Maude

First impressions with the CLB-10S as opposed to the HBB30 FL (slightly upgraded acoustic compared to the basic one), Nicer shaped headstock with nicer decal, nicer shaped bridge with pins rather than through bridge stringing, Fishman electrics, all over satin finish rather than gloss, MOP soundhole binding. All this is personal preference but I really like the CLB-10S, it seems a much higher end instrument, so much so that if a fretless came up I might get it and sell the HBB30 FL, that's not to say the cheaper one isn't good, I took it to rehearsal yesterday instead of my DB and it was fantastic plugged in. Only fault I can find on the CLB-10S is the (usual) 17th fret being slightly raised, buzzing. I cant find anything else. I'm off to rehearsal now but will report back over the weekend with comparison photos.

A box is waiting at home for me.

The best I've ever received was a bass from ebay, the seller just put it in a single black bin bag and taped the top shut round the headstock. How it wasn't damaged I'll never know.

They are taller than most so be aware of that when fitting them. I had to leave the springs out and just use the old foam for keeping them under tension, with the springs in the springs would fully compress and act like spacers before the pups were low enough. I did wonder afterwards if this was their intention as the new pups don't come with springs.

Kev, I'd imagine it will only be the Harley Benton range being reduced as other brands, I assume, would go back to the manufacturer if there were problems. I don't think anyone is unaware of what they are buying, no one is expecting a high end instrument. Just a perfectly useable, nicely made bass for fifty quid to your door. I spend more than that on fuel every week. I understand what your saying though, if their 60th anniversary Fender P came up for £250 I'd have a broken keyboard from trying to order it so fast.

Yes AT, it was your post that led me to it, so yes it's your fault That said, I have been checking on Thomann as well so hopefully would have seen it. But yes, keep posting as it is good to have your program that flags them up on our side.

I'll rate the Entwistle Neo pups as well, Fitted a pair to an Aria jazz and wired a mini toggle in so I can run them in series like Fenders S1, in series they sound immense. Don't let the low price tag fool you, they could double the price and they'd still hold their own in the PU world.

[quote name='Annoying Twit' timestamp='1421453425' post='2661627'] Maude, did you buy one? [/quote] I sure did. I was after a B30 to match the fretless I bought but they only had black. This looks like a nice spec and I had a voucher which covered the postage. The wait begins Re the value and playability of these instruments, the fretless I will take to gigs as backup to my doublebass should the worst happen. I'd have no problem gigging these basses and really can't understand the mentality of if it's cheap it must be bad, to me if it plays well and holds tune then it's gig worthy,the rest is down to the player, sure an expensive bass is nice but not necessarily going to sound any better.

[quote name='Annoying Twit' timestamp='1421443682' post='2661448'] It seems a deal then, anyone going to go for it? [/quote] Oops, it's happened again ;0)

[URL=http://s157.photobucket.com/user/Maudebass/media/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_482465957754807_zpse6adc5ce.jpeg.html][IMG]http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t49/Maudebass/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_482465957754807_zpse6adc5ce.jpeg[/IMG][/URL] My acoustic band playing at 'The Blue Anchor' in Helston. Awesome pub to play as they love their live music, everyone was up dancing.

Nor me, I think it's just a material need.

50's influence, something with plenty of bottom end and around £400 to spend? I'd be looking at an Epiphone Jack Cassidy.

It's a bummer that they're selling so quick, I'm after a B30NT to go with my fretless. I've also been sort of on the lookout for a very cheap but useable P bass to chop up for a project, that PJ would have been prefect.

I'm going to put some on my bass, then as an existing feature that needs to be made use of I have a valid reason to wear a leather mini skirt on stage.

Sourcing strings is no problem at all. Make up your own set direct from LaBella, or buy their pre packed set,and they'll be on your doormat in about a week. I'm sure on Talkbass there's a thread about using standard light gauge bass strings. Due to the bridge and tailpiece design a 34" scale string fits fine. If you try a Bass VI with the standard strings don't be put off by the sloppy string rattle, a higher tension higher gauge set totally transforms this bass. Forgot to say, it's cheaper to buy direct from LaBella as well, forget the sets on ebay, my custom set from LaBella cost between 15 and 20 quid including postage.

What would be really interesting is a 'before you joined basschat' and an 'after you've been on basschat a while' picture.

I like it!

I've put a pair in an Aria jazz and wired them through a switch that puts them in series when needed, like Fenders S1, masses of thump.

You can't beat sliding your junk into the back end of a tranny ............ but I've got a VW Transporter now

What a shallow way of plugging your band ....................... I'm in ! I've just liked the above and here's a couple of mine [url="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Cloud-City-Rebels/362308095685?ref=hl"]https://www.facebook...08095685?ref=hl[/url] [url="https://www.facebook.com/Triptych.UK"]https://www.facebook.com/Triptych.UK[/url]

A couple of drops of olive oil in each ear twice a day should sort out your wooly hearing!

Have a look in the 'basschaters reviews' section for Entwistle JBXN PUs, very good PUs if you are looking for a bit more punch rather than a vintage vibe, very good price too.

Or indeed, the best metal for a stand?

Aren't nylon tapewounds just a normal metal flat or roundwound string with a nylon out outer wrap?

Stab his speaker cones with a screwdriver, he'll have a nice distorted sound at lower volume levels :-)