Rayman

My understanding is, that a builder makes "signature guitars" with someone "famous"s name on the headstock, in order to attract sales from fans of that player? So I'm baffled sometimes by some of the names that end up on headstocks? Chapman - Dave Hollingworth?? Who? Gibson - Kiefer Sutherland - yes, the actor Duesenberg- Johhny Depp - yes, another actor Vintage - Tony Butler - (from Big Country, an 80s band) Vintage - Steve Dawson - (Saxon, technically they're still going, but he left the band decades ago) Just some examples..... but I'm curious...... who buys these? Why make them? Actually, from what I understand, the Vintage Tony Butler is a decent little P bass, but does his name on it sell more?? Ummmmm

A German Streamer, from 2000, this thing needed some love. I picked it up for an absolute steal, because of the condition, and spent today cleaning, oiling, waxing and setting it up with a new set of TI flats. The word on the street with these, is that the pickups are weak and uninspiring. Cobblers. Yes it’s not as high an output as some of my basses, but so what?? turn up the amp?? These pickups sound beautifully honky and funky with flats. The TIs have a nice brightness to them which helps cut through. Absolutely lovely tone, comfortable to play, nice action (after a LOT of truss rod work), it’s a truly fabulous thing, quality German build and parts. Absolutely love it, very happy.

I’ll just leave this here…… and say no more.

I think I saw one of the Squiers in Wetherspoons…..

Exactly that

Like I say, it’s absolutely down to the personal playing experience, and what makes us happy. If we can afford to spend ££££s then absolutely do it. But your Vintage will do everything the Gibson will, as far as a listening audience is concerned. They wouldn’t know the difference, and couldn’t care less either. I dunno, maybe I’m just bitter because I’m always skint?

Honestly….. I wouldn’t have a clue…. but too much I suspect

I kind of agree with everyone really in some ways. Logic tells you, the more you spend the “better” it is…. I get that…. All I can tell you is this…. There are a couple of basses that spring to mind, that I had many years ago. A Roscoe Century 5 and a Sadowsky UV(?) 4. Both expensive (to me) and both as dull as dishwater (to me). Money can’t buy everything, and it certainly can’t buy love, but it can pay for an expensive hooker that you couldn’t afford.

Oh I disagree strongly. I’ve had many P basses, MIA, 70s vintage etc… easily the best one, was an early 90s MIJ Squier. Cost me a ton on the bay. There are MANY really great instruments for a few hundred pounds new…. and I’ve had my hands on a LOT of instruments well over that price, that sucked.

Lol yep, and they are precisions, both 80s eastern knockoffs, and both better for me, than most Fenders I’ve had, and that’s many. but I agree with you totally, it’s horses for courses, and I might have fallen at the last fence, while the vet decides wether or not to put me to sleep.

I had this conversation last night, and thought it was valid, to a point. I was talking instrument prices with a mate, and we got to talking about whether or not one really needs to spend thousands of pounds on an instrument, when it’s perfectly possible to find a really great instrument, for a few hundred. live…. nobody cares what you’re playing, where it was made or what it cost. At all. It’s purely about your playing experience when it comes down to it. After 40yrs (😞) now of playing, my favourite two basses cost a few peanuts and they’re absolutely perfect for me. I just think the price of EVERYTHING has gone mad, and almost none of it is worth half the ticket. In my opinion of course

Shame. PMT (in Manchester) used to have a reasonable selection of basses, not amazing, but decent. Now, it looks like a closing down sale. Still plenty of 6 stringers, but the bass area has shrunk dramatically. Maybe basses are too niche?

Bit of an update….. I now have twins…. both basses are identical, both all original except for @KiOgon loom in each. The original pickups sound absolutely immense paired with the looms. I’m over the moon these things honestly, yes I’ve spent a LOT of time setting up, sorting frets, doing setups etc, and yes they both had the new EQs, but they’re both absolute bangers. I’m in danger of starting a collection, they’re ace instruments.

I don’t know if it’s been covered before, apologies if it has… I just called into PMT in Manchester for the first time in maybe a year, just to have a browse…. and the “bass dept” is literally half the size of what it was. A few of the usual suspects, Fender mainly, not much selection at all. Is PMT struggling? Closing? Dunno I’m out of the loop.