binky_bass

I suppose there is an arguement for artistic value too. I mean I can paint a pretty decent picture of a can of Campbells Soup but I'm guessing most people would rather have the Warhol version... (change art piece/artist to suit taste!) Some of my basses do fall into the category of being a bit pricey, but they were made to order with very specific content that doesn't really exist in the non-custom world both in terms of electronics and aesthetics and I enjoy them equally for how they play and the joy that brings me as well as how the look - much like a good piece of art I can happily stare at these basses for long periods of time and admire the work behind the build. Having said that, I do believe there is a balance in all of this though - for instance (yeah, we all know it!) Fodera have some utterly eye watering price tags, and Alembic even more so, I mean $60,000 for Alembic is just insanity no matter how you slice it! Then there is the likes of ACG were the prices are incredibly reasonable for the outstanding craftsmanship and superb electronics - both on an easy par with Fodera and Alembic, and having played all three, personally in a 'value blind' test, I'd go ACG. It depends on the artist you want to paint your picture, at the end of the day, be it 100 people painting their little section of a 'paint by numbers' picture (I.E. a cheaper mass produced bass), or one truly skilled artist that has made a name for themselves over the years (The ACGs and Foderas of the world) it's your choice to make. Art, like basses is subjective - some are happy with seeing those cheap 'Live, Love, Laugh' wall stickers as art, some would rather a Rembrandt. Whatever you like, what ever you can afford, it's your choice!

Before this deteriorates into people selectively paying attention to perceived negatives, (as seems to be so often the case on this forum with certain folk!) may I just quote myself from my first post: Just my personal 2 cents! Opinion is subjective and beauty is in the eye of the beholder so really who am I to judge!!

Tie Dye shirts aren't applicable as they are not purposefully damaged, my old teddy is my old teddy and has natural wear so isn't applicable, ripped jeans and distressed caps are applicable and fall (for me) into the same category as relic finishes. Why would you want to buy a pair of jeans already ripped up? Fashion is a sheeps game, whoever came up with the idea of selling pre-ripped jeans has been laughing 12 hours a day since selling the first pair.

I know this isn't a 'relic rant' thread, but I just don't understand the relic look... in any other industry it would be classed as insanity - 'Come buy your brand new relic'd Ford, we've smashed it up a bit for you to make it look like you've rolled down a genuine Californian hillside'. Why pay 60% over the odds for a bass/guitar that's been sandpapered a bit and had a few rocks thrown at it. They just look like battered instruments to me so why pay more for damage?? I don't get it. Even with true vintage instruments, the better the condition the higher the value, so it just seems like the attraction is people wanting to make it appear like they've been gigging for years and are seasoned pro's when they likely are not. Just my personal 2 cents! Opinion is subjective and beauty is in the eye of the beholder so really who am I to judge!!

Do I have to use my own fingers?

@mhoss32 - Wishbasses are basically terrible lumps of driftwood that claim to be a custom bass! I was just having a little joke as you're bass is so far at the other end of the scale (wishbass being about a -236 on a scale of 1-10 on quality, and yours looking more like a 10, if not considerably higher!) Can't wait to see yours finished! I'm quite jealous of your ability to build such a thing!!

To me, single cut bass just look better! To me there's nothing worse than the same old bass shape time and time again! Its the whole Chocolate/Vanilla thing, 90% of bassist out there use Fender P or J basses, or at least P or J shaped basses. There is a whole wide and vibrant world of flavours out there, why only have Chocolate and Vanilla? P and J basses are more like a workman's tool I suppose, a Ronseal bass, it does what it says on the tin, no frills, no surprises, bang average! Single cuts have so much more flavour, granted you might not like the flavour, but at least its different! I can look at my ACGs or my Conklin, Bee Bass or De Giers as works of art as well as being unspeakably good basses. I just can't do that with a P or a J. Nowt wrong with either choice, it's all opinion, but I like a different flavour and my basses have exactly the taste I like!

Hi all, For the first time in about 5 months, I've fired up my Mesa Boogie Strategy Eight:88 just really to blow off any cobwebs and make sure it's still alive and well! I've noticed that every maybe 10-20 seconds there's a pop or a crackle coming from the amp... The symptoms are as below: Popping occurs every 10-20 seconds when the amp is turned on. When the standby switch is engaged, there is no popping. It's not the bass or the leads (tested the full run). The sound of the pop reacts to effects, so for example when reverb and delay are engaged the popping has a little reverb and delay to it. With no effects engaged, the popping still exists, just obviously without the effects of the effects... I have had the amp in my lounge for the last 5-6 months and I (perhaps foolishly?) didn't have the cover on it as it looks better without it! Could dust have gotten in there and is now causing an issue with the valves? The whole rig has had very light use as I got it maybe 3 months before COVID and used it once a week for 4 hours or so at band practice and never really pushed it anywhere near the max. I don't think its the valves themselves, as I say its had light use since purchase so if the valves (or one valve) was dodgy already I'd not be best pleased! Any thoughts or fixes to such an issue? Is it easy and safe enough to remove all the valves and give everything a good clean before re-seating the valves? Could it really be dust thats caused the pops? Any advice would be welcome!

You also might miss out on a worth while deal for the bass you're looking for if the forum is split by UK/Non-UK. I've seen basses in the UK being offered at say £1000 and the same bass being offered by someone in the EU at say £700, so you're still potentially able to get a better deal even with tax included. Also depends of how 'ready' the seller is to sell, someone in the UK might be hard on price, someone in the EU might be flexible.

You need to send that to the seller then let us know his response! My face remains in tact... for now...

He'll find you... He has a base near Hanmer Springs, he's already on his way...

Don't anger Binky... he will jump right out of that fretboard and eat you face first! I've seen him do it...

If that's a Warwick I will eat my own face.

@Hellzero - You sir, are a big old box of wrong! In fact this clearly looks like the bass @mhoss32 has modeled his build on! 😂

If this turns out to be a Wishbass I will be very upset...

But who gets the spleen?

@Rich So all I need to do is bankrupt you, make you homeless and maybe steel your spleen, then your Wal is mine? I shall get this into motion post haste!!!

You emotionless heathen!!!! Be gone from this forum... BE GONE!!!!

A new ACG delivery today... that makes 4 in the 'built by Alan' collection. A number no doubt to grow in the future!