CameronJ

Exactly my first thought!

You can get keytars which are effectively just MIDI keyboard controllers - I.e. they don’t produce their own sound and can only be used to control other gear such as an external synth module/software synth on a computer. Example: https://www.alesis.com/products/view2/vortex-wireless-2 OR you can purchase a full blown standalone keytar synth which produces all of its own sounds and still gives you the option of controlling other things via MIDI. This is obviously the more expensive option but it’s more convenient as you can just plug & play. Example: https://www.roland.com/global/products/ax-edge/ The Roland (standalone) is over 3 times the price of the Alesis (controller) so personally I’d go for the Alesis and pair it with a decent inexpensive little synth. You’d still come in significantly cheaper than going the standalone route, although it will require more effort to setup.

@Cuzzie now is the time to preach!

As @Al Krow has said above, all three will be very well made basses. I own the Yamaha BB735a and a Sandberg Electra VS4 and my thoughts are below: Sandberg Electra VS4 - super lightweight (it actually puts my more expensive California VM5 to shame in this regard) and with a lovely thick barky P sound. Stock, it comes with a 2-band EQ and an active/passive switch on the volume knob. There’s no option for tone control in passive mode though. I got round this by having a passive tone control installed at the Bass Gallery. If you want the versatility of an added J to your P pickup the Sandberg Electra is out of the question as they only come in pure P or pure J forms. To get a PJ you’d have to step up to the more expensive California series. Or modify an Electra VS4 by adding in a J pup, which is certainly possible! Yamaha BB735a - again, a lightweight bass. I used to own the older BB1025x which is purely passive and when this new series was released I was sceptical, as the 1025x had such a great tone I didn’t want Yamaha to spoil it by trying to reinvent the wheel. Turns out my fears weren’t warranted as this 735a sounds just as good as I remember my 1025x sounding, but with the added versatility of a switchable 3-band EQ and the treble knob becomes a tone knob in passive mode! I find the EQ points on the preamp to be very well chosen - Yamaha obviously know what they’re doing here as I struggle to get a bad sound out of this bass! The quality is just lovely all over, with a flawless matte satin finish all over the body and neck (I have the black version - the sunburst version still has a satin neck but with a gloss body) and everything feels solid, from the neck joint to the tuners to the control knobs. Quality control at Yamaha’s factory is spot on. And then the little details like the low battery indicator light next to the control cavity and embossed Yamaha emblem on the headstock just give the whole thing a feeling that the people designing it really spent time on it. I haven’t tried the Schecter CV but I’ve heard good things about it. I like the way it’s wired with the series/split/parallel switches and passive operation. Would really like to try one actually - they look like versatile instruments. You cannot go wrong with any of the basses you’ve been looking at, but in a shootout between the Sandberg Electra and the Yamaha the Yamaha wins overall for me in terms of features/price.

Great Christmas present! Welcome to the club!

@Al Krow, how was your experience with Kytary in the end? I’m thinking of placing an order with them... Apologies for this post being wildly at odds with the purpose of the thread

Agreed. @obbm is your man.

Will you price match against GAK? 😬

Literally no one has ever sold the Stomp for £503 🤦🏾‍♂️

Should be completed in a couple of weeks if all goes to plan! Can’t wait. Then it’ll be off to Jon Shuker for Octave pedal installation.

An update to my gig bag dilemma! I’ll be investing in a Large MIDI controller backpack case. There’s space for all sorts of stuff alongside the Wingbass itself, including a slot for up to a 17” laptop, which is perfect as that’s the size laptop I have!

There’s currently a Hercules rack up for sale here at the moment - they are excellent. It’s on at a good price too, they aren’t the cheapest when bought new. All my stands are Hercules now. I swear by them!

The two 12” RCFs I suggested also have the fancy HF driver. I assume @Jack isn’t looking for an upgrade per se, just a reasonable alternative in a wedge shaped form?

Based purely on speculation I’d assume that the relationship between HF & LF drivers in your Barefaced FR800 is probably similar to the relationship between HF & LF drivers in the RCFs, so maybe go with one of them to aim for a closer tonal match. I can’t find the specs re: crossover point in the FR800 but the BF website says the HF driver deals with the highs and high-mids. The RCF HD32a (the one I have) sells for £818 at PMT and Andertons. The RCF ART732 (12” version of the 735) is as far as I can tell pretty much exactly the same as the HD32a but in a different (less attractive?) casing and can be found for as low as ~£740 Meanwhile, I’ve just stumbled upon an ART735 selling cheap on Gear4Music for £715 - here. Only 1 in stock. I think it may be a previous generation model but not entirely sure. Makes very little difference to me whether it’s a MK4/MK5 or whatever. The only thing that would put me off it is the size. The difference between the 12” monitors and the 15s is enough to perhaps be a bit prohibitive in certain venues. They ain’t exactly compact!

Ah, very good. Welcome back to the dark side

Are you not committed to a self-imposed 2019 gear acquisition ban though?! Also, I’m very much considering getting a couple of custom plates made up for my matte black 735a. Most likely anodised gold and cream pearl...

Looks amazing! Good work, @Mike

Ah, you’re referring to the 1/4” amp output then, which will be at instrument level. Merry Christmas, Rock & Roll Killers!