Hutton

Yes. Everything today is so much better than the past.

This thread has probably had it's day. Some us got Fenders with locks some didn't. Really nothing else to say. Thanks for the input everybody.

[quote name='EssentialTension' timestamp='1319496231' post='1415008'] I've had several MIA Fenders since the 1980s and never had a factory fitted straplock on any of them. [/quote] I also have had several brand new Fenders especially American Series guitars. They all had schaller straplock buttons fitted with the strap part included in the case. They were marketed as Fender although they were made by schaller and exactly the same as the schaller version. If you look at the current Fender website the deluxe versions have schaller straplock buttons fitted as Subbeh points out. Highway One guitars/basses/reissues/special editions didn't seem have the locks. They were however fitted to the standard series basses. My 1984 precision has them factory fitted.

I'm pretty sure that they have been fitted on MIA instruments since the 80s right up to the American Series stuff. They seem to have stopped with the latest American Standard instruments.

[quote name='chris_b' timestamp='1319468689' post='1414440'] So they don't have to pay Schaller for them. [/quote] They had to pay Schaller for the locks when they did fit them so I think there must be more to it than this unless it is simple economics. It's a pest having a couple of straps fitted with the locks but then having a bass that has to have to locks retro fitted. OK, it's not a big deal but I just wondered if anybody knew why they had stopped fitting the locks.

Does anyone know why Fender have stopped fitting schaller straplocks to their basses?

[quote name='ezbass' timestamp='1319452163' post='1414121'] I think that this is is so telling. Few of us are able to make a living at playing the bass and do it for fun, part of that is the searching, planning and acquiring of new gear (certainly for me at least and given the GAS threads on BC I'm not the only one). For dealings with a predominantly bass biased company to have killed the joy of a new purchase is almost the worst thing. [/quote] Great post!

Many thanks for the kind comments Andy. It's nice when a transaction is carried out in such a pleasant fashion. I would also take this opportunity to wish you all the best for the future.

I don't think that a transaction could be any more pleasant than the one I have just enjoyed with Andy (Mr.Zed). I purchased a superb Precision from Andy which is everything he said it was. The bass was packaged to withstand a nuclear explosion. It was even delivered early! Who said parcelforce were no use? If all transactions were as easy and friendly as this one then there would be no moans! Thanks Andy.

[quote name='Ou7shined' timestamp='1319034843' post='1409149'] I always wonder why people have reservations over painted necks but don't have any problems over clear coated necks. Fair enough if an oiled finish is your thing but painted ones (which probably have the same clear coat over the top anyway) always seem to have negative press implied toward them for no tangible reason other than you can see them. [/quote] I'm glad you've posted this. I agree entirely. My SUB has the painted neck which is fine. In fact, I don't really think much about what finish the neck has, I just play 'em.

There is just no point in arguing about what bass is best. Let's just accept that some like one bass and others like other basses. Let's also accept that new experiences may make us change our minds. However, I'm still keen to know the outcome of this saga. Basschat is now supplying us with our own soap opera!

[quote name='Legion' timestamp='1318174941' post='1398820'] Deja Vu...I was tempted not to reply as this has been done to death here before but I'm having a boring day at work![/quote] Many apologies everyone. I didn't realise that this issue has been 'done to death'. Perhaps a moderator would delete or close the thread.

I don't have any axe to grind here but I have become interested in the whole "how heavy is your bass issue". Let me say straightaway that I can completely understand if someone has a shoulder problem then they will need to think very carefully about how heavy their bass is. However, I wonder if this weight thing is a current issue. I don't recall weight being such a large problem in the past as it is now. Basses/Guitars were just bought and played, end of story. Undoubtedly there were times when basses did weigh a lot e.g. late 70s Fenders - however that doesn't seem to put people off these basses with instruments commanding high prices. Perhaps we should ask how well does your bass balance? If the bass balances well on the strap then it should feel comfy enough to play a whole set without pain. Alternatively, we could make sure that we spend the money on a good quality strap for basses like the [i]Comfort Strapp. [/i]It also seems too obvious to say that we should use straps suitable for basses and not guitar straps. I just raise the issue to see what others think as there is more to comfortable bass playing than just weight. Heavy doesn't necessarily mean uncomfortable.

I think we all know exactly what Dave meant. Perhaps it's time to let this thread die a death and then Gareth can start a new one to let us know the outcome of the sorry tale.

[quote name='dave_bass5' timestamp='1317991743' post='1397046'] When i got my Duck Dunn last year it had a Hanson in it and it had red and black wires. Dave's right about the cloth wires being Fralins. I did change both pups in my DJ5 but cant remeber the colours. [/quote] Thanks Dave. Much appreciated.

[quote name='eude' timestamp='1317981261' post='1396846'] I think it's awful that folks should be too scared to post anything on that Ernie's Balls forum slightly negative even with legitimate reason for fear of the repercussions from a pack of feral fanboys or how "the Führer" might react. Not a healthy way to do business, smacks a bit of Nazi Germany if you ask me... [/quote] Couldn't agree more. I wouldn't go as far as the analogy to Nazi Germany though. It's surely time for EBMM enthusiasts to start up a forum where reasoned debate and comment can be made without having to deal with censure and banning. EBMM instruments are great and enthusiasts deserve a forum where they can be free to criticise when that is warranted. A company that is scared of criticism seems to me to be a company that won't listen to their loyal customers! I sincerely you get a satisfactory solution to this problem Gareth. All the best!

[quote name='obbm' timestamp='1317919017' post='1396288'] As far as pick-ups go I had this response from Lakland a few years ago when I had a DJ4. "The cloth covered wires are on the Lindy Fralin pickups. The black/white plastic coated wires are the Aeros. There have been times when the Aeros were hard to come by. We would sometimes install the Lindy Fralins if there was a pinch. We wouldn't go the other way however (Aeros for Fralins). We feel that the Fralins sound better than the Aeros." I believe that the Lakland pickup wires are red/green. Hope this helps. [/quote] Many thanks for the info.

I'm thinking of selling my Lakland DJ4 2007 Skyline Series. Someone may well ask where it was built and what make are the pickups. An enquiry to Lakland didn't help as Brian there said the pickups would be Aero or Fralin. He also said it should say on the headstock where it was built which it doesn't. I was hoping that someone here may be able to throw some light on the matter. If Happy Jack and Linus 27 see this post they may be able to help as they used to own the DJ4. Thanks in anticipation.

I know what you're saying Gareth but I would have thought it is the job of EBMM to ensure that you get a marvelous bass delivered to your door. After all, you ordered a new build and that is what you should have got. I think that you are bang on the money with your thoughts as to what has happened here and it's just not good enough. I sincerely hope you get a satisfactory outcome to the situation as you have been a good ambassador of EBMM basses. You deserve better!

The EBMM perfection machine starting to slip?

I'm 53 years old. I don't have the energy to 'make it'. I'm just happy to play and do a bit of regular gigging.

There's a rather nice one here:- http://classicandcoolguitars.co.uk/basses/ibanezroadsterbass.htm