Kev

[quote name='Wooks79' timestamp='1425979849' post='2712880'] Will you be scrapping the Buckeye burl then and going full Claro walnut? [/quote] No no no, still the walnut body with buckeye top

[quote name='Cameronj279' timestamp='1425976139' post='2712839'] Not normally fussed by walnut but it is a very pretty (and surprisingly large) cut of it! [/quote] And that is what it looks like dry. Just wait until it is oiled! The figuring is going to be insane

So, my big block of claro walnut has arrived from California, and looks like it is big enough for a 1 piece body and a 1 piece neck!

[quote name='visog' timestamp='1425668914' post='2709642'] You're avoiding the issue [/quote] You're missing the point.

I'll be in Birmingham

Providing ticket prices aren't silly, I'll be in Birmingham

[quote name='gary mac' timestamp='1425030654' post='2703066'] Another Dingwall in the house [url="https://flic.kr/p/riTWXJ"][/url] [url="https://flic.kr/p/qnbAcT"][/url] [url="https://flic.kr/p/r2rd8m"][/url] [/quote] Nice upgrade, that is wonderful

it can't be a serious offer, no way. Surely? Must be up for sale again soon due to a non-paying bidder...

woo I came extremely close to buying this, I'm glad it has found a home! Really interested to hear what it sounds like

[quote name='Cameronj279' timestamp='1424568035' post='2697936'] That is going to be one very pretty looking bass! Picked a great cut of buckeye for the top too, just the right amount of 'in your faceness' about it. [/quote] That is exactly why I chose it. Some Buckeye is just too much, but I love the waves and colours of this piece, and no bookmatching!

[quote name='gary mac' timestamp='1424559136' post='2697799'] Be a nice Chrimbo present for you. [/quote] I am hoping it will be more of a Halloween present

Nine months or so I reckon, so should be a 2015 delivery

They have some superb suppliers, thats for sure One piece Buckeye Burl is not something you see too often, and I fell in love with that Walnut as soon as I was shown it.

So, I figured it was time to start a new build thread! I have long been found to be drooling over the Instagram/Facebook feeds of Alpher Instruments, and after much deliberation I have an amazing build commissioned! Had some good chats with Chris and we are slowly hammering out the final spec, at present it reads as follows: [b]Updated 16.05.2015[/b] 5 String Mako Elite - 24 Fret Body: AAAAA Marbled/Curly 1 Piece Claro Walnut Top: 'Specialist Grade' 1 piece Buckeye Burl Neck Wood: 'Ribbon' figured Two-Tone Indian Rosewood Fingerboard: Ziricote Pickups: 2 x Nordstrand Bigman Preamp: Nordstrand 2 Band EQ with Coil Pan Hipshot A Bridge and Ultralite Tuners Carved Wooden Control Knobs A few pictures of the (uncut) woods chosen so far. They look incredible in the raw form as it is, I cannot wait to see them oiled! Claro Walnut: Buckeye Top and Ziricote Board: Early days, but I intend to keep this thread fully updated

I am tempted to grab an acoustic if one comes up, but by the time I get round to checking they are long gone!

[quote name='Mornats' timestamp='1424467336' post='2696776'] Because you're buying goods unseen is why. Perfectly morally acceptable. [/quote] It really is not that black and white. But this isn't the thread for the conversation so I will leave it here

[quote name='Beer of the Bass' timestamp='1424465387' post='2696735'] any item bought online can be returned within 14 days without having to give a reason [/quote] To me, that just isn't morally right. I know it doesn't mean much to companies like Thomann, but why should a buyer have that right? Faulty, of course, wrong size, understandable, but simply because you changed your mind or another reason that is just down to your decision making? Why should a shop have to accept that?

[quote name='Mornats' timestamp='1424199563' post='2693800'] My bass ukulele came today. So that was an order placed at 9.30 on Saturday, shipped and delivered for when I got into the office 9am this morning (Tuesday). That's pretty good. The uke is bigger than I expected. I've put a pic below of it resting against my Squier VM jazz. There's an ever so slight mark on the front of the bass which is barely noticeable. If I'd bought a "proper" version I'd probably not notice it nor would I send it back for that. The A string rattles a lot. I'd call it fret buzz but rubber strings don't buzz, they kinda boing off the frets a bit. The E string is a little like that, and the D and G to a much lesser extent. It came with a truss-rod tool so I tried loosening off the truss rod as there's a bit of back bow on the neck. The neck doesn't seem to be moving at all though. Also 5-6 of the frets are too high up the neck but I've got the tools to fix that. I plugged it in and the D and G strings sound great but you can barely hear the E and A strings. It's not a slight difference, it's a "is it on? oh wait, yes, that's loud" difference when going from the A to the D string. I read about someone having an issue in the reviews of the non-deko ones. A quick read of the B-band website (the pickup/preamp maker) says that an incorrectly sat pickup can do this. So at the moment it's unplayable due to the rattly A string and can't be amped due to the difference in string volumes. At the moment though, I think I can solve these. For £42 delivered it's probably not worth sending back if I think I can turn it into a bit of a project. I could even rip the frets out and turn it fretless. Not sure if that would solve the rattly A string though. Reckon I should try and fix the issues or send it back? I've got the (huge) box it came in at work still but will have to recycle it in the next day or two so I'll need to decide today or tomorrow. Here's the pic: [attachment=184154:DSC_0459.JPG] [/quote] Sorry If I am missing something, but on what grounds could you return it anyway? I would have thought these would be strictly no returns given they are sold as defect items?