machinehead

Terrible news.  I hope she makes a full recovery.

Frank.

I played this bass once many moons ago and it's lovely.  I already have a white jazz or I'd be all over this.

Frank.

28 minutes ago, Stub Mandrel said:

 

Presumably not for THunderbirds 🙂

No, although they look similar and would probably do the job on a Thunderbird just as well.  Here's the thread.

Frank.

2 hours ago, NancyJohnson said:

 

As an owner of many Thunderbirds (now/historically), the subject of neck-dive has raised it's head many times but I would usually dispel these claims with a regal waive of the hand; it was never really a problem for me. 

 

I am curious though; given the price of this, would you consider any type of addition to the neck strap button that would extend the top horn out to move the centre of gravity?  Someone over on (shh) T*lkb*ss came up with this:

 

 

Nice job.  I've made a few of those for the Steinberger "cricket bat" style basses.  I've given some away to basschatters and promised a couple to other members but my supply of carbon fibre has dried up for a while.  They work really well.

Frank.

I use a Quilter BB800 with a Barefaced one10 for small pub gigs and all rehearsals.  If I need a little more volume It's the BB800 with a Super Midget.  Of the two I prefer the SM but don't underestimate the volume and amazing depth of the one10.  It's really depending what volume you need as both are superb cabs.

I'd also endorse chris_b on the Super Compact.  I've never owned one although I do own a BB2 which is similar and did have one of the first ever original Compact.  That would be a cheap cab these days and brilliant.  Decisions, decisions...

Frank.

My best buy is my brand new (I rarely buy new) MIJ Traditional 51 Precision.  I put D'Addario chrome flats on it, gave it a minor setup and it plays a dream and sounds massive.  And it's quite lightweight compared to the one I gave to my son - maybe around the 3.8kg.

I don't really have a worse buy but I guess I could nominate an acoustic six string guitar I bought to teach my granddaughter to play on, on the basis that it wasn't for me.

Frank.

I always tell my wife that it's an investment every time a new bass arrives.   

I agree with other posters that the banks are effectively stealing money from our savings with the interest rates of the last few years.

Frank.

They're all expensive and rare but any of the AER combos would fit the bill.  The amp one is a single 10" and the smallest of the trio but definitely gigable.

The amp two is the daddy.  A 12" and a 4" speaker.  Very clear in tone and as loud as needed for any pub gig. I gigged one for years and it was never wanting.

The amp three is a 2 x 8" combo and is simply stunningly brilliant.

I've owned the amp one and two and they're excellent.  I've heard an amp three at an outdoor gig and couldn't believe my ears.  As I said, they aren't cheap but you'll only have to buy once.

Frank.

12 minutes ago, leojb23 said:

damn sorry about that, hope you can get back to normal soon man

Thanks.

The gigs are coming in, but slowly, and no weddings or functions yet and that's where the good money comes from.  I'm absolutely sure that there are many in the music industry who are worse off than me.

Frank.

When I left full-time employment in April 2016 at the age of 58, to concentrate on music, I think I had about 15 bass guitars plus 4 acoustics and a few Strats and Teles.  Not to mention drums, lots of guitar and bass amps and recording equipment.

I felt the need to sell gear back then so my US 75RI jazz, US fretless jazz and a US Fender Strat were duly sold.  Some valve amps went too.  I missed them all!

It was a kind of panic as I didn't know how my finances would go.  (I knew they would be dramatically reduced but I didn't know by how much.)

But after a couple of years I knew I could survive well enough and started to buy bass gear again.  Since the first lockdown I've bought a Fender flea jazz (a superb bass, MIM), a Jaguar PJ, another fretless jazz and other bits and pieces.

I enjoy owning good quality gear and I justify it by playing them in rotation or to suit the gig and console myself by the thought that I can always sell if I need the money.  I'm not good at selling gear.

Frank.

6 hours ago, casapete said:

Just heard this on BBC news - grim reading.

 

https://www.ukmusic.org/news/uk-music-calls-for-government-action-to-boost-recovery-as-new-report-reveals-covid-wiped-out-one-in-three-music-jobs/

Thanks for posting. It makes dreadful reading.  My only earnings come from music so it's been one hell of a bad 19 months and it's nowhere near getting back to normal.

Frank.

The EBS Reidmar is an overlooked and underrated amp. The 750 or even the lower powered version should suit what you want, and at a good price too.

Frank.

1 hour ago, jezzaboy said:

These topics are too tempting.

 

I had one of these earlier this year and moved it on as it wasn`t getting used. After reading this topic again, I spotted a s/hand one in Richtone Music for £270 with a case. Got it bought and it arrived looking almost as new. Stuck on a set of flats and better tuners I had kicking around and it`s very nice.

