Jean-Luc Pickguard

Gecko Beach — Martha & The Muffins

I know this thread is about basses, but in addition to my JMJ mustang basses, I also own a Ben Gibbard signature guitar which is a really nice MiM recreation of the mustang guitars he uses, this specifically being a 70s Ash bodied mustang with one piece maple neck/fingerboard. It also has a few quirks favoured by BG such as simplified wiring and a blocked trem. Unlike an original 70s example which would have used heavy northern ash making it rather heavy, this is nice & light due to the swamp ash body having weight relief chambers routed out. It is irrelevant to me that it is a signature model as I wouldn't be able to name a single Death Cab for Cutie song.

Just now, ezbass said:

 

Ultimately, they’re just a ‘66 reissue, so any artist association is secondary IMO. Great basses, no question.

Not quite, they were modelled after a particular bass JMJ owned which he wanted to be replicated as close as possible. He preferred the pickup in this bass to others he had played, and this was replicated by Seymour Duncan for the production model. Also the headstock is noticably thicker than is normal for a mustang bass which is an idiosyncrasy of his original one. There were several prototypes made until he was happy to sign off on it. I believe the only thing he was disappointed about that Fender wasn't able to include on the production model was that his original bass has a thin curved 'veneer' fingerboard, however the factory was not geared up for this so the signature model has a slab fingerboard.

Another thumbs up the Fender JMJ mustangs. Phenomenal basses. I'm sure JMJ himself is a great player, however I'm not particularly interested in the music he's involved with but he certainly specs up a great signature model. Initially I liked my first blue JMJ mustang despite the roadworn finish, but that finish does makes it possible to enjoy playing it without worrying about getting a knock or ding at a gig. I've since added a black one to the collection, plus a second blue one with a view to getting it refinished in a custom colour.

PM'd!

Ballroom Blitzen — The Sweet

I Want A Bowlegged Woman — Bull Moose Jackson

Instant Pussy — Matching Mole

Not all CTS pots are made equal. They are manufactured in batches when ordered by the distributer/seller and the components making them up vary depending on the exact specifications the distributer/seller has ordered. This is why some solid shaft CTS pots have an silver/grey coloured shaft and some have brass. I've been lucky enough to have never had a bad CTS pot, but if I can I order mojotone ones these days as they have the best specs for guitars/basses.

I've run into this situation when upgrading pots on squiers. A few twists with a tapered reamer is all thats needed. I bought this japanese 'engineer' one: https://amzn.to/3PeXNjJ which was tough enough to open up the holes easily.

Papaya Was A Rolling Stone — The Temptations

Hurry Up Haricot — Sham 69

Fast Fret is just mineral oil with added scent — the same as lemon oil. I wipe my strings down with mineral oil (& then wipe off) to keep them clean.

Stella (Artois) By Starlight — Miles Davis

A few more of my favourites

Red Leathergraft comfy suede straps to match the Competition stripes on my orange Squier Mustang Guitar and Bass twins, and a brown comfy strap for the Epiphone Firebird.

Extra long comfy straps in black and beige for my worn black and natural Epiphone Casinos. Also shown is an Ace strap in the same design John Lennon used on the Apple Corps rooftop with his casino, it is a cool looking strap, but I don't use it as its not as comfy as the comfy.

My Vintage statesboro parlour guitar which plays and sounds infinitely better than can be expected for the £30 I paid for it has a Levy's 'Hootenanny' strap which doesn't match on colour, but I like the design, and I guess a bourbonburst acoustic can probably go with anything. Also my Ben Gibbard Mustang looking very dapper with another black leathergraft comfy strap which goes nicely with the plastics.

Another one of mine. The colours don't match, as my starfire has an ebony fingerboard and saddles rather than the more usual rosewood, but that isn't an issue as its such a nice heavy quality strap with a cool embossed logo.

Six Days on The Road — Taj Mahal

Flours Of Romance — Public Image Limited

I find particularly pleasing the pairing of a Fender teal houndstooth strap with my American Fender Ocean Turquoise Acoustasonic Jazzmaster.

Cruising For Burgers — Frank Zappa & The Mothers of Invention

Only A Prawn In Their Game — Bob Dylan

I'm A Sole Man — Sam & Dave

Needle In The Hay — Elliott Smith

Let's Go To San Francisco — The Flowerpot Men

What's That Smell Like Fish? — Blind Boy Fuller