Grangur

Sorry Cardiff BR, but your bass will, unless it's faulty, work with almost any standard thickness of string. The neck should have a very slight curve and the strings should be within a small clearance of the bottom of the neck and the pickups. That way it'll be nicely playable. Besides, you should be choosing light-weight strings for the sound, not because it's the only option for the bass, surely? In my earlier posts I was asking questions to try to help you to help us identify what the REAL problem is, or what it is you see as a problem and get you on the way to being happy. The problem we have is you won't answer those questions. You're convinced the answer is thinner strings. So I'm sure the answer is for you to go and buy 5-6 different makes of strings and try them all out. It won't improve your bass set up, but I'm sure you'll learn something about what strings you like. You might like lightweight strings. Good luck on your journey. I do mean that, honest.

[quote name='Cardiff Boy Roy' timestamp='1472113460' post='3118549'] Hi and thanks for the Reply, As I say I have taken out the worst of the bow, and its not too bad now, I only did it last night and left it to settle over night. what Im looking for is some suggestions on strings that wont put too much pressure back on the neck again. I believe the strings thats on it now are flatwound but dont know the make. I know the Trustrod is not for really lowering the strings ,its only there to counter act the tension of the strings Yer ? [/quote] Yes, got that, but strings are designed to give a fair bit of tension to be able to create the note. Exactly how bad is the bow? Are you saying the action is low at the bottom of the neck, but you could limbo-dance under the middle? If not, why does the bow bother you? A neck needs to have a certain amount if bow in it for it to avoid buzzing. Otherwise, maybe you need a shim in the neck.

Just how much bow do you have? When you say it has a small amount of bow, what does the relief actually measure at the 8th, or wherever you wish to measure it? No offence, but If you don't know how to measure the relief: Fret the A string at the 1st fret and the bottom of the neck and measure the gap below the string to the 8th fret. You should be getting a measurement of 0.25-0.35mm. If this is right, and you're looking for the strings to be lower, then that's the action and you adjust that at the bridge.

My vote is, if you don't need the added notes, then stick with 4. It's nice having the bottom E and all the "1st position" notes much closer to you, so you don't have to reach so far, but you have the added weight, expense and the stress of the learning curve. (If there was no stress involved you wouldn't get the "old slippers" sigh of relief). If it ain't broke, don't fix it. If you love the Ibby sound/feel, get a 4 stringer.

I've got a nice vintage Encore that I'm rebuilding. It's waiting for a new nut but other than that it's almost done. I will probably be looking to move it on. It's from the 80s and quite reliced, but all genuine from gigging. The body is black with white showing through in the dings and a white pickguard. The truss-rod is adjusted at the heel of the neck. PM me if you're interested.

[quote name='A.G.E.N.T.E.' timestamp='1472002721' post='3117628'] It happened to me once and then i tried a diferent batery brand.problem solved. Not all brands have the exactly same size. [/quote] Yes, many thanks. I've come to find that this box doesn't go well with Duracell. I also found the springs of that one didn't make good contact with the terminals, So I bought a new replacement box. The same model though.

If I'm teaching you to suck eggs, please excuse me, but having the strings too far from the pup can lose you a lot of umph. When the strings are fretted at the bottom of the neck, what is the distance between the bottom of the string and each of the pups? You should find this is no more than about 4mm. I set mine at about 2.5mm, but each to their own - some folk need more space to fret high and dig in.

If you want a simple, easy route to knowing what the Barts sound like passive, simply remove the wires from their connection to the TC4 and connect them straight to a spare jack socket. You can do one pup at a time and find out what it'd sound like passive, full vol, full tone.

Dare I say this.... Some folk on here make things and openly sell their wares to many folk, AND they get really good feedback! And I sincerely HOPE they make a profit!

[quote name='DaytonaRik' timestamp='1472031888' post='3117773'] Isn't VAT only payable on the margin for used goods - i.e. on the difference between the trade in price/value and the eventual selling price...and the rate is 16.67% [/quote] Correction: It's changed [url="https://www.gov.uk/vat-margin-schemes/overview"]https://www.gov.uk/v...chemes/overview[/url] You're right

[quote name='Musicman20' timestamp='1472029074' post='3117743'] Personally, I don't like to see anyone making a quick profit on here, especially if the seller sold it due to circumstances out of their control (e.g. sudden change of circs in life...whether good or bad). It certainly makes me feel completely opposite to how great the recent 'giving a bass to charity' thread has been...that is the side of humans I like to see. I can understand there are overheads for retailers, and no doubt someone bought it and it went straight to Bass Direct as they may not have liked it, but I also think the asking price of £1600 is very steep. If it sells, fair play. I don't like to see instruments bought on ebay then flipped on here for a profit. I've seen one or two people do it a few times, but hey, if they want to do that, that is for them to decide. The way I see it, I don't owe anyone an easy way to make money. I personally have a dislike for the typical aggressive businessman trying to make money at every opportunity. Of course I'm not saying anyone on here is like that, but that type of personality just does not sit well with me. Money isn't everything. A good trusted character is a rare find. [/quote] How do you draw the line? When is it respectable to make a profit on something in life, and when is it wrong? If you do a gig in your town do you charge less than if you're driving 20 miles? If you get a lift to a gig from a mate, do you waive some of the money you'd be paid, because it's not right you should make anything out of it above what you'd normally get? If you were doing a gig in the pub across from your house, would you do it for free, as it cost you nothing? I'm not saying you dislike any profit being made in anything, but provided all parties in any deal are happy, what's wrong with profit? Some folk on here split down their basses and sell the parts separately as that way will get more money. Is that wrong?

