crazycloud

I'm actually trying to get down to the minimum number of instruments, but likely won't. I think, for basses, my minimum would be; BTB846v with Aguilar DCs SR806 with SR256 as backup SRC6 One of my 5s, but not sure which I'll keep, and, Ibanez RB620 on the odd chance I actually need a trad looking 4. I really can't think of anything I've done or likely to do in the future that that list wouldn't cover, especially with modern flexible EQ and FX. That leaves maybe 30 to sell.

I have the wood for this in my carport loft, for at least 4. If you're looking for an XT2 style bass, I have 2 I'm thinking about moving on, both 4s, as I seldom use 4s any more. I'm on the East Coast not far from BrisVegas. PS: There's no U in Steinberger.

XT2s and XT25s are available LH new from Thomann. Don't forget the prices they list incl 19% VAT which you don't need to pay. Shipping is about $A200. New or used LH units are very rare. Make a strap pin extender, a 1/2 hr $10 job to make it hang correctly. The pickups are OK, but guitar HBs fit and many sound excellent like the Wilde L90 and L500 work well in this application. Several builders on TB have used them. 7 string guitar HBs fit the 25s. Tone is personal and I've used the woodbergers live, not perfect, but good enough. They are 98cm long unbagged and are less bulky than a trombone case and other bag for a neck off bass will be. I've travelled with my XL2 and woodbergers a lot. Just beware that shotgun bags, which are cheap and fit perfectly and are well padded can bring some looks in airports, but my guitarist has travelled with my Spirit guitar a lot internationally with no issues in the factory bag. If you intend to use a conventional bass neck off, you'd probably be best to add inserts into the neck to facilitate regular on/off cycles similar to Klos with their CF acoustic guitars to save stripping out the neck. Streamlines and Synapses are expensive now, especially the former, so an XT2 will be much cheaper.

Which is what the Nords are. My first bass was a Blazer (new in 83) and I copped a bit of rubbish at the time for it not being an F, but I could find no reason beyond name cache or snobbery then why? Having owned, many, many other basses in between, I still feel the same, and I sort of wish I had it back, though I hated the burst. I have an RB620 these days and is about the only 4 I want/need (mainly use 6s) so that's close enough, especially with the 2+2 headstock and natural body.

I've been using cheap steel A frame folding stands for years, as well as larger 7 instrument units for many years. Never had anything come out of them accidentally. The A frames are about 7 quid posted and last years.

Et tu?

Thanks for the offer, but please don't expend any effort. I'm not interested in buying one, as I can't afford one, I was just hoping there was a site where I could look at various builds and specs for inspiration. I reckon the Flamboyant Headless 6 is very sexy.

Are Sei basses still being made? I recall looking at a website some years ago but can't find one. The bass design I have sketched up to build looks a lot like the Flamboyant, so I can assume that it was an inspiration, I just don't recall it being one consciously.

Congrats on the new bass, I hope you love it. As you can see from my avatar, I have an SRC6, but agree the spacing can be a little close at times. The Hooky dimensions are going to be the inspiration for a new (DIY) custom, but their aesthetics aren't my thing. However, if someone were to give me one...

I can.

I only play 5s and 6s. My 4s gather dust,

Same here. I'm not in the UK, but Ishibashi are a good company to deal with. Can't say the same about all ebay instrument sellers from Japan.

Why not just buy a 5 and play in 5th position? Makes the bass feel much smaller than 1 fret less (32").

That was a fun watch. I've had an Korina Explorer bass and played (briefly) an Alembic Spyder and i hated the ergonomics so much I moved the Explorer on pretty quicky. Lots of basses with PJ EMGs have a similar tonal character, so yeah, sort of Spector-ish. Agreed, plus the type of pickup. Talking about the aperture width and the configuration of the coils and where they sense. An EMG DC in the P position isn't going to sound the same as a P, but live, close enough. No one in the audience will care. I played in a cover/party band for years with the one bass and I moved my hand, how I plucked the strings, PU blend and tone in off/half/full to get a huge variety of sounds. I'll watch the blind comparo video later.

I'd like to try one of these Torzal basses, but I don't really see the ergonomic benefits if you play the instrument more vertically where you naturally get a better fretting hand wrist angle. Bit of a solution looking for a problem. but, I haven't had on in my hands and am prepared to be wrong. But I'd be surprised if I was, especially to justify the entry fee. That said, it's not mine so I hope BCH loves it. PS: needs more strings.

One with a 5th string.

This. I like mine so much, I bought another.

IF the level was actually too high, and I doubt it, a competent engineer would have had a pad to insert.

Something like neck profile isn't difficult to change for a Sig model but can completely change the feel as can the spacing on a >4 string instrument. I like 6ers, but not at 19mm at the bridge. In that case I'd rather have 14mm like the Ibanez Gerald Veasley but I'm partial to the SRs anyway. Tone is overrated for the most part, and as I said, you'll never sound like that person anyway. Otherwise modding a FSO in a minor way does nothing for me anyway, so I'd never pay even a modest premium, nor would I for even the base level (US$3200) Greeny Les Paul, let alone the 50k version. Blatant Onanism*. * This is the name of my next Prog album.

Because I'm not them, and consequently don't have the same needs in terms of ergonomics, tone or feel. I also think that a lot of the reason for their existence is for people who think that if they get a Signature X model, they'll play more like X. You won't; you'll still play like you so you may as well get something that you like and are comfortable with, and find your sound.

I used to trade a lot of gear in the early days of teh Interwebz before most people cottoned onto ebay etc and would buy up lots at garage and estate sales etc, so I've had a few Epi, Gibson and lawsuit units come through and they always hung wrong and dived badly, but nothing like the Kramer Lumi. I'd at least try to put one of the Epis around my neck to see how it feels before ordering. I know it won't be the same, but close enough to give you a better idea of how it will sit on your body.

Congrats on the new bass. I'm waiting on the Klos headstock 5 necks to become available to do a custom build, so I'm happy to get another positive datapoint.

Since you asked, I don't like it at all. Apart from the poor ergonomics it's going to have, I generally dislike bursts, long 4IL headstocks and pickguards. However, I'm not going to be paying for it or playing it. If you get one, I hope you really love it.

Poor ergonomics = hard pass. There are plenty of options that mean I don't have to hold the neck up. I'm glad you like it, but I simply don't get the masochism involved.

Agreed, but my response would have been somewhat less tactful. Plenty will pay the premium though.