three

The anticipation is wonderful and I hope that the Monique arrives with you perfectly safely.  I have messed around with loads of pres and have tended to prefer solid state, the Warwick Hellborg being my favourite of all.  The Monique was quite a surprise - very fast and articulate indeed - I sort of wasn't expecting that.  The sensitivity knob seems to be where it all happens with the Monique - the combination of gain and sensitivity can produce some massively impressive results.  I tend to use the Monique and Hellborg fairly equally now, both through the back-end of an Agi DB750.  I look forward to hearing what you think of the Monique - it took me around 2 minutes to discover it's pretty special. 

Absolute classic and absolutely beautiful - you could see that gracing a stage anywhere in the world!

1 hour ago, Burns-bass said:

A 6 string Wal bass would cost you £3000 in 2012 (check on BC!). Today - when there are more of them in the world than that - it’s 4 times as much. 
 

I can verify this - I bought my 6 on here in 2011 for £3250 and sold it around a year later to another BC member for the same price.  A nice instrument but I struggle to understand current values (well, I don't really, I've worked in a number of well-known business schools).  Wish I'd hung onto it and the fretless 4 I had - I'd certainly sell now and buy something I'd actually use and enjoy... something like that SCD shorty above.  Fortunately, Wals aren't for me.

Love the Gallery! I don’t think the Wal was littleal’s. The latter started life as a fretless and was then fretted at the Gallery. I had it for a short while in its fretted state but sold fairly quickly (I don’t really get in with Wals). I didn’t get £12,500. 

Wow, I had a US NS2 and the neck was the killer - this looks superb!

The buckeye top may see itself as star of the show but that rosewood board has to take a bow for best supporting role. Absolutely gorgeous throughout - I’d love to play this. Alas, shorties only for me now. Just for fun… what’s the nut width and string spacing on this?

Wayne Jones WJBP STEREO VALVE BASS PRE-AMP DI - hardly used and in spectacular condition.  All the information you could possibly need is here:

https://www.waynejonesaudio.com/products-specs/wjbp-stereo-bass-pre-amp/

There’s a gushing but accurate review from Scott here too - well worth a listen on decent cans if you have the time:

The basic details (from WJ's website) are:

Input 1/4” phono stereo/mono jack

Input Gain For both Passive & Active basses

-10 Db pad

Input Gain clip Indicator LEDS (top left corner)

Tone controls are critically set by Wayne & are extremely accurate in the attack points of each string. You can set them by one for each string on your bass All +15Db -20 Db

Incredible separation between the tone controls

There is also a 30 Hz boost for those that may like it ( not really needed at all as the Bass control gives such a great bottom end with ultimate attack). In/out button for selection

Compressor: Optical, automatically senses & is very effective even with a very small amount engaged. In/out button for selection

Balance: This is a balance control for stereo operation e.g. 2 WJ 2x10 or Stereo WJ 1x10 Powered cabs.

Master volume Controls output

Pre-Amp Output Indicator LEDS (top right corner) tell you if you are overloading the WJBP output

Mute - Puts the WJBP in standby mode. LED Indicates when in use. The Mute mode should also be used for power up of the WJ Powered cabs, otherwise a very loud 1000watts will sound when WJ Powered cab (or separate power amp) is turned on.

It also operates the built in Tuner. For standard tuning for 4, 5 & 6 string basses

Foot switch mutes all output for silent tuning.

I have all original packaging with the rack-mounting kit and power supply.  I don't have the footswitch  The pre is in as new condition, apart from a very small (really tiny - maybe 1-2mm) mark on top on the unit.  This was caused by one of the rack ears falling from the packaging as I opened the box!  I've re-touched it with a tiny smear of matte acrylic and the re-touch isn't really visible unless one inspects very closely.  I'll tape the ears into the packaging.  

There are reviews all over for these and the latter are uniformly positive.  A really high-end and beautifully thought-through pre.  I'm only selling as it sounds almost identical to my Hellborg pre and the latter is already sat in my rig.  The WJ is extremely precise, though warm and musical.  The one-knob compressor is an absolute joy, though I hardly ever use any compression.  Weight is 2.41kg.

