Beedster

I see the two dl=1 images albeit the second is rotated, can't see the other two at all

Must admit I felt the same, E on Precisions and G on 'Ray especially so, never made the instrument unplayable, just had to modify my approach slightly 👍

I'm not sure that all of the words in this sentence were necessary...... ...and i'd like to have seen Mr Nifield say this face to face to the band themselves

It didn't seem that big to me but I'm happy to be proved wrong 👍

I was about to agree with this but realised @tegs07 was largely agreeing with me in the first place. But yes, this is 100% the route of least pain 👍

If it's the bass I think it is, the sound-clips - if they're honest - don't suggest a significant issue (by 'if they're honest' I mean that, as stated in the listing, there's no compression on the audio file)? I'm sure that while this is disappointing, it is easily resolved one way or another, good luck whichever way you go 👍

Yep, as I thought, it looks like the builder did what they were asked to do 'Custom made to my specifications, I received it in April 2024'

You and me both mate Fair points, perhaps shows how we all tend to pick out of a thread's core topic the elements that are personal to us 👍

I just reread the original post and noticed how recently this bass was built, which I didn't initially pick up (geddit....?) Given that, I suspect it would be easier for people here to help if you provided more details e.g., the make and model, which would allow people here to advise on the technical side, for example which PUPs should be in the bass. Re the legal side, @RhythmJunky is probably correct in terms of warranty, and given it was built in 2024 this might still be a legally enforceable path you could take, but as @warwickhunt suggested, probably best to try diplomacy first! But it sounds like you might have tried diplomacy and the builder has pushed back. So, if this is - as appears to be the case - an error in design or build, a little pressure applied on this forum would do no harm, whoever the builder is, it's likely a significant percentage of his market read this forum (although given it was a UK builder it's possible it was a custom order which might make things more problematic).

...why do I get the sense I can guess the maker......?

Ouch, 4-string PUPs on a 5-string bass, that's a pretty amateur design feature. Personally I would just get it sorted, if it was a private deal it's a case of do your due diligence or accept the risk so you can't really go back to the seller now, and if the manufacturer/builder was that inept in the first place I'm not sure I'd want the bass going back to them for a fix. Assuming the PUP cavity will take the correct size 5-string PUP's I'd suck up the cost and replace it/them. At least you can sell the originally installed 4-string PUPs. Good luck

In one of the videos - I forget which one - the host demonstrates that the switch between strings would be all but impossible for a player with only the two hands

I've been there, I came back. Getting out for a while was good for me, coming back was even better, enjoying it more than ever now 👍

Possibly why I love my Mesa 15 and why it seems to work well live?

‘Most’? So there are some we’re allowed to use then?

I think you're confusing technical and functional. The point in question was that if the cab works for the player - and for most players that includes the player's bands and audiences because, they'll soon find out when it doesn't - then it doesn't mater whether it's a 1x10, 1x12, 1x15 etc. I've had 15s that worked (in my case Mesa) and 15s that didn't (in my case Markbass), it's not the 15-ness that defined the functionality