Black Coffee

[quote name='Humph' timestamp='1427709538' post='2733184'] Music shops are woeful here in general. They don't even stock good bass strings half the time... hello Thomann! Matchett's in particular winds me up every time I'm in. They used to stock a Warwick Thumb and Jazzman, but now it's all Fenders/Squires/Ibanez. Mehhhh. [/quote] Welcome to the forum. I'm also from Ballymena area, and yes the music shops aren't great. Two new ones have opened recently though in the ballymena town centre. As for Matchetts, I bought the last warwick thumb I remember seeing in matchetts. It was about a week after they sold the jazzman you are talking about, and I won't say how little I paid for it, but it was so very stupid cheap. Sold it for what I definitely won't disclose about a month later. Enjoy the conference in August, new horizon I presume ?

Welcome Lots to learn here. Enjoy the craic too

Stingray 5 H in tobacco burst finish and a peavey grind 5. They both looked rough but felt and sounded perfect to me. Also never had neck issues or any other symptom of bother. These are the two I wish I could have back most, out of about 30 basses I've been through. Not that I'm not happy with my current setup, just loved the feel of those two.

I wouldn't have a jazz built, if I was wanting a four string Id just buy the Geddy Lee sig in sunburst. Black blocks on a maple fretboard, perfect neck profile (for me) and sounds like I feel a passive bass should. I had a CIJ like this and I still don't why I sold it. Probably because I'm stupid.

[quote name='cameltoe' timestamp='1427404370' post='2730095'] The worst bass I've played over the past few years was a flea bass. Tried 2 or 3 in the shop. Every one was a nasty pile of dog poop. [/quote] I've never heard anyone ever say something good about one of these. I've never played one but anything I've read or heard wouldn't encourage me to spend money on one.

Noted. Must visit IKEA and save a fortune on this.

[quote name='White Cloud' timestamp='1427408679' post='2730174'] Wood can be so unpredictable as a material, it can simply come down to a one off dog. I once read of a player that spent insane money on custom Alembic with a dragon inlay and had to string it with crazy heavy gauge strings to keep the back bow in check. [/quote] Respectfully, that doesn't say much for Alembics follow up guarantee or customer care.

I tried this sell all approach. It crashed and burned for me. I sold a 25th anniv Musicman HSS, a fender custom shop Jazz, and a warwick thumb BO4 and bought a dingwall ABII in a beautiful transparent red finish. It was the most exquisite instrument I've ever played but I couldn't relax and enjoy it for fear of me or some other individual knocking a ding in it. It went on until I parted with it at some loss and regret but better off for the experience. Now I'm sure I know one bass won't do all for me, personally at that price because it took away my relaxed enjoyment. When I wanted a solid E and B string the dingwall is the mutts nuts, but I couldn't chord as easily up above 12th fret, not so good. I wished I hadn't sold the instruments I sold due to the financial hit but I'm now more chilled and am now loving a yamaha 425x that cost me buttons comparatively speaking. This bass is currently the one for all for me for what I'm playing at 10% of the dingwall. I should say that a genzbenz 12.2 shuttle max does the proclaiming through a 4x10 but nevertheless.

[quote name='White Cloud' timestamp='1427222696' post='2727544'] You said it not me [/quote] I was thinking fender...

[quote name='Bigwan' timestamp='1427211706' post='2727258'] Surely coming from around these parts you were probably in the same boat buying your first Dingwall too?! I certainly was and, as you say, GAS is a strange mistress! Was THIS close (holds thumb and forefinger VERY close together) to flashing the credit card in Bassdirect's direction last night when they posted a sunburst super P4 on Facebook... But I remembered I actually quite like my man parts and wouldn't like having them removed by my wife with something blunt and rusty... [/quote] I should block that website from my device. I have struggled with the wood and tronics 33" five string on there second hand, and just today there's the most amazin 75 reissue fender jazz has appeared. Oh man this isn't good. Never mind the rest, and the two SR4's which are calling me too. I've had a bit of a domestic crisis in terms of rubbish fortune lately and a back ended car by some muppet at the weekend has put me on ice for buying until I'm sure that's all sorted out. My missus is the sort who wouldn't go for the castration approach, it would be more the slow painful silent treatment, (which she would normally struggle with keeping up). However it can turn out worse whenever those dreaded words,"do you really need that" ring true after a month of all picture and mute.

I know what you mean.

[quote name='Bigwan' timestamp='1427149043' post='2726572'] Keep me posted - interested in your thoughts if you decide to go down the Ibanez route! [/quote] Im in the "id like to play before buying" camp as ive never played an ibanez other than a btb 6 string over a period of a couple of weeks. Having said that gas does strange things. Its either the ff or the single cut. But i will give u a shout and u can call for a coffee and a play if i pull the trigger.

This looks like a possible purchase in the near future. I've had three Dingwalls but I've struggled with justifying thousands of quid tied up in one bass, so I let them go. So it's GAK then.

Could there be complacency even in the US workshops then just as easy as the further afield sites ? Surely it's your reputation your dicing with when you take your eye off the ball. Leo's crew have a bit of a rep of play it before you buy it but I suppose you could say that about any brand.

[quote name='Donnyboy' timestamp='1427019508' post='2724660'] Rickenbacker- obviously. [/quote] Unfortunately, an expensive lesson learned already with that brand. Owned three, one had a shabby loose vibrating truss rod, one had a dodgy bridge pickup and one was ok. Two out of three ain't good when it's broken basses at £1500 a pop. Less said the better.

If you are coping ok with the fifth string and frankly needing it, go with a narrower neck don't go with a four or you will be bass hopping all night. Remember string spacing plays a large part once you go up to a fiver or a sixer unless you have large hands. Peavey grind is a narrow neck, cheap as chips and rock solid too. I've heard good things about ibanez too.

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1426887123' post='2723250'] Oh come on! No-one will even be able to see the West Ham sticker when you're playing it, anyway. [/quote] But I would know its there and I couldn't have that sitting on a stand in my home.

I love 'arry and his choice of bass, but it's West Ham. . . . . . I'd get slated for that.

[quote name='Thump' timestamp='1426845972' post='2722538'] I tried one from a brand called Redwood , and it was pretty bad even for £130 brand new. The Squier Vintage Modern series are well worth a look in my opinion [/quote] I tried a redwood in a shop locally and it was shabby and nasty. Woodwork was rough to say the least. The squire vintage modern series always seem to attract positive comments and as I'm in a vein of playing cheaper basses through an expensive amp currently I might be tempted.

[quote name='Cosmo Valdemar' timestamp='1426846432' post='2722545'] I remember lusting after those Axe basses... I would have been about six at the time. [/quote] I was about fifteen, and I'd have been better continuing to lust after it until I got my Charvel/Jackson. Then I would have avoided the shocking experience.