Annoying Twit Posted May 22, 2015 Author Share Posted May 22, 2015 (edited) Congratulations and HNDBD (Happy new deko bass day). Both of my dekos had truss rods that were working perfectly and easy to use. [quote name='Beer of the Bass' timestamp='1432295097' post='2780101'] When I first read that line, I thought for a minute that you'd written a program to come up with explanations for your wife! That would probably be quite popular on here. [/quote] I did once write an 'artificial intelligence' program that students could use to ask advice on whether they could have extensions for their coursework. The technique was quite simple, it asked them to enter their reasons for an extension, it then showed a progress bar for about ten seconds, and then told them that the answer was 'no'. Perhaps I could write something similar for buying basses. It could have all sorts of input boxes and areas for information pro and con buying a new bass, show a progress bar for a while, and then report that yes, it is reasonable to buy a bass. Edited May 22, 2015 by Annoying Twit Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coldflows Posted May 22, 2015 Share Posted May 22, 2015 Just managed to order a couple of guitars for £30/delivered so I'm hoping next time I'll find a bass. Would be interested in the program if you do decide to make it available. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Annoying Twit Posted May 23, 2015 Author Share Posted May 23, 2015 [quote name='Coldflows' timestamp='1432333144' post='2780684'] Just managed to order a couple of guitars for £30/delivered so I'm hoping next time I'll find a bass. Would be interested in the program if you do decide to make it available. [/quote] What models did you get? There were a couple of dekos this morning, but nothing that stands out as interesting and no basses that I noticed. (I"m not online all the time, it just seems like it ). There's still a cheap classical guitar available. http://www.thomann.de/gb/startone_cg_851_4_4_deko.htm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coldflows Posted May 23, 2015 Share Posted May 23, 2015 (edited) [quote name='Annoying Twit' timestamp='1432361180' post='2780769'] What models did you get? There were a couple of dekos this morning, but nothing that stands out as interesting and no basses that I noticed. (I"m not online all the time, it just seems like it ). There's still a cheap classical guitar available. http://www.thomann.de/gb/startone_cg_851_4_4_deko.htm [/quote] Left handed tele and one of the cheap acoustics. At the end of the day a left handed tele neck is worth more than thirty quid so I thought I'd give it a go. Really envious of whoever got the 50s p bass. Edit: Received an email saying the left handed tele is unavailable so my order is on hold. I cancelled the overall order as the postage and the acoustic would have been a tad too much. Will keep trying till I get myself some cool basses. Do they do a bass VI ? Edited May 23, 2015 by Coldflows Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Annoying Twit Posted May 23, 2015 Author Share Posted May 23, 2015 Sometimes it takes a couple of attempts to get what you want. I haven't seen Harley Benton doing a bass VI style bass. There is the [url=http://thebassgallery.com/special-offers/rjt-60-b-bass.html]Revelation bass VI[/url] which is a bit cheaper than the Squier and also appears to have a longer scale length. There are some Harley Benton traditional six string basses, but I don't remember seeing any deko examples of them being sold. At least for a long while. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coldflows Posted May 23, 2015 Share Posted May 23, 2015 [quote name='Annoying Twit' timestamp='1432373938' post='2780908'] Sometimes it takes a couple of attempts to get what you want. I haven't seen Harley Benton doing a bass VI style bass. There is the [url=http://thebassgallery.com/special-offers/rjt-60-b-bass.html]Revelation bass VI[/url] which is a bit cheaper than the Squier and also appears to have a longer scale length. There are some Harley Benton traditional six string basses, but I don't remember seeing any deko examples of them being sold. At least for a long while. [/quote] I like the revelation but its still more than I would like to spend on a whim. I'll keep trying on the Deco and hope that some interesting basses come my way haha. Anyone else have any luck yesterday? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
