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I said a Elwood 4P with an ash body and rosewood fingerboard with the above pickup set. I couldn't find the hardware models or the neck wood on the website. I think Adrian got a bit confused and gave up with the conversation we were having. I think language was a bit of a barrier between us, unfortunately.
: I contacted another few manufacturers and they're all quite expensive. The cheapest is Maurscyzk he could produce a 24 Fanned-Fret Neck-Thru Short Scale Bass with a swamp Ash Body, gold matte finish, maple neck and ebony Fretboard with passive Haussel pickups for roughly £1300. This is extremely good, right? Update
We will see but am I right in saying that you can get smaller frets for basses? I was talking to another company who are unfortunately a lot more expensiveThat depends on whether you want to spend £1300 or not
and they made one bass where they used mandolin frets on a bass with extremely low action and a 35mm width neck at the nut. It seemed like a good idea and I asked Adrian about, as I'd heard somewhere smaller frets also improve intonation, from Maruscyzk and he was quite sharp, which was a bit strange. I asked earlier today whether they used them, to which he said no. I scrapped the idea of a fanned fretted bass later on, as it would make finding strings hard, especially on a short scale. I then asked if he could use the smallest frets he has and he said something along the lines of "We don't use mandolin frets. That makes no sense. You have a problem with intonation on normal basses? Bull****."
That would be a great idea, but it would only have wood of that worth, and wood contributes to sound. I also don't know how to replace pickups myself. Wouldn't want to damage it
it's a great idea though and thank you for the advice. I'd like to hear your bass sometime. Maybe attach a soundclip if you want to
From what I've received from Scott today, he seems very friendly and willing to cater for you. I found that with another company called Hot Wire. The owners are so warming. Of course I don't know what their basses are like, but means it's custom, you are what you make it
We will see but am I right in saying that you can get smaller frets for basses? I was talking to another company who are unfortunately a lot more expensive
No, you are exactly right! Please don't say sorry
to tell you the truth, I'm taken aback by all these options. I only considered a custom instrument because I own a Fender MIJ Mustang Bass...and I love it. However, I'm stuck in a situation where there is no more of them avaliable. I have had a look at many short scales on the internet that are off the shelf. However, when looking at reviews from websites like Music Radar and Premier Guitar they are let down in either playability or sound...or they are insanely expensive and have the flaws I mentioned. I've played bass for about 2 and a 1/2 years. I bought a really mistreated Fender Starcaster Jazz Bass to learn on, but then decided to upgrade later to a Epiphone Thunderbird Classic IV Pro. It was great but ultimately, roughly a year and and a half on, I feel it lacks the versatility and the playability I want from it. It's just an uncomfortable bass and I have my Fender MIJ strung with flatwounds, so I feel I need a versatile bass to play some slap and tap on XD...strung with rounds of course! that's the position I'm in though with why I decided to turn to custom...even if it may require some spending restraint from me for a year or two XD tell me what you think I should do. I'd like to hear what you think 
No, you are exactly right! Please don't say sorry
The short scale market is quite meagre in terms of off the shelf...especially for a jazz style bass, which is what I'm looking for. Most of them are semi hollow. This is why I turned to custom. I have quite small hands and my legs are shortish due to a condition I have and the many operations I have had to correct it, so a full scale looks and feels big for me. I hadn't planned to buy a bass yet, but purely make an enquiry/plan featuring all the specs I want so I know how much money it would cost if I bought it down the line. Especially since, as I'm 18 this year, it's likely I'll receive more money as it's a landmark birthday. I haven't tried a lot of basses. I played a StingRay HH, Ibanez Talman 2017 and a few Sandbergs. As you said...not a lot. I'm quite the person who strives for a kind of perfection in an item like that-probably due to Aspergers hahaha. But you are right about what you said, and don't be sorry about it. No offence taken
It does feel weird, since I'm not in any band yet or really in the position to write songs or have any of the qualities of a fully developed musician, but I'm getting there with lessons gradually.
It's an idea. I probably wouldn't be able to do it yet though. I guess I'm just stuck in a position at the minute where I've got a vague idea of what I want and how it will play and sound, but I just don't have the funds or experience to pursue it. The nearest place to me is PMT and it's the UK's biggest store for instruments and they have a fair amount of basses. But of course there's more stores out there...Then what I would suggest is take some trips whenever you get chanc (and the cash to cover the train fare or fuel) and make trips to check out as many basses as you can. You will spend a lot less on travel than the cash you will lose on a custom spec'd intrument that you end up not liking (not saying you will, but it is a possibility).
Keep an eye on Ryanair and Easyjet etc, and watch out for a cheap flight to Germany (you can get them for 20 or 30 quid sometimes), add 30 pounds for a reasonable hotel night, and visit Adrian. Give the Maruzsczyks a try and see if they are for you or not. You could do the same to visit Thomann (lots of stock) etc.
You will have fun, see places, try basses, and narrow down the specs to what you want
Yeah you're right of course. What should I do about the companies I've had quotations from?
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Many thanks. I've sent that to them. Thank you for helping me come to an educated decisionSay that you greatly appreciate the time they have taken to attend you, but you need further thought on the matter and will contact them when you have a clear idea of what you would like.
(or something like that, at least, that's what I would do. You don't really need to do anything, as most people don't, but I am a fan of courtesy
Many thanks. I've sent that to them. Thank you for helping me come to an educated decision
