GILLY

Well I know a bit about this bass because I had it built and I am sat here looking at photos I took of it along with two other Mansons I owned at the time. One was a Kestrel with Kent Armstrong pickups and the other was a 5 string lined fretless that was built for John Giblin and which he played on 'The Lady in red' (Chris de Burgh). I don't recall how it came to be back at Hugh Manson's but evidently it wasn't quite what he wanted at the time and bought it. From memory, I would say the Wal/Manson was built in 1988. I took a picture of a Jaydee down to Hugh Manson (he had a workshop at the bottom of his garden in Devon) and asked if he could make one identical (well done to the previous poster who spotted the likeness). As it happened, he made it to his template shape which was a bit of a disappointment, but the colour was the same Gibson cherry red that John Diggins was using for the Mark King basses at around that time. The pickups and electronics were, indeed, Wal. They arrived at Hugh's set in a block of wood, almost as if a section of a Wal bass had been cut out. I'm not sure if I asked for Wal electronics or he suggested it. I remember Hugh commenting that the magnets in the pickups were so strong that you'd never get them off the fridge door. Funny how you remember these little details!! I seem to recall that you couldn't buy Jaydee stuff at that time. The bridge was the last one of a batch that had been custom made for Manson basses - a solid brass work of art. I didn't keep the bass long, partly because it only half resembled that Jaydee I asked him to make, and partly because I didn't get on with the Wal active circuitry. I believe the second owner was from Bristol - in those days you paid for a week's ad in the newspaper and hoped to God that someone would see it before you had to pay for a second week! I have to say that it appears to have been well looked after and seeing the pictures makes me think of the pear drops smell of the two pack paint that was used for the finish. If I can figure how to save a scan in Windows bloody 8 I will post a pic of it with its siblings.

Lee bought a Tone Hammer from me and it was as straightforward a transaction as you could wish for. Price agreed, payment received and item posted all in the space of one hour as I recall. Couldn't have happened without fast and concise communications from Lee.

Mark just acquired my Genz head in a deal that was entirely straightforward and mutually acceptable. I'm glad to add to the previous positive posts.

This is not feedback for a purchase or sale, but Graham was good enough to act as courier for me on a recent sale. He was more than helpful and saved me the anguish of sending an amp through the parcel system. Hope to return the favour some day.

The blonde singer looks very much like one of the singers in Clean Bandit. You can tell by the length of her legs!!

Had the pleasure to meet Graham today to pass over my Genz cab and collect a Tone Hammer in part ex. An exemplary Basschatter and gets a 5* recommendation from me.

I have just received a set of Chromes from Stringbusters and the E is dull and dead sounding. Emailed them and had a response within an hour to say that they will ship another set today by way of apology from D'Addario. How about that for all round customer service!! As an aside, the Chromes (flatwounds) went on my Stingray and I am now converted.

Just sold a fret file to Thunderbird and it was a pleasure to do business with him.