greyparrot

[quote name='rjb' post='539118' date='Jul 13 2009, 09:29 AM']How about a Sandberg California? I have my eye on a P5 at the moment. Their price from new comes right into your budget.[/quote] How about my sunburst saowsky RV5 metro? the best 5 working 5 string out there, beats all of em! £1100.

[quote name='Flanker' post='538581' date='Jul 12 2009, 04:10 PM']I think this is about right.[/quote] Yes me too, i think its a good price for a 5ver-maybe £1100. Not sure if i wanna let it go though, its very cool. May just buy an O/W outright, but i have never really ever had 2 basses at the same time, as i only tend to use just the one for everything! We will see. I will say though that the RV5 has all the sounds, just the vintage vibe is not really me.

[quote name='bubinga5' post='538562' date='Jul 12 2009, 03:37 PM']Aaghh, dont do it Rich....You will regret it my son[/quote] HA ha i most proberbly wont do it, it is a great bass but you know, just in case mate!! have Pm'd you regard a card for the FCS. Rich.

Hi all, I traded a fender for a Sadowsky RV5 metro in sunburst. I would say it is 95% new condition with fitted case. Was wondering what its value is worth on a sale / trade? I got this as 2nd owner, i think it was bought from sadowsky in feb. I will say that it is the best bass i have ever had in terms of sond and the quality is exellent. It also has the VTC. I would be looking for an overwater or something like that, in a natural wood (lighter) finish. It still has the plastic on the back, and i replaced the P/G with a new black one from sadowsky, again in its sealing. Thanks Rich.

HA ha nice one, enjoy. GP.

[quote name='Dunkuk' post='504111' date='Jun 2 2009, 07:20 PM']There are lots of really nice looking cheap basses on ebay that are being sold by someone in Germany link below to an example package that has Bass, Amp with 8" speaker, padded case & tuner for around £99. [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/BASS-PACKAGE-50-WATT-ORANGE-AMP-METRO-TUNER_W0QQitemZ400052752008QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV?hash=item5d25008e88&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1688|66%3A2|65%3A12|39%3A1|240%3A1318|301%3A0|293%3A2|294%3A50#ebayphotohosting"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/BASS-PACKAGE-50-WATT...bayphotohosting[/url] These actually look ok, for example they have a truss rod going through the neck, and there are a few in the range, anyone tried them?[/quote] What bass? all i could see was this sexy lady!

[quote name='51m0n' post='503643' date='Jun 2 2009, 11:56 AM']This will help you a lot:- [url="http://www.ovnilab.com/faq.shtml"]Ovnilab "How to use a compressor" page[/url][/quote] CAll digital village, they will help you get the most out of it. That question you ask is hard, as it will depend on the input of the bass going in, and where its placed in the chain. so while someone here may set threshold at +10 db and ratio of 1;2 etc that may not work with your bass. Generally i try to compress most things vocals etc, with no more than 6-12db reduction, (slap playing i find requires lots of sqeeze) and then make the gain up by that same value to reach a 0db overall level. Also set the limiter to just above the 0db overall sound to keep it all nice and smooth. On a studio compressor, you must remember that it will cap the peaks,and bring up the quiter notes, but the make up in gain that you may use to get the volume back up may also bring up any signal noise at the input/eq if post eq.. If you have a gate on it as well, its worth experimenting with it. A good gate/comp/limiter can really enhance and smooth out a bass guitar if used correctly. I myself have givin up on £100 or so compressors, as i have tried a tla and it was just the buissness, so saving up for this. Its worth trying out a really good compressor to hear what it should be doing, even if its out of reach at this time. GP.

[quote name='ashevans09' post='503707' date='Jun 2 2009, 12:41 PM']Heya, Recently my Fender P has started to develop fret buzz, though it only occurs when playing an open A. Everywhere else is fine and the neck appears to be correct so is this a nut issue? It's a pretty old bass (1978) so would a new nut be the best route here? Cheers, Ash[/quote] The neck should have a slight concave bend in it, and giving the age of the bass, and the weather, the truss rod may need a tweek. GP.

