EdwardMarlowe

Facebook has its uses, but yes - anyone who thinks it can replace a traditional forum is kidding themselves. Far too difficult to navigate for any sort of long term retention of the information compiled in a page, and frankly these days far too full of all sorts of horrendous hate speech and other filth... I use it very sparingly. The FB Purity browser plug-in makes it much easier to deal with. I now have a go-to page which has *only* my actual FB "friends"' posts on it, in the order they are made, and all there. Similar links for groups and pages I use. Filters out all those endless sponsored posts and ragebait FB sends you. I only have to glance at the site on my phone now to see how much better it is with the plugin in place. Next best thing to FB being replaced by some sort of social network that isn't run by horrible people pandering to the worst of humanity.

Harley Benton are a real contender. Generally speaking, a HB for about £200 is the equivalent quality wise of anything else at double that (to do with their business model, you're basically buying direct at wholesale prices). Buy quick when you see a lefty, though - they don't always last. I'm holding out for them doing something in their high end (about £400) in a post-57 P or (and!) J style. They showed some really sharp looking nitro-finished relics at Namm last year. I'm hoping they'll put those into product, but with the option of a non-relic finish. Those would be Player-killers. I'm indifferent to nitro v polyurethane (well done) myself, but if they put out a nitro instrument at that price range, I think it would be huge in the market. Sire are pretty impressive too with their range, though to that I add the caveat that there are a lot of the models I wouldn't go for myself as I don't like actives, and you have to be fine with the slight but noticeable tweaks they make to the classic bodyshapes. I don't see that as a bad thing myself, but it could be an issue for some. In teems of something playable at rock bottom price, though, it has to be the Harley Benton PB-51. Might well weaken and buy one of those myself; I wanted a Classic Vibe 50s P Bass badly, but Fender don't think left handers are interested in anything other than a very basic Strat or Tele.

Last actual gig was the Saw Doctors at Hammersmith Apollo (or whatever corporate nonsense name it now has. Eventim?), with original bass player Pearse Doherty now back in the band as of this last couple of years. Last event with a bass player was last night at the Walthamstow Rock and Roll Book Club's event at the Red Lion Hotel (in, er.... Leytonstone). Some in these parts might have heard of this as it was the venue for an early Led Zeppelin gig, among other big names in that world. Last night's session was a Q&A with Mickey Bradley, bass player of the Undertones. Lots of fun, he's a funny guy. Mickey's the one on the right. Ignore the ninny on the left. (That would be me. I am the ninny.)

Jinkies, hadn't realised it was that long! Seems likely it's shut down now. I was wondering in the event that did happen whether someone would buy it over, or at least the stock. I suppose at getting on for the three year mark there's a strong chance it's already been dealt with by a quiet private sale to another builder.

Anyone know if Brandoni are still a going concern in 2025? I bought a second hand Brandoni P Bass for a song on eBay some time ago which is *beautiful*, and have toyed with the idea of getting a Strat type from them for years. Robert Brandoni died a few months ago and the website announced the business would be on pause for a bit, but there's been no change since for a long time. Did someone else take the business over and not take down the old website? Seemed too significant a going concern to just disappear.

I wqas born in 74, right bang on the "CBS are crap" years, but I doubt I could afford a 74 p bass or Strat now. Especially needing a lefty!

I've never seen a Fender case designed exclusively for a left handed guitar. My MIS 94 US Std Strat came with a case that is obviosuly designed to accomodate either left or right hander. Same with any other fender case I've seen beofre or since...

Never owned one, but handled a few. Decent enough instruments, generally pretty good for the price. Bit like a Squier - and like Squier once in while you run into a psecial one. If memory serves, Prince's famous "Tele" was from this range, or an earleir version thereof.

I have a basssitting in my office that I can't bring home until I sell a couple of my guitars. (Though it'#s now known about).

Not for me, but I don't care for any violin basses. They just don't do it for me at all. That said, it looks nicely made, and the fact that it doesn't scream "Hofner!" should give it a bit wider a market than Beatles tribute acts.

I found that 'sticker shadow' thing with a Squier bass of mine, though it quickly faded close to a match after the stickers were off (I have it hanging in my living room, so it gets the Sun). I do like how guitars age with a bit of Sun; my Strat (a 1994 Fender American Standard I've owned from new) has gone a nice ivory shade on the pups and the plate, while the maple has darkened nicely. In that era, the wood Fender was using was incredibly anaemic looking when new - it's one of the reasons I went for a rosewood board at the time rather than maple. (I much prefer maple now in general; it's one of the reasons I want a second Strat now.) What I've always preferred is the look of an old flightcase with a bunch of stickers on it, though almost any hardcase I've ever owned wouldn't take stickers forf some reason. They just lifted right off in minimal time.

It's funny, when it comes to guitars, I want LOTS, but with basses, I'm perfectly happy with a P bass; I have a rosewood board model (actually Brandoni, but its guts are all Fender, and Brandoni bought out all the old Fender Japan necks and bodies, so it kind of is a Fender just made by not-Fender), I want a mapleone. IvI had silly money I'd buy two or three more colours, but with bass as I say I don't crave the variety I do with guitar.

When it comes to basses, I have very simple tastes - I like a P bass. Nothing else really does it for me (though on day I night have a p-bass made with a Firebird-shaped body). With three grand to blow on gear, I'd likely hit the Fender Mod Shop and buy a P Bass with very late 50s styling (in metallic Turquoise with a gold anodised guard, and maple board), and a matching Strat.

Nice! I like how it does its own thing. Got a sort of shape I'd associate with one of those cool, obscure 'out there' 50s/60s models that Eastwood revive, but in that reclaimed wood look. I like it very much, there's a sort of primal look to it.

Depends on the size of the bundle - and yeah, anyone with any sense should count it (and anyone honest wouldn't object), but it's been known to happen.