Moos3h

Thanks Wil!

I nominate the second pic to be on the Basschat Calendar! Nice shot!

[quote name='Rayman' post='644584' date='Nov 3 2009, 06:51 PM']That sir, is possibly the best looking bass I've ever seen.....[i]wow[/i]![/quote]

Stick a marginally more substantial bass on it and I would agree!

Plenty of Wilkinson Brass-saddled bridges on ebay for about a tenner. I bought one and am very happy with it as I don't need the brick-shiphouse construction of a Badass or similar.

I'd like to find a good cheap source for that stuff, ebay is mostly useless!

In Halfords, you can buy conductive paint for fixing the elements of your rear window demister, I wonder if this would do the trick?

I'd be interested to hear how you get on, I ordered a shielding kit recently, but couldn't for the life of me get the tape to stay stuck to the body - I cleaned the painted surfaces but it should wouldn't stick!

I've mentioned these guys before:

www.guitarfetish.com

GFS pickups. Fantastic, just fantastic. Stocks can be a little up and down, but the quality is astonishing and the tone very, very good indeed.

[quote name='cheddatom' post='643488' date='Nov 2 2009, 03:40 PM']I often think the way people go on about quality and quality control in china and taiwan etc is pretty racist - as though "they" aren't capable of creating something that's just as good or better than a UK or US factory or something. I'm not saying that's happened in this thread, but I see it a lot on this board.[/quote]

I've seen that too, and it's certainly not the point I'm trying to get over here....I'm more interested in why the decision to assemble overseas is taken when the end price is still so high...is it BECAUSE they actually make a fantastic guitar in Indonesia, or would the same guitar being wholly USA-made be upwards of £2k?

I couldn't care less where the stuff I buy comes from, but I'm interested in the economic and practical choices for any offshoring and the implications it has. I've grown up in a country that actually makes very little, and it makes me curious of the factors involved.

I should also add, I'm merely asking what the deal is - I'm probably missing something which explains the extra cost, and perhaps what Dave said, that they are finished in the states goes some way to explaining the cost - we're also probably talking numerous different import/export taxes being levvied at all points.

Cheers,
James

My point is rather that given the constant grumble from specialist manufacturers is usually 'Our labour costs are so high....we can't compete on pricing' when based in the UK or other western countries (and America too, these days) it is understandable that such production being done overseas makes sense, to keep costs down and keep instruments accessible to all.

I can dig that, but if we're talking a £1k upwards bass, what the heck are your overheads if you're building in Indonesia and it's still retailing for such a massive amount of money?

I mean, I realise that with the exchange rate, we're getting stiffed every which way but if I was seriously considering dropping that kind of cash on a bass then I would look elsewhere, if that's Jingoistic then I apologize but it's how I feel*

Cheers,
James

* Says the man who regularly gigs a bass that is made from MDF and was probably assembled under horrific conditions in a developing economy.

Just post the thing! You want it sold? Take the neck off....this is without doubt the safest way to send it.

Right, explain to me how it can be so expensive and be made in Indonesia???

Sorry, I'm lost. That is mental money for a guitar built over there, regardless of the materials used - has anyone bought one and how good are they?

Cheers,
James

*** Subtitle modified to something less offensive - Apologies ***

Yep, in fact it only takes someone to put a stills camera in my direction and all hell breaks loose.

Part of the reason I became a photographer, keep me behind the lens and not in front of it!

I'd be more worried about that crack in the neck....ouch.

Can't see anyone going for that at the asking.

Yes, it's generally sensible to have a head that can offer more power than your speakers are rated for - it's rare that OVER powering kills speakers, provided that you listen carefully. More often than not, speakers are damaged by DC clipping caused by amp heads being driven too hard.

It should be fine!

As you're looking at it, lefty-loosey, righty-tighty!

Try using a screwdriver bit on a socket to give you more torque - you could also try a tiny amount of WD40, but I really mean tiny - it won't do the wood any good if you soak it...

Cheers,
James

Cheers Ben! You too mate, t'was a pleasure!

Sold! It's off to Brizzle!

As long as it's Gifted so I don't get reamed for the fees then yeah, sure!

Nice stuff, although I found Teenage Kicks was on the wrong LP speed setting - it should be twice that speed!

There's a Jap one that's just popped up in the Classifieds, jump all over that one if it's in budget.

I'd say (and of course these things are very subjective) that it's very close to the Stingray sound which I define as very 'Hi Fi' sounding. A dark and woody P-Bass this is not, although you could EQ it to get close to that.

It's all about the low-mids, except that on these (and Stringrays), it is accompanied by a high end 'zing' which helps cut no end.

Cheers,
James

I think you're about right on price. Japan made which is in its favour, Foto Flame, which isn't.

Reckon that's still a fine bass for £300 and will almost certainly play better than yer average Mexican-made effort which it would be up against cash-wise.

It's an Aries, originally comes from the West Midlands, although its father was a Liverpool dockworker who relocated due to long term illness. It enjoys long walks in the park and warm sunny days and if it were president would make all vet bills free of charge. Its plans for the future include travel and the ultimate dream of opening a Michelin-starred restaurant with Raymond Blanc in rural Oxfordshire.

No-one?