mart3442

Paul bought the bones of my bitsa '70's Fender. Great comms and quick payment, even parcelfarce couldn't wreck the deal, and they tried!

I've used the NS CR4M for over ten years. Its the one with the dual pickup system for pizz and arco. The neck doesn't really feel like a double bass neck to me, and it has dot markers on the fingerboard, which I hate. But with experimentation with different amps, I've gotten a reasonable imitation of an amplified double bass out of it. Yes, it can be slapped if you just raise the action enough. To my ears, the slap sound is quite authentic. If you're not careful, it can ending up sounding like a standard fretless bass, especially into a desk, but as said, if matched to the right amplification, it does actually sound ok.

Possibly the capacitors failing.......

Heres an update, with pics to follow, I've used acetone nail varnish swabs to remove the offending varnish from all the headstock, bar where the decal is. I'm treating this area very carefully, with a light application, and no rubbing. I'm hoping I'll be able to remove most or all of the varnish without damaging the decal.......

If its the same as mine, theres an optical sensor/potentiometer that controls the effect. Give it a clean with a soft cloth.

I've used Seymour Duncans for years, before the Basslines rebranding, and before they were building Antiquities. In terms of what I wanted from a pickup, I've always found them to be a significant upgrade over stock, punchier, tighter tone with better defined low end and more clarity throughout. What I want isn't going to be what the next player wants, but its a no brainer: You have the pickups to hand, put them in and see what you think... Its in the ears of the player at the end of the day.

That would explain why some '70's Fenders have that dirty orange headstock, whilst some are so clean, they could have been made yesterday... Thanks to everyone for the replies, I'll report back from the lab presently.