molan

[quote name='funkypenguin' timestamp='1376350514' post='2172792'] I've played a couple of his basses, and personally the Fodera MG i played blew them away but thats just me [/quote] I've owned both Foderas and Alleva Copollos - both are right up there at the peak of bass building as far as I'm concerned. Very, very different design and build ethics but neither can really do what the other can. On a purely monetary front an MG is a good 50% more expensive than an AC (actually an MG Standard is 50% more, a fully fledged custom is more like 100% more). I can see where the money is though, the MG's are stunning instruments, I've been playing a new MGS recently and it's just a fabulous thing

I'm loving the stuff from people saying things like this thread has been posted for x number of days and Jimmy hasn't bothered to reply so that means I'll never buy one of his basses. Meanwhile the thread was posted on a Friday and, I'm guessing like a lot of working folk, Jimmy won't even have seen it until today. This is on of the hardest working luthiers I've ever met and I know for a fact that he doesn't spend his days aimlessly poring over web forums because, you know, he's like, making basses for a living. . . Talkbass loves nothing more than a good slagging off session and, in recent times, it feels like BC is heading the same way

I've owned several of Jimmy's basses, maybe 5 or 6 over the years and every single one has been absolutely superbly finished and I'm more than happy to vouch for his build quality. I've met him a couple of times and he has a, near obsessive, desire to build the highest quality instruments that deliver not only amazing tonal qualities but also, near perfect, aesthetic original design ethics. I genuinely don't think there's another builder out there that comes remotely close to Jimmy when he's on his game. He really cares about his customers as well. I recently bought the 2nd bass he ever made and the owner had removed the original pickups and replaced them with, rather nasty, Seymour Duncans. As soon as I told Jimmy he offered to replace them with his own hand wound originals completely free of charge - this is not the type of guy who screws with his customers and doesn't care about after sales service! I find the fact that he hasn't replied to this thread somewhat revealing and wonder if there's something kicking around in the background that we don't know about and that he doesn't feel a public web forum is the right place to respond. . .

[quote name='Denzel' timestamp='1376157834' post='2170400'] Molan, Can the 750 not do a moderate volume rehearsal or practice at low volume?? Is it drowning everyone out? I can deal with a headphone amp for personal practice but not up for having two heads long term really. On viewing your gear lineup it looks like you have two of everything!! [/quote] It's fine at medium/low volume but the fan is very noisy for home use (or studio if you were to use am ambient mic's). I do have a habit of doubling up on things, maybe I need both a 750 and a 751, lol

[quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1376093969' post='2169789'] The La Bellas have change in the last couple of years to having no silks on them. [/quote] I've seen very recent stocks of the standard nickels that still had the windings on. The very latest ones don't have them though (still the same strings, just no silk).

[quote name='Platypus' timestamp='1376091445' post='2169765'] Was meaning to ask you how you were getting on with rig! [/quote] I really like it a lot - it's just a question of whether I can justify having two rigs as it's not really suited to home practice and small rehearsals

Big difference in quality between those two. I think a Minnie is maybe twice the price (but is supposed to be a real pro piece of kit). BassGear in Twyford have just agreed a deal with Jule for the Monique range and should be able to get a Minnie. Delivery times will be circa 2 months though I think.

Should also add that the 750 (or 751) partners the DB410 or GS410 really, really well. In fact the best live bass sound I've ever heard was a DB750 through a pair of GS410's as used by Paul Turner

For me it's the Aguilar every day. Fafner is big and powerful but doesn't have the 'musicality' of the Aggie. Deep, rich, warm and full of natural tone that I think the EBS struggles to replicate. Notes just seem to bloom and fill out as you're playing. The joy of the Aggie is that you just turn it on, plug in your bass and play. Maybe just minor tweaking but no need to spend hours fiddling with controls

Standard La Bella and Carvin strings have black windings. Basically the same strings, really like their nickels.

