simon1964

I bought a Hohner B2A a few months back, as I needed something small and portable. I got it for about £120 from ebay. I actually quite like it. Its perfectly playable, and sounds OK, although the active eq doesn't have as much versatiliyy as I would have expected. In fact, I prefer the passive tone. I don't think I would recommend it as a main bass, but as a portable back up, its a nice bass.

I had a go on one of these on the Ashdown stand at the London guitar show last year. They look and play great - I'm just not sure I could live with that headstock!

[quote name='Henrys' post='120859' date='Jan 15 2008, 03:37 PM']Fender Jazz Japan 75 reissue [/quote] What a stunning bass! The Jap 70s re-issues have to be amongst the best Fenders out there

I've got a Stingray and a Warwick Corvette. Personally, I prefer the feel and versatility of the Warwick. Both are great basses, but for me, you've made a good decision!

[quote name='sam_' post='121111' date='Jan 15 2008, 08:44 PM']Looking at ordering a Zoom b2.1u next week once i pay in this cheque, it's around£90 with shipping, is there any others i should look at before diving in and getting this? can't go over £90 really.[/quote] The Zoom b2.1U is a really nice piece of kit for the money. The other unit I would look at in a similar price range is the Line 6 Bass Floor Pod. The Floor Pod doesn't have nearly as many effects as the Zoom, but to me is much easier to programme, and more flexible if you want to make minor adjustments if you're using it live. Having used both I think it depends on what you want to use the unit for. If you are only likely to use one or two effects I'd go for the Floor Pod as it is easier to use. And the Compressor on the Floor Pod is much better than the Zoom IMHO. On the other hand, the Zoom has loads of usable effects, and some decent amp models for the price. It also has the built in drum machine, and works well as a balanced DI. Both are pretty solid, but the Zoom is built like a tank. I think the Floor Pod retails at over £100, so may be above your budget. If so, I don't think you'll regret getting the Zoom.

[quote name='Jase' post='120826' date='Jan 15 2008, 02:37 PM']Not sure when Fender started the ridiculous routing under the scratch plate, but what a pain!!![/quote] My 2004 MIA Jazz has the routing under the guard - I assume it is a costs saving exercise.

[quote name='Buzz' post='120028' date='Jan 14 2008, 12:32 PM']Common agreement on this board is that MIJ/CIJ basses from Fender have a massively higher QC value than MIM and probably MIA.[/quote] +1. My CIJ Precision is just as good as my MIA Jazz. The general view seems to be that for consistent QC you can't beat the Japanese Fenders.

[quote name='Brave Sir Robin' post='116166' date='Jan 8 2008, 12:55 PM']And why exactly? [/quote] I was wondering the same

[quote name='OutToPlayJazz' post='114568' date='Jan 6 2008, 10:18 AM']As the others have said, it all depends on what sounds and feels right for you. Also perhaps you need to give an idea of budget. In the budget realm, I don't think you can get much better than a Yamaha BB414 or the active 3-band BB614. Again, all personal preference. Go and try loads of basses & see what you really like best. Oh, and as lwtait says... +1 for the Corvette $$ - Amazing instrument![/quote] +2 for the Corvette $$. I had planned to sell mine when I got my Stingray. Glad I didn't, as I use the $$ more than the 'ray (or my MIA Jazz for that matter). Very, very versatile bass. But as others have said, you should try as many basses as you can. It's what suits you that matters. As Hamster said, a cheap bass that feels right to you is better than an expensive ''trophy'' bass that you don't get on with. I think all of us who suffer GAS have at some time handed over large wads of cash for a shiny new bass, only to find we can't live with it later. As well as trying the basses already mentioned, I would check out Sandberg. They have some really nice stuff in your price bracket.

Definitely tort with white - classic combination

[quote name='Jamesemt' post='115340' date='Jan 7 2008, 12:00 PM']Hi all, got an MP-BT1 for my birthday, but when I try playing MP3s I've downloaded to it, it comes up with 'unsuported format'. Any ideas?[/quote] I had this problem when I bought mine. Are you sure you're actually trying to download MP3s? If you're using i-tunes, it is likely to be in a different format. You can, however, select an option in i-tunes to convert the song to MP3. No problem with mine now - and a very useful bit of kit.

Thomann carry them at around £900. I seem to remember PMT in Birmingham have them at similar prices. There are some nice pics on the Sandberg site here: [url="http://www.sandberg-guitars.de/"]http://www.sandberg-guitars.de/[/url]

[quote name='Muppet' post='113757' date='Jan 4 2008, 09:08 PM']It's the stuff you can't quite put your finger on that makes them, not the physical things themselves. Japanese models, no matter how good quality wise will never have it. They will always be Japanese. You can get a custom shop issue that feels and sounds like a 70s Fender and will be of much better physical quality but it still won't have it. It's a heart thing not a head thing and that's what makes them great.[/quote] +1. I love my Jap 70s P, but its not the real thing. Completely illogical, but a re-issue, however well made and however good it sounds, will never have the mojo of a genuine 70s Fender.

Just realised I forgot my cheap and cheerful (and hardly ever played!) 5 string when I posted earlier, so + 1 more! = 1186

[quote name='lwtait' post='113748' date='Jan 4 2008, 08:39 PM']If you want a cheap stingray copy OLP is definatly the way to go! If mikeh's is the silver one in the for sale section, I'd go for that, its really cheap![/quote] +1. I've got a 5 string OLP. It obviously hasn't got the clout of my Stingray IV, but in terms of quality and feel the OLP's are the best copies out there IMHO. Excpetional value, and Mikeh's looks very cool!

The ashtrays look great on the Aerodyne. You've got me thinking about fitting a set to my Jazz!

I love the Italia look, even though I keep telling myself I shouldn't! I've been gassing for one since playing one unplugged at Music Live. I'll be itnerested to see how the review pans out.

That's very nice. I played one of these at PMT in Birmingham a few months back and was very very tempted.

I voted Corvette. Not just on looks, but also because mine is so comfortable to play. Am gassing for a Thumb though, so who knows what I'll prefer in a week's time!