Chris2112

Here's mine. It came over from the Black Sea region of Russia a few years ago. You probably couldn't buy it from there now due to sanctions now placed on Russia and after duty and tax cost me about £1250. Absolutely stunning value really. It has the lowest and cleanest action of any Spector that I've played or indeed, any bass in my collection at home.

1999 models changed from the dots to the crown inlays, as well as the 5 string basses going to 35" scale.

Early indeed! It's an NS-5CR. Notable for being a Euro will full maple wings and not 35" scale (is it 34" or 34&1/4", I can't recall). I have one and it's one of the nicest fives I've ever played. The only thing I'd possibly move it on for would be the right Spector four string, because I have to have a Spector in my collection as my 'go to' bass.

Who does the Flea Jazz belong to? I've always liked the look of those but have been put off by tales of shonky necks (surely a tiny percentage of all those sold, since you only ever hear about problems). Can it get a good growly Jazz sound going? I'm not expecting a 70's style ash 'n' maple style growl but I like a little bit of a buzzy snarl from a J. What did you all think of it?

I haven't always loved the sound of Ashdown amps (I've often found them to be a bit 'wooly' and dark). However, I used to own an MK500 combo which I suspect was just meant to be a repackaged Trace Elliot. It was absolutely great; extremely full and bright with a really focused punch. I was a complete Sir Richard Head III to sell it but I wasn't playing at the time. Not the first time I've read stories of Ashdown offering excellent customer service though, top effort dudes!

What a load of old rubbish. It definitely has the feel and sound of dregs being scraped from the bottom of the barrel.

That is a really great setlist. It reads like a list of pieces they wanted to play rather than stuff they thought they were obliged to play ('lessons in love' and 'something about you' excepted).

I've got a Bogart graphite neck, yours for only £2500. It does come with the rest of the bass still attached 🤣🤣🤣

I love it (but I do love fusion in general). It's very dense and layered with loads to catch your ear. I love the fact that the guy who is the biggest name in bass education is a total fusion-nut and not afraid to drop total bangers like this record. Of course, if you're into stale blues, sleepy trad-jazz or other 'safe' music it might be a bit wild for you and that's fine, it ain't for everyone.

I wish I had the confidence of a small band posting about 'big things coming soon' on their social media channels...🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

The neck is Jazz bass slim but I don't think it's any different from Cort's usual Jazz style profile. I've never seen anything to suggest that it was carved to Jeff's specification. All Basses are different and wood, even from the same batch, has different qualities but I've owned mine since 2016 (I think) and I've always used .40's on it and I haven't had to adjust the truss rod once. Of all the basses I own, it's the only one I've never had to adjust (well, of all the basses I own that hand truss rods). In terms of being made to Jeff's specification, because it's just a modification of a Cort design I don't think there was much more to it than him specifying the pickups and hardware and choosing topwood for it. I recall that he was sent a couple of prototypes from Cort and approved them and the deal was done. Jeff did a clinic tour of China and Korea a few years ago and was given a Rithimic when he arrived which he fell in love with so he asked to keep it and had the frets ground down to suit his taste. He also has a 24 fret Rithimic custom order but I've never seen him play it. Jeff's not really that interested in instruments to where he would order a specific radius or nut width, for instance. I doubt he could even tell you the measurements of those on a Rithimic.

They are very light for their size and balance very nicely. Even compared to the Palaedium, the other Jeff Berlin signature, the Rithimic is lighter. Putting it on after playing my Manne or Peavey is like strapping on a feather.

I wouldn't say that the Rithimic has phasing issues, nor is it to do with the positioning of the pickups. There is a noticeable mid-cut when both pickups are run together, as you would expect but it definitely doesn't sound thin or typically out of phase. I actually find it quite a nice tone for slap, albeit I never almost never use the neck pickup on my Rithimic.

Ah, is this what they're calling the P bass owners club now?

I found out today that Kris from Stop.Drop.Rewind uses a Sansamp Bass Driver to get that amazing crunchy tone, so naturally I now need one.

Either for Status Graphite to go back to making graphite necks/basses or for Spector to stop using those dodgy looking 'cactus arm' upper horns on their newer basses.

There is literally no faster means of conversing than actually speaking to someone (the human race hasn't mastered telepathy yet). Just admit you don't like it and save us this excuse about not having time to use a telephone. Loads of adults seem to suffer with an unusual anxiety about this perfectly normal act.

Casiopea were always amazing in the studio but even more incredible live. Their live records are as good as it gets.

Awful colour and a big asking price for a Jazz.

It looks like the new Bass Direct website is up. First impressions are that it looks way more generic than the old one and way less user-friendly.

This is the least likely outcome.

That really is such a classy look.

'The magic of techology' in this case being a pre-recorded bass track. Jeez...