cloudburst

Guys, sorry to sound niaive - what way does the scam work? I arrange to go and buy a bass that doesn't exist and am met by a couple of big guys who take my money? CB

[quote name='bremen' timestamp='1339146293' post='1684233'] They vary a lot and asking prices can be stupid for a very poor instrument just because it's old. On the other hand, a mid-priced instrument can usually be sold on for what you paid for it if you don't like it, so long as it's not got a knackered truss rod. Personally I'd never buy unseen from Ebay but I would from a Basschatter. [/quote] I'm a bit ignorant on truss rods as my 74 Jazz has never needed any tinkering at all. I know what they do, but how can you tell if they are knackered? And in a music shop, where you can't really attempt to do any adjustments, what are the clues? CB

Just a couple of days ago I went to look at a used Precision - a 1975 in olympic white with black scratch-plate and rosewood fingerboard. If it hadn't been so expensive (£2,200), I could easily have bought it over the phone sight unseen as the sales-person had told me it all looked fine, nicely aged etc. I always ask someone over the phone what the WORST feature of an instrument is. He said in this case, that it was a little nick in the finish just behind the scratch-plate and under the strings. I thought "Jeezo, this one sounds like a minter" and made the fairly long trip to see the instrument: Here's what I found: - The general feel was "a bit beaten up" as opposed to "nicely aged" but I guess this is quite subjective. - As well as nicks all over the body, it appeared that a lightweight drill had slightly wandered over bits of the body and headstock accidentally while plugged in. - Intonation was off on at least one of the strings. - Action was too high when compared to my own 74 Jazz and other Fenders I've played of this vintage. - I think this high action was possibly to compensate for the fact that the first 4 frets (at least) were grooved by all 4 strings and needed replaced. So the action will have needed to be raised to stop string buzz (one of you with a bit of experience here could perhaps advise if this sounds like a fair assessment). In any case, the strings still buzzed a fair bit when fretting them at the headstock end of the neck. - The truss rod was adjusted to the point where the end had disappeared up the neck by about 1cm inside the heel - not sure if this is OK or a problem with the neck already being at full adjustment (again someone more expert than me could advise). - Thumb-rest missing, no ashtray, jack socket a little loose and strap hooks not original. - Fender hard-shell case missing Fender logo, one of the latches missing and very well beaten up On the plus side the instrument was light, but it shows you what some shops will take well over £2k for, whilst telling you from a safe distance that it's in "good condition and nicely aged". CB PS: If anyone does have a 1974/75 Precision in the above colour scheme for sale, please let me know. Ta.

Pretty good photo of him in the neck plate. :-)

[quote name='crez5150' timestamp='1338386413' post='1673677'] Cheers CB.... Can I use that pic for our facebook page? Make sure you send me your request to try the SB60...... Nearly at a point where it will start to happen now. MAJ look after repairs and spares for the old HH range. Jay [/quote] No probs - you can use the photo. And I can look for some more - or take some more for you. CB

Oh My Word. I can't believe my favourite little combo lives again. I played through a Studio 60 Bass Baby for many years. Replaced it with a Trace 1215 but that never had the same warmth. I am now on my second Studio 60 and was playing through it just last weekend. Recently replaced some of the pots courtesy of MAJ Electronic. Attached is a pic. I'm currently recording with a 74 Jazz in a studio in Glasgow (but hate the Ashdown amp that's there) and have a MarkBass 801 that I use for home practice. My Bass Baby is at my other place in Northern Ireland. I would love love love to try the Studio 60. Couldn't quite believe my eyes when I saw your signature! CB

Hmmm, ok I'm starting to see the light. You love rosewood. You love black blocks. You love matching. You'll love this... So I'm going to take my Mocha '74, remove the maple/pearl-block neck and replace it with rosewood and black blocks to match the body and black scratchplate. With the pink led cock on the headstock of course. CB

Satellite precision copy - natural with white scratchplate and black strings - really god awful thing that had odd shaped silver-coloured plastic heads on the tuners, one of which inevitably broke. I was only a wee boy at the time and crafted my own Fender Precision Bass headstock logo, part of which was cut from a magazine. This was really unconvincing - especially with sellotape over the top. Hondo II precision copy - loved this actually because, after the Satellite it had Schaller elephant ears :-) 70s Fender Musicmaster short-scale - loved this one too - especially since it had elephant ears AND the black Fender logo (hey I was young). It was aged white with black plate and rosewood fingerboard and I bought it from a mate for £50. Aria Pro II fretless - wouldn't stay in tune - think it may have been the truss-rod Fender Jazz Bass Special - black (had it from new and wish I'd kept it) Wilkes percussive fretless - British bass with powered metal transducers at the heel of the neck to permit slapping. 1985 Music Man StingRay 2EQ - white with black scratchplate and 4 bolt maple neck, mutes etc. (had it from new and don't really miss it) 1974 Fender Jazz - 4 bolt maple neck with pearl blocks, mocha, big logo (my main instrument) 1994/5 Fender '51 Reissue Precision - butterscotch blonde with Seymour Duncan quarter pound pickup - (very unpleasant to the naked eye, but plays and sounds nice) CB

[quote name='Lfalex v1.1' timestamp='1338147026' post='1670124'] Easy, Tiger! It was just another opinion in the mix! [/quote] Sorry mate, I was a bit sharp with you there. Apologies, you know what musicians can be like when their freedom of expression is curtailed :-)

How silly of us to be whimsical humans and think of impractical things like aesthetics. We stand corrected and will only discuss the factors you approve of in future. It's bound to be much more fun that way. And we can be sure not to play anything other than Kraftwerk. PS: The thread seems to have been relevant enough that the subject line piqued your interest enough to click it though? CB

Mine is a 74 in Mocha. Large text. Thumbrest above the E string. Four bolt neck. No bullet. And the trussrod is accessed at the body end. I've no idea about the legitimacy or otherwise of the particular combination of features that this eBay instrument has but I will say this - the finish does not appear to be correct at all. Especially all those scratches which have gone 'dark' - perhaps consistent with it having been stained when already 'raw' in places. Mine, I've owned from the start and it's totally different - more of a thick rich mocha 'shell' around the body. Just pretty much exactly like the one currently in The Gallery in fact. CB

Here's mine. Had it since I was 9. My only material possession that I couldn't/wouldn't replace. I want it to be buried with me. CB [attachment=108808:IMG_0581.JPG]

I'm with the OP on this. I don't really like the black blocks. But diff'rent strokes for diff'rent folks. In fact - block inlays on anything Fender that isn't a Jazz causes me to question all I believed in during the 70s :-) Aargh. Since back in the day, I've had a 1974 Jazz in mocha brown with maple neck and pearl blocks. I've always loved it. CB