Rick's Fine '52

[quote name='AndyTravis' post='1256943' date='Jun 4 2011, 11:01 PM']Thanks Rick, if you end up wanting to shift a CS version let me know, wish I could get my hands on the oldie you have for sale, but way out of my league! Edit - or indeed the Sting bitsa! Andy[/quote] By the way, the other half of my Sting bitsa, was sold at the time. Had no use for it, and hated the sting signature inlay on the 12th fret.

[quote name='chrisd24' post='1256970' date='Jun 4 2011, 11:31 PM']Good morrow indeed! where abouts are ya?.......actually with that collection dont answer that![/quote] Well, I'm not exactly gonna put my address on here, but if you ever fancy a gander at anything, PM me. Cheers

[quote name='AndyTravis' post='1256943' date='Jun 4 2011, 11:01 PM']Thanks Rick, if you end up wanting to shift a CS version let me know, wish I could get my hands on the oldie you have for sale, but way out of my league! Edit - or indeed the Sting bitsa! Andy[/quote] Will do Andy.

[quote name='stingrayPete1977' post='1256938' date='Jun 4 2011, 10:56 PM']I love that Nirvana unplugged album its great! Might have to dig that out. The Meat Puppets were cool on it too.[/quote] Its my favourite 'MTV Unplugged' of them all. Its very bare, and raw, and real. Kurts intensity is at its most exposed, and his passion is incredible, his vocal delivery on 'Where Did You Sleep Last Night', is just incredible, one of those songs that gives you goosebumps (Can i say that on a testosterone forum like this?) everytime you hear it. I love it, i'm gonna dig it out too. The band i used to be in, around '95/'96, we used to do an acoustic version of 'About A Girl', just like Nirvana's on that album. Dead simple, always got a huge audience reaction. One of only 3 or 4 covers we ever did.

[quote name='stingrayPete1977' post='1256933' date='Jun 4 2011, 10:50 PM']Yeah I do that, I'm Billy Sheehan for about 3 mins after [/quote] Not just me then!!

[quote name='stingrayPete1977' post='1256910' date='Jun 4 2011, 10:28 PM']I have never been a fan of resonators anyway, Regular acoustic is nice for noodling on at homeand the odd open mic night other than that electric is the way forward.[/quote] Couldn't agree more. I've never been a big fan of acoustic bass (Not upright, thats different), always thought it sounded a bit hollow. I bought mine for 'home noodling' as you say. On MTV's unplugged series, most payers chose an acoustic, because they felt they had to for the gig. Other than Nirvana, where i think Krist played an acoustic perefctly, and the fact that they changed their songs arrangements, to suit the acoustic feel, no-one else did a good job basswise. Pearl Jam all played acoustics on their session, and their bass player played an electric bass, which, whilst the purists will say it's cheating, i'd say its making the bass sound its best for the gig, if that means electric, then so be it.

[quote name='stingrayPete1977' post='1256904' date='Jun 4 2011, 10:23 PM']Intonation will always be a bit hit and miss with a normal acoustic style bridge. The timbers on my normal one are very nice I just wish it was a 5ver now.[/quote] I have a cheap Takamine acoustic bass, with a normal fixed bridge, and must say the intonation is perfect, unless i just got lucky. Its slightly higher strung than i'd like, but its fine. I always find half an hour playing on this before i pick a Jazz up, and ithink i'm the dogs bo**ocks, as its so much easier to play!

[quote name='AndyTravis' post='1256908' date='Jun 4 2011, 10:27 PM']Tissues, get me the tissues!!! Rick, just out of interest, how to your 56 CS basses compare to the originals? Not sure i'll ever get my hands on the real deal, but I see a CS 55 Precision as my next purchase, my obsession is dangerous! Andy[/quote] They don't really compare to be truthful. The necks are much thicker than the originals, sound wise, the p'ups are much brighter, more trebly than the warm, soft tones of the originals. There's also too much lacquer on the necks, which i know would've been on the originals when they were knew, but the old necks are so smooth. They are great guitars, don't get me wrong, and for around £1700, they are good value, and will hold their price well enough. You'd need to play it though first, before buying it, because it may not suit you. For a cheaper alternative, you can buy a Sting reissue (£400), and a '51 reissue (£300), take the neck off the '51, put it on the Sting, add some covers, make a single screw thumbrest. Put the sting neck on the '51 and sell it on (£300+). That way, you have a great '55 reissue, for £400. Sand the back of the neck to how you like it, and its a great player. (I know because i did it 3 years ago, i relic'd it too). Here's some details on mine; [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=137594&st=20"]http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=137594&st=20[/url] Good fun to make, and you dont spend nearly 2 grand in the process.

