Matt P

according to google Grassroots is a Japan-only brand from ESP, with a more affordable price tag, the early ones were apparently made in japan, later ones in korea, [url="http://www.espguitars.co.jp/grassroots/"]http://www.espguitar....jp/grassroots/[/url] [url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/gds/Grassroots-Guitars-By-ESP-Grass-Roots-Information-/10000000016885119/g.html"]http://www.ebay.co.u...16885119/g.html[/url] [url="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ESP_Guitars"]https://en.wikipedia...iki/ESP_Guitars[/url] Matt

if you take the last zero off all his figures then it all makes far more sense! the 10 string one I found sold for $560 about the same time as he says he bought this, so allowing for the fact that this one wasn't in playable condition then £250 sounds more realistic than £2500. I'm pretty sure that he's stuck with this.

I'm not believing the $500 string cost, from a quick look at the Octave4plus website they might have come to $200, but on the ebay listing it clearly states [b][font=Verdana][color=#00429A]The strings are a various collection of brands running from .317 (needs to be thicker than that), .254, .232, .217, .184, .156, .135, .105, .080, .060, .032, .024, .014, .011 and .008.[/color][/font][/b] which to me looks like some guitar strings, a bass 5 string set plus some fence wire Matt

[quote name='Dad3353' timestamp='1449748044' post='2926424'] And just why, exactly, did you have a look at the other items, eh..? Would you have done that without this 'loss leader' to tempt you in..? The bloke's perhaps not as daft as he's made out to be..? Shrewd, maybe, as a marketing ploy..! [/quote] wanted to see if he was selling other instruments, all found was clothes and books, nothing I'd want. (I often check out the other listings to get a rough idea of the kind of seller they are) Matt

I found this after a bit of a google, looks like a 10 string version sold for $560 a good few years ago, not exactly cheap but it does look like it might actually be playable though. [url="http://www.bass-guitar-museum.com/bass-1998-PRO-TENNESSEE-BRAND-10-STRING-ELECTRIC-BASS"]http://www.bass-guit...G-ELECTRIC-BASS[/url] and I've just had a look at the sellers other items and found this! [url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/DREAMS-AND-DREAMING-/291632893040?hash=item43e6accc70:g:pnYAAOSw8-tWZCb1"]http://www.ebay.co.u...nYAAOSw8-tWZCb1[/url] Matt

I got Polytune for Christmas a few years ago, it's never failed me, it tracks the low B on my 5 string with no problems at all. Matt

I'm wondering how much he paid for it? either he bought it for peanuts and wants to make a huge profit or he actually paid many hundreds for it and is now trying not to lose all his money, I think it's worth 150 quid tops and that's mainly for comedy value, unless he finds some poor sucker that's taken in by his sales banter then he's stuck with it forever. if we do end clubbing together to this then I'm in for £20 provided that it ends up in flames (with a youtube video for proof) it would be worth it to never see it again Matt

I possibly should have offered this earlier but I have a copy of the Musicman sabre preamp sitting in a drawer, setup with a blend and ready for a 2 pickup bass, it's very similar to the stingray pickup with the addition of a bright switch, it was made by one of the very clever chaps on here (tommorichards) I've never installed it, send me a PM if you're interested, i'll pass it on for what I paid for it, under 25 quid posted if I remember rightly. Matt

that's one gorgeous looking bass! I keep looking at these and I'm very tempted (but completely broke!) I'm waiting for Ian (Dodge) to take delivery of his 5 string Jake (a 5 string version of your sunburst Jake I believe) if that's as good as i'm imagining then I think I might have to find some money to order my own. it must be time for another bash soon so we can see these in the flesh! Matt

I never used to but now I've got one loaded up and I drag it along every time I play, mine has 3 different distortion/fuzz/overdrive pedals, an octaver, bassballs, and compressor, I could probably slim it down a fair amount (the octaver is only used if I have to use a 4 string rather than my 5 so will probably be sold when I get a decent 5 string as a live backup) but the minimum would still have the tuner, a/b, wireless and some kind of overdrive with DI, and the bassballs (for one song during the chorus) If I was in a different band then the pedals would be different but the core units would always be the same. if I'm using pedals then they're on a board of some kind to make setup and packing away easier. It's all down to what sounds you need. Matt

