pobrien_ie

[quote name='4 Strings' timestamp='1373552132' post='2138963'] I'm not even a fan of the word! [/quote] I can definitely agree with that

[quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1373541750' post='2138771'] The thin nitro finish seems to be a very US thing and then mainly Fender - you never seem to see Gibson guitars (which get played just as much) with as much wear as the average old Fender bass. Personally I don't much like worn instruments. I think it looks shabby and one person's wear pattern is unlikely to match another's, so even if you were to buy a well used instrument it could still look "fake" - a worn thumb mark over the bridge PU on a Jazz when the current player only ever uses the neck PU or thumb rest. I would have no problem buying an instrument that looked like a wreck provided that it played and sounded fantastic and was structurally sound. However the first thing I would do after confirming that it was exactly the right instrument for me would be to send it off to someone like Sims to have the finish restored to near new quality. Be thankful that I am not a fan of vintage Fenders. [/quote] Good points, well made. I'm sure Fender weren't happy when they saw their finishes wearing so quickly, probably some of the reason (although I think H&S might of been a factor) as to why they changed how they do things. Maybe it's a bit of a fad that people like that look, but ultimately, and as with everything, some do and some don't. Whe we talk about real aging though, I'm sure I'd leave it as is. Not because of resale value, but because it's the character of the bass. Would I leave a dent in my car? No...well, at the moment yes because I've just put one on it and haven't been bothered to do antyhing about it just yet In conclusion, basses - important, cars - meh

I have no problem with basses with aged finishes. Many do, I know, but each to their own. I have a Roadworn P, that I quite like. In isolation the aging is fine, but the generic nature of the Roadworn series looks stupid when others are side by side. I also bought a body of a Highway One P Bass that was a bit worn. I used some cellulose thinner on it to help it match the aged look of the Roadworn P neck I put on it. Would I relic a new bass? No, not a chance. I'm not trying to make people believe it's a genuine vintage basses, but I don't really care what others think either way. I like that I don't need to obsess about the first scratch etc. I don't like the homemade relics on poly finishes. IMO, the aging process is only suitable for nitro finishes (of which the Roadworn and Highway One Series are/were). I was waiting for the 'would you buy a beaten up car or would you relic your own car' argument, but that may be more of a TB thing. Would I buy a 1967 P Bass that looked like it had seen better days? Yes. Would I buy a 1967 Mustang that looked like a wreck? No. An Apples and oranges argument IMO. The irony of me starting this argument is not lost on me Rant / musings over.

Don't see it said above, but for me it's D'Adarrio Chromes. I've tried 'Labella Deep Talkin Flats' and, as much as I wanted to (given the price), I just couldn't get on with them at all What did you order in the end?

[quote name='ikay' timestamp='1372924557' post='2131587'] Vintage style square covers area available here - [url="http://www.grguitars.com/parts_5bass.htm"]http://www.grguitars...parts_5bass.htm[/url] [attachment=138261:Vintage P pickup cover.jpg] [/quote] In my long search for the vintage correct cover I actually bought this exact cover from the same company. Unfortunately, it's not a Fender product and is therefore a little too wide. It's not as moldable as the Fender ones so when you bend it to fit the holes it goes up in middle and looks a bit too high off the strings. I bought two sets of pickup covers and bridge covers (58 AVRI and 63 AVRI) from the Stratosphere on ebay, and I from what I can see from the pictures they look to be the most vintage correct reissues I've seen.

[quote name='chris_b' timestamp='1372867323' post='2130948'] [s]I'm not sure what you mean by "squared" edges, but[/s] my 68 cover isn't as round as the one in your photo. The bit covering the strings has a flatter profile. ps I get it now!! [/quote] A saw a few similar threads on TB and lot's of people posted pics of single coild P Basses, so I wasn't sure how clear I was being. I'm just being too pedantic about things anyway. [quote name='bh2' timestamp='1372867621' post='2130952'] Here's the linkie for the allparts plate... [url="http://www.allparts.uk.com/online-shop/guitar-bass-parts/bridges-parts-tailpieces/bridge-parts/metal-bridge-pickup-covers/pickup-cover-for-p-bass-p-3084.html"]http://www.allparts....ass-p-3084.html[/url] Bob. [/quote] Great, thanks for that. will sue for future reference. It looks great on your bass. [quote name='4-string-thing' timestamp='1372876546' post='2131092'] My 77 has the original and it's curved. [/quote] Thanks. That makes me think I might have been right about them becoming more curved at the edges in the '70's. Of course with Fender there's no real way to back this up. As an update, I contacted the seller about my concerns. For some reason ebay automatically opened this as a dispute, even though I just wanted to see what they had to say. The seller will except a refund, but ebay say I must pay the return postage and incur the customs fees. It seems a bit unfair when the pickup cover is clearly not as advertised. I'm starting see what all the anti ebay sentiment is about. c'est la vie

