Machines

A recent audition of mine went well (with positive feedback at the time). But I was told they went with the drummer's friend who auditioned too because he knows him better (so why bother wasting my time ?). I'm glad I didn't pay towards the room at least. The most I took from it was a good chance to try out my Cort for the first time.

[quote name='RhysP' timestamp='1452087767' post='2946234'] That's the same as the wiring on a three pickup Les Paul. Very odd way to do it. [/quote] There's a good reason no-one else does it.

I tried out a 2012 Gibson Grabber in PMT last week. It was without doubt the worst sounding bass i've ever played. 3 x single coils, of which they can only be set on a 3 way as bridge + middle / all 3 and neck / middle pickups. The wide spacing of the pickups meant a very muddy sound I could not get any real definition from it, slap was out of the question.

When I was gigging - I only every took one. I once took two, and changed half way through just to justify it, but there was no real need. If I do get back into it - it will be one again, too much hassle swapping mid set and just seems a bit OTT. The key for me is having basses that are versatile.

I generally see Ibanez basses in metal bands and not much else. Despite being around for 30 odd years with their own models and brand, they don't seem to have the status deserved. The new SR models with Nordstrand pickups look wonderful.

Yes the neck is quite chunky and reminds me of the L-2000 I had. Thankfully I don't have small hands amd prefer wide spacing too.

My Dad picked this Ibanez ATK200 up in August for me after I mentioned in passing it was decent in a local shop. They had it on display for about 18 months with no buyers, so was pretty dirty with dead strings, so got it for a decent price (they're £289 new). After a clean, a setup and some new Dunlop Super Brights, it is truely outstanding. The pickup and preamp are excellent, the only compromises I can find are body weight (about 10lbs) and neck finish (a light sanding has helped this). With the 3 way double humbucker and some EQ tweaking, you can get a Jazz/Stingray and Precision sounds from it - which I was certainly surprised by. I would say it is quite in your face sound, no passive vintage tones here - raw rock tones a plenty. Ibanez don't seem to have a decent following, but this really is a Stingray on a budget.

20 frets on Precisions & Jazz basses. Who ever needs that high Eb more often than an E?

[quote name='cybertect' timestamp='1451408646' post='2940266'] Hook it up to the computer and use it as a USB audio output - plug headphones into the B3, play song on computer and play along on the bass. Works for me :-) [/quote] I haven't got a computer

For a multi FX unit I don't think anything can match its value. I pretty much use mine as an overly complex tuner and EQ unit with occasional looping. The only thing it lacks is an AUX in for playing along to things.

1) Join a band with people I find agreeable (this will be the hardest one). 2) Avoid GAS a bit more, there were 3 new basses in 2015 I didn't need (2 outgoing though). 3) Learn more theory, for 12 years of playing bass I know pretty much nothing.

I think someone coming forward 10 years later is a bit unlikely. Also if it has a new owner (that probably paid for it) they're also unlikely to volunteer it's reunification.

Just to add confusion, I got an Ibanez ATK for Xmas and it makes a Stingray look boring.

[quote name='MoonBassAlpha' timestamp='1450774411' post='2935622'] @Machines - Out of interest, how long did you give it? I found just the same, but sometimes it is good being (well) outside one's playing comfort zone. I tried a couple of time and didn't really stick at it. [/quote] Oh I put a serious amount of time into it - 2 weeks

I ventured into jazz recently when an offer came up to be in a jazz band. It was doing old standard type stuff that I can't remember the name of. All I know is I thought I'd prepared myself well by learning chord tones and the key of the song with the progressions. I crashed and burned and now I never want to play it again. For me, it was too much thought - i couldn't just play without processing what I was doing next and after that and that too. I know comfort would come from experience in that aspect, but the 10 years I have of playing mostly funk/rock etc was of little use to me.

[quote name='Froggy' timestamp='1450450597' post='2932979'] Ahh that's annoying, the one Im going for is the walnut satin. [/quote] Well, not all of them, just some i've seen. I personally dislike satin finishes as with regular usage they tend to polish to a gloss around the arm contour whilst the rest stays flat.

I'd go for the black/maple ones. The white is OK but only with a maple neck (not an option) but the satin finish ones look a bit cheap and expose the poor wood underneath in my mind.

I do like Warwick custom shop's work, but I would never pay those prices. If they need that much markup and can afford higher margins at the expense of lower sales volumes, that that is their business decision and if they remain profitable then it is viable. What I don't see however is swarms of satisfied custom shop customers stating how great everything is, i sure do see a lot of 2nd hand custom shop basses for sale at massive losses though.

Good points - gets the Stingray sound and looks like one too, great price Bad points - Narrower nut, oversized bridge plate, limited colour options.

You won't ever get a massive bargain there, but good luck finding anywhere else in Europe as well stocked. If you want 'average' products, there are many retailers already box shifting these, online or in warehouse style shops. I am biased as I have known Mark since BassDirect was being run from a converted garage in a farmyard (2008), but i've seen the business grow and evolve in what it stocks and believe I am very fortunate having such a range of top end gear and expertise only 25 mins down the M42. I am as whimsical as anyone else, and have definitely wasted his time via email and shop visits but he's never made me feel unwelcome. Even when I could see he was busy he was happy to chat to me for 10 mins, asking how my family is, or discussing the merits of the novax fret system etc. As others have said, he isn't going to tell you what you want to hear and may challenge everything you think you knew about basses - but only so you don't buy the wrong product and end up selling it on a bass forum a few weeks later at a big loss.

I remember when a German made Corvette $$5 was new for about £750. The laws of supply and demand must apply here though, are German Warwicks in such high demand they can demand these prices from customers ? I know Fodera can, but I don't get why you'd give them this much money for what is mostly a CNC'd instrument (with a LOT of mark up). If demand for Warwicks was so high, 2nd hand prices would be high too ? They're laughably terrible.

Who actually pays these prices?!

I ordered some Seymour Duncan pickups for my Cort and they didn't fit (too small for existing routing). They ordered aome Aguilar instead without any fuss. Just waiting on delivery so they can be installed (for free too). Ps Nige if you see this can you ask Jay how long they'll be please

I am suffering with this also - i'm the same in that none of the colours inspire me. I'm waiting for BassDirect to get the December shipment in so I can go check them out. I have the gear to trade to meet the value, but none of it would I be willing to lose. If they did interest free like GuitarGuitar i'd be on it, but oh well.