binky_bass

Trick is don't sell the good ones! The only bass I truly regret selling, and annoyingly the ONLY one I've sold that I have never been able to track down, was a Nordstrand NX6. I've hunted for this for many years and have never even heard a whiff from it since I sold it. The only comfort is that I sold it to buy my ACG 9 which Will never leave me!

I'm not in the market for 4 strings I'm afraid! I'm firmly a 6+ string bass player! The Thunderbird was a itch that I wanted to scratch and did so a few times but was always far too underwhelmed to keep the ones I had for more than a few weeks. The Embassy basses do look like a decent buy with a good spec for the price point, but for me it was always the looks of a Thunderbird that drew to it, so to loose that would totally wipe out any interest in an alternative! There's something deeply rock 'n' roll about a proper Gibson Thunderbird, I think that was part of the allure!

Years back before I was fortunate enough to own the basses I currently own, I had always longed for a Gibson Thunderbird... I've since owned two or three over the last 5 years or so and each time I open the case and looked at the bass I think 'ahhh yes, this is why I wanted you!' Then I pick it up, play it and immediately think 'right, when's the next eBay £1 sellers fee happening...' Their sound is so underwhelming and they feel cheap despite being the better part of £1600 new. Always in love but forever disappointed by the Thunderbird. 😔

I did email them a while ago and got a very frosty and totally unhelpful response. There are plenty of other strings out there so I'm not going to waste my time with a company that have poor customer service and that only cater to 'standard' players. If they don't want to run a better business and cater for others outside of the ultra 'norm' then I shan't be expending any effort to give them my money. I stand by my 'Boo Elixir' comment!

Sure, but that's massively inconvenient, why don't they just out the C and B in a box and call it a 6 string set like everyone else?

I really like Elixir strings, it bugs me that they don't do 6 string bass sets! They're a big enough company, so why not cater to everyone? Boo Elixir!!!

Having to wait for a bass to be built is always a tough time! But comparably Alan's wait times are a fraction of the vast majority of other builders. @zbd1960 - You won't be disappointed by your choice, Alan's build quality is just exceptional, can't wait to see the build take shape!

For years my band was a 3 piece, when the guitarist did his thing I'd often use a combination of a little reverb and delay to make my bass sound fill the gap.

I work in the auto industry and I can absolutely confirm the global shortage of semiconductors has caused huge disruptions in manufacturing and shipping. It's essentially because everyone bought new laptops, tablets, phones, games consoles, etc. during lockdown, all of which require semiconductors, the supply of these little and essential chips hasn't recovered which is why every industry that uses semiconductors are currently facing issues.

Be silent you mere mortal else I shall send the hoard after you!!!

Looks like a home-made hybrid between a Conklin and a Bee Bass. It was made 13 years ago so hunting it down will be tricky.

Everybody gets one for free... just like Spiderman.

What you think happened... Well, it happened. Me and The Bush (I call her The Bush) go way back.

It looks awful... as soon as it's finished send it to me and I'll 'dispose' of it free of charge, honestly I won't keep it for myself or anything... 😜

I don't own any instruments with provenance anymore but I did own an Epiphone LP that Frampton played, I didn't really care and that added zero monetary value to it... I have a lot of signed things from having smuggled myself backstage many-a-time when I was a yoof if that falls into the general ball park of this topic! I did also own Jean Baudin's PacMan bass for a while, but that only counts if you're an absolute ERB geek! 🤓

Alan very kindly sent a friend of mine a handful of Jack cables for the cost of postage - Great person to deal with and I'd certainly be very happy indeed to deal with Alan again! Another credit to Basschat.

I suppose there's an arguement to be had as to the pointlessness of museums and such too under the same thought process of no value being added through prior use or any potential historical significance. If owning an instrument with some significance doesn't float your boat then don't buy one, but if you're a fan of the band and you want to feel a link to them then go for it. As for people selling said instruments for massively inflated prices, we'll that's just capitalism. Adding a percentage to a Fender owned and played by a famous guitarist is fair enough as it does add a certain something that some people will pay for, but there is a reasonable line to be drawn. I do absolutely get why some people want to own certain historical things, physically touching an object of significance rather than seeing it in pictures or on TV does add weight to your thoughts and feelings of that object. I was at Duxford Air Museum yesterday and laid a hand on a few exhibits (yes, yes I know you technically shouldn't!) and it does provide a certain sensation/stimulus over just looking at it. I suppose it makes it 'real' and you can add to the experience of seeing it though having physically made contact with it.

I'd definitely speak to Alan at ACG. I have 4 of his instruments, one a custom order, one he was mostly finished with for NAMM and two I bought pre-owned. They are all exceptional instruments and honestly equal to or better than anything else I own/have owned, and when I say that I'm comparing ACG instruments against the very highest caliber of basses from USA Conklin to Overwater, Fodera, De Geir, Jerzy Drozd etc. Also, from my experience Alan is quick to respond and very easy to work with. Absolutely worth some serious consideration as you simply won't get a higher quality of build and his prices are extremely reasonable. And obviously he's a UK luthier so no hideous inport taxes to be paid!

I'd suggest you take a look at the Line 6 Helix LT. I had a fairly extensive pedal board a few years ago with a lot of boutique pedals on it, it weighed an absolute ton! I sold everything and picked up a pre-owend Helix for a shade under £500 and it's really a fantastic bit of kit. I'm yet to find something it can't do, really a good bit of kit and the expression/volume pedal can be used in a multifunction capacity, you just stomp your toe down on the tip of it to change function between volume and expression. Worth considering!

I feel like I have the spiritual current version of this exact rig... certainly the strategy eight:88 is heavily based around the 400. Had a Diesel 2x15 years back too, savage cabs! Heavy as all hell though!

I suppose I'd bring my lounge 'practice rig'

You'll have to tape everything together and use it as some kind of rudimentary war-axe.