tredders

A few years ago, I listed a Steinberger Spirit bass as a give away to someone who could use it (and not just sell it on).  It went to a musical therapy room being setup by one of the members here.

I've been having a recent clear out of my music room, and I've had this sitting in a rack for years, and I can count on the fingers of one hand how many times I've picked it up and played it.

It's actually really nice, and quite a high end Tanglewood acoustic bass.  I've plugged it in and everything works as it should, and it's pretty loud just played acoustically.  I just literally don't have a use for it.  I think I originally bought it when I thought I was going to make my fortune by performing hundreds of MTV Unplugged gigs, and of course none of those gigs happened 😀

Details of the bass here:

https://reverb.com/item/13494720-tanglewood-tw55a-natural-acoustic-bass-guitar-pre-owned

There's one on eBay for 890 Euros!!  Stock photo here:

Sounds good, has stayed in tune for years, and I can't see a mark on it.   I don't think I have a gig bag for it, so this will have to be an in-person handover.  I'm just off j12 M40 (South of Leamington).

As before, I'd like this to go to someone who could really use it - I'd be disappointed if it just instantly ended up on eBay.  Doesn't necessarily have to be a charity, but someone who's maybe wanted one for a while and doesn't have the spare cash to buy one.

Let me know if anyone is interested.  I'm away with work until Tuesday of next week (4th July) but I'm checking Basschat regularly (of course!)

A good home has now been found for this.  Thanks to all who showed interest.

I always like this Blur appearance.   Not great picture quality but the bass sounds ace!

Seems a bargain.  Wouldn’t Mark at Bass Direct give you more than this for it?

Wish I’d got a use for it - I’m just down the road from you. 

I bought a pair of Blackstar headphone amps this fine gent, and it was a very easy and smooth deal.  Kept in contact throughout and the Blackstars arrived quickly, were just as described and were posted very quickly.  Couldn't ask for a smoother transaction.  Highly recommended.

On 28/11/2022 at 09:06, Happy Jack said:

There are basically TWO types of Hofner Beatle bass ... the ones built in Germany (bloody expensive but the real deal) and the ones built under licence in China (relatively cheap and no real indicator of what Macca actually played).

 

Apart from the quality of the components and the different type of finish (you really want nitro) by far the most obvious difference is that cheap copies - including the made-under-licence versions - have a "central sustain block". Trans: Instead of being hollow-bodied and made using traditional violin-building techniques and bracing, they have a bloody great lump of 4x2 running down the middle onto which everything else is glued & screwed.

 

What this means is that the cheapo versions weigh substantially more, have a completely different balance to them, and because of the plasticky finish and cheap knobs have a completely different feel to them.

 

Does any of this matter? The Ignition and the Contemporary are both fine basses, play well and sound good. Yes, I've owned both. Above all, to the ignorant audience they LOOK like a Beatle bass. If I was asked to join a Beatles tribute, I would have no hesitation in buying one of these and doing the usual substitute-the-teacup-knobs thing.

 

But if what you want is to know how it felt for Macca to play this bass then you should avoid the cheapo jobbies like the plague. The instant you pick up a genuine German-made Hofner it's totally obvious that they're chalk & cheese. I've had several, including the 1963 RI, and I have a genuine 1964 hanging on the wall next to me as I write this. These are quality instruments and a piece of true craftsmanship, but that costs.

 

Just a follow up to this - just after writing this original thread, I dipped my toe in the Hofner 500/1 pond and bought an Ignition model, which had had a couple of upgrades done to it.  I found it a cracking little bass - fun to play (took some getting used to the scale!) and great sounding.  This lead me to start looking for a German made model, and I very recently tracked down a beautiful 2010 German Hofner 500/1 62 RI (known as the Mersey bass).  Everything Happy Jack said in his quoted post is absolutely spot on.  The German model weighs significantly less than the Ignition, balances better on a strap, is better made, and plays and sounds much better.   This doesn't make the Ignition rubbish - I loved mine and it gave me the appetite to want a more expensive model, but it's like comparing a £200 P bass copy with a Fender CS P bass.

Just sold my Hofner 500/1 to Quent and he was an absolute gent to deal with from start to finish.   Paid immediately, kept in contact throughout and sent a nice note when the bass arrived safely.  
 

I wouldn’t hesitate to deal with Quent again in the future - top man.  

Now sold

Now sold. 
 

Selling my Hofner Ignition Violin bass in excellent condition.   I bought it in Dec last year, when it was 6 months old, so it's still less than a year old now.  I bought this to see if I could get on with short scale, and see if I liked it.  As it turns out, I love it so much, I've just ordered a German 62-re-issue, which is arriving on Monday, so I'm looking to move this on to help towards the cost of that.

The previous owner had just put a set of LeBella Beatle Bass flats on it, along with upgraded machine heads, and traditional tea-cup knobs (both genuine Hofner, at a cost of £125, I believe).   He kindly included the original tuners, knobs and round wound strings, which will all be included in the sale.  The bass has also been professionally set-up and plays beautifully.  The action is low and intonation spot on up & down the neck.

