Linus27

[quote name='Krysbass' post='405729' date='Feb 10 2009, 08:50 PM']I respect the judgment of the countless professional players, many of whom are more accomplished than myself and who swear by Fender basses. But I'm sorry; I just don't get it. I don't accept that a bass from the 1950's made from fairly ordinary materials without the resource of any of the technological breakthroughs made since can be as good as its devotees claim it is, here in 2009. Then there's the prices for the USA models. I just couldn't live with paying all that money, to own something that at least visually, is little different to the £99 copies you see in music shop windows.[/quote] I can see your point to a degree, and to some point, agree that the US prices are a little steep. However, you really can't compare a £99 pound bass to a 2009 US Vintage Fender bass. Cheap Chinese cars look like copies of a lot of European cars/Japanese cars but I know what I would have.

[quote name='skankdelvar' post='405524' date='Feb 10 2009, 05:14 PM']I really wouldn't recommend doing that simultaneously. You won't get a proper idea of the tone, playability, etc. Priorities, please.[/quote] HEHEHE I'll stick with just the bass for now. Like you say, priorities

Would be interested in hearing what you think of them and the difference in tone.

Got a reply from Fender regarding the pickups. They can supply them but there may be an 8 week wait. However the prices are great. 0055230000 PICKUP ASSY 75 JAZZ BASS NECK RRP £42.99 0055231000 PICKUP ASSY 75 JAZZ BASS BRG RRP £42.99 0019740000 PICKUP/SHIELD ASSY 57 P BASS RRP £53.99 Might go and get me some

[quote name='ogri' post='405473' date='Feb 10 2009, 04:25 PM']buddy, i hadta look up GAS in the acronyms before i understood what the hell you was on about. i thought it was some sort of drugs related term that had yet to filter its way down to us fen weasels i have the answer to your problems. but you wont like it.. dont buy either ..for now, hang on to your hard earned, roll the volume off the back pick up on your jazz when you want a precisiony sound. and wait. either 1) summat nice, exactly what you want and possibly vintage will come up on here at the right price eventually or 2) your gas will pass. of course you will completely ignore this advice, the same as i would have at your age but you know it makes sense rodders.... [/quote] HAHAHA sorry about the lingo. Unfortunately, the GAS is strong in me and I do not think I will be able to hold back. Also, Fender have just got back to me with regards to the pirices of the US 57 Vintage pickups and the US 75 vintage pickups for my Jazz and the prices are excellent.

[quote name='Old Horse Murphy' post='405446' date='Feb 10 2009, 03:30 PM']Shame you're not looking for a US P. I may be moving mine on due to my old hearing problems coming back [/quote] What colour is your US P??? Please don't say sunburst

[quote name='skankdelvar' post='405438' date='Feb 10 2009, 03:25 PM']Sorry - now I understand. Good excuse to get out there and have some trial runs. Enjoy [/quote] What making babies or trying basses

[quote name='WHUFC BASS' post='405421' date='Feb 10 2009, 03:11 PM']I'd buy whichever one feels the most playable. There's some really good replacement P-bass pickups out there - not least the Kent-Armstrong Hot Vintage pickup which sounds absolutely amazing.[/quote] Yes, I need to basically go and try them. At the moment I am leaning towards the 50's Classic Precision but then in the flesh, I might hate the Honey Blonde. I have emailed Fender asking if they sell the 57 vintage pickups from the American 57 re-issue but so far neither the US or UK have got back to me.

[quote name='skankdelvar' post='405399' date='Feb 10 2009, 02:52 PM']The question you should be asking is - which one do I buy first? And how long do I leave it before I buy the other one?[/quote] HAHAHA well, there is a problem with that idea. You see, I have a Jazz, I have a fretless, I have a Musicman and I have a double bass. What I don't have is a Precision. Now my wife is adorable and very supportive, so much so that she bought me the fretless for Xmas as a nice surprise. However, just having a new born baby, she has said that we need to be careful with money this year. I kind of said to her that the only bass left I want for my collection is a precision. I don't want any more after that. So she has agread that its ok to get the precision as long as it is the last one. I mean, I am running out of room as it is anyway Of course, she said I can have as many basses as I like but for each extra one would result in another baby per bass. Now some would say, thats perfect a new bass and sex but to be honest, the baby bit is putting me off. I have two kids as it is.

