Jean-Luc Pickguard

I'd get a genuine Fender one from [url="http://basspartsresource.com/bpickguard_jazzgenuine.htm"]bass parts resource[/url] Out of stock of the Torty one at the moment, but the holes & outline will line up much better than any aftermarket one.

[quote name='seymourfluid' post='305333' date='Oct 13 2008, 11:37 AM']People keep telling me to use flatwound but I hated them on the MM.[/quote] What flats did you try? rotos? If so I you shouldn't let them put you off flats. I use Thomastic JF344 Infeld (JF324 on short scale basses) I reckon they'd be good on on a hofner.

I won this auction at the weekend - 32" Daisy Rock Elite [url="http://&quot;%20<a%20href="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&item=250302493641&quot;"%20target="_blank">http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...302493641&quot;</a>"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...em=250302493641[/url] My daughter already has one exactly the same, but this one was so cheap I put in a low-ball bid in the last few seconds & my flabber was gasted when I won. Bargain!

[quote name='waynepunkdude' post='305092' date='Oct 12 2008, 10:31 PM']This weekend I tried a Thunderbird for the first time and my god they are the most neck heavy basses ever I don't know how people get on with them.[/quote] Easy - I moved the front strap button on mine to the neck heel area - cured the neck dive 100%. A stupid design fault easily cured. No idea why they're not made with the button in the best position by default.

That looks like it was cobbled together out of left-overs. Oh it was. It just looks wrong (IMHO) At least [s]ripping off[/s] licensing the design Ned Steinberger did for Spector was more successful for Warwick.

By rear contour I think you mean not the entire back, but the "beergut" cutout is all black. Cheapo copies have this to disguise a body made from more than one laminate of wood or even ply though. Early mexican fenders I have seen also had this. Not sure if current ones do or what they were trying to hide - my guess is that laminates of more attractivly grained wood is stuck to the top & bottom of plainer wood, so it doesn't always mean it can't be a real fender.

laban1 - are you as boring in real life? You've cross-posted the same post to (at least) three threads. We don't do that here. er... Otherwise, Welcome to BC

[quote name='thepurpleblob' post='303507' date='Oct 10 2008, 06:50 AM']Put it in the bank for when that - I MUST HAVE THAT - moment comes along.[/quote] ^ Yep - thats the sensible thing to do - open a web-based savings account with a decent interest rate and watch the interest mount up until you are gassing for something specific rather than just wanting [i]something[/i].

Whats with the weird cutout in the headstock behind the nut? - is it similar to where 70s P basses that always seemed to have a lit fag stuffed under the E string - 'for later', but MK prefers a sausage roll instead?

The truss rod is always the first thing to look at when a bass starts to feel different. - The shim isn't likely to change over time & neither is the bridge (unless bits are loose). The wood in the neck changes its stiffness due to the ambient humidity changing. Adjusting the truss rod counteracts that. I'd put it back exactly as it was before fiddling with it and then tighten the truss rod about a quarter turn and and see if that makes it any better - if not another quarter turn until it does. Pressing the first & last frets of any of my basses shows a gap of less than 1mm at the 7th/8th frets and they all play very nicely. 3mm would be unbearable for me. At least on a Mex fender the truss rod adjusts at the headstock so you won't have to remove the neck.

Did he say he actually 'makes them' or does he outsource the manufacture to a factory in China?

I don't know why, but I alway cringe when the Booker T & the MGs Soul Limbo is referred to as the cricket theme. Like hearing The William Tell Overture referred to as "the Lone Ranger Theme"

This is cheaper (ie free) [url="http://wheatsbassbook.org"]http://wheatsbassbook.org[/url]

I've used Kent Armstrong 'enclosed' Cool Rails and 'open' Hot rails in 70s musicmaster basses. I definitely prefer the cool rails. The hot rails is too clanky whereas the cool rails is smoother punchier and deeper (at least to my ears).

This thread is sooo rock n roll I had to sit down through my last band rehearsal as I'd put my back out

I can practice silently with my bass unplugged or using the tascam headphone/mp3 thing I can't see what the problem is that these basses are supposed to solve. Any ideas?

I guess that would help if the original socket was one of the flimsy cheapos, but I always put in a standard mono switchcraft if I replace the socket in a passive bass/geetar & they're sturdy enough that the contact doesn't lose its spring.

I think the track is called "elephant phart"

Money - Pink Floyd We've got to get out of this place - the Animals

My opinion is that its best to keep your powder dry & put my maximum bid in with about two seconds to go.

At half the price they'd probably be fantastic, but £250 for a Chinese SX/JIM Deacon ?

Has anyone mentioned the body & pickguard are completely the wrong shape around the lower cutaway? And what he heck is going on with all the routing. Its a bit of a mess if you ask me. Last time I discussed vintage fenders with a someone working in a shop in Denmark street I was amazed at how ignorance could be presented so confidently.

I thought "subject to status" meant you could only get graphite-necked basses.

[quote name='spike' post='290973' date='Sep 24 2008, 04:14 PM']AFAIK Duck Dunn replaced Lewis Steinberg in Booker T and the MGs quite early on. It is Steinberg playing on Green Onions though.[/quote] Yep - thats right, very early on.

[quote name='OldGit' post='290901' date='Sep 24 2008, 03:03 PM']Ah, the power of space in the bass .....[/quote] Lisa "You've got to listen to the notes he isn't playing" Homer "I can do that at home"