Beedster

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

Crikey, it'll be there a while! I offered him £450 which I though was over the odds to be honest. Unplayed my a**e .......:) Well I guess at least there's a genuine connection, but yes, none of it sounds exactly kosher does it

Quick heads up about this https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Ovation-B768x-Fretless-Bass/223386387132 It was listed at £1,000 initially. I've always wanted one of these, having owned the fretted version. I contacted the seller - indicating that given what looks like a split down the front of the body plus the look of general wear - I'd be interested in buying but at nowhere near that price (note that he had initially indicated in the listing that the bass was unused). He came back with 'my dad bought it new in early 90's and it's sat in its case unused for close to 30 years' (he still maintains it's virtually unused in the listing). Clearly crap given the condition, so I walked away. He then pushed the price to £2,000 claiming - and providing apparent evidence - that the bass had in fact been owned all that time by Ronnie Wood of the Stones (who I guess might just be his father), with a signed photo of Mr Wood with alleged bass, although there was no photo of the serial number to verify any of it. Anyway, he's now removed both stories from the listing. If you are interested in this bass - which at £2000 you certainly shouldn't be - don't trust any of the crap the seller might tell you.

Offer him £800 perhaps? They sell for more than that in the USA, so well worth it. Trust me, that thing will make you smile a lot