molan

[quote name='jazzyvee' timestamp='1415989500' post='2605924'] My bass, bought in the EU has Abalone inlay fretboard markers, would that be a problem if I took it to the USA for a tour then tried to return to the UK with it? [/quote] [color=#000000][font=Times][size=1] [size=4][font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]Only "white abalone" (Haliotis sorenseni) is restricted, but this can be confusing as identifying types of abalone isn't always that simple.[/font][/size][/size][/font][/color] [color=#000000][font=Times][size=1] [size=4][font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]Permits are required for instruments shipped to any of the 173 CITES Convention signatory nations & coming out of the USA. I think this may also apply to things going in to the States as well[/font][/size][/size][/font][/color] [color=#000000][font=Times][size=1] [size=4][font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]"Instruments shipped without proper permits may be confiscated and lost to the owner forever with no compensation"[/font][/size][/size][/font][/color] [color=#000000][font=Times][size=1] [font=arial, helvetica, sans-serif][size=4]It would be worth checking if what you have is definitely abalone and, if so, if it's the restricted type or not. If it is this type then you'd be best to try and get the correct permits sorted. I've no idea how easy this is I'm afraid [/size][/font][/size][/font][/color]

[quote name='thebassist' timestamp='1415790014' post='2603732'] This is the one you sold right? [url="http://www.bassgear.co.uk/product/fodera-emperor-custom/"]http://www.bassgear....emperor-custom/[/url] [/quote] That's one of them On its way to Holland now

Good to have another local player here I'm in Henley and our shop is in Twyford so not far from you at all

They've been around a few years now. Seem to have carved out a bit of a market for Korean made 6'ers because not many people do them. Price puts them up against a lot of better known Korean products once you add in shipping, taxes and duties.

I'd like to see the noise ban actually enforced - every year we hear that there's going to be a rigid policy quiet period and every year too many people just totally ignore it

[quote name='molan' timestamp='1415753389' post='2603528'] In answer to the original question - it would definitely seem that some people think so. We've had a 'run' on them at the shop since this thread started and we have sold a new Emperor Standard 5, a pre-owned Emperor Custom 4, sorted an order for a new Matt Garrison Standard 5 and it looks like an Emperor Custom 5 is going through as well! [/quote] Ooh, forgot. Also sourced another Emperor 4 Custom for an overseas customer this week

In answer to the original question - it would definitely seem that some people think so. We've had a 'run' on them at the shop since this thread started and we have sold a new Emperor Standard 5, a pre-owned Emperor Custom 4, sorted an order for a new Matt Garrison Standard 5 and it looks like an Emperor Custom 5 is going through as well!

I think there's been some odd stuff happening in Chrome recently. A few sites, including our BassGear home page, haven't been working properly but it's all been quit random. Works one day and then nothing the next!

TH500 is about as close as you can get to the DB750 but it'll never have the sheer heft of the transformer in the big head. Using DB cabs helps a little with the TH to get the signature Aguilar tone that most people are familiar with (although my personal favourite Aggie sound is a DB751 with a pair of GS410's).

[quote name='thebassist' timestamp='1415627534' post='2602087'] You'd only get hit with import duty/VAT if you declared it or got caught though right? [/quote] And if you do get caught then you've got nasty fines on top of the duties Could be issues with importing without the required certificates from US Dept of Agriculture & Fisheries. The abalone in the Fodera logo requires this registration and every officially imported Fodera goes through this process. Not sure what the penalty for this is but could mean the bas would be impounded

Welcome Charlie, I'm a part timer at BassGear near Reading and have been a regular customer at The Gallery for years Will try to get over and say hi in person soon! Cheers, Barrie

Ferry played walking distance from my house earlier this year with this band and I was gutted that I was gigging that night and couldn't go - got dragged kicking and screaming to the same event on a different night to see Rebecca Ferguson

Depends which compressor and how it's set up. Generally I don't like them much but I really rate the Diamond one (but it's big money). Very 'musical' and sounds nice without coming across as an 'effect'. Paul Turner uses one and he really doesn't like compressors Just bought a Demeter to try out as an alternative but haven't had time to really use it properly yet.

[quote name='JTUK' timestamp='1415310660' post='2599184'] I never have cause to kick that much in but good to know the S112 cabs didn't bat an eyelid handling it. The East pre is very powerful at +15db .... that is a lot of ommph. [/quote] I must admit I was surprised that they handled the low end volume so well given the, relatively, lower power rating compared to something like the Bergs (although it's the same as the Aguilars).

[quote name='fretmeister' timestamp='1415352294' post='2599425'] Of course! But you don't buy a Ferrari just because it's a car. [/quote] I was once offered a Ferrari 308 as company car and turned it down - it was wholly impractical of course but it's a decision I regret to this day

[quote name='thebassist' timestamp='1415313805' post='2599226'] If you could only have one. A Fodera or a Smith, which would you go for? [/quote] We have both in the shop at the moment All the Smiths I've played have a very individual 'signature' sound. I've tried them with several different body & neck woods and although there are variations they all have that KS tone. If you like that core sound then nothing else really comes close. Foderas tend to have a bit more of a difference between models. There is something of a Fodera tone about many of them but I find on a Fodera I sound like me playing on a nice bass, on a Smith I sound much more like someone else playing a Ken Smith (not sure if this makes a lot of sense but that's kinda how I hear it in my head, lol). One of my Foderas had a cracking vintage P bass tone at the flick of a switch which simply solo'd the neck pickup with tone wound back a bit. Very, very different from the one I currently have!

[quote name='thebassist' timestamp='1415311447' post='2599199'] Can you post s picture molan? [/quote] Sure, it's this one: I just love looking at the headstock, lol

Apart from meeting the guys and having a good old natter my favourite moment of the day was a little test on the pair of TKS cabs with the Sei, through the Ampeg at some serious volume with, I think, some bass boost on the board pre-amp. Policesquad and I realised the roof tiles were beginning to move and scattering little flecks of dust down on us - the cabs seemed to be handling things much better than our ceiling

[quote name='stevie' timestamp='1415275582' post='2598633'] Molan, what's the difference between the TH500 and the Little Mark 3, in your estimation? [/quote] I like both and would happily gig either. The MB feels a bit cleaner and articulate but it doesn't have the lovely vintagey warmth and roundness of the TH. You can use the filters on the MB to approximate the tone of the TH but then these start to dominate to sound. It's not unpleasant but I don't find it as easy to work with as the TH. The Drive and Mid controls are really intuitive on the TH. I tend to use them to set up a core tone. The MB takes a bit more work to get a tone I really like but I think that's just my ears not being as good as some people's! I know a couple of local players who get a cracking tone out of the LMIII and one of my favourite function band guys uses one (in a combo) and sounds really, really nice. I guess he simple difference is that one is a bit more modern and the other a bit more vintage but both can be used to great effect with some tone tweaking and nice cabs

Umm, as a Fodera salesman, I should probably keep well clear of this thread I love my current Fodera more than any other I've owned (I think I've had 4 others) and it was, even by my standards insanely expensive. If I'm sitting around at home with nothing to do then it's always the one I pick up first and every time I do it makes me smile. Because I know the Fodera guys quite well I often think of them working on it and remember their faces when they gave it to me - the level of personal pride and love of what they do was clearly apparent and they were desperate for me to like it (it was made as an 'exhibition' bass for NAMM so not actually commissions by me). Does this make it 'worth' the money it cost - for me yes, but then I'm obviously biased