LukeFRC

[quote name='Musicman20' timestamp='1397321769' post='2422826'] I'd still like one but not having them on here means I can't try a decent used one. I don't really want to go to ebay. [/quote] surely theres someone up in the north east with one you could invite yourself around to play with?

[quote name='hiram.k.hackenbacker' timestamp='1397320513' post='2422811'] To me this clouds the issue. I think the only thing we need to be concerned about is.... Is there a problem with the act of advertising for sale a genuine Rickenbacker product? I don't think there is. I was a reasonably quiet observer when the ban was originally discussed and I am aware of the issues with fakers, but that's not relevant to the question. If, for example, someone wanted to sell a nice low number Chris Squire with original case, candy and certificate ;-) I think they should be allowed to do it. I miss checking into the porn section to see geo's latest "best Rick ever" only to see it in the for sale section the week after. I don't even think geo's been around here that much since Rick's were banned. [/quote] But equally is there a problem at all with the act of advertising for sale a secondhand japanese/italian/british rickenfaker from the 70's or 80's? Under both European and British law there is no problem with that at all.

a 70's-80's Jap copy is as much a valid instrument, and possibly as good, as one with the correct name on it. If the corp. are going to threaten legal action if these good and nice basses get advertised why should anyone else jump through hoops just so the corp's basses can be advertised? There are plenty of other places where real ones can be sold.

[quote name='Beedster' timestamp='1397292480' post='2422484'] They're bass guitars, there's not much that can be said here about playing them that hasn't already been said here a thousand times. This forum is far more about buying and selling (an ranting in OT) than about musicianship, always has been. Nothing wrong with that, if it didn't have FS and OT it would probably have less than 1000 members, about 100 of them regular posters [/quote] I was about to say the same thing. I joined to sell a pedal I didn't use and stuck around as it seemed polite. If I want to focus on playing or musicianship I tend to turn the computer off and just go practice... [quote name='Dingus' timestamp='1397311566' post='2422711'] You are indeed a wise man. This is site as much ( if not more) for bass guitar owners as it is for bass guitar players. Collecting basses is a hobby in its' own right, and a perfectly legitimate one that I personally have no problem with whatsoever. However, I cannot help but note that when I have been selling basses in the past, they have usually been relatively expensive high quality basses and I have fielded fairly involved technical questions from many of the prospective buyers about various elements of construction ect. When these individuals subsequently came to my house to pick the bass up and try it out, almost to a man [u],NONE[/u] of them could play for toffee. With only one exception I can think of , with the best will in the world, they were all utterly useless players, and many of them were adding my bass to a sizable collection of similarly high-end instruments. They spend their time agonizing about technicalities and academic issues to do with construction because it is somewhere to direct their energies elsewhere than confronting their shortcomings as a player. [/quote] I hate to think how I come across as a player! The few folk I've met off here have been pretty awesome players. One guy even got me to half my asking price without asking for a bass he wanted as he was so good and I would never make that bass sing like he did! I'm not great, I'm not awful either. I duuno if my basses count as high end either.

is that the open back one? I think not...

[quote name='bassman344' timestamp='1397166819' post='2421514'] That's the thing though, always thinking you are buying better gear to find out too late that what you had was actually spot on and the new kit is the emperors new clothes. Then you try to change back and only then do you regret it and this is my point, if I stop it and stick to what I know will I be happier? Probably, and why I'm having a bass built to my own spec. Maybe I'm just an old git . . . . . . Or my eyes are bigger than my pockets are lined with cash and I'm weary with spending all I earn looking for the perfect bass. [/quote] I lived with a fella who had a mexican precision. I've played a fair few of precisons over the years and it was one of the best basses I've played. Not depended on cost. The bitsa jazz I'm selling this weekend likewise is an awesome sounding and playing bass - cost has nothing to do with it. A sadowsky jazz would be higher build quality, it would sound different (not better) and for me - might not be better. What should I do to it to make it sound as good as that Sadowsky Tal whatsherface plays? Practice (and jam with Jeff Beck) There's no such thing as a perfect bass. Pick something and play it till it is "your" bass. BigRedX may come in with the point that different projects may need different looks visually for instruments which I would concede.

