80Hz

Definitely weird alt reality 😆 and I think that goes for everything. But folks, here we are, ready to rehome your sad unloved <£450 mint condition Player I Mustangs!

There's a chap on Gumtree (gonna be careful here, he might be a member? 😉) who has like 20-30 basses listed for sale at any one time, some lovely stuff and all looks to have been well taken care of. I've thought seriously about quite a few of them, but they're all priced too high imo. Reason this came to mind is, like the OP, Mustangs have caught my eye. This guy has a nice player series Mustang which was probably, what, £600 ish new? He's looking for £519, which at that price I'd rather plonk down for a new Player II in that Aquatone blue. For me, as soon as I've decided to sell, it's priced to move. I'd rather make less and see an instrument being used and enjoyed rather than sitting around. And in the current market, it's either got to be special or cheap for me to buy.

Sold an EMG BQS system to Mike, great to deal with. Thanks!

I don't really consider myself a lefty any more (sorry) but I can't see what's happening in the US in any other way than the consequence of extreme wealth inequality. Capitalism was great when it worked for most people (it never worked for all, of course - I'm talking about the historic "middle class"). A good job or advanced trade was a route to a decent standard of living, a home, etc. Now that kind of security is getting further and further out of reach for almost everyone. Very easy to take that vanishing security, and the general fear and anxiety that rise up from it, and point it in any direction you want. That goes for Democrats or Republicans. I also feel I should speak up for the many sensible, intelligent, talented, kind, good people in the US. They're not in the news much these days, but they're my friends, colleagues and family. I'm genuinely frightened for them.

Amaaazing! 😄 Apologies to the OP for the sort of derail, but I had to ask!

Wow, like, when they were a pub/club band?

Greetings, plenty of metal folks here.. no prizes for guessing your favourite band..! 🤘

I quite enjoy doing my own transcriptions. It's something I used to do a fair bit years ago, but I'm bit rusty now. I like having written parts for reference, then adapting them depending on how much I need to dumb it down for my skill level. So has this thread been resurrected? Anyone else want to share/critique transcriptions, and if so should we branch off into a new thread?

It's interesting that the metal guys have a different perspective - which I agree with. Talking recorded here, not live. Metal has been on a gradual journey down in pitch over the last 40 years or so (sub-genre dependent). So where the bass can "fit in" to the mix these days is somewhere just above the kick drum but below the low B/B flat/A/A flat whatever of the guitar, but with a bit of clank popping through somewhere in 2-3.X kHz range. I think modern metal is its own technical challenge which has more in common with EDM production.

I enjoy Mark from Gary's Guitars commentary on the used gear market. Yes he's talking about the US, but I think a lot is relevant here in the UK too, and he has the perspective of a traditional bricks 'n mortar retailer.

I guess there's not much of that bridge plate left, the plating has obviously gone and I'd be too worried about the structural integrity of what's left! But the saddles looked okay? Do you think you'll be able to save those? Maybe they're not original giving the different condition. It's cool that this instrument "speaks" to you and you're gonna give it the requisite TLC 😄

Mature technology in terms of CNC production, generally reliable and easily replaceable components, means that producing "a good tool for the job" is now a solved problem. As already mentioned upthread, over a certain price we're all mostly paying for aesthetics. Which is why these days an instrument has to look good as well as be "technically" good for me to give it a second look. An instrument is a design object, not just a means to an end.

It's all brand and marketing strategy, and less, as has now been discussed extensively, about product quality. I think of Fender's product stratification as more akin to Fords and Vauxhalls in the 80s-90's. Basically the same cars but with different seat coverings, the addition or subtraction of various bits of plastic. So you had a bit extra cash, you got the GL or the GT over the base model or whatever and went off happy that you'd got a "bit extra" that maybe looked a bit better, felt a bit more comfortable, the 1.8L got you to 30 MPH a moment before the 1.6L. Alloy wheels == premium string tree. Ibanez is another great example of this strategy. There's no "falling for it", it's just what does the brand mean to you and what are you prepared to pay? I look at Squier as good value, punching above their weight, a fun brand that isn't afraid to experiment. With Fender, a bit more traditional and "authentic", good but not boutique quality, like buying into a lineage. Full disclosure - I have two jazz basses.

Totally appreciate that, and I'm coming more from the perspective of a listener and strictly amateur bedroom noodler (well, that's what it says on my OnlyFans).

I wouldn't get too bent out of shape about bands being dead. I mean, sure, they might be at a low ebb in terms of what "the kids" are listening to (not that I purport to be an expert on that). Hip hop has vast appeal, Spanish speaking artists/genres have vast appeal in the US (Rick Beato points this out often). It doesn't mean that there's not something for everyone to enjoy and support out there even if "bands" aren't currently culturally ascendent. I was watching the Irish Eurovision candidates on the Late Late show last night. There was just as much a range of talent, skill and originality (within genre confines) on display there, imperfections and all, as what you might find in "bands". I think what I'm saying is - don't hate, listen widely, and, erm.. embrace being underground again?!