karlfer

bassman344 Makes me wonder why we spend thousands on basses and gear when a bloke like Steve can rule the world with the same P bass for over thirty years. Just so true!

[quote name='theyellowcar' timestamp='1393756662' post='2383958'] This! My biggest bug bear is that I'll probably never be able to buy a Surf Green/Sonic Blue Fender Precision off the rack for less than a couple of grand because they're seen as 'obscure' finishes. [/quote] Ahem, £680 sovs new guv, from a retailer near you. I would have preferred the green to be more Attitude Surf Green mind. [URL=http://s1354.photobucket.com/user/Karl_Altdorfer/media/DSCF0469_zpsdfd3dd1e.jpg.html][IMG]http://i1354.photobucket.com/albums/q693/Karl_Altdorfer/DSCF0469_zpsdfd3dd1e.jpg[/IMG][/URL]

[quote name='GreeneKing' timestamp='1394460958' post='2391546'] This bass thing? One minute I understand it and the next I'm flummoxed. In my head I have the perfect bass. It growls, it's articulate, it's smooth and bluesy, it's got attack and clarity and it's muddy and warm. It's functional, well made and finished and it looks kinda wonderful too. I love Rics. I've owned 4 including a Chris Squire and a Macca model. I've tried and I've not got on with them tonally or ergonomically. A part of me still wants one (what's that about?). I don't/can't play with a pick and maybe thats partly the problem. I love the look and the tone when others play them. The Yamaha BB2024MX that Chris traded with me is a superb bass. It's got Yamaha's wood treatments which really work in my opinion. The pickups are a marvel and as a P/J it really works. The only aesthetic thing I'm not keen on is the neck laminates running through the headstock but it's superbly well made and finished. It's all anyone 'should' want methinks. I recently bought a 70's re-issue P bass entirely because it sounded so good. On a whim I put a Steve Harris pickup in (and moved the Bare Knuckle 65 into my Tony Butler sig) and I have to say that for a pure P bass sound it's the best I've ever heard. It isn't very flexible though, just pure P bass goodness in extremis. For the nearest Ric tone my Gibson EB2014 in series/series/series mode is a good approximation but more ballsy. For growl my 90 Thumb NT takes some beating. For articulation and clarity plus great flexibility my ACG Finn Uber spec has it nailed. The Roscoe Beck IV I traded with Chris does so much and is playable in the extreme. But, in a band situation that I'm likely to be in the bass will likely be fairly irrelevant, especially to the punters. Most if not all of my 12 basses would cut it. So what's my point? What I'm trying to say is that one bass wouldn't keep me content for many reasons and the reasons I enjoy my basses has more to do with playing them sat at home as the mood takes me than in a 'real' gigging scenario. If I had to have just one bass to rule them all I'd really struggle. Peter [/quote] Jeez, that is just SO well put Peter!!

[quote name='GreeneKing' timestamp='1394874021' post='2396124'] Loverly CIJ 70's re-issue? Lovely basses. [/quote] No Peter, it's one of the following and despite the rep Mex's have, I love them. I've had 6 good Mex's now. Even though I love 'em I can still sell them on. That's because I'm fickle Oh, and the description is wrong, the nut width is 38mm jazz. [url="http://www.gak.co.uk/en/fender-fsr-deluxe-pj-bass-sea-foam-pearl/92874?gclid=CKzjos2Hlb0CFWvkwgodhRoA0A"]Fender FSR Deluxe PJ Bass (Sea Foam Pearl)[/url]

[quote name='lemmywinks' timestamp='1394895175' post='2396417'] Hey look they do a Musicman one too! [/quote]

[quote name='Chiliwailer' timestamp='1394870520' post='2396080'] Perhaps the decal was on a strip that Leo used as bookmark for his Burt Weedon's Play in a Day? That'll be worth a couple of extra pounds perhaps? I'll drop Richard a line and explain again that eBay is for the prospective buyer to bid on only [/quote]

Well the starting price has gone up another £500 overnight. When the bass went up on Wed/or Thurs, it was £5000 with no headstock decal. It now has headstock decals and £6499.

[quote name='TheGreek' timestamp='1394816301' post='2395600'] The BC Community...what can you say.. Absolute respect to Tredders for this selfless act.. [/quote] +1

I can't comment any more due to having gone insane. I could have sworn there was a Custom Shop 55 RI up for sale last night. Could have sworn I commented on it. Looks like I didn't. As you were, I'm off for assessment I think

Wow, that's inflation, gone up £999 overnight

[url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1960-FENDER-JAZZ-BASS-ORIGINAL-DUAL-CONCENTRIC-STACK-KNOB-SLAB-BOARD-PRE-CBS-/321349231979?pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item4ad1e8256b"]1960 FENDER JAZZ BASS ORIGINAL DUAL CONCENTRIC STACK KNOB SLAB BOARD PRE CBS[/url]

[quote name='bagsieblue' timestamp='1394655541' post='2393821'] Karl- what is this social media of which you speak?, here be dragons?? For a non Facebook, shy, private, distinctly average bass player am I missing that there is a whole new world over the hill?? [/quote] Aye, right

[quote name='KevB' timestamp='1394644947' post='2393686'] I can quite believe it. From this you would deduce it as supporting the 'it's in the fingers' or in this case 'it's in the rig' or a combination of both. [/quote] And the pedals.

[quote name='leftybassman392' timestamp='1394612827' post='2393207'] It's a very good point. People are sometimes a bit too precious about their pride and joy. You have to be realistic. Basses are, in this situation at least, much like cars. When you buy a new car, you will lose anything up to a third of it's value the moment you drive it off the forecourt - doesn't matter what it is. So it is with instruments. By the time you've owned and used it for a year or three it's sale value plummets. I'm not saying this because there's one that I'm after (quite the contrary as I've just done a very nice trade with another BC member), but asking 90% of it's retail value just ain't gonna do it I'm afraid - people are not stupid, especially when money's tight. Even on a spotless instrument I tend to think I'm doing really well if I can get back 60%. Each to their own, but if you're interested in actually selling it then you have to price it accordingly. (If you're doing it as an exercise in domestic politics then that's a different matter of course... ) [/quote] Spot on. Both my basses are out at about 60% of new price. Still not selling mind . My last two have sold elsewhere, but as yet are not advertised there. Basschat is still always my first call. Surprisingly, social media is my second call now. Again, a couple of years back social media would not have entered the conversation, for me anyway.

See I never get this bitsa thing. There was a 70's P on here not long back, probably the worst example of bitsa I've seen. 71 stamped neck, body dated to 76, not original pots or pups yet out at £1200+. To me, that is a bitsa and frankly I would rather spend half that on a modern well made bass that I do not have to worry about provenance/being made a tit off. I do that very well myself.

I'm tempted too, cracking piece of kit.

My Sadowsky was one of the basses in question. Balance is a VERY important part of the equation. At 9lb 40z it's not that heavy. It is superbly balanced though, so feels much lighter. Basswood seems to be generally very light although rarely used on boutique. Bongo's are basswood as are Fender Aerodyne and quite a few Fender Japan. One of those basses tricked out with J East, better bridge, tuners etc may well be worth a thought, even if they do not have a boutique name on the headstock. Alembic are also worth a look , amazing basses with some having smaller bodies so quite light.

The last 15 months traffic appears to have been down, judging by the numbers shown at the bottom of the home page. Perhaps, with the exception of the weak, like me, most people have sensibly got what they want. The irony is of course, prices dropping on here, yet going up on FEEBay and Bumtree. Even if they aren't selling there.