Conan

[quote name='tubbybloke68' timestamp='1362313074' post='1998170'] But you can always rely on the legions of slap monsters! They never fail to show! Lol! [/quote] Cue David Attenborough voice.... Yes. As their natural habitat (the jazz-funk band) has been continually eroded, these creatures have adapted to a new environment where their cryptic colouration and elusive behaviour blends in well. Beautiful, aren't they?

[quote name='chris_b' timestamp='1362663097' post='2002929'] 2 together sounds five times better than 1. [/quote] More is more.

[quote name='Happy Jack' timestamp='1362669671' post='2003104'] This photo was taken by The Greek at the LBGS last weekend. Take a look at the Ritter in the top row...[/quote] The Ritters somehow contrive to make the Foderas next to them look conservative and cheap!

Some of his neck joints look like potential weak points though....

I love the look of pretty much all of his designs and finishes, but how do they [i]play[/i]? I think that if I could afford to buy one then I wouldn't be too bothered about dings and things. I'm not that bothered about them anyway, certainly after the first one! Actually you know, thinking about what else you can get for five grand (a reasonable second-hand car, a decent holiday for a family of five, a modest extension to your house...) suddenly the price of a Ritter doesn't seem [i]too[/i] bad!

That's a shame. A great player and a really nice genuine guy

[quote name='xilddx' timestamp='1362613608' post='2002345'] Be bloody thankful you have a passion that you're involved with. A great many people were never even given the opportunity to find out what their passions and natural aptitudes are [/quote] What a great post!! Love it

[quote name='The Dark Lord' timestamp='1362561158' post='2001195'] There is a particular piss-taker on here who has annoyed me in the past with his dodgy dealing and who still irks me with his regularly posting of many more items for sale than any normal bass player would do. [/quote] Chill out man! Life's too short to get your knickers in a twist about what other people do. If it really bothers you that much, report him to the mods. In what way is his dealing "dodgy" BTW?

[quote name='Bezinga' timestamp='1362504917' post='2000367'] The Fender Rumble and GK are both offered new at about £350 and thats pretty much my budget. Second Hand would be good but I live in Spain and don't fancy lugging one on a plane and the courier cost for a heavy item would be silly. [/quote] Good point. While there are a few members on here from Spain and Portugal, the chances of them having amplification for sale at just the time that you need it is small.

[quote name='JwK94' timestamp='1362515203' post='2000697'] this is a passive bass and whoever put these pickups in did not rout a battery cavity,[/quote] Have you checked that there isn't a (flat) battery lurking in the control cavity under the bell plate? That's where mine used to be...

[quote name='The Bass Doc' timestamp='1362508096' post='2000453'] Offers will be listened to for Hillman Avenger in brown with vinyl roof - 10 days MOT and 2 weeks Tax. [/quote] If only it had been black, I would have been all over that...

[quote name='Wylie' timestamp='1362501696' post='2000288'] The difference between 'made' and 'crafted' is probably just a matter of perceived value, i.e., craftsman vs. factory worker. [/quote] Yes. Much like the "farm fresh" eggs laid by beakless battery hens in wire cages in darkened aircraft hangars... The devil is in the detail.

There is usually quite a lot of old Trace Elliot stuff around in the second hand market. Always a good deal and plenty of "bang for your buck". Heavy though, but you can't have everything at that price! Combos with any sort of usable power can be very heavy, so maybe consider separates? That way you can always upgrade them separately when need arises... Something like this: [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/198399-fs-trace-elliot-1518-cab-l150/page__p__1992188__hl__trace%20elliot__fromsearch__1#entry1992188"]http://basschat.co.uk/topic/198399-fs-trace-elliot-1518-cab-l150/page__p__1992188__hl__trace%20elliot__fromsearch__1#entry1992188[/url] perhaps?

[quote name='The Bass Doc' timestamp='1362500548' post='2000260'] There were two types of Reflex pickups - Reds and Blues. The Blues were a bit milder but the Reds, when working properly, were definitely not quiet. Check which ones you've got in there and also check that the battery they need to power up the preamp circuit is healthy before you decide to change. [/quote] Great advice as usual!

