Toasted

[quote name='Musicman20' timestamp='1329829471' post='1547976']The reason I side with Musicman is because they make virtually everything themselves, in their own USA factory.[/quote] I totally get where you're coming from. Especially on that statement.

[quote name='Mr. Foxen' timestamp='1329777501' post='1547339'] Please beware power ratings. They don't mean what you think they do. [/quote] Should really be stickied at the top of every thread in this forum

[quote name='Musicman20' timestamp='1329765522' post='1547015'] Tough one. Recent crazy UK prices of Metros are, IMO, hyping it to levels more than they are worth. For a relatively simple J bass with an onboard EQ, it's a lot of money. The quality IS good, but it should be. It's a simple bass produced in fairly high numbers now. I'd say they sit at the £1300-1400 new price bracket, not the recent £1700-2100. Nice basses, but I wouldn't buy new for the price. I still think Musicman are some of the only 'made in USA' basses that feel like they are worth the money. [/quote] I've no idea how you can justify that statement with the quality issues - well documented here - that you've had with Musicman. Find one thread about metros with 10% of the issues you had with your Stingray.

WHAT SIMON, do you mean that YOU DONT think that VICTOR WOOTEN is using HARTKE because it's the BEST POSSIBLE CHOICE? Are you insinuating that HARTKE ARE PAYing him LOads of CASH to PLAY THEIR cabs?

[quote name='Leighton Allen' timestamp='1328810143' post='1533078']@musicman20 and 51m0n I'm certainly not worried about my BASS playing. Having studied with some of the worlds best players who I'm still good friends with, I'm in no way in need of covering up my playing!![/quote] I did a lol. Wooten's got me on speed-dial too. [i]"sh*t Joe, I just can't get that rhythm for double thumping, can you help me? We need a study-sesh, post-haste, bro."[/i]

That's a pretty uncommon experience with Bergantino cabs. I love mine.

They probably didn't realise just how awful Bradford is. Poor guys.

Foderas... Too expensive? Well they've been selling them for over 20 years, so it appears not.

Basses are for playing

The best strings I've put on a Jazz are Thomastik Infeld Power Bass - they're great. Second best strings, Sadowsky Blue Steels.

[quote name='Prime_BASS' timestamp='1327521835' post='1512921']It's been proven by another thread over on TalkBass that in a mix a all that really matters is the pickups and the electrics and then the EQ'ing. Things like build quality and wood do come into it but in a mix? I'm not so sold.[/quote] Disagree completely. If this was the case, bass forums wouldn't exist.

What bass do you play already?

It'd also tell messers Fodera, Smith and Ritter where to send their C&D letters.

[quote name='Mykesbass' timestamp='1327500991' post='1512395'] I really doubt that even Fodera with their $500 scratchplate are making huge percentages as their overall net profit.[/quote] Just to really clear this up: You can't get the $500 [b]upgrade[/b] scratch plate without the $10,000 bass it comes attached to.

Your cheapest route to the Sadowsky sound is to get the best Jazz bass you can afford and get the Sadowsky Outboard Preamp. http://www.sadowsky.com/accessories/preamp.html Of course, the only thing that gets you a Will Lee is £3000

[quote name='Jimmyp28' timestamp='1327498089' post='1512297']Not all luthiers am saying the big brands as explained earlier. Fodera don't make high profit margins?........really? they charge $500 for a hand made pick guard.[/quote] Ridiculous. You obviously miss the point so totally there's no point talking about it.

[quote name='Jimmyp28' timestamp='1327493717' post='1512148']I know morally bankrupt luthiers who are very skilled and morally bankrupt but are not "on the map" so to speak and its funny how they can buy in top quality wood and make me a morally bankrupt copy of a Wal, Fodera or any other bass and charge me £1000 and still make a morally bankrupt good profit.[/quote] Fixed it for you.

[quote name='Jimmyp28' timestamp='1327492767' post='1512123']such high profit margins?[/quote] On what basis can you say that luthiers are making high profit margins? You have no idea.

[quote name='Jimmyp28' timestamp='1327450310' post='1511631'] Most people will hate this and yes am opening up a massive can of worms but I feel like I have to do some thing about what I personally believe to be the capitalistic and elitist. motivation behind some of the big names in the bass world these days, and yes this is one of them rants errrm I mean open discussions for intellectual debate. So this is my problem, companies like Fodera, Wal and kevin smith and to be honest any other maker who care to charge a ridiculous amount of money for there product, claiming that the price is justified. Its just flat out wrong, and there should be some form of ethical responsibility on there behalf . Am not disagreeing with the fact that these instruments are not brilliant in there own way (glad I got that disclaimer out of the way :-) ) But its just the fact that they charge an extraordinary amount of money for some thing which really is not justified in any other way other than the fact you are buying in to a brand. Tiffany do it all the time with silver, which I know cost nothing compared to the mark up that they make, these “high end” bass luthiers are no different. the whole problem I have with this is that once you start charging that much you are starting to make musical instruments an elites item, that is a commodity for the better off when in reality it would help every one if a higher calibre of instrument was available to every one and in turn that would help every one become better players. And I know of the saying “people will pay what that think that it worth” and it is a fair point to some degree, but this is my problem as well with that ethos. A, some one could possibly pay to little for an instrument that is worthy of a higher price. B. Some one could pay to much for an instrument that is not worthy of said price tag I think the point of this rant is that I want to open the floor to every one to actually speak about this and not be accused of “trolling” to put together there thoughts in a concise manner which can lead to a mutual understanding of people on every side. I know which side I stand on but I would love to hear what other people think that could lead me to understand why and how this has happened in the bass world. [/quote] ^ lol.

Thanks for your help, Dave_bass5

Sorry for the doofus question: if I get an apogee one can i put an mp3 from my iTunes library into GarageBand as one track, and then record me playing my bass along to it as another track? When I listen through the headphones on the one will I be able to hear both tracks? Will there be latency between my bass playing and the track? I'm new at this.

What a riot :-)