[quote name='BigRedX' post='405257' date='Feb 10 2009, 12:27 PM']I'm 48, I play in an originals band, and although I did own a Squier VMJ for about a year I never have and never will own a Fender... ;-) Having said that I have an audition for a covers band tomorrow night (I do like the audience appreciation!), but will balance that by hopefully releasing an album or two of original stuff later in the year. PS I do wear slippers, but only because I find the idea of wearing outdoor shoes in the house unhygienic.[/quote] Whats wrong with just wearing socks???

Thats a concern of mine, the sound of the 51. I think I would prefer the warmer sound of the 50 precision. Thanks for your input.

[quote name='Huggy and the Bears' post='405228' date='Feb 10 2009, 11:52 AM']Well this has given me some positive (I think?) reassurance! I'm 38, play covers and gig with a Stingray, sometimes with my Sunbust P bass (1988 62RI) and last night took delivery of a new Marcus Miller Jazz! A good tip however is that slippers are really comfy for playing in at home. Not gigged yet with slippers on but I was wondering, if you were to gig wearing your slippers, what style would you go for...??? Is this the start of a new thread or am I losing the plot??? And ... would you have Jazz slippers, P Bass slippers and Stingray slippers??? Am I losing it???[/quote] I think you questions are very valid and should be explored. I think whatever you feel most comfortable in. However Precision slippers have to be in patterned brown with the stretchy elastic on each side. Its classic, its retro and is the only way to go. Jazz slippers, well, they only came a few years after the Precision slippers and so should be made of either black or dark brown leather and don't require the stretchy bits on each side. They also don't have the heel lip. This makes the Jazz slipper thiner and much lighter. As for Stingray slippers, these can be any modern design from the late seventies up to modern day. Just beware of cheap copies or novelty ones with things like Homer Simpson or Dr Who designs. There are also another type you can buy. They are slab bodied and made of wood. Not as comfy but very solid. I believe they are known as cloggs.

[quote name='Old Horse Murphy' post='405188' date='Feb 10 2009, 11:15 AM']Just a thought (and a bit of a trek) but have you tried Peter Cook's in Hanwell (near Ealing)? They always seem to carry Fenders and I seem to remember him having a 51 P bass in stock.[/quote] I've never heard of them but will go and look them up now. Thanks

[quote name='Old Horse Murphy' post='405049' date='Feb 10 2009, 09:03 AM']GAK in Brighton are always pretty well stocked. The other one that has varying levels of kit is Dawson's. I'd never buy anything from them as they're pretty expensive. BTW I've used bob at Kingfisher many times to service and work on my basses. He's a really nice guy and I highly recommend him.[/quote] I thought about Dawsons but I know what you mean about the prices. Thats good to know about Kingfishers.

[quote name='kdphysio' post='405182' date='Feb 10 2009, 11:08 AM']Well, if you start thinking about joining an ABBA tribute band, i think your condition's terminal! [/quote] Oh bum, I saw one of them advertised the other day and thought it might be cool. I love ABBA. I blame my older sisters. I was brainwashed at an early age

My god what is happening to you lot

I thought slippers were bad but cardigans!!!!!!!! Was in brown patterned

Whats the matter with you lot???? I am 38 and looking at starting an originals band. Your never to old. Music is music and you should just play what you enjoy. Saying that, I am a bit worried about the Sunburst comment. I have a Fender Jazz in sunburst, a Squire fretless in Sunburst and a Musicman Stingray in Natural. All a bit worrying if you ask me.

Does anyone know of any good music shops in and around the south that have a really good range of Fender basses I can look at and try? My two local shops, Andertons in Guildford and Kingfisher's in Fleet don't really have many Fenders in stock.

