xgsjx Posted May 19, 2018 Share Posted May 19, 2018 I'm looking at getting a nice 5er in the next couple of months & looking for suggestions on what basses I should definitely try. I'm going to try as many basses as I can & then hopefully narrow it down. I'd really like a fretless, but it's not 100% (probably about 75% set on fretless). I've spent ages going over different ideas on the Maruszczyk configurator & the Sandberg one too. I'm not a fan of the traditional shapes (e.g. Fender clones), but it's not a dealbreaker. The Warwick Alien fretless 5 seems to tick a lot of boxes on paper, but I've not tried one (yet). I'm also a fan of Dingwall basses (having played one a decade ago in Vegas & kick myself to this day for not buying it! I had the money too). I've drooled over some of Skelf's instruments & I'd love to get a UK built bass, but I think they're a wee bit out my budget. I can go a little over £2k, but I'd rather be under & have spare pennies to maybe spend on a DI pedal. If you had about £2k to spend on a bass, what would you get? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pnefc42 Posted May 19, 2018 Share Posted May 19, 2018 Status S2? 😀 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T-Bay Posted May 19, 2018 Share Posted May 19, 2018 ACG stuff is gorgeous, within budget possibly? 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pete.young Posted May 19, 2018 Share Posted May 19, 2018 (edited) 1 hour ago, xgsjx said: If you had about £2k to spend on a bass, what would you get? The Celinder J Vintage 5 that's in the For Sale forum at the moment. Edited May 19, 2018 by pete.young 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mykesbass Posted May 19, 2018 Share Posted May 19, 2018 Shuker. My 5 string fretless is all the way up at the traditional end of the spectrum, but Jon makes great basses in many shapes and sizes. Quality is fantastic and he is a great guy to deal with. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xgsjx Posted May 19, 2018 Author Share Posted May 19, 2018 Some good suggestions. I never thought ACG or Shuker would be in my price range. I think I'll have to take another look at both. I like most of Skelf's designs & the Shuker Uberhorn with the infinity fretboard is rather tasty too (though I'm pretty sure that one's gonna be about £1k over budget at least!). Status basses are a good shout. & the Celinder does look the part (even for a F***er lookalike ). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LukeFRC Posted May 19, 2018 Share Posted May 19, 2018 Drop Alan a line and see what's possible in your budget... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Delberthot Posted May 20, 2018 Share Posted May 20, 2018 What I would get might not be what you would get. It will depend on how you like your string spacing, the sound, pickup configuration etc Having said that, if I was in the market for a 5 string fretless then it would be without a doubt a Stingray Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woodinblack Posted May 20, 2018 Share Posted May 20, 2018 3 hours ago, xgsjx said: the Shuker Uberhorn with the infinity fretboard is rather tasty too (though I'm pretty sure that one's gonna be about £1k over budget at least!). Yes it is. Its on my dream list too! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CameronJ Posted May 20, 2018 Share Posted May 20, 2018 Skelf (Alan) has definitely had basses for sale recently which are under £2k. It’s definitely possible to get something beautiful within budget. Just one example: http://www.acguitars.co.uk/project/0282-retrob-5-2/ Re: Sandberg, since you’re not a huge fan of the Fender clone shapes you’ll be pleased to know that their newer “California II” range have redesigned bodies which no longer look like Fenders. They also have a number of completely unique body shapes such as the Classic, Basic and 48. @xgsjx, where are you based? A trip to BassDirect in Warwick or The Bass Gallery in London will answer a lot of your questions and be a ton of fun too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cuzzie Posted May 20, 2018 Share Posted May 20, 2018 Sandberg all the way - luthier quality despite being a manufacturer, and if you find something you like second hand, amazing value, great value new as well! I’ve never looked back and know a few peeps who think/say the same Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BassBunny Posted May 20, 2018 Share Posted May 20, 2018 +1 for ACG 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ezbass Posted May 20, 2018 Share Posted May 20, 2018 (edited) Given that you could get down to ACG with not too long a drive and talk face to face with Alan, I’d probably go that way. I’ve had an off the peg Sandberg Basic and I currently have 2 custom Maruszczyk Elwood Ls, all three are very fine instruments and I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend them. However, being able to be more ‘hands on’ (or at least eyes on) with a build would swing it for me. The instruments that Alan had at LBGS were stunning, I was there