u/KoopaKola

Our daughter is in 8th grade and has been playing bass for 3 years now. She is in love - and she's good. She's been doing things like All County and state competitions... We've been told on more than one occasion she's scholarship material. We'd like to get her one of her own (3/4 size). Normally I consider myself decent at researching expensive purchases but this bass situation has be sideways. We swung by a local string shop and found Shens and Parolas (specifically a Vb10) from 10 to 12k - not the kind of coin I can put down at the moment. Then we found a local music shop with a used Shen Sb150 for 3200 - a bargain by comparison. Then I dig further and see people getting full setups for under 3k. Should I be sticking in that 3k range and looking at these "Student Basses", or is an "intermediate bass" really going to run me 12k? Really not sure where to go with this, any advice for an overwhelmed dad would be appreciated.

Purchased a pair of star marked 941F pistols for me and the missus. Hers is a little worse for wear (the black one) and her recoil spring was pretty weak and the slide a little floppy - so I went and ordered a replacement. After researching, poking around a little, and finding this comment, I ordered Wolff spring 49714 for the full size EAA Witness. It's longer than the original but everything I'm reading says that's normal. Got it on and the guide rod back together, installed it and made sure there's no spring binding... But it's now extremely difficult to rack the slide. I had an 18lb recoil spring on my Kahr that seemed easier than this does, and she can't rack it without switching hands. Nothing is binding up or jamming, it's just stiff as hell. Is my upper body strength failing me, does it just need to be broken in, or is this the wrong spring?

My CSAR stopped working a few months ago. It was due for service anyway, but it's out of warranty. Joe and Marathon's CS were helpful in getting me all set up for a repair. I sent it off in May. Just got it back this morning. Ultimately whatever was wrong with it was covered by the $440 "Complete Service" - which, according to the site, included...

-Full inspection and cleaning of all case components and movement parts

-Cleaning of watch trap/bracelet

My watch is ticking again, but for that kind of money I was kind of expecting better. Is this normal for them? Should I reach out to service, or just suck it up and get it cleaned myself? Not sure what I'd really be expecting other than a partial refund or something, maybe nothing, just venting.