Paul S

There is a [url="http://www.shergold.co.uk/forum/"]discussion forum[/url] dedicated to those who enjoy Shergold guitars. To say they were hapless efforts by UK makers is exceedingly unfair, IMO. I had it's first cousin for a while - a Hayman 4040. Built like a tank, around the same weight, with a neck like a floorboard. Beautifully built instrument, mind you.

I don't know if this is of any use whatsoever but I have recently replaced a Trace Elliot rig - any combination of AH-300 head played through a TE 1x15, 2x10,1x18 or, latterly, an AH-250 MkV head. Anyway I now have a TC Electronics Classic 450 and BF Compact and it every bit as loud (not had the master beyond 4 yet and I play with a loud heavy rock covers outfit) with more clarity.

[quote name='Conan' post='1299972' date='Jul 11 2011, 03:01 PM']I know! "Oh, is there a band behind me? I'm just carrying out my duty here y'all...[/quote] Er, that's exactly what he IS doing. Little point there being a cop there if he is going to turn away from the crowd (who he should be watching) and start getting on down. Not sure about the hat, mind you.

What they said - whatever minor frustrations there may be getting in contact with Alex the product is so good it is not even worth considering as an issue. quick edit - mine took 8 weeks - problems with plywood etc delayed it by a month.

I have a zoom multi-effect unit and also find it confusing. I couldn't get on with the manual as although it seemed to be in English I didn't understand a word of it. But, for the zoom pedal at least, there is a site somewhere on the interweb where people have uploaded various patches with instructions on how to program the various settings to reproduce those patches. I found one that works for me that does a passable Muse 'Hysteria' sound (especially when wet blended) without having a whole bank of individual pedals - so I think that these multi-effect thingies can be useful. I also found that by following the instructions on these patches I was able to get more of an ear as to how the different parameters changed the sound and reckon that if I spent a few hours entering in some of these patches and listening to how they work I would feel confident enough to change things to my exact requirements. I just haven't got around to it yet. Maybe worth trying it from that angle, rather than getting frustrated with the manual as I was. I am sure there must be a Boss equivalent somewhere.

[quote name='Happy Jack' post='1296733' date='Jul 8 2011, 07:25 AM']I'd want more and better photos first. Also, confirmation of whether or not this bass is active. If it's active then it's an SB310 and you can do better than £199. If it's passive then it's an SB301 and you can do a lot better than £199. You might also want to know why the neck (P) pickup has been swopped out for an EMG but the bridge (J) pickup has not. One of the joys of the early Bass Collections is the P-type tone they can deliver, and this example may not be able to do that. On the positive side, you won't be disappointed by the weight or the balance, and the playability of a properly-setup Bass Collection really is second to none.[/quote] ^^ what Jack said. Especially the last paragraph - it is the most comfortable and playable bass I own. I wasn't happy with the stock pre-amp on mine, changed it to an Artec SE-2 and, for such a cheap up-grade, couldn't be more pleased with the results. Great bass.

[url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Washburn-Scavenger-bass-1980-Matsumoku-classic-/250851415594?pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item3a67e8d62a"]Here's the link[/url] Looks like a decent one, too.

Heres' mine - '85-87 Power Jazz Special. I love it. It had Seymour Duncan Basslines in it when I bought it and since taking the pics I have added a Gotoh bridge and a Hipshot D-tuner. [attachment=84034:Powerjazz1.jpg] [attachment=84035:Powerjazz2.jpg]

I also have a mid 80s Power Jazz Special - which is not really what you are asking about but I guess everything about the build quality etc will be the same - simply phenomenal. I love it to bits. HUGE rock sound - when played active or passive there is a grittiness to it that really blasts out. I found the tbx control a little odd to start with but there is a sweet spot in there that just sounds like nothing else I have played. If you know the start of Black Country by Black Country Communion that is exactly what it can sound like. Great slim neck - narrow AND shallow. Mine is pearl white with black headstock and hardware - the lack of scratch plate I find more attractive than if it had one. Comparatively lightweight, I think under 9lbs, and felt comfy from the moment I put it on.

At the moment I am going from extremes. 'Paranoid' Black Sabbath, which took about 1 min to actually learn, having listened to it all my life. And 'Into The Arena' by Michael Schenker Group which I am still working on. It seems to me to be the bass playing equivalent of a tongue twister.

Another vote for SGC Nanyo Bass Collection. Mine weighs a whisker under 7lbs. I also have a Fender Precision Lyte - this weighs a shade over 7lbs. Also a Hohner B2ABD headless which, given the microscopic body and no headstock, surpisingly weighs a fraction more than the Bass Collection, so about the same as the Fender. If I had to grab one to save it in a fire it would probably be the Bass Collection, despite being probably 1/2 the value of the Fender and 2/3 the value of the Hohner, as I prefer it.

I just moved from a big 'ol Trace Elliot rig to a TC Electronics Classic 450 through a Barefaced Compact and couldn't be happier. 16kg (vs 62kg) for a rig with more clarity and power.

I bought one recently after being on the lookout for a while - they seemed to go for £300-£400 depending upon condition - I've seen more asked in shops secondhand. I paid £300 for mine (90-91) and it has had a bad paint re-finish job and a problem with one of the boost/cut pots which means maybe, if the bit isn't available, a new pre-amp.

Westone Thunder 1A or SGC Nanyo Bass Collection, depending upon what style is preferred and how strong your mate's back is.

Hi, welcome aboard. I hope your bass playing is better than your maths...

But added onto the list now and possibly even ahead on points - a Pantera Deluxe X790. Sounds like my perfect Westone - active AND black - *if* it is light enough. Does anyone on here have one they could weigh?

My pleasure to be the first to deal with Stuart on the forum - he bought my vintage Trace Elliot stack. Easy and painless - be careful how you lift it! - a nice lad. Cheers Stuart.

He says it's had a knock but, hey, £300... [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Fender-1980s-Power-Jazz-Special-Bass-Made-Japan-/260804069098?pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item3cb92246ea"]Link here[/url]

Brilliant - thank you Mr H, very helpful. Too heavy, so crossed off the list

Yeah, I think most of the Westones are solid maple - my Thunder 1A was extremely heavy which is why I sold it. But the Thunder Jet and Concord were Alder. One or two later models were ash. Something like that. Not keen on the Concord shape, tbh, but am still a fan of the Thunder shape and the whole Westone thing, really. I am on the trail of my old Thunder Jet to see if the current owner a/ would kindly weigh it for me and, if light enough, b/ sell it back to me. Except I hadn't mentioned that bit to him yet I quite like the shape of the Pantera, which is why I mention it, and the body is a good deal smaller than the Thunder and also carved, so I would guess lighter in weight.

I just bought the Barefaced Compact cover - fits like a second skin. Before that I had them make some for two Trace Elliot cabs - top quality kit IMO.

If so are you able to weight it reasonably accurately? I used to own a Thunder Jet and a Thunder 1A. I sold on the Thunder Jet a while back as I preferred the active sound of the Thunder 1A and they were otherwise too similar to keep both. But one significant difference is that the Thunder Jet was lighter - made of alder, I am told, rather than maple. At the time it wasn't an issue. Now because of back problems I have had to sell the Thunder 1A but am already missing the idea of owning a Westone bass. And so, of course, I am now regretting selling the Thunder Jet - it may be that it is light enough to be comfortable. Same might apply to a Spectrum and Pantera basses, which are maple (I believe) but more carved than the slabby Thunders. ta.