BigRedX

Which shop?

I fancy getting the 5-string to use in my Rock Covers band, although it'll need a refin straight away to get rid of that horrible stripy neck and pale body wood.

Great to deal with, and a nice bloke as well!

The Hagstrom doesn't appear to have individual saddle for each string, so I'd most definitely want to try before buying to make sure it stays in tune all the way up the neck. Also the scale length is only 30.75", so even shorter scale than the Waterstone.

What Mac have you got and what version of Mac OS are you running? For the kind of money your talking there you can get Logic Studio (which includes Waveburner app for making CDs) a decent audio interface, and probably still have change left over.

I've played all the Dean 8, 10 and 12 strings and haven't been too impressed either by the tone or the playability. The hardware is the same generic units found on all the cheap to mid-price far-eastern made 8-string basses.

There's a also the similar[url="http://www.schecterguitars.com/"]Schecter Studio 8[/url] which sounded and played better than the Deans but again it's got the same not particularly good hardware.

Other than that there's the [url="http://www.waterstoneguitars.com/bass_new_tp8.shtml"]Waterstone TP8-32[/url] but it's styling isn't for everyone and it's only 32" scale.

If you've got big money to spend you could look at a [url="http://www.cc.rim.or.jp/~tune/tune/framepage,tune,bass,catalog.htm"]Japanese Tune[/url]. Plenty of different 8-string models some even with whammy bars! They occasionally come up second hand on the Ishibashi U-box site for considerably less than the new price so that might be worth looking at.

Of the less expensive models I've tried the Schecter was the best of the bunch, when you consider that it's not very much better than the Carlo Robelli model than you should be able to pick up second hand for around £150, I can't really recommend it.

Save up and buy a Tune. You know it makes sense!

Don't know about DiMarzios, but your best bet for a Dark Star is [url="http://www.hammoneng.com/ordering1.htm"]direct from the maker[/url].

The £1000 is for a one-to-one course where you can build almost anything. The 3 person course is limited to more 'traditional' designs.

To get the scale length measure from the nut (or zero fret if there is one) to the 12th fret and double.

Unless you're buying something second hand that is extremely collectable right now as well as a musical instrument, I don't see any way you can make £4k back on a bass in anything other than long term, and even then it's going to be a total lottery. Do you know what's going to be the next Wal?

Keeping an eye on the resale value is for when you spend up to £1500 on a bass. Unless £4k is small change to you then if you're going to spend that much on a bass it needs to be THE ONE, and if you settle for anything less, you will end up moving it on.

If as most other people have said, you take your time, play every bass that comes your way. If you're going to buy an off-the-peg bass make sure you play the actual one you're exchanging money for. If you're going for a custom, go an see your luthier, play as many of their basses as you can, discuss at length what you're after - but don't over-specify let your luthier guide you.

Goof luck and don't forget to tell us all about it!

When I moved into my house there was nothing interesting from a musical perspective in the loft. What I did find was an old "sit-up-and-beg" style bicycle. However even after removing the wheels and handlebars it still wouldn't fit through the loft hatch. In the end I had the hack-saw the frame apart to get it out.

Two observations. It's nice to see a bass with a bolt-on neck that has been finished in the same colour as the body.

And now I have guitar GAS for RH version of the sharks-fin shape... You got a link for that?

Wonderful informative stuff. And hardly advertising - in fact CK may have 'harmed' his mysterious persona with this report.

After all this is a man who has built up an enviable reputation simply from the few people who've been lucky enough to play one of his basses, who's self promotion is basically non-existent and who's web site (when it's actually up) varies between a single page with a phone number and email address and a notice telling you that he isn't taking any orders for the foreseeable future!

But you're always keeping half and eye on the resale value, then unless your tastes in looks, feel and sound are fairly mainstream you're going to be compromising your bass and the chances are you will end up selling it on.

IMO when you have that kind of money to spend, take your time do your research wisely and buy a bass (of the peg or custom) that is exactly what you want and unless the kind of music you want to play changes dramatically, will last you for the rest of your playing life.

And here's my list of UK luthiers. Apologies for anyone I've missed...

[url="http://www.acguitars.co.uk/index.php"]ACG[/url]
[url="http://www.crimsonguitars.com/"]Crimson Guitars[/url]
[url="http://www.eccleshallguitars.co.uk/"]Eccleshall[/url]
[url="http://www.enfieldguitars.com/"]Enfield[/url]
[url="http://www.fret-king.com/greenlabel_series.htm"]Fretking Green Label[/url]
[url="http://www.gbguitars.co.uk/"]GB[/url]
[url="http://www.gusguitars.com/"]Gus[/url]
[url="http://www.jaydeeguitars.com/"]Jaydee[/url]
[url="http://www.jimfleetingguitars.com/"]Jim Fleeting[/url]
[url="http://www.johnbirchguitars.com/"]John Birch[/url]
[url="http://www.lodestoneguitars.com/"]Lodestone[/url]
[url="http://www.mansonguitars.co.uk/"]Manson[/url]
[url="http://www.overwaterbasses.com/"]Overwater[/url]
[url="http://www.rimcustombasses.co.uk/"]RIM[/url]
[url="http://www.seibass.com/"]Sei[/url]
[url="http://www.shukerguitars.co.uk/"]Shuker[/url]
[url="http://www.simonleeguitars.com/"]Simon Lee[/url]
[url="http://www.status-graphite.com/"]Status[/url]
[url="http://www.streetguitars.co.uk/"]Street Guitars[/url]
[url="http://www.walbass.co.uk/"]Wal[/url]
[url="http://www.zootbass.co.uk/"]Zoot[/url]

2007 was exceedingly poor. But last year was very good. Among the big names there were also stands with basses by Enfield, Esh, Overwater, Fox, D'Alegria amongst others. Enough cool stuff to try out to keep me occupied all day.

