eude

The work @Andyjr1515 has carried out for you @TheGreek went a long way to convince me that Andy was the right man for the job. What to build you next? How about a short(er) scale 6 string like mine? I think Andy enjoyed having one around! As far as the wait goes, I've got far too much going on in the run up, what with prepping for Xmas with 2 kids, one of whom has a birthday just before too. I very much look forward to being selfish on the 27th and spending some time with my present though Eude

How very exciting mate!

Well folks, the bass arrived safe and sound yesterday and it is amazing! Securely and very neatly packed up and as a result completely unscathed. My experience with UPS has been exemplary over the years with this kind of stuff, I'd recommend them to anyone shipping a bass, just make sure and insure it properly too, just in case Anyway, I digress. The bass! I could not be happier with what @Andyjr1515 has done for me. This bass had sat, in various cases, in various accommodation over the past 20 years, completely untouched and unloved. The dream bass of the 16 year old me, had never quite been realised, and although I managed to make something serviceable enough, it never quite hit the mark and got sidelined after a couple of years constant use. I always wished I had added a darker top wood. I always wished I hadn't made it a 36" scale. I always wished I'd not messed up the control cavity and covered it up with a massive piece of tortoise shell scratchplate material. I always wished I hadn't bought that weird Wilkinson bridge, although options were limited back in the mid 90's. I always wished it wasn't so bloody heavy! @Andyjr1515 has righted all those wrongs and I now have the bass I wanted way back when and still want now 😎 He took on what was really a bit of a pig of a job, and fixed everything in his signature creative way, with fantastic communication all the way and at record speed to meet my imposed deadline. The bass plays and sounds amazing, extra props for the neck carve, it's absolutely perfect and works wonderfully with my preferred choice of a flat fingerboard. Interestingly, the bass still sounds much like I remember, only a little fatter in the lows and with a sweeter upper register, much in part to the change in scale length from 36" to 31.5", but the same character is still there which is fantastic. Sadly, I didn't manage to record anything with the bass, as I couldn't really start noodling till my kids were in bed, making filming anything impossible The bass is now packed up and squirrelled away till the 27th, but I'll get some recordings done soon after that, people need to see and hear this bass. I keep going on and on about shorter scale ERBs being just as good as long scale ones when built properly and using a considered string choice, and this bass only helps to reinforce that argument, the low B is fantastic. So, in summary, I would not hesitate to recommend @Andyjr1515 for a mod project, or full build, he's a really great guy and certainly know what he's doing. Thank you Andy! Eude

It's arrived! It's with a neighbour, I can't get out of work soon enough! Eude

Looks like Xmas is coming early!

Well it'll need to be unwrapped initially, just to make sure it survived the courier, but then I'm afraid, after some stolen moments, it'll be squirrelled away by my better half... Eude

Ha ha, but of course! It's meant to be for my 40th birthday at the end of December, however I'll try and record a little noodle before I put it away till then. Watch this space Eude

Complete and utter filth in the best possible taste of course! I can't wait to get my grubby little paws on this bass, a dream brought to life, thank you @Andyjr1515! Eude

How about that? Not a Hybrid, but a great amp and lots of dirt options built in... Eude

This.

Could you go for the Ashdown Spyder and change the valve(s) to get more grit? Ashdown might be able to abvise you on that... Or, how about one of these? https://www.andertons.co.uk/bass-dept/bass-amps/bass-amp-heads/orange-4-stroke-500-bass-amp-head Eude

I'd second this. Neil can wind you a more regular feeling string with a thicker core to meet your requirements without feeling like you're playing on suspension bridge cables. Rig wise, shame you missed out on this >> That would've been the perfect solution to such an insanely low tuning, for very silly money. Eude

They're a custom set wound to 125TW 100 80 60 40 28 in Nickel, and they are wound to feel as close to those gauges on 34" as they can be at 31.5" scale. I believe they have thicker cores. I tried heavier and lighter strings, regular, tapered, and exposed core and the 125TW felt about right. I've played Nickel for a long old time, but I've just ordered a Stainless Steel set for one of my 6ers to maybe get a little more bite. All in, I can't recommend Newtone strings enough. I used to use DRs, mainly Sun Beams, but their quality control became appalling, and as much as I liked the Sun Beams, they were a little too mellow, and the Lo Riders, a little too much. The Newtone Nickels sit perfectly in between for me, the feel of Sun Beams, but with a little more edge and poke. They're hand made here in the UK, so using them supports a local business too is a nice extra as well. If anyone wants to hear how the B is on the shorter scale with these custom Netwone strings, here's some samples I did when I got my first ACG short(er) scale 6, apologies in advance for the playing >> Cheers, Eude

Andrew Gouche is an absolute legend!

I cannot even begin to explain how chuffed I am with this! Eude

The 5 string bits were a Stingray, right?

Theres no "product design process" at Fender not any more, no measurable innovation, no more original thinking, just new/reissued colours and occasionally, a failed mashup. I think they should at least be looking to what they build for their endorsers as CS instruments for some actual inspiration and fresher ideas, albeit still based on old school designs, Mike Kerr's input would probably generate something of interest >> I also think over £1000 for a new, hatcheted Mustang is crazy money when you could pick up an original late 70's one for similar money if you shop around. I should add, this is just my 2p, as a self confessed, extremely bored of Fender guy... Eude

I don't think you've got anything to worry about mate! Eude

I completely agree, that tone IS Flea. However, I've always loved his tone on BSSM, and that's a Wal...

Yup, I heard the same. I expect that's why he keeps the Modulus basses to hand, I can't expect any Fender will be more stable than a Stingray, same construction etcs. Eude

I totally agree. I can see where they are useful in some respects but if it means that appetite for a brand or product just dies off as a result of layers of margin, then manufacturers need to act to protect their own livelihood. Selling big brands at a loss simply isn't viable any more, not that it ever really was, if the big boys won't play nice, then they won't get invited any more... Eude

That is GORGEOUS!

By the current exchange rate, £1299 for the head, translates as roughly $1660. But, in the US it retails at $999, which is roughly £780, and it will sell for less in the shops. I'm not sure that can be blamed on the exchange rate, it's more like a good old fashioned bully ramming! Still I'll be there's money to be made bring some back from the US and selling them here... Eude

F!!! Me! Those prices are literally insane! £2175 for the 2x15 cab!? Can anyone think of any other companies that charge as much for cabs? The head, I guess, it's expensive, but you can justify that price a little more given all the R&D and resultant tech that's gone into the head, but the cabs?! Wow. Eude