Machines

I had a bit of a bizarre and out of character experience this week I wanted to share. I went to the Guitar Show in Birmingham with my Dad and had planned this for several weeks (we've been every year since it started), with the intention of checking out new gear and spending some time with him (I don't get the chance alot) - but really not looking to buy anything. We generally have a nose around and complain about how overpriced everything is and how many unneccessary products there are (e.g. custom leather straps, hand made 'luthiered' guitar stands etc). There are usually no bargains to be had, except maybe a few packs of strings a bit cheap (but not really when you factor in the cost of going in). Anyway - we came across the PMT stand where we know most of the guys, and had a nose around. I spotted a Musicman SUB5 (USA) in the corner in great condition for £399, good price I thought. I asked to give it a try out just for the sake of it and it was very good, I thought wow - a USA Stingray 5 for 400 quid ?[i] I'll buy it ![/i] I knew it wasn't bargain of the century but they generally go for this price. Came with HSC etc, deal done in minutes. I paid for it on my credit card but I knew I could pay it off by selling what I had at home, and this was better wasn't it ? Within a minute or 2 the rush of buying it wore off. Why had I just blown 400 quid on a bass I don't need ? I hadn't even been lusting after one, I just saw a good deal and bit the bullet, oh well I always can sell stuff to pay for it. I got home and my wife was a little miffed, but happy that if I was selling to pay for it that was OK (we make financial decisions together normally). Later that night after putting the little one to bed, I plugged it in - woo, it's still great. I then brought down my Cort GB75 with Aguilar pickups to do a comparison. I looped 4 bars over a drum track on the SUB on my Zoom B3 then played 4 bars on the Cort. Oh. The Cort sounds better. Well this is embarassing. It's also lighter, plays better and looks nicer. WHY HAVE I BOUGHT THIS MUSICMAN?! I'd just blown 400 quid on something I inferior to what I already have. I felt horrific guilt, there was no way I could sell the Cort for it. The SUB had to go back, I didn't want to see it. Thankfully, I have a good relationship with PMT and they were happy to refund yesterday lunchtime, they will easily sell it for the same price again (it's probably still there for anyone interested). The whole experience made me really think to myself how GAS is able to really take over your thought process and really not help you to make a rational decision. The gear I have at home is already excellent, I need nothing else, except to learn how to play the bloody things. I believe this to be a symptom of materialism and consumerism generally, and have been trying to realign my thought process to avoid this mindset. GAS is a never ending road going between the thrill of the chase, the purchase, the honeymoon and then boredom (loop back to the start), I'm going to do my best to escape this and would encourage others to do so, the feeling that you don't need anything else is quite liberating. Now what to sell next...

I've had good experiences with Phil at PMT and so has my Dad, but they have always been electronics.

Periphery

Active only. Sting spacing felt like 19mm. Be aware that not all of them have the same electronics. Some have a 3 way coil tap, some have a mid contour switch instead. Some have both ! I swapped out the pickups on mine for some Aguilars and it's a very big improvement - it's on par with a Lakland or Sandberg now. The EQ is functional but I rarely use it. I know some people have converted theirs to passive only. EDIT - The mod I did on mine made the coil tap not function, but I will be getting this changed to a 2 way (humbucker and rear coil only).

I have sold several basses via BassDirect and got the same price after comissions as I would have got on here with people trying to haggle the price down. I sold a Peavey T-40 for £500, Yamaha TRB4 for £550 and Line6 Variax for £500 which I'd say was over the odds for every one. However, I didn't have to take photos, record a demo, manage the transaction, package it or worry about insurance and couriers. By the end of the deals, BassDirect had their 20%, and I had a hassle free amount of cash about the same as i'd have had on here.

A factor in the increased cost of the Skylines is that they are shipped back to the Lakland factory in Chicago for the electronics to be installed and the neck to be PLEK'd. So there is an increased cost over instruments only made in the Far East and shipped straight to the UK. [url="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lakland#Skyline_Series"]https://en.wikipedia...#Skyline_Series[/url] [url="https://www.lakland.com/plek.htm"]https://www.lakland.com/plek.htm[/url]

Mine is nearly 3 years old and a definite keeper. I can't fully explain other than it plays like no other I've had and has the wow factor each time. It is an utter joy to play and the neck feels like home. P.s. You should take advantage of those 2nd hand prices.

I fully expect the price in dollars to be the same number in sterling.

[quote name='CamdenRob' timestamp='1453891748' post='2963803'] Love the look of that Lakland.... great color + blocks and binding, lovely [/quote] It's a limited edition custom model, you can still get the colour but without blocks and binding. It's also a keeper!

It's been a while and a fair few changes, so here's my update. Apologies for poor light it's chucking it down outside.

I would be interested in seeing if there is any correlation between dead spot location and weight of instrument. I found you can eliminate a deadspot on a bass by pressing the headstock into a wall or door frame (totally giggable).

Hmmm, I don't have a main bass so will go with my favourite (5).

I had a bit of a hiatus when my son was born (didn't play much for a months either) but i've got back into it again now he's nearly 2. I've been here since 2007 and about 2-3 years before that on Bassworld, so I doubt i'm going anywhere in the long term.

I think i'm not so bothered they went with P/J models, but that they look so generic.

This has to be a genuine story, the bass isn't valuable enough for the shop to pretend otherwise.

Does the standard 50s (non-Roadworn) have a nitro finish ? If so i'm happy to do my own relicing.

[quote name='Beedster' timestamp='1453400601' post='2959226'] They've been doing so for 34 years so far [/quote] I was hoping someone would notice

[quote name='Machines' timestamp='1453386138' post='2959013'] A total break from the history of Musicman, straight into the history of Fender. [/quote] Actually, the sense of this has just hit me. Musicman history IS (Leo) Fender history. So it's all OK. In fact, all of the big brands are copying each other now. Fender copying G&L L-2000 with the Dimension, and now Musicman copying Fender with these P/J types. How long until Fender ends up copying itself ?!

A total break from the history of Musicman, straight into the history of Fender.