neepheid

All three should be fine basses (probably the top three in this price bracket) and I don't think you'll be disappointed with any of them. I am not ashamed to express my slight bias towards the G&L (I have a Tribute L-2000). Stingrays are fine instruments whatever their country of origin and well screwed together, well respected pieces of kit (I've had a shottie of a couple). I haven't had a go of the Lakland so I can't help you there. +1 for looking at the second hand market - you'll find a lot of options at that budget and pick up stuff that would be beyond you at new prices.

[quote name='Ou7shined' post='1277877' date='Jun 21 2011, 10:51 PM'] I believe the Gibby chokes are to kill the "pop" when swicthing modes though.[/quote] Have to quibble with you there my man - the choke is connected to a particular position on the varitone on an EB-3 (either 1 or 4 depending on the age). It is connected to the mid range control of a Ripper. It is connected to the (passive) bass control on a Victory Artist/Custom. It is not there as a buffer, it is a tone shaping device. [url="http://www.flyguitars.com/gibson/bass/EB3_schematic.php"]http://www.flyguitars.com/gibson/bass/EB3_schematic.php[/url] [url="http://www.flyguitars.com/gibson/bass/ripperSchematic.php"]http://www.flyguitars.com/gibson/bass/ripperSchematic.php[/url] [url="http://www.flyguitars.com/gibson/bass/Victory_customschematic.php"]http://www.flyguitars.com/gibson/bass/Vict...omschematic.php[/url] [url="http://www.flyguitars.com/gibson/bass/Victory_artistschematic.php"]http://www.flyguitars.com/gibson/bass/Vict...stschematic.php[/url]

[quote name='icastle' post='1277743' date='Jun 21 2011, 09:00 PM']If adding a cheap little component like a choke was going to make such a huge difference then everyone and their dog would have done this years ago.[/quote] Gibson fitted chokes to basses for years. That's probably why no-one else did it then

Why, you need a flux capacitor, of course Sorry, couldn't resist it.

So, did we come to the conclusion that a Les Paul bass is a single cut? I like the Les Paul, but I'm not keen on the "boutique" single cuts out there. Even the curviest ones look bloated and top heavy (visually). They may be the most balanced thing on a strap, but they look totally out of step visually. If you like 'em then good for you and if you're lucky enough to own one then play the hell out of it wherever and however you like. They're just not for me.

[quote name='YouMa' post='1273951' date='Jun 18 2011, 05:52 PM']Thinking about getting one of these seem a great deal of bang for your buck,anyone know if i can get a decent stingray tone out of them,cheers [/quote] Yes, they represent a lot of bang for your buck, especially second hand. Mine's definitely a keeper. No, they do not sound like a Stingray. They sound like a G&L. It's been said before, but I guess I'll keep saying it whenever the question is raised.

I'm usually too nervous/focussed to remember to pee, too busy trying to remember the songs

I feel quite lucky reading some of this. We're in the end of a terrace, so no-one to one side. We have a converted roofspace so the only thing directly below the bedroom/music playing area is ... us. To the other side there is a wall, a stairwell and another wall before hitting neighbours. As long as we keep the door shut, we've had no complaints. We've asked neighbours before if they get annoyed by my wife giving singing lessons, me receiving bass lessons or occasional acoustic get-togethers with the piano but no-one has said it's been a problem. Or put more simply: We're the one in blue. X marks the spot

Another OBBM devotee here.

Send it with the neck detatched, might be easier to find a smaller box?

