noelk27

[quote name='Machines' post='1085532' date='Jan 11 2011, 02:28 PM']Looks to me like it's all types of businesses at it. They're using the VAT increase as an excuse to just bump the prices by anything they fancy. Was in Morrisons the other day where one product had gone up 40% in a week ! (Seabrook crisps if you're that interested).[/quote] Using foodstuffs and food product prices to make justify this assertion would be problematic at best. You're as likely to find this same product in some pricing promotion next week allowing the reseller to make spurious claims with regard to cost saving as to be permanently higher priced. A better gauge are simple food products, such as a loaf of bread or carton of milk, to gauge food price inflation. Remember, many food products are exempt from VAT, so oranges are VAT exempt while orange juice is VAT rated. (VAT is applied to foodstuffs which have undergone additional processing) Unfortunately, for bass players, crisps and beer are both VAT rated.

On an item costing £100 before the VAT increase, the 2.5% hike equals £2.16 (so, £21.60 on a £1,000 purchase). What you have to remember about VAT is that this is due on the majority of raw materials and all components used in the manufacturing process, and that these real cost increases to business would be passed along to end-users (leaving aside the VAT input/output offset equation). Many corporations do introduce annual price adjustments with the calendar year, although many do this in line with the Tax Year (starting 6 April). But, it was widely suggest by financial analysts that many corporations and resellers would take advantage of the timing of the VAT rate increase to adjust prices upwards, but that the VAT increase while 2.5% would result in an average 4.5% increase in prices.

Personally, not a big fan of active basses. Lots of manufacturers build poor quality active instruments. Previously (70s and 80s) Aria engineered quality circuits, but the best I've played, and what I use for upgrade purposes, are Alembic AXY and MXY pickups and A/E-1 and A/E-Q2 circuits. When playing live in the 80s and 90s, mostly used two G&L basses (passive El Toro and active L2000E) and two Yamaha basses (passive BB2000 and active BB5000A) through an SWR Redhead and Triad setup, I'd set the amp flat, and use two chains with Boss parametric equaliser and Boss limiter pedals to shape the sound, one dedicated for the passive signal and the other for active. Always found there to be very little difference in the signals, and with either setup got best results when using the combined passive/active input on the SWR. These days, mostly play passive instruments, particularly Yamaha BB series (1200, 2000 and 5000) through an SWR Baby Blue, and can't say I've ever encountered any issues with the strength or quality of those basses outputs. (And the money you save not having to buy 9 volt batteries!) All that waffle aside, Rick Turner wrote a series of articles for Bass Player (early/mid 90s, I think) where he talked about the design and layout of active pickups and circuits, and examined many of the myths and misconceptions about what is, or isn't, active. Maybe someone has a link to those, or can find some links.

[quote name='Rich' post='1085128' date='Jan 11 2011, 08:01 AM']Really?? Blimey, I remember a time many years ago when they were nearly bin-material. Bloody wish I'd bought one then! [/quote] Prices for used SG models have been increasing quite steadily. Like any instrument in production for a long period of time there are some highly desirable models out there (such as the SG1000-24 and SG1300-24 or SG2000JS and SG2000NW) and certain finishes that were only ever produced in small numbers for particular models (Jade Green and Gold Top SG3000 or SG2000) leaving aside the various limited edition models and colours. An all original SG175 would sell for a good price as this model was not produced in large numbers. I've been collecting SG models since the 80s (and currently own quite a few), and it's getting a lot more difficult to find good condition, original examples, at the right price. Take a look at the prices 70s and early 80s SG models sell for in Japan.

Cr*p. Abrasive, tight, ill-defined, old technologies, redundant features, don't last, poor quality materials, poor quality control. Would love to be able to say a British manufacturer making a quality string, but this lot are not that. Because the strings are cheap, in relative terms, see people endlessly trying to justify to themselves that this lot make a quality product. But that's just bullsh*t.

[quote name='Bassassin' post='1081705' date='Jan 8 2011, 12:38 AM']If only! [/quote] Pity. Was going to suggest you sold it to me!

