LukeFRC

[quote name='Kev' timestamp='1487350783' post='3239239'] We are truly blessed to have so many amazing luthiers on our shores. If budget allows, I would always try and have something built here to support this wonderfully strong community! [size=1](But, of course, would still strongly recommend an Alpher...)[/size] [/quote] it is odd isn't it - I wonder how influenced we are by American forums and press that the US versions of our luthiers are revered but ours less so. Some of it is the size of marked I guess - but if I compared Sei to Fodera, or overwater to sadowsky would I find a massive difference in the end product?

The ones I've seen for sale currently are out my price range and over a grand - think it might be a non goer

Fender Roscoe beck There's been a few on here - at fairly widely divergent prices. How much do they go for roughly? I know they don't come up often, but I've a feeling that the answer is "more than my budget" but thought I would ask before I pull the trigger on something else. Here's a random google image search photo of the bass in question... (cos we all like photos right?)

Done properly like Ricks fine 52's build threads I think it looks good. I remember wanting a Nash years back- until I saw one!

[quote name='TheGreek' timestamp='1487100869' post='3237146'] Looking at your sig and the basses you already own I'm assuming that you'll inevitably go for a Jazz design. This puts you in quite a "difficult" area as I've owned many custom Jazz style basses including a GB Spitfire, a Shuker fretless Jazz, and an incredible Overwater. I'd recommend them all. I currently own one of Alan's masterpieces as well as a bass rescued and brought back to life by our own Andy Rogers. You should also give Enfield some consideration because of their unique pick up system. All are fantastic instruments and you'd be hard pushed to pick between them if they were all in front of you. Does this make your decision harder? If anything, I'd say "No"...you are in the enviable position of knowing that there are many UK builders who can and will build you a great bass...and probably have built it many times over. The bass you're after may well already be out there and if you can find a pre-owned model you may save yourself a few hundred, if not thousands, of pounds. Check out your local Bass Bashes, even consider travelling to events further afield just to give yourself a chance to try other gear. Some might say that having a custom build can be a minefield, personally I'd say you're almost certainly in for a treat finding what you're looking for. My advice?...Enjoy the journey before jumping in. [/quote] Good ideas here. I think knowing what you're looking for, and why you're going custom is key. It was an option for me a year or so back, and I eventually concluded that I could find what I was after secondhand. Actually I decided that what I have currently probably couldn't be bettered (for me), and if it could be, that would cost a lot of money and I would want to try it before spending that money.

I found an old 1975 Cimar Jazz bass in a glasgow junk shop £50 I think. Ash and maple, Horrid bridge and missing a tuner part, with the help of the amazing [b]Bassassin[/b] and a bridge I fixed it up and sold it to a friend. Only way I could justify spending the money at the time. But it was one of the nicest sounding, most utterly fun rewarding things to play ever. The annoying thing is that my friend who has it knows that too!

[quote name='Musicman20' timestamp='1487072431' post='3236701'] I wasn't that bothered either way until I bought the Flea Jazz Bass. Even my Dad, who doesn't play, thought it looked really unique. [/quote] probably wondered more about the colour than the wear patterns?

Ryan saw a wanted post I had made and sold me a really nice bass neck. Possibly the best packaged thing ever. Thanks Ryan!

Just sold Tony my BB1200 after he sent me a speculative PM - few PMs and a chat on the phone later and we're both setting off to meet midway on the M1 - a great guy and a pleasure to meet him. Would have no problem in recommending him for any basschat related buying and selling. I hope you enjoy the bass Tony, it's one of the good ones out there.

ACG?

Molotow graffiti paint has worked for me a couple of times- ideally needs a month to fully cure mind

So just the one big port?

[quote name='stingrayPete1977' timestamp='1486318004' post='3230851'] I think people confuse boosting signal with boosting eq? [/quote] I think people are just confused. Some passive basses are good, some aren't so good Some active basses are good, some active basses are bad. (and sometimes that's a crappy active system's fault) Just play the things!

A few things that you've said (this is directed to the OP) make me think that it's possibly more your left hand technique than your bass. When you play is your left wrist bent or straight? Where does your thumb sit?

a cheap one

[quote name='prowla' timestamp='1485421803' post='3223785'] I have to say, I've never been particularly keen on Yammy basses; I'd walk right past them... ...maybe I need to stop and try one next time. [/quote] me too - In fact I would have said they were the ugliest basses in the shop... (something about the switch position on the 2 pickup ones) Then someone did a trade where I had a old japanese BB300 - not it was a cheap bass, and I traded it knowing I needed to sell... but it was really really really good. Take my test - go into a music shop try all the fenders, and whatever else they have - then pick up the £300 BB424 they have and tell me it doesn't match or surpass everything twice it's price* *unless you're looking for something specific. It aint a jazz!

[quote name='tonyf' timestamp='1485528713' post='3224679'] ^^^^^ This Installed a Nordstrand 4.3 in a Sterling I used to have. Not that the stock pickup was bad but the Nordstrand was recommended to me. Wow. It was fantastic. Gave the bass SOOOOOO much Pre-EB vibe. [/quote] hmmm and my favourite jazz pups I've heard were nordies too - this could end up being expensive!

So I've got a project in the planning stage that involves making my bitsa stingray a bit more playable... Reality is that the only thing I might end up reusing is the tuners and everything else is up for grabs! What I'm aiming for is a bit more of a trad bolt on type tone compared to my other basses which are more modern sounding through necks. And I class a stingray as being in the same sonic ballpark as fender. So I've currently got a Bartolini musicman type pickup, two coils. It's nice. Thinking of picking up a neck j and having a j/mm setup. The Delano hybrid system looks good - any good experiences (ild go for the mm pickup in the right place) Otherwise a splittable humbucker like a fender roscoe beck could be interesting. Or even a $$, it would probably be as easy to find another Bart mm pup as a single neck pup. Any advice? I guess I would also be wanting to pick stuff up secondhand