grayn Posted January 30, 2016 Share Posted January 30, 2016 Having sold one of my guitars (the 6-string, high pitched variety), I had some cash and fancied another bass, for my small collection. After trawling the internet and getting over excited by the amazing range out there, I decided to sally forth and try some out, for myself. A couple of days ago, I headed out, to The Great British Bass Lounge. The last time I went, it was called The Manchester Bass Lounge. Like it's name, the Lounge's stock had expanded. I tried out bass after bass, whilst chatting to Drew and swigging tea. A couple of original design Overwaters had got my attention. But after much deliberation, decided they weren't the bass for me. I think the bass that most impressed me, in some ways, was the Cort A4 SP Custom. For a Cort, it's pricey but for it's spec and amazing build quality, it is way under-priced. I think I boggled myself, with a bit of bass overload and left empty handed. This morning, I headed up to Promenade Music, in Morecambe. Another Mecca, for the North West bass fraternity. I'd ostensibly gone to check out some Marleaux basses. But started out with a very tasty Japanese Jaguar bass. This I liked, as I did, a couple of US Fender Deluxe Jazzes. Going way down the price scale, I picked up a Bass Collection, Blockhead bass. Wow! what a stonking, passive jazz bass, this is. Playing and sounding rather delightfully. I really recommend the Blockhead. But I rather go for active basses. Finally got to 3 Marleauxs. 2 Votan XS Deluxe models and a Consat. The Consat really looks organic and hand made. But it's not really my kind of bass and the pickups, although top quality, weren't for me. The Votans are more my style. Light, jazz-bassesque, lovely necks and great pickups. They don't look as hand made, as the Consat. One had a matt-satin, black-burst, slightly stressed body. The other was gloss black, with a matching headstock. And the black model was more appealing, to my eyes. I came withing a hairs breadth of buying it. But I didn't quite like the way it hung, with a strap. And although up for a very reduced price, it wasn't worth the money, to me. To many others, it really could be a dream bass. So again, I left empty handed. I decided to head back to the Bass Lounge, after a quick phone call, to Drew. There were 4 basses there, I decided to concentrate on. Fortunately, I could afford 2. They were, an EBMM Sterling, with Piezo pickup(pre-owned). The aforementioned, Cort A4 SP Custom(new). A German, Warwick Corvette $$ (Double Buck), in Stealth black(pre-owned). And a Sandberg California II VT-4(new). I gave each a good play and honestly desired them all. Anyway, as you'll see from the title, I came away with the Sandberg and Warwick. The Sandberg is just my sort of bass. Dead comfortable, great pickups and a real looker, IMO. I've owned 2 other 'bergs, a Panther and a California TT. Top quality basses and this VT-4 may actually be my favourite. The only thing I'd change, would be to have a 3-band EQ. Great, natural tone. The Warwick Corvette $$ was, as many Warwick's are at the moment, going for a rediculously low price. The stealth black finish is growing on me. That big, growly tone is truly classic. It has versatility, too. What classic quality, this bass is. SPEC: MAKE Sandberg MODEL California II, VT4 ORIGIN Germany BODY WOOD(S) European Ash COLOUR/FINISH Cherry sunburst, matt-satin NECK/SCALE LENGTH 1 piece maple, satin finish, bolt-on/34inch scale FINGERBOARD Rosewood, 22 medium jumbo frets, white dot inlays WIDTH AT NUT/12TH FRET 39mm/56mm ELECTRONICS 1x Delano Split-coil pickup, 1x Delano single-coil pickup. Sandberg 2 band active EQ. Controls for Volume (push-pull active-passive), blend, treble/bass eq’s. HARDWARE Sandberg custom hi-mass bridge, Sandberg lightweight open gear tuners CASE Sandberg gig bag MAKE Warwick MODEL Corvette $$ (Double Buck) YEAR/CONDITION 2007, near mint ORIGIN Germany BODY WOOD(S) US Swamp Ash COLOUR/FINISH Nirvana Black, oil finish NECK/SCALE LENGTH 3 piece Ovangkol, oil finish, 34inch scale FINGERBOARD Wenge, oil finish, 24 medium brass frets ELECTRONICS 2 x active MEC MM-style humbuckers, MEC active 2 band EQ. Controls for vol (push-pull active/passive), blend, treble & bass. 2 x 3 way switches, for pickup voicings (series / parallel / single coil) HARDWARE Warwick black 2 piece bridge, lightweight tuners & straplocks WEIGHT 8.0lbs / 3.6kgs CASE Warwick Rockbag Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dannybuoy Posted January 31, 2016 Share Posted January 31, 2016 My fave uncommon colour combo on that Sandberg - would look even tastier with cream coloured pickup covers I reckon! