Conan

[quote name='walbassist' timestamp='1420967717' post='2655464'] There are some amazing Fenders out there, just as there are amazing basses from most manufacturers. The trick is to find them! [/quote] And to resist the GAS that leads you to sell them in the quest for something "better"...

[quote name='Jenny_Innie' timestamp='1420542848' post='2650383'].I'm now contemplating if I should run with two of these instead of one of these and a Compact. They look cooler, are effectively as light (see my previous comments) and a bit smaller and easier to store. Might look way cool to have two of these. [/quote] Wow. 18 years old and all this gear! The rest of your life is going to be very disappointing I fear Jenny...

[quote name='Merton' timestamp='1420745317' post='2653006'] I had the Vintage, which was the precursor to this. Absolutely cracking cab, glad you like [/quote] What he said! I think the old Vintage was quite a bit wider though, as it was designed to be used with "old school" (i.e. full width!) valve amps. Not that I ever used such an amp with mine...

I haven't used them myself, but the Entwistle pickups are supposed to be pretty hot and powerful... Got to be worth a look and a lot cheaper than some of the other suggestions here I've also had good results with GFS pickups from the States. Again, pretty hot and pretty cheap (like some of my ex-girlfriends - I wish!).

Although the style does nothing for me, if the quality is anything like their J bass clones - you really can't go far wrong for under a hundred quid! BTW - in reference to the thread title... how is that a "Jazz bass"?

[quote name='bubinga5' timestamp='1420763354' post='2653292'] i really hope Marcus doest dirty his name by making/endorsing a crap instrument [/quote] Why? Surely that's his prerogative? Anyway, if he believes his own hype these are going to be pretty astounding basses for the money. How often does a proper pro put his (or her) name to a product that is designed from the outset to be affordable but good quality? I'd say that he will probably enhance his reputation as a "good guy" if these basses deliver even [b][i]some[/i][/b] of what they promise.

[quote name='CamdenRob' timestamp='1420448386' post='2649352']I like Wals better than anything else and should have bought one in the first place instead of faffing around trying to find something that sounded similar for less money. [/quote] First World problems, eh?

[quote name='icastle' timestamp='1420807167' post='2653632'] Fred's Music Shop will buy three basses from a supplier. Thomann will buy 50 of each model from the same supplier. Who's going to get the biggest discount out of those two? [/quote] Yes. Another example of why we have to be very careful what we wish for. Those of us who will haggle and shop around to find the best (i.e. lowest) price are responsible for the fact that outlets (you wouldn't call them "shops") like Thomann have pretty much cornered the market now. We didn't patronise our local music shops. Then again, a lot of local music shops have contributed to their own downfall due to often appalling customer service and refusal to see where the business was heading... Still got to feel sorry for them really.

The more I read in this thread (and other similar ones) the more I think that Luthiers should be sainted. Or sectioned...

[quote name='andy67' timestamp='1420799311' post='2653467']...Mike Dirnt precision. I love the look of these basses and pretty much want one. New in shop, they cost £1067 however, on-line I can pick one up for £850. I started looking at the second hand market and found some of the asking prices nothing short of ridiculous! Fender P new £1100 s/h £800, its no wonder they don't sell!! [/quote] Fender's range and pricing policy is certainly, er... eclectic let's say! But they are still the brand to whom many aspire, so they still sell in huge quantities. Their US range is overpriced I would say but it still has its devotees. The problem with second-hand prices is that they are mostly set by individuals. Most of those individuals don't want to lose much money on a sale. Sometimes the new price of an item has fallen drastically since they bought their item, but they still want to get close to what they paid for it. A good example of this was the Genz Benz gear last year. I bought one of the 212 neo cabs at the (massively discounted) new price of £379. That's nearly half the normal price. I didn't get on with it, and when I decided to sell it on I was faced with a dilemma. Once the half price deal was over, what should I ask for it??

[quote name='JTUK' timestamp='1420804616' post='2653585'] Or poor customers i,e .. the ones that test out the gear and go and buy elsewhere [/quote] Well, yeah, maybe.... I personally would feel bad doing that - but there are plenty of people who don't. Mostly younger musicians.

[quote name='JTUK' timestamp='1420803343' post='2653554'] yes... maybe, but I've travelled down to Yeovil to try ...and as it happened, buy. We also travelled up to Liverpool ... [/quote] Which is fine if you have the funds and (more importantly) the time to devote to testing and buying basses. Those of us who don't often have to resort to buying blind (or trusting the seller, at least!). It's not a level playing field really. Not that I'm complaining!

[quote name='JTUK' timestamp='1420802982' post='2653547'] But I wouldn't buy lower cost basses without seeing, hearing and playing them [/quote] Depends where you are. I see you are based in the South East - much closer to most sellers. Up here in the frozen (and windy) North we have to be a bit more creative...

[quote name='chris_b' timestamp='1420799982' post='2653481'] In the 60's a Fender would cost you an average of 3 to 4 months wages, so good gear has never been cheaper. [/quote] Agreed. I paid £1300 for my Status series II in 1986. If I bought one today it would cost around the same amount. Compare that to the price or things like houses, cars, food, holidays...

[quote name='Lozz196' timestamp='1420729768' post='2652710'] have a listen to the on-line demo - not super clean or anything, but def removes some mids. By the name you`d expect the opposite. [/quote] I have! Indeed I commented upon it in another thread on here!

[quote name='Lozz196' timestamp='1420285246' post='2647483'] I`ve just bought a Hot Rod (ex-Wizard) Thumper and it does a 70s Precision tone very well. Scoops some of the mids out a bit, so sharper top-end... [/quote] Maybe I'm wrong, but when I hear the name "Thumper", a mid-scooped toppy tone is not what springs to mind...

[quote name='HowieBass' timestamp='1420728008' post='2652663'] Not just me then who's irked by poor grammar and misspellings! [/quote] Maybe the proof-reading was done by Marcus Miler (sic)?

[quote name='chris_b' timestamp='1420724089' post='2652565'] I know I'm not the target audience for this but, the world needs another entry level bass? [/quote] Why not? There is plenty (maybe too much) choice and variety in the mid to high level market - why shouldn't beginners or cash-strapped players have choice? To be fair though, other than the preamp I'm not sure there is much that is novel here - although the woods used for contruction seem to be good quality (assuming that the wood influences the tone, of course! ).

[quote name='Machines' timestamp='1420706964' post='2652262'] I imagine with the fairly unique preamp... [/quote] Not sure how unique it is (as the specs are not easy to find) but on the face of it it looks and sounds rather like the East J-Retro that is available as an aftermarket mod for the existing Fender MM bass. I agree with Marcus that a midrange control on a bass (and especially on a J bass) is very useful indeed. That preamp looks a bit complex for a lot of beginners though - I've been playing 35 years and I found the East version just too much faff!

Interesting! Pretty good spec there - even compared to a Fender MM.... if they can deliver that quality for under £300 I will be amazed! Not sure how much it will appeal to its target audience though. MM is not particularly well known among "young people", but then again does that matter? How many people notice the name on the headstock, especially when they are just starting off playing? That's a pretty awesome "starter" bass, but it is till quite a lot more expensive than some of the cheaper Squiers and way more than the likes of J&D and Harley Benton - which are also damn good basses for the money. Its a great time to be a bass player starting off. When I think of the [email="cr@p"]cr@p[/email] that was available back in the seventies for beginners...

What works for one person, at one time in their life, doesn't necessarily work for anyone else (or even that same person at a different stage in their lfe!). It's important to be honest with others and - most importantly - with yourself.

The bridge seems awfully close to the end of the body...