Jono Bolton

I've got a Fender Jazz Bass that sits in the back of my wardrobe going unused. I don't play in a band so I have no real need for two basses, and my Precision is my go-to bass. I prefer the sound, the feel and the look of the Precision. So just get rid of the Jazz, right? Well, the Jazz was a present from my parents for my 18th, 8 years ago. It was my main bass when I didn't have another option, but since the P came, it hasn't had a look in. In any other circumstance it would have been sold, but because it was a present I can't bring myself to part with it, I'd feel too guilty. I also play guitar, but haven't had one for a few years now. Recently, I've seen an Epiphone Les Paul on Gumtree, with the seller looking for a trade on bass gear. I had an Epi LP before which I loved, so swapping seems like a good option as I'd use the guitar more, but would it be worth it to get rid of something that was a relatively expensive and thoughtful gift? Also, I don't want this to turn into guitar-bashing! Just opinions on selling or trading gifts, as ultimately it seems pretty ungrateful, doesn't it?

[quote name='Geek99' timestamp='1378102142' post='2195694'] Yes - a copy of a 57 with, if I recall correctly, the pickup as the custom shop models. There's red, sunburst and cream as I recall. They come up on here used fairly often. Very nice indeed to play. See the link musky posted I have the same pickup in my bass and the bass doc seemed to approve when he fitted it all together. [/quote] 4 finish options - 2 tone sunburst, black, honey blonde and Fiesta red. I tried one in a shop in Glasgow a few years back, and to this day, hands down the best P Bass I've ever played. If it wasn't Fiesta red I'd have bought it on the spot. Instead I went home and ordered a black on online which turned out to be out of stock. I was told that I could wait a few months and get one when they came back in stock and pay the price I'd paid because the prices were going up. I was too impatient and cancelled the order, and I still regret it. What a dick I am.

[quote name='LukeFRC' timestamp='1378046011' post='2195035'] ah my photos went pretty eh? [/quote] Outstanding!

The Ibanez fans must be the guys to ask, what's the going rate for a Blazer just now? I've been thinking of getting one for a while now.

My P Bass never used to stay in tune particularly well, and I thought I was going to have to fork out for a new set of tuners, but instead I took them apart, cleaned, and rebuilt them. Now the tuning's rock solid, I haven't had to worry about it in ages.

[quote name='yepmop' timestamp='1377606586' post='2189281'] This is the exact dilemma i faced and went the MM route the question I asked myself is the Warmoth/All parts neck really £200 better than the MM? I was going to save up for a period correct neck but now decided not to as I like the bass the way it is at the moment. [/quote] I put together a Jazz a few years ago and I had an Allparts neck on it to begin with, and I ended up selling it and replaced it with a cheaper Mighty Mite neck as it was much nicer and about half the price.

The tuners you'd need for a '69 style would be these ones: This style was used from '66-'82 (approx), so make sure you don't get the reverse-gear tuners as they wouldn't be period-correct. Also I agree with WoT, the Mighty Might necks are good but they have headstock truss rod access, so it would be a case of how "correct" you want it to be.

[quote name='miles'tone' timestamp='1376938652' post='2181263'] Thanks Jono. Your right sonic blue does work with a tort guard but it's a bit pale for my tastes to be honest, I like the way Daphne is bold (I'm just worried it's a colour that might get a bit much for every day but I do love it). It's not surf green but it would look good in a surf band (not that I'm in one!) Also, I'm not bothered about being correct about anything. It's got a jazz neck on when it's together! Cheers. [/quote] A Jazz neck? Pfft, lightweight

[quote name='Skol303' timestamp='1377073846' post='2182856'] The full length video for 'Windowlicker' by Aphex Twin is loads of fun... but maybe I have a warped sense of what fun is!? I won't post a link 'cos it's definitely not safe for work (and some may find it offensive), but a quick search on YouTube will root it out for anyone curious. For a more conventional sense of fun, the video to 'Here It Goes Again' by OK Go is a cracker... [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dTAAsCNK7RA&desktop_uri=%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DdTAAsCNK7RA&nomobile=1[/media] [/quote] I love that video!

I've got a Wizard Thumper in my P Bass and I love it, although as its been mentioned, Wizard are no longer trading. I've tried the SPB-3 but I didn't like the sound (or the Basslines logo), it was too OTT for me.

[quote name='Acebassmusic' timestamp='1377012775' post='2182212'] Hi there, Welcome from another north o' the border! The bass looks a bit like a Hondo II Proffesional that I used to have many, many years ago. Weighed an absolute ton! if you put Hondo II Proffesional into Google you will get some similar images eg: [url="http://www.instrumentwire.com/guitar-ad-e300930014552"]http://www.instrumen...d-e300930014552[/url] Mike [/quote] Agreed, it's definitely a Hondo, pretty sure it's the Professional model. I've always liked the look of these basses, £40 is an absolute steal!

[quote name='Happy Jack' timestamp='1377012244' post='2182204'] I've tried all three layouts (Alleva-Coppolo, Mike Lull & Lakland) and, on balance, I actually prefer the 5-in-line to the 4+1. Agreed on the 3+2 though. [/quote] I think the reason I don't like 5-in-a-line is because they use the small closed tuners as opposed to the regular bass tuners, although I can understand the reasoning behind it.

Having never played a 5 string in my life, the only advice I can give is to go for a Precision with a 4+1 headstock as opposed to a 5-in-a-line one, they just look wrong IMO. Unless you go for a Lakland, then you get 3+2 which is even nicer.

I think Sonic Blue with a Tort guard is the way forward, and more "correct" for a Precision: It's also one of my dream colour combos, so you've got a guaranteed buyer if you ever choose to sell it

When you're fretting a note, the nut material becomes irrelevant. If a brass nut did affect tone or sustain, it'd only be on open strings.

Looks good to me, exactly the same routing as my Jazz. Stamps all look correct too. Also, I doubt many people would attempt to fake a Mexican Fender.

LPB looks too bright to me, from the OP's pictures it's more of a grey/blue which makes me think it's Ice Metallic. To be honest it's one of those things where we'll probably never be able to decide, the only way to tell is by seeing what's written on the tags!

Changed my mind, it's Ice Blue Metallic [url="http://www.google.co.uk/search?q=daphne+blue&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=SFILUoSBGorKhAe5toEg&ved=0CAcQ_AUoAQ&biw=1264&bih=427#bav=on.2,or.r_qf.&fp=1d6e4718c3c04a1b&q=fender+ice+blue+metallic&sa=1&tbm=isch"]http://www.google.co...c&sa=1&tbm=isch[/url] I think LPB's fairly new finish option that they brought out when they updated the Mexican Standard models, as far as I know it wasn't an option in the nineties.

In the 90s Mexican Precisions came with Strat knobs, my P is from 2000 and had them too. I think that colour's Daphne Blue, but it's hard to tell from the pics. It's definitely not Sonic Blue, it's too dark and looks ever so slightly metallic, Sonic Blue's super pale. Very nice for a freebie!

[quote name='iiipopes' timestamp='1375799086' post='2165771'] First, I must respectfully disagree with a post above: for every Rick that sounds great, there are fifty more that sound even better. . [/quote] You are John Hall and ICMFP

Crikey, having seen that JC had replied I was expecting nothing more than "you're right, this isn't good enough, I'm arranging for the bass to be sent back and a full refund will be issued". Trying to imply that the OP spunked 5 grand on a bass and then proceeded to go out of his way to make it look like a dog's dinner in unbelievable, really poor show. And as Warwickhunt said, nothing to address the damage to the headstock or the routing/contouring. Still, at least the guy's getting his money back, which is the least he deserves.