PlungerModerno

There is quite a range - some budget gear and some serious "Coffee tables" as well as quite a few somewhere in between (most fenders, MM etc.) Given that fewer people can afford the most expensive models (e.g. Top of the line Foderas & alembics) so they may take longer to sell. Plus the more custom or modded models may take more time to shift if they're not popular or reversible mods/options. That's my insight. such as it is. Some insanely awesome examples of basses old & new on here - The limiting factor being money. (For me at least!)

Cheers for the heads up!!!

I agree with the above and the above agreement. spongebob is correct about the signature instrument thing - it needs to be their iconic, signature instrument for it to have real significance. A few albums and/or major tours with the instrument as a main recording/playing bass is the minimum. That or a truly signature design a la Mr. Simmons and his axe basses.

[quote name='kodiakblair' timestamp='1414946091' post='2594924'] That is going to be amazing when finished. Hell it looks amazing just now. [/quote] Agreed. With a greenburst stain & gloss finish it should look amazing!

Great stuff. Best in my book was the P with flats or the t40 - but I have GAS for a t40 and am getting to know my first passive P with flats ATM so that's to be expected!

Some great stuff chaps (and chapettes). Everything had something I liked but instantly there were some that sat very very well with my impression of the picture/sketch. I guess the choice I made was mainly about the feel of the piece, as well as it's exquisite texture. Thank you everyone - that was fun (but not easy to make a final choice!). [color=#0000ff]P.S. I'll have to explore some of the preceding competitions - Seems I've been missing out on some very interesting music and sounds of an experimental nature. [/color]

[quote name='cd_david' timestamp='1414790787' post='2593445'] No unfortunately, I've sourced tolex and grill cloth but just need to summon the energy to start again lol [/quote] Well don't leave it too long! It's a mammoth project (from my perspective) so it's as well to keep momentum up if possible. Take it at your own pace of course. It'll be worth it for the result - a 406 cab in minty condition!

[quote name='xilddx' timestamp='1414788978' post='2593425'] What do you want? Some old crooning bastard like Paul Rogers on it or summat? Not digging it is cool but saying it's crap because you can't understand it is unclassy. I wasn't that keen on the solo to be honest, I liked the tune though. [/quote] To be fair I did say "Not what [b]I'd[/b] call good by any definition" - it's not crap - it's just not at all to my taste! P.S. Had to look up who Paul Rogers was! Not my cup of tea either - I'd much prefer somethin' like this: [url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fp7Q1OAzITM"]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fp7Q1OAzITM[/url]

[quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1414767353' post='2593128'] The bridge on solid electric and acoustic instruments perform very different roles after that of defining one end of the speaking length of the string. On an acoustic instrument it's all about transferring the string vibration energy to the soundboard, whereas on a solid instrument it's there to do the exact opposite so that the maximum string energy can be sensed by the pickup. [/quote] +1. I don't know for sure what the exact factors are in determining the complex relationship between material, construction and sound on a solid body instrument - but I know it's a different system to an acoustic one!

Oh. That rocks and grooves.

[quote name='Ziphoblat' timestamp='1414768182' post='2593144'] I found the whole thing quite distasteful if I'm honest. I don't really see what the bass solo added to an already weak song. Just one person's opinion though. [/quote] I'm embarrassed to say I started with the intention of listening to the entire piece - but had to skip to the last minute. Can't listen to that, even if the bass is promising. Nice to have the bass at the outro - but can't compensate for that vocal. Not what I'd call good by any definition.

[quote name='PaulWarning' timestamp='1414589612' post='2591018'] the guy's just sent me pictures of marks on the neck, that weren't there when I sent it, can't tell whether it's split or not, anyway I've asked him to send it back and I'll give him a full refund [/quote] I hope it's just cosmetic. Selling through ebay can be risky.

[quote name='ubit' timestamp='1414622063' post='2591621'] I once tried to sell a plastic bottle on e bay labelled as queen Victoria's third from last fart. E bay took it down and gave me a warning that I had broken their rules by trying to sell a fake item. I had put in the advert that I had a certificate of authenticity too !!! [/quote] Is it still available?

Goblin has spotted it - it's a poorly fitting pickguard and a replacement bridge, and the ad says the original ones can come with the bass. The tuners, decal, contouring and headstock all seem to be period appropriate MIM (about 2003). I could be fooled easy enough though.

[quote] [i]"Throughout the entire phenomenal history of the band, the groundbreaking music of U2 has been underpinned by the gracefully muscular bass work of Adam Clayton. His impeccable groove and expansive tone form the sonic foundation of one of the biggest bands in the history of rock music, never more powerfully than today. Fender’s Adam Clayton Jazz Bass puts his rock-solid sound and style in your hands, with elegant appointments and elemental tone, including two potent Fender Custom Shop pickups and a beautiful Sherwood Green Metallic gloss finish with matching headstock."[/i] [/quote] From the fender website. . Couldn't disagree more with everything referring to the band and the player - but the bass looks alright. +1 to what CamdenRob said - not interested with any association with U2 or Mr. Clayton.

