6feet7

After having joined a heavy rock/mild metal band, I felt that my Sunburst Maruszczyk Jake PJV, Godin A5 or 5 string double bass didn't really fit the bill, image wise, so the hunt was on for a Thunderbird type bass. I narrowed it down to either an Epiphone Pro V Thunderbird or a Jackson David Ellefson Kelly Bird V, and with the help of the good people of BC, and the fact that I found a mint one with upgraded pickups and preamp on Reverb, I went for the Jackson. It arrived this afternoon, so, after managing to smuggle it into my home office without anyone seeing (yes dear, I've had it for years), I plugged it in, switched on my Darkglass Microtubes overdrive pedal and launched into the intro to Ace of Spades. Now, I'm not a fan of battery power ie. active basses, but the upgraded EMG DCX (instead of HZ) pickups and 18v BTC preamp made all the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end. Oh wow. I was going to strip out the active setup and go passive, but I'm not going to now, this is so good. The strap buttons have already been moved (one to the body by the base of the neck, the other high up on the back of the body) so balance is perfect, with no neck dive at all and I also managed to buy a gigbag that fits the shape perfectly.

https://thefatbass.wordpress.com/2010/09/14/thunderbird-neckdive-fix/

It's not where it is in relation to the frets, it's because it's holding the body lower down. Works on pretty much all thunderbird styles, SG's and hollow bodies

If you put the strap button on one of the neck screws (probably the top, front one) would that sort the neck dive? Seems to be the fix for Thunderbird style basses so should work on this one too.

Can't switch it off. No worries. As long as it's safe.........

Has the site been hacked? Every time I log on to it my antivirus system stops virus attacks, and this happens when I change pages too. No other website is doing this, so I don't think it's me.

The NRT5 one for sale on here is about 8 1/2lbs (OK, my limit but not bad for a 5 string). My Maruzsczyk Jake PJV is just over 7lbs, so if they can do one around there I'd be even happier.

Problem is I play 5 strings. As and when I've the money (haha) it's either a Mike Lull NRT5 or a Maruszcyzk (they can do lightweight. Anything over about 8lbs is too much for me). Or its back to normal shaped basses (see the for sale section in a few weeks :), because a 56 year old, balding bloke playing metal down the Dog & Duck with a pointy looking thing down by his knees - no jokes here - does look a bit ridiculous (in my opinion, anyway).

I'd have looked at all of those plus the Mike Lull NRT5 thats been on here for ages (which is really what I wanted - I love that bass). Just got no money to spend on stuff like that so it had to be either an Epi (which I know some of the early ones had 4 string pickups in 5 string covers) or the Jackson, and as I got the Jackson with upgraded bits (which also happens to weigh a lot less than the Epi) for no more than a standard one, thats what I got.

Shape. I've joined a rock/semi-metal covers band, so my standard looking Maruszczyk Jake V PJ or Godin A5 don't suit the image. If I still had some GUS's then I'd be fine, but they went years ago and I don't have the finances to go expensive here, so Mike Lulls and Gibsons are out of reach. I bought an upgraded pickup/pre-amp Jackson David Ellefson Kelly Bird V last night. Just waiting for it to come from France.

If I could afford it, then definitely. There's a gorgeous NRT5 that's been on here for ages. Unfortunately it's about £2K more than I've got to spend When that lottery win comes home though

Just bought it, so if I don't like it when it arrives...............

Wonderful. Thanks. I've actually found a David Ellefson one with upgraded EMG's and Preamp. Looks like that's the one

Jackson Kelly Bird V vs Epiphone Thunderbird Pro V or something else? Help I need to scratch a Thunderbird style itch (for not a lot of money (£300 - 500ish max unless there's something very special) or weight of bass either (nothing over 9 1/2lbs /4.3Kg and preferably a lot lighter). I've narrowed it down to these two. The reviews online appear great for both of them but then there are a couple where they say neither bass is not worth getting. Does anyone have any experience of both and who can help point me in the right direction? Or is there something else I should consider? Thanks

Just as an update. Got a full refund from Reverb and I was told that if the bass ever did turn up to just either refuse it or, if I wanted to keep it, to get back in touch with them so they can help me pay for it again. They said that as the seller hadn't communicated either with me or with them they assumed that the bass had never been given to a courier in the first place so they would refund me straight away. Hoping the bass doesn't now show up (though it was a rather lovely one Thank you for all your comments and advice. Looks like Reverb and PayPal are used to this kind of thing and can sort things out pretty quickly once they've been made aware of the situation. Now just got to look for another bass to take it's place

Whats wrong with that??? Perfectly reasonable to me

Most of the feedback is good, but there are a couple of where this has happened before. If it was for an amount I could 'afford to lose' I wouldn't be so worried. Unfortunately it's more than I should have gone for in the first place (bloody GAS), and because of this I have lost out on a couple of other basses that were half the price and probably just as good and have a large hole in my credit card and no bass to show for it either

Extremely helpful, thank you, BUT, there hasn't even been a label created. If there was some sign that it had even been picked up and a number I could use to track it I might feel better.

He hasn't offered that - only the tracking number (which isn't recognised). I'll ask him about that. Thanks

I bought a bass on Reverb almost a month ago from a shop in France. Two days later he say's he has posted it but the postage tracking number doesn't appear to be right as it's not recognised by the French postal system he says he used. I've messaged him several times about this but he hasn't answered until yesterday when I got Reverb to issue a final refund notice (it's amazing how people suddenly get in touch when money is involved). He has refused to refund me saying that as he posted the bass he doesn't have to and he's sure it'll turn up. I've messaged Reverb since I received this message but I assume that they don't work at the weekend (I don't blame them) so they haven't got back to me yet. I've also got in touch with PayPal (as the payment went via them to Reverb to the guys shop), but as they didn't pay the shop directly I'm not sure what they can do. There is still no sign of the bass. Has anyone else been through this who can put my mind at rest?

Yup, like that one Not the one on there a few weeks ago. It was yesterday. £65.00 and already got the string grooves. Unlike most people on here, I'm not overly fussed if things are a millimetre wider or narrower here or there. I just pick up play whatever's there (badly I should say :), but when people discuss string spacing being 17.5mm or 18mm etc etc. I'm not bothered (probably a sign of someone who doesn't really know what he's doing but enjoys doing it anyway

As you can see, I’ve got the mag pickup (for loud gigs) attached to the end of the board already but fitting that and the bridge ‘support’ hasn’t made any discernible difference acoustically (I haven’t gigged it yet, but at home it sounds the same). Also, I’m not sure if you noticed, but I also have an acoustic pickup attached for when I play quieter gigs/restaurants etc, so you guessed wrong As an aside I’ve just bought one of those metal triangular shaped bridges on eBay. It was going for a decent price and it’s for a 5 stringer, so watch this space.

3 times in 12 years for you. Two times for me in about 10 years. So we're about the same I just don't want it to ever happen again because it makes a god awful noise when it does slip over. You think that something has snapped in half for a second or two until you see the bridge flat.

No idea what I do - it's only happened twice. Probably needs a damn good setup, but I'm too tight for that so had the height adjusters fitted to the bridge. Acoustic pickup tightener bolts added and now the Brass WonderTone Hydraulic Boost Module (© Happy Jack). Trying to get it to look a bit steam punk. You should see what I've done to the heel of the neck - took an electric sander to it to round it off because my technique is so bad that I rest my forearm against it and its so much more comfortable now

I can offer to sell them one for £250 too