eude

+1 on the Sandberg. If you know that's what you want, hold out for a secondhand bargain on here, I've seen most of the 4 string models they do go for about £600 on the odd occasion. You could obviously get a nice secondhand P Bass too, I personally prefer something a little different, but that non-export one up there looks lovely... Good luck! Eude

[quote name='AngeR' timestamp='1334053973' post='1610075'] Any thoughts for the straplock position? In the first pic it's visible were I've tried it but no good results. [/quote] If I were you, I'd put the strap buttons back to their original position and replace the tuners with Hipshot Ultralites, that might go a long way to prevent the neck dive issue. Eude

[quote name='GRAHAM SG1' timestamp='1332707495' post='1592011'] My Ampeg PF500 amp and Barefaced Super Twelve T is dynamite, perfect match for me and lightweight [/quote] That little rig looks amazing!

[quote name='mingsta' timestamp='1333470619' post='1602228'] I think a Musicman Big Al 5SSS could be up your street if you can get over the looks (its a marmitte thing). Its a tone monster and I've love one myself if I could find one for the right price in the classifieds. [/quote] They're actually pretty comfortable basses, so there's logic behind the design! I tried a single pickup'd variant last year and it was incredibly versatile, I reckon the 3 pickup jobby would having dizzying possibilities, but in a good way Eude

[quote name='charic' timestamp='1333453385' post='1601812'] ACG might be within budget? [/quote] +1,000,000 ACG are a one stop GAS stop! As Charic says, there's some tasty stock instruments available right now which come in around your budget. [url="http://www.acguitars.co.uk/Available/22/"]http://www.acguitars.co.uk/Available/22/[/url] and [url="http://www.acguitars.co.uk/Available/17/"]http://www.acguitars.co.uk/Available/17/[/url] might be right up your street? They'll certainly meet you tone requirements and then some Eude

[quote name='Satrugar' timestamp='1333386117' post='1601000'] Damn it.....don't feed my GAS, please! Eude, your ACGs look really great. My JP is also a 33" and has no fingerboard radius and I got completely used to that....that's why I'm sure they both would fit me very well. I guess I'll contact Chris and see what happens. And thanks for the offer, if I got any questions about ACGs you'll be my first address. [/quote] Sorry man... (GAS is good, don't fight it ) Sounds like we have similar taste in basses there matey. I'd be happy to help should you need any info though. All the best, Eude

[quote name='Satrugar' timestamp='1333369190' post='1600602'] I'd love to order an ACG, preferably a 5er or 6er singlecut. Unfortunately I can't afford that atm.... That's why I'm very tempted to shoot Chris2112 a PM, he seems to want a WW Thumb for his Harlot and I happen to have one of those... Only "problem" is the lack of enough strings on his Harlot. But maybe I could live with that.....what to do, what to do.... Cheers Janis [/quote] Singlecut 5er or 6er? - I've got one of each >> [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/72396-look-what-i-just-picked-up/"]http://basschat.co.uk/topic/72396-look-what-i-just-picked-up/[/url] [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/130449-acg-finn-sc-6er/"]http://basschat.co.uk/topic/130449-acg-finn-sc-6er/[/url] They're both 33" scale so very easy to get around and the 5 string is insanely light. I can't recommend ACGs enough! If you've got any questions feel free to shoot me a PM, I'm a bit of an ACG geek The Harlot you're talking about is an amazing bass, a really stunning example of Alan's work and Chris2112 is a great guy to deal with should you think about taking the leap... Cheers, Eude

Beautiful bass Satrugar! I always loved JP's work, shame he had to pull the plug on his bass building, epsecially before I could save up enough to order one of his basses. He created some incredible instruments which have certainly influenced bass builders around the world. I do see a bit of similarity between the shapes, the top horn particularly, but the lower horn and the jazz style off set are quite different. As it happens, the Salace shape is actually a hybrid between ACG's Harlot and Gallus shapes. If you're thinking about ordering an ACG, don't hesitate they're absolutely incredible instruments! Eude

Congrats mate, glad you finally got them, they really are gorgeous too

[quote name='walbassist' timestamp='1333109410' post='1597512'] Count me in on that trip! [/quote] Cool, well we can try and get something organised and go along together then!

Heard back from Lee at Ashdown, very nice friendly email The MiBass gear should be ready in about 60 days they reckon. All the gear at Musikmesse were prototypes, so dimensions and specs may change a little, however I was very happy to find out that the MiCabs will have the same "Carbon" vinyl finish as the Combos and the 1x12 will be vertically orientated (spelling?), I assume to make sure it sits nicely under the Combos. I might have to see if I can go bug Ashdown in person soon, to try all these out! Eude

[quote name='ead' timestamp='1333104341' post='1597383'] I'm now wondering what the gross margins look like on a £200 Fender-alike, a £1k Fender USA and a £2k+ high end Fender alike. I suspect the MIA Fenders will have the best GM as a percentage. Does anybody know - come on you whistle blowers!? All imho of course!!! [/quote] I really don't have a clue what it would be, but given the price of the MIA Fenders, or Musicmans for that matter, factoring in the non fancy woods and the bulk they'll be bought in multiplied by the amount of demand, I imagine it will be a fairly large percentage of the list price. These kinds of manufacturers will likely spend a lot of cash on R&D, where a independent luthier will evolve slowly as they build more and more instruments, so I guess that will account for some of the overall profit but having said that, I haven't seen any real evidence of R&D from Fender for a very VERY long time, MM on the other hand do seem to try new things fairly often. Eude