[quote name='Mark Latimour' post='503694' date='Jun 2 2009, 12:30 PM']I think a lot of the time people forget that you can enjoy things on many different levels. If the only reason to want a car was to get from A to B, we'd all be driving Fiat Panda's or Daiwoos or something. People get emotional attachments to objects beyond merely its function. The reality is that in 75%+ of all the musical applications you are likely to find yourself in, a well setup MIA Fender Jazz 4 or 5 would do the job just fine. Thats great, but I enjoy basses more than just functionally. I like to see the work of amazing lutheirs, ones who are at the forefront of innovation or design. I like to see the subtle changes in tone that can be achieved by different wood or pickup combinations. Would the audience ever be able to notice this either live or recorded? Probably not (unless they were a fellow bass-head), but I don't care. Its for me to enjoy and for me to spend my money on. You don't have to be Michael Schumacher to be able to enjoy a Ferrari. Sure, you might not be able to get to 100% of its potential, but if you can enjoy it and it brings you happiness then its worth it to you. I generally don't get invovled in these "is XYZ worth it" discussions for this very reason. No one can tell you where a bass is worth it to you because no one will know the myriad of things that go into determining the value of a bass for you. AC lets you have a DN fingerboard that is the same species and age as on vintage Fenders, but it costs $1500 extra. Would I pay that? No. That sort of cache isn't what rocks my boat. However, on a bass that I will post pics of soon (after I get it), the cost of the finish alone is more than the cost of a Sadowsky. Some might feel that isn't worth it. That doesn't matter, it's not their money that bought it.[/quote] I agree some hand made basses are fantastic, and we all like what we like. I guess if i had loads of cash, i would have a spector or sadowsky (NYC). They sound and play great and are practical to play in terms of weight etc, But I guess for me, im coming at it at the working bass thing rather than the looks. I can see that point of view as well. GP.

[quote name='Brave Sir Robin' post='503680' date='Jun 2 2009, 12:20 PM']aren't these discontinued? I assume you are speaking of Ed Friedland's review. If not, it is well worth a watch.[/quote] Yep played one on PMT sounthend a few days ago. Pretty similar in tone to a jazz bass. I think they are passive basses, For the same cash i would have a mex Jazz over this, but if you like the way it looks, its great. Very light as well, but the black one looks no where near as nice as the white one. The TRB4 they had there was fantasic. The slap sound on that was just way above its price tag. GP.

[quote name='Mark Latimour' post='503652' date='Jun 2 2009, 12:05 PM']Its supply and demand. Jimmy Coppolo makes only a small number of highly desirable basses a year and charges what the market will bear. It may not be worth it to you, but it defintely is to Jimmy's customers because there is a 1 year wait for his basses. Sadowsky is the same, but at a marginaly lower price bracket (around $4000USD for Sadowsky vs about $4500 for a AC). £4200 is ridiculous because you can get it directly from the US for less than that. You can pick up a nice used AC on TB for between $3000-3800 that will be in pristine condition. With regard to whether another bass may do the same job? Sure, you can probably find another bass that sounds similar to an AC (or a Sadowsky, or an MTD or a Smith or a Fodera), but if you eally want an AC or [insert brand here], then no "poor man's [insert brand name here]" will do it for you. I have a Sadowsky and an MTD and I haven't found any other basses I could substitute for them in terms of play and feel. A US Fender Jazz is a nice bass and would probably work in 99% of situations 99% as well as my Sadowsky, but its not a Sadowsky and it won't feel the same to me. That is what is important. If its importnat enough to you to have a AC, then there is only one way to get one and that is to pay the market price. That applies for any brand. There is no point asking "where is the extra cost". The extra cost is simply the cost of entry to the club. If you don't see the value in it (however you want to justify that value), then its not the right "club" for you to join. That's cool. For me Alembic and Fodera are clubs I am not keen on joining for that very reason, but I have bought basses that cost just as much. Each to their own.[/quote] I think the way you answered that is pretty much how i feel, your paying to be in the club, but another bass will do it! Like you i have a sadowsky (metro), and the tone is better than any botique bass i have heard, and as you say the fender will always cut the gig. I guess really we are talking about ''i have an AC'' what you got?, rather than the bass itself in terms of a working bass. If you say you can get one from the states at under £2500 i think this makes this bass much more sence than to pay the £4000 plus. Having ordered direct from the USA myself last week, the speed at which the deal can be done, and delived, it is not an issue for me anymore to look beyond the uk for the best deal. if this bass was around £2000 i would look to buy it as i have played it. GP.

HI all, I was reading the review of the AC LG5 in the latest bass mag (while lying in the sun on my hamock!!) And it really is a great review. All the parts are hand made, and the bass is made from old sourced wood. Basically its a modern hand made vintage bass. Priced at £4200 Do you think that this bass can be worth that vast amount of cash? Of course all hand made basses are expensive, but this is really expensive! im also aware that they can be alot more than this as well. I realise that whom ever buys this bass would be paying the maker for the time it took to build, and the build quaslity and woods, but all told, seperate the time from the bass, how much is it really worth?? Im not disputing the price or build quality what so ever, but £1500 would proberbly get you the same standard of bass in terms of sound feel and looks i would have thought? I mean a Sandberg or a sadowsky etc would be just as well made, and sound pretty good, if not as good. Where is all the rest of the cash on this bass? Would you pay it if you had £4300 spare funds? would you buy a real vintage bass for a third of the price over this knowing they will retain their value, and not half the moment you part with the cash? Do basses seem better and more desierable because of their huge price tag? Any boutique basses i have ever owened seem great at first, but after they are just like any other decent bass, and the ding factor seems to take over so it stays at home, and the player comes out to work. GP.

