cetera

2 minutes ago, Shaggy said:

Great score cetera 👍 looks lovely.

Out of interest, were import duties / VAT comparable to shipping from the US? (ie around 20% on top).   Every vintage instrument on t’bay I fancy seems to be in Japan.     

Yep. I calculated approx 20 - 25% on top and it came in within those margins.

5 minutes ago, Chewie said:

Oooooh, any chance of a pic or two?

 

Here you go...

Just now, Wolverinebass said:

About 15 years ago, Fender did a "classic 70s reissue" which was Olympic white body (or sunburst), black scratchplate with black blocks, binding and a maple neck. They started off as Japanese models then production got switched to Mexico.

Yep, I have one in sunburst with maple fingerboard and black blocks. Stunning instrument.....

I want to form a double tribute.... to Camel...... and Toto....

.....called CamelTo

"Hey buddy, what you doing Friday?"
"I'm off out to play with CamelTo!"

etc

Obviously it relies on you not pronouncing it as Too

Yep, that's what I meant.... I was already thinking about the Impact basses while typing about the Scarab. I've edited my original post....

Oh go on then, I'll play 😉

I have a Hamer Scarab, white and just like the one Rick Savage played with Def Leppard around the Hysteria time....

I also have 3 (yes, three!) incredibly rare Hamer Impact basses. These were designed with Kip Winger and are amazing looking and sounding instruments...

One in black marble, one in red and one in copper....

Love them all!

Browsing the web one evening just before Xmas I came across a fabulous original Japan-made Aria Integra IGB85 active bass from approx 1990 for sale. This was the top of the range custom model favoured by Billy Gould of Faith No More back in the day and quite a rare beast....

The bass was in Japan and the price was already very low but there was a 'make an offer' option so I calculated shipping and import taxes and thought "sod it, why not..." and put in a silly low offer.

Imagine my surprise when 20 mins later my offer was accepted!!

It turned up today, beautifully packed, with a nice note from the seller and some lovely free Japanese sweets/gifts included. 🥰

So, how does it feel/sound?!

Well, it plays beautifully with a low action, slim & playable neck and comfortable curved top to the body.

Soundwise it has a lovely full tone when flat and the EQ takes it into the Spectorish 'clank' I love....and you can hear on Faith No More's best known tracks.

Preamp appears to be a Mighty Mite Hazlab clone or similar which is a wonderful surprise and explains the Spectorish tone...👍😎

A very satisfactory purchase and a bass I can highly recommend, especially if you see one at a competitive price!

NYE was the usual annual shindig at the 5* Grand Hotel in Eastbourne with The CoStars.

A great night, we all played well, happy punters and hotel.... and good food and drink enjoyed. Home at 4am and slept through till early afternoon

36 minutes ago, Merton said:

Just played at two of the annual Great Ormond Street Christmas parties.

Met Lewis Hamilton’s W14 and, far more excitingly, Emma Bunton.

 

The actual playing bit? Can’t remember. I met Emma Bunton 🥰

 

So you also play in another band with another female singer I work with? Not just Wendy.... but Sally as well?! Small world!

Thankyou, but after PJ, there is Todd Cooke: https://www.spectorworld.com/ and possibly one other guy, Gene Fox https://www.spectorworld.com/genefoxpg1.htm....both in the US 

I've definitely got the biggest collection outside the US though...

Here's my white Kramer Spector NS2 on 'Empire'. Classic Eddie Jackson tone....

That headless guy above is ME! That's my channel
I'm headless because when I watch bass vids I'm only interested in the bass, the sound and the fingering....unless it's Marta Altesa doing her bass vids

Glad you like them

Twas not me...

A song rather than a band, but I always thought this track by Orleans sounded SO much like The Doobie Brothers.
 

An EPIC night out at Portsmouth Guildhall last night! His interviewer was none other than his bandmate Alex Lifeson (😲😲).... AND I got to actually meet Geddy beforehand, have a pic with him and get my book signed too! Just wonderful.... 💜🎶😎👍

@Hamster and his Sound of AC/DC band at the Camphill Social Club in West Byfleet, Surrey on Friday night!

Two hours plus of classic and not so classic DC performed brilliantly with Hamster holding down a solid foundation on a gorgeous sunburst MusicMan

24 minutes ago, Simon C said:

That’s some going Gary. 5 basses in a year. That’s more than I’ve bought in my life (3 I think). If I add in keyboards, pianos, guitars, drum kits (multiple cymbals counting as 1 kit) and a cahon I think my life time instrument purchases just about manage to double your 2023 acquisitions (and 5 of them were for my kids).
 

I think I’ll store your 2023 story up to relate to my missus when a new bass adorns the remaining hanger over the piano. Top job.

To be fair, I'd planned and sold 2 basses before the 4 Spectorbirds came along, so only had to finance 2 of them....
I also sold 2 other basses and some amp/pedal gear to finance the purple Spector and GK head...

Otherwise I'd be broke! lol!

@Hamster's AC/DC band at a club in West Byfleet, Surrey, on Saturday night!

It's been a great year for gear purchases with nothing bad tbh.

Best gear purchases were definitely the four Ltd Edt Spector Euro X basses I got in the custom order I organised with Bass Direct.....
 

a used Gallien Krueger 700RB-II head...
 

...the fabulous Di Cosimo 800RB pedal (basically a classic GK800RB head in pedal form)..
 

...and a beautiful 'plum crazy' Spector NS Dimension HP!
 

Basically what Chris said....

This is a transition Euro bass before Stuart got the rights back to the 'Spector' logo/brand. Full maple, just like the US basses, and well before they switched to the walnut sandwich of the LX models.

These are excellent basses but quite hard to put a value on as some people want the full Spector logo/crown inlay experience while others prefer the more classic build quality of these. With the headstock laminate I'd leave as is though. Let any buyer deal with it, should they deem it necessary.

You're probably talking around £1200-£1500 for this. There are a lot more Spectors out there, and choice of Spector styles, than there used to be so used prices aren't what they could/should be..... and this beauty needs the right buyer!

42 minutes ago, Belka said:

An American session guy whose name escapes me did Voulez Vous.

Arnold Paseiro

Admins - May be time for a clean up? e.g. Delete/Remove anyone who hasn't visited in the the last 2 years?

3 hours ago, zbigniew said:

Hello guys, 

 

Can you identify the red Spector on the picture?  Is this a NS-2a ?

It has PJ pickups.

 

Yes, a Kramer era NS2A.

THIS..... just beautiful. A Top 10 ever guitar solo from Erland Krauser and stunning performances from all, including the phenomenal Todd Sucherman (Styx) on drums...

Wonderful 🥰

10 hours ago, steantval said:

Cetera, any specific reason why the drummer was set up off to the right and not centre stage ?

We're a 7 piece band (2 lead vocalists), drums keys, 2 guitarists and bass. In a theatre type environment it allows us to set the stage in a much more equal way visually.