BassApprentice

Hi! First of all - this topic might belong in the Repairs and Technicals section. A Mod can move it if they see fit. Secondly - I am all for modding and tinkering! However, I don't think a £10.99 Wilkinson pickup will be infinitely better/different than the Roswell pickup that's already in place. Also, I'd be wary of AliExpress selling a branded item for 1/6th of the retail price. of course it could be good pickup but maybe not necessarily a "Wilkinson". Regarding the balance of pickups, have you altered the heights of them?

To satisfy all parties - and for more pictures of a cool bass...

Between these and Brute basses, we do have some cool luthiers in the UK! Shame my bank account won't allow for anything like this 😂

Paging @eude @ead @binky_bass as I believe they have all owned/currently own multiple ACGs

Did you find this video? Demo featuring the Über Finn R Type with DFM pre-amp and MC5 pickups.

For those of you with deep pockets... Spector Custom Shop now offer short scale options https://www.notreble.com/buzz/2025/02/08/short-scale-spector-basses-are-finally-here-custom-shop-expands-ns-series/

That's a real looker! Well done on getting it all sorted. I assume they are the chrome Gemini pickups? Do you (or anyone else) know the difference between them and the nickel covers?

Hi Ped I've kept an eye on my bank and those two payments have now definitely gone through. Can you drop me a message once you've checked you haven't received a double payment from me? Thanks!

And that's really it. We can say they are underwhelming or there are "better" alternatives for the same or less money but branding is king and these will sell for the above reason.

JHS Pulp n Peel might do the trick

Afternoon, Just got a notification from my bank that I have paid my renewal subscription of £18 for the Marketplace. Swiftly followed 10 minutes later by another notification of £18 to Basschat again, now showing as two pending payments of £18 out of my account. I'll check if they both go through, but thought I would flag it as it could be a wider issue of members being double charged.

I'm now eyeing up my Bitsa P-bass in the corner... I don't really play that much, but tinkering is fun

This looks great! Appreciate you not messing about and just getting stuck right in on a brand new bass 😅 Jealous you have access to all the right tools to do the job pretty quickly and efficiently!

For me, it would be different gauge that wasn't available before that draws my attention. If they are significantly more expensive than standard Cobalts, I'd be inclined to try them first then if the gauge wasn't quite right I would look at these.

Reminds of this clothing label 😂

Yes true, I'd missed that the older SB14 used to be active. Both recent releases have been passive but with a price increase....Nice 🤨

Just spotted that SBMM have brought back the Sterling SB14 in Pearl Blue after discontinuing the Natural finish released last year. Always a bit confusing with SBMM, but a nice passive bass I'm sure. EDIT: Forgot to add about the now seemingly obligatory MM tax - RRP $650 = £825.

Nicely done! Who did you use on eBay for the anodised plate?

The only place I've seen it mentioned is on Norm Stockton's social media pages. Nothing else yet, not even TalkBass! @Terry M.

As others have said it's not going to be any different and/or better than a Squier. It's to get an extra £100 out of punters who need Fender on the headstock rather than Squier.

MTD Kingston NS5.

For clicks and visibility. Get the product out there and then get proper reviews (full of slap of course) later in the year.

Reverend Triad 5 Strings. Nice.

I owned an 80s L2000 (which I would love to get back), but they seem really hard to find new in the UK just now. I know GuitarGuitar used to stock them, but after that I don't think they really want to be in the UK market for whatever reason.

And that's the cost saving bit of Sire. Quality of the wooden bits - good. Hardware (on base models) is always a bit lackluster. Will say that that photo looks like a render, which can make angles and proportions look odd. Looking forward to seeing all the various releases that I have no intention of buying! 😆