Cat Burrito

I tried ordering a 51RI P-bass back in 2004 from them. The money went straight off my credit card & then nothing. I only found out they were "having trouble with their suppliers" when I chased it & they were quick to try & push "store credit" when I eventually asked for a refund. I wouldn't go there again unless they were giving stock away. I'm sure they're fine with stuff they have in stock but once bitten....

Welcome to Basschat

Alas? You mean you raised your game? Welcome to Basschat

I'm another fan of roto trubass black nylon strings & all things Fender. My advice is just try a bunch. The Fender brand has had a price hike but having played since the 80s they've matched it with a quality hike. The Mexican range & the Japanese basses are also worth serious investigation. Welcome to the forum.

Welcome to Basschat

Welcome to the forum Lee

Everyone goes through it. I was really motivated for years & then just lost the bug. Went through a phase of learning other instruments & then when I least expected it the bass bug came back tenfold. You just go with the flow, if I had a formula I'd share it

[quote name='JFielden' post='947705' date='Sep 6 2010, 09:54 PM']One question.. How do you bump your status from Newbie to beyond?[/quote] Just keep posting. Simple. It doesn't take long to get out the starting blocks

Welcome to the forum

[quote name='voxpop' post='946565' date='Sep 5 2010, 07:26 PM']Tim, Is this it... [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=230521993632&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...e=STRK:MEWAX:IT[/url][/quote] Cheers Marc... Must resist! Good luck with the sale though Andy, looks amazing

[quote name='stingrayPete1977' post='946535' date='Sep 5 2010, 07:07 PM']Yes we have opened it up to gear in general now![/quote] Marvellous! In which case I'd also add [b]I[/b] am a limited edition one off from 1973!

Did you change you mind or did EBay change it for you? It says This listing () has been removed, or this item is not available.

[quote name='neilb' post='946446' date='Sep 5 2010, 05:59 PM']If you do upgrade,keep the originals!!!![/quote] Plus 1000!!!!!!!! You haven't actually said what's wrong with the current ones other than that somebody else has offered a general opinion on older pups. You can get really good vintage replacements by all the main brands like Seymour Duncan, Wizard etc. If you want a more modern sound, yes you can achieve that too but then is it the right bass for what you are after? But in answer to your original question it won't be devalued if you keep the originals, assuming you are not rerouting stuff / changing the original configuration. My original 1970s P-bass is all stock. I have two late 70s basses which are not all original (one Wizard Trad and one Seymour Duncan SPB-1 as you asked). These were parts that I assembled to be complete basses so keeping the original pups was never going to be an option.

And then of course there are the amps...

[quote name='stingrayPete1977' post='946270' date='Sep 5 2010, 03:45 PM']I have only used the S1 switch on someones strat and it made it sound worse in every pickup configuration is the bass version of any use?[/quote] And to answer the part of the question Shambo didn't know about, it sounds awful on a P-bass. I took mine out as it was just dreadful. I just never used it.

I'm a bit of a technophobe myself & there is nothing better than sorting out the problem myself. Nice one

[quote name='62P-Bass' post='946394' date='Sep 5 2010, 05:27 PM']Both are refins so don't need to be kept in showroom condition[/quote] Having stripped 2 late 70s Fenders I agree it's nice to have good players that I don't have to worry about. They get the job done. My immaculate 1978 seems to be kept back more for studio work. Nice basses btw

[quote name='tino' post='946367' date='Sep 5 2010, 05:10 PM']dont forget to factor in Customs and carriers invoicing charges at this end.[/quote] This would be my advice too. I have probably had about 5 or 6 big purchases from the US and each time you get hit. The packaging is no more of a problem importing than it would be coming from the UK - my only damaged instrument came from the UK. However do expect a delay of a few days whilst customs have it. Usually takes about a week to arrive, 3 days to ship from the US and then 3 days in UK customs! They then write to you with a bill including import taxes and a bizarre handling fee. I just had a USA 1979 Precision (minus pickup and bridge) which cost me $1000 - the bill from Parcel Force who paid the fees was £97, just to give you an example.

[quote name='Big_Stu' post='946232' date='Sep 5 2010, 03:17 PM']The customs bloke couldn't believe it & banged on about all the hassle they'd have to go thru to do that, oh how I laughed.[/quote] Love it! They stung me for £97 this week & my 1979 bass parts were quicker coming from Texas to the UK then they were held in customs. Considering how long they had them, they were not even opened, the lazy buggers!

Hey Tom, welcome to the forum

[quote name='LukeFRC' post='945068' date='Sep 3 2010, 11:34 PM']- put a bass in my hands and I forget all the little lines I know! Yes i know it doesn't help you hear the bass but I must have sounded like a muppet! Luke's conclusion.... without question, unless you can afford the real top end american vintage RIs or something (by which point other makers come into the equation) buy a japanese fender![/quote] Two thoughts; firstly I don't give a "hoot" what other people think of my playing in shops. If I play badly, so be it. I'm there to try out a bass not audition. I thoroughly recommend this approach - ever since I've adopted my instore playing has improved too, ironically. The store are interested in paying customers, not who can do the best slap funk demo! Secondly you buy the bass that feels right for you. The last crop of USA standard Jazzes & MIM standards were both excellent - streets better than what I had tried before. Different stores have different standards. Sounds like these were just put on the shelf before they could be set up. It makes all the difference. I'd never have said this before in 16yrs of knowing MIM standards but the last one I tried in Dawsons Reading, I would have bought had I been in the market. I'd buy a Squier if it felt right & I'd avoid a US one if it didn't. And vice versa. The rule is, there is no rule. Not a pop at the OP but the reality is just that owning an instrument is a personal thing & whilst I enjoy reading others opinions, you have to find things out for yourself.

[quote name='ezbass' post='945531' date='Sep 4 2010, 05:40 PM']Just to add a bit of spice to the thread here's a pic of mine for those who have missed it in other threads, feel free to follow suit peeps[/quote] Nice bass & good idea. Here's my all original 1978 Fender Precision for those who haven't seen it and my 70s parts bass enjoying a well earned break after a heavy gigging schedule