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Nice work there Jon, great looking instrument.

Something non-Fender now. ACG J Type and Sandberg Claifornia Mk2 passive for your delectation: [sharedmedia=core:attachments:215702] [sharedmedia=core:attachments:192597]

Not sure if this is black enough to qualify....My recently acquired Sandberg California Mk2 TT passive. [sharedmedia=core:attachments:215702] It's got black Sadowsky knobs on now too if that helps.

[quote name='Cato' timestamp='1459329510' post='3015417'] I'm sure someone will have mentioned it before and I'm equally sure that they're great instruments but I find the word 'buzz' in the Pentabuzz name very off putting. It's like calling it the Neckbow or the Badlycutnut. [/quote] Badlycutnut - surely a great name for a band...

Plenty more lurrrve here...http://basschat.co.uk/topic/168961-sandberg-love/page__st__270__gopid__3016437#entry3016437

Newly arrived Cali 2 TT passive. [sharedmedia=core:attachments:215702]

I'd certainly endore Jack's Instrument Services. He just made one for me and it was excellent.

Eude in Croydon has a fretless ACG 5er (for sale on here actually). Sound chap and I'm sure would be happy to let you have a good try out if it's not too distant for you.

Just acquired this Sandberg Cali 2 TT (passive). [attachment=215702:Sandberg_TT4_black-019.jpg]

I should declare an interest, but I think that fretless ACGs are particularly tasty. I don't know what witchcraft is involved in their construction but it works for me. In fact I've just agreed the spec for #3 ACG fretless. A few nice ones on here too at very good value prices (none of them mine I hasten to add).

I briefly owned a German-made VS (all passive though). Cracking bass, it was a very close call between it and a Jazz for the blues band I inhabit in a Boys Night Out kind of way..

I was hugely surprised by the Farida P bass I own (in a good way I should say). Probably around half the price too.

We do, but only 2 or 3 bars each, normally in the middle of Walking By Myself. Nothing too silly, just a little walking blues line. To date it has gone down well with those watching, but our front man is good with a crowd.

Have you considered some nylon tapewounds. I used a set of D'Addario on a Jazz and that worked really well. Also tried a set on a P bass at the recent Moffat Bass Bash and they sounded really good too.

I've bought a few things direct without a problem, they are good at the customer service stuff. P&P can be a bit pricey, I think it was $50 last time, plus don't forget customs duty and VAT etc. You $100 preamp could therefore cost around £140 time it hits your mat.

Alex just bought some strap locks from me. Prompt payment, easy comms., and he even sent me some pics of the goods to show they had landed safely. Top chap, deal in confidence people of BC.

I not so sure about the fancy woods being an impediment to playabilty. I have several coffee tables, they all play nicely and fit in well with the bands (sorry boys nights out) I play in. They would definitely let me know if they didn't. Goodness knows what might lurk under the thick paint and lacquer that some basses are covered in (I have some of those too). So for me it's all about playability as I don't have the skill or technique to overcome the faults in the poorer instruments.

My biggest surprise has been the Farida P bass I acquired recently. [sharedmedia=core:attachments:211856]

At home the good old 30yr old hi fi (well it was back then). More so in the car nowadays, using a portable player through a headphone amp into car system. On the move same player and headphone amp into some good quality in-ears, and occasionally laptop and headphones if I'm feeling lazy.