"Quiet" isn't necessarily bad. You can always boost the volume on the amp! A quick bit of online research indicates that Reflex was a British company from a few years back that tried to emulate EMG pickups but at a lower price. Opinions are mixed on them (as they tend to be with all pickups! ) but I don't get the impression that they were rubbish or anything... There are lots of threads on here about changing/upgrading pickups, and particularly J bass ones - so there should be plenty of advice available. If you really want a "Jaco" tone, how about a pair of Fender ones (like these: [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/197338-fender-jazz-pickups-from-mij-1994-ri-62-jazz-japanese/page__p__1993646__hl__jazz%20pickups__fromsearch__1#entry1993646"]http://basschat.co.uk/topic/197338-fender-jazz-pickups-from-mij-1994-ri-62-jazz-japanese/page__p__1993646__hl__jazz%20pickups__fromsearch__1#entry1993646[/url])? Or Wizard 64s (as previously mentioned). Have a look in the for sale section for inspiration. No need to buy new!

Never used one. Never felt the need for one. Not that I'm against trying one mind.... just never had the opportunity.

[quote name='iceonaboy' timestamp='1362493902' post='2000092'] What exactly is the difference, if any , between made in Japan and crafted in Japan ? [/quote] Personally, I have no idea - but you might find the answer here... [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/199394-whats-the-difference-between-cij-and-mij/page__p__1974158__hl__crafted%20in%20japan__fromsearch__1#entry1974158"]http://basschat.co.uk/topic/199394-whats-the-difference-between-cij-and-mij/page__p__1974158__hl__crafted%20in%20japan__fromsearch__1#entry1974158[/url]

[quote name='V2factoryman' timestamp='1362424196' post='1999580'] Secondly the post says the bass has had active pickups added, does this mean that the electrics/tone controls will have been modified? Again I've asked the seller and he says "the work was done by a professional company".[/quote] Does it say what the pickups are? Which brand? I'm not sure I like the sound of "a professional company"... usually work like that is done (if not by the owner themselves) by a luthier or guitar technician. They tend to be one-man operations rather than companies, unless they work in a music shop - in which case you'd think he seller would say that... Just doesn't quite ring true to me. If he had the work done then he should be able to tell you [i]exactly[/i] who did it (and the brand of pickups). If a previous owner had the work done, then how would the current one know that it was modded by a "company"? My GL was modded with the addition of active EMG pickups. There was a bit of extra routing done (not very well!)within the existing cavity to accommodate one 9V battery, so the mod was reversible if needed. The controls were not changed either, but I think that would depend on which pickups were installed. BTW, I've heard mostly good things about the new Mexican GLs. Maybe have a read through this thread: [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/183431-fender-geddy-lee-basses-where-are-they-made-now/page__st__40__p__1928650__hl__geddy%20lee__fromsearch__1#entry1928650"]http://basschat.co.u..._1#entry1928650[/url]

I've never played a Spector. In a nutshell, what am I missing?

[quote name='JwK94' timestamp='1362310101' post='1998114'] Thanks for the advice, seeing as all the reccomendations are out of my range, it seems as though i'm just going to have to save up for a more expensive pair. Cheers [/quote] Make sure you do your research before making what could be a very costly mistake! There have been quite a few threads on upgrading J pickups recently, and many people seem to have come to the conclusion that the differences are nowhere near as obvious as others make out, and that often there is little to be gained from going straight to the premium end of the price scale. This one for example: [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/181375-are-very-expensive-pickups-worth-it/page__hl__jazz%20pickups"]http://basschat.co.uk/topic/181375-are-very-expensive-pickups-worth-it/page__hl__jazz%20pickups[/url] What is your "Jazz bass"? Is it a Fender? If so, what type of pickups is it currently wearing? Also, the comments about strings are very valid too. I personally found that changing string brands can make a bigger difference than changing pickups. And then there are adjustments to the height of the pickups too.... Of course, it is your money - but you might find that you end up £200 lighter in the pocket and still yearn for "that little something extra" in your sound...