warwickhunt

[quote name='Clarky' timestamp='1330770636' post='1562680'] I thinks the price issue relates to two things: (1) the absolute level is up in hand-built luthier territory (which is an issue with all CS Fenders) and (2) could it be a more basic plank? There is nothing about that bass that screams expensive parts/build, albeit I bet it sounds great ... just probably no better than a Squier VM 50s Precision [/quote] I find this quite interesting (I'm honestly not trolling); if the bass had a few more controls, maybe an active preamp then it might be a bit more justifiable... yet the couple extra controls (even an extra pup) or active EQ might only cost a few dollars to the manufacturer. So that almost negates the argument about it being basic. I also agree that 'theoretically' very few basses can justify costing x10 what a Squier etc. cost!

So the price is the stickler for most; £2824 for a Custom Shop Fender... isn't that about right? A Mexican P or J RW will set you back £1000, a Metroline Sadowsky (Japan) will see little change from £2000 but a USA CS Fender @ £2800 is wrong? Oh by the way I must state for the record that I have a love/hate relationship with Fenders and certainly won't be in the cue to by this or any other Fender product; I'm simply trying to establish 'why' the price tag seems so ridiculous I concede that if those folks baulking at the price are doing so simply because that price is ridiculous for ANY instrument then fair-does!

Historically he has used Fenders obviously but oddly enough his basses for many years have looked like Fender (and sometimes NOT ) but have been custom made by John Bolin.

Buy a Warwick and you have a nice 'bell-metal' alloy... defo NOT Stainless Steel.

Is this really the first time I've bought from Clarky? With our track records I find that hard to believe. Pleasure doing a deal with the young fella and always stress free when dealing with an established member of the community who knows how to deal with others. Just need Clarky to buy some more lightweight skinny neck basses and I'll be in there again.

Nice look and tone.

Refinished body and neck, replacement pickguard and pick-up... at least not quite 'Trigger's Broom'!

LOL I've literally been commenting on an almost identical situation on a local music forum. A band played at a local pub venue recently and at the end of the evening the bar manager approached the band and renegotiated their fee down... because THEY hadn't brought any extra punters with them! Now this was never prior agreed nor was it implied and we are talking about knocking down the fee at the 'end' of the night when the band have played two full sets inc' 3 encores. Needless to say the band are aggrieved but didn't make an issue of it on the night (more fool them, some might say). The manager's defence was that the crowd that were in were locals and also members of the local darts team who were at the venue regardless and no extra punters were brought in by the band. My argument would be that the manager hired the band for their services to entertain the crowd NOT to bring 10 - 20+ people along with them. There has been debate on the matter with other bar managers saying 'fair does' and bands saying 'get stuffed'; now bands need venues and music venues need bands so it should be symbiotic BUT to think that it is acceptable to dock monies at the end of the evening is a joke.

I have to confess that the GK stuff looks a bargain and my past experiences are that they are robust... result!

[quote name='Beer of the Bass' timestamp='1329681798' post='1545910'] Having a bass head and cab with Speakons only, and a couple of guitar combos wouldn't pose too many problems in that respect though, unless the clients were really ingeniously stupid. [/quote] Good point... until they start connecting several up! LOL

Your mate needs to take into consideration that a lot of folks using rehearsal rooms are complete fcukwits when it comes to using gear! Not all but you'd be amazed. Reliability and ease of use are paramount; my mate runs a rehearsal studio and he had LOADS of grief when he bought cheap cr4p the first time round and it took no time for the gear to die/get wrecked. Our own personal gear might get used a couple times a week (more if you use it in the house) and gets used by someone who knows how it works; rehearsal rooms can have gear running 12 hrs a day, 7 days a week and being used by folks who don't have the foggiest idea about input gain never mind ohmage issues (more in a second). As such I'd personally be looking at Peavey gear as it has a proven track record (old Trace gear stands up to abuse but then you are talking used). Also, though they may not be everyone's cup of tea I'd suggest combos rather than separates; reason being that I've known bands swap cabs around and plug multiple cabs in using all sorts of cr4ppy guitar leads and it is all too easy to have a bassist grab a bass amp and plug it into a guitar 4x12 (using some totally inappropriate cable) and before you know it you have a blown 'guitar' cab or worse if they stick a couple of 4 ohm cabs on an amp that operates at min 4 ohms and you have a fried amp (bonus of some of the Peavey gear is that it is safe down to 2 ohms... though you don't tell your rehearsal space customers that ). Not trying to put him off but he needs to assume that everyone is an idiot... then he won't be disappointed!

[quote name='sprocket123' timestamp='1329673907' post='1545676'] Hey buddy , do you happen to have a rear-ported cab on hand , if so , I was thinking like that also , so nothing s personal here , try playing true it ,then move the cab @ lots of places in the place,you ll haer the difference it makes sonically . That s why I want my cabs front ported , have a nice one out there . [/quote] No you are absolutely correct moving a cab closer to a wall for boundary reinforcement (or better still a corner) WILL make an audible difference but it won't matter if the cab is front or rear ported. Moving it 'too' close to the wall or corner can be detrimental but again it makes no difference if it is front or rear... and believe me, following on from a thread re. porting, I tried this.

[quote name='sprocket123' timestamp='1329661171' post='1545427'] Rear ported cabs can t be put in everywhere on stage , some time you don t have any choice but put where there s space . that s why I don t like them also . i like front ported , well tuned cabs with a flat frequency curve . [/quote] I was under the impression that scientifically it makes no difference if a cab is front or rear ported with regard to placement; a ported cab acts like a ported cab no matter where the port is. Sound doesn't come out of the ports so front or back is immaterial... a cab should be correctly tuned no matter where the port is!

The guy is having a punt and hoping there is some idiot out there with more money than sense! £12,000 would literally have to have been found in Leo's loft with the serial number 00000001 on it.

Real shame Clarky! Never mind, you know what they say; As one door closes, another slams shut in your face... hang on that's not right! Onwards and upwards matey.

[quote name='Ou7shined' timestamp='1329502639' post='1543566'] I'm fairly positive it is genuine. [/quote] The bass? The headstock looks the wrong shape (the G tuner is skew-whiff, though they do look like MM branded ones) and fake tattoos are easy to come by; the neck plate is all wrong (aside from the fact it isn't a MM plate it looks the wrong size and shape)... isn't it? The bridge also looks cheap even though the mounting screws are located as per MM, the addition in front of the bridge is immaterial. I genuinely had that tagged as a fake and wouldn't have touched with a BP at 100 paces!

[quote name='Happy Jack' timestamp='1329503100' post='1543578'] You realise that in three weeks time you will be announcing that you've changed your main gig to be a 3-piece blues band with one vocalist? [/quote] Fingers crossed it doesn't happen... though it will be overkill for the Cheap Trick tribute I have put together!

Can I clarify... that was NOT a Stingray? I only ask as the buyer (£700+) has left positive feedback! Now if this is a genuine buyer (as opposed to the buyer/seller leaving each other feedback to boost ratings or knowing each other), I'm tempted to contact him and point out that he has been fleeced but wonder if he is better left in blissful ignorance... until he comes to sell it!