I'm with TimR - let your concerns reach the owner. Perhaps he's too trusting of his hires or there are other issues... It's a shame when lack of organization & communication with clients is costing a business custom. But maybe they have little competition or are ahead of their competition in some way in their niche. If they are enjoying high demand they might be focusing on making as much dosh for as little work - a little short sighted if I ask me (and I did). If the quality of their work is not slipping the work ethic (or lack thereof!) may not prove disastrous - but the owner should be concerned. I'd be worried of what was down the line. In any case of course you don't always get what you payed for - often you should be very wary of charlatans, scammers, and just weak service or products.

[quote name='ambient' timestamp='1414630456' post='2591709'] I think the new ones are made in Mexico. [/quote] I think you may be correct: [url="http://www.thomann.de/ie/fender_marcus_miller_bass_natur.htm"]http://www.thomann.de/ie/fender_marcus_miller_bass_natur.htm[/url]

[quote name='JapanAxe' timestamp='1414608732' post='2591338'] I concur. [/quote] I agree with you, in agreement with Bobthedog and danbowskill.

[quote name='hamfist' timestamp='1414605657' post='2591271'] None. [/quote] Thanks - and now I have to make preparations...

I think it makes a difference to the ergonomics, setup time & string changes, adjustability, balance of the instrument, appearance - but I don't know about tone. I think a change in saddle material may well make a noticable difference (like changing a nut) - but the bridge itself - I couldn't say. I've had high mass and lower mass bridges and can't say they're all that different IME.

Oh dear. Sorry to hear that - it really sucks. I'll stay frosty looking out for Mark Hoppus sigs. If you have pics with things like special wear marks, the serial - you may want to keep them private for the time being. I don't think there's a whole lot of these around so fingers crossed it'll be home soon! All I can do is keep my eyes open, wish you the best - and ask that you keep your eyes on the local(ish) pawning spots - and where they advertise stock. Aside from ebay I'm not sure where that would be.

[quote name='HowieBass' timestamp='1414590418' post='2591028'] You might only need one or two spacer washers on the truss rod to allow you to get a little more adjustment on the neck, meaning you can keep the current neck. If you don't want to mess with it yourself then a luthier would probably tell you very quickly if it's possible to do it this way. Here's a link to a story where a guy needed to do this to a Strat neck with the added complication of a wooden plug in front of the actual trust rod adjustment nut [url="http://chrisporro.com/?p=936"]http://chrisporro.com/?p=936[/url] [/quote] Thanks for that link... wish I'd read it a few weeks ago: [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/246192-truss-rod-tribulations-ibanez-content/page__fromsearch__1"]http://basschat.co.uk/topic/246192-truss-rod-tribulations-ibanez-content/page__fromsearch__1[/url] It turned out OK. Turns out the 10-32 thread works for an ibanez neck from '99. I'm guessing it'd work on 95% of 4mm truss rods.

OK - It's been a little while. I took a chance on this: [url="http://www.customworldguitarparts.com/default/1-truss-rod-nut-4mm-and-10-32-thread-guitar-bass.html"]http://www.customwor...uitar-bass.html[/url] Turns out it works just fine! [attachment=174927:P1000510_small.JPG] Here it is in it's new home! It fits fine - although the bass plays wonderfully now (will have to show it doing it's thing at some point) I will replace the nut shortly - it's a bit rough and needed a shim to get the action back to working order.

[quote name='hamfist' timestamp='1414573099' post='2590721'] I am not convinced that graphite necks have a "sound". I have owned graphite-necked Statuses and now have a STatus neck on a traditional Jazz design. The Statuses sounded like Statuses (obviously !). The Jazz still sounds like a Jazz, just with a really rigid and resonant neck. There is no particular spike in any frequency range, or any other "graphite-ness" in the tone. It is unfortunate that people associate graphite necks with the type of sound that Status and Zon basses make. It has little to do with the neck on these basses and more to do with the general design. [/quote] I'm interested in getting a Jazz neck from Status graphite. I have a MIM Jazz with a rosewood board - Nice bass but could really use a fix for the severe dead spot on the G string at fret 5 / C. Any hint of a dead spot or spots on your graphite necks? I'll try hipshot ultralights first but I'd appreciate your feedback on the status necks. Oh my: [quote name='ubit' timestamp='1414576176' post='2590776'] I struggle to agree that even wood makes a difference to an electric guitar. Pick ups and strings yes, but whenever people talk of the incredible sound of say maple over some other wood, I'm somewhat sceptical. It certainly helps with the look of a guitar but does it really help with the sound? [/quote] Your not alone in that opinion: [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/247093-does-body-wood-make-a-difference-to-the-sound-of-a-bass-guitar/page__st__150"]http://basschat.co.u...r/page__st__150[/url] There's many ways to look at it - but little compelling evidence to suggest any such thing as a "tonewood" - certainly when it comes to solid body electrics. Wood can certainly help hinder the sound - e.g. dead spots due to the resonant frequencies of a finished neck + hardware: [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/192342-dead-spots/"]http://basschat.co.u...342-dead-spots/[/url] - wood is harder to predict / assess - so harder to avoid dead spots.