Welcome from another Newcastle bassist, if you're in need of any contacts for tech's to carry out routing or wiring just shout, we've got a few really top people locally. I'd expect that there might be a bass bash in the not too distant future as well so you could come along and meet some of us in person. have you seen the North east bass bin group on facebook yet? Matt

it certainly looks like a dpdt switch, the pot itself has a kilo ohm rating stamped on the side but I can't make it out, if you can read the letters on the side and tell us what they are then we should be able to point you to a suitable replacement, Matt

the general consensus for humbuckers is 500k pots, I had an olp for a while and did find the controls a bit confusing and the pots weren't of great quality, if it were mine I'd go for a simple vol/blend/tone setup, if you're wanting a ready made loom then get in touch with KiOgon on here and ask him for a quote, his work is second to none and is solderless fitting. another option would be to add a preamp which would get you a bit closer to a proper stingray tone, the retrovibe stinger is probably the best budge option. Matt

I'll just echo what's been suggested before, I've used cases from maplin and b+q for years with no issues, i've also seen similar cases in Clas Ohlson if you have a store near you (they sell peli copies as well which I've been tempted by) [url="http://www.clasohlson.com/uk/Instrument-Case/Pr314142000"]http://www.clasohlson.com/uk/Instrument-Case/Pr314142000[/url] I've now got a thon accessory case which holds my amp, my pedalboard and my leads, not the lightest but really tough and cheap! [url="http://www.thomann.de/gb/thon_zubehoercase_54_21_33.htm"]http://www.thomann.de/gb/thon_zubehoercase_54_21_33.htm[/url] Matt

[quote name='alyctes' timestamp='1448409097' post='2915288'] Ibanez SRFF805, one bid of £239 so far, four days to go. [url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Ibanez-SRFF805-5-String-Bass-/351587683999?hash=item51dc424e9f:g:uYoAAOSwf-VWVJOc"]http://www.ebay.co.u...YoAAOSwf-VWVJOc[/url] [/quote] that's rather tasty looking, unfortunately I think it has the same string spacing a the rest of the sr range (16.5mm) so it's too tight for me, might be a bargain for another BC'er though Matt

[quote name='FuNkShUi' timestamp='1448284670' post='2914121'] Don't hesitate. It's brilliant to have a 100% customisable bass built to look, and have every feature you've wanted. Andy is a gent. Very accomodating, and very knowledgable. It's amazing to see it all "come to life". [/quote] [quote name='Andyjr1515' timestamp='1448285189' post='2914127'] You'll both make me blush....but keep building up the courage, Matt [/quote] the only thing holding me back is the fact that I'm broke at the moment, I've commissioned a custom build before (my letts 5 string) so I know how fantastic it is to get exactly what you want but I totted up the bridge/tuners/pickup and preamp costs and I can't afford them, let alone the wood and the other bits and pieces (fretwire, truss rod etc) but I've got a spec developing in my head and hopefully once Christmas is over and I've bought the new tyres for the car I'll have some money spare for another bass. as soon as I do then i'll be sending that email! Matt

this is coming on so well, the more I look at the progress pictures the more I want you to build me my next bass, I might pluck up the courage to ask you about prices etc one day! Matt

[quote name='NancyJohnson' timestamp='1448180414' post='2913414'] I bought an old Badtz Maru Musicmaster (look it up) and put a hotrails strat sized pickup in it. It's great...high output, drives nicely. [/quote] this was mine, does it still have the custom pickguard I made or have you gone back to the original one? I really liked this bass, I only sold it because NancyJohnson asked so politely. Matt

I didn't win it, someone else was prepared to pay more than me. Matt

it sounds like the screws are a tiny bit loose in the saddles, the usual fix is to set them to the right point then put a tiny drop of clear nail varnish on them to hold them in place, they are probably just vibrating themselves loose as you play and the nail varnish trick usually fixes it. Matt

I will certainly report back if I win it. Matt

I've had a reply, the spacing is 17.5mm which is exactly what I was hoping for, I'll be bidding on this bass on Saturday. Hopefully no one else will be bidding and I can land myself a bargain, Matt

you can definitely see the dingwall influence, I'm hoping he's copied the 18mm string spacing as well, I'm not too worried about the postage, I think he's factored he cost into the starting price, and it says that it includes a hardcase as well so it should be fairly safe. Matt

I'm just waiting for a message about the string spacing, if it's in the 17.5-18mm range then I think I might take a punt, has anyone seen one of these up close, or maybe played one? it doesn't look like it's boutique but the workmanship doesn't look bad from the photos. Matt

this looks interesting, it's got one bidder already, is it anyone on here? if not then I might have a punt at this, I've sent him a message asking about the string spacing, this might be a cheap way for me to try out a fan fret bass. Matt