Clarky

Sounds like a great idea to me, especially as you have written on several occasions how your ESP just "fits" you. Its actually a much lower risk than buying a new bass as you will be completely familiar with the body/sound/right hand placement etc and John Shuker is a craftsman. The only way this could be a mistake is if he or you somehow compromise the existing bass or its neck (eg, damage the neck pocket) which I am assuming will not happen. Go for it!

Mark at BassDirect just got a TC Classic to me in record time. I had left it too late for the Friday courier when I placed the order and was a bit disappointed as I wanted it for Monday, so that I could have it on my birthday (Tuesday). Without charging extra Mark put it on an overnight delivery to arrive this morning, complete with a cheer happy birthday message on the outside of the box. Now that is (again) really good, customer focused service. Can't recommend highly enough. PS tha amp sounds remarkably tube like, like my old Mesa, and I am very pleased with it.

Yowza! Thats close to three grand including shipping and duties. When I was an active member of RickResource I vaguely recall one or two changing hands for less than this although I can't exactly recall by how much (the translation into sterling wasn't so horrible in those days). Ever thought of going sunburst Mark? Would save you a lot of money

Sorted now - I have paid a bit extra to get a new TC Classic 450 as it does everything I want and as it was only £90 more than the best offer I had of a s/h micro-amp

[quote name='Viajero' post='896241' date='Jul 16 2010, 08:42 AM']Grand Wazoo - I am indescribably impressed that you have that. Great story to it, too. If you plan on dying any time soon, could I have it?[/quote] Thats one way to wish GW a happy birthday! (see bottom of BassChat home page )

Thanks all, you've sold me. So its a level playing field between micro heads with and without valve pre-amps. Now it just comes down to me deciding which head fits the bill best in terms of price, availability and features. PS, I do have an Items Wanted thread, looking for just such an amp if you haven't spotted it! [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=94809&st=0&p=892771&#entry892771"]http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=...mp;#entry892771[/url]

[quote name='EBS_freak' post='895656' date='Jul 15 2010, 02:53 PM']Well thats the biggest none news thread of the week.[/quote] I was going to start a thread saying I had some nice chicken soup for lunch but I don't think I'll bother now

[quote name='obbm' post='895518' date='Jul 15 2010, 12:30 PM']In general valve pre-amps go on for years with no trouble. Over the past couple of years I've had several very old all-valve heads pass through my hands with their original pre-amp valves still performing perfectly.[/quote] Thanks obbm! I must admit I've not heard of hybrid amps failing but it was a thought that occurred to me this morning, given the valve component

While considering a micro-sized back-up for my Orange AD200B, it occurred to me this morning that I may be barking up the wrong tree. I have been looking for a micro amp with a valve pre-amp/front end to closely replicate a valve-y type sound (eg Shuttle, Headlite etc). Is there a material risk that the valve could blow/knacker on one of these, thereby ruining its capability as a back-up .... and therefore what I should really be looking for (in terms of as-near-as-100% bullet-proof reliability) is a wholly solid state micro-amp (eg, Markbass F1/LM, TC 450/RH)?

I say much lower for the Precision, probably no more than £500 depending on condition/modifications. However the 80s is a tricky period (when you have highly valued Squier JVs etc) and I am not at all sure. OldGit is the expert on Japanese Precisions and I'm sure he'll be on shortly

[quote name='OldGit' post='894826' date='Jul 14 2010, 04:18 PM']There are some experts on most types on here.[/quote] and plenty of non-experts who don't have the foggiest but will still venture an opinion

[quote name='Norris' post='894615' date='Jul 14 2010, 12:40 PM']I look, sound and feel like a SEX GOD playing it![/quote] Glad you, errr, like it Norris So, did Mrs Norris come to the gig?

[quote name='alanbass1' post='894376' date='Jul 14 2010, 08:14 AM']They have a nice second hand CS '55 P bass at Bass Direct.................umm[/quote] Yep, slavered over that loads but all spent out (and a bit long of P basses already)!

Hmmm but I like the look of this custom 55 p bass they are listing, if not the price [url="http://www.coda-music.com/product_info.php?cPath=27_247&products_id=8010"]http://www.coda-music.com/product_info.php...roducts_id=8010[/url]

I was gutted to have to sell as I had always loved the look of T'birds since the 70s (when I saw Pete Way of UFO throbbing away on one). But not only was the skinniness of the neck an issue for me but the ergonomics of pick playing. If you play fingerstyle, I think it works well but if you play pick-style and (as I do) rest the beef of your picking hand on the top of the bass, a combination of the crappy 3-point bridge and the raised central wood section mean an unnatural angle of picking. This was OK for me if playing slow to medium but when pumping out 16th notes at a fast tempo I just found it very easy to screw up and (compared to a Fender P or J) hard to control as precisely. Hence the object of many years of desire had to go

[quote name='Musicman20' post='893805' date='Jul 13 2010, 03:09 PM']Hi Thanks, but unfortunately im not into the style of the Aerodyne. Sunburst would be great though! It now seems I might be being predictable and just getting another American Series Jazz unless something else comes up. Once I get a proper case for the Roadworn its the same price as the American Standard and yep that includes the Sunburst version! Im going to give it some thought.[/quote] If you are going the Am Std route, why not just buy alhbass' 2009 3TS for a cut-price £625? I owned that bass once (bought it in Aug 2009 and later sold it to Old Horse Murphy) and I can assure you its a good'un. I think OHM put one tiny dint in it (assuming nothing untoward has since happened) but that was not enough to worry even the more bass-proud like you Gareth (and me!) And its a whopping saving on new [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=79630&hl=alhbass"]http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=...&hl=alhbass[/url] No, I don't get commission on sales of my previously-owned basses

There's not too many fans on BC, its true. I owned one recently but sold it as I couldn't cope with the skinny neck (I play P basses generally). BC dudes such as Shaggy, Marky L and Norris are T'bird fans though and I am sure they will chip in!

[quote name='Rayman' post='892512' date='Jul 12 2010, 08:49 AM']Where are the ruddy pics !![/quote] Mrs C has gone off with sprogs for the week and taken the camera. Sorry!

Great job there Tim. Looks fabulous. At the risk of bringing back Sid James, but are those my old knobs?

[quote name='dave_bass5' post='891870' date='Jul 11 2010, 11:52 AM']I played my first gig with chromes on my jazz last night and noticed the D string was lower than the others. I figured this might be a duff string but after putting my old strings back on the problem is still there, although not so noticeable. I've always felt somethings was not right with the D but I think the chromes have highlighted it. I've yet to test the pups out properly. I'm going to turn the neck pup round and see if it makes difference but thought I would ask for any thoughts in the meantime. I'll update once I've checked the pup.[/quote] Hi Dave, I put up a post this morning about strings and volume variability. Basically I swapped what should have been an identical E string and the volume jumped probably 25%! Maybe try one more set of strings before fiddling with pickup?