[quote name='peterjam' timestamp='1333096368' post='1597172'] I'm collecting my ACG J Type 4SU, (serial number 0096), this morning. I met Alan at this year's Moffat Bass Bash - along with some other fine, upstanding members of the bass community - and I was hugely impressed by the built quality of his basses. As you'll see in my signature below, I don't have a 'conventional' arsenal of basses. I've always liked the shape and feel of the Fender Jazz, but I don't think you get a lot of instrument for the money unless you go down the Mexican route. I'll post some pics and a review once I've had it for a few days, but my initial impression was a bass with a wide tonal palette that sits very comfortably under your hands. Stay tuned for further developments! [/quote] Fantastic news Peter, 0096 is a really classy looking beast, and I know it will play and sound as good as it looks. Can't wait to hear how you get on and congratulations! [quote name='LukeFRC' timestamp='1333097165' post='1597182'] not trolling here, just intrigued.... I can go on the ACG website and buy an amazing jazz influenced bass- and the ones listed at the mo come in at £1600 or so. I can go on the overwater website and their take on a Jazz bass is about £2100 starting price... both are made in the UK, both have pickups and pre's from the same makers (different specs) and admittedly Alan doesn't have to pay for any medicine or eye checks up here but what's the difference? [/quote] I guess like a lot of business people, there are a lot of factors in play, but the main ones in my opinion here are "how much the item actually costs to make" and "how much you can get away with charging". I think a lot of luthiers overcharge, but their instruments are essentially worth what people are willing to pay for them. ACGs are still fairly new when compared with the majority of successful UK builders, the main ones having been around 10 years +, so I guess the price reflects that a little too. Having said that, I've had a go on more boutique bass guitars than I can remember and ACG's blow most of them all out of the water, bar a couple which they where easily a match for with regards to design, ergonomics, fit and finish, and when it comes to tone and flexibility, you'll struggle to get more options than you get with an ACG EQ, so they win hands down where that's concerned. It's highly unlikely I'll ever go anywhere else for bass guitars from now on, I've got two ACG's so far and plans for many many more, plans that I'm keeping hidden from my wife of course. I really hope Alan doesn't read this thread, he might put his prices up!... Eude

I imagine it's straight out of their new TE 500 head by the looks of it. Still no reply to my message asking for some more info, but I guess I'm one of 1000's of bass gear geeks bugging them right now. Can't wait to try out the MiBass through 2 of those Mi12 Cabs though, although I found a really cool pic of the new ABM 1000 head, the one with the digital power section, it looks really small, at least compared to the 2000W version or any of the valve series, I guess 1000 Watts might be a bit overkill though...

[quote name='Mattbass97' timestamp='1333005638' post='1595959'] What pedals have they released? [/quote] Don't quote me, but I think there's a Nate Mendel dual distortion pedal, a Pino Palladino Octaver and a 12 band EQ pedal...

[quote name='LukeFRC' timestamp='1332942460' post='1595210']The more small british builders are doing well the better for us all [/quote] I'm proud as punch to play Scottish bass guitars! Eude

[quote name='Spoombung' timestamp='1332928108' post='1594890'] I'll simplify it for you, Eude: [/quote] Ha ha, nice one, but surely early Homo-sapiens would have played P Basses?...

[quote name='Spoombung' timestamp='1332924760' post='1594817'] According to the concept of transformational evolution, first clearly articulated by Lamarck, evolution consists of the gradual transformation of one bass guitar state to another. [/quote] This is getting too highbrow for me , I've gone forwards and backwards through my "evolution", 4 strings, 5 strings, 6 string, 6 string fretless, 4 strings, 5 strings, 6 strings, 4 strings, 5 strings, 6 strings... No "claw" yet, but there's still time I guess Eude

[quote name='Spoombung' timestamp='1332923812' post='1594801'] Well, any evolutionary biologist would agree you can't create a model of evolutionary divergence without first considering the impact of the bass guitar. [/quote] Surely we must also consider the socio-cultural anthropological reasons for choosing the bass guitar before we can truly consider the impact on the musicians in question...?

Good spot dude, most of the new stuff is listed on there now, but all without pricing or piccies, like your link. I've rather cheekily emailed Ashdown to ask for a bit more info if they can share it, sent it via Facebook this time as I've yet to ever receive a response from them via their contact form on their website (which is VERY disappointing...). Will keep you posted if I hear anything. Eude

[quote name='Spoombung' timestamp='1332875277' post='1594368'] Yeah, but carpal tunnel syndrome is an elegant solution to a neck with a symmetrical profile. [/quote] Ha ha, I guess some would argue the development of "the claw" is the body evolving to fit the bass...

[quote name='phatbass787' timestamp='1332849569' post='1593861'] Some nice looking bits there, damn you Ashdown I can feel more GAS coming [/quote] I know, I never really had much GAS for Ashdown kit, but lately they've really stepped it up. Still, I'm going to be going for 2 x 1x12 cabs and a micro head set up later this year, so I might just end up "Buying British" Eude

I'd seriously recommend trying out a flat board and the asymmetrical profile, I have them on both my basses and it feels very natural. Even if the flat board isn't for you, the asymmetrical profile is much better for your hand as it allows it to fall into a much more natural shape while playing, great for avoiding things like carpal tunnel syndrome etc. Eude

[quote name='BassApprentice' timestamp='1332804157' post='1593502'] I highly doubt he has to 'resort' to this. I imagine he designed them due to demand rather than necessity. Players love J basses due to their heritage but just want to change some things from the original that you can't do yourself i.e. neck radius or body wood. [/quote] I agree entirely, it's not "resorting" to anything, it's simply adding another option for the customer, it's sound business sense... The original designs might not be for the more traditional bass player, so now there's an ACG for them too. ACG's are indeed some of the nicest original designs out there, and now they also do one of the nicest Jazz Bass designs. Eude