scrumpymike

Did I really say black would be my last choice? Well, that's the only colour coming in to the UK (and all that's on offer from Thomann so far) so I've bought one anyway! My local guitar shop phoned me the yesterday to say theirs had arrived - tried it this morning and really liked it! I'll post some feedback and a pic or two over the weekend. As I sit here looking at it, the black finish is kinda growing on me...

Popped up, and snapped up (not by me - I was too late!).

Hi Tom! Can't help with pedals, as I haven't got any but the Ibanez Mikro bass would be a good travel companion. Just what I use mine for and they're great provided you don't expect too much for your £145.

[quote name='EBS_freak' timestamp='1463423084' post='3051270'] It's been seven hours and fifteen days. [/quote]

[quote name='deksawyer' timestamp='1462992823' post='3047709'] All this talk is very interesting, but I'd like to know why you were charged £150 for the small amount of work you had done. Not saying it isn't top spec work, but that just sounds like an awful lot of/or expensive workshop hours.... Glad you're happy though, and it's a great looking bass as well. D. [/quote] Kim charges £95 for just a set-up, which is fairly typical for a good luthier 'down south'. Plus he's a 20 minute drive from me.

[quote name='TheGreek' timestamp='1462979844' post='3047518'] I would have liked to have bought something like this as my first bass - just under £200 for a 4 string, neck through bass with exotic woods??? The 5 string is just £210. Look at the rest of the spec. [url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Caraya-SPB-3213N-4-String-Neck-thru-Electric-Bass-Guitar-Natural-w-Free-gig-bag-/161945468284?hash=item25b4b3bd7c:g:10MAAOSwT~9Wlen4"]http://www.ebay.co.u...0MAAOSwT~9Wlen4[/url] [url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Caraya-SPB-3214N-5-String-Neck-thru-Electric-Bass-Guitar-Natural-w-Free-gig-bag-/151948537256?hash=item2360d6ada8:g:xhkAAOSwoydWldbl"]http://www.ebay.co.u...hkAAOSwoydWldbl[/url] The game has changed... [/quote] Wow, that looks like a lot of bass for your Australian bucks - through-neck too.

"On a slightly different note - I had one of their "hanging" stands for my Ashbory, to adjust the height you'd squeeze the handle - after a while this got sticky so became unusable. I contacted Hercules UK (owned by StringandthingsUK) who were aware of the problem and supplied a replacement FOC." Thanks for that info, mine's gone the same way. I was thinking of contacting them about it so now I definitely will.

"I can see peoples houses' filling with Bass after good quality affordable Bass! ;-)" That's my house you're talking about! I bought my first bass in 1964 and I don't think there's ever been a better time to buy than right now. The only frustrating thing is that short-scale production runs are often very short nowadays and IMHO some extremely good basses get killed off before their time has come - i.e. before they've appeared on my radar and I've made my mind up that I simply MUST have one!!

That's really nice and I'll buy one if I can find one - and haven't got an Ibanez Talman TMB30 first.

[quote name='thebrig' timestamp='1462145404' post='3040656'] He probably will be upset as he does come across as a nice guy in his videos etc.. which I like a lot, and I never really intended to make my disappointment at not receiving the bass yet public, but having read this thread, I thought I would air my frustration as I really wanted to try out the bass today at the gig which I've just got home from. [/quote] Understood - and I'd feel the same under the circumstances. No criticism of your post intended on my part, just wasn't sure how much you knew about Scott. Hope you won't have to wait much longer.

Nice to see Stephen Chown's contribution to this topic. He's based just up the road from me in Bristol and I went to meet him and try one of his basses just before the SWB-1 came out. The Chowny is equally good quality and value and reminds me of the Epiphone Rivoli that I've always hankered (OK, lusted!!) after. When I saw Scott's bass, I decided to stay with the solid-bodied construction that I have always played, but both Stephen and Scott are top guys and I'm totally supportive of what they are doing. Just picking up on thebrig's post, one of the ways they keep their prices reasonable is by buying against customer orders and not holding stock. Trouble is that any delay on the part of the Chinese factory inevitably gets passed on to the customer. All I can say is that Scott kept me up to speed with my order from start to finish and I know he'll be upset that someone feels they've been let down.

