Gust0o

Well, now this is a good excuse to dig the camera out!

Good point from Merello - all first basses go at some stage, unless they're retained for some sentimental value or otherwise. I'd be inclined to go with the one you think you can recoup some costs on, when you start seeking a more advanced instrument.

If he'd started on here at £130 I would have had a sniff.

Horses for courses, I suspect. However, if we're going to decry this as crap can we also lump in large chunks of "experimental jazz", "fusion" and possibly Mark King and get our money's worth?

TIM IS DOING IT FOR THE LULZ.

Did he specifically say [i]why[/i] he didn't enjoy playing them? Growing up listening to Motorhead, they always seemed like the Holy Grail of basses - something utterly untouchable, both in terms of sound and price (let's face it, my 13 year-old paper round salary was never going to cut it). I guess they still do seem so, as a hangover from my youth. I read a lot about them being utterly unpredictable in terms of playing style. Of course, I still want one before I get too old to have fun.

A la socks on cocks? Save it for the Basschat calendar! Considering I claim to drink said smoothies, I hadn't noticed the hats - am I being diddled by my local shop?!

I've just recently obtained a Kingston Heir 5, and have been very impressed - allowing for some of the commentary on here, I think I'd been suspecting a few flies in the ointment; but not a one! It's certainly got plenty of oomp - the J/MM pick-up combination working well with the active circuitry. Mine has had some tweaks to the pre-amp, I understand, but the remaining stock gear seems very sound. The neck, however, is the real strong point. It's f***ing mega. It's solid, nicely spaced, and seems to go on forever - at least to my neanderthalic rock heritage. The zero-fret is my new favourite feature. I would never have plucked for one, normally. But, having taken the plunge in a trade, I'm genuinely impressed by the instrument. That said, Lakland have a cracking name. My DJ4 is superb, also. I hear lots of good things about the 55-02, and would dearly like one at some point. To be frank, it's not a bad choice to have - I think either would be excellent, with few regrets the other side of the decision.

Great price, methinks. Could be a good deal there for you there, Skol. It's a pretty good market here, Tim aside, so a great place to start if your local music shop doesn't have what you want or you're looking for that extra saving in the second-hand market. Thinking to myself, however, haven't beginner's basses improved some! Where are the no-names? The Encores? The firewood? I think I started playing at the wrong time!

That is lovely. Excellent review, too - always great to read. I've only just recently bumped into the wonder that is the zero-fret, having picked up Deaver's MTD - but I'm instantly in love, as it's much tigher performance from the instrument. Are you planning on posting some sound clips? Would be great to hear it in action. Great also to read your thoughts on the MM pick-up. I'm not a 'ray player, and the MTD has an MM-style pick-up at the bridge also - whereas the bulk of my other gear has a single Jazz. I think I need to do some twiddling, but agree it's a good option. Well, that's some more GAS for me. I should stop reading these threads

Well, it's back again - admittedly, with deletions.

Don't do it, Ped. You're the closest we have to a welfare state for bassists. Also: poor Tim. Also also: the economy is gash, so people are window shopping. If you're desperate for immediate cash then try Cash Converters. This is better than EBay and free to boot.

Of course, it's a credit agreement - but as it's interest free it should have some appeal. The debt issue is always one which raises it's head. You needn't avoid debt, you should simply manage it - the priorities upon which we've had the wrong way round for some time. I think it's a great way of picking something up and spreading the burden of cost, on face value - and the JO would be a lovely way to do so!

If they're hot on counterfeits, to such an extent, then why do we have a thread dedicated to linking Ebay Rickenfakers? I'm trying to debunk my own paranoia with that one, and I'm not sure it's working! Oh well

I don't know if it would ever suit me, but I certainly like that! That's a superb bass. Will you be doing some playing samples of the Barts?

Silddx just fitted some to his fretless Warwick. Would be worth checking in with him.

This does exclude bargains and parts, right?

I think I could happily join you in enforcing some bass discipline! I'm still in the head/cab hunt, but don't need any more wood about the house - so I'll join you if you want a GAS buddy.

Definitely rate her. She was in BGM a few months back, touting her new album - which she's out touring. Not something I'd reach out for first, but not something I'd turn off the radio either.

They do look very nice!

It's not irony, per se - than the flattery of acknowledgement, that the design works. It's why our modern cars still share so much with their vintage counterparts.

I'd define myself as a fan of 80s basses, if only of a select nature and branding. What I would say, to echo some of the above, is that Fender simpy aren't synonymous with the period - whereas some brands are, or more so. I'm not sure I would term the '80s as vintage, just yet (allowing for the march of history), but it's certainly a period of interest, and Skank may have a point in stocking up.

Who needs to be frugal? Do you want a recession, damnit?! Spend you curs, spend!