grayn

I'd love a Music Man Big Al, 3 S/C pickups. Yummy. Many happy returns, BTW.

After selling a couple of guitars, I'd been scouring the web for a nice bass, to add to my collection. Mainly looking for a 4-string bass, with Jazz neck, 2 pickups, preferably with a classic look, active and hopefully, preowned. I was struggling a little but remembered my old English Overwaters, from a few years back. Probably some of, if not the best basses, I'd owned, over the years. Nothing selling preowned, so I tried their website. And wow, Yes. They were selling some preowned models. So I whizzed up to Carlisle, this morning (2 hour drive). Met by Chris May himself, I was given a brew and sat down for a lovely long chat about basses and bassists. There were 2, J Series Classic 4s on show, that I was very interested in. One in Fiesta Red, the other, in Sonic Blue. Both were in immaculate condition and had originally been built for the same guy. After playing them acoustically and amped up, I plumped for the red. It just felt right and sounded fantastic. So comfortable and responsive. The preamp and pickups worked just how I like, with a mid and mid-sweep controls. If somebody had told me I'd pick red above sonic blue, I'd have laughed at them. But the fiesta red, with tort scratchplate and cream pickups, just looks classic. The flame maple neck is a thing of beauty. Now it's home and I'm loving it. Looking forward to the next rehearsal with it, too. Specifications: • Neck: Highly figured Flamed Maple • Scale length: 34” Scale • Body: Alder • Finish: “Fiesta Red” • Head Veneer/Finish: Matching “Fiesta Red” • Fretboard: Rosewood • Frets: 21 - Medium • Binding: Rosewood • Position Markers: MOP blocks + 2mm MOP side dots • Machines: Hipshot Ultralite - Chrome + Hipshot D Tuners • Bridge: Hipshot B Style – 19mm String Spacing • Pick-ups: Dimarzio Ultra Jazz • Controls/EQ: Standard J Retro (Volume, Pan, Treble, Bass, Middle and Mid-Sweep) • Scratchplate: Tortoiseshell • Weight: 9lbs/4Kgs • Year: 2009 [attachment=212865:CS_10-3529.1_1024x1024 -both.jpg][attachment=212866:CS_10-3529.3_1024x1024 - both.jpg][attachment=212867:100_2182.JPG]

Going by a lot of bass players on youtube, the modern player seems to find it difficult to get through a few bars of music, without dead-muting or buzzing on 75% of the notes.

"The Alchemist" by Home "Olias of Sunhillow" by Jon Anderson Worth checking, I reckon.

For me, MusicMan basses and guitars are the best. Made for players. Many of their models are very pretty and even exotic but essentially they are made to be played and if possible, gigged. I've owned 3, USA Stingrays and a USA Sterling. All superb, although I wasn't so keen on the Sterling's pickup. At the moment I have a Stingray 4 HS, 2007, which is as good as any bass I've owned, if not better.

Bass Collection, Blockhead, J-bass. Brilliant.

Congrats on a top bass. I was lucky enough to have a quick go on your bass, a couple of days before you got it. It does have a tone of it's own. Kind of smooth yet vibrant. I owned the 4-string version, a while back. It had the same, lovely tone but i much prefer the top, on the fiver. I own a Cort GB4 Custom and am super impressed with it Congrats again, on a very cool bass.

It's a beauty. Super drool!

Very cool Rick. Congrats.

Most it's been covered, already. For me it's Chris Squire. A real ensemble player and singer. He created his own tone, style and delivery. One of the all-time greats, IMO.

How cool is that. Congrats.

Congrats on the Wilson. That's a bit of history, I reckon. I got a Wilson Mercury bass from Bells, way back when. Cool bass. I wonder what happened to it? Good luck with yours.

Congrats, that'll be quite a looker, when you're done. sounds a real bargain.

[quote name='Skol303' timestamp='1454257380' post='2967914'] Yup. Warwick Corvette Standard, 5-string, 'French Violet' finish. Nice bass. I'd been struggling a bit with the narrow-ish spacing (by my tastes), so it wasn't getting the use it deserved. Part-ex'd for this: [url="http://greatbritishbasslounge.com/product/cort-gb75-rithimic-v-jeff-berlin-signature/"]http://greatbritishb...rlin-signature/[/url] Deliriously happy! [/quote] Very nice! I had a quick go on that 5er, last thursday. Top bass, with a beautiful tone. Real quality, congrats.

[quote name='Skol303' timestamp='1454236625' post='2967662'] The Great British Bass Lounge is...well... great! I was there just yesterday and came away with a new bass in part-exchange (after chewing the fat with Drew over coffee for a good hour or so - lovely bloke). Well done on your new acquisitions. Both very nice basses and each very distinct. Good choices. I'll post a NBD thread of my own as soon as I manage to put it down for a few minutes [/quote] Thanks. Was it a Warwick, you traded in?

[quote name='dannybuoy' timestamp='1454234253' post='2967627'] My fave uncommon colour combo on that Sandberg - would look even tastier with cream coloured pickup covers I reckon! [/quote] I reckon you're right.

