Machines

Yeah - I can play it naked without it feeling too cold.

Home defretted but pro-refinished (Moroccan goat leather) Yamaha RBX775:

Passive ones won't have them.

[quote name='muttley' timestamp='1342017369' post='1728149'] He was joking, surely? Or have I missed something? [/quote] I didn't detect jest in lettsguitar's post.

[quote name='lettsguitars' timestamp='1342006248' post='1727818'] Yes but the leather stops all vibrations. Elvis's leather bound acoustic sounded terrible apparently. Looks cool. And very cheap. [/quote] It's an electric bass. Surely the same thing would happen when you're holding the instrument ?! All that soft tissue damping it down?! It has had zero effect.

[quote name='Grant' timestamp='1342000603' post='1727618'] How does it sound? Surely you lose something tone-wise by having a bass covered in leather... [/quote] The same as before it was done, it's still wood inside !

Yes, seam around the edge but sealed using 'custom' boot laces glued into place, it goes from neck joint around the middle to the other side of the joint

You saw it here first. I've had my Yamaha RBX775 refinished in this lush Moroccan goat leather. Done by a shop in Redditch (Conserve Guitars). My Dad picked up a P bass that had the similar worked done to it and gave it to me as a present last Christmas. By utter chance - I found the shop that did it last month, gave him a call to ask how much to do it again and he gave me a stupid price (less than £101) so I went for it. Dropped it off last Saturday and it took him 4 days to do, amazing turn around ! Love it or hate it, here it is !

Alex Claber wrote an article on this in a recentish BGM issue.

Something I see in Guitar magazines regularly is an in-depth article on the history of a particular manufacturer or instrument. I feel this would be a fantastic addition and beyond may even force me to renew my sub! (I currently buy from WHSmith). I intend to give some more feedback in more detail and will drop you an email Joel

Sorry but it isn't proper Sabbath to me unless it's the original lineup. As legendary as Dio is he's not Ozzy. Fave tune for me is undoubtedly N.I.B.

Cheap tat

Nice. I'll get my Dad to buy one

All T-Birds are the same. Simple physics of the body design and large headstock. Relocating strap button to the neck heel should sort it. Plenty of examples on Google .

I agree with the principles entirely Sheldon, just for me currently - it is surplus to requirements. I don't have a fretted 5 string right now (have had Lakland/Warwick/Bacchus/Overwaters though) but should I feel the need for one and I have sufficient budget, i'd definitely be including some Dingwalls in my shortlist. I like them a lot (ABZ6 in Blueburst please) and think they are worth the money, but currently i'm level with Greece for investment capital .

I think the fretted notes (1st to 5th fret) on the B string do better with the extended scale but the open string I found wasn't so different to any decently made 5 string.

I've not got one but played a fair few at Bass Direct, they definitely don't take too much to get used to but for me they are a solution to a problem I've never experienced and the cost of a Dingwall id want (above a Combustion) is currently beyond my means.

My previous pic was taken pre-T40 so it was obviously time for an update..

[quote name='krazy_olie' timestamp='1339086113' post='1683457'] The output is hot but I usually just turn the volume down if I need [/quote] This. I've used it live next to a passive P bass with no issues. If you cant get on with it at all then of course move it on but be aware that it is easily rectifiable with delicate adjustment of the volume pot.

I find having the master volume on about 75% is critical for not overdoing things. I generally run it passive too - roll off the tone control to get a great mid honk too.

A long standing issue i've had is a disproportionate of reviews of high end gear. Anyone wiling to drop £1500+ on an instrument wouldn't do so from a review alone. There are some fairer price reviews carried out but I feel sometimes the reviewers are not too enthusiastic about doing so, i'd like to see a lot more midrange/budget reviews. Maybe a sub £500 fretless shoot off ? etc...

These are a standard set of Ernie Balls - they seem medium but OK for now ! Since it's an FR bridge swapping gauges would be a real pain.