Conan

[quote name='Dingus' timestamp='1379333758' post='2211310'] Spending a lot of money on some replacement pickups for a budget bass is unlikely to make it sound that much better or even hugely different , in my experience. Anyway, if you were going to start swapping parts on that bass , I would look at upgrading the bridge at the same time as I would the pickups .[/quote] Interesting! My experiences are completely the opposite! Doesn't make yours wrong of course (or mine) but just shows how differently people perceive things. I've found that a new (and decent) set of strings makes the biggest difference. Then pickups (which don't have to be all that expensive, but it is worth doing your research first). Tuners can be a cheap but worthwhile improvement. IME, "upgrading" the bridge makes little or no difference to the sound or playability of the instrument. YMMV, caveat emptor, IME, IMO, etc!!

[quote name='flyfisher' timestamp='1379341172' post='2211443'] All my BC purchases have been agreed by PM but I've then always swapped mobile phone numbers so that any changes to agreed arrangements can be easily communicated.[/quote] Yep, me too. Good advice though!

[quote name='Ruck' timestamp='1379333599' post='2211308'] communication should be clearer in an ideal world where everyone has instant access to the internet on their ipads, I agree. Afraid I don't have that luxury [/quote] Fair comment, but once again, no harm in saying this in your original ad. Something along the lines of: [i]"I work full time and don't spend my life on BC. As a result, don't be offended if you have to wait a few hours for a response" [/i]should cover this.

[quote name='blamelouis' timestamp='1379333288' post='2211303']I think a set of Barts might give me what I want and a new bridge. [/quote] [quote name='blamelouis' timestamp='1379333468' post='2211306'] I think Barts or maybe EMG JCS's might give me what I'm after.[/quote] They might... or you could spend a lot of money and still have a problem. If it was me, I'd double check all the wiring (or get a tech or luthier to do it for me). If the problem genuinely[b][i] is [/i][/b]the pickups, then upgrading/changing them should make a difference - which changing the bridge (IMO) won't! I'd still look at the strings first though!

[quote name='EBS_freak' timestamp='1379332249' post='2211286'] Sorry seller... sounds like your comms need to be clearer. If you said you were posting on a set day, problem avoided. [/quote] Possibly.... but maybe he did and the buyer (possibly a new member who [i]does[/i] actually think that BC[i] is [/i]a shop) misinterpreted this or didn't bother to read it. All things are possible when one doesn't have all the details.

[quote name='Grassie' timestamp='1379331746' post='2211278'] I had one of these with the DD pickups, and compared to the standard pickups in my Mexican jazz, they were indeed quieter and slightly wooly sounding[/quote] Hmmmm. Interesting that. I've not played one of the VM Squiers, but the loudest and most shouty pickup I've heard in a long time is in a Squier CV P (courtesy of Ghost Rider!). Good ol' Fender (or "House of Fender" anyway) consistency and quality control! Not.

[quote name='risingson' timestamp='1379328774' post='2211224'] I'd have no problem with the scenario you've described as a buyer, providing there had been excellent communication between both parties, which is usually where the problems start with stuff like this. [/quote] Absolutely true IME. 36 hours is completely reasonable if you work full time (as I do). It is all about managing expectations... Leave them some feedback to the effect that they can be a bit pushy and/or unreasonable? Did you tell them clearly how long they could expect to wait?

[quote name='marcus bell' timestamp='1378949016' post='2207003'] Loud enough to keep up with 2 guitarists and a drummer? Clear? Headroom? Etc? [/quote] Hell yeah. To both! Never had an issue with mine (except the first time I used it. No output. I was fuming. Until I realised I had plugged the cab into the effects return socket... ).

Aren't they fitted with Duncan Designed pickups? They're not usually described as woolly.... are they wired up correctly? I have Wizard Hammers in my fretless J and they sound lovely (to my ears anyway). Sound is, of course, very subjective... Upgrade to Fender pickups? [url="http://www.guitarfetish.com/GFS-Bass-Guitar-Pickups_c_97.html"]GFS[/url]? On the other hand, could it be the strings? How long have they been on and what are they? A much cheaper fix!

Status series II. It does the lot (except fretless of course, due to the presence of frets...).

[quote name='Iana' timestamp='1378839765' post='2205455'] Cn cabs are brighter in the upper mids and less full in the low mids than the hd cabs so they don't hit quite as hard but do stand out a little more in a band mix. [/quote] In a Schroedery kind of way?

[quote name='ead' timestamp='1378465609' post='2200674'] I found these guys recently. Anybody on here bought anything? [url="http://www.at-the-creamery.co.uk/"]http://www.at-the-creamery.co.uk/[/url] [/quote] They look nice - but a lot more expensive than Wizards...

[quote name='mart' timestamp='1378925143' post='2206652']Having said that, the resale value of TIs must be higher than just about any other strings! [/quote] Funny, I've never thought of strings as an investment...