Al Krow

Totally agree for a 424. 425s are a little more, in line with 5 vs 4 strings, but I got my new (albeit with an end of line discount) for £280 a couple of years back before foolishly moving it on. Congrats! - Another BB PH owner, I think that makes your our 6th on this thread - it's definitely proving to be a real hit! I've included you on the 'wall of shame' on the OP Is this your first BB or do you have / previously had other models?

Was indeed interesting - thanks.

Ah fair. Get one of these then.... 😊

True...and if I bothered to check the "wall of shame" on the OP I would know that! Ok, in which case, given that you have a 414 why get a 424 when the only real difference is a laminated neck - the pups and electronics are identical, right?

And if you want "optimistic" pricing, check this out... Yamaha bb1025x 5 string Professional Bass Guitar | eBay

But other than laminated neck are you getting anything more for a 424 than a 414? There's a lovely 414 in the FS on for £160, almost half the asking price of that 424. Btw...

Just add the appropriate Tech 21 pedal and you'll be good to go

As with any profound change to tax and other arrangements there are going to be plusses (as touched on in my post) and minuses (as can be seen from the additional hassle in Newfoundfreedom's post).

Maybe only indirectly connected to our discussion on VAT, but if we had stayed in the Customs Union would VAT on private sales to/from the EU have been a non issue? Leaving the Customs Union means we now have the freedom to lower import duties from the rest of the world, which is a good thing for UK consumers. I must admit I was also unaware that 75% of customs duties the UK collected while it was part of the EU Customs Union were paid across to EU coffers. I guess I can see why the EU was pushing for us to remain in this - something new I've learned today! In theory, I presume we could rejoin the Customs Union at any point if we wanted to eg Turkey is a member, I believe, (although prevented from joining the EU, itself, by France who don't want the free movement implications). So if the costs of not being in the Customs Union outweigh the benefits, this should theoretically be relatively easily reversed down the line.

[Apparently Kloppmann...see below]

Agreed! Do know what pups he's got on that? I always loved the build quality of my Sandberg TM4 but my Delano pups never got close to that tone (too polite / hi-fi etc - all well trodden ground from me). Looks like he's using flats although I wasn't 100% certain? Again be interesting to know if that's a "pure" bass tone or, if not, what signal chain he had in between.

The £390 "duty free allowance" only applies when you personally bring stuff back from your trips abroad. It doesn't apply to items posted from abroad. That hasn't changed.

PS @AndyTravis - very nice job!

Can't argue with that: I've never played a bass you've defretted...or indeed one defretted by Jaco 😁

Haha - not saying de-fretting isn't a valid option, for some. Personally I'm with @MattiZ on this - I wouldn't defret a perfectly good fretted bass; I'd rather buy a bass that was fretless from the outset.

Sadly I can see myself doing exactly the same with used bass gear purchases from the EU and just sticking to purchases from UK sellers going forward, to avoid the UK 20% VAT plus handling charges on used bass gear from the EU. I've had several pedals sales to the EU over the past year - that will likely dry up too going forward. Why would anyone in the EU want to buy something from the UK if they can get it from another EU seller and avoid paying their local VAT rate plus handling charges? I, for one, will certainly be making it clear on my sales ads so that potential buyers are aware of this point - frankly I'd rather lose a sale than see a fellow BC'er feeling they have been short changed. I've just one 'significant' sales ad up at the moment and I've added this to my ad: PLEASE NOTE: IF YOU ARE BUYING FROM OUTSIDE THE UK THEN LOCAL VAT RATES PLUS HANDLING CHARGES MAY APPLY - IN PARTICULAR FOR EU PURCHASERS FROM 1 JAN 2021

Or just buy a fretless with an ebony fretboard which is better designed to take the wear and tear of fretless playing?

Yes agreed. (Please also refer to my OP which states exactly that).

@LukeFRC I think it's slightly simpler than you've stated as there is going to be no customs duties on trade in goods between the UK and EU, due to the trade deal just struck. See my OP for a summary that deals with a 'Thomann' type purchase (i.e. from a commercial retailer) and from a private seller.

I suspect there will unfortunately be quite a few 'nasty' surprises for folk for a while yet. Not sure that everyone who checks out the FS is necessarily going to spot this thread. Trouble is when it's 20% of a bass that already costs a lot, it won't necessarily be something you can just take on the chin if you weren't expecting / budgeting for it.

Saw that KS a while back in your NBD thread and it's still a jaw dropper! @Mickyk impressed at the ability of your Yammy BB 424 to fend off all-comers, at least until now! Have you had / still have any other Yammys before settling on the 424?

The BB 3000A was available as a fretless, but I suspect they will be as rare as hen's teeth!

That does take me back to my Mecano days! 😁

Couple of months for fretmeister to get bored / sober up and then PJ can buy off him...looks like the train has left the station! Anyone else want to jump on this excellent OC-5 bandwagon?

Hah! - I was going to put my money on the Shuker and low and behold 😁