Bass Direct

[Rich]

If it's what you want and does everything you want it to and makes you happy, it's worth every penny.

[Happy Jack]

[quote name='Graham' timestamp='1505128645' post='3369609']
Those Lull T-bird pickups are fantastic, some of the best I've ever heard.
[/quote]

That's really the key. I loved the T5 from the photos & spec, but the moment I decided to buy it was the instant I started playing it in the shop.

[URL=http://s1128.photobucket.com/user/h4ppyjack/media/Basses%20CURRENT/Mike%20Lull%20T5%202014%20CURRENT/Thunderbird_zps6wltrwkh.jpg.html][IMG]http://i1128.photobucket.com/albums/m496/h4ppyjack/Basses%20CURRENT/Mike%20Lull%20T5%202014%20CURRENT/Thunderbird_zps6wltrwkh.jpg[/IMG][/URL]

[Happy Jack]

While people seem to be in let's-all-bash-one-of-the-few-remaining-specialist-bass-dealers mode, I do hope similar negative topics will now be created to attack anyone else who is trying to supply us with a decent choice of high-quality basses.

After all, we wouldn't want any of these deluded fools to survive in business, would we?

And then just think of all the great topics we can start, bemoaning the good old days when there were actually real shops in the UK which would let you play a bass before buying it.

As somebody famous once said: "I may be right, I may be wrong, but I know you're gonna miss me when I'm gone."

[bassace]

Bought a new cab this morning. Mark was busy doing some else's invoice but still had the time to chat about the joys of bass playing. A painless transaction, it'll arrive tomorrow.

[ambient]

[quote name='Happy Jack' timestamp='1505134159' post='3369676']
While people seem to be in let's-all-bash-one-of-the-few-remaining-specialist-bass-dealers mode, I do hope similar negative topics will now be created to attack anyone else who is trying to supply us with a decent choice of high-quality basses.

After all, we wouldn't want any of these deluded fools to survive in business, would we?

And then just think of all the great topics we can start, bemoaning the good old days when there were actually real shops in the UK which would let you play a bass before buying it.

As somebody famous once said: "I may be right, I may be wrong, but I know you're gonna miss me when I'm gone."
[/quote]

That's my thoughts exactly, I've said as much earlier in the thread.

[dmccombe7]

Its not knocking the luthier but more asking the question of what makes this particular bass worth that kind of money.
I'm a big fan off luthiers providing first class quality basses but you have to ask at what price and what are you getting for your money.
I freely admitted that i don't know much about Lull basses hence asking the question.

I bought an Overwater 6 string custom in 2010 and looked at many basses and couldn't see what the benefits were of the more expensive basses.

I guess if you try a bass and it just feels right for you then money shouldn't be an issue if you can afford it of course.

Think i'll have a wee look at Lull basses to see what they are all about. I do admit to liking the standard T bird shown above by Happy Jack.


Dave

[fretmeister]

It's not a surprise - above a certain point it costs 100% for a 5% quality increase.

Sometimes it's not even that, and it's just local overheads. Foderas could probably drop 50% if they weren't paying New York rent.

[Rich]

[quote name='Happy Jack' timestamp='1505134159' post='3369676']
While people seem to be in let's-all-bash-one-of-the-few-remaining-specialist-bass-dealers mode, I do hope similar negative topics will now be created to attack anyone else who is trying to supply us with a decent choice of high-quality basses.
[/quote]
At a rough count, something like 10% of the comments on this 3.5 year old thread are negative to extents varying from "he's a bit rude but they've got some lovely gear" to "wouldn't go there again even at gunpoint". I hardly think this constitutes a 'let's ALL bash...' mode or a 'negative topic' really?
And if people do have genuinely bad experiences, why shouldn't they share them?

[BigRedX]

[quote name='dmccombe7' timestamp='1505122402' post='3369561']
Its a nice looking bass and I don't know much about Lull basses but not sure i'd pay that kind of money for what seems a standard looking bass.
Are they that good ?
I was expecting exotic looking woods or fancy electronics to be honest.

Sorry if my response is a bit negative. You have obviously tried one and know how good they are.

Wishing you all the very best with it.

Dave
[/quote]

IME exotic woods might look nice (if you like that kind of thing) but they don't really add anything else to the bass. Same with fancy electronics, which unless you are Wal or ACG and are specifying your very own custom circuits are just some off the peg pickups and pre-amp shoe-horned into the instrument.

AFAICS Mike Lull makes the best new Thunderbirds you can buy, while Gibson continues to drop the ball when it comes to bass guitars.

[NancyJohnson]

[quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1505148446' post='3369815']
IME exotic woods might look nice (if you like that kind of thing) but they don't really add anything else to the bass. Same with fancy electronics, which unless you are Wal or ACG and are specifying your very own custom circuits are just some off the peg pickups and pre-amp shoe-horned into the instrument.

AFAICS Mike Lull makes the best new Thunderbirds you can buy, while Gibson continues to drop the ball when it comes to bass guitars.
[/quote]

It's going to be covered in paint, so the exotic wood thing doesn't make much difference. I've never really bought into this argument that different woods sound better, plus in a blind test would anyone really be able to hear the differences between mahogany, alder, maple etc? Probably not. Years ago, I remember playing a Les Paul at a jam and the guitarist asked how I got 'that sound', I just handed it over and without the slightest tweak he sounded completely different. He never ever sounded like me, despite wanting to. Sound/tone comes as much from your hands as much as the pickups and guts of the thing.

[TheGreek]

I've only ever had positive experiences when dealing with BD.