If i was paying 3-4 k on a bass, i would like to see the wood on it, A natural see through finish. Seems alot of money to spend on top wood to have a painted body. MAkes it look like a fender or any other bass, although up close you can see the quality. GP.

[quote name='voxpop' post='503116' date='Jun 1 2009, 05:52 PM']Very true mate......think it might be just a little to modern for them to handle. Might have to rethink...... [/quote] Awful looking thing imo. Very expensive too i belive.

[quote name='Platypus' post='501768' date='May 30 2009, 04:54 PM']I wondered if you'd gone for it yet, Steve, I had a play on this bass a couple of weeks back, at the Bass Merchant, wonderful bass. Knew it had your name on it, though [/quote] I have played both the AC basses that Darren has at bass merchant, and while expensive, they really are beutiful basses, and the Green one with the go faster strip has a really powerful sound. Weather its worth £3800 is up to the buyer. I Think pound for pound my sadowsky is as good in build and in sound, but i think they also have that italion sports car thing about them, and if your willing to pay for it, you must really want it! As far as a working bass goes, id have a fender / sadowsky etc, but as far as the italion sports car thing goes, these do have it. The P bass has a really nicely figured maple neck. I would say the build and woods are a bit like the fender CS stuff. I have had a spector NS5XL redwood from special aged wood. It sounded fantastic, and so did my fender C/S but in all honesty i think the sadowsky has a better sound than both, and thats down to the pre amp not the woods ! GP.

[quote name='thisnameistaken' post='500290' date='May 28 2009, 09:30 PM']That's the best advice you've had yet. If you see something shiny you like, look for demos or reviews on youtube, see if you think the sound would for you. We can't tell you what pedals to buy. Expect to go through a few filters before you find one you like, maybe a few octavers too (unless you buy an OC-2 first ). Tremolo is tricky to work on bass unless you get one with a tap tempo feature, and tap-tempo trem pedals get quite expensive.[/quote] Mate well done! Try and check out the boss GT10b, Fantastic quality FX unit at around £380. Great menue screen and very clean and real sounding Fx in a great looking floor unit.

[quote name='Ajoten' post='500260' date='May 28 2009, 08:54 PM']Of course, and I would if I could find a shop within however-many-miles that stocked Dirnt, Hoppus, P5, 50s Classic, Reg Hamilton Jazz, Power Jazz, Precision Aerodyne, Epi Jack Casady, any Gibson at all, Rick Laredo, Yam Attitude (see where I'm going with this?)... I can play a Squier. Indie or Vintage before I buy it, and that's about the extent of the choice. Ultimately I'm going to have to take an online punt and just send it back if it's rubbish, so I'm trying to reduce the shortlist by theory rather than practice.[/quote] If its possible, Take the train to London, maybe bass gallery or denmark street, and try a few fenders. PMT in southend, seem to carry a good stock of fenders at the moment. If you like fenders, and you get a good un, you will be a very happy chap!

[quote name='4000' post='500226' date='May 28 2009, 08:27 PM']I've had several valve amps and would choose transistor 95% of the time.[/quote] I think the fender jazz on the back p/u tone rolled off sounds sweet. Bring in the neck p/u tone on and you have a a wicked slap sound and motwon sound. After the sadowsky sound, i think it will be very hard to go back to a passive fender, but i would like one day to have a 2nd bass and that would be a fender jazz again, even or probley a Vintage modified squire for £200. MM basses are very in your face, great, but not all the time. Jazzes sort of sing MM sort of shouts at you! Price wise, i would not pay £1000 for an 09, but would look for a 2nd hand one for about £600. I think fender keep the prices high to keep them up with the big boys, it sounds daft, but if it was £600 new for an 09 usa, i wonder if it would still have that initial sparkle to a first owner of the bass?? Personally i dont really think a standard USA 09 fender is worth more than £700 brand new. GP.

[quote name='chilisfan16' post='500061' date='May 28 2009, 05:15 PM']im looking around the 1000 mark, nothing too high in the price range but a nice bass and nice sound.[/quote] Look at a sadowsky. Everything you could want and more. For about £1000 2nd hand you can pick uo a nice one on here. Line 6 amps are great, i was playing a lowdown 300 yesterday, and the slap tone with a P bass they had in the shop was fantastic. I would love to try my sadowsky through it, and like you, i have very aggressive slap, and the compressor on the amp is great. Look into these sadowskys mate, i was very weary, but looked at all the sites, reviews harmony central reviews, and could not find a bad word about them. Spector are exellent as well, but can be on the heavy side, and the 5 strings tend to have very deep necks like the warwicks. The profile of the sadowsky is very slim. The 4 string spectors are more comfy profiles. again these have a fantastic sound, but having now owned both, i think the sadowsky has an unrivalled slap sound. Only bass i heard with loads of bottom and top and able to produce the most aggressive in your face slap sound i ever heard! (if you like that, which i do) GP.