another BCer who has an off the peg Elwood L and a custom headless Maruszczyk Frog and he very nearly bought one of Alan’s creations as he was blown away by the build quality, feel, etc. Edited May 20, 2018 by ezbass Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xgsjx Posted May 20, 2018 Author Share Posted May 20, 2018 Sounds like a message to Skelf could be on the cards next month (I'm moving house first). @CameronJ, I'm up in Perth (not Oz, thankfully), but soon to move down to Falkirk, so ACG would be a little over an hour's drive away (about 70 miles). Though I'm not against the idea of a wee drive down to Warwick & London. If I wait until July/August, I'll hopefully have a lekky car, so no congestion charge. Guitar Guitar stock Sandberg, so a trip to Glasgow/Edinburgh is imminent too. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CameronJ Posted May 20, 2018 Share Posted May 20, 2018 52 minutes ago, xgsjx said: Sounds like a message to Skelf could be on the cards next month (I'm moving house first). @CameronJ, I'm up in Perth (not Oz, thankfully), but soon to move down to Falkirk, so ACG would be a little over an hour's drive away (about 70 miles). Though I'm not against the idea of a wee drive down to Warwick & London. If I wait until July/August, I'll hopefully have a lekky car, so no congestion charge. Guitar Guitar stock Sandberg, so a trip to Glasgow/Edinburgh is imminent too. Nice! Alan’s a really nice guy so I’m sure a trip to ACG headquarters would be a fruitful one. Looks like GuitarGuitar in Glasgow have a few nice ‘Bergs in stock right now actually: https://www.guitarguitar.co.uk/sandberg/guitars/bass/solid-body/5-string-sb/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ezbass Posted May 20, 2018 Share Posted May 20, 2018 53 minutes ago, CameronJ said: Looks like GuitarGuitar in Glasgow have a few nice ‘Bergs in stock right now actually: https://www.guitarguitar.co.uk/sandberg/guitars/bass/solid-body/5-string-sb/ That Basic Ken Taylor is very nice! 😍 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CameronJ Posted May 20, 2018 Share Posted May 20, 2018 31 minutes ago, ezbass said: That Basic Ken Taylor is very nice! 😍 The black one or the natural bubinga one? I’m gonna pour some fuel on that GAS fire of yours now: https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.co.uk%2Fulk%2Fitm%2F273181547136 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xgsjx Posted May 20, 2018 Author Share Posted May 20, 2018 I've spied this too. https://www.bax-shop.co.uk/right-handed-bass-guitar/sandberg-classic-special-5-string-bokote-top-fretless Bax have some great prices! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ezbass Posted May 20, 2018 Share Posted May 20, 2018 44 minutes ago, CameronJ said: The black one or the natural bubinga one? I’m gonna pour some fuel on that GAS fire of yours now: https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.co.uk%2Fulk%2Fitm%2F273181547136 The natural one for me, although the black one isn’t horrible and I wouldn’t return it if someone gave it to me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ezbass Posted May 20, 2018 Share Posted May 20, 2018 25 minutes ago, xgsjx said: I've spied this too. https://www.bax-shop.co.uk/right-handed-bass-guitar/sandberg-classic-special-5-string-bokote-top-fretless Bax have some great prices! Now, that really is the business, I really like the Classic shape with that Ric-alike top horn. So many basses, so little time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jimothey Posted May 20, 2018 Share Posted May 20, 2018 My shout goes to this.....,, https://m.thomann.de/gb/warwick_gps_corvette_5_fl_bubinga.htm?o=1&search=1526818152 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CameronJ Posted May 20, 2018 Share Posted May 20, 2018 41 minutes ago, xgsjx said: I've spied this too. https://www.bax-shop.co.uk/right-handed-bass-guitar/sandberg-classic-special-5-string-bokote-top-fretless Bax have some great prices! Oooh that wood! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dannybuoy Posted May 20, 2018 Share Posted May 20, 2018 (edited) If you were looking at the Warwick Alien, check out the Godin A5 Ultra. I have the A4 and love it, Bass Direct have a used A5 for sale too: http://bassdirect.co.uk/bass_guitar_specialists/Godin_A5.html Well worth getting the Ultra version for the extra magnetic pickup, it sounds middy and growly like a fretless 'Ray. Older ones are piezo only. Demo of the A4: Edited May 20, 2018 by dannybuoy 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheGreek Posted May 20, 2018 Share Posted May 20, 2018 Two grand could get you a custom build by Alan or one of the other BC luthiers - I'm sure you could commission something from Andyjr1515 or Jabba the Gut within that budget... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pete.young Posted May 20, 2018 Share Posted May 20, 2018 And you should be able to pick up a nice used Yamaha BBNE2 . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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