Whatever you do don't buy a new one - they plummet in value like a stone and prices of new ones seem to keep going up

[quote name='Musicman20' timestamp='1375987062' post='2168364'] I think getting a hardcase is essential for a bass over £1000. Anything over £2k and I'd expect something very high end and fancy. The best hard cases are the new Fender hardcases and the EBMM ones. The best soft cases are the Mono cases. [/quote] I have a loft full of hard cases - I really don't like them and have no use for them at all. I'd much rather have a quality gig bag. The only hard case I have any interest in is the original '64 Fender that came with my P. It's knackered and falling to pieces but looks quit cool

As some of you may know, I help out from time to time in a bass store and we see lots and lots of basses coming in all sorts of packaging and with a huge variance in quality of gig bag and hard cases. However, the single common factor amongst all of them is that not one has ever arrived with any damage I hear horror stories from time to time but we've never experienced a single shipping issue because of poor packing. Admittedly we tend to operate at the higher end of the market but we've also bought in quite a few instruments at cheaper price points. There's a real variance in what people are looking for in terms of cases and gig bags. Some are really pleased with a decent fitted hard case whilst others (generally those who gig a lot) take one look at a hard case and say it'll go straight in the loft and that they'll be using a high end gig bag instead. Meanwhile others see something in a great gig bag and express disappointment because there wasn't a hard case included in the price We can sometimes swap things around but a lot of stuff is branded and/or unique to the manufacturer so it's often difficult. A quick summary of what we get and people's reactions are: Fodera - all new basses over £4K - teardrop Fodera branded hard case - people like the unique case but don't often use them. Ritter - also £4K+ - G&G type hard case without brand logo (as used by Fender for CS and Vintage models) - generally like and more likely to be used as regular transport Alleva Coppolo - again over £4K - usually come in a top quality Protec Contego gig bag - everyone likes these but some people wish they were bespoke models and branded. Now and then people wish they had a typical Fender style hard case. Laurus - circa £4K - slightly odd shaped bespoke gig bag designed to really fit the bass well - everyone does a double take when they first see the case but appreciate that it's a good piece of design to fit the instrument F Bass - circa £2.5K and up - bespoke branded gig bag - generally liked but not as strong or versatile as Protec or a Mono - generally well liked Fender Custom Shop - start at £2K but can rise rapidly - Fender branded G&G type classic hard case, sometimes with colour options like tweed or brown, usually nice bright plush lining - people like these, especially the tweed and brown options and they fit the CS brand really well. Another one for the loft storage though - sometimes because the case is seen as an investment in the future value if they come to sell the bass Wood & Tronics - around £2K - Fairly basic Warwick Rockbag soft/hard case (like a Sadowsky) - people ask why the case has a Warwick logo but usually like them, some comments about the fact that they are the cheapest of this type of design Carvin - starting at around £1K and up to £2K - Carvin branded Fender type hard case - with this brand everyone seems really impressed that they come with a nice hard case. possibly because the basses are perceived to be a 'value' brand and people assume they will only get a gig bag. Godin - around £800 - bespoke branded gig bag, not heavy protection but obviously unique because of design/colour - most people expect to get something like this on a sub £1K bass. Never really hear negative or positive comments, just basic acceptance. Obviously we get all sorts of used and PX instruments in as well but way too many to try and list out what they all come with! Happy to give a view on any (and more depth on any of the above) if anyone wants to know anything

[quote name='Oldman' timestamp='1375854148' post='2166412'] Yep, thats sounds like it, did a similar exercise when first saw the Bona, acquired an ex works price list, twiggy margins, a minimum order stocking plan. It is lovely kit, I am contemplating buying a 4 Ohm XS110 so I can have a three cab rig, dont tell Mrs Blondie [/quote] My replies dried up when I queried pricing structure vs, quality made in USA, competition

Did some investigating on this, checked prices, distribution options etc but they just stopped replying. Maybe they don't really want a UK outlet

Saw him with Stanley Clarke, Anita Baker and with his own band. Always such an exuberant performer and full of fun - one of the funkiest keys men ever! http://youtu.be/CT2ZBoWtNes

Interesting comparison I've heard previously someone who personally loved the sound he was hearing onstage from his Sadowsky but his sound man said his vintage Fender sounded much nicer out front. In that particular case it was possibly that the Sad was brighter and cutting through more on stage but maybe too bright and 'modern' when taken as part of the overall band mix.

