Sean

Thanks @warwickhunt. I got given £37 in vouchers this morning as a thank you from a client so will have another look. I use the EXL170-BT set (45, 60, 80, 107) on the Eb-standard Spectors but am willing to shift gauge a bit for that kind of bargain. I ordered 2 sets of 12s just before I got my 12 @£22 a set each. They were pictured as a twin pack but arrived as two separate packs. All legit, the players points went on no issue. The packaging was a bit crushed and I think they’ve probably been around a while but the bags were intact.

Sad news indeed. There’s something about G&L that just doesn’t fly with the market and it’s been that way for years. Prices of used USA basses are proportionately low compared to US Fender or US MM equivalents. Some of the US L2000 instruments that you see for sale used go for Japanese Fender prices and the Tribute line used prices are rock bottom (I’ve sold a couple in the last 2 years). I had a few of each and the quality/sound/playability is as good as anything comparable but they have remained very niche. A few times over the years I’ve had compliments on my G&L basses especially a US trans-orange L2500 I had but people said that they couldn’t get past that headstock. One person said that the G&L headstock makes it look like it’s aimed at the country music sector. I couldn’t disagree. G&L has lacked faces too, in a recent Andertons video on why Andertons is still in business, Lee Anderton says that they keep good stocks of and sell lots of instruments that customers’ favourite guitarists/bassists are playing. G&L just isn’t on the radar of many buyers in the way that Fender and MM are. There isn’t a high profile artist roster and there’s not a history of legendary stars out there playing them in the same way you see Fender and Gibson etc. G&L marketing focuses on the Leo Fender legacy and “the best instruments Leo made”. All commendable and worthy but I don’t think that figures in the buying decision of many people. The landing page of the website says “Made in Fullerton since 1980” - who cares about this except for me and few other crusties? It presumes that you know the history of Fender and significance of it, whereas most Fender owners have no idea where Fullerton is nevermind that it was where so many great Fender instruments were made. The product info is all “features”, like Saddle Lock Bridge and Dual Fulcrum Vibrato; that’s like a car manufacturer putting Fuel Injection, 16v or ABS on its products, it’s old hat, we expect all this and a lot more these days. On the homepage there’s a bloke in a G&L top and jeans sitting down playing a natural JB. Then there’s pictures of Leo and other G&L blokes in plaid shirts in the workshop, one is even holding up a competitor's guitar (it’s a Fender). That’s the shop window of G&L today. None of that helps get these amazing instruments into the hands of potential buyers. I’ve dealt with G&L customer service a couple of times in the past and it’s so far above and beyond expectation, it’s like dealing with a boutique builder that focuses on your need, they’re fantastic. I’ve had a pickup sent out FoC from California and another time they shipped me a tuner to replace one that was bit stiff. I really hope G&L comes through this in whatever way, the products are fantastic but they need a serious business rethink to get them out there selling decent numbers. Spector went through a rough patch in 2007-09 with distribution, image etc. Prices were disproportionately low but now it’s bounced back. Fender went through a rough patch in the 80s until the management buy-out. If someone like Marcus MIller can drive a new brand (Sire) to the point where it’s becoming a benchmark within its market position then surely someone can inject enough magic into G&L to make it a brand that is on a lot of people’s shortlists.

Yes, I've seen a few "shipwrecked" Subs out there. I've only ever owned 2 MM basses; a 5 string Ray for a few weeks and a Sterling (USA) that was lovely but got sold/traded for whatever reason. It could be a future endeavour, who knows what this crazy world of Bass GAS brings 😃

That's lovely, Richard. There were a few times back in the day where I nearly bought one... They were an absolute gem for the money. The likes of these don't exist anymore.

Have you had a change to play them yet? I've not really played DiMarzio, it would be interesting to get your take.

My 400+ is poorly and needs to visit the Amp Hospital, it's tripping out the socket circuit at home 🫣. So, it is highly unlikely it'll be ready to go to the SW Bass Bash by 12th October. I wonder if anyone else has a 400+ that they could take to Taunton. Saying that, who's going to bring an 800D?

It's good to know Fair Deal has responded accordingly.

I've owned a 425x and a 2025x, and I've played a 1025x. the 1025x shares components including pickups with 2025x and has a similar/same sound because of that. I picked up a 425x as a gigging backup to the 2025x at a very good price, hardly ever played it but it was a worthy instrument and excellent quality. The 1025x is of similar quality to the 425x i.e. excellent as most Yamaha basses are but sounds different due to the pickups. Yamaha is generally good at differentiation of different levels of instruments and nailed it with this series. Each step up in price delivers a step up in what you get. The 1025x is the bang for buck instrument in this case especially if you can find a good one used in a private sale.

