Shaggy

.........or get a Precision

The "black sheep" of my basses (or rather red............)

[i]* SIGHS *[/i] Why did I let you go, my proud beauty? 99% sure it's nitro on alder

Any bass combined with the following stage attire........... (With apologies to "Jeff")

[quote name='Grand Wazoo' post='1215637' date='Apr 30 2011, 11:33 AM']Just ask a concert violin soloist how much he is prepared to pay for a 100 years old Stradivarius (we are talking £70-80 thousand average, by the way) and then you get an idea as to why to a professional orchestra violinist spending that money is essential to their job.[/quote] To be pedantic , Stradivarius was making violins (& guitars & cellos) in the late 17th > early 18th Century, so they're now around 300+ years old, and they go for £Millions. Acoustic instruments definitely need to be "played in" - the vibrations help the wood become more resonant. I read somewhere that a violin "peaks" at around 100 years old, and after around 200 years starts to gradually deteriorate as the wood becomes more brittle and oxidised. So all those Stradivarii will soon be no better than modern Chinese cheapos. Me, I like basses, motorbikes and cars made from the late '50's to early '80's, mainly as they're low tech, over-engineered, and quirky - sometimes in a good way, sometimes bad.

Ah, thought you were after a vintage Gibbo. You'd find an LP Money on European ebay fairly easily I'd have thought (as you have), they don't go for that much Yeah, we get clobbered for 20% VAT from the US, it's not as cheap an option as it once was but for Gibsons and Ricks is often still cheapest..

I stumbled across that one a couple of years ago, and recognised a few of the basses that were FS then! I'd love that black bicentennial T'bird though....... I've no experience of dealing with him but the guy obviously knows his his stuff and the photography is excellent; he shares my interest in the older models (bottom of page - [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=76091&st=40"]http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=76091&st=40[/url] and top of next one). Prices are top dollar but that's what you'd expect from a specialist on-line store, see also Gruhn's which is the gold standard for Gibsons and totally kosher - [url="http://www.gruhn.com/"]http://www.gruhn.com/[/url] Best advice is to swot up on sites like that and these; [url="http://www.vintageguitars.org.uk/index.php"]http://www.vintageguitars.org.uk/index.php[/url] [url="http://www.flyguitars.com/"]http://www.flyguitars.com/[/url] [url="http://vintage-guitars.blogspot.com/2006/02/gibson-bass-guitars.html"]http://vintage-guitars.blogspot.com/2006/0...ss-guitars.html[/url] and then buy on US ebay - where I've got most of mine; you get hit with shipping, customs & VAT but they're way cheaper in the first place

A couple more that smehow mnade it past Taste Control...........

[quote name='skankdelvar' post='1211540' date='Apr 26 2011, 11:14 AM']To my mind, the 70's guy (let's call him Jeff) looks more suited to our tempestuous and troubled times than the two doughy dullards in 'homogenized metaller black'. Think about it. Jeff looks like he's having a good time. Jeff's eyes gleam. Jeff's moustache is full and luxuriant. Jeff's hair is bouncy and elegantly coiffed. Jeff's threads are bright and sparkly and - well - friendly. Jeff's weight does not exceed that of his band's touring PA. It all suggests a man at ease with himself. Adam and Jason (for those are their names) are a different matter. Their eyes convey a self-important stupidity. Their faces are pouchy. Adam has bingo wings. Jason is clearly busting to hang a colossal rat. Adam and Jason affect that ubiquitous hard-man scowl that says "Talk to me and I'll get my 'entourage' to give you a kicking". They are endorsees and thus quite clearly total breadheads. They are a summation of all that is wrong with society in general and our bass-playing community in particular. Jeff is a man for our times. Jeff would tell you that dope gets you through times of no money better than money gets you through times of no dope. Jeff would point out that we all have to work together to stick it to the man. Jeff would let you sleep on his couch and he'd square it with his 'old lady'. We need guys like Jeff. He's a dude.[/quote] Best post of the year! I've always liked this ad; "Jeff" looks like he's having a funkin' good time and doesn't give a rat's @rse what he looks like. Mr '70's in fact. I actually quite like those EB p/ups on the bass too, I used to have the same on a modded RD Artist

Aggie GS112 with Eden VT.40, and with even titchier Yamaha BBT-500H.

Used to spot them regularly on TOTP in the '80's - Steve Severin in Siouxie & the Banshees, and the singer/bassist in Black ("Wonderful Life") to name but two. I seeem to recall one was used on Buggles "Video killed the Radio Star", but could be wrong....... Getting all nostalgic now Edit: oh and the bassist in "Frankie goes to Hollywood", not sure if he actually played it or it was purely a prop for outrageous miming.

Bought a Warwick flightcase off the Welsh prog-rock Dingwall-wielding superstar that is Matthew today. He's from Cardiff, but I didn't hold that against him....... Ace guy to deal with, great communications with not a little old-school courtesy, he was even happy to meet up on the same evening I PM'd him (I however, was too knackered) I've had so many deals with BC'ers at various M4 services recently I reckon the drug squad will be tailing me soon.........

[quote name='BigRedX' post='1199945' date='Apr 14 2011, 09:07 PM']That one's on my watch list. I think it's going to go for way too much money considering how much of it has been replaced/modified. Originally I was after as nice an example as I could find, but since my aim has changed to finding someone who can make me a 5-string version I'll settle for a battered but all original example instead, which can be used as a template, and then sold on.[/quote] Actually, looking at the Magnum headstock I bet you could fit another tuner on the bass side of the headstock, & the neck might j[i]ust[/i] be wide enough for a 5 (it's more P than J) Happy to take any tracings / measurements of mine as a template though - sounds like a cool project!

[quote name='BigRedX' post='1172689' date='Mar 22 2011, 11:16 PM']I've seen another fretless in eBay several years ago but IIRC it was a (very good) conversion.[/quote] One here; [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Vintage-70s-Ovation-Magnum-Fretless-Bass-Guitar-Case-/170625273646?pt=Guitar&hash=item27ba0f0f2e"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Vintage-70s-Ovation-...=item27ba0f0f2e[/url] - Goddam shame about the pickups and other butchery

Absolutely cracking bass - I know you had your heart set on a Burgundyglo but you just can't beat a Jetglo; I used to have a '73 JG 4001, much missed, and have loved them ever since seeing Gaye Advert attached to one. Hope it makes up for all the faffing about last year with the 3-way deal that almost happened (but didn't .... ) Great review too, it made me look at my 2005 MG 4003FL with a less jaundiced eye - I have an irrational predjudice against "new" basses, but the 4003 seems to be fundamentally a better bass than the 4001. Just needs the right strings to bring out its best I reckon. Enjoy - what amp are you putting it through? Edit - SVT 5 - pro, just saw your sig. Class.

Took me ages to find this thread as the search function didn't work for "___---___" ! Anyway, I met Adam (the artist currently known as ___---___ ) at a sunny Bury St Edmunds train station last saturday, for a trade involving my acquiring his very lovely vintage Gibbo SG, and him having to lug a ludicrously heavy Vox amp and only slightly less heavy Mu-tron III back home on the train. Smooth deal, great communications, would deal with again anytime - thanks!!!

Likwise bought a set of DR's off the stringmeister - smooth deal, entertaining as always to correspond with. A true "Angel of the North"......