Having sold one of my guitars (the 6-string, high pitched variety), I had some cash and fancied another bass, for my small collection. After trawling the internet and getting over excited by the amazing range out there, I decided to sally forth and try some out, for myself. A couple of days ago, I headed out, to The Great British Bass Lounge. The last time I went, it was called The Manchester Bass Lounge. Like it's name, the Lounge's stock had expanded. I tried out bass after bass, whilst chatting to Drew and swigging tea. A couple of original design Overwaters had got my attention. But after much deliberation, decided they weren't the bass for me. I think the bass that most impressed me, in some ways, was the Cort A4 SP Custom. For a Cort, it's pricey but for it's spec and amazing build quality, it is way under-priced. I think I boggled myself, with a bit of bass overload and left empty handed. This morning, I headed up to Promenade Music, in Morecambe. Another Mecca, for the North West bass fraternity. I'd ostensibly gone to check out some Marleaux basses. But started out with a very tasty Japanese Jaguar bass. This I liked, as I did, a couple of US Fender Deluxe Jazzes. Going way down the price scale, I picked up a Bass Collection, Blockhead bass. Wow! what a stonking, passive jazz bass, this is. Playing and sounding rather delightfully. I really recommend the Blockhead. But I rather go for active basses. Finally got to 3 Marleauxs. 2 Votan XS Deluxe models and a Consat. The Consat really looks organic and hand made. But it's not really my kind of bass and the pickups, although top quality, weren't for me. The Votans are more my style. Light, jazz-bassesque, lovely necks and great pickups. They don't look as hand made, as the Consat. One had a matt-satin, black-burst, slightly stressed body. The other was gloss black, with a matching headstock. And the black model was more appealing, to my eyes. I came withing a hairs breadth of buying it. But I didn't quite like the way it hung, with a strap. And although up for a very reduced price, it wasn't worth the money, to me. To many others, it really could be a dream bass. So again, I left empty handed. I decided to head back to the Bass Lounge, after a quick phone call, to Drew. There were 4 basses there, I decided to concentrate on. Fortunately, I could afford 2. They were, an EBMM Sterling, with Piezo pickup(pre-owned). The aforementioned, Cort A4 SP Custom(new). A German, Warwick Corvette $$ (Double Buck), in Stealth black(pre-owned). And a Sandberg California II VT-4(new). I gave each a good play and honestly desired them all. Anyway, as you'll see from the title, I came away with the Sandberg and Warwick. The Sandberg is just my sort of bass. Dead comfortable, great pickups and a real looker, IMO. I've owned 2 other 'bergs, a Panther and a California TT. Top quality basses and this VT-4 may actually be my favourite. The only thing I'd change, would be to have a 3-band EQ. Great, natural tone. The Warwick Corvette $$ was, as many Warwick's are at the moment, going for a rediculously low price. The stealth black finish is growing on me. That big, growly tone is truly classic. It has versatility, too. What classic quality, this bass is. SPEC: MAKE Sandberg MODEL California II, VT4 ORIGIN Germany BODY WOOD(S) European Ash COLOUR/FINISH Cherry sunburst, matt-satin NECK/SCALE LENGTH 1 piece maple, satin finish, bolt-on/34inch scale FINGERBOARD Rosewood, 22 medium jumbo frets, white dot inlays WIDTH AT NUT/12TH FRET 39mm/56mm ELECTRONICS 1x Delano Split-coil pickup, 1x Delano single-coil pickup. Sandberg 2 band active EQ. Controls for Volume (push-pull active-passive), blend, treble/bass eq’s. HARDWARE Sandberg custom hi-mass bridge, Sandberg lightweight open gear tuners CASE Sandberg gig bag MAKE Warwick MODEL Corvette $$ (Double Buck) YEAR/CONDITION 2007, near mint ORIGIN Germany BODY WOOD(S) US Swamp Ash COLOUR/FINISH Nirvana Black, oil finish NECK/SCALE LENGTH 3 piece Ovangkol, oil finish, 34inch scale FINGERBOARD Wenge, oil finish, 24 medium brass frets ELECTRONICS 2 x active MEC MM-style humbuckers, MEC active 2 band EQ. Controls for vol (push-pull active/passive), blend, treble & bass. 2 x 3 way switches, for pickup voicings (series / parallel / single coil) HARDWARE Warwick black 2 piece bridge, lightweight tuners & straplocks WEIGHT 8.0lbs / 3.6kgs CASE Warwick Rockbag

Looks a really stunning bass.

It's a real looker. Dread to think how much it'll cost.

Congrats on a very tasty P-bass. That white EBMM HH looks awesome.

[quote name='synthaside' timestamp='1453815856' post='2962994'] Its actually up with Rob in the status workshop right now , having a service and robs assessing if it could take a J pickup in the bridge position , which might make me actually want to play the thing. [/quote] First thing I thought on seeing that gorgeous bass was, shame you cant stick a small, matt black, soap bar or JB pickup, by the bridge. With a pan control, it could be amazing.

[quote name='Greg.Bassman' timestamp='1453603632' post='2961006'] 2-band controls are boosts only; does this mean that the 'flat' point on the 2-band is when both controls are rolled off to 0? or am I off? Cheers. [/quote] Your logic is impeccable.

Secrets of the Beehive by David Sylvian (1987) [url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4YuvdDPYEy0"]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4YuvdDPYEy0[/url] One of my all-time favourites.

I like the scratchplate on. But it would look far better tort, or something similar, IMO. To my eyes, G&L always look a little bland. The body shape doesn't quite work, neither does the headstock. But that's just my view. They are great to play and hear.

Thanks for the links. Cool ensemble. Love the first pic, of the dark blue 5er. They look really well designed and finished.