Apart from the Puma 1000 trade which in hindsight would have been worth keeping

I don't sell stuff I'll regret selling.

[quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1397161123' post='2421409'] Really? IME setup is all about fine tuning. It can't do anything about things that make an instrument fundamentally difficult to play like the wrong neck profile, string spacing, an uncomfortable body shape. [/quote] hmmm good point. Apart from body shape I think you can get used to other things/improve technique.

Tone. Playabilty can be found in a setup.

[quote name='Handwired' timestamp='1394551933' post='2392577'] Yuk, a Tribute (sorry, Snob factor kicking in). [/quote] having looked into it G&L are one of the few makes where the difference between the USA made stuff and else where seem to be negligible. Mind you the early L1000 mmmmm. Leo fender designed the P bass. Made it better in 1955, improved it again in 1957.... the next improvement was called a Stingray, the pinnacle was called the L1000 ....

Well basses with natural wood tops have been in fashion for at least the last 10 years. Painted finishes can be found in pretty much any colour if you look hard enough. I guess from the things the OP has said he/she likes so far that translucent tints on fancy wood might float your boat?

For me I blame warwickhunt. he had a bass up for sale that I always dreamed of having. I had a bass I didn't use anymore - well if I sold my unused bass I could afford Warwickhunt's bass.... and so it began. I then went through a period of trying lots and lots of stuff... eventually I settled. then this year sold one bass - and ended up buying 2 more.... and selling and it all changed again. I've got two basses now that aren't moving anywhere- and one that might as someone wants it and I've no problem with selling it to him... but what to do with the money from it? as I would normally sell to buy.

[quote name='flyfisher' timestamp='1396981582' post='2419469'] Isn't the EU a similarly sized market as the USA? [/quote] I guess we aren't integrated closely enough to feel the full benefits of that yet.

it does say "new lower price" maybe the price hasn't come down in EU yet?

[quote name='molan' timestamp='1396817371' post='2417711'] I was told the other day (by someone connected with Warwick so I've just assumed it's true) that there are no UK dealers selling German made Warwicks any more I've seen a full 2014 price list and I was genuinely surprised at just how high everything was. I always knew the Signature models had gone a bit crazy but thought they were effectively all custom builds so I could understand it. It's stuff like Streamers and Thumbs that amazed me [/quote] Esp if you compare the prices to some of the genuinely high end stuff in the shop you work in! For the record - i've a 1991 Streamer Stage one with added ACG EQ-01 preamp and barts, and a 1985 Thumb. Neither are going anywhere. Spectors have never appealed. I'ld try one mind. The newer Steinberger designs however.... that I would like to play!

also don't know how many of these they made are making - not much on the web - search "alex bass amplifier" then this thread is second. Alex at the bass gallery third and Alex Claber AKA barefaced forth....

[quote name='warwickhunt' timestamp='1396908857' post='2418750'] Doh! Thought it was an 'amp' as opposed to a pre! [/quote] they've got both - think a powersoft digimod power section - but not sure what they are using for a 400w output? (and into what ohmage) My guess based on the bright and deep switches that it's a Fender/alembic/etc type preamp but seeing the ICs on the circuit board with active eq stage - not sure what the "push" on the mid freq knob is about.

[quote name='warwickhunt' timestamp='1396907188' post='2418731'] Has it really only got a 1/4" output connection? [/quote] theres a balanced DI output there as well I spy. what more would you have on a preamp? I don't think the hellborg has more does it?

That could be the most amazing bit of gear ever... or it could be mediocre - not the greatest website but... but.... I kinda want to hear one, which is a feeling I don't get much with gear nowadays. If the illustration of the head is actually what's inside and i've recognised it right they are using a top quality class D power amp....