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skol303 Posted January 31, 2016 Share Posted January 31, 2016 The Great British Bass Lounge is...well... great! I was there just yesterday and came away with a new bass in part-exchange (after chewing the fat with Drew over coffee for a good hour or so - lovely bloke). Well done on your new acquisitions. Both very nice basses and each very distinct. Good choices. I'll post a NBD thread of my own as soon as I manage to put it down for a few minutes Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyTravis Posted January 31, 2016 Share Posted January 31, 2016 The Great British Bass Lounge is just around the corner from me (walking distance...) and Drew is a fantastic bloke. Nice basses!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grayn Posted January 31, 2016 Author Share Posted January 31, 2016 [quote name='dannybuoy' timestamp='1454234253' post='2967627'] My fave uncommon colour combo on that Sandberg - would look even tastier with cream coloured pickup covers I reckon! [/quote] I reckon you're right. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grayn Posted January 31, 2016 Author Share Posted January 31, 2016 [quote name='Skol303' timestamp='1454236625' post='2967662'] The Great British Bass Lounge is...well... great! I was there just yesterday and came away with a new bass in part-exchange (after chewing the fat with Drew over coffee for a good hour or so - lovely bloke). Well done on your new acquisitions. Both very nice basses and each very distinct. Good choices. I'll post a NBD thread of my own as soon as I manage to put it down for a few minutes [/quote] Thanks. Was it a Warwick, you traded in? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skol303 Posted January 31, 2016 Share Posted January 31, 2016 [quote name='grayn' timestamp='1454252913' post='2967851'] Was it a Warwick, you traded in? [/quote] Yup. Warwick Corvette Standard, 5-string, 'French Violet' finish. Nice bass. I'd been struggling a bit with the narrow-ish spacing (by my tastes), so it wasn't getting the use it deserved. Part-ex'd for this: http://greatbritishbasslounge.com/product/cort-gb75-rithimic-v-jeff-berlin-signature/ Deliriously happy! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grayn Posted January 31, 2016 Author Share Posted January 31, 2016 [quote name='Skol303' timestamp='1454257380' post='2967914'] Yup. Warwick Corvette Standard, 5-string, 'French Violet' finish. Nice bass. I'd been struggling a bit with the narrow-ish spacing (by my tastes), so it wasn't getting the use it deserved. Part-ex'd for this: [url="http://greatbritishbasslounge.com/product/cort-gb75-rithimic-v-jeff-berlin-signature/"]http://greatbritishb...rlin-signature/[/url] Deliriously happy! [/quote] Very nice! I had a quick go on that 5er, last thursday. Top bass, with a beautiful tone. Real quality, congrats. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dannybuoy Posted January 31, 2016 Share Posted January 31, 2016 [quote name='grayn' timestamp='1454252811' post='2967849'] I reckon you're right. [/quote] I shall post a pic of my sunset orange / tort / cream P later... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daz39 Posted February 1, 2016 Share Posted February 1, 2016 Ooh, a Warwick 5er.. tempting. I'm not sure I could trust myself living so close to a shop like that ;0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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