Hmm... I must remember to write some authenticity certificates to go with my basses.... Wow!

[quote name='JapanAxe' timestamp='1471973349' post='3117389'] I didn't start on bass till I was 40 so why not? You can pick up a lot online. Avoid the YouTube show-offs, stick with the likes of [url="http://www.scottsbasslessons.com/"]Scott Devine[/url]. [url="http://www.studybass.com/"]Study Bass[/url] is good if you want to learn the theory too. [/quote] There's clearly no hope for me. I started at 50. JapanAxe is right on the money. The SBL academy video lessons are good and worth the investment. Their forum (campus) is full of Scott adoration and teens. I keep clear of there these days, but the videos are useful.

[quote name='lowdown' timestamp='1472023545' post='3117679'] That's very well put and I understand your musical reasons. I am totally the complete opposite. My ears like hearing solos from (any Instrument). I like complex arrangements and structures. Just something that has happened to me as I have got older. But then again my musical tastes are very, very broad from simple, to complete over the top Orchestral and Jazz offerings. For me, he has great, melodic, lyrical quality in his playing, not to mention his good timing and groove. But then, that's just my opinion of course. Nothing wrong (and certainly not rubbish) with his playing on this. There is more to Vic than show boating. I love hearing players solo and on this they all do it well. [media]http://youtu.be/sx5Qd6uEWq8[/media] [/quote] Cool post - THAT its where I like VW - great bass!

As i said earlier. I've seen VW gig twice. In the first gig he was accompanied by keys as well as a guitarist and drums, and Victor played bass. Anthony W was there as bass-tech. The music was more jazz-funk and the melody and groove was strong. In the second gig it was drums, guitar, bass and VW on "lead-bass" in an almost continuous bass solo mode. So I prefered the first gig. My opinion. Others may disagree. Like many here, I like a balance in the performance, not too much fast, continuous soloing.

[quote name='MoonBassAlpha' timestamp='1472021150' post='3117662'] It would be nice to think that if someone got a good deal on here, then decided they were not going to keep it, that it would be offered up here again for a similar deal, like you would do for your mates. Doesn't always happen. [/quote] I think where a lot of folk go wrong is they advertise here and if it doesn't sell in a week or 2 they think "it's the price" and they drop the price. Then another week later, it goes down again, and again. Then they sell and are a bit disappointed they didn't get more for it. In reality what can be happening is simply the buyer didn't notice the ad for the first 2-3 weeks. They might have paid the full price, but now you've dropped it £x00, then it's an even better buy. So, it can be just a matter of timing; not the price at all. On here Fenders get lots of attention. Warwick's don't. So if I'm wanting to sell a Warwick, (Thumb BO 5er anyone?) it's very tempting to drop the price stupidly fast and I'll get a bad deal on selling. OK, back to our seller... so the deal happens. The buyer decides the sound isn't anything he needs, or he crashes the car and needs money, and the bass goes up for sale. Why can't he offer it at the same price as the original seller was originally asking, even if the price was stupidly low? If that's the case, then we are simply opening up BC to our regulars to selling basses to incomers and our members losing money on basses that aren't popular among BC members. This is, after all, a PUBLIC web site. The incoming bargain-hunters will then sell on, on Ebay etc. At least it's better if a regular BCer makes money, rather than a stranger, isn't it?

[quote name='Andyjr1515' timestamp='1471991740' post='3117577'] Excellent. I really, really like the carve on those Ibanez's. I reckon this is going to turn out to be a real good buy once you've finished with it [/quote] LOL. This started out as a blatant attempt to buy, do up and sell for profit.... I know, I'm BAD!! It's all gone wrong. I might even keep it a while!

Here's my experience. I bought this on ebay: And turned it into this: Heres' the thread on the transformation. http://basschat.co.uk/topic/290423-nbd-ibanez-sr740-2000-refurbishedproject/page__fromsearch__1 It's that good I might, just, keep it!

Fair point. Most basses I buy to sell are on Gumtree or ebay. If I've ever got reservations about a bass I'm selling being good value, I don't post it here. I wouldn't sell anything on here that I wouldn't sell for the same price to a close mate. I too like to think we're all good mates here.

So if all I'm doing is taking better pictures, or being prepared to ship it is wrong? Have you ever thought about how a car mechanic sees the world? He's working on the cars and the garage owner buys his time at £15 (?) Per hour and sells for £150 per hour. That's life. Sometimes I write to sellers on here and tell them how to make their bass more attractive to buyers. I can see ways to improve many ads selling basses to help it sell easier, or get more money. Is that evil?

I've actually got 4 basses here right now in various stages of being done up. All bought with the intention of selling on. Some might stay for a while but time will tell. I traded a bass into The Gallery once. I sold for £400. They priced it for sale at £1000. I'd bought it for £400. So I was happy. Profit is what makes the world goes round.

I can understand the OP feeling miffed but that's how the world works. Advertising here doesn't get you the top price. That's the truth. That said £266 of the 1600 is Vat. Bass Direct will be marking up by 100%. So the OP can be happy that his buyer very probably made a loss. I'm a salesman by profession. If I see a bass for sale anywhere and think I can sell for more I will do it. Very often I'll do work on it, such as levelling frets, fixing the electronics and polishing it up. Sometimes it's only a question of needing better pictures. I don't see a problem. If I can find a way to get more for it then what's wrong? Do you curse the Olympic runners because it's unfair that they run faster than you?