neepheid

Define "cheapy"?

FFS, so close - stock ETA got bumped to 3rd Sept at Andertons. Bit mean for it to happen 3 days before the previous ETA. What *are* they poncing around at? Maybe get it by... Halloween? Christmas? 2025? Whatever, I think I'm just gonna forget I ordered it then get a nice surprise whenever it does land.

There's an upcoming gigs thread for that sort of thing

In my experience, it's always DHL that's the problem. When I bought my Sire D5 from Thomann, DHL "lost" the first one. To give Thomann their due they sent a second one pretty quicky and thankfully it got through.

Well, that just makes it worse. It's simply price gouging then (unless they've got themselves entangled in the worst distribution deal in history - I'm really trying to give benefit of the doubt here, but I'm running out of ideas/options). All other manufacturers seem to be able to get their wares here for a price comparable to the USA one, even if it is simply by changing the $ into a £.

Yup, we have a cheese list which we will not play, but it's pretty small, basically Dakota, Sex on Fire, Sweet Child o' Mine at the moment. Livin' on a Prayer is in the spares box right now with its coat on a very shoogly peg

Agree to disagree - it's bad enough when "they" simply take the $ and change the symbol to a £ - this is way beyond that (as are the pricing of all SBMM instruments). I have heard it said that the EU uptick is because SBMM insist on having all their instruments made in Indonesia (or wherever) shipped back to USA for QC checks then distribute from there. If that's true, then it's unnecessary double handling which we end up paying for, all probably to placate a few local racists who wouldn't buy an "import" bass unless it's been checked for ebola or something by a fellow countryperson who's automatically better at their quality assurance job than some foreign brown person. Also - 20% import duty is way off the mark, it's about 5%. I forget precisely what it is, but it's definitely a single digit, not 20.

Gig bag will more than suffice - you only need a hard case if it's going to be rattling around in the back of a van or getting loaded/unloaded from venues not necessarily by your own self. Doesn't need to be a super expensive one at this stage - something like the Fender FB610 can be had for £30-35 and it'll keep your bass safe enough as you go back and forth from your place and your friend's. UNLESS you intend to put sheets of A4 in there too - that front pocket is feckin' useless for that because it's a daft shape.

Are you travelling with the bass anywhere, or is it just staying in the house for now?

I would agree with you if I was importing one directly, myself. But this is retail - the "island tax" is never usually this severe. This is a failure of distribution. SBMM pricing has been whacko for a while now - Mrs. Neepheid had to pry my jaw off the floor of Guitarguitar in Glasgow the first time I saw a 4 figure Ray34 and that was a few years ago.

I think we have a winner

If it's some granny who doesn't know what she's selling then I'd offer more, but if it's someone going in eyes open, they set the price and who am I to argue?

People who missed out on the SBMM Joe Dart? People who like paying nearly twice as much for something as they would stateside?

SBMM have just released the Ray2 - a cheaper, passive only Ray. https://intl.sterlingbymusicman.com/products/intro-series-stingray?variant=42149276975219 Why do I say SBMM hates us? Because to buy one of these here, it's £350 - https://www.guitarguitar.co.uk/product/240624426198008--music-man-sterling-intro-series-stingray-ray2-misty-green-amara In the USA - it's $250. When you convert our price back, that's $450. Nearly double the price. F U SBMM. They hate us, I tell you.

Don't tighten the neck screws like Desperate Dan?

OI!

Bass player stationed next to the bogs, standard

You sure about that? My Tribute L-2000 could do that - even worked in passive with the battery removed.

I'm starting to give less of a damn about it, to be honest. But it's still at prototype stage, so maybe if we gripe and moan about it loudly enough they'll change it. It worked on the Sire Z series lower horn after all (not that I had an issue with it)...

White Epiphone G-3 spotted...

...

Neutrik muting jack plugs - I've never had a problem muting the amp before plugging/unplugging stuff and I still do so out of force of habit even when I am using the lead with muting jack plugs. I simply wanted my last obbm cable to be the fanciest one it was possible to be.

"You can't go wrong with a Yamaha" - people

Now the missing stuff does annoy me - if you're going to take the FAAFO approach, at least F around with everything. I see in the Sire Z video they had to pin a comment saying that both basses were switchable active/passive. Come on guys - that's a seriously interesting angle and a thing that SBMM basses don't have (correct me if I'm wrong)

I dunno, I don't mind it so much - it's natural when you first get a bass to FAAFO when it comes to the controls, so it comes across as reassuringly human to me.