[quote name='bh2' timestamp='1372858146' post='2130767'] No it aint... I managed to get a vintage squared off one for my Squier from allparts... about 20 notes. [/quote] Yeah that's exactly what I wanted. I think the ones I've ordered since from a 63/58 reissue should do the job too. Thanks for that. I'll just get abck on to the seller and see how I get on. Cheers

[quote name='MrFingers' timestamp='1372846652' post='2130542'] Vintage Fenders have the square covers, the first ReIssues (1981 I guess) had the round ones. [/quote] Thanks William....I knew the some P Bass anoraks would come out ...and I mean that in a good way! For some reason I thought they became rounder at some point in the 70's. Looking at the above pics I posted so, is it safe to conclude that this isn't a genuine 1964 pickup cover?

[quote name='walbassist' timestamp='1372838750' post='2130436'] I am no vintage Fender expert, but I am pretty certain you have answered your own question above! [/quote] Thanks. I suppose my question should be when did Fender move from the square edged pickup covers to the rounder edged ones we see today? A lot of Fender changes seem to be unclear, so I was hoping somebody could point me in the direction of where I'll get an unequivocal answer (if one exists). I know ebay generally side with the buyer, but I'd like to make sure I'm in the right before I dispute this.

Last week I bought a P Bass cover on ebay. It was advertised as a 'Fender 1964 USA Nickel Precision Bass Pickup Cover', and it cost around £50 after customs etc. Very expensive for a run of the mill pickup cover, probably cheap if a genuine vintage one. Anyway, what I was looking for was the pickup cover with the more squatred edges, which I thought this would be. From the pics below, can anyone tell if this looks legit? Anyone have a real '64 or '65 with covers to compare it to? [url="http://s1249.photobucket.com/user/pobrien_ie/media/Pickup%20Cover/2013-07-02224303-1_zpseb36b844.jpg.html"][/url] [url="http://s1249.photobucket.com/user/pobrien_ie/media/Pickup%20Cover/2013-07-02224318_zps429395ba.jpg.html"][/url] [url="http://s1249.photobucket.com/user/pobrien_ie/media/Pickup%20Cover/2013-07-02224254_zpsb496492f.jpg.html"][/url] [url="http://s1249.photobucket.com/user/pobrien_ie/media/Pickup%20Cover/2013-07-02224345_zps556d29fd.jpg.html"][/url] Here are some pics of '64 and '65 P Basses I found on the web. Note they all look to have the straighter edged pickup covers. [url="http://s1249.photobucket.com/user/pobrien_ie/media/Pickup%20Cover/fender-precision-bass-1964-500768_zps74672375.jpeg.html"][/url] [url="http://s1249.photobucket.com/user/pobrien_ie/media/Pickup%20Cover/p1_u04xa4ule_so_zpsda84bb91.jpeg.html"][/url] [url="http://s1249.photobucket.com/user/pobrien_ie/media/Pickup%20Cover/2011-04-03131144_zpsf2642ec6.jpeg.html"][/url] [url="http://s1249.photobucket.com/user/pobrien_ie/media/Pickup%20Cover/1965_Fender_Precision_Bass_008_zpsb68e3eb1.jpeg.html"][/url] If this is not genuine, I would obviously like to return it. I have since bought a couple of sets of the new '63 AVRI pickup covers which look to be what I was looking for. I'd appreciate any help with this. Cheers!

