire Jaguar HB so something with serious vintage credentials would be a waste. Police Squad and Pfretrock's suggestions are more in the right ball-park but side dots between frets on a fretless are a pet hate (along with being one of the stupidest things know to man) The hunt continues. Phil

All, I'd quite like to get hold of an unlined fretless P-bass neck with a maple fingerboard. It's not the kind of thing you see going "previously loved" all that often, so what do we reckon is the best (i.e most cost effective) option on the new replacement neck front? Warmouth? Mighty Mite? Somewhere else? Phil

Blimey that's so lovely. I did a telephone interview with Charlie Haden a few years back for a magazine piece I was writing - just about the scariest phone call I've ever had to make. P

Well it's not a '75 model but Andy Baxter has a nice looking Shergold for sale... http://www.andybaxterbass.com/details.php?id=353 P

[quote name='sbrag' timestamp='1416254682' post='2608399'] Thanks I did see that but as I say not buying at the moment just getting ideas. Also thinking of something other than a Fender. Shergold is an interesting shout I do like the look of them. Thanks [/quote] The other thing about Shergold is that it's one of the founding brands of the "modern" UK lutherie business. I seem to recall that Rob Green of Status fame partly learned his trade there and I also vaguely remember there being some Wal connections (the Mk 1 Wal body shape is really not far from a Shergold Marathon). Was Ian Waller involved in the active electronics fitted to some Shergold models I wonder? Hmmm I'm arguing myself into a position of Shergold GAS. Duh! P

A Shergold maybe? Something like this: http://basschat.co.uk/topic/244852-1980-shergold-marathon-mk1a-for-sale/page__p__2580376__hl__shergold__fromsearch__1#entry2580376 That's a 1980 one but they were around I'm pretty sure in the mid 1970s Phil

[quote name='DarkHeart' timestamp='1415410107' post='2600168'] I gigged mine on Sunday and was blown away, for £118 this is awesome value for money, if i could get a white one for the same price i would. Its got tone by the bucket load especially with the flats, neck is quick and its not too heavy, whats not to like? [/quote] Apparently it was only the black one that didn't sell well so had to be shifted by dropping the price. The other colour options were silver and red (all with rosewood fingerboards) and they're both now pretty hard to find. The only way you'll get a white one is by refinishing the body, which, if done professionally, will cost significantly more than you paid for the bass in the first place. I know where you're coming from though, I really want mine in a kind of rich surf green (with a humbucker at the neck while I'm at it). What flats have you put on yours? I was wondering about flats but I don't want the tone to go too dull and thumpy - I still need a bit of twang and cut for some songs. Phil

OK, so as promised here's a few pics of my VM Jag with a mint green scratch plate and a VM Tele neck. It's now cost rather more than £118 (or the £150 that I paid), but I think looks pretty cool. I far prefer the chunkier neck too. Phil PS. The old neck is looking for a home: http://basschat.co.uk/topic/248899- [attachment=175734:Jag 1.jpg][attachment=175735:Jag 2.jpg][attachment=175736:Jag 3.jpg]

[quote name='mcnach' timestamp='1414086224' post='2585717'] I'm glad it doesn't come in maple fingerboard, because I don't think I could resist the temptation... [/quote] I've bought a previously loved maple fingerboard neck to stick on mine, I just haven't got around to doing the necessary woodwork yet. I have put a mint green scratch plate on it though. I'll post some pics when I've done the fingerboard. P

That IS a good deal. I paid £150 for mine at GAK a few months ago and was chuffed. Seems fender in Europe had a warehouse full of the black version and needed them sold. They did it through a variety of specific dealers. Anyway the bass is not at all bad. Boring colour and a bit limited tonally, but it's well built and well finished. Mine needed a bit of a set up and some different strings, but that's pretty much the way with any new instrument. P