kerley Posted July 29, 2014 Share Posted July 29, 2014 The problem is that without being able to try any you will never know if 1 out of 10 sounded better or worse than the other 9. I have always felt that a lot of people are exaggerating the problems on the internet for effect (yes, hard to believe I know) as i don't see all these dreadful basses. The bass I mentioned above is the first instrument I have had a problem with and I have bought a good number of basses, guitars, ukuleles and even a mandolin online over the last 8 years. I accept that I may be too easily pleased though... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HowieBass Posted July 29, 2014 Share Posted July 29, 2014 Distance selling regulations are a very good safeguard when buying new instruments sight unseen, particularly from UK retailers. The last 'new' bass I bought was my Squier Jazz and that's a great bass and the only bass I've needed to send back for a full refund was a new Vintage P bass which looked like it had been put together by a total incompetent. I've also bought several secondhand basses without having handled them and none have been what I'd consider 'unplayable' and in fact mostly all either good or great. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
addam360 Posted July 30, 2014 Author Share Posted July 30, 2014 Thanks for dispelling the myths on Fender QC. I had suspected that the internet was exaggerating. Still think I prefer the idea of the others more than the Fender though. Having just the P pick-up kind of bothers me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
addam360 Posted July 30, 2014 Author Share Posted July 30, 2014 (edited) Looking to order this weekend. Currently favoring the Ibanez ATK800. Just looks like an epic bass for the money and I've heard nothing but good stuff about any ATK. Edited July 30, 2014 by addam360 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mornats Posted July 30, 2014 Share Posted July 30, 2014 I've played a tonne of Fenders in various music shops. Around 4-5 USA ones, 6-7 Mexican ones and 4-5 Squiers and have to say that they're still inconsistent. I never liked any of the MIM Fenders, they all felt that average cheap basses. Two of the USA ones were simply some of the nicest basses I've played, whilst the others felt like MIM basses or worse. Squiers on the other hand were consistently very good, some were nicer to play than the bad USA ones and all were better than the MIM ones. All in my opinion of course, but the end result is that I'd never buy any Fender, USA or MIM without playing it. I'd take a punt on a Squier though but we are talking different money here of course. I've played a fair few Ibanez basses, mainly the SR1200, SR1600 and SR1800 (all around £850-950) and they've been consistently excellent. I've also played 3 different Yamaha TRBX 504s (including the one I bought off Hamfist on here) and they've all been consistently good. What I take from all of the above is that it's most likely down to setup and not much else. There wasn't anything wrong at all about all those Fender, it's just that some USA models played like a £1200 bass and others played like a £150 bass. Nothing that can't be fixed by a trip to a luthier but you think they'd include a good setup in that £grand+ price. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jezzaboy Posted July 30, 2014 Share Posted July 30, 2014 (edited) [quote name='addam360' timestamp='1406722417' post='2514055'] Looking to order this weekend. Currently favoring the Ibanez ATK800. Just looks like an epic bass for the money and I've heard nothing but good stuff about any ATK. [/quote] If you are buying this model, Thomann do it for £432. That is the cheapest I could see it. And they are good to order from. [url="http://www.thomann.de/gb/ibanez_atk800_wnf.htm?sid=54b9b0effd519f3419d6e68ef575348b"]http://www.thomann.d...9d6e68ef575348b[/url] Oops! It`s sold out [size=4] [/size] Edited July 30, 2014 by jezzaboy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lowdown Posted July 30, 2014 Share Posted July 30, 2014 (edited) [quote name='paul_5' timestamp='1405343278' post='2500974'] If you need to buy new, and want a Jazz that'll outperform anything in its price bracket (and a few things outside of it too…) then I'd seriously consider a Blade B1. Best Jazz I ever had. [/quote] Yep, they are great. I still have my Levinson Blade Jazz (about 25 years now). Are you the guy that was selling one on Ebay last year up in the North West? In fact there is White Jazz B1Tetra up on the Bay at this moment (about 2 hours left). http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Levinson-Blade-Tetra-Standard-Jazz-Bass-Guitar-Vintage-white/181473477179?