[quote name='Jean-Luc Pickguard' post='1256900' date='Jun 4 2011, 10:17 PM']I went to a shop with money in my pocket ready to buy the one they had in stock. I had been gassing for it since I had seen it on my previous visit and loved how it looked. When I tried it however - it was heavier than my '81 "QE2 anchor" heavy-ash precision, It had hardly any volume acoustically and the bridge saddle was fixed, so changing to a set of TIs could possibly have resulted in way-off intonation. I went home with the money still in my pocket and no regrets.[/quote] Thanks for the reply, thats enough for me, two replies, decision made. Too heavy. No louder than regular acoustic. Difficult to tune/intonate/adjust. Sorted. I'll pass. Thanks.

[quote name='Telebass' post='1256304' date='Jun 4 2011, 11:13 AM']Oh, that would be great, a 2nd edition! In my way, I'm just as obsessed, just don't have the cash to go after it. However, not because the vintage stuff is in any way superior - it's not - but because this was the start of it all, bass-wise. On that score, vintage, especially the slabs, is great![/quote] I know these issues have been discussed to death, but in my experience, a good early P-Bass, is far superior to a good newer one. The 50's ones in particular are very special indeed, particularly from '55 to '59, the slim maple necks are just fantastic, and the warmth of tone, is just not something that has ever been reproduced by anyone since, even Fender. the slabs are great, and as they were the first, will always be highly prized, and theres something very special about playing one, but the necks are thicker than later ones, and not everyones cup of tea. The blonde body/maple neck/blackguard combo is unbeatable in my book.

I've always fancied one of these, more out of curiosity than anything else, so i bought one (The one with the tone & volume control - not much use without i think?), when it arrived, it looked fab, despite the fact that it weighed about a quarter of a tonne, so could only be played sitting down, which is fine for my purposes. Anyway, i tried to tune it, which was fine, i thought, until you started playing it, after the 9th fret, the intonation went completely, and the bass, was essentially unplayable. I contacted the seller (A shop), and the bass was returned/refunded without fuss or drama. Are they all like that, or did i get a bad 'un?? Are they actually playable basses, and do they offer anything different to an acoustic bass? Before wrapping it back up for sending back, i made a point of assessing the volume of it acoustically (As it is marketed as being very loud!), and i didnt think it was as loud as my 'regular' acoustic bass? Any comments from owners/players? (Apologies if this subject has been done to death, i've only been on here a week - if it has, and someone has a link to the thread, that would be great) Contemplating getting another, but unsure. I think its one i'd regret!?

[quote name='4-string-thing' post='1237496' date='May 19 2011, 10:11 PM']I hope this is irony, cos I've always found just the opposite! Bass players are always forward thinking and looking to try new equipment ie, graphite necks, composite bodies, new cab designs, class D amps etc etc. Guitarists can't seem to get beyond a strat, tele or les paul through a valve amp, all 50's technology![/quote] In my humble opinion, the best sound, to this day, is; Guitar: Les Paul Standard, Marshall Plexi 50 Bass: Fender Precision, Fender Bassman All up to 50 years old, and still the best.

[quote name='bremen' post='1255523' date='Jun 3 2011, 03:03 PM']You mean 'easily'.[/quote] Indeed.

[quote name='Ou7shined' post='1255294' date='Jun 3 2011, 12:08 PM']They have a handful of good songs spanning the years and a promotion/managmet team who are astonishingly good at their jobs. As for "the best rock band on the planet"? Oh please. There I just did it. [/quote] I don't disagree, but i think they have stood the test of time, and they still produce original material, i think the '....Atom Bomb' LP, is their best since Achtung Baby, so maybe theyre getting better?? At least they still produce new material, and don't go round the stadiums, playing their 'hits'. At the end of the day, you start a rock band, because you want to play music, preferrably your own material, sell loads of albums, get lots of recognition, sell out stadiums, put on huge shows etc. Theyve done that, and some, and continue to do so. Their live shows are very entertaining, they dont just stand there and play the songs as they were released, like many, so-called 'big bands'. I think they get over criticised alot. As a band, they work, simple as that. Best Rock Band on The Planet? No, not for me, although who would you put against them??