Whenever I've spoken to Mark or Marcus in particular, I've had their open opinion on the gear they have in stock and suggestions on what they think will suit my style or sound best - this isn't always the most expensive gear or about trying to get the most money out of my pocket, it's their honest, learned opinion based on them hearing/ using/ playing that gear on a day to day basis - even though I may have your heart set on something else...after all, haven't we all bought gear we [i]thought [/i]we wanted, only to find out it didn't actually work for us and that maybe their suggestion may have suited us better?

I've learned to respect that honest opinion - even if it isn't what I wanted to hear, bearing in mind that, while our opinions may differ, IMO they are prescribing what they believe may be a better fit.

IMO BD are doing a good job, in a difficult financial climate, providing a broad range of instruments and amps, and in doing so have built, in general, a good reputation.

As Jack suggests, if/when they go out of business we will all bemoan the fact that there are so few shops dedicated to providing Bass players with what they want, and we'll all have to go back to shopping at generic music shops with a limited selection (my local Music shop has about 20 basses to choose from and they're mostly Squiers or secondhand).

My most recent experience with BD was in regards my Trace Elliot Elf which they sent out the same day they received it, by Overnight shipment - it probably didn't even touch their shop floor....I really can't fault their service.

Long Live Bass Direct!!

[ambient]

[quote name='NancyJohnson' timestamp='1505150792' post='3369849']
Sound/tone comes as much from your hands as much as the pickups and guts of the thing.
[/quote]

I have to agree with this.

At uni people played my instrument, I played theirs, I sounded like me, they sounded like them.

[Dan Dare]

[quote name='ambient' timestamp='1505158783' post='3369931']


I have to agree with this.

At uni people played my instrument, I played theirs, I sounded like me, they sounded like them.
[/quote]

+ 100 and why it's a waste of money and time searching for that elusive holy grail. I appreciate that you need instruments/equipment of decent quality, but once you get above that, it's all in your hands/brain. The quest is fun, albeit expensive, though.

[markstuk]

If you can feel the difference, then it's worth what it's worth to you.. Law of diminishing returns applies, but this is pretty much the same for any product or service you buy...

[Happy Jack]

[quote name='Rich' timestamp='1505147880' post='3369809']
At a rough count, something like 10% of the comments on this 3.5 year old thread are negative to extents varying from "he's a bit rude but they've got some lovely gear" to "wouldn't go there again even at gunpoint". I hardly think this constitutes a 'let's ALL bash...' mode or a 'negative topic' really?
And if people do have genuinely bad experiences, why shouldn't they share them?
[/quote]

Looking at the comments since the latest thread revival a month ago, and stripping out stuff that is neither a criticism of, nor praise for, Bass Direct, I get nowhere near 10% negativity ... it's nearer 50%. Take another look, Rich.

I have no problem with people sharing bad experiences, but I'm well aware that an unhappy customer is (according to marketing lore) ten times more likely to complain than a happy customer is to praise. I'm also aware that complainers tend to re-visit and re-complain within the thread. And I'm also aware that online complaints have a habit of attracting people with no knowledge of the transaction in question reinforcing the negativity.

Anyone who hasn't dealt with Mark personally, or visited Bass Direct, is likely to come away from this thread with at least a partially negative view of his business because the silks were the wrong colour and someone was asked to move his car.

If the UK was inundated with specialist bass dealers then I guess we'd all shrug and get on with our lives. In practice, even during my own brief bass-playing career over half the specialist bass shops in the UK seem to have disappeared.

If you want to carry on shrugging and getting on with your life then that's entirely up to you. I beg to differ and will take a different approach.

[NancyJohnson]

Ordered a Hipshot KickAss bridge from them yesterday. It arrived today. Not good enough! Terrible service.

[bassace]

Ordered a cab at 12.30 yesterday and it didn't arrive until 10.00 this morning. Things will have to improve!

[fretmeister]

I ordered a pedal 5 mins before midnight and it didn't arrive the next day. Twats.

[ambient]

Last time I went I had to walk from my car, and open the door myself.

[FinnDave]

I'm planning to order a bridge from them, but refuse to order it until it has arrived.

[timmo]

I had a go on a left handed Lull. I went for the Clover instead. If I had the extra 1k, I would have walked out with The Lull. It really was nice

[yorks5stringer]

[quote name='FinnDave' timestamp='1505219070' post='3370296']
I'm planning to order a bridge from them, but refuse to order it until it has arrived.
[/quote]

[color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]'Last time I went I had to walk from my car, and open the door myself.'[/font][/color]

[color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]Maybe if you both park nearer the door...........? [/font][/color][color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif] [/font][/color][color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif] [/font][/color]

Edited September 12, 2017 by yorks5stringer

[ambient]

[quote name='yorks5stringer' timestamp='1505231047' post='3370404']
[color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]'Last time I went I had to walk from my car, and open the door myself.'[/font][/color]

[color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]Maybe if you both park nearer the door...........? [/font][/color][color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif] [/font][/color][color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif] [/font][/color]
[/quote]

There was no red carpet either!

[Steve Browning]

[quote name='Happy Jack' timestamp='1505209008' post='3370175']
Looking at the comments since the latest thread revival a month ago, and stripping out stuff that is neither a criticism of, nor praise for, Bass Direct, I get nowhere near 10% negativity ... it's nearer 50%. Take another look, Rich.
[/quote]

Now where do you want those goalposts?

[Happy Jack]

Not sure I follow, Steve, or was that a Zen thing?