_trksid=p2047675.c100011.m1850&_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIC.MBE%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20140107083358%26meid%3D8686426856419869100%26pid%3D100011%26prg%3D20140107083358%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D10%26sd%3D141057240756 Edited August 1, 2014 by lowdown Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lozz196 Posted July 30, 2014 Share Posted July 30, 2014 [quote name='addam360' timestamp='1406719366' post='2514017'] Thanks for dispelling the myths on Fender QC. I had suspected that the internet was exaggerating. Still think I prefer the idea of the others more than the Fender though. Having just the P pick-up kind of bothers me. [/quote] The post 2012 Mexican Fenders are very nice, and much better than the earlier ones. I never thought the earlier ones were bad mind, but the 2012s are noticeably better. Find a good one and get a luthier to stick a Jazz (or tappable Musicman) pickup in it. Would be a great bass. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul_5 Posted July 30, 2014 Share Posted July 30, 2014 [quote name='lowdown' timestamp='1406748641' post='2514444'] Yep, they are great. I still have my Swiss Levinson Blade Jazz (about 25 years now). Are you the guy that was selling one on Ebay last year up in the North West? In fact there is White Jazz B1Tetra up on the Bay at this moment (about 2 hours left). [url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Levinson-Blade-Tetra-Standard-Jazz-Bass-Guitar-Vintage-white/181473477179?_trksid=p2047675.c100011.m1850&_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIC.MBE%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20140107083358%26meid%3D8686426856419869100%26pid%3D100011%26prg%3D20140107083358%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D10%26sd%3D141057240756"]http://www.ebay.co.u...%3D141057240756[/url] [/quote] Not me; mine went before then when I got made redundant. Sad, sad day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
addam360 Posted August 1, 2014 Author Share Posted August 1, 2014 Super long shot here, I don't suppose anyone knows of a pre-owned SBMM Ray34 or EBMM SUB sitting in a shop right now that could be in budget. £620 new on the Ray is the best I've found so far. Unfortunately it's a bit too much. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
addam360 Posted August 4, 2014 Author Share Posted August 4, 2014 Found the extra money, will be ordering a SBMM Ray34 this week unless told this would be a bad idea. Thank you, especially to everyone who said Stingray type bass. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mike_b Posted August 4, 2014 Share Posted August 4, 2014 (edited) [quote name='addam360' timestamp='1407163941' post='2517926'] Found the extra money, will be ordering a SBMM Ray34 this week unless told this would be a bad idea. Thank you, especially to everyone who said Stingray type bass. [/quote] You won't be dissapointed with one of these, I have one as my main bass and it sounds incredible, personally think its streets ahead of my modern player jazz bass in terms of tone Edited August 4, 2014 by mike_b Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lozz196 Posted August 4, 2014 Share Posted August 4, 2014 [quote name='addam360' timestamp='1407163941' post='2517926'] Found the extra money, will be ordering a SBMM Ray34 this week unless told this would be a bad idea. Thank you, especially to everyone who said Stingray type bass. [/quote] [quote name='mike_b' timestamp='1407166067' post='2517964'] You won't be dissapointed with one of these, I have one as my main bass and it sounds incredible, personally think its streets ahead of my modern player jazz bass in terms of tone [/quote] Happily agree on that, they are amazing quality basses, I had one and a "real" Stingray at the time. Aside from the worn neck of the `98 Stingray, playability, sound, and construction quality I couldn`t tell them apart. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bolo Posted August 4, 2014 Share Posted August 4, 2014 [quote name='Lozz196' timestamp='1407166216' post='2517965'] Happily agree on that, they are amazing quality basses, I had one and a "real" Stingray at the time. Aside from the worn neck of the `98 Stingray, playability, sound, and construction quality I couldn`t tell them apart. [/quote] +1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
addam360 Posted August 4, 2014 Author Share Posted August 4, 2014 [quote name='mike_b' timestamp='1407166067' post='2517964'] You won't be dissapointed with one of these, I have one as my main bass and it sounds incredible, personally think its streets ahead of my modern player jazz bass in terms of tone [/quote] [quote name='Lozz196' timestamp='1407166216' post='2517965'] Happily agree on that, they are amazing quality basses, I had one and a "real" Stingray at the time. Aside from the worn neck of the `98 Stingray, playability, sound, and construction quality I couldn`t tell them apart. [/quote] [quote name='Bolo' timestamp='1407170723' post='2518027'] +1 [/quote] Sounds like a good choice then. Pushed the price beyond what I was happy to pay but should be worth it. At least the cheaper one I found is the right colour and fretboard too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
addam360 Posted August 6, 2014 Author Share Posted August 6, 2014 The order has been placed, I will do some kind of mini review with pics in another thread when I've got it. Thanks for the advice everyone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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