Al Krow

Neck through, reverse P, EMGs, sculpted body, great sound, looks stunning. What's not to love? 😊

+1 ^^ Is that a very tasty Spector (or possibly a W'ick) you're sporting?

I would hazard a guess that with a decent sub woofer, yes.

Mesa simply export their kit to Westside distribution in Glasgow AFAIK. It shouldn't cost them any more to export than any other US manufacturer. And yes I do know (albeit a little) about international distribution costs via my day job. Let's put it like this: if Jim Bergantino can export his kit to the UK with broadly a one $ = one £ rate allowing for VAT, shipping and customs then why can't Mesa? The excuse that Mesa have been giving is that they don't set retail prices in the UK. (See lengthy discussions on this earlier in the thread). I don't buy that excuse, as you'd expect at least one retailer to break rank if there were "super profits" being made at that point in the supply chain. Which is a shame - a lot of us on this thread, me included, are big Mesa fans. My M6 is still my all time favourite amp.

Looking forward to your duo stuff! What kit are you thinking about using to deliver the dub sound?

Nice one, Frank. Are you playing similar material 8 years on? (I know!). And other than become a conniesseur of ACG basses, has your sound changed / evolved in a particular direction?

Well I guess that's kinda proved the point that most of us were trying to make to Mesa. $999 in US = approx £767 for US bassists, who aren't collectively going to be less well off than us are they? Add shipping, customs & VAT and that should get to around £999 in the UK. But no, best price is currently £1,267 i.e. £500 more than a US bass player is forking out. End result: megathread in the US. Barely registering in the UK. Simples.

Wow that was a temptingly low price (again)! Kinda glad I didn't spot it in time - not sure I would have your will power to resist!

What you get up to with your basses is entirely up to you... 😄 My collection of basses will continue to be referred to as a 'herd' (by me anyway).

That would make sense. I get a lot more natural grit on my basses from the bridge J.

The sales pitch sounds very good. But unlimited blocks per patch - really? I'd have been less sceptical if they weren't being quite so optimistic about their claims! Couldn't see a DI out, but maybe the two outputs are already balanced.

I've taken the liberty of extending the recent period to include the current one, in case a few amazing tracks come out of the woodwork during the course of the year.

You say that but one thing that comes across well in several of your videos is a meaty low end for both kick drum and bass / bass on keys. Were you using a sub woofer with crossover? Do you know what mics you were using to record the sound - they delivered a really good sound without distorting.

+1 ^^ Love your band and your sound! (Also just worked out a hack how to make this thread a LOT more user friendly to avoid not finding the wood for the trees - doh!)

You're making me feel better about getting a "modest" Gretch already 😁

Sorry Chris - I have to disagree. Old strings and poor EQ'ing don't go well with a zingy slap tone. For sure technique is a big part of slap as it is with most of bass playing.

Thanks - do let us know what you find. I'm trying to have a break from new gear buying this year and already feeling like I'm already starting to make better use of my existing kit, rather than chasing after the latest shiny toy. Means that gig monies and gear sale proceeds are accumulating on the side and that Gretch is definitely a contender for 2021 What's a Gus Bass VI going to set you back, if I might dare ask, if it makes the Gretch relatively affordable?!

Here's my current "alternate" Bass VI - an Ibanez GVB36 strung E to E (with C string detuned to B as with a normal 6 string guitar). 14mm string spacing at the bridge down to 9mm at the nut.

BRX - you ever considered the Gretsch G6120TB-DE Duane Eddy 6-String? Not been able to find any info on the string spacing on this yet, so if anyone has to hand please divulge. Not cheap - but utterly gorgeous!!

Haha - very true about me and compression! I'm trying to spend less time in with the WC brigade these days...

That really is very good (as per the rest of your stuff), thanks Ian! I sense there's a touch more grit and smidge more sustain on the Puth track? But pretty darned close to the Dua Lipa bass tone.

@lee650and @dodge_bass - the thread I was referring to

Yeah but I think our goals are different here: I'd really like to get that sound as a core bass tone and not just for use on those two tracks - it would be a cool tone to use elsewhere.

Well in one of my bands it doesn't get much newer than mid 60s, with a couple of notable exceptions, but that's not an entirely a fair comparison - given that it's a rock n roll outfit 😁

Sounds like he's singing along to a vocal backing track, karaoke style! Agreed that the live bass version lacks the juiciness of the recorded version, which is kinda the sound I'd like to get to. But if Charlie's bassist with all the gear, sound engineering and awesome sound system available to the band at the gig couldn't get there, then I'm very probably being unrealistic in hoping to do so.