noelk27

[quote name='TheGreek' timestamp='1328219101' post='1524089']Claims it's a "rare 80's Fender Jazz plus V fretless..£800 [url="http://www.preloved.co.uk/adverts/show/105101020/rare-80s-fender-jazz-plus-v-fretless-bass-guitar.html"]http://www.preloved....ass-guitar.html[/url][/quote] It is 80s, it is Fender, and it is rare; but it's a defret. There were both Precision and Jazz models, in standard and anniversary variants, which used the Kubicki preamp and control layout.

Or simply overruns. You'll often see "no names" put together at these satellite factories, with a body from one maker and a neck from another. Over time, I've even bought a few. A Hammer body with a Washburn neck. An ESP body with an Ibanez neck. Less common to see examples with paint finishes/decals applied, but that also happens.

[quote name='Russ' timestamp='1327983595' post='1519881']It sickens me ...[/quote] Your attention seems to be solely focused on the cost of healthcare in the US, but not also on the earning potential and taxation system there. Over his professional life, Mr Rainey has been taxed at a lower level than self-employed people in the UK, and has been entitled to a higher level of deductibles. Without getting into the numbers in detail, for every dollar Mr Rainey has earned he has had between 10 and 15 per cent more in his pocket than those of us in the UK. Here, those of us who operate self-employed contribute in terms of class 2 and class 4 national insurance, as well as through the sums gathered in general taxation. It's also the case, without the backup of an employer, have to make provision for those scenarios which may/will arise, such as absence from work due to illness of other events. For someone self-employed in the UK, it is sensible to carry both private health cover (to expedite the time in which healthcare services can be accessed) and various insurances (to cover for loss of income), to reduce the impact that any absence from working can have, and that in addition to the cost of building up a fund for retirement. My experience tends to be that there are those people who live their lives thinking "it'll never happen to me" and those who live their lives thinking "what if?". If Mr Rainey, living and working in the wealthiest nation in the world, with the level of opportunity available to him, and the greater level of wealth left in his pocket after his federal government has taken its share in taxation, has either made no or inadequate provision for the "what if" then his predicament is his own cross to bear. He's had a lifetime of opportunity to make provision for this moment, and should be in a position to support himself without resort to internet begging. By contributing to Mr Rainey, all that you are doing is sending out a message to others, that it is all fine and well not to make provision for the future, that someone will come along and hand you the finance you need, when you need it, encouraging more and more people to labour under the misapprehension that, not matter what, no matter what they do, no matter how they live their life, no matter how little provision they make for their future, someone else will come along and pay for everything they want and/or need.

[quote name='KiOgon' timestamp='1327947795' post='1519289']Good looking K bass, on the surface - bargain? [url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Bass-guitar-Kay-Guitars-model-K-20B-any-time-mid-60s-through-70s-/190634577920?pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item2c62b4d000#ht_772wt_934"]http://www.ebay.co.u...00#ht_772wt_934[/url][/quote] Weird BIN: £153?

[quote name='Coilte' timestamp='1327914679' post='1518519']Perhaps you are correct that he should have made provisions for a situation like this. It seems he did not. ... They do have a choice. What's wrong with that ???[/quote] He is a US citizen, and has spent his adult life living and working there. He, as any other US citizen, knows how the healthcare system in his own country works, and the insurances he would need to carry being self-emplyed. There is no perhaps about the situation. But, as you rightly say, he had a choice, and his choice was to make no, or inadequate, provision for the situation which he has encountered. As a consequence, he must now live with the outcome, an outcome made from his own choices. As for this thread, highlighting his appeal, it should be in off topic, even applying the most charitable of definitions of subject-matter.

Personally, I'm a bit perplexed. He's self-employed, and has lived his life in a field where self-employment is the norm. It was for him to make relevant provision for his old age and/or ill health. If anything, it's a salutary lesson to all those who will not have sufficient pension to fall back on in retirement and also the necessity to maintain appropriate insurance and assurance. His appeal, though emotional, is little more than begging, and should not be promoted here.

Not to change subject, but Will Lee still using 60s Fender Jazz pickups in the actual Sadowsky basses he plays? Just saying.

