Secondhand Squier Standards can be found in your budget - you get a PJ configuration in a "classic" style. Can't go wrong.
Various Yamahas, Sires, G&Ls and even Bass Collection Nanyos will be available within your price range if you shop around.
I'm surprised with the amount of "looks don't matter" comments TBH.
There are lots of basses that I wouldn't be seen dead with, irrespective of how well they play or sound. Test after test has shown that most people can't tell what bass makes what noise - a test at one of the SE Bashes showed that many of us couldn't even identify our own basses. Joe Public certainly can't tell.
Collected the bass earlier.
Mal's hands were swollen as a result of arthritis so he's calling it a day.
I'm now in a position where I need to either find someone else or have a go myself.
Any credit should go to @Jabba_the_gut.
Many BCers will have seen and played some of his creations at Bass Bashes around the country.
PM @Frank Blank for photos of the TWO he has.
Just greedy if you ask me.
I had to collect my Spector from Mal Crawley in Stevenage today.
Arthritis in his hands has forced him to stop repairing Amps, etc.
I'd just like to send my thanks to Mal for the work he's done for me in the past.
I'm always looking at alternatives so while browsing I found details of ETS headless bridges - Made in Germany, they're used by quite a lot of high end builders and they make some nice looking parts. Price for the headless bridge is significantly less than similar bridges (ABM) - around £160.
I went to the website but there's no way of contacting them. Apparently it's one fella working on his own and there is a 6 month turnaround.
I did find one of the company's customers who can place an order and I'm waiting for them to come back to me with a quote.
I'll keep everyone apprised on developments.
https://www.ets-hardware.com/index.php/en/produkte-2