Sparky Mark

Agreed, but the BD website does invite calls:-

This seems to be the result of poor customer service training, unless it was Mark you spoke with? If I worked at BD and were too busy at that point to discuss your options, I would've asked for your email address so I could send you links to some relevant cabs in stock when I was able. That shouldn't be too hard and would keep you interested. In my experience, many music shop employees are budding musicians first, with little to no CS training.

They do on the Ignition SE Bassman. The teacups are quite expensive hence not on the very cheapest models. https://www.bassdirect.co.uk/product/hofner-ignition-violin-bass-se-bassman-sunburst/

Some great photos of Herbie plus some close ups of his 59J (page 2) https://www.gettyimages.co.uk/photos/herbie-flowers

And he never suffered from GAS. I think he only ever owned that one tuba, upright and J bass for his whole career.

The pickups and control plate on the Ignition models are true to the Japanese made parts fitted to some German 80/90s basses. It makes sense to me that the Japanese tooling would've transferred more readily to the Chinese Hofner factory some time after Japanese production ceased.

I loved that man. Herbie's son Nick attended my secondary school for a while and Herbie started my bass playing passion by lending me a Fender bassman combo and bass guitar for a few months until I could afford my own. Meeting him 40 years later at the 2016 SE Basshchat get together was very emotional for me; as is the news of his passing.

Good advice. I've just updated a couple of my bass for sale ads with that comment. Not sure it'll make a difference as they're both pretty niche instruments, but worth adding anyway.

I do have a few relic basses, which have been done really well IMO. I couldn't buy a Pino P any other way unfortunately. I'm okay with them because I don't get stressed when they pick up dings on gigs. I hate scratching pristine basses. YMMV of course.

Get Alex to guarantee the tolex won't peel off though.

What happened please?

Great amp. Do you have to pull or press one of the knobs to bypass the parametric EQ?

Welcome and prepare your wallet for GAS!!

Politeness costs absolutely nothing. A lack of it however will cost GG at least one potential customer.