[quote name='LayDownThaFunk' timestamp='1462060476' post='3040047'] How long before this is FS? [/quote] How unbelievably cynical - but watch this space just in case (no, only kidding!!)

Hey Funky Dunky, here's your pics! [url="http://s1149.photobucket.com/user/scrumpymike/media/008%202_zpsz07doisl.jpg.html"][/url] [url="http://s1149.photobucket.com/user/scrumpymike/media/011_zpsjezhyvim.jpg.html"][/url] [url="http://s1149.photobucket.com/user/scrumpymike/media/007_zpsbjcl6xvz.jpg.html"][/url] [url="http://s1149.photobucket.com/user/scrumpymike/media/003_zpspqg0chhr.jpg.html"][/url] Just in case you're wondering, the ally contraption attached is something I've made to see how much difference moving the top strap button to the 12th fret 'sweet spot' makes. Balance and positioning are way better and hopefully it won't look so obvious when it gets its satin black finish.

[quote name='Cato' timestamp='1462005636' post='3039449'] Not sure I'd count having the pickup cavities re-routed as 'light customising'. Was it just a case of getting a lower than low action, or were the strings originally clattering the pickups through normal use? [/quote] No machining required, just removing too thick/dense foam from under the pups and replacing with springs (actually concertina-type rubber sleeves) under each screw. The strings weren't in direct contact with the pups but not parallel to them (or each other) and too far into the magnetic field. [quote name='Funky Dunky' timestamp='1462011402' post='3039561'] Can you post a couple of photos of your new baby? [/quote] Will do!!

New nut made from 'antique bone' to fit lighter-gauge strings; new set of A'addarios; repair to chipped lacquer at top of neck; too-high pups removed, recesses deepened, pups refitted; neck/bridge setup for lowest action to suit my playing style and correct intonation.

... and the game-changers are the emerging industrial economies like China. They now have the CNC-based equipment and manufacturing know-how to manufacture low-cost basses to consistently high quality standards, often designed and spec'd in Europe and the USA. I recently paid £300 for one of Scott Whitley's MIC short-scale basses and have just spent another £150 for a good luthier to modify the bass to suit my personal preferences. This involved converting to lighter-guage strings (including a beautiful new 'vintage bone' nut) and optimising the set-up for my playing style. For £450, I've now got a lightly-customised SWB-1 that suits me better than US-made basses I've owned costing more than twice the price. If my starting point had been, say, a cheaper Ibanez like the TMB30, then the cost saving would have been even greater. It seems to me that there's never been a stronger case for buying one of the many excellent cheap basses on offer and asking your friendly local luthier to work his magic.

Touch of the Henry Ford's with the short-scale - seems you can get any colour you like, as long as it's black. Shame, as that would be my last choice.

That's two fine basses there.

That looks really nice - like the subtle finish. I loved my 2008 SG Reissue and probably should have kept it. Trouble is there's so much nice stuff out there and you just can't keep 'em all!

[quote name='Beer of the Bass' timestamp='1459368963' post='3015957'] Is it just me, or is there a touch of Hayman 4040 influence in the look of these? [/quote] Never seen or heard of the Hayman. Just found some images online and the basic body shape is certainly similar. Must say I prefer the look of the Ibanez, particularly the unusual headstock, the Hayman styling is pretty, errr, challenging - even for me, and I like quirky stuff.

[quote name='sbrag' timestamp='1459708220' post='3018830'] Sorry for the dealy in sorting something for this work has got in the way (new job). I'll try and have a chat with a venue this week but I'm thinking of early May if this works for people. [/quote] Go for it!!

+1 for Gail Ann Dorsey - her stuff with Bowie was brilliant!

[quote name='AndyTravis' timestamp='1459332709' post='3015467'] I was just looking at the 605... [/quote] That looks really nice with the natural wood finish and tortoiseshell scratch plate.

Thanks neepheid, that's got me even more interested - could also be a sound bet for a future upgrade project although my preference would be for a slightly slimmer neck (it's 41mm at the nut). Rang PMT in Bristol yesterday. They want to clear their 'old' Ibanez basses before placing a stock order for the 2016 stuff but will get one in if I place an order (won't be doing that). Bugger!