Jean-Luc Pickguard

My main short scale has been a JMJ mustang for a few years but I got a long-desired starfire II (a gorgeous flamed maple one with ebony fingerboard) a short while ago. I've not played the lakland semihollow so I can't comment on it, but I can confirm that going from the mustang to the starfire isn't a problem and going from a long scale like a precision or thunderbird doesn't present any problems either. It is very comfortable to play the guild both sitting and on a strap. The tone from the bisonics is huge and there's a lot of variation in tone available even with flats - status 32" stainless steel ones are my favourite on it. When recording these days its usually a difficult choice between whether to use the mustang or the starfire and my other basses hardly get a look-in.

Alright thenpbass-pg.pdf Print this PDF at A4 and it should come out the right size

For me the last two should be the reverb and the gate, but you want the reverb after the gate so the reverb tails don't get cut off weirdly.

Oh my - how did you ever bring yourself to let that one go?

100% The necks on these are fantastic

When I built my Fretless bitza I didn't like the cheapo moulded plastic nut that came free with the neck and I was too stingy to buy a tusq blank. I had recently bought a box of 'imitation ivory' chopsticks from Wing Yip and had a go a cutting one down and fashioning a nut from it. surprisingly it came out very well and is still on the bass over 15 years later.

I really like the current version of fender curly cables. I’m not worried about treble loss as I’ve been playing my telecaster through one this afternoon and the tone from the bridge pickup has tons of twang with the eq on the amp set flat.

It’s funny that I took the hip shot D-tuners off all but one of the basses I had them on as I never used them as much as I expected to. In a previous band I used to drop down for one note in the middle of one song, but the rest of the time they just sat there making my headstock heavier. My only five string is for sale on commission in a shop for the same reason. I have kept a lollipop D-tuner on the fretless precision bitza I built though mainly as it looks cool with the other lollipop hipshot tuners on that bass.

but does he have a time machine to travel back to 2019?

What are everyone's favourite pieces of hardware to use when building a bitzer or upgrading an existing bass — or hardware that came on a bass you bought. Mine are: Gotoh GB 640 tuners — These look like standard 50s Fender tuners but don't turn the wrong way, are precision engineered, don't require dimples to be drilled into the back of the headstock, and are super lightweight. They also look super cool on my vintage pro thunderbirds. EMG Geezer butler precision pickup — Super easy to install with the included pots & socket, Passive so no batteries, and makes a bass with a 'P' route sound exactly how I think a good Precsion should sound. Fender High mass bridge — My favourite of the badass look-a-likes, nice and afforable at around £30, and uses brass saddles as opposed to standard zinc or whatever saddles of a badass. I tested both bridges on my '81 P and I preferred the tone with the Fender bridge, however I may have imagined the difference!

The tuners are probably worth a few quid, not sure there's much else that's salvagable though

I saw it there when it was part of an exhibit about the clash focussing on the London Calling album. It was strange seeing something in a museum that came off the same production line as something I have at home (although mine is in better condition)

This started out as a cute little musicmaster bass (early version with small tuners), but it looks like the owner wanted it to look more like a big-boy's bass crossed with a strat so reshaped the body & headstock, changed out the hardware and added pickups etc https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/124797848702

Joe Meek: If it sounds right; it is right.

Lemon Lard is a revolutionary product and is definitely needed by all players. It will revolutionise mid-gig snacking and fingerboard/string care. If Jaco had it he wouldn't have needed fried chicken. I can guarantee that if you use it you will be playing like Jaco in no time.* *actual results may vary

I have created a new product from all-natural ingredients which is far better than lemon oil, mineral oil or snake oil as it comes in a solid form so it can't spill and is easy to apply simply by rubbing the it along your bass neck. it comes in a handy bar form and can be used to condition your fingerboard, lubricate your strings and also act as a convenient energy boosting mid-gig snack. If anyone would like a sample of Lemon Lard, let me know and I will send a representative around to demonstrate it on your favourite bass*. *subject to various unspecified terms and conditions

I don't think anyone's keeping it a secret - its right there on reverend's website: https://www.reverendguitars.com/basses/thundergun

Nice! It'll look great with lollipops.

No amount of setting up is going to help it play in tune until the bridges come forward a couple of inches.

Hipshot do a replacement version of the Gotoh GB1 set used on the CIJ mustang - These are called HB10 and they can be ordered as lollipops: https://hipshotproducts.com/collections/bass-tuning/products/hb10-bass-tuning-machine

what is the point of the monkey grip? Would monkeys even know what to do with one? I’m sure I’ve seen a pic somewhere of Steve Vai triumphantly holding an ibanez aloft by the monkey grip, but surely you wouldn’t want to draw attention to this piece of crap like that?

It might be useful if you're into archery

If the repair to the the truss rod was straightforward surely it would make sense for the the seller to take care of getting that done before putting it up for sale.

Don't forget to post some photos when you unbox it!