[quote name='miles'tone' timestamp='1372108055' post='2121811'] The way I question I always have about it all is this: It's widely known and accepted that Jaco's bass of doom was stolen from him. When it surfaced again all those years later it is still stolen property isn't it? Surely the police could simply gone to the vintage guitar dealer who had it and just taken it back and returned the stolen goods to it's rightful owner/next of kin? Seems fair to me. Raising money to buy back what really is theirs shouldn't have been an issue for the Pastorius family anyway. I guess the law was against them in some way. [/quote] I can see both sides. The fact that it was supposedly stolen would allow the family to feel somewhat aggrieved. Wasn't he living rough at the time? I suppose it's possible it wasn't 'stolen' at all. One of the stories with Jamerson's Funk Machine is similar. Rumour had he sold it before his death. The now common photos of an older Jameron showing off a bass that is not his '62 P Bass could back that up. Desperate times call for desperate measures and all that. If RT is willing to return the bass for what he paid, that would seem fair to me. Just my tuppence...

[quote name='superclive' timestamp='1371985174' post='2120273'] There is but they don't have a anything great are crazy overpriced and don't stock 5 string sets let alone stainless or flats. ESE is good for guitars not so sure about bass but you have to catch them in a good mood and haggle like hell. [/quote] Cool. Thanks for the tip.

Scentless Apprentice - Nirvana

Thanks for all the suggestions! My plans for this weekend have been scuppered, but will definitely have to check out all these places. Thanks again!

[quote name='KiOgon' timestamp='1371802936' post='2118223'] Hi Paddy, welcome over the only shop I know in Kent is the American Guitar Centre in Tonbridge, he has a lot on ebay too, [url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Musicman-Stingray-4-HH-Bass-Sunburst-/170902905306?pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item27ca9b61da"]http://www.ebay.co.u...=item27ca9b61da[/url] Edit: Must type faster ^ [/quote] Thanks John! As above, I'll try that shop. The next time I need a job done I can drop down to you in person!

[quote name='tedmanzie' timestamp='1371802489' post='2118221'] I was passing through Tonbridge the other day (which looks about 10 miles from you, maybe less) and there is a shop there called American Guitars. Its got quite a few nice basses in there and the shop is run by a very nice chap who I chatted with for ages. [url="http://www.americanguitarsuk.com"]http://www.americanguitarsuk.com[/url] edit - just to point out they have loads on their website, but only a selection of these on display in the shop. [/quote] Thanks for that. I work in Tunbridge Wells, so I'll defintiely make that short trip some time.

Great, thanks for this!

Hi all. I recently moved to Maidstone from Ireland with my job. I haven't touched a bass since April 25th and need to do something before I go mad. I should get my basses next Friday, but in the meantime could anybody tell me where I'd find some good bass-related shops now and for future reference? Cheers!

[quote name='miles'tone' timestamp='1371795194' post='2118130'] Hey you're right about Deaky playing one but the only evidence I can make out on line is he used one on a track called "'39" live. Anyone know if he actually recorded with a fretless? [/quote] Thanks for the pic. I had, and probably still have somewhere, a Queen bass book. IIRC it said that both Crazy Little Thing Called Love and Somebody to Love were played on a fretless, and I remember reading something before about him having a fretless P (You're picture confirming that for me). Listening to these two songs, it definitely sounds like a fretless to me. At least I always used it as an excuse to use a fretless with a pub band I used to play in

Aren't some of John Deacon's Queen basslines on a fretless p? I think Crazy Little Thing Called Love and Somebody to Love are, maybe Under Pressure too.

Thanks for the tip-off!

For me, both bands are bland, generic cheese-fests, but I'd have to say Bon Jovi edge it in the painful stakes as they seem to see themselves as more of a serious / credible band.

[quote name='Antiloco' timestamp='1360251396' post='1967411'] Another proof of the Basschat politeness? [/quote] I'd actually consider myself quite polite. The reason I felt the need to post is because I think you're clearly and intentionally rubbing people up the wrong way. Call it trolling or whatever, but IMO it's generally a tactic used by immature people, hence my surprise that you're older than I expected. From my experience, BC members are very much open to debate and there are always differing opinions across the different topics and threads. They rarely descend into situation like this, and from what I see, you're the common denominator.

Out of nosiness I had to go to the youtube page of one of the more high profile 'contributors' to this particular thread. Judging by the comments they've made over the last couple of days, I have to say I was really surprised to find that the person wasn't about 15 years old. IMO this particular person is also unlikely to make the 10 best youtube players thread.