spacecowboy

More experience was had at Bass Direct this week, short story, I'm after a 5 string bass with a budget around a grand, with the brief explained I got to play most of the 1K 5ers in the shop, was left to crack on and offered support and a chat when needed, both Mark and a member of staff were great with me. I Didn't end up taking anything from them for a few reasons but nothing bad, just nothing really grabbed me, the Cort NJS 5 was a really lovely bass but not for me. I was there an hour all in, all good. I will say that they had some chinese made Sadowsky basses and my god they're terrible, fit, finish, feel all awful, plugged it in and it sounded like it was going to take off, noisiest pickups I've ever experienced, really not good. However I do have a gripe, on the website there is a Marcus Miller V7 5 String, which is why I popped over, I've owned one before and they're great and would suit what I need right now. I had noticed that the bass had Aguilar J pickups and a non stock preamp so I wanted to investigate. When I got to the shop they didn't know about the mods (Don't know how mind, they've now updated their ad) they agreed to open the bass up and see what preamp it had in it, turns out it was a Delano Sonar 2, and it was wired in to the aforementioned Aguilar pickups, it even had a Fender Hi Mass bridge - absolutely awesome, then... nightmare... and this is where I massively disagreed with their online description "A used bass in superb condition" the pickup routes to fit the aggies had been done with a spoon, and they're such a mess in person, there's even a wedge of foam blocking the hole left from the original longer bridge pickup, If I had bought this online I would have been bloody devastated and would be sending it back, again I have nothing against the guys, they've consistently been good with me, but this isn't a great example... could perhaps get value buying it and selling the bits or filling the body and re routing and spraying, but bloody hell. 🤢

I only have positive things to say, the first time I traveled to the shop was to buy a Dingwall Combustion bass, instead of a taxi Marks wife came and picked me up from the train station in her car AND she dropped me back off after buying the bass. While in store Mark let me take a tort pick guard off one Combustion bass and put it on the one I was buying, no fuss, just did it, let me play on what I wanted while I was there, all ace. I have also sold a Dingwall Afterburner II bass through Bassdirect, again, Mark was good on email, told me once the bass had arrived with him, gave me a heads up when it was online, told me when it was bought and sent me my money with no delay. My most recent transaction I wanted to buy a second hand bass from him, I cheekily asked for a bit of money off, he agreed, sent the bass out and I received it the next day. It's upsetting that people have had opposite experiences to me but I understand not every transaction / day is the same.

Agreed to buy a P Bass on Saturday, agreed that the bass would be posted Wednesday to arrive Thursday, no problems. By Wednesday after hearing nothing I sent a message at 10pm asking if the bass was posted, it hadn’t been, he didn’t have a box, but he had one now so it would be sent Thursday to arrive Saturday, again heard nothing all Thursday so messaged to see if the bass had been posted, it hadn’t, the box he had was now too small, after deliberation and no new postage day in sight I just wanted my money back, to be totally honest I thought I’d lost my money and that the bass wasn’t even real but I was refunded and the situation put to bed. The communication was absolutely terrible, I wasn’t kept up to date on anything, but did get refunded so… small victories.

Yeah it does the job nicely for me!

It's still such a good bass. Squire FSR late 50's P.

Just bought an Aguilar TH500 head from Pete, fantastic comms and he sent the head very well packaged and exactly as described in record time. Deal in absolute confidence. Thanks,

Bought Andy's Ibanez EHB 6er, arrived in perfect condition, well packaged and swiftly sorted. Pleasure to do business with! All the best mate.