Beedster

Thanks chaps, had quite thorough discussion about this with the mod who PM'd me about the thread, and explained my thoughts then. Point is, if it's not against any code of conduct, what's to report, hence my posting this thread in the first place? It's no biggy really, I just picked up a few vibes in a recent thread - one that the Mod team are aware of - in which one transparent manufacturer was arguing the point with what appeared to be a non-transparent contributor, and it made me wonder whether as a site we're happy to accept this type of thing. I wasn't advocating a new cohort of Transparency Mods or similar, just wondering what the forum thought, and I guess I got my answer

This had to go back unfortunately, there was an issue with the circuit that I couldn't fix myself, and at the price I paid I didn't want to have to get that fixed professionally. However, as a bass it was absolutely lovely to play, and perhaps importantly for many, weighed nothing. It's also got the micro-tilt neck which means that despite the bridge looking pretty crude, you can get very very low action. I really did go around in circles as to whether i should keep it or not, and I'm kinda regretting sending it back, but c'est la vie. If light Precisions are your thing, keep an eye out for when this comes back on the market with the circuit fixed, it's well worth the money

A defining feature of the internet is that everyone is genuine and above board

There are, The might also be people trying to influence others to not buy certain brands, and those people might be employed by the manufacturers of rival brands. In my opinion, the expectation here should be that if you receive money or contribution in kind from a brand, supplier or similar, you should declare it so that any post you make can be read in that context.

As I've just said in a PM to one of the mods, I'm not going to name names, but I do think that if you work for a business, or take money from one, it should be declared out of professional courtesy, especially when expressing strong opinions about the gear made by your competition

Agreed, but they're not influencing opinion and/or buying habits whilst doing so?

I think it should be an expectation.

There are some posters here who clearly represent their own business and do so transparently. There are some who we can take a pretty good guess are benefitting from supporting certain brands or points of view, but with whom it's less transparent. Over the last few days - and whilst reading about a specific type of gear - I've picked up the feeling that there's a fair few more folks who are even less obvious, but are also promoting specific brands, albeit in a highly un-transparent way (I'm not going to mention names). I wonder if we should expect folks to be a little more transparent about this stuff?

Can't help thinking that he would sound pretty much the same whatever bass he was playing

Absolutely

I think a lot of people bundle gender identity and sexual orientation into the same broad category, and in doing so perhaps assume a degree of tolerance among/between the people and groups in question that is far from reality.

As I understand it, ‘gender neutral’ can be seen as somehow offensive to trans people who are sometime very gender specific, the ..... in a .....’s body thing. I started listening to a speaker on this a few weeks ago, but frankly started to feel so depressed at the needless complexity and labelling involved, that I got my phone out and looked at ‘Amps & Cabs for Sale’ on here, which relieved the depression but meant I never got to understand the full trans/same sex attraction/gender neutral debate

Everyone’s looking to be offended these days. Someone will be offended that I said this, and then someone will take offence st them for being offended.

Try lifting that conbo, you’ll feel 15 years older immediately

Focus mate, focus

Not sure I can see anyone walking into Cash Converters in Bedington and parting with £12k. Yes, a reissue/bitsa with perhaps one of those neckplates you can buy on eBay with a era-specific Fender serial number. I've seen better shops that Cash Converters fooled by that trick (mentioning no names of course).

Yep, that's my thinking to be honest. I'd love a high powered walkabout, but would still hanker after a big box. Going back to Ampeg, SVT-II non-pro incoming

April it is then

Thomann are usually pretty reliable on gear that's actually available and gear that's due?

https://www.thomann.de/gb/mesa_boogie_subway_wd_800.htm

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/NEW-Fretless-Neck-For-Fender-Jazz-Bass-No-Lines-With-Finish-JEF-F/332518411205?hash=item4d6ba44bc5:g:ul8AAOSwItJaWOXu:rk:45:pf:0 https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Fender-USA-Tony-Franklin-Precision-Fretless-Precision-P-BASS-NECK-Parts-Ebony/362436178183?hash=item5462e13107:g:IqkAAOSwn6RbnBZw:rk:34:pf:0

I don't think I've ever paid more for a used Warmoth or Allparts (i.e. far better quality than most Fender) neck than a decent quality defret would cost. And going that way you have two necks, not one. Just keep an eye on eBay