TheGreek

Jeans on - David Dundas

Wishing Well - Terrence Trent- D'arby

You take my breath away - one hit wonder

Two pints of lager and a packet of crisps - Splodgeness Abounds

I had a similar problem with a Rotosound Tapewound, sent them a photo, they sent a replacement string AND a new set.

Hare we go again - Crystal Gayle

I actually benefitted from a courier's clumsiness. Acoustic guitar arrived with a broken headstock, full refund from the seller, I had it repaired and sold it. As I said, a good luthier will have no trouble making that good as new.

That is repairable... Any good luthier will be able to put that right for less than the price of a new decent quality neck. I've got to agree with @hiram.k.hackenbacker ASSUME THE WORST. I always work from the premise that couriers are idiots, assume the worst and try to compensate for that with lots of bubble wrap, a case if possible and lots of packing. Sorry it took this to learn. Understand you being angry.

I ended up ordering a Ki0gon loom. I didn't know anything about the one with the bass - the Ki0gon one will be bullet proof and I will have his expertise to fall back if needed.

You can't always be the world's conscience. Where do you stand on Bob Marley? Serial drug abuser. Gregory Isaacs - another serial drug abuser who openly funded the Gun Trade. Bill Wyman - his involvement with an under age Mandy Smith was shocking in the 80s - nobody mentions it today. George Michael's high profile gay encounter in the toilets? The allegations about Michael Jackson are still contested - not proved. The great painters were mostly drug using, alcohol abusing dysfunctionals - Van Gogh is a classic case. James Dean was a well known "outsider" - his circle of friends included "circus freaks". Time judges people in different ways. You can not be held accountable for the actions of those whose material you reproduce.

I don't want to talk about it - ebtg

You're not doing anything wrong. Eventually the skin will harden without falling off (unless you're plucking really hard). I noticed that when I stopped playing over the winter (arthritis) my fingertips softened and playing roundwounds was "painful". Thankfully most of my basses have tapewounds - like using fairy liquid for strings. I've been swapping all my roundwounds for flats or tapes which are much easier on the fingertip but give a warmer, phatter tone - not everybody's Cappuccino.

I can't remember what I saw it on. Ibanez??

How about further coats in stripes to see what a burst would look like?

IIRC @Happy Jack was playing his partner, @Silvia Bluejay's leftie violin bass at one of the Herts Bash. That might be a good starting point.

But why are so many of these available on the second hand market?

My Jamaican guy - Grace Jones (living proof that if you hype something enough people will buy into it)

I've been tempted by the Cort B5 SC plus but there are so many good basses in the price range.. 1st World problem....

Funking for Jamaica - Tom Brown

I've never used this fella but a friend recently bought a guitar built by Graham in the 80s. Guitar still in good condition. https://nodenguitars.co.uk/

Circle in the sand - Belinda Carlisle

Wot no Brass nut!!?? Seems that you had far less trouble getting gold hardware than I did...love the upgrades - ignore what I said in the "Modding.." thread.

There are much better versions of that song... Diamonds are a girls best friend - Marilyn Monroe

Have a look at the previous Yamaha range - TRB rather than TRBx, BB or BBG5s, Lakland Skyline and Sire range. All good value basses and all lots of bass for your buck. I also like my Squire Dimension which for some reason have become available for next to nothing. Again, a lot of bass for you buck. Check out YT for "The Floating Thumb" technique - will significantly help with bumm notes. I stumbled with 5ers till I learned this.