Machines

I had one this week for an originals rock band. They sent me recordings but absolutely zero info on keys or tunings, when quizzed the guitarist said he doesn't know any of the chord names. Anyway - I learnt them note for note (thankfully quite simple stuff generally rooted in Eb with occasional low C# in there). They were a quiet bunch, were quite close to their recordings and didn't give much away in terms of feedback. Awaiting a result on the weekend as I assume they have someone else to check out too. If they say no - i'm at least happy it won't be based on my playing, but possible mismatch in age/personality.

They'd knock £50 off max when I asked. In the end I paid just over half that.

Had it's first outing tonight. I ended up on the neck pickup with the treble rolled off most of the time.

The only Bongos I can easily find new in the UK for £3350. Bearing in mind these instruments have been in production for 15+ years, there are a fair few 2nd hand, so i can't imagine the new ones really sell at all.

I remember it being slighty closer to the bridge.

100% at BassDirect. Already checked with them, it's on PX so I think we can assume that The Bass Gallery don't keep their stock current.

Only posted a couple of months ago, but much change.

I'm going to be posting a cheap Jazz copy to Facebook later, can't wait for messages that will ensue.

Very nice sir. I think that is the best colour they did the Bongo in full stop. My 5 string was a looker too. Top marks to @briansbrew - making the BassChat community great. n.b. if anyone wants to buy me a bass, that's cool.

Oh yes I had one of those too, as some type of intermediate replacement, it didn't work out. It was a decent instrument, it didn't sound that far off to be honest, but the looks weren't there.

A few months before I even flirted with playing bass, I was getting into very different music to that i'd grown up with (hard rock/grunge) and bought on recommendation 'Dream Theater - Live Scenes from New York' in ~2001/2002. On bass, was John Myung, sporting a rather immense looking 6 blue string bass. I was utterly blown away by how well he played and sounded, and am still a Dream Theater fan today. A year or so later I got into bass, and my parents gave me a very generous £500 budget for a 21st birthday present, that ended up as a Yamaha RBX775 in Flat Blue, because it looks a bit like the RBX6JM, but it was cheaper. The years went by, and I still have it - just defretted and refinished (red goat leather, yes really). Anyway - late 2020, I see an RBXJM2 in Plum Pearl appear locally on Facebook market, for a decent price. I really wanted that turquoise RBX6JM, but this was the next best thing. It was a little messy, but i've replaced the rusty pickup and it's now sounding great - it's a 6 string Stingray at heart. April 2021, I see an RBX6JM in Turquoise appear on FB market, at a good price ! Quickly I message the seller...he replies fast. It sold 30 minutes ago to someone in Europe, but they hadn't paid yet. I offered a cash deal the next day (a drive to Bristol for me), alas he honourably sold it to the first buyer, after they paid him the next day _ don't begrudge it, but I was gutted for the sake of half an hour. OK - well i'll find another one ! The Bass Gallery had 2 on their website, both at £999. This is by far the most expensive i've ever seen these basses, gave them a call and they wouldn't budge more than £100 on price, I wasn't going to be robbed, so held out. eBay alerts, daily checks of the big (and small) websites second hand sections, online pawn brokers..... nothing. *10 months of checking daily later* Friday PM, I load up eBay on the morning catch up of newly listed items, scroll... scroll... oh man. A turquoise RBX6JM, at the right price, I contacted the seller and saved a few quid buying it outside eBay, it took a little while longer than expected to arrive. But it did, along with a genuine fitted Yamaha hard case (never seen one of these before) Behold - the bucket lister.

If this bass had appeared even on day 364 of the challenge, I was going to fail. Just glad I can finally stop bloody looking.

It was online for a while after the deal was made 😝.

So after several years i've looking and just missing out, this is exactly what has happened. I was browsing eBay new listings Friday PM, scroll scroll boring boring.... scroll..... OMG 🥴 Contacted the seller and we made a good deal, i'm very happy with the price. The irony is that not a a couple of hours earlier i'd broke my challenge accidentally winning a local Vintage VJ74 on eBay, which I had no intention of winning but put in such a low price I wasn't worried, yet it's here now. It's actually pretty decent, not sure what i'm going to do with it yet, though. The Myung is expected Tue/Wed.

I'll probably be at the BassDirect stand helping out.

13th

Sneak preview

One is a whimsical eBay bargain which will very likely flip within a week, the other is a bucket lister.

I may be about to be out twice in one day. Info pending completion of sale.

This is a stupid challenge and I'm out, but I beat @AndyTravis so that's all that matters.

Took the 415 tonight, absolutely killed it.

Until recently - all of my instruments are in the £250-£400 range. I've been through the £1500+ stuff and yeah it's good, but i'd rather have several cheaper instruments than 1 expensive one. For me - the extra cost doesn't translate in to my experience of using them enough. The recent expensive one is a Spector Euro LX - this one does translate.