Sibob

[quote name='BassApprentice' timestamp='1485765020' post='3226408'] For some reason they have called it the Lightspeed when it's actually the Border Reiver but with a headstock (http://www.acguitars.co.uk/acg_admin/wordpress/standard-border-revier/) Not really sure why they had to rename it.... [/quote] Cos that's what middlemen do?! Lol Si

Odd though, in their 'About' section they talk about "cutting out the middle man", but that seems to be exactly what they are with their ACG built bass lol Si

It would do half the trick, as you mention. It might sound ok, but might not sound quite right due to the impedance mismatch. Might as well put the £39 towards the actual thing you need....a re-amp box. If you're handy with a soldering iron, there's quite a good kit available, easy too: https://www.diyrecordingequipment.com/products/l2a Si

Not too risky, but they probably don't have the headroom and so might sound a bit crappy. Just buy a re-amp box to go from line level to instrument and bobs your uncle. Si

Afterlife in the house!! [IMG]http://i63.tinypic.com/2evc9rq.jpg[/IMG] Si

Over-priced is subjective Si

If I get a second (so so busy) at NAMM I'll pop by and say Hi to Adrian Si

[quote name='Bassassin' timestamp='1484610063' post='3216896'] That's not a Fender J pickup, or any sort of standard J-type - so unless you did additional routing you couldn't put a different/better pickup in it. With the adjusting screws evidently at the ends, this looks like the sort used on some Aria J copies from the 70s. [/quote] Well spotted! Zooming in, it does look strange, the overhang on one side etc. Might be able to be modified by a luthier to fit a standard J replacement shape, but who knows. Si

The Antigua finish was pretty focussed with regards to years of production, mostly '78 and I think some very early '79. As previously mentioned, missing the correct pick guard, and it's modded with a Jazz pickup of unknown origin. So yeah, probably around £800 if it's nice playing/sounding and not too heavy. Si

So I plumped for the Bartolini 3 band pre, the full harness to be accurate (HR5.2AP/918), which is the NTMB preamp, vol (active/passive p/p), blend, treble, mid (250hz/800hz p/p), bass. Collecting from NAMM. This, combined with the USA built MK-1 replacement dual coils coming from Bartolini (via Elrick, also at NAMM), should be a very cool combination for the 55-01 Si

In any case, I think their target market are Fodera players (of which there a great many who happily spend the money), who want a P bass by Fodera. Not necessarily a player who isn't already 'in the fold' who's after a P bass. Si

Yet of course many people would spend the same money on an old Fender, same construction (although even Fenders then weren't hand-carved like Foderas are). Yes you might have some added 'mojo' or providence, but that's not important to everyone. If you went for a Masterbuilt Fender, you'd be in the same price territory. If you went for a Sadowsky NYC Ultra Vintage, you'd be in the same price territory. So it comes down to what sounds and feels best to you......are you really going to not spend that (assuming you have it spare) just because you could spend less on an instrument that might not feel/sound as good? FWIW, I'm less excited about the Emporer J, but the Monarch P sounds supreme to my ears! Si

Thanks NJE, will have a look. I mean, perhaps there aren't any bad combinations?? Do people think that it really matters what pickups are used with what preamp? You'd like to think that a companies preamps will sound 'best' with their pickups, but is there really a difference?! Si

Hi all, Recently I purchased a Lakland 55-01, whilst it sounds fine, I've decided to swap out the Bart MK-1 Pickups and Preamp. Already I have Bartolini humbucker (dual coil) USA replacements on the way (collecting at NAMM actually), but i'm looking for peoples experiences with preamps they've had installed with Bart dual coils. Of course I could just go with the Bart NTMB-F Pre, but thought I'd see what peoples experiences are, as I don't have a lot of experience with different preamps (let alone with specific pickups), having spent my playing life playing probably 80% passive basses. Cheers all Si

[quote name='woodywyatt' timestamp='1483796772' post='3210195'] Quite interested in this to take on my travels just to keep my hand in while on holidays. Would it easily fit into a suitcase? [/quote] For what it's worth, I fit a full scale scale (34") jazz bass into my luggage by removing the neck from the body when I visited Nashville. Simply packed it in with my pants and clothes etc. would have been even easier with a 32" or 30" scale.......and they're not super ugly basses lol Si

They're as good or bad as any other brand depending on your tastes Fwiw, I had a set of Seymour Duncan soapbars in my Fodera and they sounded great! Si

[quote name='stingrayPete1977' timestamp='1483910332' post='3211113'] How many other basses have a shim too though, they are regarded as solid work horses even with the shim so it doesn't bother me, it must be there for a reason as it's not for saddle height issues? [/quote] Who knows, this certainly isn't a MM slagging, they're great mostly, just wasn't to be this time . This thread has probably run its course I guess. For those interested in my Lakland NBD thread, it's here: http://basschat.co.uk/topic/297128-nbd-lakland-55-01/page__fromsearch__1 Cheers Si

[quote name='Orbs' timestamp='1483903949' post='3211024'] MM IMHO make some of the best basses out there, both in sound (which I agree is subjective), and engineering and fit etc, top quality stuff..... [/quote] Perhaps, although another thread has highlighted that all Musicman Basses come factory fitted with a shim in the neck joint......which is a little odd to me. They do usually sound great though! Si

To be fair, I'm not sure how much of a B string is down to the 35" scale. My previous Xotic had a fantastic B and that was 34". Before I got the 55-01, I tried a few Musicman SR5s: 2016 5H - Sounded horrible 2012 5HH - Nice but much less versatile than I had imagined 2006 5H - Sounded great So, same as any bass, they all differ, some are great, others less so. I'm very impressed with the 55-01 so far, at less than half the price of a SR5, it's a fantastic prospect. Even if I swap the pickups and the preamp, it probably comes in at about £800-£900 cheaper than a new SR5. This is what made up my mind after trying the 55-01 and enjoying it straight away (luck perhaps), whilst having mixed results with testing SR5s. I think I'm done with SR5s for now, really going to get to know the Lakland, although would still like a nice SR4 one day Si

It is a very cool bass, proud of myself for the spec haha. I'd probably still own it if I had a bigger place, oh well, maybe one day Si

What are the other 3 pedals? What tuner? Si