Some of these are great: http://www.redbubble.com/people/thebeatter/works/8469444-amp-bass?p=iphone-case&ref=shop_grid&type=iphone5_deflector

Thomastik and La Bella often have gauges and scales other people don't. I just tracked down some Mustang specific and Shergold 6 medium scale strings for someone. Both were special order but got them in about 10 days

[quote name='LukeFRC' timestamp='1375119487' post='2156944'] I went into a large guitar shop in a major northern british city and tried out about 10 different jazz basses. One of them had such a bad bow in the neck I felt I needed to tell the staff as I was leaving - like major bow, checking the fretboard is still attatched level. Anyway he rolled his eyes and told me that the shop is nicely heated when open - but cools down a lot at night. The fluxuations in temprature being so great they apparently had the frets lifting on a load of custome shop guitars..... beggers belief why he told me that! [/quote] We try to keep temps as constant as possible but it's a tricky business. Loosely speaking we use minimal heat, and from small portable rads only, in the winter and just airflow without air-con in the summer. This kinda works but things still move around. It's usually spring and autumn when things are most noticeable though.

[quote name='jonno1981' timestamp='1375305899' post='2159651'] Was the the MIM with the new pickups in it? That was a very decent bass! [/quote] I think it was actually a different MM. This one had Barts in it. Both are really nice. When you get a good MM it often only needs a simple pickup upgrade to make a world of difference It's always great to get feedback from people! We really enjoy meeting new bass players and having a good natter.

[quote name='mentalextra' timestamp='1375192257' post='2157913'] Dealing with the public is always tough whatever you sell I thought that the instrument manufacturers supplied guitars with a useable standard setup out of the box. If I bought a new Fender from a "box shifter" would it be totally unplayable without a few hours with a guitar tech? How do you see your shop competing with the large "internet box shifters" in the coming years? Most of us pay a high premium using local shops, is it worth it? I'm not trying to antagonise you, its a serious question [/quote] In general terms you shouldn't find anything that's unplayable out of the box. However, it depends very much on where it's come from and how it was set up in the first place. One of our suppliers sets everything up to a pretty low action and then ships from USA. Their, very strong, recommendation is that we take each bass out of the box and leave it at showroom temperature for 24 hours in its case. Then we open the case and, in god old Spinal Tap fashion, do not touch it or go near it for another 24 hours.. By then it should have started to acclimatise to local temperatures. Of course, this may all be a bit over the top! We've discovered that most truss rods need some minor adjustment if a brand new instrument has been on a plane. The necks often straighten up and actions become very buzzy. After a few weeks they'll start to settle again and need another minor adjustment. I'd say if you're comfortable with basic bridge height and truss rod adjustment you'd be OK trying something from an warehouse type dealer. The bigger issue might be that you just get a 'duff' one. We don't sell 'out of the box' Fenders (Custom Shop only) but we do get a lot of used, nearly new, ones and sound quality definitely varies from bass to bass. Our little place is quite 'bespoke' and we don't really get into price matching battles with online retailers. In fact we currently seem to be cheaper than Thomann on some ranges as they've been slowly raising their prices since DV247 went under/into new ownership. It feels like the pure price platform models may not be working as well as they were. However, this may not be the case with mass brands like Fender. There will always be people who want the lowest price and are happy to forego customer service but there will also be people who are happy to pay a bit more for a personal service and simple stuff like a fast returns policy, quick response to questions & problems, local luthier repairs and setups etc. If you'd have asked me 3 years ago I think i would have been more worried but there seems to have been a bit of a shift back towards higher service option retailers in some specialist areas. I don't think this is true of real high volume mass produced items like electronics but certainly it seems that people want to pick up and play the actual instrument they want to buy rather than risk a bland suck it and see policy. . .

[quote name='neepheid' timestamp='1375133595' post='2157193'] That's a level of attention to detail I've yet to encounter, good on ya. [/quote] To be honest it was Alex at The Gallery that first did this for me and I've always remembered it