landwomble Posted May 23, 2015 Share Posted May 23, 2015 OK, so a couple of days in to ownership of my first dekos.. The shorty P bass is ace. It's got a lovely tone, the neck is a nice matte finish that's really fast and slick and it's such a little light thing that it's a pleasure to play. It has a very small ding on the headstock, as if you had accidentally tapped it on something hard whilst playing and scuffed the lacquer. Other than that it's immaculate. Action really nice and low, I raised the E and A string at the bridge a couple of turns and it's perfect. Lovely. Going to teach my daughters bass with it I think. Been sat out in the garden with the 5 string acoustic. Think the missus is coming round to the idea as she was saying how it was nice to hear me play again whilst she was doing a bit of gardening... #middleageshoutout The action as it came was pretty high but a half turn on the truss rod with the supplied allen key and a few hours later it's all good. Never had an acoustic bass before but this is really nice to play - the built in tuner was unexpected but is a nice feature - especially the way it lights up green on correct tuning. The low B is clear and not baggy. Taking a while to get used to acoustic feedback from the amp but I'm impressed. In terms of "decorative use only" it has a tiny circular chip approx 2 mm across on the underside, and a tiny patch on the rear of the guitar where it has a bubble in the lacquer - aside from that and a few rough edges to some frets which I bet at this price point they all have even when new - it's lovely. Very impressed. Fill your boots, gents. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Annoying Twit Posted May 24, 2015 Author Share Posted May 24, 2015 (edited) Roundback guitar: [url="http://www.thomann.de/gb/harley_benton_hbo850_bk_deko.htm"]http://www.thomann.d...850_bk_deko.htm[/url] Left handed Les Paul: [url="http://www.thomann.de/gb/harley_benton_l_400lh_sbk_classic_se_deko.htm"]http://www.thomann.d...sic_se_deko.htm[/url] There was a TE-80 Telecaster too, but it's gone already. (I've just woken up and switched the computer on). [url="http://www.thomann.de/gb/harley_benton_l_400lh_sbk_classic_se_deko.htm"]http://www.thomann.de/gb/harley_benton_te_80_nt_deluxe_series_deko.htm[/url] @landwomble - great to hear that you are enjoying your instruments. The 'chip' on the back of the acoustic bass is probably the 'D' stamp, is it not? EDIT: Left handed Les Paul still there. I'm so used to all Les Pauls disappearing as fast as, that it's a real novelty seeing this sitting there for minutes. And, I don't know what time this went up this morning, it could have been there longer. Edited May 24, 2015 by Annoying Twit Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coldflows Posted May 24, 2015 Share Posted May 24, 2015 Wasn't an 11 o clock jobbie, I was checking. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
landwomble Posted May 24, 2015 Share Posted May 24, 2015 There is a small D stamp on both, but the acoustic has a circle about 3mm wide where the shiny top lacquer is missing. It's underneath and nearly invisible... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bartelby Posted May 24, 2015 Share Posted May 24, 2015 [quote name='Coldflows' timestamp='1432454019' post='2781503'] Wasn't an 11 o clock jobbie, I was checking. [/quote] Somewhere in the early hours. I can't remember exactly though. If they've switched from updating the website from 11pm to 2am I'll never get what I want... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coldflows Posted May 24, 2015 Share Posted May 24, 2015 [quote name='bartelby' timestamp='1432456395' post='2781530'] Somewhere in the early hours. I can't remember exactly though. If they've switched from updating the website from 11pm to 2am I'll never get what I want... [/quote] I hope not. Will do my sleep habits no end of good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Annoying Twit Posted May 27, 2015 Author Share Posted May 27, 2015 (edited) I've just come back from swimming around a lake, and I see that there were a '75 Jazz bass, AND a white HB-60 semi-hollow Gretchish bass dekos. I'm tempted by the HB-60, but it's YAF4SB (yet another fretted four string bass). [url="http://www.thomann.de/gb/harley_benton_hb_60_vw_deko.htm"] Harley Benton HB-60 VW Deko [/url] Anybody notice these when they were live? And if so, anyone get one? Even the cheap classical guitar (£8.80 as a deko) and the shorty strat that came up at the same time have sold out. Edited May 27, 2015 by Annoying Twit Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coldflows Posted May 27, 2015 Share Posted May 27, 2015 I haven't managed to find anything in a while. Was hoping there would be a few after the bank holiday. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yorks5stringer Posted May 27, 2015 Share Posted May 27, 2015 Show available until you click on the item....! