Rayman

Finally….. then I’ll shut up Is it worth spending time and money on a Squier bass made in Indonesia? It depends. If you like it, and you’re going to keep it (which at the time of writing a plan too, but you never know) then yes. I like it, I’m an old rocker and a Frank fan, so yes. If you’re planning to “upgrade” it and sell it for a profit, absolutely no. I’ve done this project as practise for my tech skills, not to make it saleable, because, it was great as it was, and buyers mostly prefer unaltered gear that they can pimp themselves if they wish, like I have. It’s great thing, despite Mr Wilkinsons intervention.

Thumbs up to the pups 👍🏻 ……but it’s a thumbs down to the tuners…. probably going to get Schallers when I feel the need. These feel very clunky to me.

Early impressions are good….. and yes I’m way too old to be playing basses with skulls on them, but **** it. Anyway, Frank and I are exactly the same age, so….. Firstly, it’s heavier than it was stock. The pickups are very beefy, and the bridge is a chunky thing too, so that could be why. I don’t think the tuners are particularly heavy compared to the stock chrome ones. After the setup, the action is great, although I like a low action, and this is going to be my ‘rock’ option, so it’ll be slung low, and it’ll get spanked, so the action is a fraction higher than I would normally have it. Nice tone, higher output than stock, the Alan Entwhistle pickups are big. Very deep, with very powerful magnets on them, that wanted to stick to everything, including each other. The pickup covers are also unreasonably chunky, and wouldn’t drop into the existing routs. Thankfully after removing the covers, the new pickups fitted perfectly into the stock covers, and dropped right in. The new loom is fab of course, and probably would’ve been great with the old pups, but… I had these others kicking around, so in they went. They sound good to me. These basses are Volume/Volume with no tone, so I suspect it’ll just be all up full on everything. The Wilkinson tuners……. erm….. meh. Are they an improvement on stock? Not sure. To me they feel a bit crap to be honest. I bought some Gotoh 707s for my Epiphone Embassy, that feel lush in comparison. So I’m not feeling the love for Mr Wilkinson right now. We’ll see how we go with it. The necks lovely, frets are good, it sounds and plays great, but I need to spend time with it. However with another incoming project on the cards, it’ll be a while before I can do that. I’ve got basses coming out of my ears here.

So my Frank Bello pimp job is done. A fun project, just because. I stripped out everything basically. There was nothing wrong with it stock, but I decided to just have fun with it. The only original parts now, are the wooden ones. I didn’t want to throw silly money at it, so I was sensible on the spending, basically thinking that everything should be black. I think it looks better than the stock chrome hardware. Wilkinson tuners, black bridge, strap locks, knobs….. @KiOgon loom …. Alan Entwhistle (?!?) pickups, which seem well made and pretty high output. What do you think?

OOOF! Nice sir.

If it can tell you where the nearest coffee machine is… I’m interested

Testing a rehearsal room in what way?

Ahh Antoria….. I had a fantastic Antoria Jazzstar guitar in the 90s. Totally ruined it by putting SD pickups in it 🫣…. tool.

We’re Kimbara not made by Kawai or similar? I can’t remember, but I do remember them being decent, a bit like I thought Cimar (Ibanez) were decent.

Technically I’m not actually singing and playing here…. However, we’re a 3pce metal band, and I’m lead vocals/bass. I guess as the primary song writer I make my bass parts manageable while singing, but it’s never been too much of a problem. I bet it’s harder in a covers band?

A few from back in the day might remember me buying, selling, buying it back, selling it again….. I’m an idiot. It was easily the best bass I’ve ever owned, but I was so skint… I had to finally sell it, and I’ve missed it regularly since. A Kinal MK5. It was perfect. The perfect neck, and those Aero pickups….. sigh

I’m getting married in August. We can’t afford anything flash so it’s just a small modest ceremony with no plans for a honeymoon. My poor Mrs hasn’t been on holiday for 13yrs! My first thoughts after winning a grand? Reverend Mercalli 4 in metallic Alpine green. 👍🏻

I guess the above experiences are indicative of a small business, great service most of the time, but possibly a struggle when they’re busy. However to not acknowledge the purchase of a bass from the website is a worry. I’ve been trying (via email with pictures) to order a Nordstrand Stingray pickup for a while, to fit into one of my Arias. All done via email because of the required photos. However the conversation has gone very quiet, so I’ve given up for now. I’m another phone hater, I just don’t like them. Even talking to the Mrs from my hotel last night, I couldn’t wait to get off the phone, I’ve always struggled with it, dad was the same. SO, email is great for me. In this day and age, you have to be on top of your emails, especially in business.

What’s the first thing that springs to mind? A holiday? A car repair? A holiday? The wife’s birthday (😒)? An amp?? OR… A lovely new bass 😈? What bass? You’ve got a grand…. if you want a new Stingray, you’ll have to put some more in…. but how about a new Reverend Mercalli or Sire V10? What’s it going to be?

Am I the only one who liked Load? 😆

I have tapes on one of my Sunn Mustangs….. and playing it with a pick is one of the funkiest things ever. Awesome tone, and no issues with string degradation so far.

How about this… We, as punters, are programmed (or swayed by the media) to love a band as they rise to stardom, then suddenly hate them for that popularity and turn on them because we’re told to…. Metallica Coldplay U2 Madonna REM Just off the top of my head. Let’s be honest, these are examples of ridiculously talented writers, performers, artists….. and we hate them all. Why? I can’t answer that. Madonna for example, is an unbelievably talented performer and musician, who, knew exactly how to direct her band both in and out of the studio, about the musicality of her songs, and sang many of her hits in one take, while giving the hired help instructions on exactly what to do and how to play it. Now…. we think she’s a washed up pensioner with terrible plastic surgery. The music industry is an abomination.

I’ve had a bunch of bits, and even a T Shirt from @Feline Guitars, you can’t go wrong.

Ok, so after some deliberation, I can join in here. To me they’re tools. I have no love for most of my basses…. I like them, but circumstances have always forced me to move them on in the past. I’ve had a bunch of regrets in terms of selling the ones I really loved…. a Kinal MK5, Overwater Progress 5, ‘78 P bass etc…. But this one is different. A recent gift from my ailing mum… AND it’s bloody perfect in all respects. For those reasons it’s the only one I can guarantee is going nowhere: 2013 Reverend Justice

I’ve never had a Squier, until a few days ago. I was looking for a project, to practice working on, changing parts etc, just for my own amusement. So I found a mid 00s Frank Bello sig PJ Jazz. I have to say I’m pleasantly surprised. Nicely put together, the neck in particular feels really nice with good fretwork. The hardware is ok, no issues, and it sounds decent too. Ok, I’ve bought it to completely strip and re-build, but it doesn’t really need it, it’s fine as it is. I don’t know what constitutes entry level anymore, but as my mate above points out, compared to the MIJ crap we had to put up with in the 70s/80s as our first basses, instruments like these are absolutely great.

Just in case anyone thought I had beef… I don’t! I’ve had no dealings with them, but from the OP info, it sounded like an odd transaction. I stand corrected.