6feet7

Not getting rid of the Maru. Probably the best bass I've ever had (and I've had quite a few - everything from cheapos to custom shop and custom luthier made stuff and everything in between). We all know how GAS attacks and I'll probably regret it if I do get rid of it (and I know I won't manage to get another (affordable) one with all the upgrades it's had, so I'll probably keep it for the moment. As an aside, I've not ordered the scratchplate I was considering. I listened to the good people on here and decided they were right (plus, I wouldn't be able to sell it as easily if it had the screw holes in it.

OK. Decided not to put the scratchplate on as I'm thinking of selling it straight away. It's a mite heavy for my damaged neck , so something lighter will have to be bought instead.

I find it funny that people are more worried about me sticking a bit of plastic on the bass rather than the fact I'm going to be removing a chunk of wood for the forearm contour

I actually had to look up who he was (not a massive metal fan at all), but at the cheaper end of the metal bass choices his did seem to be the best (IMO). I must say that if I wasn't joining this band I don't think I'd have gone so pointy - 56 year old, balding bloke down the dog and duck playing metal - but it is a very good bass (especially with the upgraded pickups and preamp that the previous owner fitted).

After having joined a heavy rock/mild metal band, I felt that my Sunburst Maruszczyk Jake PJV, Godin A5 or 5 string double bass didn't really fit the bill, image wise, so the hunt was on for a Thunderbird type bass. I narrowed it down to either an Epiphone Pro V Thunderbird or a Jackson David Ellefson Kelly Bird V, and with the help of the good people of BC, and the fact that I found a mint one with upgraded pickups and preamp on Reverb, I went for the Jackson. It arrived this afternoon, so, after managing to smuggle it into my home office without anyone seeing (yes dear, I've had it for years), I plugged it in, switched on my Darkglass Microtubes overdrive pedal and launched into the intro to Ace of Spades. Now, I'm not a fan of battery power ie. active basses, but the upgraded EMG DCX (instead of HZ) pickups and 18v BTC preamp made all the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end. Oh wow. I was going to strip out the active setup and go passive, but I'm not going to now, this is so good. The strap buttons have already been moved (one to the body by the base of the neck, the other high up on the back of the body) so balance is perfect, with no neck dive at all and I also managed to buy a gigbag that fits the shape perfectly.

https://thefatbass.wordpress.com/2010/09/14/thunderbird-neckdive-fix/

It's not where it is in relation to the frets, it's because it's holding the body lower down. Works on pretty much all thunderbird styles, SG's and hollow bodies

If you put the strap button on one of the neck screws (probably the top, front one) would that sort the neck dive? Seems to be the fix for Thunderbird style basses so should work on this one too.

Can't switch it off. No worries. As long as it's safe.........

Has the site been hacked? Every time I log on to it my antivirus system stops virus attacks, and this happens when I change pages too. No other website is doing this, so I don't think it's me.

The NRT5 one for sale on here is about 8 1/2lbs (OK, my limit but not bad for a 5 string). My Maruzsczyk Jake PJV is just over 7lbs, so if they can do one around there I'd be even happier.

Problem is I play 5 strings. As and when I've the money (haha) it's either a Mike Lull NRT5 or a Maruszcyzk (they can do lightweight. Anything over about 8lbs is too much for me). Or its back to normal shaped basses (see the for sale section in a few weeks :), because a 56 year old, balding bloke playing metal down the Dog & Duck with a pointy looking thing down by his knees - no jokes here - does look a bit ridiculous (in my opinion, anyway).

I'd have looked at all of those plus the Mike Lull NRT5 thats been on here for ages (which is really what I wanted - I love that bass). Just got no money to spend on stuff like that so it had to be either an Epi (which I know some of the early ones had 4 string pickups in 5 string covers) or the Jackson, and as I got the Jackson with upgraded bits (which also happens to weigh a lot less than the Epi) for no more than a standard one, thats what I got.

Shape. I've joined a rock/semi-metal covers band, so my standard looking Maruszczyk Jake V PJ or Godin A5 don't suit the image. If I still had some GUS's then I'd be fine, but they went years ago and I don't have the finances to go expensive here, so Mike Lulls and Gibsons are out of reach. I bought an upgraded pickup/pre-amp Jackson David Ellefson Kelly Bird V last night. Just waiting for it to come from France.

If I could afford it, then definitely. There's a gorgeous NRT5 that's been on here for ages. Unfortunately it's about £2K more than I've got to spend When that lottery win comes home though

Just bought it, so if I don't like it when it arrives...............