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Annoying Twit Posted May 28, 2015 Author Share Posted May 28, 2015 [quote name='yorks5stringer' timestamp='1432770383' post='2784927'] Show available until you click on the item....! [/quote] Yep, this has been happening a lot recently. Annoying, but the main thing I'm watching for is instruments that are newly listed, and it doesn't stop me doing that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Huge Hands Posted May 28, 2015 Share Posted May 28, 2015 Wahey! About 6 days after landwomble, I finally received my 5 string HB acoustic today. The only issue I can see with it is two bubbles under the lacquer, both at the neck end of the rear panel. They are both tiny and unnoticeable unless you're looking for them, so no probs there. The thing is fun to play, and is perfect for what I want it for - picking up and playing along when a good tune comes on the telly or having a practice noodle now and then! One happy customer here! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Annoying Twit Posted May 28, 2015 Author Share Posted May 28, 2015 Congrats Huge Hands! Another happy deko owner. How well was it set up when you received it? My two dekos definitely needed some truss rod attention when I received them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
landwomble Posted May 28, 2015 Share Posted May 28, 2015 Ace! Mine needed half a turn of truss rod when I got it. Could maybe go a little lower but I'm nervous! It's a v nice thing and as you say, great for sofa noodling. The output is VERY hot, I was quite surprised... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Huge Hands Posted May 28, 2015 Share Posted May 28, 2015 Erm, the neck seems kinda straight. There is a bit of zinging and pinging occasionally when fretting, but I'm putting that down to the very bright round wounds and new frets it came with. I'm loathe to touch it at the moment as I have a history of making guitars worse than better when I tamper with truss rods! I certainly don't think there is enough wrong with it for me to want to mess with it. I've been playing with it on and off all afternoon and it is great for what I wanted it for, and certainly worth £50! In answer to landwomble's point, I haven't tried it plugged in yet - I'm not sure I'll ever need it for that! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Annoying Twit Posted May 28, 2015 Author Share Posted May 28, 2015 [quote name='Huge Hands' timestamp='1432843600' post='2785597'] Erm, the neck seems kinda straight. There is a bit of zinging and pinging occasionally when fretting, but I'm putting that down to the very bright round wounds and new frets it came with. I'm loathe to touch it at the moment as I have a history of making guitars worse than better when I tamper with truss rods! I certainly don't think there is enough wrong with it for me to want to mess with it. I've been playing with it on and off all afternoon and it is great for what I wanted it for, and certainly worth £50! In answer to landwomble's point, I haven't tried it plugged in yet - I'm not sure I'll ever need it for that! [/quote] My acoustic is a four string fretless. I put Fender flatwound strings on it, and it reduced the zing quite a bit. IMHO, the built in electronics sound very nice, and I think that the built in 4 band EQ is very suitably voiced for giving the user good control over the sound. Even if you're mainly intending to use it for unplugged playing, I recommend that you give it a go plugged in. Unless your tastes are quite different from mine (which is possible and reasonable ) I think you'll enjoy what you hear. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Annoying Twit Posted May 29, 2015 Author Share Posted May 29, 2015 (edited) DEKO (Singular) Four string acoustic bass. [url="http://www.thomann.de/gb/harley_benton_clb_10sce_bks_deko.htm"]http://www.thomann.d...ce_bks_deko.htm[/url] This is the slightly upmarket acoustic bass with a solid spruce top, and a Fishman pickup. EDIT: It went up at 4:33am this morning. That's an even more unfriendly time for things to go up than 11pm and 8am as frequently happens. (Aside: I'm not sure if there should be an s on happens or not given that two times are listed. Grammar advice gratefully accepted if someone would be so kind.) EDIT: Gone Edited May 29, 2015 by Annoying Twit Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yorks5stringer Posted May 30, 2015 Share Posted May 30, 2015 Your S is correct, I'd maybe put "[b]rather[/b] than 11pm and 8 am, as frequently happens". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Annoying Twit Posted May 30, 2015 Author Share Posted May 30, 2015 Thanks. BTW: there was a 12 string acoustic early this morning, but it was sold long ago. It was £24. That's £2 per string. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hugh971 Posted May 31, 2015 Share Posted May 31, 2015 I managed to bag a deko P bass, the neck and electronics are perfect, the setup was terrible but that was an easy fix. The pickguard doesn't quite sit flush at the neck which I'd guess is why it's a deko but it doesn't bother me. However I was considering changing the guard anyway to something a bit more interesting. Does anyone know if standard P bass pickguards would fit these basses? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.