juliusmonk

You're not looking for an Apogee Jam, I guess? I have one and could do a trade

Cheers

Fair enough - but there may be things such as action, nut width, string spacing, etc. that are fairly basic for me but are not posted regularly by sellers. Many of the items FS/FT are specialist items, one-offs, high end and custom things... And options are many! Like when people say 'XXX Custom' then don't explain what is custom exactly. If 'Custom' is not the model name, that is.

Maybe it'd be good if there was some 'template' for ads as 'pinned' guidelines? You know like

Model name
Year
4/5/6 string
Woods
Neck shape
Nut width
String spacing
Hardware
Pickups
Preamp
Strings
Condition
Price
Shipping?

Photos
Sound clips

Etc.

A bit detrimental to the freedom to post in any way, but may provide consistency and avoid basic questions... And may be useful for new sellers to know what they should mention

Anyhow, just a thought - maybe there are already some guidelines? :/

Fully agree. It costs nothing to drop a note, either way. Then again, the seller has the power here, I think. Possibly the only thing worse than a hesitant buyer is a hesitant seller...

I must admit that I never tried to sell though - maybe I'll be back bitching about buyers in due time...

For what it may be worth, I guess annoying people are a constant % of the population, be it buyers or sellers, waiters or customers. But if anything, I think the buyer has more right to be somewhat annoying. I've had quite a few sellers that understood my 'I'm interested' as 'I'll buy it', then felt so frustrated afterwards that didn't bother to respond. I've also noticed that the more questions you ask, the more inclined the seller is to (wrongly) assume that the deal is settled, and frustration escalates. But questions are just questions. The seller's attittude may well put me off.

I think selling is hard sometimes, and once you've made the decision then you want to get it out asap. I can understand that. But I am the one paying. Many sellers change their mind. Many play the 'make the decision quickly or I'm selling to someone else' or '... Withdrawing soon' thing. What the... ? it's several thousand quid! Of course I'll think about it! Some point you to the manufacturer website for specs - not the best impression. If you are not prepared to take pictures, answer questions, etc. then you shouldn't be selling, maybe. That said, I always try to be transparent. There's many factors involved in a purchase decision, we all have our own obsessions - some are hard to explain. And, in the end, there will be a time when I've sent the money and I am completely in the hands of the seller - so easy to rip someone off. That leap of faith surely deserves some patience in exchange?

It's all ok in the end, I guess we're only human after all, and most of my experiences in BC have been good. Some sellers have been fantastic. It's a delicate alternative marketplace that works quite well, honestly. But I think it is unfair to always criticize hesitating buyers. As mostly a buyer, being treated well (especially in shops, mind you) has been more the exception than the norm. Sadly. And I don't think I deserve it.

It seems AG is now playing with Prince. Judging by the few clips that have leaked from the recent shows, he is doing some astonishing work on the old basslines! Jawdropping bass solo on 'Stratus' too... If this bass gets you closer to that tone, this shouldn't be still here... Tempted myself!

Yamaha all the way. Epiphone is cool but their QC is not consistent. Several Yamaha bargains on BC at the moment.

...ridiculously wide fingerboard for my small hands

(I hate my iphone)

A high C is the perfect revenge for a guitarist with a baritone.

That said, and although I found my transition to 5 strings practically painless (to my surprise), I can't help thinking that all of my bass heroes only needed 4 strings to change the landscape forever...

6-string I still handle with care. I don't know what to do with that range and ridicul

I bought a wonderful Xotic bass from Harry - top seller! Easy comms, absolutely trustworthy, reliable and friendly. Bass came well packaged, exactly as described. No issues at all.

Dealing with Harry will restore your faith in the human race... I don't think you will find a better seller. Top marks, and well deserved!

Harry, what else are you selling?

I have one of these... But typically these date from the early 80s? Mine is an '81. I also thought the model name was MC-924.

But maybe I'm wrong...

In my opinion, there are many ways of slapping - try different positions, intensities. Watch carefully the players that get the sound you're after - the classic Fender-ish slap sound is very different from MK's. Some play with an almost parallel or perpendicular thumb, pop with the index or middle finger, etc. Find what feels more natural for you. The left hand is essential, as it is continuously muting and unmuting the strings, but the overall 'feel' is also key. Do not focus on playing any notes - just get the rhythm first. Try to get a 'bouncing' feeling so that the thumb bounces back a bit after each hit - on or around the end of the fretboard.

