Burns-bass

You can buy knock off strings on Temu and Alibaba. It’s a shame but some people will take advantage of our good nature.

A pro defret will cost about £200. I’d buy a Fretless VM series Squier instead.

Interesting that he says "restored" instead of "refinished". Wonder what the deal is?

So, having read this through, it seems that: Nobody is denying that there are VVT jazz basses constructed in 1961. But these would have happened later in the year and that anything manufactured in, say, August 1961 should treated with caution. (I'm only getting involved as it's me who posted the link to the guitar that caused all this hassle. Personally, I think enough doubt has been cast on its originality that I would seek a second opinion from someone who can see the instrument in person, but I'd be prepared to do that if I were going to drop £18k on it, given my experience with vintage dealers.)

It’s good that people get passionate about this stuff. I know Tony only wants to protect people from spending lots of money on something that may not be as original as it seems. I think we’ve all seen vintage dealers use duplicitous tactics and falsely advertise items they should know aren’t right. Sadly, this genuine lack of clarity about dates and so on enables people to present items that may be fakes and claim they were production anomalies or all original when parts have been swapped. I see the expertise here a way to counteract that and prevent it happening. To anyone outside, the idea we’d argue about the originality of a heavily distressed paint job or the dates on a $1 pot that was designed to be replaced when it inevitably fails may sound mad. But we’re all a bit mad.

It’s a real shame it’s gone this way (and also a bit sad).

This isn’t the experience I had. I messaged Alex for a replacement 10” speaker and he sent me a link within about 3 hours. Perhaps there’s a difference between the 10 and 12 drivers but I wouldn’t expect so.

What a shame. Im guessing an experienced luthier (and I use the word here properly) would have the means to extract the wood. The f holes are large enough to get the wood to a position where it could be cut and extracted. Similarly, I’m pretty sure a luthier could easily knock up a new support. The issue is what would it hold against? I’d message Gollihur and ask them what they suggest.

You’re absolutely right here, but I think Hell’s point is that they’re not always listed completely honestly. I can’t remember what page it was, but I found two of my previously owned basses for sale. None of the changes was listed, despite all being pretty obvious to anyone with a bit of knowledge on Fender basses. There’s plausible deniability if you sell on commission. But wilful omission is still mis-selling.

I can see that. I have an old one somewhere, maybe I’ll give that a try. But this is brand new so happier if it went to a good home (or even and average one).

It’s a small one. I guess I could give it a try. What would be the benefit of doing so?

I have been given one but I have no need for it. Happy to send it on to a good home for the price of postage...

What the guys here are saying is that the orchestral scores are all written to suit instruments tuned in either Bb or Eb. Basses are tuned in C. I assume you’re the only bass player but there are lots of brass players (or the band leader is one). Basically, changing the key makes it easier for them to play. The other potential reason is that the singer(s) have requested this, but first explanation the most likely.

Whenever I look at your website I realise what an incredible thing the internet is and how cool some people can be. I've just downloaded Robert Hurst's bassline for Autumn Leaves and will enjoy the half an hour I spend with it.