bubinga5

Now I haven't listened to any Meshell for quite a long time. You might be aware I like her music from my avatar. I listened to it in the car today and Im still blown away how good it is. The lyrics, her incredible tight groove bass playing which is totally unique, you can tell its Meshell when she plays.. Everything about this album is just fantastic.. Good music stays with you and when you haven't heard it for a long time its even sweeter than the first time.

Love the tone, great Chaka track and that is some fantastic playing, really enjoyed it.

Easy to forget how good she was. No lip synch, no auto tune back then. She came from the church and a bonafide gospel singer from a teenager. Just huge power and control in her voice.

The end result. Its pretty much a brand new JRetro Deluxe with all stuff/box letter etc expected from a new one. Im pretty blown away.

This could be really old news, but am I right in saying Carey is no longer making instruments. Concentrating on Nordstrand Audio etc.?

When you play one of these you realise how fantastic they are. he clarity and growl they have is just.. If I could only have one six string it would be a gen 1 TRB

For sure they are not out there prices. Im amazed you can get a bass like this for just under £3000. Ask Martin from Sei for a sexy top sexy Jazz bass and your into the £4000 mark. Ask Mr Stenback and it will be £5000 +. go figure.. A GB Spitfire without all the zing will be roughly in the £2500 price bracket. .

That is just stunning. I think Ive been out Spitfired.!! The neck through is just wonderful. Im sure mine is a 34"scale mind, but will have to check that. Thanks Visog. Without wanting to sound personal. your knobs look different to mine. Mine are a rubber 4 rings around a plastic knob. Did you change yours.?

Wow. Have you any more pics of this Spitfire.? Specs? Looks like a neck through.?

Yeah it belonged to Jamie. Lovely guy. We met in a hotel room. Was just like an elicit drug deal.😆

Ive played it on a few rehearsals now. First off, Its not a Jazz Bass..But really its a modern sounding bass that looks a little bit like a Jazz, as the Sei Looked like a modern Jazz and sounded like a modern Jazz. The Sei was so well made it had a clarity across the fretboard and this instrument is the same, but just sounds a little different. Its a double hum bucker 34' scale beast with an 18v powered GB preamp. Ive never been a fan of the light show that he offers so I'm glad it didn't come with any of those tarty bits that seems to add a lot of money to an already great bass.These GB's are being sold for well over £2000 used because of these options. I just wanted a great bass that had some growl. And that it has, with a super tight B string. Ive put some new strings on it being my die hard favourite DR Fat Beams that sound so cool when set at the right action. I had a preconception that GB basses sounded like a super modern Mark King zingy Jaydee Alembic sounding bass which im not a fan of. Not the case. I can dial in some really old school sounds from this instrument as well as some more MTD sounding tones.Playing Dangelo tone off stuff is cool. Its EQ is fairly easy to work out. It feels wonderful to play neck wise. I will say its not as comfortable to play as the Sei Jazz because its neck is a little and I mean a slight difference depth wise at the nut end. And there is no cut away on the back by the neck bolts. But it is super nice to hold. You feel like your playing something very special and well made. UK bass royalty one might say. The flame neck is insane with purple heart strips. Insane Birdseye maple neck. I soooooo dig the burl walnut on the back of the headstock, a really cool touch. . The body is swamp ash with a Burled Walnut top with a purple heart sandwich. . All in all this instrument is just as good as it gets depending on your flavour. To be honest it could be a bit more Jazz like, but im being picky. What it does it does incredibly well. A joy to play and it makes me smile when im playing funky soulish stuff with the band through a 212 Aguilar. I believe Harry from this very forum asked for this bass to be made for him by Bernie. So if your about dude, please chip in if I have missed something.

BC members don't get any better than Carl. Hes a gent and was a pleasure to sell a bass too. Even though it wasn't exactly what he wanted.(a fault of mine) he was courteous and patient. Dont hesitate to deal with this guy. Hes a good egg.

For someone who doesn't read music.!!. This guy is sometimes accused of over playing. My take is when the notes hes playing are this creative I really dont care. As long as the cat can groove. And groove he can. Musical director for Chaka Khan. Some of his fills are soooooo gospel/shout and just magic. I also love that he really emphasises on finger style. Rarely double thumb and slap are used. When he does slap, its just thumb/slap and its used in context and for a certain part. He dwarfs that MTD 6 string. What a fantastic bass player this guy is. a joy to watch and hear IMO.

Well the story starts from my Sei. Some might know that I sold it. To Carlsim on BC who is a total gent and a very cool guy. Said bass was posted too Carl. Carl then got in contact with me. I posted in my advert that the preamp was a a UNI Pre. I meant to say it was a U Retro Deluxe but I advertised it wrong. My fault of course. Well after a few PMs back and forth Carl worked out that it wasn't either. It was actually a J Retro Deluxe. BUT the bell plate when it was fitted was not installed, so I presumed it was a U Retro Deluxe. Confusion much so. Anyway it was a pain in the derrière for Carl because he had paid for a bass that wasn't what he expected. So I sent him some money to get the Preamp that he wanted which he wanted being the UNI pre.lets hope it fits we/he said.But all was cool. John East sent him a Uni pre and bless Carl. He un installed the J Retro and then fitted the Uni pre which he is happy with. Carl after a few PMs sent the preamp direct to John I spoke to John East about this situation through numerous emails and on the phone throughout this situation which he always answered. I then spoke to John about getting a new Jazz bell plate for said J Retro. He said on the phone that he had a plate no probs. Now this is where John East is not just one of the greatest designers of possibly one of the best preamps for a bass on the market, but one of the most easy to get hold of nicest guys and one on one its like talking to your next door neighbour . I spoke to him and he said to send him the preamp, he would give me a free plate from his stock that has a slight blemish, he would then rewire the preamp and fit new knobs.! FOR FREE.!! all I have to do is cover the postage.. I don't really need to add much to this. I dont want want to endorse asking John to give away free stuff, but what a guy and what a gesture. For me first off this is what BC is about . Honesty, communication, and wanting other bass players to be happy with what you have sold them. But really its a big up to John East. What a gentleman..

😂 Not one of my best moments. Lets let it slide down the forum out of sight. Bad day and a few beers.

Superb musicians. Both of them.

I didn't watch it until the end. And I have to admit and feel bad now. !