I don't agree with what others say about EQ or gear being fairly irrelevant. There are bass guitars that make it very difficult to slap, and if you are trying to learn it may be confusing as you will blame it on your technique. String spacing and nut width may make it easier or harder - as you may hit more than one string unwillingly if it's too narrow, or have to move too much if it's too wide. String tension will affect your touch. If you have several basses, try them all. If not, go to a shop and try several - expensive ones. Chances are you'll find a neck profile that'll make it easier, and start learning things about the specs that are good for you. Fresh strings and light gauges will help, low action will allow you hit softer. Scooping the mids may increase your confidence too, as obviously you will hear more of the lows and highs and hear less string 'clank'. A good bass guitar will sound better sooner. There will be a time when you will be able to slap decently on (almost) any bass guitar - not now.

Get a drum machine. Most lessons you'll find online will start with alternate slap and pop patterns..But sometimes it is easier to start only slapping: once you get the thumb going, try to do runs and simple phrases on the E or A string only. Progressively incorporate popping on the D or G (octaves is what we all started with) without losing the rhythm.

Don't despair - I've found progress sometimes comes unexpectedly overnight - you will be enlightened one day trying this or that and suddenly find that it sounds much better and/or it is easier.

Hope it helps.

Gorgeous... Could you spare some details? Width at nut? String spacing at bridge? What are the six PU configurations? How's the basic sound? I'm presuming rather hi-fi, but any specifics you may want to share?

Seems the official site has little info...

Thanks!

Care to share some technical details?

Thanks!

Thumbs are nice, but I could never get on with the back of the neck texture... Feels rough and somewhat unfinished. It would have to be lacquered (a la Prince's 'eye' bass) for me to consider it.

How does one re-string this? One day holiday?

I once tried a Tune Zi 8-string and have always regretted not buying it... It was a very interesting instrument...

Bump again for free

This is interesting... May I ask why do you want to trade for such a similar bass? I had been looking at the Marleaux myself and am curious to see what is not convincing for you... In my mind this and the Vinny are equivalent...

Cheers

Incredible basses for the price

Btw, great ad. Informative, complete, to the point. Bravo for the action pic!!

I bought one bass guitar from Oli. Excellent seller. He was honest, helpful and flexible, offered to record sound samples, take pictures, etc. and everything went smoothly. Bass arrived mint, everything as advertised. Top bloke to deal with, buy with confidence!

Thanks Oli!

I see your point. It is just a personal observation, in case it could help sales. I know that sound samples are not an ultimate deciding factor, but I have tried enough basses to know that 85% (at least!) of the instruments are not comfortable or too dark sounding, or too brittle, etc. You never know until you have it in your hands, but if at least the specs are close to what you want, and you hear it, it helps maximise the odds...much more important imho than knowing if it has a ding here or there!

I have an original Tune Bassmaniac and if this is similar, it's a great bass. I however think that with that preamp, sound samples are a must!!

I actually think that, in the current market situation, sound samples and some basic data (nut width, string spacing...) would help a lot potential buyers decide - I personally feel that having to ask for that every time irritates the seller so sometimes I just pass... :-(

I am using now the not-so-small Yamaha THR. If you have a fairly good bass guitar and want to preserve your tone, you can switch it to Flat.

http://uk.yamaha.com/en/products/musical-instruments/guitars-basses/amps/thr_home/

In my experience, if you want to be minimally heard, then you need some speaker size.

Once more, thanks all for helping me out - especially Karl for the video! Great playing!

I think I have enough elements to decide now... All in all, and much to my GAS discontent, I will not buy the Darling - unless I can try it or an equivalent (read signature electrs and up, short scale) Alembic.

Unless GAS strikes back, that is... Did I miss one decissive variable...?

Many thanks for your assistance fellow basists!

Thanks rednose200, very useful! It looks like I'll have to go to London soonish... I realise I forgot to show you all the bass I was looking at:
http://www.station-music.de/bass/popup_bass.html?*MPImage%3D%5E%5E/images/bass/instrumente/ale_darl44126cobo%5Ejpg*MPImageX%3D0*MPImageY%3D0*MPTitle%3DAlembic*

I do have a Kingbass and it's great. Until I found it though, I had only tried an old series 2 and was a bit disappointed, I must confess - a bit too plasticky for my taste. But the Kingbass is excellent. Both the Zon and the Kingbass are graphite necks, though, and I was wondering whether the Alembic would be more "organic".

[quote name='lozbass' timestamp='1333448516' post='1601721']
Carlos - useful to listen to any and all opinions, then treat them as just that (taking into account the context in which they were formed). I can't offer a privileged or superior set of insights...still just personal opinions. Only you can decide. It's not worth me getting into another detailed/tired discussion of tones/feel etc. - none of this can be explained in text - you have to be there and all Alembic basses are different. I'll PM with some further information re: availability of basses in the UK.
[/quote]

Looking forward to it - many thanks! And any insight from experienced users always welcome!