[quote name='Lenny B' post='1255106' date='Jun 3 2011, 09:56 AM']That's very generous of you, but I was only joking! For one song, it wouldn't be worth it, but if I end up doing at some point a whole set of Mani, I may take you up on that... Cheers Len[/quote] No probs Len, anytime mate.

[quote name='Ou7shined' post='1255302' date='Jun 3 2011, 12:13 PM']So we basically agree then. Cool. Just as long as you know that they don't do it out of the kindness of their heart, they do it so that more people give them money.[/quote] Of course, after all, that [i]is[/i] their business, is it not?

[quote name='Ou7shined' post='1255275' date='Jun 3 2011, 11:59 AM']Why is that so great? So you can say "Look everyone, I have a Fender.... not a very good one... but it's a Fender"? Again, it's an image. [/quote] I didnt say it was great? I was just making a point that they have decided to make their instruments accessible to all. Spector basses were supposed to be good, then they made £300 versions, so they lsot credibility. Warwick did the same, everyone does it. DFender are just more honest about it. Didnt say it was 'great', in fact if you've ever seen an Indonesian Precision, they are anything [i]but[/i] great!

[quote name='EssentialTension' post='1255274' date='Jun 3 2011, 11:59 AM']I remember reading somewhere that Jamerson had a Bass V but hated it so much that he threw it across the studio saying 'Never let me play that thing again!'.[/quote] That made me laugh, and if you've ever played one, you would understand why!! They're not great players.

[quote name='BigRedX' post='1255222' date='Jun 3 2011, 11:30 AM']No other basses available in 1957? Gibson EB1 first produced in 1953 Rickenbacker 4000 first produced in 1957 Hofner 500/1 first produced in 1956[/quote] That was a comment aimed at the general music world in '57. Gibson EB1 - Nobody bought one Rickenbacker 4000 - Not marketed, almost nobody bought one, and the 4001, which came from the 4000, didnt really get off the ground until 7 years later, in '64 Hofner 500/1 - Only available in Germany, and again, almost nobody bought one until a certain Mr. M made it popular in '62/'63, again 6 years later. Fender Precision sales, whilst slow in the first 2 years (Mostly because people couldnt get their head around it, compared with uprights), very rapidly increased, consistently from 1953, to where they probably had a 95% of bass market share by '57.

" They haven't exactly been banging albums out and I guess they ran out of things to say" [/quote] Just like the Beatles then, plus, how many 'good' albums did they make?? I'm not defending U2, but i think its difficult to genuinly criticise them, and substantiate it, they have a pretty good defence against most comments i think??

[quote name='MacDaddy' post='1255234' date='Jun 3 2011, 11:38 AM']And Gibson started in the 50's with the Les Paul.[/quote] I was referring more generically to a signature/tribute bass, not as per Les Paul, or Chet Atkins etc, etc. Blimey, you get pulled up easy on here don't ya!! Jeeeez

[quote name='wesfinn' post='1255231' date='Jun 3 2011, 11:37 AM']It must be true that when you mention james Jamerson in a listing your profits will double... I have a load of old crap on ebay at the moment...I heard once that Jamerson may of had a load of old crap similar to mine laying about at some point too. Starting price £1200.00[/quote] Very true did he even play a Bass V??

[quote name='hillbilly deluxe' post='1255180' date='Jun 3 2011, 10:58 AM']what was the price of a new,say 1962 Precision,and how would that price sit in todays Fender line up ? I dont think that many Fender basses,apart from the really early ones,are particularly rare,but to find an unmolested one in good cosmetic condition is probably a lot more difficult. AC,could have been replaced at any time in his career,but hasnt.Im no fan of U2 for the fact that they just dont do it for me,but from what ive heard of them,i cant see anything wrong with his playing.[/quote] I have a 1957 Fender Catalogue & Price list. A Fender Precision in 1957 cost $225. After a little research (So don't shoot me), the average house price in California in 1957 was $4600, which works out at around 5% of the average house price. Todays market, with the average UK house price at £164k, would make a new fender P Bass at £8,000. Not sure what this tells you though?? This is not really comparable though, because at the time, in '57, there were no other basses available, so there is no comparism, as to whether Fenders were expensive, or cheap. They certainly didnt cheap out on quality parts in the 50's, and everything was hand finsihed. It wasnt until the mid 60's when they got cheap alternatives of almost all components, and started the 'production line' system of mass production.