simon1964

[quote name='Dad3353' timestamp='1369333736' post='2087982'] Good evening, Simon... A fake watch purporting to be a real watch is one thing; a similarly-shaped guitar with its own brand, inspired by, but not making out to be, is quite another, imho. [/quote] But a Rockinbetter, for example, is "making out to be" a Rickenbacker. The choice of name, the font used, the headstock shape, the truss rod cover shape, are all designed to look like a proper Ric. Otherwise why not call it a Tokai, use a different font and a different sdhaped Truss rod cover? The answer is simple - because then it wouldn't look like a Rickenbacker.

[quote name='foxton4001' timestamp='1369324121' post='2087843'] I'm afraid the people who buy Rics (Beatles, Jam, and all Mods in general) are not going to stop buying them - they are 60s Icons. People that play 5/6 string basses with bodies that look like an explosion in Ikea, were never going to buy Rickenbackers in the first place. JH is a man that wants to keep hold of his families design anyway he can. The guitars come out of a little factory, like they have done for about 60 years; He will never make budget guitars, he will never change the design to suit the modern player and he takes pride in what he does. Put yourself in his shoes. (obviously I have extreme bias, but we all have different opinions; that's the way the world works.) [/quote] +1 to that. I realise I'm in a tiny minority on this site, but as I have said in previous anti-John Hall threads, IMO there is no difference between a Rickenfaker and the knock off Chelsea shirts and Rolex watches you see on Oxford Street. And people seem to forget that Fender have themselves vigourously defended their headstock shapes (which is why Fender copies all now have slightly different profiles) and Gibson have recenlty been embroiled with PRS over the single cut Les Paul shape (even though the PRS looked nothing like a Les Paul...). The difference with Rickenbacker is that they have simply been better at it.

I also use Musicguard. The premiums seem good, and as already said, you get public liability cover too. It's also every easy to amend cover online when buying or selling gear. I've never had to claim though, so can't comment on that.

The colour is certainly not original. The jazz pickup is not original. The lack of markers on the fretboard is highly suspicious - the seller's suggestion that it may have been fretless originally doesn't ring true to me. Pictures of the pots will undoubtedly show that they're not original - they can't be because of the added pickup. And for the same reason the pickguard cannot be original as 70s Fenders only had two knob guards. At best you might have a few bits of a 70s P but it's not worth very much IMO

The Bronco is an excellent little bass for the money. My son started on one when he was about 8, and got on fine.

My day job is as a lawyer defending claims for insurance companies. For all the reasons fretmeister gives, I wouldn't dream of gigging without public liability cover. Apart from anything else, even if the injured punter sues the venue, there's nothing to stop the venue seeking a contribution from you if their insurers consider you negligent. The peace of mind insurance gives you is worth every penny IMO.

Bought a mark bass pedal from Si. Quick delivery, well packaged, and excellent comms. Thanks!

Hot Rox is great for effects pedals (I would be surprised if anywhere else in the UK has a better stock) and also has a couple of nice G&L basses in stock at the moment I'd agree with McGraham's analysis of the rest of the nottingham shops, save for Fuzz/Guitar Base. I'v always found them really helpful, and when I've visited they've had some very nice Sandberg stuff to try.

[quote name='JTUK' timestamp='1365583077' post='2041240'] hmm... not sure Flea is someone that you could say grooves. He might just have been able to do so out of the RHCP's... and the stuff on Morrisettes was the closest I've heard, but since most know and hear him in the RHCP's..then that is an emphatic NO, from my POV. So, here we have it... what is a groove by the commion consensus here? [/quote] Got to disagree. Have a listen to his playing on Soul to Squeeze. Excellent example of rock with groove IMO

[quote name='cocco' timestamp='1364603634' post='2028872'] Nice! What's the difference between it and a 4003? [/quote] More modern bridge, different pickups, different electronics (although still passive). The one i played had a very different, more modern, sound than a 4003. Very nice basses!

