Disappointing new bass day...I would appreciate some opinions.

[tauzero]

4 hours ago, Beedster said:

Crikey that was probably an unlucky typo! Meant to say 'Basschatted', the past tense of the verb 'to Basschat', which describes the processes whereby a thread on a serious topic descends into a form of bass-related word-association/projective test/silliness often involving images from 1970s culture (Monty Python, Leonard Rossiter, Kenneth Williams, Leslie Phillips) or that bass builder from Surrey and which deviates significantly from that point forwards until someone replies to the original post and stops the silliness......   

 

@Dood I think you may have thought I was obliquely referring to another builder, which I wasn't  

 

We just need the £300 Wal for a Basschat full house.

[Kev]

1 hour ago, mcnach said:

 

 

I'm not sure. To me it just looks like the neck is *slightly* misaligned, the sort of thing you fix by unscrewing the neck screws a bit, pushing the neck in the right direction and tighten screws again. The bass had issues, but this is getting overly picky now, I think.

Perhaps, neck pocket looks tight (ironically) but its another thing to check, and another thing you wouldn't expect to have to mess with on a £2k+ bass...

[Sean]

I have left a few 1 star reviews for various tradespeople and for the sole purpose of trying to save someone decent from having to go through what I did. I'm very very unlikely to encounter this bass builder but what this thread has done is steer me away from anyone in Europe other than Brooks. Not naming has potentially pushed some punters away from other reputable builders. 

 

[signals55]

Shocking what a Mess 

[Hellzero]

1 hour ago, Sean said:

I have left a few 1 star reviews for various tradespeople and for the sole purpose of trying to save someone decent from having to go through what I did. I'm very very unlikely to encounter this bass builder but what this thread has done is steer me away from anyone in Europe other than Brooks. Not naming has potentially pushed some punters away from other reputable builders. 

 

Peace may help in public.

[LukeFRC]

2 hours ago, Sean said:

I have left a few 1 star reviews for various tradespeople and for the sole purpose of trying to save someone decent from having to go through what I did. I'm very very unlikely to encounter this bass builder but what this thread has done is steer me away from anyone in Europe other than Brooks. Not naming has potentially pushed some punters away from other reputable builders. 

 

I don't think you need to rule out 0.74Bn potential luthiers just because one guy sends out a bass with a load of laquer cracks!

[LukeFRC]

On 15/10/2025 at 17:33, N64Lover said:

That photo was taken at quite a weird angle. Here's another.

 

 

What hasn't been mentioned and is slightly more concerning than the lacquer stuff - is why use a mini toggle there on the lower bout? It's too small for there and just wierd!!

[Stub Mandrel]

On 12/10/2025 at 15:19, Beedster said:

But looking at the photos on my desktop as opposed to on my phone earlier, even if that was a £250 Squier I'd have sent it back, when you pay for a new instrument at any price point it should be exactly that, new

 

 

That's exactly what I was about to say. A new bass should be pretty much immaculate, not chipped and scratched.

 

They should have refined the body before letting it out of their workshop.

[Mokl]

10 hours ago, LukeFRC said:

What hasn't been mentioned and is slightly more concerning than the lacquer stuff - is why use a mini toggle there on the lower bout? It's too small for there and just wierd!!

Unless I've missed something, this was a custom order; perhaps the OP wanted it there? 

[Hellzero]

49 minutes ago, Mokl said:

Unless I've missed something, this was a custom order; perhaps the OP wanted it there? 

I think the OP got there, because the owner pretends they are the biggest Custom Shop in Europe.

 

Strangely, their non Custom Shop models are pristine, I had a few, and there's nothing to complain about...

 

Go figure.

[wateroftyne]

21 minutes ago, Hellzero said:

I think the OP got there, because the owner pretends they are the biggest Custom Shop in Europe.

 

Strangely, their non Custom Shop models are pristine, I had a few, and there's nothing to complain about...

 

Go figure.

I’ve had a few custom models that have been pristine too, which makes it all the sadder to hear when it goes wrong.

 

I had my latest spec all worked out and ready to pull the trigger, but this has made me reconsider.

Edited 4 hours ago by wateroftyne

[petecarlton]

12 hours ago, Hellzero said:

Peace may help in public.

Oh, are you sure?
 

That would be a real surprise (to me, anyway). I’ve always hankered after one of his basses.

[Hellzero]

21 minutes ago, petecarlton said:

Oh, are you sure?

Yep.

[hiram.k.hackenbacker]

On 12/10/2025 at 14:05, N64Lover said:

 

 

 

On 15/10/2025 at 17:33, N64Lover said:

That photo was taken at quite a weird angle. Here's another.

 

 

 

On 15/10/2025 at 17:49, N64Lover said:

The bass is gone now, this is the only other photo I have taken from his bench. The bridge doesn't have adjustable string spacing.

Here’s a thing that bothers me. The scratches near the bridge are not evident in the photos from the luthier, yet they are clearly visible in the photos from the OP.

Their location appear to suggest having been caused by either a restring or saddle adjustment, but two of them appear to go under the bridge, or at least right up to it, which would be difficult to achieve without the bridge being off. It could just be the photos of course, but I’m intrigued.

[Beedster]

27 minutes ago, hiram.k.hackenbacker said:

 

 

Here’s a thing that bothers me. The scratches near the bridge are not evident in the photos from the luthier, yet they are clearly visible in the photos from the OP.

Their location appear to suggest having been caused by either a restring or saddle adjustment, but two of them appear to go under the bridge, or at least right up to it, which would be difficult to achieve without the bridge being off. It could just be the photos of course, but I’m intrigued.

My first reaction when I saw them was the same, which made me wonder whether HMRC decided to pull it apart on its way in, apparently it can happen?

[Beedster]

Doesn’t explain the fretwork though 🤔

[Terry M.]

13 hours ago, Hellzero said:

Peace may help in public.

Ironically I just scored with a used example of this brand from Bass Direct and even another customer in there at the time thought it was a new bass.

[Hellzero]

4 minutes ago, Beedster said:

Doesn’t explain the fretwork though 🤔

Maybe they checked if it wasn't pure gold or if there was something illegal hidden underneath and put them back in a hurry? 🤔🤦🏻🥱😂

[binky_bass]

17 minutes ago, Hellzero said:

Maybe they checked if it wasn't pure gold or if there was something illegal hidden underneath and put them back in a hurry? 🤔🤦🏻🥱😂

All the basses I sent to you had crack under each fret... they all got through. 

[snorkie635]

9 minutes ago, binky_bass said:

All the basses I sent to you had crack under each fret... they all got through. 

But none of the crack did, Binky. 😉🚬

[Hellzero]

1 minute ago, snorkie635 said:

But none of the crack did, Binky. 😉🚬

Excellent!

[prowla]

5 minutes ago, snorkie635 said:

But none of the crack did, Binky. 😉🚬

 

Maybe they weeded it out?

[snorkie635]

2 minutes ago, prowla said:

 

Maybe they weeded it out?

Probably made a hash of that.

[snorkie635]

7 minutes ago, Hellzero said:

Excellent!

Sorry. Just been proved wrong. Hellzero thought the crack to be excellent, therefore, some must have made it through to his pipe.

[prowla]

21 minutes ago, snorkie635 said:

Probably made a hash of that.

I guess it's pot luck.