scrumpymike

Not sure if they're the same spec as fitted to 6-string guitars but they work superbly well. AndyJr sourced them from Artec as a low-cost, look-alike equivalent to the SDs fitted as OE to the Fender Rascal bass. The SD's are over £300 a set and I think these were around £60. If I back-to-back with the Rascal Andy re-bodied for me (below), there's a slight difference in tonal quality but only I know that and it's close enough to make no difference. Sorry! Just realised I've posted a pic of an un-guarded bass on a topic about pick-guards 🤔

Here's the bass that AndyJr recently made for me with its ebony-veneered plastic guard. SOOO subtle and perfect against the oiled black finish.

Very nice too - and the perfect excuse for me to revisit the Alan Stivell stuff I listened to a lot in the '70s 🙂

As I've already posted on other related topics, it was hearing 'I Was Made To Love Her' that cemented my lifelong infatuation with the bass in general and Jamerson in particular (when I found out who he was). This guy was in a league of his own and it's no wonder he was earning IIRC $25k a month when that was a HUGE amount of money. I know this stuff is always subjective but I have yet to hear a Jamerson part that I can fault. He just had that natural ability to come up with parts that set the benchmark for the song in question.

No, these are passive.

Just decided to order a s-s Ray in white!! There's a great 16pp topic on Talkbass about these. MM really seem to have got this one right and the US owners who've posted are blown away by them. In particular, they are saying it's practically as good as the $2k American s-s Ray, so massive VFM. Can't wait to get my hands on one 🤗

Hi Ash, what a bummer! Not sure how you've been communicating with the seller but keep copies of posts/e-mails and log any phone calls. As others have said, the good news is that PF say they have it so I'd like to think that all will end well 🙂

+1

My short-scale journey started with a couple of '70s Gibson Les Paul Triumph basses back in the day and has led via various SGs and stuff from Maruszczyk, Squier, Ibanez, Spector and ACG to this unique pair. You may already have seen the build diaries AndyJr posted. The natural walnut 'Mervyn' came first (re-bodied Fender Rascal) and has been my main gig bass ever since - I just love it to pieces. The more recent black 'back-up' started with the original left-over Rascal body that Andy re-shaped and used as the basis for a Merv clone. While both are probably keepers (Merv certainly is), I've still got a few s-s boxes to tick. The obvious ones are a Fender Mustang and a Warwick RB Corvette - although more recent stuff such as the SBMM Ray are finding their way onto the s-s bass bucket list.

Could have used ewe to get a more woolly sound... 🤐

The phrase that springs to mind is: "Why can't you just take 'no' for an answer?!" - only in this case it's a double-no!!

I just LOVE a good serial! Can't wait for the next episode 😊

I have owned 5 Maru's and they are generally great basses. My advice is: if you and your friend have played each other's basses and both of you are happy, then why not? Maybe also check out the market value of both and one of you pays something if there's a difference. However, I think the Fender will probably depreciate in value less than the Maru' over time.

Lovely bass that, Silvia - enjoy! (I think you already are 🙂)

Pleased for you Stew! Look forward to seeing and hearing it at the re-scheduled S-W Bash!

AFAIK what's dangerous is any machined particulate that's small enough to breathe in - provided you don't eat it of course 🙂

I loved my SWB-1 - except for the neck-dive. I think the body of the latest ones from India is heavier, so maybe that helps with the balance.

… or maybe 'senial' - mixture of senility and denial ☺️ Ringo still seems in pretty good shape.

Macca should have stopped a while back, it's getting embarrassing. It's not like he needs the money!

Interesting that you didn't cut all the ones Ringo takes lead vocal on. Back in the day, my mum used to think he had the best voice - which is probably what put me off.

Drop-dead-gorgeous! There's a lot of lovely basses out there but IMHO Mr Cringean can bring wood to life better than anybody.

I did actually manage to gig it before the world shut down. Much admired by my bandmates!