Machines

I've got the same turd coloured fur case too. It's seen better days but smells lovely (of the 1970s, not poo).

I've had a Tanglewater Contemporary J5, it was good but I wouldn't think much of an improvement over a Yamaha TRB.

Does your bass have any shortcomings ? If not, upgrading is likely an expensive and fruitless task.

I really want one. Have played both this and a genuine 4003 and wouldn't pay the extra £1000.

[quote name='BassPimp66' timestamp='1349246832' post='1823701'] I think generally Fender have picked up their game with USA axes. [/quote] Don't worry - their prices have risen a lot too.

Yamaha RBX775 owned since 2003. Defretted and refinished but never leaving. The L2000 and T40 are also making solid cases for permanent residence.

I'd put an RBX180 (2 pickups) in against the GSR200. Both decent basses but i'd opt for the Yamaha as I know from experience they're cheap but not poorly made.

If its a good MIM the upgrade cost won't make it worth it in my opinion.

Good move. Please post pics when it comes .

I get BGM every month even though my sub ran out. Might renew at Christmas. Bass Player I bought maybe twice in 2006 then realised quickly it was content light and mostly adverts for US products.

The high output of the G&L is simply resolved by lowering the master volume to about 75%. Not played the MTD bit I know they're solid. Get to Bass Direct and try both . P.s. my L2000 sounds more like a P bass than my P bass.

The Musicman SR5 had a ceramic pickup whilst the SR4 had alnico. I think they changed that recently to all be alnico as there was a difference in sound from the ceramic. I believe the SR4 has always been alnico. Oh here we go, thanks [url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Music_Man_StingRay_5"]Wikipedia[/url]: "[color=#000000][font=sans-serif][size=3]In February 2008, Ernie Ball switched back to [/size][/font][/color][url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alnico"]alnico[/url][color=#000000][font=sans-serif][size=3] pickups for their Sting Ray 5s, after having used [/size][/font][/color][url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ferrite_(magnet)"]ceramic[/url][color=#000000][font=sans-serif][size=3] pickups for this model since 1991. The alnico pickups, which are also found in their four-string counterparts, give the instrument a sound more like a StingRay 4."[/size][/font][/color]

I can get my Peavey T-40 to sound just like a Ray with some EQ tweaking on my amp. I think the key things are pickup type, position and EQ. If you were willing to spend a few quid on a pickup upgrade and probably new EQ I think you'd be in, but just be sure you're going to keep it as the upgrades won't do much for resale value.

[quote name='billyapple' timestamp='1348310743' post='1812135'] Is it an overhanging fretboard a la Warmoth? [/quote] Not if it's from an EST96 as suggested.

I can't see how a neck with an extra fret can get the same intonation in the same neck pocket without modification. To maintain intonation it'd have to be shorter scale surely ?!

So basically BGM were wrong..

[quote name='steve-soar' timestamp='1347811649' post='1805316'] [/quote] My point is steve-soar, there seems to be a huge up-charge by Warwick for this which they seem to make out they're the good guys when I expect all they're doing is buying from another supplier who has the certification (please correct me if I am wrong anyone). I was not referencing furniture - most of mine is passed down too.

Got Chromes on 50% of my instruments (Encore P & Yamaha RBX fretless). I love them - but wouldn't have them if I only had one bass. Since they last so long (as long as you dont keep swapping them around to other instruments and breaking the wind like I did once !) then I think they're worth the money.

[quote name='steve-soar' timestamp='1347809958' post='1805277'] I treat wood as something magical and very precious, to waste it is very sad. Stupid hippy. [/quote] I suppose it's not like the stuff grows on trees is it ?

[quote name='steve-soar' timestamp='1347807101' post='1805220'] Have you seen the upcharge for the FSC woods? As Flyfisher points out, you would have to spend so much energy to earn the money to pay for the smugness it would bring in knowing you are saving the planet. It's all bollocks. [/quote] I imagine the people who'd pay extra also offset their carbon footprint when they buy tickets online. I wonder what the margins are on FSC wood - I bet it's not cost.