Price is firm - this is a lovely and very expensive unit in perfect functional condition, and almost (really!) cosmetic condition.  I checked this morning and purchase price of a new pre directly from WJ is £1107 (including shipping, VAT and duty).

Collection from Manchester is good, though I can ship at cost at the buyer's expense and risk (I can include insurance if required).  Any questions, please just ask.   

I’d tend to agree with Thodrik - an Agi TH might be worth a try. The Mesa will be very solid and will have its own flavour. I’ve been down a similar route and tried Mesa, Agi, Berg BAmp, EBS etc. all now gone but the DB750 remains. Yes, it’s too heavy (I’m on my third) but anything else is an alternative and not a replacement - as I’m sure you’ll be aware! I’d be thinking class A/B if possible - EBS might fit, though very bright IMO. A TE AH200 or similar might be worth a go too (very cheap now, though finding a non-noisy one can be a challenge). Good luck - there are some great amps in the posts above!

Absolutely lovely - I'd not thought about the Ripper vibe but it's certainly there.  Good to see Woody too, and wonderfully colour coordinated.  

I'd be very interested to hear of the new custom short-scale... I wonder if it's a London-based builder of such delights?

Gorgeous bass, fabulous spec and without doubt, one of Basschat’s finest members! Stunner.

There's a decent image in the Ashdown video here - about 17 seconds in.  It looks like a short-scale (unless it's a tall bass-player - not somebody that I recognise).  Could be a standard Saint though as it doesn't look like a roasted board

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0jU00_VsmBw&t=17s

4 hours ago, Paul S said:

TI Jazz Rounds!  Never knew such things existed.  Off to explore, although I fear they will be expensive.

They're usually very expensive - lovely feel but very little growl in my experience.  I'm not a big growl user these days, but the TI JRs are so smooth that I removed them from one bass as I needed a little more bite.

What a lovely thing to do with the proceeds!  Thank you.

6 minutes ago, Owen said:

Snap.

 

3D goodness.

 

The SSL Native X-Saturator does much the same thing.

On no, I need SSL Native X Saturator... fortunately, not ridiculously expensive.

I didn't think I was interested in saturation.  I bought a Monique.  Turns out I am.

The more I play basses (with some kind of aim), the less I buy them.  The instruments become less important than the music (and importantly, the company in which they are played).  Funny that.  And reassuring.

Only the 350 - powerful, well built, solid modern tone with useful and well thought-through features. However, a very bright amp overall (for me). 

Stupendous cabs - my favourite 12 by some distance (and I’ve had a few!) Laughably light too

Lovely looking bass, classic tone and some fabulous playing (as ever).  Thanks, really enjoyed that.  Some great energy in the Jacksons overall, and especially some of those basslines

Really good to see this fixed (and in all its glory!). Great to see all the new images too - what a beautiful bass - the quality of work here is fabulous. The neck pocket and cavity are works of art in their own right. Then there’s the finish. I was a bit sceptical re: leds too but they come into their own in darker environments. Now I really want this

I think that Hellzero has the answer here! If you wish to have the ivory removed anyway (I would certainly understand this), I would contact the Jewellery School at Birmingham City University. The school has some brilliant jewellers and technicians and I suspect they’d be very willing to help. I can provide contacts by PM if useful.

53 minutes ago, Acebassmusic said:

I had a bass with SIMs LED's in the neck which stopped working after a short while. After much digging about I found that there was a small plastic connector which linked the neck and body wiring and one of the wires had come loose. The connector was in the neck pocket and could only be seen when the neck was off. If you do remove the neck be VERY careful as the wires on mine were VERY thin.

This is helpful and I thought this might be the case - using connectors in the neck pocket and heel is the only way that I could conceive of powering LEDs (other than a battery/switch somewhere in the neck itself).

Curious - do you have a pic of the interior of the cavity and can you see how the wiring is routed to the neck? I’ve only had leds in neck-through basses but maybe removing the neck would reveal any connectors. A quick mail to Sims might be helpful - I’ve always found the company very responsive. Incidentally, a gorgeous bass!

Also, are they definitely leds? Could simply be decorative markers set in a metal surround?

Moved again!

Moved!