scrumpymike

Just a shout out for my mate Scott Whitley, who's generously given the bass community masses of free information and tuition via his website in recent years. After 25 years of playing live with the likes of Big Country and The Animals, Scott suddenly has no gigs and time on his hands thanks to covid. So he's offering to give one-on-one lessons online for just £75 per block of 3 x 1-hr sessions. As those of you who have seen his online video tutorials will know (see example below), Scott is a great teacher who plays with killer technique and loads of flair and knowledge. If you're interested, you can contact him at [email protected] I have no link with Scott except friendship and respect. Scott teaches Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick

No better reason for choosing a shortarsescale bass ☺️

One thing that's coming across loud and clear is that we're seeing a fundamental re-calibration in the minds of players AND manufacturers towards short-scale basses. For example, I posted earlier about my latest bass, a s-s SBMM 'Ray. There's a growing fan club for these on Talkbass and a number of owners also have (or have had) standard-scale MM 'Rays or the 3-times more expensive MM s-s. These players rate the £695 SBMM bass as so close to the others as makes no real difference in terms of how it feels, sounds and looks (unless you spot the slight difference in size). In fact, some even state that the tones of the SBMM's fabulous passive pup are how the others should sound! As always these opinions are subjective/personal - but it certainly makes you think.

Seems to me that Gibson have inherited a priceless legacy - second only to Fender's - and pi55ed it up against a wall. And I was one of their biggest fans btw having gigged a couple of beautiful Les Paul Triumph basses for years followed by a SG reissue.

I think you'll love the La Bellas.

I think that the muddy sounds of the early Gibbos made it easy for Fender to become market leaders and establish their 34" scale as the industry standard. All I've played for the last few years are s-s basses so it's just brilliant for me that there's so much extra choice now, especially in the mid price range. I recently added a SBMM s-s 'Ray to my collection. It would be incredibly good at any price but for £695 it's a steal. Now that more players are taking s-s basses seriously, so are the manufacturers.

Another vote here for LaBella flats although I've never tried them on a Mustang cos I've never had one.

I do hope that doesn't mean you'll get a TT-800 before I do 😉

The TT-800 topic started on TB at the beginning of June, at which point a couple of 'industry insider' forum members were already posting their comments and pic's based on playing pre-production/early production units. The first TB 'ordinary' member ordered on June 8 and product was available to ship from Mesa's flagship Hollywood store from mid-June. Seems like all the active posters who wanted to own - or try - one were able to do so 2 or 3 months ago and fall into 3 groups. A few tried and decided to stick with their Carbine, D800+ or (Walkabout-based) WD-800; a few bought a TT-800 and kept their Carbine or WD-800 (both offer a different tonal flavour from the Bass 400+/D800 combo available on TT-800); the majority are loving the TT and getting more from this one amp than they've ever got from any other. Obviously this is just a snapshot of the knowledgeable 'early-entrant' Talkbass punters, most of whom were already Mesa fans. Don't know how things have rolled out across the US as a whole.

Loz just bought my Maruszczyk/Mensinger Cazpar fretless 4, and a very smooth and pleasant transaction it was too. Faultless in fact. You can definitely deal with this Basschat member in total confidence. 👍

Thanks Loz - but I think you meant to say "avid short-scale players" - describing me as even an "average fretless player" would be a gross exaggeration 😉

The correct procedure (in fact the only one given Mesa don't know who their export end-customers are) would be for them to inform the first link in their supply chain (either the distributor or major retailer), who could then pass explanations on. Of course, Mesa may have done exactly that and the info just didn't get forwarded to us customers. In my experience, the big retailers aren't great communicators.

Posted my feelings of disappointment on Talkbass forum and got this reply from Agedhorse: "Bummer for those in Europe, but I know there have been some (serious) COVID related parts delays on some products on the guitar side of things that have held up some shipments. Since the shipments are containerized, a delay in the guitar products also affects the bass products unfortunately. Everybody here is (very) sorry for these delays, we aren’t happy about it either. It’s inconvenient for everyone concerned."

Good point, although inefficient transatlantic shipping would take a big slice out of their profit. Personally I'm so impressed with Mesa that I'm happy to give them the benefit of the doubt, i.e. that they're handicapped by covid-related issues and doing their best. My D800 was very good, my 800+ great, and I'm expecting the TT to be better still.

I'm guessing that they'll export in consolidated consignments to keep costs down so yours may well be waiting until they have enough to make up a shipment.

Big disappointment for me too! The first European supplier ad I could find was Thomann so I ordered based on their initial delivery date of 20 September. Cancelled with them when the date was pushed back and re-ordered with Andertons, who were offering the same delivery (i.e. 6 October) and a slightly lower price. Next news from Andertons was delivery put back to 20 October - now even later to 25 November! The absolute worst thing any manufacturer can do is to create a demand and then fail to supply. I've been gagging for one of these since the topic started on Talkbass at the beginning of June and unfortunately sold my D800+ to fit in with the first delivery promise!! However, must give Mesa credit for reducing their prices over here and MASSIVE thanks are due to Agedhorse for the way he has personally engaged with the bass-playing public on here and particularly Talkbass. His design and communication skills are exemplary and, compared to others, he is giving above and beyond the call of duty.

Thanks yorks5stringer and Woodinblack - original post re-edited for total clarity.

Thanks everybody for your messages of support - keep 'em coming! 👍

Provisional new date for the next BFSWBB is: SUNDAY 6 JUNE 2021 This is the Sunday AFTER the Spring Bank Holiday Monday and I've chosen a later date to (hopefully) allow the nightmare that is covid-19 to finally be under control. Unless a significant number of you post in the next few days that you can't make it, I'll confirm the booking with the hall and on here. Bring it on!!! 😍