Is there any real benefit to buying a brand new (£1500) bass, or should I just go for the more affordable options?

[neepheid]

29 minutes ago, Terry M. said:

Just reading up on this and learning that there isn't a setting amongst the 5 options for the two outer pickups. Have you found a favourite setting of the 5 at all? I assumed the "jazz bass" setting would have been an option. 

 

I fitted a 10 way Freeway switch to my Triad.  Not only does that give you the outer pickups, but it also gives series and parallel options, but it fits like a glove, is practically invisible if you look at it, leaves the original "strat" options on one side of the blade and all the fancy stuff on the other blade (it works by tilting the switch up/down).

 

As for favourite settings, mine are neck only, neck and middle (series), middle and bridge (series).

[neepheid]

 

There is an alternative wiring scheme which changes position 6 into all three pickups in series, but I opted for this one.