We talk a lot about Spector basses but don’t share the sounds very often, so hopefully this’ll make a change. I’ve been editing the recording of the cover band’s last gig and thought I’d just post these snippets of my gigging basses. Depending on the song, it’s either the Bahama Blue (Jap Import) Euro 4 LX with the maple board and black blocks or the Amber Euro 4). Both have EMGs and an LHZ-03 dimed going through a GK Fusion 550 with an Origin Cali 76 comp. FoH is taking a DI from the 550 postEQ+FX. The 550 is going through an LFSys Monaco on stage. Recorded with a Zoom H2n mounted above the mixing booth at the back of the venue. These clips should give you an idea of what it sounds like both up and down in the mix. You can hear some of the top end sizzle and clank cutting through in places. Is a Spector a one trick pony? Maybe. But it’s the best trick in the World and it’s a golden winged pony. YFKI! 😀 RDVictoria 240825 Zombie Ending.mp3 RDVictoria 240825 UPressureIntro.mp3 RDVictoria 240825 LoaPsection.mp3 RDVictoria 240825 DSBsection.mp3 RDVictoria 240825 HLTWsection.mp3

Being a shameless Mesa fanboy (I've had a Mk IV guitar combo and a Stereo 2:50 power amp) gigged a Carbine M6 for years, currently have a WB Scout and a 400+, I'm interested in @agedhorse view or the industry take on new solid state analogue amps. The new Gallien RB Legacy heads were a huge surprise, they're big, heavy and really expensive and seem to be bucking the trend that we're seeing with the move to class D. I thought the Fusion 550 would be the last big analogue GK but was wrong. I look at the RB Legacy (I own 3 GKs) and wonder what customers, that don't have a road crew, touring budget and trucks, are going to buy them. Mesa must've gauged the market and conceptualised, however briefly, doing a modern take on a Carbine/BigBlock/Titan? Like a WD/TT/BD-800 front end with a big analogue power section?

I shall be taking both my 400+ and a Monaco (two actually) to the SW + SE Bashes if anyone is interested. Hearing the 400+ vs the 800D through the same cabs would be interesting.

Would you like a slot at the SE Bass Bash to regale us with your 1516 dits, Chris? I'd be front row, obviously 😀

Just to bring you up to speed with the last 15 years. It's the same people, chatting the same chat but the gear got lighter, GAS got more intense and basses became a lot harder to sell. Other than that, you've not missed anything. 😀

That's most likely a faulty pickup. There were a batch of them apparently. I can't find the source but I looked into it a while ago.

Another fabulous BassChat deal with the mega-efficient Mark. Packaging was very robust, it arrived overnight. Comms were quick and easy. All continuing to prove BassChat is the best place to buy and sell. Thank you Mark.

dennismarshall.co.uk He was the official Mesa service technician in the UK for years and is renowned for his encyclopedic knowledge and ability to fix even the most desperate amps. He's in Dunfermline.

Bashes are gatherings of basschatters and guests where we take lots of gear along, chat and try stuff out, sometimes a speaker gives a chat. If you could get along to one, it would be a good opportunity for me/someone to have a good look at your bass.

This might seem crude but if you tap on the pickups with a hex key or similar just under the G string and then compare to the loudness of the taps under the other strings, does it sound quieter under the G. Remember the shape of the reverse P in that soapbar cover. The pickup part will be forward under the G, at the back under the E. For the J, the coil is at the back and the front is empty. I've just tried it on mine and it's the same on all strings.

I think it must be a 'trading as' situation https://amphospital.co.uk/ Anyway, they are authorised repairers of many leading brands, have an excellent reputation with lots of touring bands and since MJW Amplification ceased trading (retired), it's the only place I trust with my Mesa amps. Dennis the Legend is just too far away for me although his reputation is on a par with Stan.

Well, I've learned a lot. I didn't know the WD-800 is based on the Walkabout. I've got one (a WA) and it's one of my favourites. It's currently waiting to be picked up from The Amp Hospital after having some TLC. When I pick it up I'll be dropping off my 400+ for investigation. Now, the Amp Hospital is about a mile or so from Andertons and with a following wind they'll probably have an 800D there by the time I go. You can see where this is going... A question (or 2) for @agedhorse if I may. BD-800 or 800D? What do the letters stand for? D, BD, TT, WD?

Are you able to attend either the SW or SE Bass Bashes? I'm holding back from asking questions or providing solutions without having seen/played the bass. I have a Euro LX 5 that has those pickups and an LHZ-03 and it's perfect. I understand that there were some faulty pickups out there at some point and that there's nothing wrong with the design of the pickups, just some mis-builds.

I've got a Levy's 4" with rawhide on the inside on a Yam that I can transfer. I shall check out Harvest.

I can report that if Neck Diving was an Olympic event, this Hamer would be the 12-string bass version of Tom Daley and bring home multiple Golds. It's a true champ 🥇 But we knew that anyway.

This is the third battery box replacement I've done in the last couple of years. One was an Ibanez, one my maple-board Spector and now this. I've never had an issue with the batteries in the cavity!