pineweasel

Do you have the "Duncan Designed" pickups? I have a VM Jazz with these and it's very bright and aggressive, far more so than my US Jazz. I'd definitely be looking at changing the pickups first.

I'm not aware of any bass gear focussed podcasts. The Scott's Bass Lessons one is alright, as is the No Treble podcast. And I'd agree that I'd Hit That is worth a listen too.

This happened to me too. I bought one in late 2015, but it has a 2012 serial. Furthermore it's in a colour which was only available for 2013. With Fender, the serial number only dates the neck; it doesn't tell you when the guitar was actually put together. It could have then spent a while at a distributor, and at the dealer before finally being sold. It's not concerned me at all. I think the value of any post 2012 American Standard would be based more on condition than age.

[quote name='bassace' timestamp='1490091302' post='3262027'] Yes, there is a variable control. I've got a new Super Midget but when turned full up I still can't hear the tweeter. I presume it was tested before despatch. [/quote] Don't the Barefaced tweeter controls operate backwards, i.e anticlockwise to "open up" the tweeter?

[quote name='mumra' timestamp='1490076537' post='3261910'] I was thinking something like that but I dont know. Do you have any photos of the wires and pickup? [/quote] I don't I'm afraid; I still have it but it's in storage elsewhere. It was the first guitar I ever modified and I remember finding it straightforward, even with the limited information available to me back then.

I did exactly the same things to my Thunder 1-A about 30 years ago. Defretted then put a cheap J pickup in. I added a three way switch and connected everything up before the pre-amp and everything worked fine. There's an active/passive switch so you can simply bypass the pre-amp anyway if that's what you want.

Fender have never been very generous with their left handed production, and presumably minimise the number of different lefty models they make based on previous sales figures. My guess is that a lot of Squiers & MIMs are bought by beginners, and they tend to favour the Jazz due to the slimmer neck and maybe the twin pickups.

[quote name='alaskaleftybass' timestamp='1489273445' post='3255732'] Please excuse the dumb question-- but is that bass tuned like a guitar only an octave lower? I've often wondered how they would tune the two highest strings. Thanks! [/quote] Exactly that. I bought one of these myself recently and it's great fun, but I do tend to think of it as more of a guitar than a bass.

I can't help with the Aerodyne but if you are considering an American Pro you should be aware that they have only recently superseded the American Standard series. There are very few changes between them, and the Standards are still available for a decent saving over the Pro.

Another long term rounds player here. My experience with flats was limited to sticking a set of Chromes on a Precision, and like others, I wasn't fond of the high tension. I've since fitted a set of Dunlop flats and they have a much nicer feel, to the extent that I now use them all the time in one of my bands.

Great band. Shame their upcoming European tour doesn't come to the UK at all.

[quote name='chris_b' timestamp='1486548666' post='3232600'] I used a BB2 and found I preferred the Super Compact. [/quote] Intriguing... does the Super Compact sound much different to the BB2 with the tweeter off? I'm very pleased with my SC but sometimes wonder if I should have bought a BB2.

Geoff Dyer is a great writer. I read this when it first came out, about 25 years ago? He's written a lot of other good books, though none about music in particular.

[quote name='Bassmanrichi' timestamp='1486262867' post='3230454'] Cranes is still open! Check their website out [/quote] In Swansea yes, but the big Cardiff store is gone. [edit] aha, it says on Facebook they are relocating this spring, fair enough

[quote name='Pinball' timestamp='1486251503' post='3230420'] PMT also opened a Cardiff store late last year. The manager is into his basses so they normally have some nice kit. [/quote] But Cranes up the road closed, so net balance is the same.

These ones? http://www.electromusic.co.uk/La-Bella-S500L-Double-Ball-Bass-Strings-43-104-FREE-DELIVERY.html

I bought a Fender American Standard Precision from them last year at a really good price. It was delivered swiftly, well packaged and it's a great bass. No extra charges.

I have a Pedaltrain Nano+ which I've found ideal for my needs. Regarding choosing the right model, you can mock up your board here: http://pedalboardplanner.com

I recall the pickup was callled a "Hard Puncher". My own Thunder 1-A is up in the attic; a terrific instrument for the money back in 1983.

Hmm, duff cable? Maybe it requires a recent OS X version? I've only tried it on Sierra.

I've only tried it once but when I plugged it into my Mac it simply showed up as a device in the Sound panel in System Preferences. No driver was required. I could then select it as the Input device and hence record into GarageBand. I assume you don't see it there?

I've seen ones that were definitely Dekos. He avoids photographing the neck heel area where the 'D' stamp is, or blurs it.

Looks like a Burns-Weill: http://blackguitars.com/burns-weill-bass.html

A common problem on Fenders due to the shallow break angle of the A string, hence their own Strong Arm retainer offered on some top end models, or the likes of Sandberg using a retainer that holds down the A string as well as the D and G. But as advised above, simply cutting the A longer so it winds down as far as possible works pretty well.

First I've heard of these! I had hoped for a lefty Squier VI but this sounds like a great alternative.