You called?

First up £4000 even with current less than brilliant exchange rates will probably buy you almost any new bass going except for the more exotic offerings from Carl Thompson or Jens Ritter.

First things first. Put your money away somewhere safe and take some time to figure out exactly want you want from your bass. Don't let that cash burn a hole in your pocket, and spend it on the first shiny instrument that comes your way. From your previous posts you sound like your preference is for the more traditional designs and tones, but maybe your ready to look at something new.

There's only so much that can be gleaned from hanging out at bass forums and asking opinions. Go and play as many different basses as you can. Start by checking out the stock at [url="http://www.thebassgallery.com/"]The Gallery[/url], [url="http://www.bassdirect.co.uk/bass_guitar_specialists/Home.html"]Bass Direct[/url], [url="http://www.promenademusic.co.uk/catalogue.asp?deptid=9"]Promenade Music[/url] and [url="http://www.mansons.co.uk/shopping/categories/bass-guitars/"]Mansons[/url]. Play everything they have that you like the look of no matter what the price and see what you think. It might be worth taking your current favourite bass with you for a quick straight comparison. If what you're trying isn't as good put it back and move on.

Maybe you're ready for a custom bass. Loads of great UK luthiers building world class instruments to suit a variety of tastes in sounds and looks. I've posted lists before so do a search and you should find plenty to look into. Here your £4000 will go a long way. Even with all the toys and options a Sei J-style bass made especially for you will only be around the £3000 mark.

Still not found anything that really does it for you? Then it's time to look further afield. Your starting point is probably trade shows. Unfortunately you've just missed Frankfurt, but there's the [url="http://www.londoninternationalmusicshow.com/"]London International Music Show[/url] next month and then there's [url="http://www.namm.org/summer"]Summer NAMM[/url] in Nashville in July. Take a holiday and check out some brilliant instruments at the same time.

And finally if you're still not inspired then work your way through [url="http://www.bas-extravaganza.nl/?page=links&catID=1"]this list of luthiers[/url] and somewhere there'll be something that catches your fancy.

[quote name='EBS_freak' post='487022' date='May 13 2009, 04:03 PM']Absolutely. We'd all be playing Fenders otherwise...[/quote]

If that was the case I'd be going back to synths...

Good luck with that!

I'm a Herco pick fan too and I had a massive amount of trouble getting hold of them. Even trying to buy them from the US proved to be almost impossible. The few on-line stores that claimed to be able the supply a complete box of 100 ignored my emails, and although Jim Dunlop (the manufacturers) seemed to be prepared to sell me a box, they wanted me to email my CC details - I don't think so!

Eventually I persuaded my local music shop to order me a box (which I had to pay up front for). It still took several months and much embarrassment on their part before the picks eventually arrived.

I believe that Strings and Things are the UK distributor - they do most of the rest of the Jim Dunlop pick range, so I would go direct to them and see what they say.

If you get any joy let me know as I'm about half way through my box.

[url="http://www.gusguitars.com/"]Gus[/url]

Can you handle a 5-string?

If so have a look at the [url="http://www.ibanez.co.jp/products/eb_page09.php?area_id=3&data_id=146&color=CL01&year=2009&cat_id=2&series_id=211"]Ibanez GWB5[/url]

Surely if you need more eq than that offered by your amp, you've got the wrong amp for the sound you want?

The problem with on-board pre-amps on the whole is that until you hit J-Retro quality and prices, they simply aren't very good in comparison with what even the most basic of amps can offer in terms of tone-shaping.

At the risk of sounding like a stuck record the only pre-amp that I'd consider fitting to a bass now would be the ACG because it offers something that can't be done at the amp.

Mine was £400 down at the start of the build and the rest on completion. The prices have gone up since then so the initial payment might be more now.

In my limited experience - a morning playing the demo models in the Sadowsky Brooklyn showroom - I didn't find the built-in pre-amp much use. However that might have been because the basses themselves and the rig I was playing through were so good no more tonal help was required.

As others have said get out there and play as many basses as you can. I was on a quest to find a really good fretless a couple of years back and I played literally everything I can across that didn't have frets to find what I like and what i didn't. As a Mick Karn fan also I have to say that Warwicks didn't do it for me at all until you got into the silly money territory - my custom- built Sei cost less than either of the 2 Warwicks that I actually liked.

As well as ACG which I linked in my first post you should also try a Pedulla Buzz and any Marleaux fretless before making any purchasing decissions.