Steve Browning

No experience at all. Sounds like an honest conversation needs to take place. I would have the same doubts that you express, and the same pessimism. Good luck to her for her career choice. We need them more than drummers, it has to be said.

The very bridge I have used myself. Doesn't have the makers name (oo-er) stamped onto it.

Especially if about to play a tango in Paris!!

Dr B May - sorry!!

You could always ask a certain Mr B May for assistance in home grown design and production.

I have swapped the bbot bridges on most of my basses, for Gotoh versions. That was mainly because the Gotoh bridges have the grub screws sitting in tracks. I work on the (theoretical) principle that they are held more firmly. On one occasion, I swapped a bbot for a Fender Hi Mass bridge and the acoustic volume and sustain of the bass were very markedly different. I cannot offer an explanation but can only report what my ears told me.

I've not come across a real Neanderthal (not quite true as I've been there) and haven't refused an offer to borrow my bass, up to now. I always carry a spare and have strings etc to accommodate pretty much any eventuality. Each to their own so my choice is purely mine. I can understand why others would be reluctant.

One gig earlier in my career (therefore my first ever gig), I forgot my bass - realised when I thought it was time to tune up. Luckily a 15 minute drive away. By its very definition, experience brings, well ... experience!

Palmer stuff is excellent, IMHO.

This is my live rack. Power conditioner, tuner, pair of amps and stereo graphic (one channel for each amp). Shown here atop the amp and Berg cab belonging to rumblefish. There's a Mike Hill mini hum eliminator in the back. that splits the output from the tuner into the two amps.

... and (wait for it) Mesa don't actually have their own valve factory. I feel cheated! 🙂

That sounds very reasonable to me. Conclusion? Bad drummer, or bad member of a rhythm section at the very least.

This isn't a criticism (although it'll sound like one) but I wonder to what extent you work with him onstage? Might he feel there's little feedback from you? Just giving something to think about. I know neither of you so can only speculate on reasons for it (which could be that's he's not very good, of course).

Calling @rumblefish. If this i8s a sudden volume drop, he had the same issue. One of the causes was to do with using non Mesa valves. Rob will probably be along to elaborate. Hope it's sorted soon.

Ah well. Good that you've got the bass you wanted. That's the important thing.

The OP detailed MIA and MIM. He may not have considered MIJ where, in my experience, build quality is consistently very high.

Quite true. Nothing so hilarious as ridiculing someone trying to help.

Feel free to quote the rest of my comment where I qualify that statement!

That's certainly the case, but I would be a bit miffed to have rewarded the scammers with the information they have tricked out of me. It would seem slightly odd to get this information if it was of no use. The information that is marketed by other businesses is, presumably, correctly used according to any relevant laws. Couldn't you trigger a PayPal payment with this information as part of another scam)?

Personally, I would implore you to consider a Fender. However, I would look towards the Rising Sun. I have bought 6 Japanese Fenders over the years and every single one of them has been excellent. All bought sight unseen. The versions with the US suffix to the model are the premium ones and you will see consistent praise for them across BC. Somewhat against your intention (and I get where you're coming from), but you can get exactly what you want for a cost very much within your budget.

Session? Valve job? Stewart Ward will go ballistic if he ever reads that. No man on Earth hates valves more than he does. I also had a Session bass amp but I had the 1x15. Even Stewart admits they weren't great but made it because he pretty much had to offer a bass amp. Session are rekindled and he also makes excellent cables as well as amps.

I have two UK built basses - using bits from all over the world. Rotosound are UK of course.

I am the same. Hate the look and feel of a Jazz body.