2006 - new Basses, new design, new reissue ???

[bobcat]

Regarding the post concerning metal players being open to new shapes; that's only true if the new shapes have lots of sharp edges and/or look incredibly sinister and are completely unplayable in any other position than standing up with the guitar hanging at about crotch level. Mark's bass would not go over well with metal players, in my opinion. It's definitely a more Prince/Parliament Funkadelic type instrument.

Personally, I think it looks cool. I would never buy one, but it's far from ugly. And I'm sure it'd play like butter.

[jingle_jangle]

Never say "ugly"--it has too loose a meaning.

The majority of new shapes HAVE been sinister, sharp-edged dreck.

My message's thrust is that it is tough to score with anything stylistically new, regardless of sound engineering. Pun intended.

Bobcat, why would you never buy one? You gotta qualify statements like that, or they sound like final judgments...

Kevin--HAR!

Dane--you got it upside down or whut?

Aitch--there is only one MVP. or should I say, one half, because he's obviously got all the Jokers in his deck. But he's missing a lot of other cards.

[rickcrazy]

New design? The 4000 shape is a perennially new design.
New basses? You mean new models? See above.
New reissue? Sure. Bring back the early '70s 4001 model.

[johnhall]

Just to slow things down a bit, I said MAYBE we'll have a new bridge design available in 2006, nothing more.

[thx1955]

Long as it has a mute bar I'd be happy !!!

[bobcat]

When I say I'd never buy it, it usually means like I would consider buying one, but ultimately, I don't think I ever would. It's like a P-bass, a J-bass, and a Spector: I like all of them for different reasons, and I've considered getting them, but even from the start, I'm biased towards something else, so they're never really "options" for me. Like, when trying to decide between an American J-bass (initially it was a four-stringer, but I was also looking at a five-string) and a Ric, I was biased towards the Ric from the start, even though I knew the J-bass was a good bass.

With this new bass design, I see the merits of it, and no doubt it's a great bass, and I'd probably love it if I had it, but given a choice between it and any of the other basses that are on my to-buy list, it wouldn't win out. Neither would a J, a P, or a Spector (maybe). It's just one of those things.

[jnbass]

Mark-I don't have the problem.

[mrtidy]

Um, no new bass bridge design in 2006, me thinks

[johnhall]

That's a real positive statement. Thanks for the support.

[jwr2]

Henny ... I was just poking a little fun because of the radical shape ... it is an unusual looking bass ... but if that is what you want then build it ...

[atomic_punk]

John, I think he said that because it sounded like you were backing off of that with the "maybe". We all hope for it sooner rather than later!
And Jeff, you're right, you know that better than most, if it is what you like, go for it.

[nattiep]

Hey, Jeff.. you're wrong about the assult rifle bass.. THIS is the assult rifle bass.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ROQUE-BATTY-RB-M16-MACHINE-GUN-BASS_W0QQitemZ7366839235QQcategoryZ4713QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

[incubus2432]

I have faith in you John.........new bridge in '06 !

[johnhall]

My first post on this topic said "maybe" and I'm still saying "maybe". Nothing has changed.

[s4001]

....but I like the Ric bridges.....