[quote name='spinynorman' post='1271359' date='Jun 16 2011, 12:59 PM']I honestly can't see the point of the Hipshot replacement, I've got 2 Rippers with the original 3-points and they've got the best action of any basses I've had. And intonation is perfect. The Talkbass link looks like good advice. A couple of extra tips would be - use a wide-bladed screwdriver, otherwise you'll wreck the slots; if you're having trouble turning the screws, slacken off the strings a bit, and make sure you are adjusting each screw a bit at a time in turn; if the saddles fall out, they are helpfully numbered 1-4 underneath (at least on my Ripper they are); keep the front of the bridge higher than the back, otherwise the rear posts may pull out.[/quote] May I offer an alternative point of view? Intonation was never the 3 point bridge's problem, it's the lack of individual string adjustment. On the the three point bridge on my Epi Les Paul Standard, I've had to substitute a D saddle from another bridge in place of the G saddle because I can't fit a Supertone on the carved top without some major surgery. The way it worked out I just couldn't get the G string at the height I wanted without negatively affecting the others. The higher saddle on the G gave me a position which worked out across all strings. On an Epi EB-3 I had, the pole pieces were out of alignment with the strings where the 3 pointer was pulling them. The Hipshot made that problem very easy to sort with its string spacing adjustment. Another problem with the three pointer is that the ball ends are caught so close to the saddles that silked strings can have their silks going over the saddle, especially on the E string. I have not conducted any studies into the negative effects of this, so excuse me if I simply regurgitate what I've heard - being that such a situation is to be avoided. Now you've been very lucky with 2 basses where everything has come together nicely, but it's nice to have the ability to make up for any minor variables in the construction of basses. The three pointer doesn't give you anything like that flexibility, and believe me sometimes it is warranted and required. I'm not going to get into any witchcrafthorseexcrement about what it did for the tone of the instrument. I have my opinions. It definitely added a bit more weight at the body end of the bass and slightly improved (for me anyway) the neck dive of a long scale SG shaped bass. With the Hipshot you don't lose the highly convenient top loading, and the saddles don't fall out when you're changing strings (come to think of it neither does the entire bridge assembly eject itself if you remove all the strings). The intonation adjustment screws are accessed from the bottom rather than having to fit a screwdriver through/around/between your strings. You don't need to worry about the height of the front relative to the back either. It is a highly evolved direct replacement and if I may be so bold vastly superior to the original in every detail.

The Squier Standard series P is actually a Jazz necked PJ. I think it's been discontinued now though.

[quote name='Lozz196' post='1269801' date='Jun 15 2011, 10:51 AM']Don`t get me wrong, I agree with your post entirely - it`s wrong to sell insurance for something that is not covered. I was just quoting the "how we wriggle out of it" excuse that would be shoved at the customer, lumping the blame entirely at their doorstep.[/quote] Rubbish, isn't it? I hope they get the book thrown at them in the fullness of time.

[quote name='Lozz196' post='1269586' date='Jun 15 2011, 06:55 AM']Yes, the responsibility to establish whether the item being sent is covered rests solely with the customer. And if you choose to not establish that, they will still accept your cash. Whether or not that is fair, well as Big Brother says "youw decide!"[/quote] My main point is that the service as it stands is wholly unsuitable for posting musical instruments, be they in a hard case or not. However, I disagree with your assessment of this insurance situation. It is absolutely not fair. Why is that situation any different to self employed people being mis-sold PPI which would never pay out? The banks (eventually) got a hiding for that one. Mis-selling insurance didn't work out for the banks, so why the hell should it be an additional source of revenue for ParcelForce?

[quote name='basskit_case' post='1268219' date='Jun 14 2011, 08:54 AM']I usually send by CityLink or Parcelforce and have had no problems thus far. However I always pay for insurance despite the fact the basses wouldnt be covered when not sent in a hardcase! I thought I would look to see what insurance is offered for guitars if not sent in a hardcase, first company I spoke to was Parcel2Go and was told that they cannot accept a guitar for delivery if it is not in a hardcase. Can anybody reccommend a courier that will insure a guitar when not in a hardcase?[/quote] Please think carefully before considering Parcelforce in future - they won't even cover instruments in a hard case beyond the base insurance value for the service chosen - but will happily charge you at the Post Office for insurance that will NEVER pay out.

[quote name='Earbrass' post='1268333' date='Jun 14 2011, 10:36 AM']I'd also be looking at [b]which one would be most likely to sell quickly and for a good price.[/b][/quote] That's not the Warwick then