[quote name='Shaggy' post='1081581' date='Jan 7 2011, 10:15 PM']I had a fretted one new in '80, but it didn't have that little extended top-string curve at the end of the f/board.[/quote] Could be wrong, but think that board (with the scrolled end) was introduced when the design was revamped for the tenth anniversary.

[quote name='Bassassin' post='1080941' date='Jan 7 2011, 12:18 PM']Alembic copies though - this is what you want![/quote] Yours, Mr Assassin?

Calling Bobby K (and his natural BB1200)!

[quote name='Ou7shined' post='1079143' date='Jan 5 2011, 08:43 PM']SB-2 Tribute -> [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=120667537127&ssPageName=ADME:B:SS:GB:1123"]linky[/url][/quote] Why's it sexy? Looks kinda ordinary to me.

Rest in peace ...

[quote name='Annoying Twit' post='1078972' date='Jan 5 2011, 06:46 PM']Alembic. I've no idea how much these sell for, so can't comment on the price. [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ALEMBIC-Pro-Martin-BASS-Vintage-THRU-NECK-JAPAN-/120667986527?pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item1c185f5a5f"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ALEMBIC-Pro-Martin-B...=item1c185f5a5f[/url][/quote] It does say Alembic copy in the description, but surely this should be pulled for spamming? After all, an old listing of mine for a G&L L2000 by Leo Fender (exactly what it said on the headstock) was pulled for spamming, and it was an instrument actually built by the guy it name-checked!

[quote name='Doctor J' post='1077205' date='Jan 4 2011, 12:33 PM']It's most likely a coil in your humbucking pickup is dead and when you switch to serial you're forced to go through the dead coil and that is why the output is disappearing. It seems to be fairly common with old Arias and it's almost impossible to get original replacments. Kent Armstrong will make a replacement but they sound nothing like the Aria pickups, so you either get two Armstrong pickups and live with a wildly different sounding bass or wait for a working original to appear.[/quote] If it is a coil, there are other options to getting Kent Armstrong pickups. For many of the lower models, replacement parts come up quite often, or you can source period DiMarzio models (as a lot of what was fitted in Aria guitars/basses was built to DiMarzio designs, or supplied by DiMarzio). If not, Wizard Pickups offer repair services, as well as replacements. There's also the high-end route, given that Aria modelled some pickups after Alembic models, to use Alembic AXY pickups in place of PP and MB models.

The mechanical one I got in '72 still works. Most of the technology I bought five years ago is dead. I'll stick with a mechanical one when I'm at home and a real drummer for all other situations.

[quote name='Bassassin' post='1075968' date='Jan 3 2011, 01:12 AM']There must be a way to stop these people. Is it OK to set fire to them[/quote] Given the ever rising gas prices, to them and their plywood sounds okay to me.

[quote name='bassaussie' post='1074223' date='Jan 1 2011, 10:30 AM']Bernard Edwards did the bass solo on "Get It On". [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=14kXaX5D6Ng"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=14kXaX5D6Ng[/url][/quote] No, that's an excerpt from a much longer video, showing Edwards, Taylor and Nile Rodgers working out the parts Taylor would eventually play. But, in the interview sections, while all parties are discussing the recording process, it's clearly stated that Taylor plays all the final versions on the finished work.

Err, it looks like every other Thunderbird bass (in other words, ugly as sin).

Both the mini toggle switches are On/On, and the three-way selector in Bridge/Mid/Neck, so irrespective of what combination you select you should always have sound. When the three-way selector is in the mid position then only one of the mini toggle switches is operative (the second will not change the character of the sound), which people often think is a wiring fault but is the circuit operating as originally intended. But, there should always be an audible output.

[quote name='Mykesbass' post='1072528' date='Dec 30 2010, 10:29 AM']Like "where did you research £1,500 for a Yamaha SG3000?" for starters!![/quote] List price for the reissue is £3,000 and up. Good used examples of originals can easily sell for £1,500.