[quote name='Sean' timestamp='1327762805' post='1516414']They look great but it's that upper horn, when the strap is on it fret 1 is too far away for my comfort.[/quote] That surprises me. These basses are over an inch shorter than similar period BB models, and given the placement of the bridge and the contouring of the waist and depth of the body, sit slightly further forward, making the reach to the first fret the same as, if not slightly shorter than, on a BB. Know what you mean about the upper horn projection, as opposed to a BB being over the 13th fret, but I find it's just the angle of the strap that's affected, which doesn't impact on reach, for me. All that said, a "Wing" series bass wouldn't be my first choice. Although I love the guitars, the basses are poor performers by comparison, and not in the league of other Japanese makes of the time.

[quote name='icastle' timestamp='1327708325' post='1515858'][S]aw Big Country had reformed with a new singer. ... The new Big Country sound reminds me very much of Runrig. [/quote] Oddly, the new Runrig sound (mid/late 80s) reminded me of old Big Coutry. The circle would appear to be squared.

Could be worse. Big Country without Stuart Adamson. Queen without Freddie Mercury (and John Deacon). But, it is weird to see a band continue without the main driving force/founding member.

[quote name='Jimmyp28' timestamp='1327655754' post='1514720']Ok a lot to get through here but ... can admit when am wrong.[/quote] What has any of what you just wrote got to do with ethics or ethical manufacturing?

[quote name='waldemar' timestamp='1327625907' post='1514578']From what I understand it's basically an Ibanez but branded CSL (Charles Summerfield LTD) by the UK importer.[/quote] The common misconception. Built in some of the factories that also built for Ibanez, but nothing to do with the corporations that held the rights to the Ibanez name. CSL models usually differed from the Ibanez counterparts, not only in minor cosmetic ways, but often in the materials used and featured significantly cheaper hardware and pickups/electrics. That said, CSL is exactly the sort of brand that would tick all the boxes.

[quote name='Jerry_B' timestamp='1327624257' post='1514547']Get a Yamaha BB414...[/quote] More bang for the buck going for older BB models, either of the BB200 or BB300 on eBay at the moment would do a better job. If the OP goes for a big-name company, such as Yamaha, he should be looking at the bottom of the range from the late 70s all the way through the 80s. Either that or the lesser factories/makes of the day, like Columbus, Cimar (as mentioned), Kay, etc.

Well, if you're talking Precision and Jazz clones, then start looking at Columbus, Joodee, El Maya and factories like Guyatone, Yamaki, Kawai. The likes of a Columbus Precision copy, even at the bottom of the range, would have a body made with eight pieces of Sen, and a good chunk of maple for a neck. Pickups? Often made by Maxon, Goto(h), DiMarzio.

Well, the Aria Laser that I just sold, for £200 shipped to your door, with a free set of brand new DR strings thrown in, would have ticked all those requirements off, no problem. If you want to go into a bit more detail about previous basses you've used, and the sound you want to achieve, I'll come up with a list of ten Japanese built basses that would work.

[quote name='Jimmyp28' timestamp='1327593424' post='1513935']Thank god I have realised the error of my ways.[/quote] Quite frankly, your argument was idiotic from the outset. You postulated a proposition - luthier built basses are overpriced and therefore unethical - which would be difficult to argue at the best of times, as seeing any correlation between price and ethics in the real world is far from obvious; but, you postulated without offering any facts or figures to underpin your proposition. I think, and I'm sure the majority here would agree, you should go away, do your research, analyse the business model and the ethics of building basses, and then come back and present some reasoned and supported points for some proper debate.

Or the relative cots of research and development, particularly when borne bringing a unique concept to market, and the expense of having bespoke components and fitments manufactured to exacting specifications, say, with Alembic designing and building all its own pickups and electronics, or Atlansia all its own hardware.

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1327459063' post='1511719']Yes... but the amount of tropical woods used by independent specialist luthiers for bass guitars is nothing ...[/quote] That was me just suggesting a couple of "ethics" issues. Totally agree about the mass manufacturers, whether it be of guitars or tables, and the potential harm those are doing to the environment, in terms of consumption of natural resources and industrial waste/pollution, before even discussing exploitation of labour markets.