 

There is a lot of space between the bridge and pickup and I have a MFD humbucker kicking about so a trip to Strung out guitars may be in order. But going into the studio on Monday night and will hear how it sounds with the band before modifying the bass.

This is a video of my son's band in New Zealand.  I gave him my modified MIJ 51 reissue about 6 years ago as a birthday present because he always liked it.  You can see it in the video.

It has a pair of Seymour Duncan 51 humbuckers fitted with switching between either PU or both together. It worked really well with a huge variety of sounds.  It also has a BadAss 3 bridge. If it's what you fancy, I'd say go for it.

Lost by Burn The Bridges in Auckland New Zealand - YouTube (I can't post the link to youtube for some reason?  Search "Burn the Bridges")

Frank.

On 15/10/2021 at 01:17, chris_b said:

Thunderfunk. No customer service because Dave Funk just retired, but these amps were designed to be repairable "in the field" if they ever went wrong.

I had a minor repair done to my Thunderfunk 550 a few years ago and the (local) technician told me that the only part he couldn't easily source and replace was the transformer.  It's still my favourite amp and is first choice for gigs.  I've no intention of selling it.

Frank.

On 22/09/2021 at 07:43, BillyBass said:

Thanks for all the replies guys.

 

From your comments it appears I have a few options.

 

1) Buy an active PJ, like all the Fenders in your posts

2) Adjust the height of the J pup on my BB

3) Buy a Reverend when shops in the UK are restocked.

 

Prior to starting this thread I was considering buying a Fender Jaguar or the Ashdown version of it.  I've never considered buying an active Fender but maybe I should look into it.

The USA Jaguar is an excellent choice.  They were only available for 2 years. A PJ setup and active/passive option.  They're not easy to find now but well worth seeking out. I have an Olympic white one. (Not for sale.)

Frank.

I’d love to hear this combo. It should be amazing.

Enjoy it. As a long time BB2 user, I’m very interested.

Frank.

I had an original Japanese 51RI that I gave to my son as a birthday present years ago. I always missed it and couldn’t believe it when I walked into a music shop in Belfast a month ago and there was one in stock.

It was bought the next day.

I’ve been on holiday since I bought it so not much playing time yet. After a change of strings to TI flats it’ll have its first gig in two weeks time.

I’m thrilled to have a 51RI again. They’re just great basses.

Frank.

3 hours ago, gareth said:

Some have a low opinion of MIM fenders which is silly as there are some real gems coming out of Fender Mexico 

 

The gems include this model range, flea and anniversary stackpot jazzes, cabronita precision, passive precision pj special, the classic and road worn series 

I’m a former US Fender snob. That was until I bought a Fender Flea jazz. What a truly superb bass. Easily the equal of my many US Fenders.

Enjoy your new bass Dave.

Frank.

5 minutes ago, Geek99 said:

Take pictures of yours - are you reading this on a mobile device ?

No, on a laptop.  I'll have a go tomorrow.  It's probably easier than I think.  I can upload to facebook directly.

Frank.

2 minutes ago, Geek99 said:

I know, but I'm a luddite and don't know how to do this lark of linking to another website to upload pics to basschat.

Frank.

3 hours ago, Ricky Rioli said:

When I was recently looking at the current MIJ Precisions (if you want to do the same, tell the Fender site that you're in Japan) I noticed that the "Traditional" range of Ps (a 50s, a 60s and a 70s) all have nut widths a couple of mm less than what was standard in the 50s 60s and 70s. 

 

Is that the case with your MIJ 50s – it the neck a bit slimmer than on, say, the MIM Vintera?

I'll get the Vernier callipers out tomorrow but according to the website the neck widthis 42mm or 1.650" and U shaped.  It feels quite beefy, in a good way.

Frank.

The deed is done!

I bought it today.   I weakened due to an unexpected cash windfall because I have been underpaid for over 5 years.  Yeh!

It'll be getting new strings and a setup to my preference next week.

Frank.

I played one of these yesterday in my local music shop.  I was highly impressed and sorely tempted to buy.

I had a 2005 MIJ 51 reissue that I gave to my son 10 years ago as a 30th birthday present.  I loved the bass and gave it to him because he loved it even more than me.

I've missed it ever since I parted with it.  Has anyone tried these new reissues?  It seemed lighter in weight than my 2005 but maybe not as solid sounding.

Has anyone bought or tried one and has an opinion?  I'm sorely tempted. 😧

Frank.

That's a very fair price for a brilliant cab.  These are so useful for small pub gigs and surprisingly loud.

I'm sure it'll sell very quickly.

Frank.

These seem to be excellent little cabs.  I heard a funk band street busking and the bass player was using the 2x8 version with an Elf head.  I was amazed at the volume and sheer welly from that little rig.

Thanks for your review.

Frank.