[quote name='BluRay' timestamp='1364485481' post='2027145'] I'm curious about these. Is there any merit in swapping a 3-band ray pre-amp for a JE? Would it change the tone much? Or are they mainly for upgrading copies? [/quote] +1 to all mcnach has said about the Stingray pre-amp. I've got one in my 'ray. With everything flat it sounds pretty much like a normal 2 band 'ray to my ears, with perhaps a bit more definition in the bottom end. But the mid sweep really adds a whole new range of options. Highly recommended IMO

[quote name='chrismuzz' timestamp='1363496462' post='2013349'] I can't remember the name to be honest, but that's probably best in case they send the faker brigade down there it's a small-ish shop in the city centre. I recall it being a 5 minute walk from Pizza Hut! haha [/quote] Music Inn on Alfreton Road. I've not been in for a while, but they do stock Rockinbetter

[quote name='Mr. Foxen' timestamp='1363379785' post='2012213'] except if they really push it, like the guy who called his model the 'Malvern'. [/quote] ...or like the company who called their model "Rockinbetter"?

[quote name='jonsmith' timestamp='1363373282' post='2012094'] They have no desire to. They are making money & have a full order book. They are quite happy with their business model. [/quote] Exactly. Rickenbacker have deliberately stayed a much smaller niche company than Fender and Gibson. I always think they're a bit like Morgan cars - quirky, old fashioned but with a charm you either get or you don't. But if you started mass producing them in China, nobody would buy them. That's exactly why their business model also needs to protect it's design rights.

I was going to vote Setting Sons, but as Bruce Foxton's had several mentions I'll go for: 1 No More Heroes - Stranglers 2 English Settlement - XTC

[quote name='Roland Rock' timestamp='1357991849' post='1931438'] True! My 78P has a decent gap, but it still sounds and plays great, and has never moved. Good for storing plectrums too. [/quote] My 74P is the same. The gap is probably 3mm at the worst point, but the neck seems perfectly stable, and it plays great. The gap's too wide for storing plectrums though!

[quote name='mikeswals' timestamp='1357705426' post='1927024'] It will not be a 74 or 75 if the serial number is on the headstock of that Jazz Bass. During mid 1976 is when the serials moved to be a printed decal on the face of the headstock, before that they were stamped on the neckplate wether it was a 3-bolt or 4-bolt neckplate. [/quote] Definitely. If the serial number is on the headstock it's later than 74/75.

[quote name='BottomE' timestamp='1357482582' post='1923171'] They said it was because they liked my "naughty little English accent" Vivre la Republique [/quote] Shouldn't that be [u]Vive[/u] la Republique? Unless it's your accent?!

[quote name='wateroftyne' timestamp='1357335699' post='1921409'] 80s US Fender with a few tweaks. Nowt to be suspicious about. [/quote] Agreed. Looks like he's changed the bridge and pickguard but otherwise pretty standard 80s precision. And at a decent price too, at the moment. Stick a black guard on it, and you'll have a nice bass!

Agreed - I also found the irig connector noisy. I now use the Peavey Ampkit link which is £25 from Amazon and works really well.

[quote name='Dr M' timestamp='1356109580' post='1907048'] Fair point with Rickenbacker, Gibson, Gretsch, but I thought basically all Warwicks and Sandbergs were active? Sandberg's website certainly only seems to list one or two models that don't have a preamp. [/quote] Sandberg do their Jazz clone as a passive only option, and the Umbo only comes as passive. And I think most Sandbergs have active/passive switching (my old Sandberg Basic certainly did). You make a fair point on Warwick. I think they've always offered the Corvette as a passive only option, but I guess passive is not really what Warwick are about. Oh - and I missed Hofner from my first post!

[quote name='The Dark Lord' timestamp='1356106084' post='1906975'] It's odd that the colour under the pickguard is so different to the rest of the body and the headstock. I know wood coloured ones are more prone to this - but it seems very stark in this case. [/quote] I suspect that's down to the refin. It almost looks as though its not be refinished under the pickguard?

You're missing Rickenbacker, Gibson, Lakland, Sandberg, Yamaha, G&L, Gretsch, Warwick and no doubt loads of others I haven't thought of off the top of my head. All of those make high end, all passive models. Plus lots more with passive / active switching options. Personally I've gone full circle on the active / passive issue and find I prefer the simplicity and tone of a good passive bass.