I did a lot of reading up on the Hofner 500/1 range before buying this (there's a Basschat thread I started somewhere), as I wanted something close to the sound of the early Beatles, and this lead me to this model, which is hollow and without the centre block.  Even with my ham-fisted playing, it does a good approximation of that Beatles bass sound.

Looks like these are around £339 now, and the case is £89.  Add in the £125 upgrades and I think £300 including delivery is fair.   If you're around Warwickshire / Birmingham / Oxford etc, we could probably work out a meet-up.  If you can collect I'll knock the £25 delivery off, so it's £275 all in.

I've shamelessly stolen the original seller's photos (hope this is ok Pat?), as it's too dark outside now to take my own.  I'll replace with some new pics this weekend, but it's in identical condition as those below.  It's only been played at home, and all I've done is remove the pick guard (for that late-Macca look!), but this will obviously be included with the sale.  I'll even screw it back on if that's what the new buyer wants.

Trade wise, I really do need to stop spending on basses right now and put cash towards the incoming German Hofner, , but I'm weak-willed and I'm sure I could be tempted by something 4 string and passive.  I could also use a decent multi-fx (HX etc).  Truth is, I'll be tempted by most things bass-related, so try me with what you've got.   

Any questions, please ask.

2 hours ago, BigRedX said:

It's "Mojo"!

 

You're not supposed to clean it off.

Yeah, there's mojo and then there's 10 years of someone else's dead skin ingrained in the fretboard 😀

Just as a follow up to this, I ordered some of the Ernie Ball Wonder Wipes (Fretboard Conditioner) and used one on the Ray last night.  Seems to have done a good job lifting surface dirt and gunk off, and has definitely cleaned things up for me.  I'd recommend them for unsealed maple necks.

7 hours ago, drTStingray said:

I suspect the neck in question has the EBMM oil and wax finish. 

It does indeed.  
 

I’ve ordered some of the Ernie Ball Fret Conditioning wipes.  They should get the worst of the gunk off.   Any other natural staining, I’ll live with 👍

Thanks both - it’ll stay scuzzy then 😀

I’ve just taken delivery of a lovely SR4 with a maple fretboard, and the fretboard could do with a good clean - it’s discoloured.  
 

What’s the best way of cleaning it?  I know lemon oil is good to condition it once cleaned but can anyone recommend a cleaning kit?

Thanks

Bought a little Darkstar headphone amp from David.  Excellent seller - he had it all nicely packed and in the post within an hour of me paying.   It arrived safe & sound today, and it works perfectly.  
 

Great guy to deal with, and I’d be happy to deal with David in the future.  Thanks!

10 hours ago, Geek99 said:

Zoom b2.1u gets my vote 

way more competent than me 

 

That’s exactly the kind of recommendation I was looking for!  A man after my own heart 😀

1 minute ago, T-Bay said:

Boss gx100, over budget but well worth saving up for.

Thanks - I don’t really have a budget in mind, although I suspect I’ll end up going for something simpler (possibly cheaper?) rather than something all singing and dancing. 

Thank you - that’s really useful 👍

I’m looking for recommendations for a multi-effects box.   It won’t be gigged, just used for messing around with at home.   Something relatively straight forward to use would be preferred, and I don’t particularly need looping / recording functionality.   More something that has a good chorus, overdrive, delay etc.   Headphone output would be preferred too. 

Not really got a price in mind - I started to do some research but there’s a ton of choice, and they all started to blur into one after a while.  
 

Oh, and I have £150 gift card balance at Amazon, so it would be good if Amazon stocks whatever recommendation I get.  
 

Thanks in advance. 

Bought a Stingray 4 from Chris.  Plenty of good quality pics sent through prior to the deal, and Chris was very fast to answer any questions I had.   Very happy with the deal - the bass is fantastic, and I wouldn’t hesitate to deal with Chris in the future.   Thanks mate.  

I’ll take this please.  Will send you a message now. 

What a fabulous end result.  If it plays half as good as it looks, you’ve got a good one there. 

That really is ace 😎

As many have already said, the Bootleg Beatles are brilliant - great show, and they don't take themselves too seriously.

When working in Dallas recently, I went into a bar and the Lonely Hearts Club Band were setting up.  They put little laminated signs on each table, with an online request system on it (tip whatever you like for any number of a hundred tunes).   After I requested Taxman, Hey Bulldog, and Paperback Writer in a row, the bass player asked the audience "who's the bass player who keeps asking for these songs?" 😎

Good band, and I'll definitely go and see them again.

https://lonelyheartsclubband.com 

I can heartily recommend and endorse the Tredders Bass Method (TM).   It involves doing the minimum of practice, and then buying progressively more expensive basses, on the premise that "they'll make me play better".

It hasn't worked yet, but I can feel a breakthrough coming on any day now.  I obviously just need to buy a couple more expensive basses...

Absolute bargain.  Silly money for an AVRI 62.   Great seller too.