I have major GAS for a Precision bass. I am pretty much down to two. The CIJ Fender 51 Re-issue Precision in Sunburst or the MIM Fender Precision 50's Classic Re-issue in Honey blonde. I adore the look of the '51 precision but I already have 2 sunburst basses and a musicman in natural so I really don't want another sunburst. I also hate the butterscotch colour Fender do. I'm also a bit dubious about the sound out of the single pickup but until I hear it, I just won't know. As for the classic 50's precision. I adore the honey blonde colour and I have heard amazing things about this bass. My only concern is, its not the '51 which I adore the look off and worried that I will still be gassing for a 51' if I get the 50's classic precision. My other option is the Mike Dirnt but I really want a maple neck and I can't be bothered to go into changing necks about. Help me fellow basschatter. Your my only hope.

I must admit, I am a bit of a Fender sucker. I have been open minded but seem to always end up back at Fender. I tried to like other makes like Warwick, Status etc but they just don't do it for me. They either look too clinical, sound too clinical, look plastic, look too modern or just don't feel comfortable. There is no doubt that other basses are as good as if not better made and sound as good and better in some cases but I just love the way a Fender feels and sounds. Of course, you need to select your fender carefully as some really are rubbish but a good one is not to hard to find. The only other bass that I have fallen in love with and own is a Musicman Stingray and lets face it, thats basically from the Fender camp. For me, I guess I love the look and feel of Fenders. I love the retro look, I love the feel of the necks, on Jazz and Precisions and I love the sound. I agree that they do what they say on the tin but for me, this is not a bad thing. I also love simplicity. A bass that you can plug in and play with little to no fiddling. If I want more bass or treble then I roll one control one way or the other. None of this 10 controls to fiddle with. I want a bass to play, a reliable workhorse that feels comfortable and is an ease to play. For me Fender basses do this. I do agree that any bass can sound amazing in the right hands, dependant on the players style of playing. I am sure James Jamerson would sound amazing on a Warwick Streamer as would Mark King on a Fender Jazz but then this would not be the sound or tone we know them for.

Great little song and fairly catchy but the structure needs work, especially if its going to be a single. The song has great pace and groove but keeps starting and stopping. I would making it snappier and keep the tempo up but removing some of the slower bits. The drum fill before the verse starts I would do slightly different. It's a bit disjointed so I would do triplets on the snare and cymbol. I would also do this half way through each verse instead of what the drummer is doing now for his fill. The second half of the verse is crying out for some harmonies. After the first verse, I would go back to the guitar riff like the intro but with a variation, maybe played higher on the guitar or the drummer riding on the cymbol. Something that uplifts it and makes it sound slightly different to the intro. Then do the second verse, again with the new drum fill and the second half of the verse with harmonies. Then the pre chorus, Then the chorus. The chorus needs some really strong hamonies. I know it has a lower one over the line, "With arms untied" (I think thats what he sings) but it could do with a higher harmony over the second line, "Will You Still Cry" and the forth line. Then the little guitar break which is great and then into a new third verse. Then pre chorus which I would add some oohs and aahhs backing vocals. Then chorus. Then the quiet vocal part which is really nice. The instrumental break does not really add anything and infact slows the pace of the song down to much. I would leave it out especially if a single. The quiet vocal part ends really nice and is screamming for you to go straight back into the chorus. This is what I would personally do. If you keep it in, then drop the rim shots and play your bass part higher up but I really would leave it out. I would also sing another chorus at the end whilst the guitarist does his high bit over it. Maybe singing a slight varition to the chorus vocal like holding longer notes etc So, structure, Intro Guitar Riff Verse 1 Guitar Riff Verse 2 Pre Chorus Chorus Guitar Break Verse 3 (new one) Pre Chorus Chorus Quite Vocal Chorus Chorus Thats how I would do it :)

Looking at the Fender Precisions, the Mike Dirnt bass has a Custom Vintage ‘59 Split Single-Coil Pickup (Mid) and the US 57' Precision has a ‘57 Precision Bass Split Single-Coil Pickup (Mid). I was wondering if Fender sell these seperatly as it might be nice to try them in the MIM 50' Precision. Anyone know if Fender sell these pickups seperatly and where I can get them from?